Part 1
Prologue — 116 Years Ago, Edo Period
The world was dying.
A kingdom once vibrant now lay frozen under an ocean of white. Ice crawled across the land like a living curse, swallowing villages, forests, and roads until only brittle silence remained. The wind howled through the skeletal remains of trees, carrying with it the faint echoes of a civilization shivering on its last breath.
High atop the snow-drenched mountains, a lone Dragonprone knelt in the snow. Its breaths steamed violently in the frigid air—ragged, desperate, each exhale filled with pain. Frost clung to its scales like shards of glass.
Across from it stood a lone silhouette.
A man. Motionless. Calm.
His presence alone seemed to quiet the raging winds.
He dragged his sword beside him, the blade scraping against the ice-covered stone with a slow metallic hiss… shrrrk— shrrrk— shrrrk, each step echoing through the mountains like a funeral bell.
The Dragonprone forced itself upright, trembling. Its pupils narrowed in primal fury as it raised its weapon. Then—breaking into a maddened sprint—it unleashed a roar that shook the air.
"SHOTO KAZAMI!!!!!"
The silhouette lifted his sword. Just one arm. Effortless.
Snow spiraled upward like time itself was holding its breath.
Then—
SWOOOOSH!!
The blade fell.
Clean.
Final.
The Dragonprone's eyes widened… then dimmed… their brilliant gold fading into a lifeless black as its body crumpled into the snow.
The wind swallowed the silence.
The man did not look back.
Present Day, 2019Shoto Kazami was asleep.
Face buried in his arms, drool dangerously close to ruining the last clean page of his notebook, he snored quietly at his desk. The world was peaceful—at least until the sharp clang of the school bell exploded through the classroom.
RING—!!
Shoto groaned, eyelids fluttering open like someone had just awakened an ancient relic(…again). His vision blurred as he pushed himself up—
—and immediately froze.
Inches from his face, wearing a grin so wide it had to be illegal, was Tetsuya.
"Yo. Let's go to the roof for lunch, Kazami."
Shoto blinked at him once.
Twice.
Then—in absolute silence—he stood, grabbed his bag…
…and bolted out the classroom at Mach speed.
"Oi—hey!" Tetsuya called after him, sighing as if this were routine. "There he goes again…"
He walked out far more casually, hands in pockets, catching up to Shoto halfway down the hall. Without warning he slung an arm around Shoto's shoulders.
"Come on, Kazami. Still scared of little ol' m—"
Shoto shot him a glare so sharp it could've cut steel.
Tetsuya raised both hands in surrender. "Okay, okay! Fine! We'll head up together! Happy?"
He ruffled Shoto's hair like he was patting a startled cat, then began climbing the stairs toward the rooftop.
Shoto's shoulders slumped. He turned away and sighed, scratching his head in exhausted defeat.
Then—
fwshhh…
A faint gust drifted through the hallway. Cold. Quiet. Unnatural.
Shoto shivered.
He glanced over his shoulder.
No students. No open windows. No footsteps.
Just… silence.
For some reason, the air felt heavier.
He swallowed, tightening his grip on his bag.
"…It's just the AC," he muttered.
But his heart didn't believe it.
Still, he forced himself up the stairs, each step echoing slightly too loud in the empty hallway.
The rooftop always had a certain charm during lunch break—wide open sky, warm sunlight, and the lazy breeze that carried the smell of cafeteria food up from below. Today, Ryuji, Ren, and Yuumo were seated in a casual circle like they were performing some sacred lunchtime ritual.
Ryuji wolfed down curry bread with the enthusiasm of a man halfway through a food eating contest.
Ren lazily poked at his rice with a chopstick, barely awake.
Yuumo smiled contentedly while eating her oversized onigiri, crumbs dotting her cheeks.
Tetsuya wandered over, hands in pockets, until his eyes drifted toward a lone student sitting far away. Hikaru was eating in the opposite direction, sitting near the railing with perfect posture, chewing quietly like someone guarding a fortress.
"…Why isn't he sitting with you guys?" Tetsuya asked, pointing with his thumb.
All three blinked in perfect comedic timing.
Yuumo swallowed her food slowly. "Wait… we thought you didn't like us."
Tetsuya scoffed dramatically. "Oh, trust me. I don't."
He dropped into the circle anyway, laying down beside them, staring up at the sun with a sigh of exaggerated comfort.
"But like I told Shoto—I'm the strongest out of the six of you."
Ren exhaled in total defeat. "If that's what reality looks like inside your head, then sure."
Tetsuya snorted. "It's not in my head. It's fact. And besides, nothing beats bonding time, right?"
Ren shook his head. "To answer your first question—Hikaru is just… Hikaru."
Across the roof, Hikaru paused mid-bite. For a moment his glasses glinted ominously as he pushed them up with one finger.
"Don't ask why I'm not huddled in your lunch circle. I'm eating. Then I'm going home."
Tetsuya smirked. "Sounds lonely."
Hikaru didn't respond. Instead, he took another bite as if the conversation had ended by his decree.
Before anyone could add onto the banter—
Creak…
The rooftop door cracked open.
Shoto peeked his head out shyly before stepping through, shoulders hunched, eyes darting around like he expected someone to throw a pop quiz at him.
Yuumo waved. "Hey, Shot—"
A cold breeze swept across the rooftop.
Yuumo froze mid-wave, teeth starting to chatter.
"Why is it suddenly freezing…?"
Tetsuya sat upright instantly. The sun dimmed behind rapidly churning dark clouds.
"…That's not normal," he murmured.
"And I don't think we're alone."
Hikaru stood as well, breath turning visible in the air like winter smoke.
"…Something's off."
Within seconds—
Snow began to fall.
In the middle of spring.
Shoto hugged his arms, shivering.
"It was c-cold in the halls too… and now it's snowing…? What is happening…?"
Then they saw him.
A lone figure stood at the far corner of the rooftop.
Tall. Thin. Silent.
He wore a black ripped kimono, the cloth torn and fluttering in the rising wind. His long blue spear—cracked, jagged, and ancient—hung loosely in his grip.
But it was his eyes the group couldn't look away from—
Glowing, piercing blue.
Hikaru whispered, tension tightening his voice,
"…Who the hell is that?"
The ground beneath the mysterious man froze instantly, ice cracking and spreading outward like a living organism.
Ryuji forced a nervous laugh.
"H-Hey, Shoto… this is one of those special effects videos, right? Y-You know, CGI?"
The man growled.
A deep, guttural, almost animalistic sound.
Then—
FWOOOOSH—!
He lunged.
He slammed his broken spear into the concrete with monstrous force. Ice erupted outward in a blast wave. The students were forced to dive in all directions—Yuumo squealing, Ren dragging her back, Ryuji tumbling over himself, Tetsuya backflipping without thinking.
Shoto stumbled and fell hard.
"Wh—WHAT IS GOING ON?!"
Before anyone could move—
THWIP!!
An arrow stabbed Shoto in the back.
His body jerked violently.
His eyes widened—
Then turned pure, pitch white.
His muscles tensed, veins pulsing. Every trace of his timid personality evaporated. His breathing became ragged, primal.
Shoto let out a bloodcurdling scream.
"RAAAAAAAHHH!!!"
He charged the spear-wielder, swinging a punch hard enough to crack bone—
but the man didn't even flinch.
Neko strolled in with a miniature bow strapped to his back like it was the most normal thing in the world.
"Well, well! Looks like I arrived just in time!"
Shoto roared again, throwing another punch—
The spear-wielder dodged and smacked him away with the blunt back end of his broken spear, sending Shoto rolling across the rooftop.
Ryuji and Yuumo rushed forward to help—
CRACK—!!
With one swipe of his left arm, the stranger conjured an ice barrier. A blast of frozen wind exploded outward, launching both students back like they'd been hit by a snowstorm cannon.
Hikaru fired an arrow, striking the ground behind the stranger. It didn't injure him—but it made him turn sharply.
His icy gaze locked onto Hikaru, who was already pulling back another shot.
"Tch…" Hikaru clicked his tongue, annoyed.
But the stranger's gaze slid past Hikaru—
—to Shoto.
Something in him shifted.
Anger. Recognition. Rage rooted in a century-old memory.
He whispered, voice trembling with fury—
"…Shoto… Kazami…"
The temperature plummeted.
Ice crawled across the school building, freezing windows, walls, everything. A blizzard formed in seconds, swallowing the rooftop in white.
"SHOTO—KAZAMIIIIIIIIIII!!!"
The stranger hurled his spear.
CRACK!!!
It pierced Shoto mid-run, catching him through his clothes and flinging him off the rooftop.
"SHOTO!!" the group screamed.
They ran to the edge—but before Tetsuya could charge the attacker—
Five figures appeared out of nowhere.
Dressed in white cami garments, faces concealed by cloth scarves, each carrying weapons of different shapes.
One of them—a large, imposing man—grabbed the Dragonprone by the collar of his kimono.
"Dragonprone," he said in a deep voice,
"now is not the time to get hasty with these children."
In perfect formation, the five disappeared with the raging spear-wielder, vanishing from the rooftop like ghosts.
The group, terrified and confused, hurried down the frozen stairs. The school was completely frozen over—desks, hallways, lockers—all trapped in thick ice. The entire town beyond the campus glistened with frost.
Below the building—
Shoto lay trembling.
Reverted. Small. Timid again.
He slowly pulled the spear from his clothes, his hands shaking violently. He crawled backward on the pavement, staring up at the frozen school with wide, terrified eyes.
"The hell is happening…"
Cars, signs, trees—everything was coated in ice so thick it glistened like crystal armor. The wind howled between the buildings, carrying a strange stillness.
Hikaru, Ren, Ryuji, Yuumo (now holding Neko tighter than a stuffed animal), and Tetsuya finally reached the ground level. Their breaths turned white in the frigid air as they gathered around Shoto, who was curled on the pavement, trembling.
Yuumo knelt beside him. "Shoto? Shoto! Are you hurt? Can you talk?"
Shoto didn't answer. He just stared at the frozen school building like it was a nightmare he still hadn't woken up from.
Tetsuya, for once, was stone serious. No smirk. No bravado.
"What the hell was that thing? And who were those five?"
Neko hopped from Yuumo's arms to the ground, brushing snow off his fur.
"That, my dear mortals, was a Dragonprone."
Ren blinked. "…A what-now?"
Neko flicked his tail. "A powerful warrior species. Born to withstand any element. Stronger than your average public-school bully."
Ryuji snorted despite shaking. "Ha… good one… wait—he's not joking, is he?"
Neko deadpanned. "No."
Ryuji deflated.
But Hikaru wasn't focused on jokes. His eyes were fixed on the rooftop above them, the spot where the Dragonprone had vanished.
"…He wasn't trying to freeze the school," Hikaru said quietly. "He wasn't trying to kill us either."
Ren frowned. "Then what was he trying to do?"
Hikaru's jaw tightened.
"…He was targeting Shoto. Only Shoto."
Everyone went silent.
Yuumo's eyes widened. She looked down at Shoto, who trembled harder.
"Why would anyone want to hurt Shoto…? He can barely turn in homework on time…"
Tetsuya crossed his arms. "Yeah this guy is a scared little runt, the fuck is he getting targeted for." Neko sighed, sitting down like a tiny professor about to deliver a lecture.
"Dragonprones hold grudges, you know."
He pointed a paw at Shoto. "And that one recognized him."
Ren blinked, confused. "Recognized him? How? Shoto's never even been out of the country."
Hikaru spoke quietly, calmly, as if piecing clues together.
"There's only one explanation… He wasn't reacting to Shoto now."
Yuumo gulped. "So.. you mean.." Hikaru looked down at Shoto, who had curled inward, gripping his shirt over his chest.
"…To whoever Shoto used to be. The Prince during the whole Edo period.."
Tetsuya scoffed in laughter, "so that Reincarnated King crap can still follow us for all these years."
The world seemed to freeze again—this time with dread, not ice.
Ryuji took a step back. "So the Dragonprone wasn't screaming at Shoto… He was screaming at… whatever Shoto was before this life."
"Exactly," Neko nodded. "And judging by that spear throw—"
He flicked his tail toward Shoto's torn clothing.
"—they wanted him dead. Badly."
The group fell silent once again,
For once, the cat who always had a snarky line or smug remark… looked uneasy.
"…Because in his past life…"
Neko's voice dropped.
"Shoto did something unforgivable to the Dragonprone race."
Silence.
Wind blew icy flakes through the air.
Shoto finally spoke—a small, fragile whisper.
"…I… I didn't… I didn't do anything… I don't know who he was… I don't even remember…"
Ren crouched down beside him. "Hey. None of us think you did anything. If anything, whatever happened back then was probably for the best, don't let it get to you."
Tetsuya stared at Shoto. "That guy wanted you dead. Not injured. Dead."
His voice was low, almost trembling with controlled anger.
Hikaru's glasses caught a faint glint of frozen sunlight as he spoke, voice quiet but firm.
"They're with him. Whoever those five were—doesn't matter for now."
His eyes narrowed toward the frozen skyline in the distance.
"What matters is unfreezing the city. Come on."
Without waiting for agreement, he turned and began walking.
Ren shrugged and followed. Ryuji jogged after them, rubbing his arms against the cold. Yuumo lingered for a moment, hugging herself, glancing from Shoto to the ice-covered school before finally forcing her legs to move.
Tetsuya exhaled sharply and took the opposite path, hands shoved into his pockets.
"Fine. Do whatever. I'm checking something out."
Neko stayed behind, staring quietly at Shoto with an unusually serious expression—none of the smugness, none of the comedic arrogance. Just… worry.
Shoto swallowed, rubbed the spot where the spear had pierced his clothes, and quietly followed the others.
He didn't want to be left alone.
Especially not right now.
The group traveled through the city streets, crunching snow under their shoes as they walked. Despite the blizzard that had engulfed the school, Shoto's neighborhood was only coated with frost—not frozen over entirely like downtown.
But the cold… the cold was still unnatural.
Ren rubbed his ears. "C-Couldn't he at least freeze the whole city evenly…? I'm freezing my butt off."
Ryuji puffed warm air into his hands. "Shut up. Be glad we're not ice statues like half the town."
Yuumo forced a small laugh, but her eyes kept drifting back to Shoto.
And Shoto?
He walked silently, eyes lowered, clutching his sleeves tightly.
Every breath felt like winter stabbing into his lungs.
He hated this.
He didn't ask for any of this.
They reached Shoto's home—a modest one-story house with frost clinging to the windows. Shoto stepped inside first, opening the door with a shaky hand.
Warm air immediately rushed out.
Inside, bundled in a winter coat, gloves, scarf, and two pairs of socks, Endo bolted toward the door the moment he saw them.
"There's SNOW outside! LET ME PLAY!!"
He barreled forward—
and ran straight into Ryuji, who grabbed him by the collar like a misbehaving puppy.
"You're not going outside," Ryuji scolded. "Not anytime soon, anyways."
Endo kicked his legs. "COME ONNNN! I WANNA BUILD A SNOWMAN—"
"No," Ryuji said flatly. "You'll die."
Endo froze mid-kick. "O-Oh."
Meanwhile, Hikaru marched right into the living room without hesitation and sat at the table like he owned the place, cracking his knuckles, and leaned forward.
"Alright," Hikaru said, his tone switching instantly into command mode.
"Let's strategize and plan how we're going to stop that Dragonpro—"
"W-We can't strategize."
Everyone turned.
Shoto stood at the doorway, breathing lightly, eyes trembling but—somehow—firm.
"We… we have to find him now and s-stop him before things get worse…"
Yuumo sucked in a quiet breath.
Ryuji and Ren exchanged glances.
Hikaru narrowed his eyes.
"Rushing in blindly is suicide. And from the looks of it, you almost became shish-kebab last time."
Ryuji dropped onto the couch, finally peeling off his school jacket.
"So how are we supposed to find him? He could be anywhere in Japan."
Neko hopped gracefully onto the table, sitting in the direct center like he was calling a council meeting.
His tail curled around his paws.
"They're not 'anywhere,'" Neko said calmly. "They're very likely in Mount Fuji."
Ren blinked. "Mount Fuji? Why there?"
Neko shrugged. "Because that's where he was last time."
Hikaru's brow twitched. "…Last time?"
Yuumo leaned forward. "You've met him before?"
Neko closed one eye smugly.
"Oh, just.. one time. I think he reincarnated somehow."
Ryuji groaned. "Great. So we're fighting a reincarnated popsicle?"
The house fell quiet.
Everyone slowly realized—
They knew where to go.
But not what was waiting for them.
Shoto stared at the table, fists trembling, a memory he didn't fully understand echoing in his mind:
'SHOTO KAZAMIIIIIIII!!!'
He swallowed hard.
He didn't know who he had been in his past life.
But someone out there did.
Someone who wanted him dead.
The living room of the Kazami house was warm—but the air wasn't.
Something heavier than winter clung to the room. Fear.
Uncertainty.
A truth that none of them fully understood yet.
But they all shared the same conclusion:
They had to go.
Neko hopped onto the table, swishing his tail like a general preparing to brief an army of babies.
"Alright, listen up. If the Dragonprone and that masked group took refuge anywhere, it's Mount Fuji. Warmer air down here means the freeze hasn't spread this far yet."
Ryuji rubbed his forehead. "That still blows my mind. A whole blizzard just around the school, then nothing here…"
Ren shrugged. "Hey, at least we can breathe without turning into popsicles."
Yuumo hugged her knees to her chest. "But Mount Fuji? Isn't that like… super far?"
Hikaru stood up, pushing his glasses with a smooth, determined motion.
"We don't have a choice. If we don't move, the city could freeze over next."
Shoto flinched a little at that.
Ryuji threw his arm around Shoto's shoulder. "Don't worry, man. We're all going."
"Yeah.. sure." Shoto quietly walked away from them slowly heading towards his room.
The house turned chaotic.
Everyone scattered around like a disaster-stricken RPG party preparing for a final boss they weren't leveled for.
Ren opened cabinets.
He grabbed instant ramen, crackers, and oddly enough—two cans of peaches.
Ryuji filled a backpack with water bottles and heat packs.
Yuumo ran around the house gathering scarves, wool blankets, gloves, extra socks—at least five pairs.
Her arms were overflowing.
"W-We're going somewhere cold, right? It's, like, a mountain! With snow! And cold air! And dangerous monsters—!"
Neko, dragged Ryuji's Earth sword, Ren's Lightning Sword and Hikaru's Water sword.
Hikaru calmly sorted through a case full of arrows and tools he'd hidden in Shoto's house like it was normal.
"You don't need to panic, Yuumo. Your heart rate burns calories. It's inefficient."
"THAT DOES NOT HELP!"
Shoto watched them in disbelief.
They were… really doing this.
For him.
He wasn't used to people choosing to stand beside him—let alone risk their lives.
Neko hopped onto Shoto's shoulder.
"Scared?"
Shoto lowered his head. "…Whoever I was back then.. I don't want to remember or become like him.."
"You won't.." Neko said bluntly, "You might remember it though."
Endo peeked into the living room, wearing three pairs of gloves and a hat shaped like a penguin.
"Soooo… where are you guys going?"
"Homework club," Ryuji lied instantly.
Endo's eyes sparkled.
"Can I join??"
"N O." everyone said at once.
Endo squinted suspiciously but shrugged and went back to the TV.
Tetsuya returned an hour later with a bag full of gear—rope, flashlights, climbing gloves, a first-aid kit, and a thermal blanket.
Ryuji whistled. "Bro, did you raid an entire mountaineering store?"
"No," Tetsuya replied casually.
"I raided three."
Shoto tilted his head timidly. "Um… how did you—"
"Don't ask."
Hikaru cleared his throat, gathering everyone's attention.
"Alright. We'll take the train as far as we can, then hike the rest. The Dragonprone's trail should be detectable by temperature drops.
Yuumo, Ren and Ryuji nodded, however Ryuji would notice his bag is heavier than usual. "Maybe I packed too much stuff?"
Ren shrugged "It doesn't matter, let's just get this over with before things get worse."
Shoto grips his bag softly. The group gathered at the door.
Hikaru turned the handle.
The cold wind hit them again—but this time, they were ready.
"Let's move," Hikaru said.
The group stepped out onto the frosted street.
Shoto took one last glance at his home—
And walked into the winter that waited ahead.
Far from the city—far from warmth or reason—
Mount Fuji's icy slopes growled with a storm born from another age.
The wind screamed like a living beast, ripping through the night.
Snow spiraled in violent eddies, illuminated only by flashes of unnatural blue light.
Deep within a cavern carved not by nature but by frost magic, five silhouettes stood in a half-circle.
Each was draped in a white cami robe, faces hidden by scarves and cloth masks. Their forms were still, unmoving—as if carved from the ice around them.
Cold blue torches burned along the walls, coating the cavern in an eerie glow. The flames produced no heat—only the sensation of something ancient watching.
At the center of the chamber, slumped on one knee, was the Dragonprone.
His breaths came heavy and ragged, clouds of steam rising from his mouth with each exhale. Frost clung to his cracked spear. His once-furious eyes flickered with exhaustion and hate.
The tallest of the five stepped forward—the same one who had restrained the Dragonprone earlier.
Broad shoulders, a deep presence, and authority emanating from every motion.
He rested a firm hand on the Dragonprone's shoulder.
"Calm yourself," he said, voice low and commanding.
"You nearly jeopardized the mission."
"Tch…"
The Dragonprone growled, his voice rolling like distant thunder trapped in a glacier.
"I SAW HIM. I SAW SHOTO KAZAMI!" His voice snapped with venom.
"The person who exacted REVENGE on me! I killed his father—and he killed me in return! That man—he—!"
"—is not the same person anymore."
A second member—smaller and sharper in tone—cut in. Their mask muffled the voice, but the discipline behind it was razor-clear.
The Dragonprone's claws curled.
CRACK—!!
His fist slammed into the ground, splitting the ice beneath him.
"I do not care if he wears another skin!" he roared.
"I recognized his soul the moment I crossed worlds! He is the reincarnation of—!"
The leader raised a single hand.
Silence.
Even the blizzard outside seemed to halt.
Blue flames flickered softly as the cavern held its breath.
"We know who he is," the leader said.
His voice was cold, steady, and carved with the certainty of someone who had spent a lifetime preparing for this moment.
"For over a century, we have known. That is why our order was formed in the first place."
He reached into his cloak and drew out a scroll sealed with thick frost.
The moment it touched the frigid air, the paper shimmered with ancient energy—like a heartbeat pulsing from another lifetime.
He unrolled it slowly.
A portrait stared back at them:
A man with long black hair, a deep scar down his cheek, and a crimson blade glowing like volcanic glass gripped in his hand.
The ancient predecessor of Shoto Kazami.
A king.
A warrior.
A god of war.
The runes beneath the portrait read:
"TALE OF SHOTO 'REMEDUS' KAZAMI."
"DRAGONBANE KING."
The Dragonprone bared his teeth so hard frost cracked across his jaw.
"His father…" he hissed, voice trembling with rage.
"That monster. He slaughtered thousands. He froze our sacred lake. He tore off my father's wings with his bare hands!"
His eyes blazed with old grief—grief older than the mountain itself.
"His father killed my clan," he snarled. "And I will kill him. EVEN IF HE'S REBORN. EVEN IF HE'S NOT THE SAME. I WILL KILL HIM!"
A female member of the White Veil Order stepped forward, folding her arms.
"Your hatred is understandable," she said calmly,
"but uncontrolled rage will destroy our mission. Especially toward a reincarnated king."
The Dragonprone glared at her, icy breath curling like smoke.
"He is the same soul."
"But not the same man," she countered.
"His memories are gone. His power is sealed. He has no idea what he once did."
The Dragonprone snapped, voice shaking with emotion he could no longer suppress.
"I DON'T CARE!"
His roar shook the cavern—snow crashed from the ceiling like fragments of a dying sky.
The leader stepped forward, immediately silencing him.
Even the frost itself seemed to shift out of his way.
"Our purpose," the leader began,
"is simple."
He rolled the scroll shut with a heavy snap.
"The White Veil Order exists to prevent the rebirth of tyrants."
His words echoed through the cavern—sharp, ancient, merciless.
"All reincarnated beings—especially kings—carry the potential for catastrophic power.
Once, Shoto Remedus Kazami wielded strength capable of leveling kingdoms."
The leader's tone darkened.
"If that power awakens again, history will repeat itself.
His father sowed devastation once.
We cannot risk a second coming."
The Dragonprone lowered his head.
"And if he is already awakening…?"
The leader stared toward the cave entrance—toward the swirling blizzard of magic outside.
"Then we must decide whether the reincarnated king will be the salvation of this era…"
He tightened his gloves.
"…or its destruction and we will Freeze this entire world along with it to start anew."
The Dragonprone's grip tightened around his broken spear.
A feral smirk curled across his lips.
"Then let the suffering begin."
The train rumbled steadily along the frosted tracks, cutting through a landscape coated in half-melted snow from the Dragonprone's earlier blizzard. White fields and skeletal forests blurred past the windows, giving the ride a strange, dreamlike stillness.
Inside the car, the fluorescent lights hummed gently, a faint counterpoint to the muffled howl of winter clawing at the train's exterior.
Shoto sat curled up beside the window, knees tucked in, hands gripping his sleeves. His breath fogged the glass with each exhale.
Every time he glanced toward the distant silhouette of Mount Fuji—covered in spiraling clouds like a curse—his spine trembled.
Yuumo draped a blanket over his shoulders with sisterly force.
"S–Shoto, your teeth are chattering again!"
"T-They always chatter…" he whispered, voice barely audible.
Across from them, Ryuji slammed a can of hot coffee onto the table, the steam rising between them.
"Relax, man. We'll be there soon. And whatever comes, we'll deal with it."
Ren lazily nodded, eyes half-closed.
"Yeah, and if we die, we die together…"
"STOP SAYING THAT!" Yuumo screeched.
Hikaru sat near the aisle, methodically polishing an arrow with cold precision, as if nothing in the world could shake him.
"Tetsuya," he said without looking up, "stop pacing. You're scaring the civilians."
Tetsuya froze mid-step, fists clenched.
"I'm not pacing."
"You are pacing," Hikaru repeated, monotone.
Tetsuya clicked his tongue and sat down—
only to stand back up five seconds later.
The group was a bundle of nerves.
Everyone except Neko.
The cat sat perched on the armrest of Shoto's seat like a smug miniature emperor, tail flicking with infuriating confidence.
"Relax," Neko purred. "Mount Fuji isn't a walk in the park, you know. It's more like—"
"WE KNOW!"
The entire group shouted in unison.
Shoto flinched so hard he nearly fell off his seat.
"L-Look… I'm the reason we're going. Because of… the Dragonprone guy…"
His voice cracked.
"I-I really don't want anyone to get hurt because of me…"
Ryuji leaned forward and grabbed Shoto's shoulders firmly.
"Hey! None of this is on you."
Yuumo nodded fiercely.
"Yeah! It's on the dragon-ghost-spear-man-thing!"
Ren raised one finger.
"Technically, he's a Dragonprone—"
"I DON'T CARE WHAT HE IS!" Yuumo snapped.
Hikaru sighed, setting aside his arrow.
"We're going because if we don't, he's going to kill you. And then probably freeze half the country. So…"
Shoto glared weakly at Hikaru.
"…Wow. Thanks. Really comforting."
He turned back toward the window, resting his head against the glass.
The train rocked gently as it slowed toward the next station—
And then—
FOOM—!!
The train doors blasted open so violently that even Hikaru jerked back, grabbing the seat for balance.
Everyone snapped their heads toward the noise.
Boots hit the floor.
Firm. Confident. Not hurried.
Long reddish hair tied in a messy ponytail.
A jacket so thin it should've been illegal in winter.
Hands buried casually in pockets.
Eyes bored, sharp, assessing everything without blinking.
"H-Hina?!" Yuumo gasped.
Hina tilted her head, unimpressed.
"Oh cool. This is the right train. I guessed."
Hikaru narrowed his eyes. "Why are you here?"
Hina shrugged.
"Thought I'd join the field trip. Also—"
She jerked a thumb behind her.
"I brought one more person."
Shoto's blood ran cold.
He turned to the door—slowly, painfully, like peeling off a bandage—
—and froze.
Stepping onto the train was a girl with long dark hair that curled slightly at the ends, soft cinnamon-colored eyes, and a fluffy winter coat that made her look like an adorable marshmallow.
Her cheeks glowed pink from the cold.
"Um… Shoto?"
Shoto's eyes widened so dramatically Yuumo genuinely feared they'd pop out.
"Y-Yumiko?!"
Hina casually crossed her arms.
"Oh yeah. She insisted. Or—well—I dragged her."
Yumiko walked toward them, brushing snow from her sleeves.
"Shoto… why didn't you tell me you were leaving town? I saw Hina trying to break into your window and she told me you were going somewhere dangerous."
Shoto practically exploded.
"W-WAIT—SHE WAS BREAKING INTO MY WHAT?! A-And I didn't tell you because—because—because—because I didn't want you to worry!"
Ryuji facepalmed.
Ren stared blankly for several seconds before bursting out:
"I thought she WASN'T in the h— WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW?!"
Yuumo clutched her head.
"Hina brought Shoto's GIRLFRIEND to a DEATH MISSION?!!"
Hina blinked.
"…Yes."
Neko laughed hysterically.
Yumiko ignored all of them and stepped directly in front of Shoto.
Her small hands gently wrapped around his trembling one.
"Shoto… you should've told me," she whispered.
"You're scared. And I'm not letting you go alone."
Shoto felt his heart implode.
His entire face burned red.
"H-Huh—Y-Yumiko—w-wait—"
Hina blew a bubble with her gum.
"She insisted on coming."
Ren groaned. "We're going to die on this mountain."
Ryuji held up a finger. "Correction: Shoto's going to die of embarrassment before we even GET there."
Hikaru sighed.
"Well, she's here now. Another ally is useful."
"ALLY?!" Shoto squeaked.
"Girlfriend," Yumiko corrected softly. "I'll be your support!"
Yuumo melted into the seat, squealing.
"THE CUTENESS IS TOO MUCH I CAN'T—!!"
The train sped out of the station, wind howling against the windows as Mount Fuji loomed closer—
ominous, glowing, pulsing with blue light…
Hikaru looked at the window "We're nearly there.."
Tall.
Towering.
Muscular.
Eyes glowing an unnatural icy blue.
A shredded black kimono whipping in the blizzard pouring through the torn metal.
A broken frost-blue spear dangling from his hand like a predator's fang.
The air froze.
So did everyone else.
His gaze snapped instantly to Shoto.
A savage grin curled across his lips.
"…Shoto… Kazami."
Yuumo shrieked from behind her seat.
"H-HE FOUND US—ON THE TRAIN?!"
The Dragonprone took one heavy step forward—
the metal flooring cracked beneath his foot.
"A reincarnated king…"
His voice rumbled, deep and venomous.
"…hiding inside a human toy cage…
How pathetic."
Hikaru immediately raised his bow.
"EVERYONE MOVE—!!"
But the Dragonprone was already sprinting.
A blur.
A beast.
A bullet of vengeance.
Straight toward Shoto.
Yumiko screamed his name.
Ryuji lunged—only to get tossed aside like a pillow.
Tetsuya braced himself—but the Dragonprone slid around him with monstrous speed.
Wind shrieked as the spear aimed straight for Shoto's heart.
Shoto's eyes widened—
And then—
Instinct took over.His hand shot to his bag.
The Zemarak Sword tore free, reacting the instant his fingers touched the hilt.
BOOOOM—!!
A pulse of crimson darkness erupted.
Black scales crawled across Shoto's cheekbones.
Up to his temples.
His pupils sharpened into predatory slits.
His trembling—
vanished.
His timid fear—
evaporated.
A calmer, colder expression settled onto his face.
The Dragonprone halted mid-lunge, startled.
"That aura…! Those scales…!!"
Shoto lifted the obsidian blade, its veins pulsing red like molten lava.
His voice was steady.
Sharp.
Unrecognizable.
"…Stay away from them."
The Dragonprone growled.
"SHOW ME THEN, KING'S SON—SHOW ME YOUR TRUE NATURE!!!"
The train shook violently as Shoto and the Dragonprone dashed toward each other.
Wind spiraled.
Metal screeched.
Debris whipped everywhere.
In mid-strike, the Zamorak Sword pulsed—
FWOOOOSH—!!The blade dissolved into black liquid metal that slithered up Shoto's arms.
It hardened instantly—
**Obsidian mini-gauntlets.Cracked with molten-red light.**
Shoto inhaled sharply.
"HAAAH—!!"
He threw a punch so fast the air cracked.
But the Dragonprone twisted around him with inhuman grace.
"Too slow, little king."
THUD—!!!
His knee smashed into Shoto's gut.
Air exploded out of Shoto's lungs.
He flew back, smashing into a row of seats.
"SHOTO!!" Yumiko screamed.
Yuumo covered her mouth.
"This is bad—we HAVE to help—"
But—
A shadow fell from the torn roof.Then another.
They landed with light, surgical precision.
Not a sound.
Not a single snowflake disturbed.
Two masked figures in white cami robes now stood in the mangled train car.
The first was impossibly tall, chaotic energy radiating off him like wildfire.
His golden eyes gleamed behind his mask.
He stretched wide, laughing.
"Well, WELL! A whole playground!!
And look—SEVEN beautiful little TOYS to play with! HAHAHA!!"
Ryuji tensed.
"Who the hell is THIS psycho?!"
Ren dragged Yuumo behind him.
"It's those people from the rooftop—!!"
The tall man spun a curved dagger around his fingers with manic delight.
"Ohhhhhh…
I could kill ALL OF YOU AT ONCE!!"
Tetsuya smirked, stepping forward.
"I like this maniac. Come on then, I'll take yo—"
A cold, cutting voice snapped through the chaos.
"Be quiet."
The second figure stepped forward—
a woman, shorter than her partner but infinitely more terrifying.
Her posture was flawless.
Her presence was suffocating.
Her eyes burned with cold calculation.
She scanned the group with pure disinterest.
"…They don't even look that impressive to me."
Yuumo squawked.
"H-Hey!! WE ARE STRONG—!!"
But the woman ignored her, turning her gaze toward the Dragonprone.
"You caused a mess earlier. The Leader is displeased."
Her eyes then locked onto Shoto—
bracing himself against Yumiko's arms.
"And this… is the reincarnation.
Hm."
Her tone was unimpressed.
Borderline bored.
"Doesn't look like much."
Shoto lifted his head.
His breathing ragged.
His gauntlets glowing brighter.
His scales glinting under the flickering lights.
"…I'm getting tired of hearing that."
The tall man cackled again.
"OHHH? The little king has some SPARK!
I LOVE it!!"
He cracked his knuckles eagerly.
The woman didn't flinch.
"Focus. We aren't here to indulge your ego."
The Dragonprone's jaw tightened.
He grabbed his spear with both hands—
And then—
SLASH—!!!
With one monstrous swing, he tore straight through the cargo connector between the two train cars.
Steel snapped.
Bolts exploded.
Wind roared between the cars as the front half of the train jerked forward—
Carrying only Shoto and the Dragonprone with it.
The rest of the group was left on the rear half—
powerless to reach him.
Yuumo screamed.
Yumiko reached toward him, tears in her eyes.
Ryuji sprinted to the torn gap.
Tetsuya roared in frustration.
The Dragonprone grinned savagely at Shoto across the shattered aisle.
"Now…"
The front car trembled violently as it sped toward the mountain.
"…the REAL fun begins."
To be continued…