The sun had begun its slow descent when Professor Hexio finally spoke the words Ryusei both wanted—and feared—to hear.
"…That's enough."
Ryusei stood in the middle of the training field, breathing heavily, his body drenched in sweat. The ground around him was marked with countless signs of effort—burnt patches, fractured stone, and faint traces of lingering light.
"…Enough?" Ryusei repeated, wiping the sweat from his chin.
Hexio stood a few steps away, arms crossed, his expression as unreadable as ever.
"For now."
A pause.
"You've reached the limit of what training alone can give you."
Ryusei blinked.
"…So I'm done?"
"No."
Hexio's voice was firm.
"You're just beginning."
Ryusei tilted his head slightly.
"…That sounds like something a teacher would say to make things sound more dramatic."
Hexio didn't react.
"…It's the truth."
He turned away slightly, looking toward the horizon.
"Power doesn't grow in controlled environments forever."
A brief silence.
"…It grows when it's tested."
Ryusei's expression slowly shifted.
"…Real battles."
Hexio nodded.
"You've learned how to control your light."
A pause.
"Now you need to learn how to use it."
Ryusei clenched his hand slightly, feeling the faint warmth still lingering within him.
"…So what do I do?"
Hexio glanced back at him.
"…You already know."
The Kingdom's Adventurers' Center stood as lively as ever.
Voices filled the massive hall—Elementalists discussing quests, merchants negotiating rewards, and the constant clatter of boots against polished stone floors.
It felt… normal.
Too normal.
Ryusei stepped inside slowly.
For a moment—
He just stood there.
Watching.
Listening.
"…It feels different…"
Before, this place had been overwhelming.
Now—
It felt smaller.
Not physically.
But in a way he couldn't fully explain.
"…Because you've changed."
Ryusei turned slightly.
Kayosha stood beside him, arms folded, her gaze soft but observant.
"…You've been quiet," she added.
Ryusei gave a small smile.
"…Just thinking."
Kayosha studied his face for a moment.
"…You look tired."
"…I am."
"…And?"
"…And… better."
That answer made her pause.
"…Good."
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"RYUSEI!"
The sudden shout echoed across the hall.
Ryusei winced slightly.
"…Never mind."
Yuki stormed toward him, her presence alone causing the temperature around her to drop noticeably.
The air grew cold.
Frost formed faintly along the edges of nearby tables.
"…Where have you been?" she demanded.
Ryusei scratched his cheek.
"…Training."
"For days?"
"…Yeah."
Yuki's eyes narrowed.
"…Without telling anyone?"
"…I told—"
"No, you didn't."
The ground beneath Ryusei's feet began to freeze slightly.
"…Okay, maybe I didn't."
Yuki let out a sharp breath.
"…Idiot."
Despite the harsh word—
Her voice trembled slightly.
"…Do you have any idea how worried we were?"
Ryusei paused.
"…I…"
For once—
He didn't have a quick response.
"…Sorry."
The word came out quietly.
Genuinely.
The frost around them slowly began to fade.
Yuki looked away slightly.
"…Just don't disappear like that again."
"…I won't."
"Looks like you survived."
Ryusei turned.
Shizen stood nearby, arms crossed, his usual calm expression unchanged.
"…Barely," Ryusei replied with a small grin.
Shadow leaned against the wall behind him, silent as ever, but his sharp gaze never leaving Ryusei.
"…You're stronger," Shadow muttered.
It wasn't a question.
Ryusei shrugged slightly.
"…A little."
Shizen stepped forward.
"…Good."
A pause.
"Then don't waste it."
They gathered near the quest board.
Dozens of scrolls were pinned across it, each one representing a mission—some simple, others dangerous.
Ryusei stared at them.
Not with confusion.
Not with hesitation.
But with focus.
"…Last time I didn't even check what I was taking…"
Yuki crossed her arms.
"…You mean when you stole my quest?"
"…It was an accident!"
"…You took it without reading it."
"…Okay, yeah, that part was on me."
Shizen let out a quiet sigh.
"…Just pick something appropriate this time."
Ryusei nodded.
"…Yeah."
He reached out.
His hand hovered over several scrolls.
Then—
He stopped.
One scroll stood out.
Not because of its rank.
But because of its description.
"…Disturbance in the northern ruins…"
He narrowed his eyes slightly.
"…Unidentified energy… multiple reports… missing scouts…"
A pause.
"…This one."
Yuki leaned closer.
"…That's not low rank."
"…I know."
Shizen studied the scroll.
"…It's not reckless either."
A small nod.
"…Good choice."
Ryusei pulled the scroll down.
This time—
Carefully.
Intentionally.
"…No accidents."
Yuki smirked slightly.
"…Finally learned your lesson."
"…Yeah."
Ryusei looked at the scroll in his hand.
"…I think I did."
As they began preparing—
Kayosha stepped beside him again.
"…You're leaving already?"
"…Yeah."
"…Another dangerous one?"
Ryusei smiled faintly.
"…Probably."
Kayosha hesitated.
Then—
"…Be careful."
Her voice was soft.
But filled with meaning.
Ryusei looked at her.
For a moment—
The noise of the hall faded.
"…I will."
As they stepped toward the exit—
Ryusei paused briefly.
He glanced back at the bustling hall.
At the place where everything had started.
"…Next time…"
He clenched his hand slightly.
A faint glow flickered.
"…I'll be stronger."
Outside—
The wind carried the promise of something new.
Not training.
Not preparation.
But something real.
Something uncertain.
Something dangerous.
Ryusei took a step forward.
Then another.
And without hesitation—
He walked toward it.
The road to the southwest stretched long and quiet.
For days, Ryusei Ryugu traveled alone beneath open skies, the Kingdom of Ryugu now far behind him. The world felt… calm. Almost too calm.
No monsters.
No disturbances.
Just the steady rhythm of his footsteps and the whisper of wind brushing against the plains.
It should have been peaceful.
But something in his chest refused to settle.
"…Why do I feel like something's wrong…"
His fingers brushed lightly against the black ring on his hand.
It remained silent.
Still.
As if waiting.
By the time the sun dipped low on the horizon of the third day—
He arrived.
The Village of Sapeda.
Or at least…
What remained of it.
Ryusei stopped.
His breath caught.
"…What… happened here…?"
The towering stone walls that once protected the village were shattered—massive cracks splitting through their structure like scars. Sections had completely collapsed, leaving gaping holes that exposed the interior.
The front gates—
Burned.
Blackened.
Warped beyond recognition.
And scattered across the ground—
Dried blood.
Too much of it.
The air itself felt heavy.
Like it carried the echoes of screams long since silenced.
Ryusei's expression darkened.
"…This isn't normal…"
Not in this era.
Not in a time where Elementalists protected the balance of the world.
Something was very wrong.
"I need to find the warden…"
Without wasting another second, he stepped through the broken gate.
The deeper he walked into the village—
The worse it became.
Homes destroyed.
Shops abandoned.
People… hiding.
Not a single person met his eyes.
Fear lingered in every corner.
"…They're terrified…"
Then—
A scream.
"Someone's in danger!!!"
Ryusei's head snapped toward the sound.
Without hesitation—
He ran.
He arrived at the center of the village—
And what he saw made his blood boil.
Two young men stood in the middle of a crowd.
Elementalists.
But not protectors.
No—
Predators.
They were kicking a man lying helplessly on the ground.
Each blow echoed through the silent crowd.
"What's wrong, warden?!" one of them laughed—a boy with yellow hair and cold black eyes.
"Can't fight back?!!!"
Another kick.
The man coughed violently, blood spilling from his lips.
Ryusei's eyes widened.
"…The warden…?"
The second boy—black hair, blue eyes—stepped forward, placing his foot on the man's face.
"Is this really the leader of this pathetic village?" he sneered.
"He can't even stand."
Laughter followed.
Cruel.
Empty.
"Those who oppose the Moyasu Gang…" the yellow-haired boy said, his voice dripping with arrogance, "…will die in the most miserable way possible."
The villagers surrounding them trembled.
No one moved.
No one spoke.
Only fear remained.
"Unhand… my daughter…" the warden whispered weakly.
"I didn't hear you!!!" the black-haired boy shouted, stomping his face again.
Ryusei clenched his fists.
"…Why isn't anyone helping him…?"
A trembling voice beside him answered.
"…If we fight… we die…"
Ryusei turned slightly.
"A lot of Elementalists already tried…"
"…Moyasu… he's too strong…"
The name lingered.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
"I'll show you all what happens when you defy us!" the black-haired boy roared.
A weapon formed in his hand—
A one-handed metal axe.
"Goodbye, you worthless warden!!!"
He raised it high.
"You don't have to worry," he added with a twisted grin, "your daughter will make a perfect bride for the boss—"
CLANG!
The axe never landed.
A blade of pure light blocked it.
The impact sent a shockwave through the ground—
And the attacker flying.
"DENO!!!" the yellow-haired boy shouted.
The black-haired boy crashed into a nearby house, wood splintering on impact.
Ryusei stood between them.
His glowing blade steady.
His eyes burning.
"You've done enough."
Silence fell over the crowd.
"…Give the warden's daughter back."
The yellow-haired boy glared at him.
"…You've got guts, kid."
Deno groaned as he stood, wiping blood from his mouth.
"…Who the hell are you…?"
Ryusei didn't hesitate.
"I'm the one who's going to stop you."
"Fine!" the yellow-haired boy snapped. "We'll kill you first!"
Deno stepped forward, flames erupting into a sword in his hand.
"I'll handle this brat."
He lunged.
Fast.
His blade swung toward Ryusei's face—
But—
CLASH!
Photon Blade met flame.
The impact sparked violently.
Steel and light collided again—
And again—
Each strike faster than the last.
Ryusei's movements were sharp.
Precise.
Calm.
"Your Elemental Art…" Ryusei said as he blocked another strike, "…Weaponry."
"Yeah, so what?!" Deno snapped.
Another slash—
Blocked.
"Wind Art: Aerial Cut!!!"
A sharp gust tore through the air.
Ryusei reacted instantly—
He kicked Deno back—
Then turned—
SLASH!
The incoming wind attack split clean in half.
Gasps echoed from the crowd.
"…He cut a spell…"
"…That's impossible…"
Misaku's expression hardened.
"…This isn't just a kid…"
Ryusei moved.
"Meteor Dragon: Sword Dance."
Eight radiant blades appeared behind him.
Floating.
Glowing.
Alive.
They shot forward—
Targeting Deno.
"Dammit!!!" Deno shouted, barely dodging as the blades pursued him relentlessly.
Meanwhile—
Ryusei closed in on Misaku.
Their clash was swift.
Intense.
Steel against light.
Wind against radiance.
Misaku faltered—
Just for a moment—
And that was enough.
THRUST!
Ryusei's blade pierced his shoulder.
"GAAAH—!"
"Misaku!!!"
Deno turned—
Too late.
The floating blades slashed across him—
Burning.
Not cutting.
Burning.
"Why do these wounds… burn?!" he gasped.
"Retreat…" Misaku muttered, barely standing.
"…He's too strong…"
"I hate to admit it… but yeah…" Deno growled.
But hesitation cost them.
"Meteor Dragon: Photon Fist."
Light gathered in Ryusei's hand.
Condensed.
Explosive.
He moved—
And struck.
BOOM!
Misaku was launched through three houses.
The last one collapsed on top of him.
"MISAKU!!!"
Deno turned—
But a blade pierced his knee.
He collapsed.
"…I forgot… about these damn swords…"
Pain surged through him.
Burning.
Unrelenting.
Smoke bombs hit the ground.
"Next time…" Deno growled, vanishing into the smoke, "…you're dead."
When it cleared—
They were gone.
Silence returned.
Heavy.
Tense.
Ryusei lowered his blade.
"…They escaped…"
The light faded.
The swords vanished.
He turned.
And rushed to the warden's side.
"…Are you alright?"
The man looked up weakly.
"…Who are you…?"
Ryusei knelt beside him, supporting his body.
"I'm Ryusei Ryugu."
His voice softened.
"…Don't speak. You're badly injured."
The warden's eyes widened slightly.
"…Ryusei… Ryugu…"
A faint smile.
"…Thank you…"
And then—
His body went limp.
He lost consciousness.
Ryusei's grip tightened.
"…You're safe now."
But his eyes—
Darkened.
Because deep down—
He knew.
This wasn't over.
Not even close.