467 Strength is everything! (1/2)

Zankita slowly stopped his own fantasies and looked at his cell phone. Only several seconds later did he finally pick up the call.

”Yo. It's me.

”Yeah, I'm currently here.

”What do you want to discuss?”

That was Zankita's half of the conversation. Something flashed in his eyes as he listened to Hisashi's words. However, his face remained expressionless.

Zankita slowly put down his cell phone after the conversation ended.

He once again focused on the fireball before him before waving his hand and causing it to vanish.

After Seiji and Hisashi reached the Juumonji Group residence, they split up, with Seiji heading towards the dojo.

Although Hisashi said it was alright for him to listen in to their conversation if he wanted, Seiji felt that he shouldn't intrude in their family affairs too much.

It would be best if Hisashi was able to convince Zankita with words alone, without having things come to a fight.

Seiji was quite curious as well just what exactly happened to Zankita.

Did Zankita really go to a Spirit World? Would there be any differences for the Awakened and Spiritual Ability users in a Spirit World? Hisashi's idea of a hypothetical group of people that might have contacted Zankita… did they really exist? And if they did, who were they, and what was their goal?

Seiji patiently waited in the dojo.

A few minutes later, he heard the sound of footsteps.

A red-haired man slowly walked into the dojo… by himself.

Seiji exchanged glances with him.

”Where's Hisashi?”

”He's unconscious.”

”Did you do that to him?”

”That's right.”

Seiji furrowed his eyebrows.

”I didn't think you were the type of person who'd hit his own brother.”

”I thought the same of myself just a few minutes ago.”

Zankita smiled widely.

His smile had something indescribable about it… something negative and dark.

”But actually, when I really hit him, I found out that it wasn't much of a big deal at all. So what if he's my little brother? Even if he's my family, if he makes me displeased… I'll act on my displeasure.” A dark look entered Zankita's eyes. ”Why should I be restrained by such things? My younger brother… my father… the Juumonji Group… all these things used to be really important to me, but that was all just a mistaken impression I had due to my own weakness. Now, I'm someone strong, far beyond their level… why should I still care about them and allow them to hold me back? No… I don't need such things… I don't need to be like how I was before. I shouldn't have to be like before!”

Zankita reached out his hand and summoned a blue flame that illuminated his face which was becoming distorted.

”I'm someone powerful, someone special! I should be… free!”

His flame instantly burned even fiercer than earlier.

”You want to be free…? What comes after that? What do you want the freedom to do?”

”Does it even need saying? Of course, to become stronger!”

”Why do you want to become stronger?”

”As long as I'm strong, I can do anything I want!” Zankita shouted loudly. ”Strength is everything!!”

Seiji was rendered speechless.

He really wanted to make a comment here, but there was so much to comment on that he didn't even know where to start.

Just as he was thinking about how to retort, he saw Zankita suddenly waving his hand, causing the flames on his hand to transform into a fireball which shot in Seiji's direction!

Seiji dodged the fireball which crashed into the ground and exploded with a loud boom.

”I lost twice to you before. This time… I'll definitely win!”

Zankita's entire body erupted with blue flames as he rushed over and punched at Seiji.

Seiji dodged the first few of Zankita's punches and attacks. Seiji then stepped forward and landed a strong punch upon Zankita's stomach area!

It felt as if he had punched a steel board.

Also, the flames on Zankita's body attacked him at the same time as he managed to land the punch. If it wasn't for the fact that Seiji cast [Mana Barrier] on himself beforehand, he would have definitely been injured with burns.

Zankita who was wreathed in blue flames merely backed up two steps from receiving Seiji's heavy punch before continuing to attack Seiji again!

Zankita had indeed become much stronger.

Seiji remained calm during the fight. He aimed for Zankita's unguarded areas and managed to strike him with a Mana-infused punching technique.

Zankita roared and gathered two fireballs, one in each hand, tossing them at Seiji!

*Whoosh!* *Whoosh!*

Seiji dodged both fireballs, but he was unable to dodge Zankita's kick that came together with the fireballs, and took a vicious direct hit.

*Boom!* Blue flames exploded.