The cave-like structure echoed with silence. Damp walls, flickering torches, and the smell of dust surrounded them. It was the same eerie place where they had originally split—and now they were back.
One by one, they reappeared inside the wide, hollow chamber.
Lumei stood frozen. His sleeves were stained with blood. He stared down at his trembling hands.
Sora and Chella weren't much different—Chella gripped her arm, trying to rub off a smear that refused to fade. Sora's breath was shaky, her gaze vacant, still caught in the memory of what they'd done.
Yamato stepped forward. His voice was calm, but firm.
"Relax. You didn't kill anyone. They were just clones."
Lumei turned to him with hollow eyes.
"It bled."
His voice cracked.
"Do clones bleed, Yamato? No… they don't."
Yamato had no response. His words were powerless against the guilt they carried.
He turned slightly and noticed Ichiha—arms folded, leaning against the wall, calm and casual.
He's not shaken at all, Yamato thought. _What exactly did he go through?_
---
Following the magical traces deeper into the underground hallways, they finally reached a large chamber lit by a crystal embedded in the ceiling.
There stood Master Ozaki, speaking with Nent.
Nent noticed the group arriving and, upon seeing they were still in fighting condition, instantly turned and dashed away—disappearing into another part of the cave.
Ozaki turned to them. His eyes scanned their faces—Sora and Chella still trembling, Lumei pale and withdrawn. Then he looked at Yamato and Ichiha—steady, expressionless, calm.
He stepped forward.
"This isn't a training session. It's a real mission. You'll be paid."
Yamato narrowed his eyes.
"So that's why we were still allowed to continue, even after failing?"
Ozaki gave a brief nod and a small smile.
"Exactly. If it were training, I would've picked students who weren't yet capable."
A heavy silence followed. No one seemed pleased.
Sora whispered,
"So we could actually die?"
Ozaki answered plainly.
"Yes."
Chella staggered back slightly.
"Oh no… I haven't even reached my dream yet…"
Then, straightening up, she clenched her fists.
"Doesn't matter. I'm making it back."
Yamato looked at the group and spoke with authority.
"Everyone—start in god form."
Then he turned to Ozaki.
"You can teleport. Right?"
Ozaki blinked, taken aback.
"How did you know that?"
Yamato stepped forward.
"You've been hiding that technique, but I noticed it. No time to waste. I'll give you the coordinates."
After a moment of hesitation, Ozaki agreed.
In a flash—they vanished.
---
The team appeared in a wide underground arena, deeper within the cave. Faded markings, broken relics, and shifting shadows surrounded them. This was where Nent had escaped to.
Lumei gave Ozaki a side glance.
"Guess you're not the only one with secrets anymore."
Across the chamber, Nent stood with a smirk.
---
Without hesitation, the team called out:
"GOD FORM!"
All except Yamato.
He stood at the spot where they landed, his hand resting on his sheathed blade. His voice was flat.
"Two percent… Mini Striker."
Chella lifted her arms.
"Form One: Bronze Rock Golem!"
The ground trembled. A massive golem made of dark bronze rose behind her—far larger and stronger than the one she used against Sora.
Sora moved her hands in a fluid motion.
"Form One: Water God Arrow!"
Water swirled out of thin air, spiraling into a giant, high-speed arrow glowing with divine energy.
Lumei's eyes sharpened as he said,
"Form One: Shadow's Drought."
The shadows on the cave floor twisted and crawled toward Nent, drawn to his energy, aiming to drain it.
Ichiha dashed forward with lightning crackling in his palm.
"Form One: Calamity Shock!"
Ozaki lifted his hand, and with a flick, a black scythe materialized in the air above him and fell into his grip.
---
Nent calmly assessed the incoming attacks. Then, muttering:
"Case Three: LegMan."
A red aura flashed around his legs, and his body blurred into a streak of motion. This wasn't a god form—it was a technique used by those who borrowed a god's power without being a full vessel. The technique dramatically boosted his speed.
He rushed toward Ichiha, aiming to grab him and use his own technique against the team.
---
At the back, Yamato stood perfectly still.
Then—shing.
A single, clean motion. He unsheathed his blade.
A flash of silver light burst from his sword—an invisible wave of energy that cut through the cave air.
It tore across the battlefield in an instant—ripping through the rock golem, slicing past the water arrow, dispersing the shadows, scattering Ichiha's power leak—and passing clean through Nent.
Nent's speed faltered. He froze mid-step.
A second later—he collapsed.
Dead.
---
The room fell silent.
Dust floated in the air.
Chella's eyes widened.
"Is… is he really dead?"
No one answered.
Even Ichiha stood stunned.
Ozaki lowered his scythe, his eyes fixed on Yamato with a flicker of something unfamiliar—fear.
Yamato sheathed his sword slowly.
His voice was calm.
"Let's go."
No pride. No arrogance. Just control—and silence.
Ozaki's thoughts churned.
This boy… Yamato… might already be stronger than all of us. He is too deadly..