They Leave Before Sunrise
No celebration.
No dramatic speeches.
Just movement.
The Journey Begins Quietly
The mountains stand far in the distance—
Covered in mist.
Watching them.
Hiroto Walks at the Front
Not intentionally.
It just happens naturally now.
The Blade Feels Heavier Today
Not physically.
Something else.
Akari walks beside him
"…You've been quiet for hours."
Hiroto keeps his eyes forward
"…Thinking."
Akari sighs dramatically
"…Dangerous activity for you."
Hiroto actually laughs slightly
A small one.
But real.
Akari notices immediately
…and smiles faintly herself.
Behind Them
Yui walks close to Kenzaku
Clearly nervous.
"…You really think this is a good idea?"
Kenzaku answers honestly
"…No."
Yui blinks
"…That honest?!"
Kenzaku glances toward Hiroto
"…But we're going anyway."
Further Back
Tamagichi and Goro walk silently
The two strongest.
The most unreadable.
Then Goro speaks quietly
"…You're worried."
Tamagichi responds immediately
"…Yes."
That alone says enough
Goro's eyes narrow slightly
"…About the ruins?"
A pause
Then—
"…About what's inside."
Hours Later
The Mountains Grow Closer
The air changes.
Colder.
Heavier.
Even Akari notices now
"…Okay…"
A pause.
"…This place feels cursed."
Yui immediately agrees
"…Absolutely cursed."
Hiroto suddenly stops walking
The blade pulses sharply
Everyone notices instantly
Kenzaku steps forward
"…What is it?"
Hiroto stares ahead silently
Toward the forest path ahead.
"…We're not alone."
The atmosphere tightens immediately
Tamagichi's eyes sharpen
"…Show yourselves."
Silence
Then—
Three figures appear from the trees
Not rushing.
Not hiding anymore.
Dark clothing
Masked faces.
Silent pressure.
Akari's expression hardens
"…Great."
Kenzaku immediately shifts stance
"…Assassins."
One of the figures steps forward slightly
Then speaks calmly
"…We finally found him."
Hiroto tightens his grip
"…Who sent you?"
The figure chuckles softly
"…You're not important enough to hear that yet."
Akari immediately snaps back
"…Then you're not important enough to stand there talking."
The assassin glances at her briefly
"…Loud."
Akari cracks her knuckles
"…And violent."
Tamagichi steps forward slightly
Presence rising.
"…Move aside."
But the assassins don't move
Not even slightly.
Instead—
One speaks quietly
"…The boy carrying the blade comes with us."
Silence
Then Hiroto answers himself
"…No."
The assassins' eyes shift toward him
A pause
Then—
"…So this is the one they fear."
That line changes everything
Kenzaku's eyes narrow sharply
"…'They'?"
The assassin ignores him
Still focused on Hiroto.
Then says—
"…You have no idea what you've awakened."
The blade pulses violently
The forest trembles slightly
Even the assassins notice
One of them steps back instinctively
The leader speaks again
This time more serious.
"…Kill the others if necessary."*
The assassins vanish instantly—
And the forest erupts into chaos.
To Be Continued