The Philippine Warrior Association headquarters stood in the heart of Metro Manila like a silent guardian watching over the city.
From the outside the structure appeared elegant—towering glass panels reflecting the skyline, steel beams reinforcing the upper floors, and wide entrances where warriors and personnel moved in and out throughout the day. To the public it looked like a government building built for prestige and order.
Those who worked inside knew better.
Beneath the polished surface lay several underground levels filled with training arenas, mana research laboratories, monitoring centers, and tactical command rooms. Every portal appearance across the country was tracked there. Every monster sighting, every emergency deployment, every warrior assignment passed through the Association's systems.
The building never truly rested.
Even late in the afternoon, activity continued on every floor.
Inside one of the upper conference rooms, two men stood in front of a wall-sized digital screen.
The room was dim except for the light from the display.
On the screen, surveillance footage played.
A small silver-haired boy moved across a dusty backyard training circle while dodging attacks from a tall man.
The boy stumbled.
A moment later he was knocked down.
Dust scattered across the ground.
One of the men folded his arms.
"That's the fifth time he's been dropped."
The other man leaned forward and rewound the video.
"And the fifth time he stands up again."
The footage paused.
The screen now showed the boy wiping blood from the corner of his lip while pushing himself back to his feet.
A data panel appeared beside the image.
Kosoku Nozomi
Age: 5
Primary Element: Lightning
Secondary Elements: Undetermined
The first man exhaled slowly. "Kids his age shouldn't even be able to release mana."
The other shrugged. "Well, his father isn't exactly normal."
Both of them looked toward another name displayed on the screen.
Gabriel Nozomi
SS-Rank Assassin
Lightning Element
Philippine Warrior Association
The first man leaned against the table. "I still find it hard to believe that guy settled down."
The second chuckled. "Even assassins eventually get married."
The first man pointed at the paused image of the child. "Yeah, but they usually don't have kids who can throw lightning before kindergarten."
Before the conversation could continue, the door opened. Both scouts immediately straightened, a woman stepped into the room holding a tablet.
Her white officer uniform carried the silver insignia of the Philippine Warrior Association. The moment she entered, the casual tone inside the room vanished.
"Report."
Both men nodded respectfully. "Vice Director."
She approached the screen and studied the paused footage. "...That's the boy?"
"Yes."
The video resumed. Kosoku dodged another strike from his father before falling again, dust rose from the yard. A few seconds later he forced himself back onto his feet.
The Vice Director watched carefully. "He doesn't quit."
One scout nodded. "He gets hurt nearly every time they spar."
"But sometimes he wins."
She tilted her head. "At five years old?"
"Yes."
She tapped the screen. "Show me the lightning recording."
The scout switched files and the video changed. Kosoku now stood alone in the yard, raising his hand toward a metal rod.
A small bolt of lightning leapt from his fingertips. CRACK CRACK CRACK.
The rod vibrated sharply, the room grew quiet.
The Vice Director crossed her arms. "This kid is Interesting."
One scout hesitated. "There's something else."
He rewound the footage slightly. "Watch his hand."
The clip replayed.
Kosoku gathered lightning again. But before the bolt fired, the electricity lingered around his palm. The energy condensed. It twisted slightly then suddenly it disappeared.
The Vice Director leaned closer. "Pause it."
The image froze. She stared at the screen.
"That shape..."
One scout nodded. "We saw it too."
"It looked like he was trying to form something."
The Vice Director spoke softly. "it's a weapon."
Silence filled the room.
The second scout rubbed his chin. "You're thinking lightning compression?"
"It's more like Lightning manifestation."She answered.
"That level of control usually appears much later."
"But he's only five."
Nobody spoke for several seconds. Finally she turned toward the scouts. "Have you approached the family?"
One of them nodded. "We drove past the house earlier."
"And?"
"Gabriel Nozomi noticed us immediately."
The Vice Director smiled faintly. "I expected that."
The scout continued. "But he didn't confront us."
"Of course not," she replied calmly. "He already knows we're watching."
She looked back at the frozen image of Kosoku. "Just monitor the child."
The scouts exchanged a glance. "No contact. No interference."
"Just observation."
One scout hesitated. "You think he could be dangerous?"
The Vice Director paused before answering.
"I think he's unusual."
"I will report this to the Director." she added.
Outside the window, the sun slowly dipped behind the skyline of Manila.
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Back at the Nozomi household, evening had begun to settle over the neighborhood.
Kosoku sat on the wooden porch with his legs dangling over the edge. Dust covered his training clothes, and a small bandage rested on his lip.
Beside him, Alisa worked calmly with a small medical kit. "You and your father treat sparring like a battlefield," she said gently.
Kosoku shrugged. "He doesn't go easy on me."
Alisa smiled. "That much is obvious."
She finished adjusting the bandage and tapped his forehead lightly.
"There. Done."
Kosoku glanced toward the backyard. Gabriel still stood near the fence, watching the street beyond the property.
Kosoku tilted his head. "Dad?"
Gabriel answered without turning. "Hmm?"
"The scouts."
Gabriel glanced over his shoulder. "They left."
Kosoku nodded. "They'll come back."
Gabriel walked toward the porch and sat on the step below them. "Most likely."
Kosoku looked down at his hands.
Tiny sparks flickered between his fingers. "..Should I stop using lightning outside?"
Gabriel shook his head. "No, don't."
Kosoku blinked. "Why?"
Gabriel leaned back slightly. "Because if you hide everything, they'll start asking questions."
Kosoku frowned. "That sounds backwards."
Gabriel smirked. "Welcome to the real world."
Alisa crossed her arms. "Or," she said calmly, "he could simply enjoy being a child."
Gabriel laughed quietly. "That stopped the moment he started throwing lightning in the backyard."
Kosoku chuckled.
Alisa sighed but smiled anyway before placing a hand on his head. "Just remember something."
Kosoku looked up. "What is it?"
"You're not training to impress the Association."
Kosoku blinked. "Then why am I training?"
Alisa smiled, "To save other people someday."
Gabriel answered from below. "and so you survive."
Kosoku thought about that then he nodded slowly. The evening breeze drifted across the yard. For a moment the three of them sat quietly then Kosoku raised his hand again.
Lightning gathered around his fingers but this time the energy did not shoot outward.
The lightning twisted and compressed. For a brief moment a tiny blade of electricity formed in his palm.
Kosoku's eyes widened. "....Whoa."
Gabriel stood instantly, Alisa leaned forward.
The lightning dagger lasted less than a second before breaking apart into sparks.
Kosoku stared at his hand. "Did you see that?"
Gabriel nodded slowly. "Yeah."
Alisa's gaze remained fixed on his palm. "Try it again."
Kosoku lifted his hand once more and the lightning gathered nut the sparks fizzled and disappeared.
Kosoku frowned. "..It's gone."
Gabriel studied him carefully then a small smile appeared. "Interesting."
Alisa looked at him. "You're thinking the same thing."
Gabriel nodded.
Kosoku looked between them. "Huh?"
Gabriel crossed his arms. "You may have just discovered your first real technique."
Kosoku blinked. "Seriously?"
Gabriel glanced toward the empty road beyond the fence. "Just don't show that to anyone yet."
Kosoku tilted his head. "Why?"
Gabriel's eyes remained on the street.
"You said you don't want attention, right?."
"Yeah, you're right Dad." he answered.
Kosoku has just discovered something new, a new technique that could help him grow stronger.