Inside the clinic, Kairo, Tyouro, and Hero were joking and laughing like nothing had happened, their voices filling the room with noise and energy. The tension from the battle was gone for now replaced by something lighter, something human. Kimimaru sat quietly at the side, watching them for a moment before eventually closing his eyes and falling asleep, as if the chaos earlier had finally caught up to him.
Kairo smirked, leaning back slightly. "I bet if Yoshiro erased your card and you teleported to it, you'd be gone too."
Tyouro burst out laughing immediately. "Nah, that's actually true!"
Hero rolled his eyes, clearly annoyed but not serious about it. "At least I'm more powerful than you, Kairo."
That only made Tyouro laugh harder, nearly falling off his seat. The room felt alive, like they were just normal students again instead of people who had faced death hours ago.
Then the door opened.
Yura walked in with a cold expression, her presence instantly changing the atmosphere. The laughter didn't fully stop, but it quieted. She glanced at everyone before speaking.
"Listen. Starting tomorrow, you, Tyouro, and Kimimaru"
She paused when she noticed Kimimaru sleeping.
Yura sighed.
Then kicked him.
"BAM!"
Kimimaru's eyes snapped open as he jolted upright. "Ugh! What the hell was that"
"Discussion," Yura said flatly.
Kairo immediately started laughing. "Kimimaru just got hit!"
Hero and Tyouro joined in, laughing without holding back.
Yura didn't even hesitate.
She kicked all three of them.
A loud thud echoed in the room as each of them recoiled, instantly forming bumps on their heads.
"Alright," Yura continued calmly, as if nothing happened. "Tyouro and Kimimaru, both of you need to learn your new energy. Not just the energy itself, but your strength and fighting styles too. Tomorrow, Shougo-sensei will give us swords except you, Hero."
Hero rolled his eyes again. "Yeah, I know."
Yura turned to Kairo. "You need to focus on mastering Reikou Energy. After that, work on your physical strength. Next week is the Warrior PvP."
Kairo blinked. "PvP?!"
Tyouro grinned. "Whoa, that's actually exciting."
Kimimaru simply nodded, still half-awake but listening.
Yura crossed her arms slightly. "Training starts tomorrow. Be ready. I want to see your strength and your energy."
Tyouro smirked confidently. "I'll master my Blast Energy."
Kairo clenched his fist with a grin. "I'll master my Reikou Energy!"
Kimimaru rested his chin on his hand, his voice quieter but more focused. "I'll figure out the hidden ability of my Zweihander."
Yura watched them for a second… then smiled softly.
"That's what I want to hear."
Hero stood up, stretching slightly. "Alright, I should go now."
Kairo watched him leave, then smirked. "He's kinda powerful… but still weak compared to me."
That instantly triggered another round of laughter from the group, even Kimimaru letting out a small chuckle this time.
The room, once filled with pain and recovery, now felt like the beginning of something new.
Not just survival.
Growth.
In the faculty room, the atmosphere was completely different.
Quiet.
Heavy.
Serious.
Shougo stood near the table, arms crossed, staring at the reports in front of him. Judas Iscariot leaned against the wall, her expression calm but thoughtful, while the old lady, Tine, sat down with her hands resting on her cane. Griffin stood near the window, looking outside as if he could still feel the remnants of the battle from far away.
"They've changed," Tine said slowly. "You can see it in their energy."
Judas nodded slightly. "Not just changed… they evolved mid-battle. That doesn't happen normally."
Shougo exhaled quietly. "They were pushed to the edge. That's when real growth shows."
Griffin finally spoke, his voice calm but sharp. "No. That's only part of it."
The room turned toward him.
He adjusted his hat slightly before continuing.
"What they experienced wasn't just pressure. It was exposure to something beyond their current level Erasure Energy. When a person faces an ability that completely ignores rules, their instincts are forced to adapt or break."
Tine narrowed her eyes. "So you're saying their growth… was a reaction?"
"Yes," Griffin replied. "A forced evolution."
He began walking slowly across the room.
"Tyouro's Blast Energy didn't just awaken randomly. That 'heat' he felt inside his body was his energy reacting to extreme stress. Instead of collapsing, it ignited. That's the birth of a new pathway his energy chose destruction as its form."
Judas crossed her arms. "And Kimimaru?"
Griffin's gaze shifted slightly.
"Kimimaru is different. His Astral Trapping isn't just an ability it's connected to his weapon. That Zweihander isn't normal. It has a hidden function, something even he doesn't fully understand yet."
Shougo frowned. "A weapon with its own evolution…"
Griffin nodded. "Exactly. And once he discovers it, his fighting style will change completely."
Tine tapped her cane lightly. "And Kairo?"
Shougo answered this time, a small smile forming on his face.
"Kairo finally touched Reikou Energy properly. Not just using it but understanding it. That's the difference."
Judas looked at him. "You sound proud."
"I am," Shougo said honestly. "They're becoming real warriors."
Griffin stopped walking, his expression turning slightly more serious.
"But don't misunderstand."
The room went quiet again.
"This is only the beginning."
His voice lowered.
"The moment they stepped into that fight… they entered a world where enemies don't play fair, where abilities don't follow logic, and where one mistake means erasure not defeat."
Tine closed her eyes for a moment. "And yet… they survived."
Griffin looked out the window again.
"Yes," he said quietly.
"…and that's exactly why they're dangerous."
Shougo clenched his fist slightly, determination burning in his eyes.
"Then we'll make sure they're ready next time."
Judas smirked faintly. "Because next time… they won't be lucky."
Outside, the academy remained peaceful.
But inside…
Something had already begun.
And none of them could stop it anymore.