──────────────────────────
Chapter 37 — When the Real Training Begins
──────────────────────────
Scene 1 — Training Ground, Before Midnight
Kazu carried Zokimoshi and Renion on his shoulders as if they were weightless dolls, slowly climbing the stairs, the creaking of iron accompanying his steps.
He left the training ground, and his sound disappeared behind the heavy basement door.
But…
Kiura did not follow him.
He remained standing in the middle of the arena, his body still, his eyes fixed into the void.
He looked at his trembling hand, at the traces of dust and wounds, at the weakness clinging to his limbs.
And in a faint… broken voice…
he began to whisper:
Kiura (slow thinking):
Weak…
Weak…
Weak…
Weak…
Weak…
His breathing quickened, and his thoughts raced with it:
Kiura (thinking):
Why am I weak?
Why am I useless?
What if Enzo attacks again?
What will we do?
What if stronger enemies come?
I am the leader…
and the leader must be strong.
He clenched his fist until his nails dug into his skin.
Kiura (dark thinking):
I almost died many times…
and there is an entity living inside me…
I will use it.
I will force it to obey me.
And I will begin… my first real training.
He stepped toward the moving training log, tied the blindfold over his eyes, and began punching it.
Once…
Twice…
Ten times…
But the log struck him.
Again and again.
On his shoulder, on his side, on his face.
He fell…
then stood up.
Kiura (hoarse voice):
If I can't tame that entity…
I will train my senses.
He began to strike faster.
Harder.
Trying to hear…
but the wind created by the log during its attacks made no sound.
Trying to smell…
the scent of wood, the scent of sweat, the scent of blood.
Trying to feel…
the timing of the strike, the angle of the attack, the rebound of the log.
It was hellish training.
The log strikes…
and Kiura receives…
falls…
rises…
No screams.
No surrender.
──────────────────────────
Scene 2 — Living Room, Midnight
Zokimoshi and Renion were asleep on the sofas, their breathing calm.
Kazu raised his head, stretched lazily, then headed back toward the basement.
As he descended…
he stumbled.
And fell on his face.
Kazu:
…That hurt.
──────────────────────────
Scene 3 — Training Ground
Kazu entered the arena, then suddenly stopped.
In front of him…
Kiura.
His body was full of bruises, swelling, scratches, and dried blood.
Sweating.
Panting.
And yet…
he was still fighting.
At the moment he punched the log, Kazu spoke:
Kazu:
Oi… what are you doing?
And why didn't you go to sleep?
And why didn't you come to eat dinner?
Kiura removed the blindfold, but the log struck him directly on his nose.
He fell to the ground, blood flowing from it.
Kiura (weak voice):
Why… are you here?
Kazu:
This is my house.
And what are you doing here?
Why didn't you go to sleep? It's late.
Kiura (tired sarcasm):
I know this is your house, and I was playing football.
Kazu (calm and dangerous):
Oh… nice.
Can I join?
Kiura:
I was joking… how did you believe that?
Kazu:
I asked you a question:
Can I join?
Kiura (confused):
…Yes.
Kazu smiled.
He placed two rocks as a goal, and two more opposite them.
Kazu:
This is your goal…
and this is mine. Let's play.
Kiura:
Are you serious? And where is the ball?
Kazu formed a ball from his energy and placed it at his feet.
Kazu:
This is the ball, and yes, I am very serious.
Start.
He ran…
and Kiura blocked him.
But—
Kazu:
Sorry…
no rules.
One slap made Kiura step back.
Then he scored the first goal.
Kiura:
That's cheating!
Kazu:
No referee.
No rules.
Do anything to win.
The scene repeated.
Hits.
Falls.
Goals.
Kazu:
The game is until 100 goals.
If you win… I will grant you any request.
If I win…
you will undergo intense training…
and you will be deprived of lunch.
Kiura:
Accepted.
──────────────────────────
Scene 4 — Morning
Kazu and Kiura did not realize that morning had arrived because they were underground.
Renion came down…
and saw the scene.
Kiura, drowned in wounds.
And Kazu… just tired.
Renion:
What are you doing?
Kazu (raising his thumb sarcastically with a serious expression):
We're playing football... and why didn't you sleep? You were tired, and we are now in the middle of the night.
Renion:
It's morning now.
Kazu (shocked):
What?!
Then he smiled cunningly:
Kazu:
Doesn't matter, I scored 1057 goals…
That means ten punishments. I'll combine them and make them one punishment, but it will be dangerous.
But…
Kiura collapsed unconscious.
Kazu:
Nooo!
Why do you collapse before the punishment?
Then:
Kazu:
Wait, did you eat breakfast?
Renion:
Ah right, I forgot… Miro is sick, she needs treatment.
Kazu:
Lucky you, Kiura…
I'll be back…
and when I return… the punishment stands.
──────────────────────────
The scene changes to inside Kiura's mind
──────────────────────────
Absolute silence.
No body… no time… no pain.
Then—
a single voice, without tone, without emotion, as if it scrapes directly inside the brain:
Entity's voice:
You have a task.
A brief pause…
as if silence itself is shrinking.
Entity's voice:
Go to the place where things that no one wants anymore are buried.
Where remains rot.
Where memories are thrown away.
Where human failure piles up.
The voice fell silent for a second…
then returned, heavier:
If you endure… you succeed.
And if you fail...
A pause.
As if the last word is deliberately being pulled away.
Entity's voice:
You will be punished.
Then—
the voice disappeared,
and only darkness remained,
pressing on a consciousness that cannot respond.
──────────────────────────
To be continued...