The air in the theatre settled after the rule was added.
For the first time since they arrived—
things weren't immediately trying to kill them.
Higuruma stood near the stage.
Quiet.
Thinking.
Takeru stepped forward slightly.
"…I have one quick question."
Higuruma looked up.
"…What is it?"
Takeru didn't hesitate.
"…Can we train for an hour?"
A pause.
"…No killing. Just training."
Silence.
Megumi blinked.
"…You're asking that now?"
Yuji looked between them.
"…Actually… that's not a bad idea…"
Hana tilted her head slightly.
"…Right after a domain and a rule change?"
Angel responded calmly:
"…Skill refinement under controlled conditions increases survival probability."
Higuruma stared at Takeru for a moment.
"…You just went through my domain."
"…Lost your cursed energy."
"…Took responsibility for something most people wouldn't."
A beat.
"…And now you want to spar."
Takeru nodded once.
"…Correct."
Higuruma let out a small breath.
Not annoyed.
Not amused.
Just… surprised.
"…You're strange."
Megumi muttered:
"…That's putting it lightly."
A quiet pause—
then—
Higuruma stepped down from the stage.
"…One hour."
Yuji lit up slightly.
"…Seriously?"
Higuruma adjusted his sleeves.
"…No killing."
"…No execution."
He looked directly at Takeru.
"…Just training."
Takeru nodded.
"…Agreed."
They moved to a more open section of the theatre.
Broken floor.
Wide space.
Enough room.
Megumi leaned against a wall slightly.
"…I'll watch."
Yuji cracked his knuckles.
"…I'm learning from this."
Hana stepped off to the side.
Eyes already focused.
Angel added:
"…Observation mode active."
Takeru stepped into position.
No blindfold.
Hands relaxed.
Higuruma mirrored him.
"…Ready?"
Takeru answered simply.
"…Ready."
Then—
they moved.
No domain.
No forced rules.
Just controlled combat.
Higuruma struck first—
clean, precise.
Takeru blocked—
redirected—
countered with a sharp body shot.
The impact echoed.
Yuji leaned forward.
"…He's already back to normal pace…"
Megumi narrowed his eyes.
"…He adapts fast."
Higuruma adjusted mid-exchange.
"…You don't hesitate."
Takeru replied between movements.
"…Hesitation increases loss rate."
They clashed again.
Faster.
Sharper.
Higuruma tested angles.
Takeru read patterns.
Strike.
Block.
Counter.
Angel observed quietly:
"…Both are refining efficiency rather than power output."
Hana watched closely.
Not distracted now.
Just focused.
Time passed.
Minutes stacking into something more meaningful.
Higuruma stepped back slightly.
Breathing steady.
"…You're not relying on cursed techniques."
Takeru answered immediately.
"…Not required."
Higuruma gave a faint, almost-smile.
"…Good."
Then stepped forward again.
Faster this time.
And Takeru met him.
Head-on.
Because this wasn't a fight to win.
It was a fight to sharpen.
And for the first time in a while—
that was enough.