Marron squinted at the glowing sphere of energy in Kyoto's palm, her lips pursed in concentration. "Just like that, huh…?" She held out her hands, mimicking the pose, and began to focus. A soft yellow glow sparked to life between her palms—but the moment she smiled, proud of herself, the orb sputtered and popped like a bubble.
"Aww, come on!" she pouted, stomping one foot.
Kyoto chuckled, stepping behind her. "Too much excitement, not enough control. Ki is like… a pulse. A rhythm. You gotta feel it."
He reached around her, hands hovering just over hers—not quite touching, but close enough to guide. Marron blushed furiously, her body stiffening, but she forced herself to focus.
"Breathe in… slow. Feel the energy in your gut. Let it rise into your hands."
Marron inhaled deeply. This time, a pale-blue sphere began to form—tiny, but stable.
"YES!" she cried out, breaking her focus. The orb wobbled and burst again.
Kyoto sighed dramatically, grinning. "You had it. Try again."
Meanwhile, Launch was taking a different route. Rather than focus on ki, she was working her body, sprinting laps along the edge of the gravity chamber. Her chest bounced with every stride, sweat glistening on her skin. Her blonde hair whipped behind her like a banner of rebellion.
Kyoto glanced her way. "Launch! You gonna learn ki control or just try to outrun the planet's core?"
"I'll control my ki when I can control this gravity!" she snapped back, panting. "I feel like I'm wearing a building!"
He laughed. "That's the point! Keep going—but if you pass out, I'm not carrying you out."
Launch shot him a cheeky grin and gave a little finger salute before redoubling her efforts.
Kyoto turned back to Marron, now sitting cross-legged, eyes closed, trying again. This time, the orb formed slower… but held. Kyoto didn't interrupt. He watched, impressed by her determination.
The sphere pulsed with light, hovering steadily.
"You did it," he said softly.
Marron opened one eye, saw it, and gasped—but didn't lose it this time. "I did it…"
Kyoto knelt in front of her. "Now… try throwing it."
"Wait, what?!"
"NOW!"
Marron shrieked and tossed it instinctively. The orb flew forward—right into the wall with a satisfying boom. It wasn't devastating, but it was progress. The impact caused the gravity chamber to hum as a minor tremor shook the floor.
Launch skidded to a stop, wiping her brow. "Guess I better catch up before the rookie blasts a hole through the ship."
Marron stood up proudly. "Hey, I'm not a rookie! I'm… intermediate level now!"
Kyoto gave her a slow, sarcastic clap. "Yes, let's get you a trophy: 'Most Improved Overachiever Who Blew Up A Wall Lightly.'"
Marron huffed, but she smiled. "So what's next, boss?"
Kyoto's expression turned more serious. "Next… we spar."
Launch immediately perked up. "Oho, now that I'm ready for."
Kyoto cracked his knuckles, golden energy flickering along his arms. "This isn't just for training. We're getting close to a universe that's under siege by rogue Kai. Gods with stolen Time Rings. If we don't prepare, they'll rip through us like paper."
Launch raised an eyebrow. "And you're telling us this now?"
"Because I believe you're ready," Kyoto said, his tone calm—but deadly serious now.
The levity faded for a moment. Marron looked at her hands, then at Launch. "Okay… let's fight."
Kyoto smiled again—but this time, there was a wicked edge to it.
"Good. Let's begin."
Marron blinked at the swirling ki orb in Kyoto's hand. "It's so pretty," she said, reaching toward it. "But mine never looks that smooth…"
Kyoto grinned. "That's because you're rushing. Energy isn't something you force. It's something you command." He turned his hand over and let the orb hover just above his palm, humming with raw, condensed power. "Focus. Feel your body. Your heartbeat. The pull of this gravity. Make the ki listen to you, not the other way around."
Marron furrowed her brow, her fingers trembling as she raised her hands. A flicker of blue light appeared between them, unstable and jittery. Kyoto moved closer, his hand gently guiding hers.
"Slow. Steady. You're not just a girl anymore. You're a goddess in training."
Behind them, Launch stood silently, her eyes narrowed as she summoned her own orb—a tightly packed green spark, glowing with latent fury. Kyoto turned to look, pleasantly surprised.
"Well well… looks like you've got a temper hidden under that quiet smile."
Launch didn't respond. She just stared at him, face flushed but fierce. "I don't want to be left behind," she murmured. "Not when… I'm part of this. Part of you."
Kyoto felt a rare pang of emotion stir in his chest—but it didn't last long. The moment was broken by a sudden BOOM as the doors behind them exploded open. Dust and smoke filled the chamber.
A voice cut through the haze. "Training without me? Tsk tsk, Kyoto. I thought I was your favorite."
Zirith, the Goddess of Destruction, hovered in the air, draped lazily across a floating, plush chaise with two tiny orbs of planetary rubble orbiting her fingers like marbles. She wore an outfit barely worthy of being called clothing—just enough fabric to keep her godly modesty, yet too little to avoid drawing every eye in the room.
"I got bored," she said, yawning. "And horny. But mostly bored. So I figured I'd crash your little training session. You don't mind, do you?"
Kyoto smirked, crossing his arms. "I'd mind more if you didn't show up so damn sexy all the time."
Zirith winked, and with a snap of her fingers, the gravity in the room doubled instantly.
Launch and Marron hit the floor hard, groaning under the sudden weight. Kyoto, of course, didn't budge. He floated up to Zirith with a cocky grin.
"So this is how you flirt? Crippling my women?"
"Oh please," Zirith rolled her eyes. "If they can't handle a little gravity, how are they supposed to survive the multiverse? You're soft, Kyoto. That harem of yours is gonna get crushed if you don't push them harder."
Kyoto's grin faded into a more serious look. "Then help me train them."
Zirith blinked. Then burst into laughter. "You want me to be their sparring partner?"
"No," he said, cracking his knuckles. "I want you to be mine. Let them watch what real combat looks like."
The chamber trembled as Zirith stood up, stretching her arms high. "Fine. But if I win, you owe me a full night of worship—and I do mean on your knees."
Kyoto just chuckled and stepped into the center of the room. "Then I'll be praying all night... after I win."
The fight began in a flash—two gods colliding in a blaze of violet and gold. Marron and Launch, struggling to stand, could only watch in awe as the air rippled with shockwaves and light. It was no longer training.
It was a lesson.
And Kyoto, for all his teasing and lust, was also something far more dangerous:
A god on the rise.