A series of agonising yells shattered the quiet, calm flow of nature in the forest.

  The three of them seemed to be convulsing, their faces contorting from the sheer agony they were experiencing. Despite this, Ichiro stood still without as much as a look of concern.

  The only thing that caught his attention was the rustling coming from the trees. He turned to see Miyuki heading toward them, carrying what seemed to be a box covered with a folded cloth.

  She had a concerned look on her face, probably triggered by the trio's screams.

  "What's happening!" she yelled as she ran to her father. "Why are you just standing there!"

  She tried to reach out and tug at his robe, but her attention was caught by someone coughing beside the bank of the stream at the foot of the waterfall. It was Izumi.

  He was soaked, and his body was covered in black vein-like patterns as he crawled away from the stream, groaning in pain.

  Seeing this, she rushed toward him, but just as she was about to reach him, Ichiro yelled, "Don't touch him!"

  She stopped dead in her tracks. Hearing him raise his voice like that was something beyond bizarre.

  She slowly turned to where Takae was. She was lying on the ground, shifting back and forth between lying on her back and curling into a fetal position.

  She too had glowing vein-like patterns on her skin, but hers were yellow, not black.

  She turned again to Yuriko and saw her on her knees, hands on the ground as she breathed erratically, similar red patterns glowing across her skin.

  She finally turned back to her father and yelled, "What are you doing to them?! Why can't I touch them?!"

  "They chose this," he replied calmly.

  "What do you mean?!"

  "This is all a part of their training," he replied. "I'm sure that by now they've grasped it."

  The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

  "You're not making any sense," she said, calmer.

  "I'm sure they understand it now," he continued, "that it is only those who have the conviction to lay everything on the line for their desires that can gain the power to overcome fate."

  "That's what it means to ascend."

  Not knowing what to say, she just stood there, transfixed. That was until she felt Izumi tugging at the foot of her robe.

  She turned immediately to see him with a forced smile on his face.

  "Don't worry," he said, his voice shaking, "we can handle i—"

  He couldn't finish the sentence as he shriveled into a fetal position, then forced himself to kneel upright.

  The glow of the patterns intensified as his eyes turned pitch black.

  She couldn't help but step back, not knowing what to do. She then turned to Takae and Yuriko, and they too had their eyes glowing—yellow and red, respectively.

  "Get away from him!" Ichiro yelled, pulling her back.

  She tried to resist, but all she could do was watch as the spectacle unfolded.

  Then, after a series of groans, there was an unnerving silence.

  Izumi gasped for air and panted continuously before finally calming down.

  She turned to see Takae and Yuriko also calm, only taking deep breaths.

  Then, with a smirk on his face, Ichiro said, "It seems it was a success."

  They then slowly rose to their feet simultaneously. Yuriko tried to turn to Takae, but a sharp pain rang through her head.

  When she opened her eyes again, she was shocked at how well she could see, and she could even hear the subtle sound of the wind blowing on the grass beneath her.

  "Everything is so clear," she commented, "it's like I've been blind my entire life."

  Izumi curled his hand into a fist and said, "My body feels so light."

  "Well," Ichiro said, catching their attention, "doesn't it feel amazing?"

  "You're right," Takae said, "I've never felt this great."

  "So you're okay?" Miyuki asked, confusion evident on her face.

  "Never better," Yuriko replied.

  "You can sense it, can't you?" Ichiro asked, "the source energy all around you."

  Takae closed her eyes and then began sensing her surroundings as though her eyes were open. She could see tiny glowing particles all around her even with her eyes shut.

  "I can feel three large concentrations," she said, "but one is larger than the other two."

  "Oh, that," Ichiro replied, "that is your higher sense perceiving our source energy output signatures. Since you're relatively new, this only makes sense that your output is lower."

  "So this is what it's like," Izumi said, looking toward the sky, "to ascend."

  A smirk crossed Ichiro's face as he silently watched them examine their bodies for a moment.

  "I think that's enough for today," he said, turning to Miyuki, "I asked Miyuki to bring us some food."

  "Oh yeah," she said, snapping back to reality, "here it is."

  She then handed him the box covered in cloth that she brought, and they all headed to the shade of the large tree that was close to them.

  Here's a slightly polished version keeping your casual tone, smoothing some phrasing, and enhancing the subtle hint at Miyuki's thoughts:

  The four of them settled under the shade of the large tree, the box of food between them. The aroma alone made their stomachs rumble.

  Yuriko picked up a piece and took a bite. Her eyes widened immediately. "Wow… this is incredible," she said, savoring every flavor. "Miyuki, your cooking… it's amazing."

  Takae nodded enthusiastically.

  Even Izumi, still catching his breath, managed a grin. "I didn't think food could taste… like this."

  "You're exaggerating," Miyuki replied, taking a bite herself. "It can't be that good."

  Ichiro leaned back against the tree, a knowing smirk on his face. "That's a side effect of your ascension," he said casually. "Your senses—taste, smell, sight—are all heightened. Food, music, even the smallest breeze… it's all sharper now."

  They shared a quiet laugh, enjoying the calm moment. The chatter became lighter, more casual. Yuriko and Takae teased Izumi about his usual gluttony, while Ichiro occasionally interjected with dry humor.

  Meanwhile, Miyuki sat across from them, serving small bites and listening quietly. Her eyes drifted toward the distant waterfall, her expression softening.

  She smiled faintly to herself, lost in thought, as if recalling something she wasn't quite ready to share.