Gara: I've completed your training.
Jack and Black, shocked: What?!
Silence fell over the place, but their facial expressions said more than words ever could.
Gara, calmly: Jack, you matched me today. With your current level, you now have a chance to fight them. And as for you, my little one, I have nothing more to teach you. You've become the best doctor I've ever known.
Black's eyes teared up. She had always considered Gara like a father. He had taken care of them for the past eight years, never slacking or hesitating to teach them. She knew this day would come—Gara had told them that when he could no longer teach them anything more, he would send them out into the world, and their paths would split and they began to learn from life itself.
Black, in a choked voice: No, Master… please. There's still so much I haven't learned yet.
Gara: My dear, you need to see what life is like out there. Besides, I finished your training a while ago—you already know that.
He looked at both of them with pure fatherly affection.
Gara: But… parting with you is incredibly hard for me. That's why I kept you by my side a little longer.
Black hugged him sadly.
Gara turned to Jack, who remained silent, not uttering a word.
Gara: There's still much you need to accomplish in the outside world before fighting the organization.
Jack, curtly: Like what?
Gara: Do you remember what happened eight years ago, when those men killed your families?
Both: Yes, we remember.
Gara: Simon killed them before confirming whether you, Jack, carried the mark or not. That's why the head of the organization ordered the execution of everyone on Simon's team. Simon was also punished with 40 lightning strikes. Now he has difficulty using his left arm, and he was demoted from leader to subordinate.
Jack: So?
Gara: So now the organization is hunting you like rabid dogs. They want to know if you have the mark or not. But they're not the only ones searching for you.
Jack: Not the only ones? Who else?
Gara: The person who's the reason you must leave.
Jack: Who?
Gara: What you need to know is that he can take your energy control to unimaginable levels.
Jack: How do I find him?
Gara: You don't , He will . But first, he must be convinced that you're worthy of his training.
Black: Is there a chance he won't train him?
Gara: Yes.
Black, surprised: But he wants to find him so badly! Why wouldn't he help him?
Gara: He won't help someone who fails to convince him that they're worth it.
Jack: And why should I convince him? Is he really worth it?
Gara: Absolutely.
He continued seriously:
Gara: Now, let me tell you a few things. Black, no matter what happens, never use your energy unless absolutely necessary. Preserve and store it, Bee. And train only once every six months to replenish blood during heavy bleeding. Never neglect this training. Build your physical endurance and stamina. That's all I want you to focus on—promise me.
Jack: Old man...
Gara, interrupting firmly: Jack, don't you dare stop her from training. Don't.
Jack had always been puzzled by Gara's focus on making Black train only those two things. He even seemed less concerned with teaching her combat. Jack had objected before, because Black had to inflict deep wounds on herself, bleed a lot, and exhaust her energy just to heal herself. But now, seeing the seriousness in Gara's expression, Jack became certain he must never stop Black from this training, even if he still didn't fully understand it.
Black: Yes, Master. But… until when?
Gara: When the time comes, you'll know. You'll feel when it's time to stop. And Jack—you must never stop training. Train whenever time allows. Never set a limit on how far you can go. Now get in or go out—I need to speak to Black alone.
Jack was about to protest, but Black gently pushed him out so she could listen to Gara.
As Jack left, he saw Gara gesture to his ears—he wanted him to listen from outside.
Gara, smiling: You know there's a reason I'm doing this, right? Leaving you in all this... it's harder than having a mountain on my back.
Black, smiling: I know.
Then, with worry:
Black: Master… what you've forbidden me to do will almost leave me powerless to help him. I can't just stand there and watch Jack face danger alone. I want to help him. I really do.
Gara: Black, I'll ask you one question.
Black: Go ahead.
Gara: Caesar chose to be involved in this. But you didn't. You're bearing the consequences of your father's decision. So now, this is your decision. Do you want to go with Jack, knowing I can't guarantee your safety? Or stay here with me, safe from that organization's harm?
Jack was standing outside, listening closely.
She answered with confidence and no hesitation.
Black: I'll go with him. Master Gara… my father chose to stay by Uncle Edmund's side. He bore the consequences of his choice without a trace of regret. And now, as you said, this will be my choice. I don't want to stay here and leave Jack to face those criminals alone. I have a score to settle with them too—it's not just Jack. My mother, before she died, entrusted him to me. I won't abandon him. This is my decision. We're in this together. It's our war, and we'll fight it together.
Jack heard her response and worry filled his face. He walked out to the garden to train a little.
Gara, smiling: I knew you wouldn't stay here and leave that annoying little guy alone.
Black laughed at his words.
Gara, laughing: Keep it down.
Then Gara noticed Jack drifting away in the garden and continued seriously:
Gara: There's another reason I'm ending your training and sending you with him. It might be the greatest help you can give Jack.
Black: What is it?
Gara: Black, that man won't help Jack if he sees him as someone who doesn't care about others. If Jack shows no concern for others' pain, he won't care about his pain either. That's why I'm sending you with him. No one else can reach Jack like you do. No one else makes him care. He's never refused you anything. That's why I want you to help him. Bring out the parts of him he buried deep to avoid distraction from his revenge. Melt the ice in his heart. It's my fault—I didn't notice that _ the first lesson i taught him from the start not to help others if it might harm his mission.
He looked away sadly.
Gara, continuing: I didn't step in to save your families when… when…
Black, holding his hand: Master, don't worry. I know you had your reasons.
Gara smiled and continued:
Gara: Black… that man is your only hope for survival.
Black nodded, promising Gara she would do everything in her power to bring back the old Jack—to help him let go of his coldness toward others.
Her refusal to leave faded away. Saving her childhood friend now depended on the success of this journey.
Gara stepped outside and found Jack training, so lost in thought he had set a tree on fire without noticing. He used water to put it out.
Gara: Jack, what's wrong with you, boy? Snap out of it.
Jack: I don't want her to come with me, and at the same time, I can't stand being apart from her.
Gara: I know.
Jack: What should I do?
Gara: That's your decision.
Jack: I won't feel at ease if someone else protects her besides me.
Gara: Now that… that's the Jack I know.
Then, gently:
Gara: For years, Bee trained hard to avenge her family. The only thing you can do now is find that teacher. He won't just train you—he'll train Black too. And better than I ever could.
Jack: A teacher better than you?! Is that even possible?
He continued:
Jack: I know you've never shown your full strength. You let me tie with you. You let Black succeed in poisoning you. You decided long ago when you'd stop training us.
Gara: Clever as always. Not even your own master escaped your suspicion.
Jack, sarcastically: Don't tell me you're offended.
Gara, slyly: Why would I be? That's what I wanted.
And he added:
Gara: Always keep everyone under suspicion. Never trust anyone completely.
Jack: You didn't need to ask something like this.
Gara: There's one more thing I'd like to ask of you.
Jack looked up at him in surprise.
Gara: Never let the organization know you have the mark.
Jack felt confused and surprised.
Jack: Why?
Gara: If they find out, they'll go into hiding and never show themselves again—until the day you have your child. Then, they'll eliminate you.
Jack (thinking): So, you want me to fight them before that, right?
Gara: The best way to learn how to fight… is to fight.
Jack: If I hide my mark, then they'll come to me one by one to see it… and I'll have many chances to fight them.
Gara (smiling): Well said, little dwarf.
Gara left him and went back inside.
Jack stood outside for a while, then went back in—he needed to rest his mind a little.
---
The next morning
Jack woke up to loud noises. He stepped out of his room, puzzled—what was all this noise so early in the morning?
He saw Black in the kitchen, cooking a lot of food, with many items piled beside her.
He felt annoyed, realizing she must've gone out alone to buy all this.
Jack: Black?
Black: Yes?
In a swift move, he was suddenly standing in front of her.
Jack: Did you go out alone today?
Black: Yes, I woke up early and went out to buy some things.
Jack: Why did you go out alone?
Black (whispering): Lower your voice. Uncle Gara is still asleep.
Then she added sadly: We're leaving today, and Uncle Gara hasn't cooked for himself in a long time. That's why I'm making food for him—lots of it. And I want you to help me.
Jack was about to refuse, but she had already placed a knife in his hand and pulled him to stand beside her in the kitchen. He realized there was no escape.
Gara woke up and came out of his room to drink some water. When he went to the kitchen and opened the fridge, he was surprised—it was filled with prepared, packaged meals. And it was all his favorite food.
He smiled and went looking for them. He found them outside, trimming the garden and watering the plants. He called them in to eat breakfast together.
They sat down to eat and recalled memories from the past eight years together. They laughed and joked with each other. Gara remembered the first day he brought them in, their training, the pranks Black used to pull, and how difficult it had been to bond with Jack.
Gara looked at their laughter and smiles, hoping his sadness was well hidden. He wished he could keep them with him forever. They were the children he had raised, and he would protect them with all his strength. But he knew he couldn't. They would never agree to just hide.
Gara (in his thoughts): I hope happiness always finds its way to you both.
And he continued: But be careful, my little ones. The future might bring worse things than your past ever did.
---
Some time later, we see Jack and Black getting ready in their rooms.
Gara: Black, Jack… come here.
They came out of their rooms, each carrying their own bag. They saw Gara holding two sealed bags—they couldn't tell what was inside.
Gara pulled out two dragon-shaped tokens and handed them one each.
Gara: You can use this to summon me if you're ever in desperate need of help. It can only be used once, so use it wisely.
He handed one bag to Jack and the other to Black. When they opened them, they found them filled with money. They looked at each other in confusion, then at Gara.
Gara: This isn't my money. I'm not that rich.
Jack: Then whose money is it?
Gara: Yours.
Black: How?
Gara: Before your families fled, they converted all their assets into cash. Some of it was deposited in banks to make it easier for their children to access later, and the rest was kept in cash instead of using cards or accounts, to make it harder for the organization to track them.
Black: Really?
Gara: Yes.
Gara handed them documents for bank accounts that belonged to their families.
Gara: This is your wealth. Do with it as you please. Are you both ready?
Jack: Yes, we're ready.
Black: Yes.
Gara (in a warning tone): Jack, never let anyone see your mark—not friend, not foe. Remember.
Gara (to Black): Even if you're injured, don't use the energy you stored to heal yourself unless it's a serious injury.
You have three days before the organization finds you.
Gara teleported them to an unfamiliar place. They found themselves standing in the middle of a street in a city.
Gara: One last thing… if a dragon comes alone, it will be a fierce battle. But if he's not alone… it'll be a war that spares no one. Remember that. Farewell.
Jack: Where are we, old man? And what do you mean?
Gara: Discover it yourselves…
Jack: Aren't you going to give us a way to contact you?
But he disappeared before answering.
And so, their journey into the unknown begins.
---
In a different place
A guard ran until he reached a large room, then knocked and entered when permission was granted.
Man: Sir, Jack Anderson's energy has appeared.
The man turned quickly: What? Where?
Guard: We don't know yet, sir. It'll take some time to find out.
The man grabbed him by the neck: Find him immediately.
Then threw him aside.
The guard got up quickly: Yes, sir! Right away!
---
Elsewhere
We see a falcon delivering a message to someone, who then ran inside.
Man: Sir, Jack Anderson is out.
A smile appeared on the man's face: Find him… Find him quickly, before the organization does.
Man: Yes, sir.
Master: Things are about to get really interesting. I truly want to see that fiery boy…
I want to see the one who forced Gara to intervene after all these years.
Everyone set off to find Jack Anderson, who had just taken his first steps out of hiding—his first step on the path of vengeance.
What will happen next?
And what awaits them?
To be continued…