"Father…. Was a liar."

"So, what am I supposed to do today?" asked young Hoshi at an orange coloured field back at his home planet.

His height and body shape was way smaller than what he had now. The field was full of clover shaped yellow leaves that had fallen from the short, thick barked trees scattered all around. It was early morning, a bit cloudy but an adequate amount of sunlight still shone on his and his father's faces who were standing closely.

"We are going to increase your usual training sessions today." Ander was in his usual getup but without his cape. Hoshi was also missing his scarf and armor, the rest was the same.

"What? Aren't four hundred push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups and a forty kilometer run enough? On top of that I practice honing my aura everyday, and that's already taxing my body to the fullest!" complained Hoshi.

"Don't worry we will increase it bit by bit. Also, this hard work of yours will pay off eventually someday. That day, you will look back to this day and realise it was all worth it," assured Ander.

"Liar! You Liar! All that hard work was for nothing! I can't save anyone. I am absolutely useless!"

"But I don't get it. You are already very strong. We live forever anyways, so why am I required to go through all this? Aren't you capable of handling any threats our planet may receive?" questioned Hoshi.

"The value of something doesn't always reveal itself right away. Trust me when I say this, this training of yours is more important for the future of our people than for you or anything else. Actually, it's important for everything in existence and their survival depends on it. You may be thinking what I am saying right now is idiotic but it's true. I can't tell you why right now but you will find out soon. For now just trust me and get on with your training!" Ander emphasized.

"The survival of everything in existence.. depends on me?" Hoshi began to laugh hysterically. "Bullshit! To hell with that! Isn't this child a part of that existence!? Damnit!" His voice died with each word as now he was lamenting.

"Your father is right, Hoshi. You are still young. Endure this, for everyone's sake. Your time will come. It eventually does for everyone, who doesn't give up. For now, set your anger free. The one who killed that child is in front of you. You may have failed to save him, but you can prevent this fate from falling upon others. Go, Fin Nis Kos Krent, the cycle CAN be broken." A deep echoing voice penetrated Hoshi's mind a moment after he went silent.

"It can? But I was told it can't," mouthed Hoshi.

"That's up for you to decide." Upon hearing these words, the listener suddenly began floating in the air as he went to an upright position. A flaccid aura reappeared around his body while his face was concealed behind a shadow. Miniature swift red lightning travelled around his body and his hair became darker as well as more jagged. He proceeded to lift his head and reveal his insincere face with more flattened pupils in his eyes. There was a red ring around them and small bursts of aura radiated from them. He again closed his eyes and this time a shiny red ball grew around him to enclose his body completely.

The Fenikkusu took notice of this transformation at the earliest and released Kazan from the pressure of his compressed armor in order to turn towards this new threat. After getting a brief relief, the hunter also observed Hoshi in perplexity. Xiang also halted on his way to Hoshi with the deceased boy still in his arms and was shocked to see a radiant red cocoon holding someone he knew inside.

Inside the red ball, Hoshi's skin was undergoing drastic changes. It became more firm and rigid while its colour changed to a lighter shade of red and his muscles became much more well defined as if they were completely naked. The same skin covered his hair leaving sharp protrusions on his head while his ears and eyebrows disappeared under it. Not a single strand of hair was left exposed over the skin. The Phoenix used its ability and launched a few medium sized rocks at the ball, they all disseminated on contact.

Hoshi's mind wasn't blank during this transformation, as a flashback kept haunting his brain. This time, it showed a different battle of only two people of the opposite genders. Both of the warriors' faces were concealed out by a grayish haze but at least their clothing was visible. The tall man was wearing loose white robes with a red necklace while the slender woman was wearing a ragged black dress with a purple necklace. The pendants on both of the necklaces were half pieces which went into one another. Together, they completed the shape of a flower.

"Those gents bethought the genesis of conflict wast inexorable. Wherefore didn't those two hath kept living in peace as those gents once didst? Those gents did love each other to death, didn't those gents? Those gents bethink those gents art frail because those gents didn't has't the thew 'r the opulence. Nay, those gents were weak because those gents bethought those gents didn't has't a choice."

The ball shattered and revealed a fully recasted Hoshi with fully blackened eyes and grey shadowing. A complex symbol burned on his forehead and all aura around him disappeared. He glared at the Phoenix in front of him and showed how much he loathed it. He scowled and his entire eyes began glowing red with orange shadowing. The swift red lightning and overflowing red aura reappeared around his body as he took a step towards his foe and instantly closed the gap.

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He grabbed his opponent's neck and locked it into place with his unfaltering aura. He proceeded by grabbing his katana which was still impaled in the body of the Fenikkusu and pulled it straight out. Large streaks of blood sprayed out of the sizable now open wound.

Immediately after, the bleeding creature spread its wings once more and took flight as its oppressor released it for a second.

"Such incredible strength, such ominous aura and such menacing presence. Is this monster really Hoshi?" Xiang placed the boy he was carrying down and inquired.

Kazan managed to get back on his feet and stripped himself out of his now useless armor, Revealing his black coloured chainmail torso and greaves. He also commented on the situation, "I hope he is still on our side. Damn kid, you truly are gifted.

The Fenikkusu was leaking a lot of blood, it couldn't even muster the energy to control the rocks around it and decided to flee this battle. Being aware of this, Hoshi looked up towards his opponent and after throwing away his katana, attained a squatting position. After infusing a significant amount of aura in his legs, he leaped in the sky. His speed was tremendous as in a few seconds, he reached the Phoenix who was still in mid flight.

In the air, Hoshi concentrated his aura on three specific parts of his right leg including the outer side of his thigh, knee and lower leg. Large black rings emitting intense red flames suddenly appeared on all those locations. He then landed a devastating kick on the Fenikkusu's chest, launching it further up the sky. This attack broke most of the thoracic bones of the majestic bird, rendering it unable to flap its wings.

As a follow up, Hoshi now concentrated the aura in his hands and generated a bow and arrow made up of a red crystalline material while the string was still flexible and springy enough to function properly. Once ready, he took aim and released an arrow which pierced through his opponent's heart. He now began to fall to the ground, but he had not a single worry on his face.

After transferring aura back to his legs, he was able to land perfectly on his feet without any damage while creating a crater where he landed. Before the Fenikkusu who fell right behind Hoshi, a brief rain of blood dripped everywhere around the field.

Both Xiang and Kazan were shocked to see the legendary creature dead a few moments after Hoshi transformed.

"That was quick but I am glad it is over." Xiang was slightly at ease but didn't let his guard down just yet.

"Haruto, it is finally done. The beast that killed you has now bitten the dust. Go ahead and rest, old friend," mouthed Kazan as he stared up in the clouds.

Xiang slowly approached Hoshi who was just standing still on the exact location he landed on.

"It is over Hoshi. You can take it easy now," said Xiang.

Hoshi growled and turned around to face Xiang who began trembling after seeing a horrendous face filled with hatred and wrath. The glared upon man stepped back with haste and took a defensive stance. Without hesitation, he began attacking his friend upfront using his semi flexed fingers and fists.

"Cut it out! It's me, Xiang!" The one attacked used his reflexes at the maximum to avoid this assault without fighting back.

His body was clearly being taxed and it was certain he wouldn't be able to keep this us up much longer. Kazan swiftly moved towards Hoshi even though he was severely injured and grabbed his left hand.

"That's enough! Has all your anger taken the better of you? You couldn't save the child so what? Don't you realise you prevented this fate from falling upon many children in the future? Stand down now because you are acting like a bloodthirsty monster yourself!" stressed Kazan.

Hoshi didn't falter one bit and punched Kazan in the abdomen, throwing him back while vomiting out blood.

The rogue warrior generated a red crystalline sword in his right hand and began walking towards Xiang who was still nearby.

"What are you trying to achieve!?" questioned Xiang.

"Xiang! He is out of his mind! He will kill you!" yelled Kazan after struggling back up again.

"I know but I can't accept that this is indeed the same Hoshi I knew." Just as Xiang spoke, Hoshi closed the distance between them and was about to slit the throat of the person right in front of him.

Before he could, his sword was intercepted by a large purple crystalline scythe with two blades pointing out with a curve. The one who wielded this weapon pulled it upwards, shattering Hoshi's sword and pushing his arm back.

The interceptor was revealed as a young man with spiky green hair with streaks of black which resembled the pattern of lightning. His wavy eyebrows and orange coloured irises went well with his smug facial expression. His skin color was slightly darker than Hoshi and he was taller and slightly less built than the former. He was wearing a red coloured torso with deep black trousers, both skin tight. His torso had a dark looking sigil printed perfectly between a symmetrical abstract of black running through his upper chest.

"Who are you?" questioned Xiang.

"Get back Xiang. I have a bad feeling about him. After dealing with so many people, I can tell that clearly he can't be trusted," cautioned Kazan.

The man completely ignored the two behind him and conversed with Hoshi.

"It was damn hard locating you. I had none of my servants nearby so I had to rely on your aura to find you," he casually said.

Hoshi's head suddenly began to hurt as he clenched it with his hands and grew only more ferocious after seeing the face of the one he was now facing.

"You could've been killed by that bird, you know. But I am glad you weren't. It's about time I test you myself. Let's see whether a year worth of training and guidance from your ancestors closed the gap between us!" the man excitedly challenged.

"Do.. r..ian… Dori..aannn!" growled Hoshi.

"What? You shouldn't have known my name just yet! What a pain! Oh well, this changes very little. Now, enough talk! Let's do this, I am getting pumped!" Dorian retracted his scythe and excitedly took an open stance with his arms above his abdomen.

End of Chapter thirty-six.