The night passed quietly.
Too quietly.
At Reikōsha Academy, most students were asleep, their lights turned off, their minds at peace unaware of what was beginning beyond their reach. The wind moved gently across the buildings, brushing past windows and empty halls.
But not everyone was asleep.
Kairo sat on his bed, staring at the ceiling.
His hands rested behind his head, but his eyes were wide open.
"…A mission, huh…"
He turned slightly, glancing at the wall beside him.
For the first time in a while…
He wasn't smiling.
Across the dorms, Yura stood near the window, her arms crossed as she looked outside. The moonlight reflected softly in her eyes, but her expression remained unreadable.
"Disappearances… no bodies…"
She closed her eyes slowly.
"…Something is wrong."
For a brief moment, the air around her shifted again subtle pressure bending the space near her fingers before fading.
Meanwhile, Tyouro was…
Sleeping.
Loudly.
"ZZZ-mm… onigiri…"
He turned around, hugging his pillow like it was food.
"…mine…"
In another room, Kimimaru sat quietly on his bed, his zweihander resting beside him. His hand traced along the blade slowly, as if checking every inch of it.
"…A real fight…"
He looked down slightly.
"…Finally."
Early morning came faster than expected.
The sky was still pale when the academy bell rang louder than usual.
Students groaned as they woke up.
But for Kairo and the others…
They were already ready.
At the academy gate, the four stood together.
Kairo stretched his arms.
"Man… it's too early for this."
Tyouro yawned.
"Yeah… can we go back to sleep instead?"
"No," Yura replied immediately.
Kimimaru said nothing.
A few steps ahead, Sensei Shougo stood waiting for them, hands in his pockets, his expression calm but serious.
Behind him… stood another figure.
Griffin.
Kairo noticed immediately.
"…That old man again."
Tyouro whispered.
"He looks like he knows everything."
"Because he probably does," Yura replied.
Shougo looked at them.
"This is your first real mission as a team," he said. "So listen carefully."
The four straightened slightly.
"You are heading toward Dragonbone Ridge."
The name alone made the air feel heavier.
"Multiple disappearances have been reported. Entire areas have gone silent overnight. No survivors. No traces."
Kairo clenched his fist slightly.
"…So it's real."
Shougo nodded.
"But listen to me this is not a normal enemy."
His tone changed.
"If you feel like you cannot handle it…"
He paused.
"…You run."
Tyouro raised an eyebrow.
"Run? That's not very heroic, sensei."
Shougo looked directly at him.
"Dead warriors save no one."
Silence.
Griffin stepped forward slightly, adjusting his hat.
"The enemy you may encounter uses a type of energy that does not follow conventional rules," he said calmly. "It erases."
Kairo frowned.
"Erases… what exactly?"
Griffin looked at him.
"Everything."
That one word stayed in the air.
Yura's eyes narrowed.
"…So defense won't matter."
"Correct," Griffin replied. "If you are hit directly, there may be nothing left."
Tyouro whistled.
"…Okay, that's kinda crazy."
Kimimaru spoke quietly.
"…Then we don't get hit."
Griffin glanced at him.
"…If only it were that simple."
Shougo stepped forward again.
"You will not engage blindly. Observe first. Understand your enemy. Work as a team."
He looked at each of them.
"Kairo. Don't rush."
"…Yeah."
"Yura. Lead them."
"I will."
"Tyouro. Control yourself."
"…I'll try."
"Kimimaru."
"…Understood."
Shougo turned slightly.
"…Move out."
The four began walking.
Step by step, leaving the academy behind.
The gates slowly opened, revealing the vast world outside.
For a moment, none of them spoke.
Then-
"Alright!" Tyouro suddenly said. "Who's carrying the snacks?"
Kairo looked at him.
"You're thinking about food right now?"
"Of course. What if we die hungry?"
"…You're actually stupid."
Yura sighed.
"Both of you… focus."
Kimimaru walked ahead silently.
"…We're being watched."
They all paused.
"…What?" Kairo said.
Kimimaru's eyes shifted slightly.
"…Just a feeling."
Far away…
On a high cliff overlooking the path they were taking-
A figure stood.
Watching.
Back with the group, they continued walking through open land. The academy slowly disappeared behind them as the terrain changed grasslands turning into rougher paths, scattered rocks, and dry trees.
The air felt different.
Heavier.
"…You guys feel that?" Kairo said.
Yura nodded slightly.
"…Yeah."
Tyouro stretched his neck.
"Feels like something's off."
Kimimaru's grip tightened on his sword.
"…We're getting closer."
Hours passed.
The sun rose higher, but the atmosphere only grew more tense.
Eventually, they reached the edge of Dragonbone Ridge.
Or what was left of it.
Silence.
Total silence.
No birds.
No wind.
No movement.
The village stood still… but something was wrong.
"…This place…" Kairo muttered.
Tyouro frowned.
"…There's no one."
Yura stepped forward slowly.
"…Stay alert."
They walked into the village.
Houses were intact.
Doors open.
Food still on tables.
But-
No people.
Kairo looked around.
"…It's like they just vanished."
Kimimaru crouched slightly, touching the ground.
"…No signs of struggle."
Tyouro scratched his head.
"…That's creepy."
Yura closed her eyes briefly.
Trying to sense something.
Anything.
Then-
Her eyes snapped open.
"…Move."
"WHAT—"
BOOM.
The ground behind them disappeared.
Not destroyed.
Not broken.
Gone.
They jumped back instantly.
Kairo's eyes widened.
"…What the hell was that?!"
Yura stared forward.
"…That wasn't an attack…"
Kimimaru finished.
"…It was erased."
A voice echoed.
Calm.
Cold.
"…So… more people came."
They turned.
A man stood at the end of the street.
His presence alone felt wrong.
Heavy.
Unstable.
Tyouro smirked slightly.
"…Guess we found him."
Kairo clenched his fist.
"…Yeah…"
Yura stepped forward.
"…Formation."
Kimimaru lifted his sword.
Silence.
The man looked at them.
"…You're not running."
A small smile formed.
"…Good."