Hokori’s siblings became even more confused that day. As the new, weird Haruto fought their brother, they sensed that he used zero magic. All of his attacks now swung with physical might alone. Somehow, it was still effective. Several trees got chopped instantly.

On the other hand, Hokori found little tension in the battle. Still, he had his grins and chuckles. He had now dodged the fourth attack with ease.

“Aaaaargh!” yelled the boar-masked Haruto. “Quit darting around!” He jumped and moved his swords back. “Third Fang… Devour!”

Once again, he evaded the blades aimed at his neck on both sides. He countered with a straight punch and roundhouse kick to the stomach. This time, it did not send Haruto flying through trees and boulders. He knew something his siblings never did.

He slowly walked and chuckled again. “Don’t get the wrong idea, boy. You’re only strong without magic now cuz your knives are sharper than my razor.” He cracked his knuckles. “You ain’t shit without it.”

Haruto did not understand what he explained. Either way, he yelled in frustration. It was like another “king” looked down on him. “Shut up, flashy thug bastard!” He pointed with his jagged swords. “I’ll shred your mummy wrapping to bits!”

Hokori’s siblings held back their vomit over what they saw. The masked Haruto dislocated his limbs without a scream. His reach now increased threefold. He ran toward the opponent at moderate speeds.

“Ninth Fang… Extending Bendy Slash!” His arm stretched two meters across.

Alas, Hokori already had his fill. “So slow…” He effortlessly backhanded the blade and concluded it all with a reliable lariat. Their “battle” was one-sided through and through.

Haruto’s eyes turned white when a tree stopped his head behind. He rotated upon his descent—face-first on the ground.

His eldest brother stood victorious with a toothy grin. “Sucks, ain’t it, boy?” he shrugged. “Too bad breathing won’t grant superpowers in this world. Only for yoga.” He chuckled as he squatted to look closer.

Haruto’s siblings stepped in to check for anything wrong. Luckily, he got a concussion at worst. One thanked internally that a cure existed, unlike on Earth. His eyes slowly opened. He sat on a tree and grunted as he felt his bruises.

“You alright, man?” Kakunō held his shoulder.

He clutched his belly. “Ow… my stomach. Agh!” He did the same with his right arm. It was like his bones did not correct right.

Kenkō kneeled and smiled faintly. “Glad to have you back, brother. I’d weep a ton if you didn’t return.”

He panted and smiled back. “Yeah. It was horrifying. I felt nothing but the void.”

Hokori cleared his throat. “Sorry to break the moment, boy.” His hand moved behind. “You did this with glee. Remember that as you croak.” He gave him nightmares to behold.

It took mere seconds for Haruto’s eyes to light up. His swords presented before him had chipped at every length—beyond repair. His hands shook as he examined closer.

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!”

A flock of four-winged mallards flew away into the sky.

Hokori and the rest walked out of the forest during sunset. Haruto’s tears had no end. He huddled his swords close. “Oh, Rosette… I failed you,” he said with more sorrow.

Kakunō sighed in front. “No, you haven’t, man. She gave that to you in pity, remember?” Somehow, he worsened said sorrow. His eyes rolled. “Just hand it over. I’ll fix ya a new one. Believe that you won’t dual-wield ever again.”

Haruto surprisingly gave him the two jagged swords. He even revealed he never needed such a style; it merely looked cool. However, his moping continued. Now, he declared he failed his late brother.

Hokori snickered. “Hahahahahahaha! Ain’t so stoic without your kid and girlfriend, huh? Emotional crutches are a hell of a drug.”

Unexpectedly, Haruto ended the comical air as he walked behind. His eyes lowered. “Of course,” he muttered. “You’re all I have left. I can’t afford to lose another family.” He had looked beyond the dusk.

He smiled with closed eyes. “Let it all out, boy… Depression’s even worse.” He wondered if he had taken his medication lately. He saw a nod.

Back home, the three saw the surprise of the century. Not only did Yukino cook dinner, but not one was a sin of nature. Croque monsieurs, financiers, wagyu cuts, onigiri, currywurst—all were delectable. Even the cold espresso complemented each.

Kenkō felt the wagyu had melted in her mouth. She hugged her sister tightly. “Oh, Yukichi. You shine brighter as you grow.” She repeated the nickname nine more times.

Kakunō also found it heavenly. However, it bothered him. “Say, Yuki… How’d you manage to do it?”

She turned with a smile. “That’s how my magic works, Big Bro. I learn faster with the power of luck!” She revealed that she watched her parents cook for months. For her first time in the arts, it was flawless.

Haruto finished his meal and beverage. “Yukino, where’s your mom? My Tokino’s never this late.”

She hummed over the question. Seconds later, she remembered. It was quite a shock. “Mama is sorting laundry, Papa. She told me it’s for a surprise.”

After hearing the vague answer, they had scratched heads and raised eyebrows. However, Hokori shrugged off any ill guesses. Everyone eventually found nothing unusual—except Haruto. They always did housework together.

Yukino prepared to take a bath alongside her father and siblings. They had an indoor spa installed before they went out on a mission. She bathed with her sister; the other two had a separate private section.

Hokori finished first. Due to his priceless, indestructible attire, he never needed anything else. “My hat, boy,” he turned to Haruto. “Don’t tell me ya forgot.”

His memory had jogged. He pulled out a black cordovan via runes. Curiously, he still could not remember the one they needed to stop. At that point, it was a haze.

Kakunō finished next. As he got out, his cheerful hum disappeared. His drawer was empty, not a shirt in sight. It did not take long for the others to freak out. They resorted to towels.

“Screw you, country boy!” Kenkō pointed from afar. “I thought you outgrew the prank phase.” She held Yukino close—too embarrassed to exit the spa.

“I did, you stunted ginger!” He searched through every drawer. “Shut up and help me!”

She grunted and hugged her sister to stay. Even with their combined effort, they found nothing. Hokori laughed throughout their struggles.

He wiped a tear and sighed. “That’s what ya get for not investin’ on high-class drip.” A magic-enhanced kick greeted his ankle. “Ow…” he said in Japanese. He sighed again and joined in.

Haruto decided to search places away from the spa. Eventually, his eyes did not lie. The culprit held a basket full of fresh fabric. She smirked at him and ran away.

His eyes widened. “Tokino!” He chased her to the living room. “What are you doing?”

She smirked again. “This is a real fight. Come at me with all you’ve got, darling.” She taunted with her right.

He sighed and walked. “Tokino, this isn’t time for— Hey!” Before he knew it, she grabbed his towel with her feet.

“Fufu….” She dropped it.

He grabbed the towel and gave chase upstairs. However, she slid down for him to follow and ran back up again. Throughout the ordeal, she did backflips over and over.

“Hurry up and catch me if you can, darling!” She ran into the bedroom hallway in a gleeful tone.

Haruto found no fun in her teasing whatsoever. When she did such things, his heart warmed deep within. All he felt now was annoyance. However, he did not expect a shock upon him. As Tokino ran and giggled with closed eyes, a towering figure stood before her. In a flash, her neck got tapped. She opened her eyes and felt dizzy—seeing only the floor.

Haruto stopped in his tracks and gasped. “What the hell!” His eyes narrowed a little.

Hokori lowered his karate chop. He sighed and shook his head. “I had enough references for one day, boy. Be happy we won’t get lawsuits from Earth.” He walked past him.

Haruto turned and carried his sleeping wife. He heard his name spoken softly.

In the living room, uneasiness filled the air. The six had theorized the power of the enemy they forgot. It was nothing short of terrifying. At worst, it would bend their world in two.

Yukino hugged her mother tightly and panted. She sweated bullets and begged not to become another person. “I don’t wanna forget any of you, Mama. Never!” Tears welled up as her back got rubbed. Her father comforted her more.

Kakunō sat with legs spread and head lowered. His eyes remained stern. He stood and walked to Hokori. “I can’t believe it… You’re telling me that this guy can,” he snapped his fingers, “make anything happen like that? Only the Gods have such power!”

At a window, he sighed with closed eyes. “Not exactly. It ain’t like they made us die just by thinking.” He sat on his favorite couch and looked at pet fish Bleeker. “The best explanation I got is ‘imagination.’ Probably needs a lot of control. And they ain’t omniscient cuz we’re still here.”

Kenkō called every mage she knew and even Harald, the king, himself. She closed The Every Hub just as fast as she ended their conversations.

“No good, guys,” she sat down and panted. “None of them remember our mission.” Her sweat and breathing turned worse. Yukino calmed her immediately.

Hokori sighed again. “Welp… we gotta reissue. The waiting periods are a thorn in my ass.” He exited the house.

Kenkō ended her worries and followed suit, as did everyone. Tokino vowed to protect her swordless husband at any cost. As he nervously declined in favor of fisticuffs, she doubled down.

They all stood on a runic circle outside that transported them to the king’s home. In the hallway, Hokori recalled some vague memories. In his mind, he saw four wings on a woman. Now, it became clear.

“I hope the sylph queen’s okay.” His eyes lowered.

In their empty home, an uninvited guest sipped on some espresso. The place had automatic locks and laser security measures. He walked through them like strobe lights.

Dominus put the mug down. “Spectacular. To think a brawler had such keen intuition. However,” he snapped his fingers, “the show’s finally begun.” He teleported to a hill.

He looked beyond the massive four-arm statues that were the archmage estates. He marveled at the ingenuity of Coelestians. However, vicious recollections occurred. He denied hearing the bloody screams of his parents during the ill-fated war against Smaragdos.

Moments later, he smiled calmly and threw his hat and cane away. “I’m not here for revenge. I’m ringmaster no longer. But the masses oughta smile more.” He teleported again to an empty apartment.

He watched his favorite shows over and over on a holographic screen. Now, he had the references down to a science. His heart raced in sheer excitement.

As this story went on, Dominus now yearned to be the greatest entertainer the City of Gods ever had.