A/n: Just a little bit reminder, I will fix chapters from chapter 1 to chapter 14 since I re-read my story and I got annoyed by all of my grammar errors. I won't say that my grammar is alright now but at least I feel satisfied with it. There's a chance that I will add or change a little detail on those chapters. So if you re-read it and regain your memories about my story's plot, I would appreciate it.

"I'm here now, so let them go."

"To think you would be that naive." Jishindo stood up from his throne and climbed down the stairs. "Don't even bother, I'm done with you. Your friends aren't that precious, but better than nothing."

Aichi could barely remember how he entered the Castle and strangely walked to the throne room without the security's notice. Standing straight in front of Jishindo was enough to squeeze his lungs and any kind of rebellion in his heart.

He left Kourin and Emi to Sargon although he had to swallow Emi's refusal for it.

Jishindo waited for Aichi's response while laughing quietly at Aichi's forceful intimidating face. 

"I... " Aichi threw away his stutter before continue, "I won't back myself from here before you entrust my comrades back to me."

Jishindo finally let his laugh out loud along with his people's laugh inside the room, an alternative way to 'appreciate' Aichi's tryhard courage.

If Aichi has something to say to himself at that time, he would totally say 'Screw my performances.'

"What an outstanding persona you have right there, young man. To think you would use this kind of method for the sake of my consent." Jishindo said, followed by his pity-clapping hands.

"..." Aichi was too embarrassed to refuse those remarks.

One thing that he knows about negotiation is to have a good attraction in front of interlocutors, yet he failed that one.

Iachi would be disappointed in him if he was next to him.

Nevermind, there's no way Iachi would let his brother take control of this 'negotiation'.

Jishido approached Aichi as Aichi lifted his head to keep his eye contact with the king of Clan Saigai. The people bowed to their king and gave Aichi the nastiest look while they were at it.

"Do you think you're stronger than your friends just because you have more elements than the total they have?" Aichi nodded, clenching his fists. "Are you strong enough to replace your friends?" 

Aichi quickly realized the trap that Jishindo might've put on him so he didn't answer the question.

Luckily, Aichi saw Jishindo's 'impressed' look even for a while. This could mean that he just avoided the worst outcome.

Although his guts instinct gave him a tiny victory, Aichi knew he needs to save his gratitude for later.

"This is not good, I don't know where this is going." Aichi thought, not knowing that his sweat fell from his chin and landed on Jishindo's carpet.

"Can you fight me with only one element in place of your friends?"

Aichi froze in his spot as the gravity turned heavier than before. He thought that Aini might be here to save him but he also knew too well that he was alone against Clan Saigai. "F-Fight... ?"

"I said fight cause' you obviously will lose no matter what, I just want you to become my appetizer before I punished your friends for my satisfaction."

Before Aichi could throw his comment on those statements, his eyes fell shut as Jishindo punched the air beside his ear.

He could feel his blood rushed faster to his heart, trembling by the sound of Jishindo's arm veins through his rock armor. That would either mean to signal Aichi to run for his life or behaved for the love of God.

"Iachi... " He begged in silence for his twin brother to wake him up from his nightmare.

"I love the trembling leaf like you get crushed in my clutches. That reaction is what I love the most in my job." Jishindo pulled his hand back while Aichi almost fell on his knees. "Here's the deal. If you can satisfy me before I had time to punish your friends, I'll free them all."

Aichi lifted his head shakily, "You... mean... " 

"That's right, there's a chance I would be satisfied even if you drop dead. I could just break the deal if your death isn't anything satisfying."

"It's a deal."

Jishindo was startled by Aichi's fast response, he thought that the person in front of him wasn't the same teen he talked to a few seconds ago but turns out that it was still Aichi who couldn't stop trembling on his spot.

How can this scaredy-cat have the sudden courage when he hears a word like 'drop dead'?

Jishindo felt his adrenaline crawled wildly through his body just by seeing Aichi's frightened face. "This kid sure knows how to satisfy me just by his face. I should hold myself back as I want him to satisfy me more at the arena."

Jishindo signaled his people to begin the preparations and asked two of his people to hold Aichi's arms from the back.

They took the frightened bluenette to the underground where his comrades were held captive. 

Aichi's POV

"He'll free you all if I can satisfy him by fighting." I said after giving a full explanation for what had happened.

Aicha grabbed the dungeon's bar in full shock. "No! Don't! Please don't do it!" She said while Aini was devastated when she heard that sentence.

"That jerk... really pisses me off." Iachi grit his teeth and smirked in full annoyance.

Note: The Saigai's knight strangely gave his jacket back out of nowhere.

I leaned myself to the wall while looking at two jails at my left where Sasaki and Iachi were in and at my right where Aini, Yuki, and Aicha were in. 

I saw too many suffering people in this underground when I was on my way to meet them. The thought of all of them will face the same faith as all the prisoners freaked me out to death.

The warrants weren't helping their lives whatsoever like animals.

Yet, I let out a deep sigh of relief when I saw my friends and families in good condition except for a big wound on Sasaki's right cheek.

They let me talk to my friend 'for one last time' before I face the 'honorable' death to satisfy the King, that's what they said.

I looked at Iachi who turned his head away from me. Just when I want to call his name, my mind keeps telling me not to. It will only make his mood worse by the time I let one comment, be it 'Don't worry' or even 'It's not your fault'.

For the first time since I reunited with Iachi, it felt like he's too far for me to reach.

"I could only imagine how Iachi felt that day when I reject his presence."

I shifted my blue eyes to Aicha who tried to break the bars she was holding. "No, you shouldn't be... " Aicha muttered without looking at me. Tears slipped through her curly eyelashes, almost invisible for me to see.

I closed my face in annoyance. Not because of her, but because of myself.

Sasaki ruffled his hair in frustration, "Can it get any worse than this?" He mumbled then he held the prison bar in front of him. "What is this prison made of, anyway? We can't destroy it or even bend it with our powers. Is it the same as Dark Chain like the last time?"

I blinked in confusion, "Sorry?" 

"I'm also confused, Aichi. I don't even know what Dark Chain actually is, but this prison kinda reminds me of it. It won't let you use your powers when it touches you." Sasaki said sheepishly.

Behind him, Iachi turned his head to Sasaki and the first thing I see from him almost made me laugh. The face Iachi gave to Sasaki behind him deserves more attention other than from me and Aini who also imitated Iachi's expression toward the owner of the face.

Unidentified look with curvy eyebrows, the brought forward lips that were opened a little, and significant frown under his eyes as he narrowed his left eye a little.

Perfection.

I almost forgot that he has my face.

Iachi probably realized how I curse myself in my mind for almost laughing at this terrible situation especially because of his face, but I don't care anymore. "There is someone who you can ask for the knowledge, Sasaki." I said, covering my mouth to hide my chuckle.

I let out an 'Aw~' in silence when Iachi turned his face back to normal after I said that. Sasaki just missed one incredible art from my twin brother.

"Care to explain, Iachi?" Sasaki asked.

Iachi crossed his arms, "Didn't your school teaches you about this?" He asked back.

"What kind of school teaches us about these weird powers?!" Sasaki exclaimed.

"For you to call your own elements a weird power is disgusting."

"And for you to not explain me out of the bat is more disgusting, sensei!"

I immediately calmed both of them down, "Okay, now. I'm also confused as well, so let's all discuss this so we can all understand." I said.

I could hear Yuki's sigh before she said to Iachi, "All I know is that Dark and Shadow are one same thing, the difference is the Dark feels more aggressive and corrupted than the Shadow 'cause of Void's effects. That's why you were in pain when the chain caught you."

Thanks for the answer, Yuki. Now I know why I felt pain at that time.

"You forgot one thing important about Shadow elements." Iachi stood up and touched the prison bars as the dark miasma engulfed his hand. "Ukh!"

"Ah!" I just felt my hand tremble because of it. "W-Why did you do that for?"

Instead of answering me, he showed me his hands where I could see his veins darkened and swelled up. I looked down and widened my eyes when I saw my veins revealed themselves but they're not as dark as Iachi's.  

"The heck?!" Sasaki stood up and grabbed Iachi's hand to see it clearly. "Does it hurt?"

Iachi smacked Sasaki's head.

"You deserve that, brother." Yuki said.

"How is that possible? I mean, how does the Steel capable of absorbing Shadow elements?" I quickly added.

"Rather than absorbing the Shadow, this steel is actually possessed by it." Aini said. "This is one of Shadow's or Dark's ability. They can enter through anything even the other elements... " Aini's pause felt unnatural as she glanced quickly at a certain direction. "... Even through human's body."

I rolled my eyes to where her glance directed to, Iachi was staring at her before lifting his feet up from the ground to sit on the hanging wooden bench behind him again.

He took his turn to explain, "Fortunately, Dark elements can only be used against Light elements, unlike Shadow who has the same rule mechanism as the other elements. And another fortunate that Dark elements... can't sense Light elements."

That made me impressed and relieved, now I know that Void has a weakness and it's a major one.

No wonder he used humans to take his plan on action, because he would definitely weak against them who is not the Light Bender.

"Leon... Takuto... he used my friend to do the dirty job for him." I was taken aback a little as I realized something. 

Takuto never referred Void as 'he' or 'him' because he's not a physical being.

Does that mean Void has taken a physical body for himself? 

"About Void-" I muttered but immediately stopped myself when my protectors glanced at me with different looks on their face.

"I hate when people change the topic abruptly." Iachi's sentence brought back that distancing feeling between us. I thought having Iachi facing away from me is the worst thing I could achieve.

But those eyes, they were sharp and strongly glared at me.

"We were just apart for a day, yet... "

"I don't think that's considered to be out of topic. Void is the reason Dark element exist, so why not talk about it?"

I gasped in shock toward Yuki's question, confirming my infelicty.

"I would rather fucking killed someone rather discussing more about it." 

Again, it was from Iachi. 

I snapped, "Iachi, what's gotten into you?! You don't sound like yourself!"

The jiggling chain warned me earlier than Iachi's strong footsteps that almost stepped on Sasaki's knee in the process. I took steps away from my spot to avoid his glare as much as possible behind the jail bar.

"You're the one who know how much that thing roamed the earth with the highest ego! That shitty miasma is the reason our family suffered even when were just infants! To think you won't have the guts to spit on its name speak more how disgusting can you be!" 

I was down on the floor just by his words. Out of every insults that hit me the most, I hate to admit the words from his mouth is ranked top out of all.

"Ia... Iac... " I couldn't even spelled his name correctly like how he spelled the word 'insult' to my heart as clear as water. 

I hate to cry, it always seems like I want things to be easier for me to have someone's pity when I just can't hold it in anymore. I hate to admit that I cry because of that.

"... No... " 

I saw Iachi's widened eyes looking straight at me, giving all of their pitiful guilt for me to the fullest. He cluched his head with a light whimper while moving his feet to the dungeon's corner and hid himself away from us.

Normal POV

"Time's up. Climbed yourself to this stairs and it will lead you to your battle with our King." One of the Saigai's guardian said to the blue hair challenger in front of him. His other guardians unlocked the cells where his families and friends were kept.

Aichi was about to climbed the first step when he heard the girl's scream behind him. Their wrists were chained with shackles, connecting with another. "Now, now. We're professionals here, just leave everything to us." A woman with a cloak holding the chain and pulled it forward.

The girls could only being dragged by their wrists because of it, unable to do much.

Aichi could feel the dark power from the shackles the woman was holding. Along with the woman's smirk, she looked at the bluenette with demeaning netras. "You don't have to worry much, honey~" She winked at me. "I'll take care of your dogs while you fight for your lives."

She was taken aback when Aini pulled the chain harshly, "Don't even make me start with your insults, you won't get away with anything you've done to us." Aini said sternly, accidentally lowering the woman's dignity with her clarity.

The woman recovered her composure, "You talk much for a slow girl. Your reflexes are trashy and your appearance shows much how weak you are to even show your hair. Bet your cancer won't last long." She mocked.

Yet, Aini remained her strong persona as she smiled confidently at her. "I'm not weak, I just simply try to equalize you." She said. 

The woman could feel his blood got burned by how unbothered Aini can be despite her hot-blooded personality (according to Iachi) would've kicked her in in any seconds. Sasaki laughed, "Aini's words speak more modesty than your tryhard insults, yet you're the one who got offended the most." He said. "That totally proves who's the strongest between you two."

Sasaki was kneeling on the floor with hands behind his back, being chained by the guardian. Behind him, the other guardian was trying so hard to pull Iachi and make him kneel. Probably needed more than five guardians to hold the bluenette from his own rebellion.

"Everyone." Aichi thought as he tightened his chest to prepare himself. "Just wait, I'll free you all no matter what."

One of the guardian pushed Aichi while the others got dragged to the other direction. "That Light Bender wasn't chained with Dark Chain since that'll also hurt you in the battle." The guardian said to Aichi. "Before you're thinking outrageous, we'll hurt him all we want regardless how much you protest."

Aichi was forced to nod as he didn't want anything worse than it is. 

Flashback: Start

"Every elements have their own weakness and excess, yet they are bound with the same rule." Aicha explained behind Aichi. "Elemental powers come out through our veins as every bender has a source to produce infinite powers, that is why we don't always need to use anything outside of our bodies."

Aichi nodded silently, "Does that mean we can use our elements all we want?"

"Unfortunately, that'll drain our energy faster. That's why we were trained to use it effectively and endure the tiredness from the element's side effect. The more stronger we are, the stronger our elements be able to endure its weakness."

"Can you tell me the mechanism rule Iachi was talking about earlier?"

"Sure. For example, Ice is weak against fire but strong against water and neutral against the other elements. Aini's rainbow power is actually neutral to every elements, that's why she receive Physical power to balance her."

"Sasaki once destroyed a rock with his ice, does that mean it's neutral?"

"Yes. In this case, each person's power matters. If you're stronger than your opponent to reinforce your powers, then you can win the game."

Both of them didn't even question how loud or how silent they were as the others seemed busy with themselves, probably not realizing their conversation. Aichi asked again, "Does this mean Jishindo won't let me use his element's weakness?"

Aicha smiled, "Guess you pretty much understand everything." She said. "Looks like you've made up your mind what elements should you use against him."

Flashback: End

The sunlight slip through Aichi's train of thought to warn him about the most serious event he'll be facing. Aichi looked at his surrounding to see the citizens were there at the edge of their seat just to mock him mercilessly. Aichi didn't care much about it as he focused his attention to the sun. 

It almost right above the arena.

His attention shifted to his right side. He could see the others were kneeling side by side while chained up between the guardians and that woman. "Everyone... " Aichi stepped closer to them.

"Hey, don't focus on us too much. Focus on yourself." Sasaki yelled.

"Show them what you got, Aichi." Yuki shouted.

The citizen's turned their mouth to cheer Aichi's opponent. The cheered opponent entered the battlefield with a full luxury welcome. Yes, Aichi admitted that it was quite luxury for Jishindo to use a golden armor with such a complicated design especially on the back part where it almost look like a giant wings.

"That's probably why they gave me enough time to meet and talk in the dungeon." Aichi thought. "Will I be alright without any additional preparations like Jishindo did?"

"Aichi?" Aini asked to herself as she saw Aichi took of his black coat. He placed them right in front of her before walking to Jishindo. 

Both of the fighters approached the center of the battlefield as they stared at each other face to face. The MC shouted, "Alright, Ladies and Gentlemen! We have our fighters ready in the battlefield! Introducing our strongest King, the sharp point of the spear, the golden fire burning in his chest, Your Majesty, Jishindo!"

Aichi could feel the whole arena trembled along with the citizen's roar and scream toward their ruler.

The MC shouted again, "Yes! Cheer for Our King, only for him!" He didn't even bother to glance at Aichi. "And I don't think we should looking at the freak down there. He'll be dead anyway."

The citizens laughed harder than any normal human can laugh, not caring their voice cracks shattering the wind.

"What the?!" Aini exclaimed.

"This is terrible! How on earth they laugh at someone's live on the line?!" Aicha said.

They heard a chuckle between them, "I can't wait to murder them all once the battle ends."

Aicha immediately looked away once she heard that. Aini whispered, "Iachi... I really hope we can keep our mind clear even until the battle ends."

"Oh, what do we have here?" The woman suddenly caught their attention, showing Mizu and Coca being chained.

"You guys are safe... " Yuki relieved.

Mizu rolled his eyes, "Yup, but maybe not later." He said with a defeated tone as he kneeled beside Yuki along with Coca.

"I just wanna sleep, man. I haven't sleep since yesterday." Coca complained. The teenagers couldn't help but be grateful a little since they kinda slept peacefully(?) last night. "Thanks for the empty response."

Aichi could barely hear what's going on outside of himself. His eyes focused on Jishindo but his mind focused on calling his element, the most needed element to outgame Jishindo. "Will you keep our deal after I satisfy you, Jishindo?" Even Aichi's mouth barely in his control.

Jishindo smirked, "That is if you manage to satisfy me without dying before that happened, which is impossible if I have to say so. I'm the King here, I made the rules even the impossible ones." He said demeaningly.

Aichi just smiled, "Yeah, you are... " He looked down. "I just hope we can become allies instead of something like this." Aichi said it silently this time. It probably safe to say that Jishindo knew Aichi wasn't talking about him earlier.

"Alright, without a further ado, let us all begin the Elemental Selection! Open the Elemental Lock Petals." The MC shouted clearly as the person beside him pulled down the lever.

The floors outside of circular area around the fighters began to pull themselves away from their locks until they reached their border line. There were six floors open with different colors and elemental symbols on them.

Navy for Water element.
Dirty Gold for Earth element.
Red for Fire element.
Purple for Shadow element.
Chestnut for Lightning.
Cyan for Ice element.
Baby Blue for Light element.
Lilac for Cloud element.

"Bullshit!" Sasaki suddenly yelled. "What the hell's with this Elemental Selection?!"

"You even put your immune power here! How is this a fair game?!" Aicha shouted.

The MC turned his head to them, "Oi, oi, oi! Hostages aren't allowed to talk!" He said.

"If you can't even put a fair game, then this battle is not something worth to go on! You just put another side to their disadvantage and that totally proves how much cowardice you have!"

The MC just let out his confused face toward them, "This Elemental Selection exist because your friend here have more than one element. Our King only have Earth element and all of these other elements are neutral against it except Water. So this is a fair game."

Aicha smirked in full satisfaction.

"What? Our King only have one element?"

"But we learned in school that he have all of the elements. He's a God."

"That just came from the MC's mouth. Is that true?"

Jishindo glared at the MC for what he just done. The MC panicked, "S-So what? That proves h-how strong Our King is with j-just one element. Yeah... He's the best of the best."

With just that pathetic plea, the citizens cheered once more despite their doubts at first.

Aicha just shook her head in 'defeat' then she looked at Sasaki, "Thanks for the help." Sasaki nodded in confuse. "Your turn will be next, Iachi." Aicha whispered and the bluenette nodded without letting his eyes on the two fighters.

Iachi smirked, "I need full preparation on that, though. It's 50/50 chances, but better than nothing." He thought as a confident smirk painted on his face.

"Okay, fighters! Step at one of the Elemental lock petals and it will lock the elements you will use in battle! Any elements used other than your locked elements will be count as disqualification and the disqualified will receive a death punishment!" He said.

Jishindo looked at Aichi from head to toe, "You need more than that outfit. Don't try to blame me if I 'accidentally' rip your clothes off and humiliate you in front of your own allies." He said then he walked to Earth Lock Petals.

Aichi stood there in silence and not moving at all. It needs a little a bit more time for him to walk backwards, not seeing anything other than the ground.

"Aichi? Does he even know where he's heading to?" Aini asked.

With his eyes closed while being covered with his own hair bang, Aichi continued to walk backwards until he stepped on one of the Elemental Lock Petals. He opened his eyes and looked down, "You're the only elements that is close to me right now."

Aichi stepped on Fire Lock Petal.

A/n: I hate to end it here, guys. I'm so sorry. The Part 2 is already halfway finished, I just need to improve the battle scene. That's all, see you later.

~Aizuki