CHAPTER 11: THE DJINN BINDING RITUAL
The final training was over. Kaito, Ren, and Aiko had rested well after the exhausting day. Evening was approaching; the sun was about to set. The three had entered the magnificent Hunter's Palace and were waiting for Master Woli. For the Djinn Binding Ritual.
Kaito's brown eyes were shining. His black hair was still messy, but the determination on his face was sharper than ever.
"The big day has finally come. Today we will face the greatest test of our lives so far. And no matter what, we have to win."
Ren, his blue hair falling over his shoulders, his blue eyes cold but focused, nodded.
"For the first time, you're absolutely right."
Aiko's green eyes held a slight unease. She was twirling her pink hair around her finger, hesitating.
"Hmph… dying… I'm actually a little scared."
Just then, a sharp voice was heard. It was Master Woli's voice, echoing through the dark corridor.
"Don't be afraid, brats! If you're afraid, you have no chance of passing this test. This will primarily be a battle of willpower. Today we'll find out who has the strongest will. Follow me!"
After these words, the fired-up team began to follow Master Woli. The path seemed endless. They were descending to the lowest floor of the massive Hunter's Palace. With each floor they went down, the air grew heavier, the light from the torches on the walls dimmer.
Kaito looked back at his friends and asked.
"M-Master, haven't we arrived yet? At this rate, we'll end up in the basement."
Woli continued walking without looking back. His footsteps echoed on the stone floor.
"That's exactly where we're going, brat."
Kaito raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Huh?"
"What were you expecting? Some kind of public ritual? Stop the small talk and walk, come on!"
After walking for a while longer, they finally reached the basement floor. The air had become humid, water seeping down the walls. But what really caught their attention was the massive door in front of them.
The door was so huge that Kaito and his friends looked like ants beside it. Ancient symbols were carved into the iron-plated wooden door. Four guards stood in front of the door, their armor glistening even in the darkness, their spears planted in the ground.
Kaito looked at the guards and noticed something. His brows furrowed.
"The guards at the door… I can't read their Ren. My Ten isn't working."
Ren had tried the same thing. His blue eyes narrowed.
"Yeah, I can't read them either."
Aiko's green eyes widened with anxiety.
"I guess they must be really strong."
Woli nodded slightly.
"If you succeed today, you'll become stronger than them in the future. For now, just focus on the ritual!"
The three shouted in unison. Their voices echoed through the narrow corridor.
"Yes, Master!"
The four of them walked toward the massive door. Just as they reached it, one of the guards raised his arm to stop them.
The guard's voice was deep and authoritative.
"Master Woli, they're inside. They're waiting for you."
Woli nodded. "Understood."
He turned to look at the three young ones.
"Come on, brats. It's beginning."
The guards stepped aside. The massive door creaked open. A dim light and whispering sounds came from inside. When the door fully opened, they could see the interior.
The room was enormous. The ceiling was so high it disappeared into the darkness. Ancient writings, symbols, and drawings covered the walls. The floors weren't made of stone – they were covered in complex seals.
And inside the room were ten people in black robes. Their hoods were up, their faces hidden. They were bent over, drawing seals on the ground. Each was completing a different symbol, whispering something under their breath.
Kaito asked curiously.
"Master, who are these people?"
Ren was looking with the same curiosity.
"I'm curious about that too."
Aiko nodded.
"Yeah, me too."
Woli's voice was calm.
"These are the Djinn Summoners. They prepare the entire ritual. And they perform the ritual."
He crossed his arms.
"While you're inside the seal prepared for you, you'll be in a different dimension. We won't be able to see you. But it will be one by one."
His eyes shifted to Ren.
"Ren, you're up first. They've prepared yours."
Ren nodded. His blue hair fell over his shoulders.
"Understood, Master."
The inside of the room was almost completely dark. Only candlelight illuminated it faintly, casting trembling shadows on the walls. Seals were written on the ground – glowing in red, blue, and green.
And they had gathered around the seal on the right. The whispers were now being heard more loudly.
"Exspanos Pripelnos… Exspanos Pripelnos…"
In this language, it meant Djinn Binding Ritual. They repeated this phrase without stopping. Their voices were growing louder.
Woli pointed toward the seal on the right.
"Ren, go."
Ren swallowed the last bit of saliva in his throat. His steps were heavy. With each step, he sweated and tensed up. There was fear in his blue eyes – but there was no giving up.
Aiko whispered anxiously.
"Master… will he be okay?"
Kaito's answer was sharp.
"Worry about yourself, Aiko. Not Ren."
Woli nodded. "You have your answer."
Aiko fixed her green eyes on Ren. Her pink hair was plastered to her forehead with sweat.
Ren finally stepped inside the seal. His heartbeat had quickened even more.
The Djinn Summoners stopped whispering and began shouting.
"Exspanos Pripelnos! Exspanos Pripelnos! EXSPANOS PRIPELNOS!"
And at that moment, a great wind arose in the room. The candles nearly went out, their flames leaning to one side. Kaito squinted his eyes. Aiko held her hair.
The Djinn Summoners suddenly scattered from around the seal. They moved to the other seal.
Woli's voice echoed in the darkness.
"He… has come."
Kaito swallowed hard and looked at the seal – but he couldn't believe his eyes.
No one was there.
Kaito's voice cracked.
"M-Master… Ren… Ren is gone!"
Aiko's green eyes widened with fear.
"What happened, Master? What happened to Ren? Where did he go?"
Woli's voice was calm but had a sharp edge.
"You're not listening to me, I think. I told you they would go to a different dimension. Focus on this place. Don't think about anything else."
Kaito asked curiously.
"Then why are they going to another dimension, Master?"
"To make the fight completely fair. They're fighting neither in the Djinn realm nor in the human world. Somewhere in between."
At that moment, Ren was in a different dimension.
Everything was pure white. There was nothing. No ground, no sky. No walls, no ceiling. Just an endless void. He could feel a surface beneath his feet, but he couldn't see it.
Ren thought to himself: "Where am I? Where is this?"
Just as he was thinking this, a voice was heard. A deep, electric voice.
"This is a different dimension. Don't bother thinking about it – neither you nor I know this place."
Ren looked around. No one was there.
"Huh, who are you? Where are you?"
"I'm here. Look to your left."
Ren turned his head to the left. He used his Ten.
Suddenly, a being appeared.
His body was filled with blue lightning. He was about two meters tall, human-shaped, but with constant electric currents surging through his body. His eyes glowed pure blue. As if he had come from the heart of a storm.
Ren's blue eyes narrowed.
"So you… you're the Djinn!"
The being's name was Raijin. His voice was calm but carried a threat.
"Let's not drag this out. Since I can't break the rules, I had to come here. So let's finish this quickly, shall we?"
Ren's voice was cold.
"I agree with that idea. I want to gain my new powers quickly."
Raijin tilted his head slightly. A spark danced in his blue eyes.
"If you lose, you'll die… you know that, right?"
At that moment, death came to Ren's mind.
He froze for a moment.
But then – something came to his mind. His eyes shone again. And he shouted.
"NO! There's something I have to do before I die. And I won't die before doing it."
Raijin shrugged. Electric currents coursed through his body.
"That doesn't concern me. But let me ask you a question. What's your name? My name is Raijin."
"Ren."
Raijin nodded. "Ren… that's a good name."
He raised his fists. Blue light flashed.
"Alright then… come on."
Ren immediately attacked. He appeared before Raijin at full speed. He threw a left hook.
His hand was glowing with an orange light. It was Po.
Raijin's blue eyes widened slightly. "So you can use Po. That's good."
But before the punch could reach Raijin – Raijin instantly moved behind Ren. As if he were lightning-fast.
Ren's eyes widened in surprise.
Raijin swung his fist. Ren immediately used his Zan. A shield of pink light formed around him.
BAM!
Ren was saved, but the force of the attack sent him flying five meters back. He rolled on the ground, then immediately got back up.
Raijin stood where he was. There was a hint of appreciation in his blue eyes.
"It seems you've mastered the use of Ren. I see… this will be a good fight."
Ren caught his breath. His blue hair was covered in dust, but his eyes were still shining.
"Why aren't you using your lightning powers?"
Raijin shook his head.
"I'm just like you – new to fighting. I can't use them yet. Those damn Djinn Summoners find us specifically to make the fight fair."
He took a deep breath.
"But if you defeat me… you'll be able to use my power. You already knew that, didn't you?"
Ren's answer was cold.
"I know. And I also know that I will take that power."
Something changed in Raijin's eyes. The sparks started crackling faster.
"This human is very arrogant. What if I break that arrogance?"
And at that moment, Raijin attacked.
"Here it comes – lightning-speed Po attack!"
Ren's eyes widened.
"Is this a joke?"
He activated his Zan again. The pink light shield rose around him.
But Raijin didn't stop. He was bombarding Ren with lightning-fast Po punches. Each punch glowed with orange light and struck the Zan shield. The shield trembled with each blow, and Ren stepped back.
"I have to do something. I can't hold on much longer."
He watched Raijin's movements.
"There! I've got it! He keeps throwing right and left punches. When he throws his right punch, he'll raise his left. When he raises his left… I can attack."
Raijin threw a right punch with Po. Ren took another step back.
Raijin raised his left fist.
At that exact moment – Ren suddenly withdrew his Zan. He raised his right hand. His hand was glowing with orange light.
Po.
And he attacked.
But Raijin looked completely calm. There was no panic in his blue eyes.
Ren threw his right fist at Raijin with all his might.
"There! His left fist is up – he can't block now! Finally!"
Just as the punch was about to hit Raijin –
Raijin suddenly turned his head to the right.
Ren's punch missed.
And Raijin brought down his left fist, still in the air, onto Ren's head with all his strength.
BAM!
Ren crashed straight to the ground. He wasn't moving.
Raijin shook his head. There was no longer any excitement in his blue eyes.
"I guess that's it. Since you're dead, I can take your life energy. Thank you… that was a very easy fight for me."
He dropped his seriousness and approached Ren.
Outside the seal, Kaito, Master Woli, and Aiko were waiting patiently.
But at that moment, something happened.
The seal began to fade.
Kaito asked impatiently.
"Master, how much longer will this take? How many hours have we been here?"
Woli's voice was calm.
"Be patient, brat. Probably only a few minutes have passed there."
Aiko's green eyes widened with fear. Her pink hair had fallen over her shoulders.
"M-Master… what is this?"
Woli looked around the seal. He fell silent.
Kaito asked anxiously.
"What's wrong, Master? Why did you go quiet?"
Woli's voice was heavy.
"The seal is fading."
Kaito's face tensed.
"What does that mean? Did Ren win?"
Aiko's voice trembled.
"I think what it means… is that Ren lost."
Kaito's brown eyes widened with fear. His voice cracked.
"W-what? R-Ren… is he dead?"
Woli was still silent. He didn't take his eyes off the seal.
Inside the seal, Raijin had come to Ren's side. He leaned over, placing his hand on Ren's chest. He was about to start draining his life energy.
"Good. I can begin now."
Raijin tried to drain Ren's life energy.
But he couldn't.
No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't do it. Blue light shot from his hand but wouldn't enter Ren's body.
Raijin's blue eyes widened in shock.
"What's happening? Why can't I drain his life energy?"
While he was thinking about all this, he was completely exposed.
And at that moment – Ren got up at lightning speed.
He swung his fist.
Raijin was in shock.
Ren's voice was cold.
"Here you go. I'm returning your own technique to you. Lightning-speed Po!"
With all his strength, he drove his Po-concentrated fist into the completely exposed Raijin.
BAMM!
Raijin was sent flying ten meters back. He rolled on the ground, tumbling. He finally managed to stop – but he had taken very heavy damage. The blue lights in his body were flickering faintly.
He coughed and struggled to his feet. But he was staggering.
Confusion was in Raijin's blue eyes.
"H-how? How could you do something like that? HOW?"
Ren was out of breath. But the fire in his eyes hadn't gone out.
"The exact same thing happened during training. When I thought I was attacking, I was the one who got attacked. I barely managed to use my Zan."
He clenched his fists.
"I was careful here too. And at the perfect moment… I was able to activate my Zan."
Raijin took a deep breath. His blue eyes were now calmer.
"I see… It's time to finish this fight."
He started running toward Ren with all his remaining strength.
Ren also started running toward Raijin with all his remaining strength.
They met in the middle.
They attacked without stopping, without a moment's hesitation. Right and left fists exploded in the air. THUD THUD THUD – the sounds echoed in the air.
After a while, their fists overflowed with Po. It was as if Po explosions were happening in the air.
Both knew that whoever stepped back would lose.
Ren thought to himself: "I have to stay calm. I realized from the beginning that he was trying to make me angry."
He gritted his teeth.
"There's something I have to do before I die. I promised I wouldn't die before doing it!"
And suddenly, Ren's punching power increased two, even three times over.
Every punch caused a Po explosion. Orange lights flashed and faded in the air.
Raijin's blue eyes widened in shock.
"What's happening? How did he get stronger? HOW?"
He gritted his teeth.
"I can't lose! I REFUSE!"
But finally, Raijin took a step back.
His balance was broken. His last left punch had missed.
Ren seized the opportunity. He loaded his remaining Po into his right fist.
And he made his final attack.
Raijin watched the incoming fist helplessly.
There was only acceptance in his blue eyes now.
"I-I lost… didn't I?"
And at that moment – Ren's fist exploded on Raijin's face.
There was no sound. Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
As if even time didn't exist.
Then Raijin fell face down on the ground.
Ren was barely standing. The joy of victory was keeping him on his feet. His knees were trembling, but he didn't fall.
"D-did I… win?"
At that moment, Raijin slowly got up. His blue eyes were now dim. The lightning in his body had almost disappeared.
"Ren… you won. I will hate you for the rest of my life. Know that."
He took a deep breath.
"But a rule… is a rule."
And at that moment, Raijin transformed into a small blue sphere. The light floated in the air, then entered directly into Ren's chest.
Ren's eyes flashed blue for a moment. Something inside his body had changed.
The seal closed.
Ren emerged from the seal. He was out of breath, his face covered in sweat, but his eyes were shining.
Kaito shouted.
"There! There he is! Master, he's alive!"
Aiko's green eyes were teary.
"That means… he won!"
Woli immediately went to Ren.
"Hey brat, are you okay? What happened?"
Ren didn't say anything.
He just raised his hand. At his fingertips appeared a small bolt of lightning. Blue light danced on his finger, sparks flying.
Woli nodded. A faint smile was on his lips.
"I see. So that's how it is."
He turned around. His eyes shifted to Aiko.
"Aiko… it's your turn."
He pointed to the seal on the left.
"Go to the seal on the left."
To be continued...