The forest canopy trembled.
Branches shook violently as a figure burst through them—fast, precise.
Yamato.
He dropped from above, landing lightly on the dry earth below. The impact sent a quiet ripple through the ground; brittle twigs snapped and scattered like bones around him.
A cold breeze slid across his skin.
His eyes sharpened.
"This thing isn't strong…" he muttered.
The wind whispered through the endless stretch of dry grass ahead.
Yamato's lips curled into a thin, unsettling smile.
"…but it's new."
He slowly raised his head, scanning the open land beyond the forest.
Nothing.
Just vast, empty fields. The grass swayed in long waves—like something breathing beneath it.
Then—
Crack.
Branches snapped behind him.
Ozaki emerged from the canopy at speed, landing with controlled precision. Lumei followed, lighter, quieter.
Moments later, Sora and Ichiha dropped from above, both landing firmly. Sora bent slightly, catching her breath.
"You… just dashed into deep forest like that…" she said between breaths.
Yamato didn't respond.
His gaze had already shifted.
Chella.
She was running toward them.
Ichiha exhaled sharply.
"Yamato… we're a team. Don't just run off like that."
Still, Yamato said nothing.
He turned his head slightly, eyes locking onto Ozaki.
"Behind the mountains."
Ozaki's expression changed instantly. His gaze followed the direction Yamato had indicated, scanning the distant horizon.
Chella reached them, slightly confused.
"Behind what mountains?"
Ozaki answered calmly, a faint smile forming.
"The people… are behind the mountains."
He stepped forward.
"That's where we're going first."
Yamato's attention shifted again—this time to Lumei.
The change was immediate.
Lumei stiffened.
His smile vanished.
He took one step back.
Then another.
"Yamato… don't."
Yamato stepped forward.
"I have to."
Chella leaned closer to Sora, lowering her voice.
"…what are they doing?"
Ozaki didn't answer. His eyes remained fixed on Yamato.
No magic.
Not even a trace.
And yet—
He sees. He senses. He moves ahead of all of them.
Ozaki's thoughts tightened.
That shouldn't be possible.
Yamato reached out and tapped Lumei lightly on the shoulder.
"A board," he said quietly.
Before anyone could react—
He grabbed Lumei from behind—
And threw him.
A violent burst of force exploded outward as Lumei was launched into the sky.
Wind blasted backward, forcing Sora and Chella to brace themselves.
"Aaaaaaahhh—!"
Lumei's scream tore through the air as he soared forward at terrifying speed.
Chella's eyes widened.
"Is he insane?!"
But Sora—
Sora was smiling.
"It's their combo," she said calmly.
"The Board."
Ichiha stepped forward, eyes tracking Lumei's trajectory.
"…The Board?"
Far ahead—
Lumei cut through the sky like a projectile.
Behind him—
BOOM.
The ground shattered beneath Yamato's feet as he dashed forward. His speed tore through the field, sending dust spiraling violently behind him.
Ozaki followed—controlled, efficient—but watching closely.
Chella glanced between the sky and the ground.
"…He's catching up."
Sora let out a soft laugh.
"We should move too… unless you want to arrive late."
She dashed forward instantly.
Ichiha followed, narrowing his eyes.
"…Since when did she start outpacing me?"
---
High Above — Lumei
Yamato leapt.
The ground cracked beneath him as his body shot upward—surpassing Lumei's height in a single motion.
Then—
Something changed.
Darkness.
It crept across Lumei's body—thick, fluid, unnatural.
It spread rapidly, consuming him entirely.
Yamato descended—
And landed.
His feet locked onto Lumei's back.
Balanced.
Stable.
Like a rider on a board.
The darkness climbed upward—wrapping around Yamato's ankles, binding the two together.
They moved.
Faster.
Far faster.
Not just speed—
Acceleration.
Yamato wasn't riding.
He was amplifying.
Ozaki's eyes widened slightly.
"…I see."
Then, a low chuckle escaped him.
"…So that's how."
---
They arrived minutes later.
Behind the mountains—
A hidden cluster of people.
Villagers.
Dozens of them.
Exhausted.
Hungry.
Afraid.
The air hung heavy with silence and tension.
They had traveled over a hundred kilometers in two days… fleeing.
Ozaki stepped forward, scanning the area.
Then he saw them.
Yamato.
Lumei.
Already there.
Lumei knelt beside an injured man, his hands glowing faintly as he healed wounds.
Yamato stood nearby, speaking quietly to a grieving woman—his expression unreadable, but calm.
The others arrived moments later.
Sora stepped through the narrow slit between the mountains—
And felt it.
Stillness.
The mountains blocked the wind completely, trapping a suffocating calm within.
Ichiha stepped in behind her, eyes widening.
"…There's so many."
He tapped her shoulder.
"We need to help them."
Sora glanced back.
"How?"
Ichiha smirked slightly.
"We'll figure it out."
Then—
BOOM.
Chella stepped forward.
Her foot slammed into the ground.
The impact thundered through the mountain walls.
The earth groaned.
Cracks spread rapidly along the stone as her fists collided—
A deep, vibrating force surged outward.
The slit behind them—
Collapsed.
Sealed.
Rock folded inward with crushing pressure, grinding shut as dust rained from above.
Silence followed.
Chella exhaled.
"…Now nothing's getting in."
---
Ozaki walked forward.
Calm.
Steady.
Unshaken.
He raised his hand slightly.
The murmurs began to fade.
"People of Bres Village," he said clearly,
"I need your oldest to tell me what happened."
The crowd parted slowly.
A path formed.
At the end—
A tree.
And beneath it—
An old man.
Ozaki approached and crouched.
"Sir… please tell me."
The old man stared at the leaves above… then back at Ozaki.
"…Six days ago," he began,
"…a woman came to our village."
His voice was steady—but heavy.
"She carried darkness with her. You could feel it."
He exhaled slowly.
"But in Bres… we take in those who wish to change."
A pause.
"I welcomed her into my home."
His fingers trembled slightly.
"She slept… for three days."
Silence.
Then—
"I left my twelve-year-old granddaughter with her while we went to the fields."
His gaze lowered.
"While returning… we saw people running. I had already counted twenty-six."
His jaw tightened.
"My son ran ahead—to find his daughter."
"I followed… to protect both."
His voice cracked.
"…Bodies."
"Everywhere."
"Blood on walls. On the ground. On people trying to escape."
The air grew heavier.
"Our home… was destroyed. Rubble everywhere."
He swallowed hard.
"…I saw my granddaughter's leg… beneath the rubble."
Tears streamed down his face.
"My son… lost control."
"He searched for her."
A shaky breath.
"You know the saying… if you go looking for trouble… you will find it."
Then—
"She appeared."
The atmosphere tightened.
"Her body… covered in black, ink-like substance."
"Something unnatural."
"I've never seen magic like it… only records from the ancient war."
His fist clenched.
"My son attacked her with his crystal hammer."
"A direct hit."
CRACK.
"It shattered… but she didn't move."
His breathing grew heavier.
"She grabbed him…"
"…and tore his head off."
The ground cracked faintly beneath his grip.
"…cleanly."
"So precise… even his ribs followed through."
He stared at his arm.
"She threw his head at me."
"I dodged… but it shattered my shoulder."
A long silence followed.
"Your team healed us."
His eyes lifted.
"…Her name is Nent."
Silence settled over the entire space.
The old man studied Ozaki carefully.
"…What is your name?"
Ozaki smiled faintly.
"Ozaki."
The old man let out a weak laugh.
"…Then maybe… we're saved."
His gaze shifted—to Yamato.
"…You carry strange ones with you."
"Strong abilities… but not magic."
"And that boy…"
A pause.
"…he has nothing."
Silence.
"…and yet… he feels dangerous."
Ozaki chuckled softly.
"…Yes."
He stood.
A brief pause.
Sora's expression hardened.
Ichiha's smirk faded.
Even Chella went still.
Yamato said nothing—
But the air around him shifted.
"…I feel it too."
Ozaki turned.
"Stay here."
His voice remained calm.
"…We're going to deal with Nent."
No orders.
No hesitation.
And yet—
They all moved.
At once.
Yamato stepped forward first.
Lumei followed.
Sora, Ichiha, Chella—
All in motion.
Like they had already decided.
Like they had already understood.
Dust rose behind them as they disappeared at speed.
The old man watched them go.
Then—
He laughed.
Quietly.
Relieved.
Behind him—
The villagers began to breathe again.
Hope—
Had returned.