The morning training session had ended, but Kosoku's day was far from finished.
The backyard of the Nozomi household had fallen quiet again. The sharp crackling of lightning that had filled the yard earlier had faded, replaced by the soft rustling of leaves beyond the fence. The air carried the faint warmth of the rising sun, and the training ground looked peaceful once more.
Kosoku sat on a wooden bench near the wall, holding a small bottle of water. Sweat clung to his forehead as he drank slowly, allowing his breathing to settle after the intense sparring.
Across the yard, Gabriel leaned against the fence with his arms crossed, studying his son in silence.
"You're improving," he said after a moment.
Kosoku glanced up.
"You said that yesterday."
Gabriel's lips curved into a faint smirk.
"And you're still improving today."
Kosoku finished his drink and placed the bottle beside him. The training had been harsher than usual. Gabriel had increased his speed again, forcing Kosoku to react without hesitation.
That was how Gabriel trained, an assassin who stopped to think was already too late.
Kosoku rose from the bench and stretched his arms. "Let's continue, Dad."
Gabriel raised an eyebrow. "You're not tired?"
"A little."
"Then take a rest."
Kosoku shook his head. "I want to try something."
Gabriel pushed away from the fence and walked toward the training circle. "Alright," he said calmly. "Show me."
Kosoku stepped onto the warm ground at the center of the yard. The sun had climbed higher now, and the air felt slightly warmer than before. He closed his eyes and drew a slow breath.
Mana stirred inside his body, three currents answered his focus. They flowed through him like three streams merging into the same river. Kosoku raised his right hand slowly then a spark appeared, lightning flickered between his fingers as a faint breeze gathered around his arm.
The two elements began to intertwine, Gabriel's gaze sharpened as he watched.
Kosoku opened his eyes. "Watch this, Dad."
He swung his hand forward, a thin bolt of lightning shot toward one of the metal rods along the wall but the strike did not travel straight.
The bolt curved through the air as if alive. The wind surrounding it guided the energy gently, shifting its path before sending it directly toward the target.
The lightning struck the metal rod with a sharp crack. The rod shuddered loudly.
Gabriel stared at it for a moment before letting out a quiet laugh.
"Wind guiding the lightning," he said. "Interesting."
Kosoku scratched his cheek. "Is that bad?"
Gabriel shook his head. "Nope, It's impressive."
Kosoku smiled slightly. "Finally i have a trick"
But before either of them spoke again, Gabriel's head turned toward the street beyond the fence.
Kosoku noticed immediately. "Someone again?"
Gabriel nodded faintly. "Probably."
Kosoku looked toward the road. Everything seemed normal. Cars occasionally passed along the quiet street, and a few pedestrians moved along the sidewalk without paying attention to the house.
Nothing looked unusual yet the feeling remained. Someone had been watching earlier.
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Several streets away, a black sedan rolled to a stop beside a small convenience store. Inside the vehicle sat the two men from earlier. Their dark jackets carried the silver emblem of the Philippine Warrior Association.
One of them lowered a tablet onto his lap.
"Well, what do you think?"
The other leaned back in his seat. "That kid's control is insane."
The first scout nodded. "And I recorded everything."
He tapped the screen. A video began playing.
Kosoku's training session filled the display. Lightning flashed across the screen, wind shifted the energy through the air, and the boy's movements showed speed that no five-year-old should possess.
The second scout whistled quietly. "He's only five."
His partner shook his head. "Kids his age struggle to release mana."
The first scout zoomed in on the footage.
"Look here."
The screen showed the moment Kosoku guided lightning with wind.
The second scout frowned. "That's not beginner control."
"No," the first scout replied. "That's instinct."
The car fell silent. After a moment the second scout spoke again. "Should we report this?"
The first scout hesitated. "If we report it, the Association will start looking into him and his family."
Both men understood what that meant.
Interviews, mana tests, surveillance and pressure to Kosoku, because he was still young.
The second scout looked out the window toward the distant neighborhood where Kosoku lived. "His father is Gabriel Nozomi."
The first scout nodded slowly. "SS-Rank assassin."
"Exactly."
The man exhaled quietly. "Gabriel won't like the Association investigating his kid."
The first scout thought for a moment before switching off the tablet. "For now," he said, "we observe, until he's ready."
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Back in the Cruz backyard, Kosoku stretched his arms again.
Gabriel walked toward him."You noticed them, didn't you?"
Kosoku nodded. "Yeah, a little."
Gabriel's voice remained calm. "That means your instincts are getting sharper."
Kosoku tilted his head. "They're from the Association?"
"Most likely."
Kosoku looked curious. "Is that bad?"
Gabriel shrugged. "That depends."
Kosoku waited.
"If they think you're talented," Gabriel continued, "they'll watch you."
Kosoku frowned slightly. "And if they think I'm dangerous?"
Gabriel smiled faintly. "Then they'll watch you even more."
Kosoku sighed. "That sounds annoying."
Gabriel laughed quietly. "Welcome to the life of a warrior."
Kosoku looked down at his hands. "I'm five, Dad. I'm not a warrior yet."
Lightning flickered faintly across his fingers and for a brief moment the sparks twisted again. This time the outline was larger, something with wings but the shape vanished before it fully formed. Kosoku closed his fist, the lightning disappeared instantly.
Gabriel noticed the movement. "What is it?"
Kosoku shook his head. "Uhm, nothing."
Gabriel studied him for a moment but said nothing further. Instead he stepped back toward the sparring circle. "Alright."
Kosoku looked up.
"One more round." Gabriel said.
Kosoku smiled immediately. "Finally."
They returned to their positions as the wind moved quietly through the yard. Small sparks of lightning danced around Kosoku's feet while he prepared himself once more.
Far across the city, the Association scouts continued watching from a distance.
They did not realize it yet, the boy training in that quiet backyard would one day become the strongest warrior the world had ever seen and this was only the beginning.
The training continued.