The group walked out of the cave in silence. Every step echoed on the rocky floor, but no one spoke. Their minds were full, still thinking about what Yamato and Master Ozaki had said. The sunlight hit their faces as they stepped into the open. The sky was a bright yellow—it was just past noon. The warmth was comforting but couldn't melt the tension in the air.
Ahead, they spotted a shadow under a nearby mountain. It looked peaceful, so they walked toward it to rest.
Sora smiled slightly and sat down in the shade. Her body relaxed, and she slowly drifted off to sleep, lying back against a rock. Her breathing was soft, peaceful.
Chella sat with her knees up, her arms wrapped around them. Her face looked sad, her eyes staring at the ground. She didn't say anything—just thinking deeply about what Master Ozaki had told them.
Lumei walked over to Yamato, who stood looking at the horizon. They began to talk quietly. Lumei tried to smile, but his eyes still looked uncertain. Yamato, calm as always, nodded while speaking, though his mind was clearly racing.
Ichiha sat alone, legs crossed. His elbows rested on his knees, and he placed his hands under his chin. His face was serious—he was thinking hard about how Yamato had figured everything out.
---
A short distance away, Master Ozaki sat with his legs folded under him, breathing slowly. He looked calm, but inside, he was troubled. He thought back to the battle with Nent.
"What if he used 10% of his power?"
"What if we didn't use our god forms?"
"What if those attacks were actually meant for us?"
Suddenly, he heard a voice. It wasn't anyone around him—it was Kaku. The voice echoed in his mind, dark and cold.
Kaku: "This was all part of my plan. You were meant to kill him… to release the first part of my remaining self."
Ozaki's eyes widened. He looked around quickly, trying to spot someone. But there was no one there. It was all in his head.
Ozaki: "How again?"
Kaku: "I split my power into seven pieces and scattered them across the country. Nent was one. He was a perfect fit for a god vessel. His death helped me. You've done exactly what I needed."
Ozaki stood up suddenly, fists clenched. His face was pale, his body tense. He couldn't believe what he was hearing.
Yamato, still talking to Lumei, noticed the shift in the air. He turned quickly, eyes narrowing as he sensed the dark energy fading.
Yamato: "Ozaki… he was here, wasn't he? What did he say?"
Ozaki looked at him and slowly nodded.
Ozaki: "You really have a sharp sense. Yes… Kaku just spoke to me."
Yamato's expression grew even more serious. He turned toward Ichiha.
Yamato: "Ichiha, we need you."
Ichiha stood up and walked over without a word. His jaw was tight, and his steps were steady.
Ozaki gathered the three of them and told them what Kaku had said. When he finished, they all stood there in silence, the truth settling like a heavy stone in their hearts.
---
Still shaken but thinking clearly, Master Ozaki reached into his coat and pulled out a small silver pocket knife. He sat back down on the ground, holding the blade gently in his hand. He whispered a short chant, and the knife lit up with a faint magical glow.
Ozaki used the knife to carve glowing words onto a flat rock near the mountain wall. The words burned gently into the surface and read:
"We are fine. The issue in the village has been resolved."
As soon as he finished, the magic took effect. The glowing letters lifted off the stone and flew upward like sparks in the wind. The enchanted message shot into the sky, headed for Cloak High.
---
Back at the school, in a classroom near the new training grounds, Don Seouk, a tall light-skinned student, noticed something strange outside. A glowing message floated down from the sky and landed gently on the ground.
His eyes widened. Without thinking, he jumped up from his seat and rushed out the door. His classmates watched in shock as he bolted out like he was being chased.
Don picked up the glowing letters made of steel as they hit the ground and ran straight to the Headmaster's office. He handed it over, panting.
The Headmaster, an older man with silver hair and sharp eyes, read the message. A small smile spread across his face.
Headmaster: "Finally. They can continue their training."
Don tilted his head, curious.
Don Seouk: "What are you smiling about?"
Headmaster: "It's just… my students fought alongside Master Ozaki. Even during their training, they handled a real threat."
Don gave a sly grin.
Don: "I've got an idea. What if you randomly picked four students from each class… trained them hard until they're on Master Ozaki's level? You'd be known as the Headmaster who created the country's strongest warriors."
The Headmaster's eyes lit up.
Headmaster: "Interesting. I'll try it out. Go pick them."
Don (smiling): "Gladly."
---
Back at the mountainside, the sun began to set. A small campfire burned in the middle of the group. The orange glow flickered across their tired faces. Ichiha spoke carefully.
Ichiha: "I didn't know, Nent kidnapped me. I swear… I didn't know anything about it."
His voice was low, his hands open beside the fire. Lumei and Chella looked at him, slowly nodding. They believed him.
But Yamato said nothing. He stared at Ichiha with calm but sharp eyes, clearly still unsure.
Ozaki broke the silence.
Ozaki: "The mission isn't over."
Sora blinked in confusion.
Sora: "But… Yamato killed the guy."
Chella: "Isn't it over?"
Ozaki shook his head.
Ozaki: "It was Kaku's plan all along. He wanted Nent dead. Killing him gave Kaku more power. We've only made him stronger."
They all looked around the fire, their faces serious. The warmth of victory was gone. In its place was a new fear.
As they ate—Ichiha quietly chewing some fruit, the others eating the roasted bird they'd hunted earlier—one truth was clear.
Their mission still wasn't over.