The morning sun spilled across the grand dining hall of the royal palace. The long table was set with gold-rimmed plates, steaming bread, and fruits fresh from the kingdom's gardens. King Jugram sat at the head, his sharp eyes scanning the room as his family quietly took their seats.
Beside him sat his wife, Queen Erina, graceful as always, and his mother, Seliora, the matriarch whose presence commanded respect even in silence. Across the table, his children—Eisa and Lothar—ate in calm, though tension hummed faintly beneath the surface.
Jugram's gaze shifted to the empty chair. "Where is Light?" he asked at last, his tone edged with disapproval.
Eisa put down her fork and answered, "Father, brother has been training for two days straight. He hasn't rested."
Jugram frowned. "He won't learn this way. How many times must I tell him not to push himself so recklessly?"
Eisa's lips curved in a faint smile, though her words carried pride. "Still, Father, he's hardworking. After all, he is the one destined to be the next king. My brother refuses to settle for anything less."
Her tone was arrogant, the weight of her loyalty falling sharply toward her brother—and away from Lothar.
Seliora, the king's mother, gently interrupted. "Jugram, perhaps you should look at it differently. Light is not only training for himself. He's training for your attention. He wishes for you to be proud of him. After losing his mother, he has felt alone for years. His drive to become strong is rooted in that emptiness."
Jugram's jaw tightened. "It's been eleven years since his mother passed. Light was wise even then—wise enough to survive that pain without crumbling. He learned to live without her. And he forgave Lothar for what happened. That chapter is closed."
"Closed for him maybe," Eisa cut in sharply, her eyes narrowing on her brother. "But not for me. Even if Light forgave this outsider for killing my mother, I never will. Every time I see him, I feel nothing but anger. Don't expect me to call him my brother."
"Enough, Eisa." Jugram's voice rose, cold and commanding. "How many times must I remind you? Lothar never killed your mother intentionally. It was an accident. Do not speak against your younger brother again."
Eisa's lips trembled with restrained fury. "This outsider is not my brother. I never accepted him from the beginning."
Across the table, Lothar remained silent. He neither argued nor defended himself. His face was calm, almost emotionless, as though her words carried no weight.
Seliora sighed, shaking her head. "Eisa, you shouldn't speak so carelessly. Remember, Selene was Lothar's mother too. Her death wounded him as much as it wounded you."
The hall fell quiet after that, heavy with words unspoken.
---
Far from the palace's warmth, Light stood in the training grounds, sweat dripping from his brow as he lifted a massive boulder above his shoulders. His teeth clenched, arms shaking, yet he held firm.
The narrator's voice seemed to echo: A hybrid's physique is determined from childhood. They grow muscular naturally, their strength nearly uniform among all. But there was a hidden truth…
Hybrids didn't truly lift heavy objects with their raw strength. Instead, their Voltra unconsciously supported their movements, granting them natural superhuman strength. For most, this meant their bodies never bore the true strain of weight.
But Light was different. He had discovered a secret.
"If I use every ounce of my Voltra," he thought, "and still force my body to carry this weight alone… my muscles will tear and rebuild. My physique will grow. And with a stronger body, I'll produce more Voltra."
The boulder slammed down, dust scattering around him. Light fell to his knees, gasping, yet determination burned in his eyes. He would find his own way forward, no matter how brutal the path.
---
A week passed. Days bled together in endless training, until at last Light stood victorious against himself. He extended his palm, focused his energy, and—
A thin beam of Voltra shot forward, searing through the air. It wasn't large, but it was proof. For the first time, he had released his power.
Light collapsed onto the ground, laughing weakly. "Finally…"
---
At that same moment, the heavy gates of the royal residence groaned open. It was Eisa who stepped forward, her brows arching as she spotted the visitor waiting outside.
"Hikari?" she asked in surprise. "Welcome. What brings you here today?"
Hikari bowed politely, her face calm but serious. "I came to see Lothar and Light."
"Is everything alright?" Eisa asked, suspicion creeping into her voice.
"Yes," Hikari replied evenly. "Everything is fine. But… it's already been nine days since the three of us entered the Kaiju Combat Teams as an official unit. And yet, for all nine days, both Light and Lothar have been absent… treating this time as if it were a vacation."
---
End of Chapter 15