Morning sunlight bathed Reikosha Academy in a warm golden glow as students hurried across the campus, their voices filling the air with excitement. The peaceful atmosphere made it hard to believe that outside the academy walls, dangerous Evil Spirits still wandered across the world.
Kairo tightened the strap of the Black Spartan on his back as he made his way toward the training grounds. Ever since his battle with Oko, he had felt different. His body felt lighter, his movements sharper, and his confidence no longer came from empty hope—it came from the countless hours of training under Shougo.
"Yo, Kairo!"
Tyouro waved both hands while jogging toward him with his usual grin.
"Morning! You better not tell me you overslept after becoming the champion!"
Kairo laughed awkwardly.
"I almost did."
"I knew it!"
Before Tyouro could continue teasing him, Yura quietly walked past them with her hands in her pockets.
"...Good morning."
"Morning, Yura!" Kairo replied.
She gave a small nod before continuing toward the gathering point.
Kimimaru arrived shortly afterward, carrying his massive Zweihander over one shoulder. As always, his expression remained calm and unreadable.
"...Everyone's here."
A few moments later, Shougo stepped onto the platform with his hands behind his back.
"I'm glad none of you are late."
Tyouro scratched the back of his head.
"I almost was."
"I know."
The students chuckled.
Shougo looked at each member of the squad before speaking.
"Your next mission begins today."
The smiles on their faces slowly disappeared.
"This won't be another tournament or training exercise. From this point forward, you'll begin carrying out real squad missions."
Kairo instinctively straightened his posture.
"...A real mission..."
Shougo nodded.
"Our destination is Moonveil Forest."
The name alone caused Kimimaru's eyes to narrow.
"I've heard of it."
Shougo continued.
"Three days ago, several merchants disappeared while traveling through the forest. Yesterday, a Reikosha scout entered to investigate..."
He paused.
"...and never returned."
Silence settled over the group.
"This isn't simply a hunt."
Shougo's voice remained calm, but carried an unusual seriousness.
"Your objective is to locate the missing scout, ensure the safety of any survivors, and eliminate any Evil Spirits responsible."
Tyouro clenched his fists.
"We'll do it!"
Shougo glanced at him.
"I hope so."
A few minutes later, the squad left Reikosha Academy and traveled through winding mountain roads before reaching the entrance to Moonveil Forest. Towering trees blocked much of the sunlight, leaving only thin beams of light slipping through the branches. A cold breeze rustled the leaves, carrying an eerie silence that made the forest feel strangely alive.
Kairo looked around carefully.
"...It's quiet."
"Too quiet," Kimimaru replied.
Yura crouched near the ground, gently touching a broken branch.
"...Someone passed through here recently."
Shougo nodded.
"Good observation."
They continued deeper into the forest, moving together instead of splitting apart.
The deeper they walked, the darker the surroundings became.
Even Tyouro, who normally joked nonstop, found himself unusually quiet.
"...Does anyone else feel like we're being watched?"
Kairo slowly gripped the handle of Black Spartan.
"...Yeah."
Shougo didn't answer.
Instead, he simply continued walking.
After nearly an hour of searching, Yura suddenly stopped.
"...Blood."
Everyone rushed over.
Scattered across the roots of an ancient tree were drops of dried blood leading deeper into the forest.
"There are footprints too," Kairo said, kneeling beside them.
"They're fresh."
Kimimaru examined the trail.
"Only one person."
"The scout," Shougo murmured.
Without another word, the squad followed the trail until they reached a ruined stone shrine hidden beneath thick vines.
The place looked abandoned for centuries.
Cracked statues surrounded the shrine, while broken lanterns lay scattered across the ground.
Kairo slowly stepped forward.
"...This place gives me a bad feeling."
Before anyone could respond...
"...Help..."
A weak voice echoed from inside the shrine.
Kairo's eyes widened.
"Someone's alive!"
He immediately rushed toward the entrance.
"Wait, Kairo!" Shougo called.
But Kairo was already inside.
The shrine was dark and covered in dust. At the far end of the room lay a wounded Reikosha scout, barely able to move.
"...Please..."
Kairo hurried over and knelt beside him.
"We're from Reikosha! You're safe now!"
The scout slowly grabbed Kairo's wrist.
His trembling lips barely moved.
"...Don't..."
"...look..."
"...behind..."
Kairo's smile slowly disappeared.
His body froze.
A heavy chill crawled down his spine.
Slowly...
Very slowly...
He turned his head.
Standing in complete silence behind him was a towering figure wrapped in black mist. Its body seemed stitched together from twisted armor and bone, while two crimson eyes glowed beneath a cracked horned mask. Unlike every Evil Spirit Kairo had fought before, this one neither roared nor charged.
It simply stared at him.
Outside the shrine, Shougo's expression changed for the first time since the mission had begun.
"...Everyone."
His voice was calm...
But unusually firm.
"...Do not attack."
Yura, Tyouro, and Kimimaru immediately stopped where they stood, confused by the unexpected order.
The creature slowly tilted its head toward Kairo.
Then, in a deep, distorted voice...
It spoke.
"...So..."
"...you are Reikosha's newest generation."
The forest fell into complete silence.