Morning arrived quietly in the Cruz household.
The first light of dawn slipped through the curtains of Kosoku's room, casting pale orange streaks across the wooden floor. The house remained silent, the kind of calm that exists only before the rest of the city begins to stir. Outside, distant traffic had not yet filled the streets, and the neighborhood still carried the cool air of early morning.
Kosoku opened his eyes before the sun had fully risen.
He sat up slowly on his bed, his silver hair slightly messy from sleep. For a moment he did nothing but stare at his hands resting on his knees. A thin spark flickered between his fingers, the small arc of lightning jumped briefly across his skin before fading.
Kosoku frowned. "Still unstable."
He flexed his fingers once more, watching carefully. The electricity did not appear again, but the faint tingling sensation remained beneath his skin. He had spent nearly a year practicing control, yet the power inside him sometimes reacted without his command.
It reminded him of something he could not ignore, he still did not fully understand what lived inside his own body.
The door opened quietly.
Alisa stepped into the room with gentle movements. Her silver-blonde hair rested loosely across her shoulders, and for a brief moment a faint green glow of nature mana shimmered around her hands before fading away. As an S-Rank healer, she could sense disturbances in mana almost instinctively.
"You're awake early again," she said with a soft smile.
Kosoku nodded. "I couldn't sleep, Mom."
Alisa approached and placed a hand lightly on his head, brushing his hair aside. "Your mana again?"
Kosoku nodded once more.
She was not surprised. Ever since he had been a baby, the energy inside him had been stronger than that of normal children. Even now, balancing the three elemental currents flowing through his body demanded constant focus.
"Come downstairs," she said gently. "Breakfast is ready."
Kosoku slid off the bed and followed her toward the door, but just before leaving he glanced down at his hand again.
Lightning flickered once more in his hand, for the briefest instant the electricity twisted through the air in a strange pattern. The shape of a small dragon formed from light then it vanished.
Kosoku blinked. "Huh? it's weird." He shook his head and followed his mother downstairs.
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After breakfast, the cool morning air greeted him as he stepped into the backyard.
The grass still held traces of dew from the night before. Wooden practice dummies stood quietly along the fence, their surfaces scarred from repeated strikes. The metal rods mounted near the wall reflected the rising sunlight, prepared to absorb elemental energy during training.
Gabriel was already waiting at the center of the sparring circle. He stood with his arms crossed, watching the yard with quiet patience.
"Good morning," he said.
Kosoku stretched his arms. "Morning, Dad."
He walked into the circular training area and planted his feet on the reinforced ground.
"Training again?"
Gabriel's mouth curved slightly. "Yeah, of course."
Kosoku took his position, but Gabriel did not move immediately. Instead, he studied his son carefully, as if measuring something unseen.
Kosoku tilted his head. "Why?"
Gabriel narrowed his eyes."I want to test something."
"A test? what is it?"
Gabriel nodded once. "Yesterday your reactions improved."
Kosoku scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"Ohhh, okay?."
Gabriel pointed toward the center of the circle. "Stand there."
Kosoku obeyed, settling into position while the cool breeze passed through the yard.
Gabriel rolled his shoulders slowly. "This time I won't stop after one attack."
Kosoku's expression sharpened.
"Okay, bring it on, Dad." He lowered his stance. "Let's do it."
Gabriel's voice became calm. "Alright, defend yourself."
And then he disappeared.
Kosoku's instincts reacted before his thoughts could catch up. Wind surged beneath his feet as he shifted sideways. Gabriel appeared beside him, a fist drove toward his shoulder.
Kosoku raised his arm just in time. The impact forced him backward several steps across the grass.
"Faster," Gabriel said. "You're still slow."
Kosoku steadied himself and regained balance. Lightning flickered faintly along his legs as he focused again.
Gabriel moved once more.
This time the attack came from above.
Kosoku dropped forward and rolled across the ground. Gabriel's strike crashed into the dirt where he had been standing moments earlier, scattering dust into the air.
Kosoku's breathing grew heavier and Gabriel was faster than yesterday, much faster.
Kosoku clenched his fist, a lightning surged across his hand with a sharp crack that echoed through the yard.
Gabriel paused for half a second.
Kosoku used that moment.
Wind pushed against his back while lightning sharpened his reflexes. His body moved forward with surprising speed.
His fist shot toward Gabriel's chest, Gabriel blocked the strike easily but his eyes widened slightly. The speed had increased.
Kosoku jumped back again, placing distance between them as he caught his breath.
Gabriel straightened slowly. "Well."
Kosoku wiped sweat from his forehead.
"Well what?"
Gabriel smirked faintly. "You've improved."
Kosoku blinked. "Hmm, that's it?"
"Why, you expected a speech?"
Kosoku crossed his arms. "Maybe, something like that."
Gabriel chuckled under his breath, but his expression soon returned to seriousness.
"You're controlling your mana well."
Kosoku nodded slowly.
"But," Gabriel continued, "you're still holding back."
Kosoku froze. "What do you mean?"
Gabriel looked directly into his eyes. "Don't lie."
Kosoku turned his gaze away. The yard fell silent for a moment. Gabriel sighed quietly and stepped closer.
"You don't trust your power yet," he said.
Kosoku remained silent.
"That's not a bad thing," Gabriel added.
Kosoku finally looked up again, Gabriel rested a hand on his shoulder.
"But one day," he said calmly, "you'll have to stop holding back."
Kosoku glanced down at his hand as faint lightning flickered across his fingers.
"Maybe, but pretending is way more awesome."
Gabriel smiled slightly. "Pretending to be weak is a good idea and for now, we keep training."
Kosoku nodded.
At that exact moment both of them felt it, a ripple of mana passed through the air like a faint tremor. Kosoku looked toward the street, Gabriel's eyes narrowed, someone was nearby, bot inside the yard but watching.
Across the street, beside a parked car, two men stood quietly outside the fence. Dark jackets covered their shoulders, each marked with a small silver emblem.
The emblem of the Philippine Warrior Association.
One of them lowered his binoculars. "Did you see that?"
The other nodded while checking the tablet in his hand. "Yeah."
He read the name displayed on the screen.
"Kosoku Roche Volkov Nozomi."
The first man raised an eyebrow. "Gabriel Nozomi's kid?"
"Looks like it."
They continued observing the backyard silently. Lightning flickered faintly around the boy's hands as he prepared for another round of training.
The second scout spoke quietly. "That kid has ridiculous control for his age."
The first one nodded. "Send the report to the association."
The man tapped the tablet, a notification appeared on the screen. Potential talent detected, estimated C-Rank, the scout glanced toward the house one final time.
The second man spoke. "Interesting."
"But for now, we watch him." he added.
Moments later the engine started and the car pulled away.
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Inside the yard, Kosoku suddenly turned toward the street. "Dad, someone was watching."
Gabriel followed his gaze, but the vehicle had already disappeared. Instead of concern, a faint smile appeared on his face.
"Don't worry, that's good."
Kosoku blinked. "Good?"
Gabriel crossed his arms again. "Yeah."
Kosoku tilted his head. "I don't understand."
Gabriel grinned. "That means your training is working."
Kosoku looked down at his hands, lightning crackled softly between his fingers. For now he was only a five-year-old boy practicing in the backyard of his home.
But beyond the quiet streets of Manila, people had already begun to watch the child whose name would one day shake the world.