The classroom at Reikosha Academy felt unusually lively that morning, though nothing about it had really changed. Sunlight still passed through the windows, students still talked in small groups, and the usual noise filled the air but for Kairo, everything felt different. He sat there with a quiet grin, tapping his fingers against the desk as if he was holding something in.
Arlot noticed it almost immediately. He leaned over, narrowing his eyes as if trying to read Kairo's mind.
"Why do you look like that?" he asked, suspicious.
Kairo didn't answer right away. Instead, he leaned back slightly, crossing his arms with a confident smirk. "Like what?"
"Like you just unlocked something big," Arlot replied, now fully curious.
Kairo tilted his head a little, enjoying the moment. "Maybe I did."
That was enough to trigger him. "Just say it already!"
Kairo finally turned toward him, grin widening just a bit. "I learned Gyakuun."
For a second, Arlot didn't move. Then his eyes widened so fast it almost looked painful.
"WHAT?!"
Before Kairo could react, a heavy slap landed on his back.
"YO THAT'S INSANE!"
Kairo jolted forward, instantly regretting everything. "BRO! That hurt!"
Arlot just laughed, shaking his head in disbelief. "You're serious? You actually learned that? That's not normal, man…"
Kairo rubbed his back, glaring a little but still smiling. "Yeah… took me long enough."
Across the room, Yura sat quietly at her desk, spinning a pen between her fingers. She didn't react to the noise, but her eyes shifted toward Kairo for just a second before drifting back to the window. Something about her expression felt distant, like her mind was already somewhere else.
After a moment, she stood up.
Without saying anything, she walked straight toward Kairo and stopped beside him.
"Let's go."
Kairo blinked, caught off guard. "Huh?"
"Training yard."
Simple. Direct. No room for argument.
Kairo stood up almost immediately. "…Alright."
While they left the classroom, Kimimaru was already far ahead of them, deep in the forest where the sound of steel echoed through the trees. His movements were steady and precise, his massive zweihander slicing through the air with controlled force despite its size. Every swing had purpose. Every step was calculated.
He paused for a moment, looking down at the blade in his hands.
"Astral trapping…"
The words came out quietly, almost like he was testing them.
He closed his eyes, tightening his grip slightly as he tried to feel something deeper within the weapon. Not just using it but connecting to it. The air around the blade shifted faintly, like something unseen was being pulled inward, but it wasn't enough.
Kimimaru opened his eyes again, calm as ever. "…Not yet."
He didn't get frustrated. He didn't hesitate.
He just continued.
Push-ups. Lifting heavy rocks. Repeating movements over and over until his muscles burned. His training wasn't loud or flashy, but it was relentless.
Elsewhere, near Cindervale, Ishika moved carefully across uneven ground, her body light as she jumped from one point to another. She wasn't rushing, but she wasn't relaxing either. Her instincts told her to stay alert and she listened.
Then she heard voices.
She immediately lowered herself into the grass, staying hidden as she focused on the conversation ahead.
Two men stood nearby. One wore a black cloak, sleeveless, his face partially covered. The way he stood alone made it clear he wasn't normal. The other was unmistakable, a Sacred Crown royal guard.
"…Reikosha Academy students have gotten stronger," the cloaked man said calmly, almost amused. "I wonder which ones are worth watching."
The guard crossed his arms, unimpressed. "I'll inform King Leonard. But honestly… those students are nothing compared to the Sacred Crown."
Ishika's eyes narrowed slightly.
The cloaked man tilted his head. "Is that so?"
The guard smirked faintly. "We even prepared something special."
"…What kind of special?"
"A bomb," the guard said bluntly. "Enough to erase that entire academy."
For a moment, everything went quiet.
The cloaked man nodded slowly. "I hope that's true. Let me know when the king decides… I'll observe them tomorrow."
The guard nodded and walked away.
Ishika's heart tightened. A bomb…?
She shifted slightly
And that was enough.
A small sound escaped.
The cloaked man reacted instantly, turning and drawing his sword in one smooth motion. "Who's there?"
He stepped closer.
Ishika didn't panic. Her ability activated immediately, her body collapsing into a thin layer of skin that blended into the ground itself, leaving nothing visible behind.
The man searched the bushes carefully, eyes sharp.
Nothing.
Then his gaze landed on a dead bird nearby.
"…Tch."
He lowered his sword and turned away.
Ishika didn't move until he was completely gone.
Back at the academy, the training yard was far less calm.
Kairo dropped to one knee, breathing heavily as sweat ran down his face. "I'm… tired…"
Before he could even finish-
Yura kicked him lightly.
"Stand up."
Kairo looked up, annoyed. "Seriously?"
"True warriors don't get tired this fast," she replied coldly.
Kairo frowned. "Oh yeah? When we fought Yoshiro, we were all exhausted."
Yura didn't deny it. "I know."
Her tone softened slightly, but her eyes stayed sharp. "That's why I'm getting stronger."
She stepped closer, looking directly at him now. "And you should too."
Kairo stayed quiet.
"You have potential," she continued. "All of you do. But potential means nothing if you're lazy."
Then her expression changed just a little.
"…Promise me something."
Kairo blinked. "What?"
"If something happens to this world… protect people."
He froze slightly.
"…Save the world."
The words hit differently.
"That's your goal," she added, stepping back. "But not now."
Kairo slowly stood up again. "…Then what's my goal now?"
Yura smirked faintly. "Get stronger."
She casually pulled out a yogurt and started eating.
Kairo stared at her for a second. "…You really like yogurt, huh?"
"…Yes."
That was all he needed.
Kairo suddenly smirked and sprinted away.
Yura blinked once, then sighed. "…Idiot."
But a small smile still formed.
Meanwhile, far away in the Luminary Kingdom, the atmosphere was completely different. Heavy. Silent. Controlled.
Squadra Diciotto gathered in a large room, all members seated as the meeting began. At the center stood Reiju, surrounded by floating screens and scattered data, his masked face unreadable but his presence overwhelming.
"…Success," he said quietly.
A projection appeared an animal, a deer, but something about it was wrong. Its body flickered unnaturally, parts of it unstable as if it couldn't fully exist in one state.
"…The Energy Extraction Chamber has adapted."
One of the members spoke carefully. "It looks unstable."
Reiju laughed softly, almost pleased. "Of course it is."
He stepped forward, voice lowering as if he was sharing something important. "Do you think perfection is stable?"
No one answered.
"Energy is chaos," he continued. "Pure… limitless… and beautiful."
His tone shifted, becoming more intense.
"Humans cling to form. To safety. To stability."
A pause.
"How boring."
He turned slowly, facing all of them now.
"This… is evolution."
The room stayed silent, but the weight of his words lingered.
"One student from Reikosha Academy," Reiju said, calmer now. "That's all we need."
"And if they refuse?"
Reiju's voice didn't change.
"…Then we take them."
No one questioned it.
Because everyone in that room understood
This wasn't just an idea anymore.
It was already in motion.
Raizen just sits there listen beside him turbo is eating burger.