The ancient sanctuary grew quiet once more after Hiroshi closed the doors of the Endless Archive. The countless dimensional gates folded into themselves one by one before disappearing without a trace, leaving only silence and the faint glow of the ancient runes carved into the walls.
Raizen stretched his shoulders before glancing around the chamber.
"So... who's next?"
Kaizen leaned against a stone pillar with his arms crossed.
"I vote Haruto."
Haruto looked at him without changing his expression.
"...Why me?"
"Because you're the newest among us."
Raizen chuckled.
"Fair enough."
Haruto sighed softly before walking toward the center of the sanctuary.
Unlike Raizen's overwhelming presence or Hiroshi's mysterious Archive, Haruto gave off no intimidating aura. He looked like an ordinary young man standing beneath the towering monuments.
Ayame tilted her head slightly.
"You're hiding your energy."
"I always do."
"You don't enjoy attention?"
"No."
Raizen laughed.
"That's exactly why I'm making you demonstrate."
Haruto remained silent for a moment before raising his right hand.
"...Very well."
A faint silver ripple spread beneath his feet.
There was no explosion.
No violent pressure.
Instead...
Everyone inside the sanctuary felt an unusual warmth pass through their bodies.
Almost...
As if their own hearts had synchronized.
Hiroshi blinked.
"...It has already begun."
Haruto slowly closed his eyes.
"My ability isn't meant to destroy."
"It exists to connect."
The silver ripple expanded throughout the sanctuary, weaving invisible threads between everyone present.
For an instant...
Raizen felt Hiroshi's calm heartbeat.
Ayame sensed Kaizen's unwavering focus.
Even Yurota, whose emotions were almost impossible to read, felt connected to the others.
It wasn't mind reading.
It wasn't telepathy.
It was something deeper.
Haruto opened his eyes.
"This..."
"...is Soul Resonance."
The invisible threads shimmered for a brief moment before fading from sight.
Raizen frowned curiously.
"So what exactly does it do?"
Haruto calmly explained.
"Every living being possesses a unique rhythm."
"A soul has its own heartbeat."
"I synchronize with that rhythm."
"If an ally is exhausted..."
"...I can stabilize their spirit."
"If fear clouds their judgment..."
"...I can calm their soul."
"If our battle requires perfect teamwork..."
"...our movements naturally become synchronized."
Ayame smiled softly.
"A beautiful ability."
"But surely that's not all."
Haruto nodded.
"No."
He turned toward Raizen.
"My Resonance can also analyze an opponent."
"Not their abilities."
"Their spirit."
He walked closer until he stood directly before Raizen.
"I can sense hesitation."
"Resolve."
"Hatred."
"Fear."
"Confidence."
"The soul always reveals what the face tries to hide."
Raizen smirked.
"So you would've known I was about to attack before I moved."
"No."
Haruto answered honestly.
"I would've known you wanted to."
Kaizen quietly smiled.
"So your predictions come from emotions."
"Not from seeing the future."
"Correct."
Haruto continued.
"I cannot copy abilities."
"I cannot steal power."
"But..."
"If I synchronize with someone's combat rhythm..."
"...I can temporarily fight at their pace."
Yurota narrowed his eyes.
"So if you fought beside Raizen..."
"...you'd naturally adapt to his movements."
"Exactly."
"If I fought beside Hiroshi..."
"...I'd understand his timing."
"If I fought beside Ayame..."
"...I'd instinctively avoid disrupting her attacks."
Raizen rubbed his chin.
"That's useful."
Hiroshi nodded.
"It turns multiple warriors into a single unit."
Haruto slowly lowered his hand.
"My strength doesn't come from standing above others."
"It comes from standing beside them."
Silence filled the sanctuary.
Even Raizen looked thoughtful.
"...You haven't changed."
Haruto gave a faint smile.
"I never intended to."
Just then...
Haruto's expression froze.
The smile disappeared.
His eyes slowly widened.
"..."
The others immediately noticed.
Ayame took a step forward.
"What happened?"
Haruto remained motionless.
His gaze wasn't fixed on anyone inside the sanctuary.
It was looking...
Beyond.
Beyond the mountain.
Beyond the kingdoms.
Beyond the distance itself.
He quietly placed a hand against his chest.
"...Impossible."
Raizen's grin faded.
"What is it?"
Haruto spoke almost in a whisper.
"...Another soul."
Everyone looked at him.
"What about it?" Hiroshi asked.
Haruto frowned.
"I've..."
"...never met this person."
"But..."
His heartbeat became noticeably faster.
"...Why does their soul..."
"...feel familiar?"
The chamber fell completely silent.
Even Kaizen stopped smiling.
Haruto closed his eyes, trying to strengthen the Resonance.
For only a brief second...
He saw a blurry image.
A young man.
Black hair.
Holding a dark sword.
Standing beneath the skies of Reikosha Academy.
The vision vanished instantly.
Haruto slowly opened his eyes again.
"...It's gone."
Raizen crossed his arms.
"Who was it?"
Haruto shook his head.
"I don't know."
"...But someday..."
"...our paths will cross."
Far away...
Inside Reikosha Academy...
Kairo suddenly stopped mid-conversation.
"...Huh?"
Yura looked at him.
"What is it?"
Kairo touched his chest.
"For some reason..."
"...my heart skipped a beat."
He looked toward the distant western horizon.
"...It felt like..."
"...someone was calling me."
Neither of them knew...
That somewhere beyond Stonefang Highlands...
Another soul had unknowingly answered his own.