Silence.
Absolute silence.
The grand hall of the Wind Temple looked like a battlefield.
Except...
Nobody was fighting anymore.
Leo was lying flat on the floor.
Chen Wei was sitting against a pillar, staring blankly at the ceiling.
Lily was resting against a chair.
Yuna had her arms crossed, eyes closed.
Even the Wind Temple's Guardian, Airi Kazehana, was sitting on the floor.
And the audience...
Was completely asleep.
Some people were literally using each other as pillows.
One old man was snoring.
"Zzzzzzz..."
Another person had fallen asleep while still holding a cup.
Even the tournament-style host from the previous World Martial Art tournament was lying across the stage.
Leo slowly raised his head.
His eyes were completely exhausted.
Leo: "...Is it over?"
Airi calmly looked around.
Airi: "Yes."
Leo slowly pushed himself up.
Leo: "Good."
He looked at the sleeping audience.
Leo: "Because I think I've aged about thirty years."
Chen Wei suddenly raised one hand.
Chen Wei: "I would like to officially announce..."
Everyone looked at him.
Chen Wei:
"...that I have absolutely no energy left."
Leo: "Same."
Chen Wei suddenly looked around.
His expression changed.
Chen Wei: "Wait."
He started checking his pockets.
Left pocket.
Right pocket.
Bag.
Under the chair.
Behind the pillar.
Leo stared at him.
Leo: "...What are you doing?"
Chen Wei: "My emergency noodles."
Leo: "...Your what?"
Chen Wei: "My backup noodles!"
He frantically searched again.
Chen Wei: "Where are they?!"
His wife looked at him awkwardly.
Chen Wei's Wife: "Umm..."
Chen Wei slowly turned toward her.
Chen Wei: "...What?"
She scratched her cheek.
Chen Wei's Wife: "I think they got destroyed during the Hydra fight."
Silence.
Chen Wei froze.
His eyes slowly became watery.
Chen Wei:
"...My noodles?"
She nodded.
Chen Wei:
"My backup noodles..."
His lips began trembling.
Chen Wei: "THE BACKUP NOODLES?!"
He dropped to his knees.
Chen Wei: "WHY?!"
Leo covered his face.
Leo: "Oh no..."
Chen Wei started crying like a little kid.
Chen Wei: "Those noodles were supposed to be there for emergencies!"
Leo: "This IS an emergency."
Chen Wei: "EXACTLY!"
He suddenly pointed toward the sky.
Chen Wei: "WRITER!"
A dramatic pause.
Chen Wei:
"WHY DID YOU DO THIS TO ME?!"
Leo: "Please stop yelling at the writer."
Chen Wei: "YOU DESTROYED MY NOODLES!"
Leo: "He didn't physically destroy your noodles."
Chen Wei: "HE CREATED THE SITUATION!"
Leo: "...Fair point."
---
A few moments later...
Everyone had finally recovered enough to stand.
Airi looked toward Leo.
Airi: "By the way..."
Leo turned.
Airi pointed toward the sword hanging at his side.
Airi: "Where did you get that?"
Leo blinked.
Leo: "This?"
Airi: "Yes."
Chen Wei also looked at the sword.
Chen Wei: "Wait..."
He suddenly realized it too.
Chen Wei: "Your martial arts style doesn't match a sword."
Leo scratched his head.
Leo: "I don't really know sword style."
Airi: "Then why are you carrying one?"
Leo: "Long story."
Yuna looked at the weapon carefully.
Yuna: "Leo has mastered almost every major hand-to-hand martial arts style."
"His dagger style is also highly developed because of his khukuri."
"But swordsmanship..."
She shook her head.
Yuna: "That's one of the few styles he never properly learned."
Airi's eyes narrowed slightly.
Airi: "Interesting."
Leo looked down at the mysterious sword.
For a brief moment...
Something about it felt different.
As if the weapon itself was waiting for something.
But Leo couldn't explain why.
He simply placed his hand over the handle.
Leo: "...I guess I'll figure it out eventually."
Airi smiled.
Airi: "I'm sure you will."
---
Airi suddenly stretched both arms.
Airi:
"Anyway!"
Everyone looked at her.
Airi:
"I know why you came here."
Leo blinked.
Leo: "You do?"
Airi: "Of course!"
She suddenly shouted—
Airi:
"YOU WANT TO MEET MY SISTERS!"
Her voice echoed through the entire city.
BOOOOOOOOOOM!!
Birds flew away outside.
Chen Wei covered his ears.
Chen Wei: "WHY IS SHE STILL THIS LOUD?!"
Airi laughed.
Airi: "It's been a thousand years!"
"I've been waiting to see them again!"
She jumped excitedly.
Airi: "LET'S GO!"
Leo turned toward Yuna.
Leo: "Yuna."
Yuna: "No."
Leo: "I haven't even asked yet."
Yuna: "I already know."
Leo pointed toward the others.
Leo: "Can you teleport us to Headquarters?"
Yuna stared at him.
Yuna: "What do you people think I am?"
Leo: "Our teleporter?"
Yuna: "I'M NOT A VEHICLE!"
Chen Wei nodded seriously.
Chen Wei: "She's got a point."
Yuna: "I've been teleporting everyone around for days!"
"I'm exhausted!"
Leo scratched the back of his head.
Leo: "...Sorry."
Lily immediately punched him lightly on the head.
THUMP!
Leo: "Ow!"
Lily: "Learn some manners when talking to women."
Leo: "What did I even do?!"
Lily: "You existed incorrectly."
Leo: "...That's not fair."
Chen Wei: "She's your wife. You don't get a vote."
Leo: "Stay out of this."
Chen Wei: "I'm protecting myself."
---
Yuna finally sighed.
Yuna: "Fine."
She raised her hand.
Blue light began forming around everyone.
Airi smiled brightly.
Airi: "Finally!"
Leo: "Please don't scream during teleportation."
Airi: "I make no promises."
WHOOSH!!
The entire group disappeared.
---
Headquarters
Meanwhile...
Sahara, Raika, and Mizuna were sitting together.
All three were staring toward the same doorway.
Sahara:
"They'll come."
Raika:
"They'll definitely come."
Mizuna quietly nodded.
Mizuna:
"They'll bring our fourth sister..."
All three looked at each other.
Then—
Sahara:
"They'll come."
A few minutes passed.
Nothing.
An hour passed.
Nothing.
Three hours passed.
Nothing.
Six hours passed.
Nothing.
Ten hours later...
The three guardians were still sitting there.
Their eyes were red from exhaustion.
Sahara suddenly stood up.
Sahara:
"HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE THEM?!"
Raika:
"I'M STARTING TO THINK THEY FORGOT US!"
Mizuna quietly raised her hand.
Mizuna:
"...Maybe they got lost."
A voice came from nearby.
Chen Wei's mother was sitting comfortably with little Leon in her arms.
She gently stroked his hair.
Chen Wei's Mother:
"They'll be here."
Sahara collapsed back into her seat.
Sahara:
"They'd better."
Chen Wei's Mother smiled.
Chen Wei's Mother:
"Relax."
"They're probably just causing trouble somewhere."
Raika:
"That's exactly what I'm worried about."
Mizuna:
"...Me too."
---
Suddenly—
WHOOSH!!
A massive teleportation circle appeared in the center of the room.
Everyone stood up.
Blue light filled the room.
Leo appeared first.
Then Lily.
Yuna.
Chen Wei.
Airi.
And the others.
Sahara's eyes widened.
Sahara:
"THEY'RE HERE!"
All three guardians immediately ran forward.
Sahara hugged Airi.
Raika joined them.
Mizuna wrapped her arms around all of them.
Airi laughed.
Airi:
"IT'S BEEN SO LONG!"
Sahara:
"We missed you!"
Raika:
"So much..."
Mizuna quietly smiled.
Mizuna:
"...Welcome back."
The four sisters stood together.
For the first time in a very long time...
All four were reunited.
Leo smiled.
Leo:
"Looks like the mission was worth it."
Lily suddenly pushed past him.
Lily:
"Excuse me."
She ran straight toward Chen Wei's mother.
Lily:
"Where's Leon?!"
Chen Wei's mother smiled and handed him over.
Lily immediately hugged him.
Lily:
"My baby!"
She looked down at him.
Lily:
"Did you miss me?"
Leon stared at her.
He said nothing.
Lily smiled.
Lily:
"Come on..."
Then—
Leon looked toward Leo.
His tiny mouth opened.
And his first clear word came out.
Leon:
"...Leo."
Silence.
Leo froze.
Everyone froze.
Leo slowly pointed at himself.
Leo:
"...Me?"
Leon:
"Leo."
Leo's face completely collapsed.
Leo:
"NO."
He walked over.
Leo:
"Wait."
"I am your father."
He pointed at himself.
Leo:
"Father."
Leon:
"Leo."
Leo:
"No!"
"Say 'Dad.'"
Leon:
"Leo."
Leo:
"Father."
Leon:
"Leo."
Leo:
"DA-D."
Leon:
"Leo."
Leo grabbed his head.
Leo:
"This cannot be happening!"
Chen Wei burst out laughing.
Chen Wei:
"Congratulations."
"Your son just learned your name before learning what to call you."
Leo slowly turned toward Chen Wei's mother.
Leo:
"...You taught him this, didn't you?"
She gave an awkward smile.
Chen Wei's Mother:
"...Maybe."
Leo:
"I KNEW IT!"
Lily immediately shouted from across the room.
Lily:
"Leo! Stop arguing!"
"You're finally home!"
Leo:
"But—"
Lily:
"No!"
"Let me enjoy this!"
Leo sighed.
Then suddenly—
Leon floated upward.
Leo:
"..."
Everyone:
"..."
Leon was literally floating in the air.
Leo slowly turned toward Chen Wei's mother.
Leo:
"Did you teach him THAT too?"
Chen Wei's Mother:
"No."
Leo:
"...Then how?"
She smiled.
Chen Wei's Mother:
"He learned it himself."
Leo stared at his son.
Leo:
"...My son is ridiculously gifted."
Chen Wei's Mother:
"Apparently."
Leon happily floated around.
Leo:
"Why is my child already better than me?"
---
Chen Wei's mother suddenly became serious.
She clapped her hands once.
CLAP!
Everyone turned toward her.
Chen Wei's Mother:
"Everyone..."
Her expression changed.
"There is something important you need to know."
The room became silent.
She looked toward the four guardians.
Chen Wei's Mother:
"The Weapon Master Guardian..."
"...has been kidnapped."
The smiles disappeared.
Airi stopped floating around.
Sahara's expression hardened.
Raika clenched her fists.
Mizuna lowered her head.
Chen Wei:
"...What?"
Chen Wei's mother continued.
Chen Wei's Mother:
"The organization responsible..."
"...is the same organization that has been hunting the guardians."
Leo's expression became serious.
Leo:
"The Maskmen..."
Chen Wei's Mother nodded.
Chen Wei's Mother:
"Yes."
Lily:
"How did they manage to capture her?"
Chen Wei's Mother:
"We don't know everything yet."
"But there's more."
She looked toward Leo.
Chen Wei's Mother:
"They've also started moving toward another person."
Leo immediately understood.
Leo:
"...My big brother."
Silence.
Leo's expression became complicated.
Leo:
"Renge?"
Chen Wei's mother nodded.
Chen Wei's Mother:
"Yes."
Leo:
"But he retired from all of this."
"He wasn't supposed to be involved anymore."
Chen Wei's mother sighed.
Chen Wei's Mother:
"I know."
"But unfortunately..."
She paused.
"...he's still the strongest person connected to the Flower Clan."
Leo's eyes narrowed.
Leo:
"Then what are we going to do?"
Chen Wei's mother smiled faintly.
Chen Wei's Mother:
"I already handled it."
Everyone looked at her.
Chen Wei:
"You did?"
She nodded.
Chen Wei's Mother:
"Renge has been sent toward the enemy headquarters."
Leo's eyes widened.
Leo:
"...You sent him there?"
Chen Wei's mother simply smiled.
Chen Wei's Mother:
"Don't worry."
"He's probably hungry enough to be angry already."
Chen Wei:
"...That's your plan?"
She shrugged.
Chen Wei's Mother:
"Apparently, it works."
Leo stared toward the distance.
His expression became serious.
The reunion was over.
The next battle had already begun.
And somewhere far away...
Renge Akihana was heading directly toward the enemy headquarters.
TO BE CONTINUED...