CHAPTER 3
In the morning, Nemisis lay awake on his bed, staring at the ceiling. The conversation from yesterday replayed in his mind.
Who really was Mom?
The door creaked open, and a light-skinned dark elf stepped inside, a bag slung over her shoulder.
"Are you awake?" she asked.
Nemisis sat up, staring at her in silence. His head tilted slightly, confusion flickering across his face.
"And you are?" Nemisis asked.
"Stop fooling around and get ready," she said flatly.
"Ready? Lady, I don't even know you."
"What do you - oh, right. I am Aenzil. Remember now?"
"Aenzil? How can I be sure it's you?"
Nemisis walked over and looked into her eyes.
"Oh... it is you", he smiled in realization. "Hard to recognize someone when they show up masked."
"Tsk, here," throws the bag at him. "Change into those and hurry, we need to get moving."
"Um, are you going to watch me change?"
Aenzil grunted and stepped outside, "I will be waiting for you outside."
As they passed, a group of soldiers whispered among themselves, stealing glances at Nemisis.
"Can he really be?" a soldier whispered to the other.
"He doesn't seem that tough," said another.
Aenzil sighed, "It looks like Tezuka has been quite busy."
At the Outer Ward (a big open training ground), Tezuka stood beside old man Kuto. Waiting for the arrival of Nemisis and Aenzil.
Kuto looked at them for a brief moment, "I want to inform you that Nemisis is going to join you in the tournament."
"The tournament?" Tezuka questioned.
"But he doesn't know anything," Aenzil added.
"Yes, but he easily dodged your basic sneak attacks," Kuto said with a teasing tone.
"He caught up with you?" Tezuka asked proudly. "I liked seeing him do that with me."
"That's why we are here today, for you to test your basic moves on him," said Kuto.
"Do I have a say in this?" asked Nemisis.
"Not yet."
"But – "
"Don't worry, it's just a training."
Kuto and Aenzil sat down, Tezuka and Nemisis stood in the center of the training ground. Soldiers who were passing by stopped to watch them.
Tezuka and Nemisis stared at each other for a second.
Before Nemisis could blink, Tezuka disappeared before him. He appeared beside him, landing a punch on his face.
Nemisis is sent flying into the wall of the Outer Ward.
"THAT'S TOO EASY," Tezuka roared with pride.
He turns his gaze to Kuto and Aenzil.
"I can see your fear is gone after what I told you yesterday," said Aenzil.
"Gotta admit I was scared then, but I noticed he is human, besides you know the family he's from."
Aenzil smiled
"Why are you smiling?"
He turned his back, Nemisis stood up, and he took off his long black jacket.
"Got to admit, you pack a lot of power in your punches," Nemisis wipes blood from the lips.
Tezuka smiled, "Thanks."
He dashed towards Nemisis, attacking him with punches. Nemesis avoided the attack by moving backwards. The speed of every punch increases, and the air takes longer to react after each one.
Tezuka's smile widened as his eyes lit up. "What's wrong? can't keep up?"
Nemisis grunts. The punches were now too quick for him to dodge.
Ok, I have to do this. Now Nemisis time it like how mom thought you.
Nemisis closed his eyes, took a deep breath, opened them, stopped moving, and leaned back as Tezuka came for the attack. He grabbed his arm and hit it hard with his elbow, which caused Tezuka to lose his footing.
Nemisis then forms a fist, and the air around him vibrates violently as he goes in for the punches. As the punch came in contact with Tezuka's face, it created a huge shockwave and force.
Tezuka stood still, blood dripping down his nose, and he dropped to the ground.
Kuto and Aenzil head towards them.
"That's going to hurt, said Kuto.
"Aenzil, take Tezuka to the infirmary and head to Master Kuyuki, Nemisis come with me".
Nemisis followed Kuto towards the castle pond.
"So what do you think?" he turns to Nemisis.
"You are walking with your eyes closed... so how do you know I didn't wander off?"
Kuto laughed as he took a seat on a nearby bench.
"It is not yet time for you to understand that," Kuto said gently. "But I can feel something still troubles you."
Nemisis took a seat beside Kuto, his eyes fixed on the pond. For a moment, he said nothing.
His usual composure was replaced by a quiet uncertainty.
"I was wondering..." he finally said, breaking the silence. "Do you think I might be able to save him?"
"Mmh, what makes you say that?" Kuto asked calmly.
"Tezuka was holding back," Nemisis said. "I could feel it. Am I really that weak...just because I'm human? And if we're related... why am I human at all?"
"We are indeed related," he said. "As for why you are human... the answer is simple, though not one you are ready for yet. I know you have many questions, but for now we must focus on what matters - saving your brother."
"You think I can do it?" Nemisis asked.
You can not do it alone," Kuto replied. "That's why I will have Tezuka and Aenzil assist you."
Nemesis's eyes widened. "Really?"
"Yes," Kuto smiles, "But you must prove you can stand beside them. That's why I added you to the tournament."
"Oh, I see."
"So, what do you think? Do you still want to join them? Although if you don't want to participate, I can still let them help you."
There is silence between them as a gentle wind blows, creating ripples on the water's surface.
"I will."
Kuto raised his eyebrows.
"I will join the tournament; it may also help me discover what I'm truly capable of."
"Ah, spoken like a true Xercise," Kuto said with a faint smile.
"Xercise?" Nemisis repeated.
"Yes, that's the family name. Now, I want you to meet someone."
"Huh?"
"Take this as your first test, don't worry about anything, I'll still be close."
"You are not coming?"
"I have to create a spot for you in the tournament. Just make sure you really are in The Land of Falling Gold, head towards the Golden Peak mountain."
"....."
"Don't worry, it's going to be fine, I think?"
"Wait, what do you mea -"
Before Nemisis could continue, Kuto snapped his fingers, causing Nemisis to disappear.
Nemisis reappears inside an abandoned wooden house. Dust drifted through the air as he stepped out.
Below the hill lay a snow-covered town, its rooftops painted white beneath the falling frost.
Thin trails of smoke rose from chimneys, and beyond the settlement, a towering mountain of gold-tinted stone pierced the clouds - The Golden Peak.
Nemisis exhales slowly.
"So this is the Land of Falling Gold."
In the town, people stared at him as if was some kind of creature - and to them, that was true, for humans did not belong in their world, nor even in their universe.
He entered an inn. The moment he stepped inside, every gaze turned toward him.
He slowly made his way to the counter, where the attendant - a tall, hairy man - stood watching him carefully.
"Ah, fine gentleman, what brings your kind here?" the man asked with a smile.
"How long will it take me to reach the mountain's peak?" Nemisis asked.
"Ha! That's a good one, lad," the attendant laughed, pouring him a cup of water.
Nemisis frowned. "Why, what's so funny?"
"You see," the attendant said, "humans rarely last long in this world".
"Huh?"
"Your kind might be powerful on that stone you call home, but here, even the weakest among us surpasses humans in every aspect."
Nemisis remained silent. This planet was nearly six times the size of Earth's sun — a world where even survival followed different rules.
Before Nemisis could respond, a disturbance rose outside the inn.
At first, it was only noise-hurried footsteps, distant shouts, the clatter of metal against stone. Then the door burst open.
"Raiders! Raiders in town!"
Panic erupted instantly, chairs scraped across the floor as people scrambled to their feet. Some rushed outside to find their families, while others dropped low in fear, whispering frantic prayers.
Nemisis stood slowly, his gaze sharpening.
Without a word, he stepped out of the inn.
Chaos greeted him.
Smoke drifted through the snowy streets as raiders clashed with town guards. Steel rang against steel. Villagers ran in every direction, cries echoing between buildings.
A guard fell nearby.
A child stood frozen behind him - too frightened to move.
One of the raiders turned, raising his weapon towards the helpless figure.
In an instant, Nemisis moved.
The ground cracked softly as he dashed forward. The raider's blade came down-
-and stopped.
Nemisis caught it with his bare hand.
The impact sent a sharp shock through the air, but he did not move. Blood slid faintly across his palm, yet his expression remained calm.
He glanced back.
"It's alright," he said calmly. "Run."
The child hesitated only a moment before fleeing.
The raider blinked in disbelief.
"...A human"
Laughter broke out among the surrounding raiders.
"Look at this," one mocked. " A human trying to play hero."
Another tilted his head, studying Nemisis.
"Wait... he might be those humans blessed with power."
"You mean superhuman?" another asked.
He released the blade; the wound in his palm was healed.
The next moment blurred into motion.
He moved through them like a shifting shadow, disarming one, striking another, each movement precise and effortless. Raiders fell one after another, unable to follow his speed.
"Wait... even if he is superhuman, his flesh is still like that of a regular human."
The laughter faded
Annoyance replaced it.
From behind the group, a large figure stepped forward - the raider's leader.
"So," the man said, cracking his neck, "the human thinks he can fight."
Nemisis lifted his eyes to meet him, a faint grin forming on his face
The leader laughed, "I don't care whether you are a human or a superhuman". A Khopesh appears in his right hand, "You disrupted my amusement."
He dashed towards Nemisis the ground cracked under his feet, and spirit energy surged around him.
The strike came fast.
Nemisis shifted one step to the left.
The blade missed.
The leader attacked again and again, each swing faster than the last, yet Nemisis moved smoothly - far more refined than during his encounter with Aenzil and Tezuka.
Suddenly, the leader halted.
Energy gathered along the edge of his Khopesh, compressing into a violent glow.
With a roar, he released the attack.
A wave of power shot towards Nemisis.
Nemisis raised a single hand.
The energy shattered on contact, scattering like broken glass across the air.
Silence followed
"...That's new," Nemisis murmured.
The leader stared at him as though he had seen a ghost.
Before fear could fully take hold, he lunged again, launching smaller burst of energy in rapid succession.
Nemisis deflects them effortlessly, crushing each one with his bare hands.
The leader staggered back.
Impossible.
He tightened his grip on his weapon, eye narrowing.
"Enough with this disguise of yours, your power is beyond a superhuman, who are you?" he demanded.
Nemisis stared at him. The leader adjusted his stance-
-and Nemisis vanished.
A sudden presence appeared beside him.
Nemisis caught the descending Khopesh with his bare hand.
Crack.
The weapon shattered.
The leader's knees trembled as fragments fell into the snow.
Nemisis looked down at him calmly.
"I destroyed your weapon," He said quietly.
For a brief moment, Nemisis glanced at his own hand, as though sensing something changing within him.
He turned and began walking back towards heading the inn.
"Wait...." the trembling leader cried. "If you are a Higher One... please forgive me."
Nemisis paused only long enough to glance back - then continued back on.
Inside the inn, he finished the water that he had been offered earlier before stepping out again.
The child he saved stood waiting.
Nemisis smiled faintly and patted the child's head before heading towards the mountain.
The guards and the people watched silently as he passed.
At the Kingdom of EL Tanorie, in the El Tenorie Arena, the tournament takes place.
"The Blue Phoenix is out, the winner is Clara from Pyion," said the official.
"Our next is Tezuka from Fantasy City against Xdio from Diamo."
A murmur spread through the arena as a green-haired woman stepped onto the field, her long bangs falling over the strange mark hidden on her forehead.
"Let the fight begin!" the official announced.
Xdio walked forward lazily.
"You look kind of weak," she said, already sounding bored.
Tezuka smiled faintly. "So they finally convinced you to join this year's tournament."
"I heard this one might actually be interesting," she replied, as white chakra gathered around her hand.
Xdio dashed forward with a blinding speed. A dagger formed in her hand as she slashed toward Tezuka.
Tezuka reacted instantly, summoning a sword to block the strike.
With her free hand, Xdio formed a ball of fire and hurled it at him.
Ken stepped aside in time.
He's really quick, she thought.
Xdio raised her hand, summoning hundreds of fireballs into the sky.
Tezuka lifted his hand. Lightning split the sky.
A storm of electric strikes rained down, destroying the fireballs and slamming into Xdio.
She smirked. "Well, I underestimated you."
"You seemed bored earlier, so I didn't want to disappoint."
She smiled, "Is that a compliment?"
"Take it how you want."
Blue chakra surged around Xdio.
Tezuka's spirit energy answered, lightning dancing across the arena floor.
Both stood ready.
The real fight was about to begin.