The thick forest of Moonveil Forest trembled as Shougo's squad raced toward the source of the explosion. Branches snapped beneath their feet while leaves scattered into the air, each member moving at incredible speed. The atmosphere had changed completely. Moments ago they had been casually talking, but now every instinct told them something was wrong.
Shougo led the way without looking back. His expression remained calm, yet his eyes had become noticeably sharper.
"...Stay alert."
"The explosion wasn't caused by an ordinary Evil Spirit."
Behind him, Kairo tightened his grip around the Black Spartan. Ever since his battle with Oko, he could feel the sword responding to him differently. It was subtle, almost as if the blade had begun acknowledging his growth.
"...I won't slow everyone down this time."
Yura glanced at him while continuing to run.
"You won't."
"You've already proven that."
Kairo smiled faintly before returning his focus to the forest ahead.
Suddenly—
BOOM!!
Another explosion echoed through the mountains.
This one was closer.
Tyouro grinned as Blast Energy gathered around both fists.
"Finally! Now we're talking!"
"Don't rush in."
Shougo's voice immediately stopped him.
"If you lose your composure..."
"...you'll die first."
Tyouro scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"...Right."
Kimimaru silently drew his Zweihander.
"...Three presences."
"...One is fighting."
"...Two are watching."
Everyone looked toward him.
"You can tell?"
Kimimaru nodded.
"...The sound of their souls is different."
Shougo gave a small approving smile.
"Good."
"We're close."
Within seconds, the squad reached the edge of a massive clearing.
The sight before them made everyone stop.
The ground had been completely destroyed.
Trees lay scattered in every direction.
Several enormous craters covered the battlefield.
At the center stood a man wearing torn armor, desperately fighting against a gigantic Evil Spirit nearly four meters tall. Its body was covered in jagged crimson spikes, while countless glowing eyes opened and closed across its chest.
Every swing of its claws tore through the air like blades.
The man was already covered in wounds.
His breathing was uneven.
One wrong move...
And he would die.
"Please..."
"I don't want to die..."
The Evil Spirit roared.
RAAAAGHHH!!
Its massive arm crashed downward.
BOOOOM!!
The impact shattered the ground.
Dust exploded everywhere.
The man barely rolled away in time before collapsing onto one knee.
"I..."
"I can't..."
Shougo calmly stepped forward.
"...Kairo."
Kairo looked up.
"Yes, Sensei?"
"This one is yours."
Everyone looked at him.
Kairo blinked.
"...Mine?"
"You've been training for this."
"The enemy is stronger than the ones you fought in Evil City."
"...But weaker than Oko."
"If you can't defeat something like this..."
"...then your training meant nothing."
Kairo slowly inhaled before gripping Black Spartan.
His nervousness disappeared.
In its place...
Determination.
"I understand."
He stepped into the clearing.
The injured man looked toward him with disbelief.
"...A student...?"
"...You're sending a student?"
The Evil Spirit slowly turned its head.
Its countless crimson eyes locked onto Kairo.
For a moment...
Everything became silent.
Then—
The monster vanished.
Its enormous body appeared directly behind Kairo.
The claws descended instantly.
CLANG!!
Black Spartan blocked the attack just in time.
The impact sent a shockwave across the clearing, but Kairo didn't move an inch.
"...Fast."
The Evil Spirit roared again before launching another barrage of attacks.
Slash.
Claw.
Tail.
Bite.
Each strike came faster than the last.
Kairo didn't counter.
He simply watched.
Observed.
Calculated.
His eyes tracked every movement.
"...Its left shoulder moves before every claw."
"...Its tail curls before it swings."
"...Its balance shifts to the right before it jumps."
A faint smile appeared.
"...I can read you."
The monster lunged once more.
This time...
Kairo moved first.
He sidestepped the claws by mere centimeters before twisting his body and driving Black Spartan across the Evil Spirit's side.
SLASH!!
Black blood burst into the air.
The monster stumbled backward.
The injured man stared with wide eyes.
"...He..."
"...He read its movements..."
From the edge of the battlefield, Yura folded her arms.
"...He's calculating again."
Kimimaru quietly nodded.
"...He's adapting faster."
Tyouro laughed loudly.
"THAT'S MY BROTHER!"
Shougo simply watched.
"...Not yet."
"...He's still holding back."
Kairo lowered Black Spartan.
His crimson eyes briefly flickered before returning to normal.
"...Come on."
"I know you're stronger than this."
The Evil Spirit slowly stood again.
Its wounds began regenerating.
The crimson spikes along its body grew even larger.
Its aura doubled.
Then tripled.
The ground beneath its feet cracked apart.
Shougo narrowed his eyes slightly.
"...Interesting."
"...So you were hiding your real strength."
The Evil Spirit let out a deafening roar that echoed throughout the mountains.
Far away...
Several more roars answered it from the depths of the forest.
Yura's expression changed.
"...That's..."
Kimimaru slowly tightened his grip on his Zweihander.
"...Reinforcements."
Tyouro stopped smiling.
"...Uh..."
"...Guys?"
From every direction...
Dozens of glowing crimson eyes slowly appeared between the trees.
The squad had unknowingly entered...
An Evil Spirit nest.