LIFE HUNTER

LIFE HUNTER CHAPTER 4: THE HIDDEN BROTHER

Days after the cave confrontation, Akihara felt different to Kaijen. The air hummed with secrets. His sky blue hair glowed faintly even in shade, a constant reminder of his power. But something new stirred inside him—a deeper sense, like eyes opening in his soul.It started small. Walking through the market, he brushed past an old shopkeeper. Suddenly, he knew. Inside that man burned faint traces of earth element—strong hands from years of soil work, unconsciously shaping clay pots tighter than normal. Not full control, just a spark. Kaijen blinked. How?Then a child running by—water affinity, making puddles splash higher around her feet. A fisherman by the stream—strong water pull, fish jumping into his net unnaturally. Kaijen realized: after facing Ryu and the Life of Elementals, his senses sharpened. He could see power in people now. Latent sparks, hidden flames. Most had one weak element. Rare had two. None like him.God’s words echoed: "Many have the gift, but few master more than two." Kaijen scanned the town silently. Dozens carried sparks—bakers with fire warmth, farmers with earth grip. But no threats. Yet.School became a game of observation. Classmates: one boy strong in air, jumping higher; a girl with metal pull, always finding lost coins. Kaijen spoke less, but watched more. His isolation grew, blue hair drawing stares. "Freak," some whispered. His sister defended him fiercely, pulling him away. "Ignore them, little blue bird."One rainy afternoon, after school, Kaijen wandered the forest edge. Rain poured, but he slowed droplets around him, walking dry. That's when he sensed it—strong. Not a spark. A bonfire. All elements, swirling wild, uncontrolled. Nearby.He followed the pull to an old cedar grove, hidden by fog. There sat a boy, about nine years old—one year older than Kaijen. Messy brown hair plastered by rain, ragged clothes, sitting on a rock. Around him, chaos: leaves swirled in mini-tornadoes, ground steamed from heat, water bent upward unnaturally. The boy stared at his hands, frustrated.Kaijen stepped out. "You... control everything."The boy jumped, eyes wide—hazel, sharp. "Who're you? Stay back! I don't know what's happening!" A burst of fire sparked from his palm, scorching a bush.Kaijen raised a hand. Time slowed. Flames froze mid-air. He walked close, reversed the fire—embers sucked back into the boy's hand, unharmed. Time normal. The boy gaped. "What... how? You're the blue hair kid from town.""I'm Kaijen." First time introducing himself. "You have all elements. Like me. But you don't know it."The boy stood, shaky. "Name's Haru. Moved here last month with my uncle. Things started weird—fires start when I'm mad, wind pushes me, rocks move. Thought I was crazy. Tried hiding, but..." Another uncontrolled gust knocked branches down.Kaijen nodded. "Not crazy. Gifted. Rare. I can teach you."Haru laughed nervously. "Teach? You're younger! And that blue glow... you're a ghost?"Kaijen's eyes flashed blue. He snapped fingers—rain around them stopped, floating orbs. "Time and elements. All 118. Yours too. But uncontrolled, it'll destroy you. Or others."Haru stared, awed. "All? Prove it."Kaijen smiled faintly—first in years. He knelt, touched soil. Earth rose, forming a perfect mini-mountain. Then water from rain pooled, fire lit its peak, air spun a tornado top. Metal veins gleamed inside. Haru reached out, touched it—his hand glowed, adding lightning crackle. The model exploded in light, reforming perfectly."Whoa... I did that?" Haru whispered.Kaijen: "We did. Life of Elementals hunts people like us. Bad group. They want control, not balance. I fought one. Now train, or become prey."Haru shivered—not from cold. "Train? Here?""Every day. After school. Forest edge." Kaijen extended a hand. Haru took it. Brothers in power, born strangers.Training began next dawn. Kaijen led Haru deep into the mountains, a hidden clearing ringed by cedars. "First: feel them."Kaijen sat cross-legged. "Close eyes. Breathe. Elements everywhere—oxygen in air, carbon in trees, iron in earth, hydrogen in mist."Haru tried, fidgeting. "I feel... buzz. Like static.""Good. Focus one. Fire."Haru clenched fists. Sparks flew wild. Kaijen slowed time, caught them, shaped into a steady flame on Haru's palm. "Breathe with it. In, pull. Out, shape."Haru practiced hours. By noon, small fireball—controlled. "I did it!"Kaijen: "Now combine. Fire + air = plasma."Haru tried. Explosion rocked the clearing. Trees charred. Kaijen reversed time—bark regrew, leaves unburned. "Patience. Or boom."Days blurred. Mornings: basics. Haru mastered fire, water, earth singly. Afternoons: pairs. Wind + water = mist shields. Earth + metal = stone blades.Kaijen watched, correcting. "Your sparks are wild. Mine tempered by time. Use it anchor."One evening, trouble came. Haru overdid lightning practice—storm brewed unnaturally over Akihara. Thunder cracked, unnatural lightning struck rooftops. Town panicked.Kaijen: "Enough! Pull back."Haru panicked too. Storm raged harder. Kaijen grabbed his shoulders. "Together. Time slow." World dimmed. Kaijen guided Haru's hands—elements sucked back. Storm dissolved. Normal rain fell.Haru collapsed, exhausted. "Sorry... lost control."Kaijen: "We all do first. I rewound my life. Learned hard."Haru looked up. "Rewound? Tell me."By campfire (Haru's steady flame), Kaijen shared—first life, knife, rebirth, God, Lifehunter. Haru listened, eyes wide. "You're... the bridge? Heaven-hell balance?"Kaijen nodded. "You're like me. Full control potential. Why hidden till now?"Haru stared at flames. "Parents died in fire when I was five. I started it—uncontrolled spark. Uncle took me, moved towns. Hid power. Thought curse."Kaijen: "Not curse. Purpose. Train harder. They'll come for us."Week later, advanced lesson: sensing others. Kaijen taught the "sight" he gained post-Ryu. "After fight, I see sparks in everyone. You will too."Haru practiced on animals—rabbit (earth strong), bird (air). Then people from afar. "That fisherman... water pull. Shopkeeper... fire warmth."Kaijen: "Good. Now hide it. Blue hair outs me. You blend."Haru grinned. "Blue brother. We're team now."But shadows loomed. One night, training a hidden pulse—Life of Elementals scout. Ryu? No, new face. Watching from ridge. Kaijen sensed fire-air mix. Alerted Haru."Someone watches."Haru tensed. "Fight?"Kaijen: "Not yet. Warn them we're ready."Scout fled. Kaijen to Haru: "They know two full elementals. Red Oath calls."Haru: "What's that?""Blood vow. Binds them to hell powers. We stop it."Training intensified. Combos: Time teach Haru slow-mo dodges. Haru learned fast—plasma bolts, earth quakes, water whips.Month passed. Haru transformed—from scared boy to confident. Matching Kaijen's control, minus time.Final test: spar. Clearing center. "No holding back."Haru attacked—firestorm whirl. Kaijen time-slowed, countered earth walls. Haru shifted water blades. Kaijen metal-reflected. Lightning chain—Kaijen air-dispersed.Climax: Haru all-elements surge. Kaijen full power—time stop, elements reversed back at Haru. Haru dodged last second, laughing. "Tie!"Kaijen smiled. "Brother found."Far off, Life of Elementals camp. Ryu reported: "Blue boy has ally. Another full elemental. Boy with storms."Boss Kuro, shadowed throne: "Two bridges? Red Oath will claim both. Prepare hunt."In Akihara, two boys walked home under stars. Kaijen: "Power shared, burden light. Ready for war?"Haru: "Born ready, Lifehunter."Kaijen's eyes glowed. No longer alone.