CHAPTER 45: THE HUGE GAP

After Ayato’s speech, the ZEAL members headed off to get their final rest before returning to the battlefield.

Ren and Rago, however, slipped out to the apartment’s backyard while Botan and the whole squad 4 watched sneakily from a window as Rago and Ren stood face to face under the dim glow of the night lamps.

"So? What was it you wanted to ask me again?" Rago said, folding his arms. "Couldn’t hear a thing back there."

"Warden Rago, I’ve been meaning to ask you....." Ren hesitated. "You fought Zarveth before, right?"

"Yeah." Rago replied with a grin. "Heard you beat him up real good."

Ren’s expression didn’t lighten. "I wanted to know, how far is my strength compared to yours?"

Rago smirked, crossing his arms tighter. "Let me guess. You’re asking ’cause word’s been spreading that Zarveth actually lasted a while against me, right?"

"Yes." Ren nodded.. "When I defeated him, I thought maybe, just maybe, I’d stand a chance against my brother. But when we fought, I was completely outmatched."

His head lowered, shadows masking his expression.

"When I fought Zarveth, I only used my left hand." Rago explained calmly. "I was carrying a civilian trapped in his core release, so I had to focus on protecting her. Even then, when I started overwhelming him, he suddenly retreated."

Ren’s eyes widened. All this time he thought that he had gotten closer to the strength of the wardens. But now, after hearing Rago’s words, that fragile hope crumbled.

So that’s the gap between us? Ren thought, his chest tightening. He crushed Zarveth while carrying a civilian, and with only one hand.

"Anyway," Rago continued casually, raising his right hand and curling his fingers in a taunting gesture. "It’s easier if I show you. Come at me."

Ren stiffened. "No, I get it already."

"Don’t be shy." Rago smirked. "Show me the same strength you used against Kade."

This guy doesn’t listen. Guess I’ll just have to do it. Ren wasted no time and activated his core release.

"Core Release... Lightning Requiem."

Ren’s voice was calm, almost too calm as black lightning crackled around him, wrapping his body in a dark glow before shaping itself into a jagged mask across his face. He slowly gripped his katana, his stance steady, yet the pressure he released pressed against the air like a storm ready to break.

From the window, Sora and the others leaned in, their bodies tense as they tried to peek outside, but the sheer pressure alone made their chests tighten.

"This isn’t like when he fought Grin." Sora muttered, her eyes wide. "It’s calmer, more controlled. But the power, it’s on a whole other level."

"I-It’s my first time seeing this too." Botan whispered, stunned. "I didn’t know Ren was this strong." Miko could only nod as he watched Ren.

"Looks like Ren left us all in the dust, huh." Minato sighed, though there was a faint smile tugging at his lips.

Seth and Kaela exchanged a look, both grinning as if proud.

Rago, however, didn’t flinch. His stance remained firm, lips curling into a faint smirk as if mocking the very air thick with Ren’s pressure. He stood like an immovable wall, unfazed, daring Ren to make the first strike.

Ren’s gaze sharpened. Winning isn’t the goal. I need to measure myself against a Warden. His grip on the katana tightened, the black lightning mask flickering ominously over his face. Every breath he exhaled was laced with power, steady yet suffocating.

Without warning, lightning erupted from his feet as chains of black lightning shot outward in a blinding flash. They struck the ground with violent precision, coiling and binding Rago’s lower body in an instant. The crackle of energy hissed through the air, scorching the earth beneath them.

Ren vanished. A streak of black lightning cut across the space, splitting the air with a deafening sound.

He reappeared right in front of Rago, his blade raised, his voice low and deadly as he whispered.

"Thunderclap."

But Rago suddenly burst into flames, the blast sending Ren flying back with a strong gust of hot wind.

"Come at me again, kid. I won’t move, so no need to worry about it."

What was that? A fire pillar? A barrier? Ren wondered as he skidded to a stop.

He dashed forward once more, creating lightning platforms three meters away from Rago, just like he had done against Kade. Using them like springboards, he leapt from one to another, zigzagging around Rago in an unpredictable pattern and blinding speed.

"Oh, that’s a very interesting move! And really fast too!" Rago’s eyes lit up with excitement as he followed Ren’s every step, never leaving his spot.

This guy.... It’s just like when I was fighting Kade. But I never even told them how Kade fought me back then. So why are they doing the same thing? Ren’s thoughts raced as his blades clashed against Rago’s blazing fists.

Here and there, he slipped in sharp slashes, testing for an opening, but every strike was blocked. Sparks erupted as steel met fire, the force rattling his arms. His eyes widened in disbelief.

Even while blocking, they can counter instantly? Drake couldn’t do anything like this when we fought. This one’s faster. Stronger. More precise. Yet they’re blocking it!

Then as he saw a fleeting opening above, Ren launched himself with a final burst. His katana crackled with violent black lightning, which suddenly condensed into a calm, razor sharp sheath of power as he descended like a comet.

"Blade of the Storm!" Ren roared.

The impact shook the earth, dust erupted in a blinding wave, and a wind so fierce that ripped through the backyard that every apartment window shattered into shards.

"Wahhh!" Botan yelled, tumbling backward into the others, knocking them down like dominos inside Ren’s room.

"Get off me, you idiot! C’mon, we need to see this!" Minato yelled, kicking Botan aside as he scrambled to his feet. The others rushed after him toward the shattered window.

Their eyes widened in disbelief. Ren’s blade, descending with all its fury, was stopped effortlessly. Rago stood unmoved, his right hand blazing as condensed flames swallowed the strike whole.

Unlike Kade, who would’ve slammed him into the ground, Rago merely released his grip as Ren stepped back while the flames coating Rago’s arm quieted down.

"That." Rago said calmly, stretching his fingers. "Is the difference in our power. But I’ll admit something..." He raised his right hand and smirked faintly. "It’s twitching. I stopped your strike without much effort, but it did sting."

Ren blinked in surprise. "But I thought Zarveth was considered a high 7 star threat? Honestly, fighting Grin felt tougher."

"That’s because you were still inexperienced when you fought Grin and Zarveth’s tricks that made him a high 7 star." Rago explained. "If it’s just raw strength and speed, he’s around mid 7 star. But with those dirty tricks, he can easily reach a high 7 star level."

Ren frowned. "Then why’s there such a huge gap between you two if it’s just one rank apart?"

"One rank apart, huh? Well, here’s the thing, if we wardens ever became a real threat, we’d be called Disaster Class."

"I’ve heard of that. Kaien mentioned it once. But the level just below that is 7 star, right?"

"You’re not exactly wrong, but not right either. Disaster Class isn’t just stronger than 7 star. They’re in a different league altogether. Their strength can’t be measured by normal ranks. That’s why they’re called Disaster Class. Take the Fangs, for example."

Ren stayed silent, processing Rago’s words before giving a small nod.

"So? Any more questions?" Rago asked.

"I do have one. How were you able to see my attacks so clearly, even when I was moving in an unpredictable pattern?"

Rago chuckled. "To be honest, you were fast, faster than most. If someone below high 7-star faced you, they’d struggle just to keep up. But here’s the thing, seeing it isn’t enough. There’s no point in simply tracking you."

"Then how?"

"I waited. As long as I know you’re coming, I don’t need to chase your movements, I can block."

Ren frowned. "What do you mean?"

"You were darting across those platforms with speed, sure. But the moment you prepared to strike? You slowed down. Just a fraction, a tiny delay. And that’s all I needed."

Ren’s eyes widened. He hadn’t even realized it himself. But now he understood. At this level, even the slightest flaw was magnified. Against someone like Rago, a moment that small was more than enough.

"Remember the first strike you landed on me? The one where you vanished and reappeared right in front of me like some kind of magic trick? Man, I’ll admit, even I was surprised for a second. If you could keep pulling that off, darting around like lightning itself, yeah, even I’d have trouble keeping up."

Thunderclap! If I could chain that move while... but how? Ren’s mind raced. It’s hard enough to strike once while moving that fast. Focusing energy into my feet in a split second while zigzagging unpredictably that’s near impossible and I’ll be off balance for a moment which may disrupt my whole rhythm.

"I see you’re thinking it over." Rago smirked, already turning away. "You’ll figure it out. Oh, and your friends up there? Tell them I said hi."

Ren blinked, then glanced upward. Sure enough, the others ducked behind cover the instant Rago’s words echoed.

"How in the world did he see us?" Botan muttered.

"Well, he is a Warden." Seth replied.

Later that night, Ren sat on the rooftop of their apartment, legs dangling over the edge as he stared out at the cityscape of Ward 11. Neon lights flickered, painting the streets in vibrant colors.

"If only every place could be this peaceful." Ren murmured under his breath.

"Yeah, the world might’ve been a good place to live in." Seth’s voice came from behind as he walked over and dropped down beside him. "Can’t sleep either?"

"Yep." Ren sighed. "I thought I’d grown stronger after unlocking my Core Release. But when I saw the gap between me and the Fangs, the Wardens, I realized I’m still too weak."

"Yo, don’t sell yourself short." Seth elbowed him lightly. "If I had to rank you, you’re easily a mid 7 star now. But yeah, I get what you mean. After seeing your fight with Warden Rago, the gap’s still insane."

"At least you’re honest." Ren chuckled.

"Hey, think about it. Just months ago, we struggled against a single 6 star Drake. Now look at us. You’ve left us in the dust, sure, but we’re getting stronger too." Seth smirked, holding up a fist. "And don’t get cocky, if you slack off, I’ll catch up and surpass you."

Ren’s lips curved into a grin as he extended his fist against Seth’s. "There’s no way I’m slacking off after hearing that."

They sat in silence for a few moments before Seth finally spoke.

"I heard the leader’s heading to Ward 12. Alone."

Ren’s eyes flickered. "Yeah. Looks like squads 3, 4, and 7 are being reassigned back to the 10th."

Seth let out a heavy sigh. "Hard to believe. Those swarms are brutal with their full numbers. But I guess if the wardens are called monsters, then the one leading them must be something even worse."

Ren gave a quiet nod. "That’s true. I wonder what his Drive ability is."

Seth glanced at him. "You don’t know his nickname?"

Ren shook his head.

"They call him the Skybrand King. As long as he’s on the field, the sky itself becomes a weapon."

Ren frowned. "The sky? What do you mean by that?"