Chapter 82: Ice, Thunder and Fire
FLASHBACK
The sun blazed overhead as Kuragami, Homura, and Isamu, three little boys, found themselves engaged in a friendly sparring session. Kuragami, with his ice aura, conjured frozen shards that danced around him. Homura, his Fire Disciple friend, created intense flames that flickered and crackled at his fingertips. Isamu, on the other hand, stood with an air of mystery, his thunder abilities yet to be unveiled.
"Kuragami, your ice is cool and all, but my fire is much stronger!" Homura exclaimed with a mischievous grin.
Kuragami chuckled, his breath turning into a frosty mist.
"We'll see about that, Homura. All my training with Yuma and Hasake isn't for nothing!"
"Yeah but Master Endou himself has fought me to control my aura. So your finished!"
Isamu observed them both. As the battle commenced, Kuragami unleashed his ice shurikens, sending them whirling toward Homura. Flames erupted from Homura's palms, engulfing the shurikens before they could reach him.
Not to be outdone, Kuragami crafted ice shields, deflecting Homura's scorching flames.
As the spar intensified, Kuragami and Homura weaved their auras together in a dazzling display. Streams of fire danced around Kuragami's icebergs, creating an ethereal fusion of heat and cold. Isamu, inspired by their synergy, released a thunderous clap that reverberated through the field.
"You guys seem like your having too much fun!"
"Uh oh!"
Suddenly, the sky darkened, clouds swirling above them. A storm brewed, lightning flashing across the horizon. Isamu's thunder resonated with the atmospheric electricity, enhancing his powers. He channeled his energy, directing bolts of lightning toward his friends.
Kuragami and Homura, caught off guard by Isamu's newfound strength, quickly adjusted their tactics. Kuragami encased himself in a dome of ice, shielding himself from the electrical onslaught. Homura summoned a vortex of flames, dispersing the lightning bolts before they could strike him.
The three boys continued their exhilarating battle, their powers pushing them to their limits. Ice clashed with fire, thunder roared against the crackling flames. Each strike and counterstrike revealed their unwavering determination and the deep bond they shared.
As the sun began its descent, casting an orange glow over the field, the boys paused to catch their breath. Sweat trickled down their faces, their clothes singed and frostbitten. But their spirits burned brighter than ever.
"You were right Kuragami, your training with Yuma and Hasake really paid off."
"I told you. But I guess you ain't half bad. Master Endou really made you stronger."
"So you guys don't feel that somethings off."
The next day dawned with an air of tension and unease hanging over the once inseparable trio. Isamu, still grappling with his own emotions, found himself growing distant from Kuragami and Homura. The vibrant bond they once shared seemed to have shattered overnight.
As they gathered at their usual meeting spot, Kuragami and Homura exchanged worried glances, sensing the growing rift between them and Isamu. The energy that once crackled with excitement now felt heavy and burdened.
Isamu, with a solemn expression on his face, broke the silence.
"I can't do this anymore. Our powers may be extraordinary, but the way we use them is completely different. I don't want to be a part of this anymore."
Kuragami and Homura were taken aback, their hearts sinking at Isamu's words. They tried to reason with him, to understand the sudden change in his demeanor, but Isamu seemed resolute in his decision.
"I've realized that our powers clash too much. Kuragami, your ice freezes everything. It's annoying. And Homura, your fire is too much, it consumes everything in its path. I mean, it is advised that disciples should stay with their own group.
Kuragami starts to get angry. He grips Isamu's shirt.
"What do you mean stay with their own group?! Your seriously being a Shiyasemai(Disciple way of saying prejudice) right now?!"
"It's not Shiyasemai to realise differences."
"You think?!"
Isamu's gaze gets stronger.
"Get off me Kuragami! Or else!"
"Or else what!"
"Guys wait don't-"
Isamu punches Kuragami to the air. He uses his thunder to boost him up.
"Fine if that's how you want to play!"
Kuragami creates 6 ice shurikens all between his fingers. He throws them all towards Isamu but he dodges.
"I'll just have to put you in your place, with these new techniques I learnt! Bouncing Thunderbolts!"
Isamu creates many thunderbolts that are as fast as real thunder. They start bouncing in the air, back and forth, up and down. Kuragami lands in the middle of everything.
Yuma and Hasake appear from the forest. They try make it so the three doesn't know they're there. Hasake has his hands in his pockets. They have their armbands on.
"Kuragami is in another fight?! He definitely gets it from you Yuma."
Yuma punches Hasake's arm.
"This is bad though. For his age the lighting bolts are too fast that I can't even see them. I don't see Kuragami winning."
"10,000 Sints Kuragami wins."
Yuma looks at Hasake perplexed.
"5,000 he loses."
"Come on! 10,000"
"Nope."
"We're Shorai now. We get paid. Good money too for them S.I.D missions! 10,000. And that's low."
Yuma sighs.
"Fine. 10,000."
"There we go!"
They both shake hands.
Kuragami quickly assesses the situation and springs into action. With acrobatic flips and nimble movements, he skillfully dodges the bouncing thunderbolts, evading their dangerous paths.
"Yeah deals off."
"No way we shook hands."
As Isamu increases the intensity of the attack, Kuragami decides to take a more defensive approach. He uses his Ice Aura to form a protective shield, creating a barrier of solid ice around him. As the bouncing thunderbolts come rushing towards him, they collide with the icy barricade, diffusing their destructive energy harmlessly.
Seeing an opportunity to counter, Kuragami capitalizes on the moment when Isamu briefly pauses to redirect his technique. He launches a swift and precise ice shurikens towards Isamu, forcing him to dodge in return.
"Kuragami, Isamu stop this!"
"No! You two need to realise that our groups aren't compatible!"
"Shut up with this bullsh*t! It's all in your head."
"Shut up! It's time for my second technique!"
Isamu raises his aura. Three thunderbolts form around him and come together in the palm of his hands, becoming one.
"What the hell is that Isamu?!"
Isamu chuckles.
"Tri Thunder Palm!"
The thunder leaves the palm of his hand and turns into a speedy thunder strike towards Kuragami.
Yuma tries to step in but Hasake stops him.
However even though the attack is too fast for Kuragami to visibly see it, he still manages to do a flip and dodge it. It creates a large explosion behind him.
"Isamu won't give up! I have to end this now."
Yuma is suprised that Kuragami dodged it.
"Have more faith in your little brother. Damn Yuma! You really think he's gonna lose?"
"I was just worried. That's all."
"You won't give up Kuragami?! Well this will stop you. My final technique!"
Isamu's aura raises drastically. Kuragami gets prepared.
"Thunder Coating: Lightning Rush!"
Kuragami gets a glimpse of a vision.
"A Coating Technique?! No way!"
"How could a kid their age do that. Yuma, most of the people our age can't even perform coating techniques."
Isamu charges at Kuragami faster than all his lighting bolts.
"If what I saw is real then that means,"
Kuragami can't see Isamu charging at him. However he jumps up,
"He should be right here by now!"
And kicks in front of him with his kick aiming to the ground. He made contact with Isamu.
Kuragami can then see Isamu crash to the ground.
Kuragami jumps back. He sees Isamu struggling to get up.
"10k Sints are mine."
Yuma gets some coins out of his pockets and gives it to Hasake.
"Pleasure doing business!"
"Shut up."
They both walk off.
Kuragami and Homura walk up to Isamu.
Kuragami offers to lift him up from the ground. However, Isamu slaps his hand away.
"You're liking this Kuragami?! My father warned me about you, you Nozomi's!"
"What about us?!"
"Your selfish! And you think your way is the right way all the time!"
Isamu stands up.
"And the worst thing of all, you steal other people's glory. Take credit for everything. You're just bullies."
Isamu walks off furious.
"Isamu, wait-"
"Don't bother Homura. He's made his choice."
From that day on, Isamu hasn't hated someone as much as he hated, Kuragami Nozomi.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone