My Dad Is The Strongest?: Ch.26

“And you're sure about this?”, Shoko asked Satoru as the two of them along with Killua stood in front of a large furnace, the man looking at the body of his friend before nodding.

“It's for the best. This way, no one can try to use him for other purposes.”

“Sure, got it,” Shoko spoke as she activated the machine, watching as the furnace doors opened and pulled the body in, Killua watching as the doors closed up and the furnace's temperatures increased.

“How long will it take?”

“About a minute. I'm fuelling the cremation process with my own cursed energy to boost the temperature of the flames as well as using Reverse Cursed Technique to purify the ashes.”

“Got it. You going to stay here?”, Killua asked, to which Satoru continued to stare at the cremation before the boy grimaced as his father gave a smile and shook his head.

“Nah, I'll come get the ashes later. For you, I need to talk to you.”

“About?”, Killua asked as they left the cremation room, grumbling as Satoru simply stayed quiet for the long walk to his office.

'So, it's not we can say in public, which means that it's most likely a Grade 1 matter or perhaps even higher,' Killua thought as they entered his office, sitting down on one of the two chairs in front of his dad's desk while the man in question sat on the other.

“Yuta's about to go on a little training trip.”

“Oh, really? That's…not what I thought you wanted to talk about.”

“I'm talking about it because I want you to go with him,” Satoru spoke, the two turning their chairs to each other as Killua activated his technique and felt out the electromagnetic field of the man.

'No sign of electro-transmissions to say that he's lying or being untruthful…Huh, he is telling the truth.'

“Why me?”

“Because I want you to train with him…and learn from the person who he's going with. Also, there is a third mission, but that's for you three to discuss where there aren't so many eyes and ears,” He said and my eyes flickered to the left outside his office window where I saw two crows sitting and playing with each other.

'Mei-Mei. Got it.'

“Got it. When do we leave?”

“Right now. I've already sent a message to Gakuganji and your grandparents to tell them.”

“In other words, you're going to tell them today when you send me off,” Killua spoke with a smirk as he stood up, chuckling as his dad shrugged while turning to rest his legs on the desk.

“Definitely. Anyway, go to the bus stop north of here. Yuta will be waiting there along with the person you're travelling with.”

“Is it someone I know?”

“Unless you worked for Geto, not at all,” Satoru answered and Killua nodded before the man blinked as the boy reached over and hugged him, deactivating his technique to let him touch him.

“Stay safe, old timer. When I get back, I'll be coming for that 'Strongest' title.”

“Of course you are. See you in a couple months,” Killua grinned as he pulled back, swinging at the man only for Satoru to whistle as the boy's fist barely got near his face.

“Still too slow~”

“See you when I get back,” Killua spoke with a smirk as he walked to the door, taking one last glance to see his father looking at the ceiling before leaving the room.

Taking a deep breath and exhaling softly as he closed the door, Killua began his journey to the bus stop, a bit excited for what his dad had prepared for them.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Hey, Yuta.”

“Hey, Killua,” Killua raised an eyebrow at the confidence in Yuta's voice and while he still sounded a bit anxious, the aura in his voice was more noticeable as was the little residue that he exuded compared to before.

'Oh, he's gotten stronger. That guy beside him, though, he's pretty strong too.'

“Killua Gojo.”

“Son of Satoru Gojo. I know who you are. The name's Miguel Oduol and you two kids are going to come with me to my home country.”

“Wait, you're not from Japan?”

“Yuta…does he look like he's from Japan?”, Killua asked with a sigh and Yuta gave a sheepish smile as the dark-skinned man smirked and shook his head.

“First impressions, I like Yuta and I don't like you.”

“Because I look like my dad?”

“Because you look like the man that beat my ass for ten minutes. Now, let's get this show on the road.”

“What exactly are we going to do in your home country?”, Killua asked as a car slowly pulled up, Killua noticing Ijichi being the one driving before they climbed into the car.

“Closest airport.”

“Gojo has already told me where I needed to take you. The Gojo family's private jet is ready for your departure.”

“You guys have a private jet?”, Yuta whispered to Killua in surprise and Killua smiled as he leaned back in his seat and nodded.

“A few along with the yacht, though none of us used that one. Anyway, Miguel, you still haven't told us what we're doing in your home country.”

“You'll see when we get there,” Miguel spoke from the front passenger seat as Ijichi began to drive, making Killua roll his eyes before he noticed Yuta trying to sleep and smiled.

'Oh, poor guy. He's not going to like being awake for his first time flying.'

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“I did tell you not to sleep.”

“S-So much turbulence,” Yuta murmured as the three of them climbed off the jet, to which Killua smirked while looking out at the group of Kenyans walking towards them.

They appeared to be dressed in traditional garbs, their upper bodies bare as their lower bodies were covered in skirts made out of beads and leather and as they dropped to their knees and bowed their heads, Killua realized that Miguel might be a higher-ranked man than he thought especially when they only stood up after he tapped each of them on the head with three fingers.

“Chief Mutongoi, we welcome you from your travels,” Killua had no idea what the elderly man at the front of the group was saying and was not surprised when Yuta looked at him with a confused look, but it seemed to be good as Miguel smiled and nodded.

“As am I, elder. The gods have been kind to grant us safe passage,” The man replied before Killua looked at the man when he turned to them with a smirk at their confused look.

“Don't worry. My people are quite friendly so they're simply welcoming us. This is the elder council and the man at the front is elder Musyoka, the man who taught me everything I know about cursed energy.”

“It is a pleasue to meet you,” Killua heard the man try to say in English and bowed his head with a smile while looking to Miguel who explained.

“Our language doesn't have the letters c, f, j, p, q, r and x. Something about them attracting evil spirits.”

“Yet, I've seen you use them.”

“I travel a lot. Speaking broken English is a lot harder than just learning the entire alphabet to speak it fluently.”

“I suppose so.”

“Elder, have you made the preparations?”, Killua ignored Miguel and the elder speaking in their language again as he took in the landscape. Unlike Japan's concrete jungle that he was used to, the land around them was vastly different.

The sky above was shining brightly, the sun bathing the earth in a golden light. The ground below their feet was dry and cracked in place and yet, it was also full of life as numerous trees surrounded the airfield and the birds were chirping happily.

'Not to mention, I can't feel any cursed energy. This place…it almost feels sacred.'

“I can tell you're thinking and yes, this area is a sacred location. This is the place that has never seen the likes of cursed spirits, not because they're afraid, but because the tribes around here do not let them exist.”

“Everyone can use their cursed energy, can't they?”

“Yes and the most powerful of us are given the titles of elders and chieftain,” Miguel said and Killua smirked as he saw the pride dancing in the man's eyes, turning to Yuta before chuckling at his awed look.

“Anyway, we have the carriages ready so we're going to head to the village and then head to the location of your training.”

“Which is?”, Killua asked as they began making their way out of the airport, watching as Miguel turned to them with a smirk and lifting his glasses to see his dark brown eyes dancing with cursed energy.

“The old capital and oldest city in Kenya, Mombasa.”

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

'Well, I can't say that I don't miss the Japan weather,' Killua thought with a grimace as he sat in a wooden cart that had a tarp thrown across four sticks, the hot wind whipping through and slapping against his face as he, Yuta and Miguel rode in the cart.

“Hahahaha! I should have known you guys would not be used to the humid air of the country.”

“It doesn't bother me that much. Him on the other hand…”, Killua trailed off as he nodded to Yuta, who was lying on the floor with a bottle of water against his face and having stripped down to just his pants and nothing else.

“Yeah, his body is already weak and with the heat added…Well, at least the location we're going is not that hot and humid.”

“I hope so. Anyway, why does it feel like the curse energy is watching us?”

“That's because it is,” Miguel answered nonchalantly, making Killua blink as the man smirked and shrugged.

“In this country, cursed energy is not just energy. It's in the soil, the trees, the wildlife and the winds. Unlike your country, ours was not overtaken by progression and thus, the land has not yet forgotten where they come from.”

“We also have rural areas on the outskirts of cities.”

“But it is not the first thing one notices when you think of Japan, is it?”, Miguel spoke with a smirk, Killua rolling his eyes and making the man chuckle as he looked out at the land they were passing.

“Just wait. Once you understand cursed energy, you'll understand what it truly means to know the world and yourself.”

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“This…is not quite what I expected,” Yuta murmured as the trio stood at the entrance road to the city, staring at the bustling city in front of them.

Palm trees lined the streets, old coral stone buildings still stood strong and cars of various shapes and sizes zipped past as Killua stared at the street vendors.

Taking in the scent of roasted maize and ocean salt in the air, Killua smiled at the taste it left in his mouth before chuckling at Yuta's words as Miguel snorted.

“What did you expect, tribes and ruins? Mombasa isn't some forgotten relic. It's a port city. It's a crossroad of magic and modernity.”

“Question: If it's a crossroad of magic and modernity, why did we ride a cart pulled by a mule here?”, Killua asked with a raised eyebrow and Miguel grinned as they walked to the dusty 4x4 in front of them with black-tinted windows.

“Because I had to give you the Kenyan experience. Now get in. We're heading to the Old Town near Fort Jesus, because that's where the training begins.”

“Fort…Jesus? Like the religious figure?”, Yuta asked with a frown and Miguel nodded as he climbed into the driver seat, both Japanese boys sighing in relief as the air condition turned on and immediately cooled down the inside.

“The very same. It was built by the Portuguese, taken by the Arabs and then the British. Everyone tried to control it, but some left behind more than just their names on the place.”

“Cursed energy?”

“Worse. Imprints. It's kind of like your Potential Apparitions in Japan, but unlike constant fears, an imprint is formed from residue of centuries of conflict and spiritual warfare. It's the perfect place for you two to learn what it means to control cursed energy without letting it consume you.”

“Huh, sounds fun. Will your tribe be there?”

“No, the elder will teach you after you survive this one.”

“S-Survive?”, Yuta asked as they began driving and Killua laughed as Miguel grinned into the rearview mirror and nodded.

“Survive, yes. Now, rest up. You're going to need it.”

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was as the sun dipped low that the group pulled up onto Fort Jesus, its towering walls casting long shadows and a few tourists lingering around the outer area.

However, as they climbed out, both Killua and Yuta sensed the barrier around the inner area, Killua noting the charms pressed into the foundation while Yuta marveled at the cursed energy connecting them all together.

“The city is noisy and chaotic so it will teach you to focus and the energy here will show you what it means to resonate your mind, body and spirit into one. Your Copy and your Speed of Lightning are like guns in a crowd so you must learn to wield it like a knife in silence.”

“So, where do we start?”, Killua asked as they entered the boundary of the barrier, immediately feeling the cursed energy flooding their senses as Miguel shrugged before turning around.

“That's on you. I'll check on you kids tomorrow.”

“Great. Well, where do you want to start?”, Yuta blinked at Killua's question before shrugging with an unsure smile as they looked around at the area as well as the numerous Grade 3 and 4 spirits that immediately hid the moment they saw them.

“We could always try and do some sparring. That should help.”

“Usually, yeah, but with Rika…gone, it's going to be a lot harder for me.”

“Rika? Oh right, that cursed spirit you had. It's gone?”, Killua asked with a frown and Yuta gave a small smile as he nodded, the two continuing onwards to the center courtyard where Killua noted the groups of cursed spirits scattering away.

“Yes. She passed on after I broke the curse and now it's just…it's just me.”

“…He said your technique is Copy, right? Why not focus your energy into a copy of her?”, Killua proposed, making Yuta blink as he turned his head to see the boy stretching and warming himself up.

“A…A copy?”

“Yeah. While most sorcerer need a talisman and their cursed energy to make a shikigami that can help them, you have enough cursed energy to make one without the talisman. That and if your Copy is being able to copy any technique, why not use this new shikigami as a way to store your copies when it gets to the point where you can't hold any?”

“That…that is quite the idea. You think I can-”

“It's not a matter of you can or can't. It's a matter of you trying or not. If you can, you can. If you can't, you just go on and train your ass off until you can. That's what it means to be a Special-Grade sorcerer. We walk the path of the impossible and make it possible for those behind us, because we are the last wall against the true monsters of this world. Now, are you going to try or not?”, Killua asked with a grin, his hair sparking as Yuta smiled and nodded.

“I'll try.”

“Good. Then you can go try over there.”

“Wait, what are you going to do?”, Yuta asked and Killua smiled as he held his hands in front of me, electricity jumping from finger to finger before positive energy coated his hands and the electricity jumped out from his body.

“Me? I'm going to perfect the things that I should have perfected a long ago. Cursed Technique Reversal: Thunderbolt!”, Swinging his hands forward, lightning jumped from his fingers and slammed into the opposite wall.

However, as the lightning was about to impact it, Killua quickly swung his fingers upwards and the lightning followed, jumping into the air before dispersing in the sky with a thunderous boom.

“That…that was pretty strong,” Yuta murmured and Killua nodded before he clasped his hands together and focused more energy into his hands.

“Yeah, but it's not enough. It needs to be stronger, faster, more accurate and most importantly…”, Killua trailed off as he thrust his hands forward, swinging upwards again and frowning as the explosion was a little more silent this time.

“It needs to be perfect.”

A/N: And we're ending it off here~!! Chapter had a few quick cuts, but we had to simulate the rest of the journey to get this party started.

Yuta and Killua are now with Miguel and they're about to go on their own little journey across Kenya before they go back to Japan.

Next chapter: Hunting for Special Rope.

As always, read, enjoy, review and until the next one…

Ba-Bye~!!