The sun was already setting when Master Ozaki and his team finally stopped walking. The group had traveled for hours and now found themselves on the outskirts of a quiet village. Tall grass swayed gently in the wind, and large rocks scattered around gave them a good place to rest.
Sora dropped to the ground and groaned.
"My legs are killing me," she said, rubbing her calves.
Chella flopped beside her and sighed. "Same here... I feel like I've been walking forever."
Lumei stretched his arms over his head and let out a playful laugh. His eyes sparkled with amusement. "I told you guys," he said in a teasing tone, "my master may seem chill, but his journeys are brutal!"
Ichiha and Yamato sat down at the same time. They looked at each other, and both opened their mouths to speak, saying in unison, "We've seen worse."
There was a short pause, then Yamato laughed softly. "You really are funny," he told Ichiha, who only smirked in response.
As everyone relaxed, Lumei looked up at the trees above them. "Hey," he said, "did any of you notice those monkeys we passed?"
Sora turned her head, raising her eyebrow. "What about them?"
"They were weird," Lumei said, squinting at the sky. "They didn't move. They just sat there like statues."
"That's true," Sora added, pointing her finger at him. "They didn't even throw anything at us like normal monkeys would. It was like... they were watching us."
Chella leaned back on her hands. "Wait a minute... it wasn't just the monkeys," she said slowly. "There were no birds either. Not even the sound of wings or chirping." She paused and closed her eyes. "It was so quiet... I could hear the wind brushing through the trees."
Yamato sat still, his brow furrowed. "Are you sure it was that quiet?" he asked, confused. "I heard everything... monkeys, birds, even those little tree hoppers."
Everyone looked at him. Ichiha narrowed his eyes and asked, "What did you eat for breakfast? Did you eat that weird _Morning Crap fish_ again?"
Sora and Chella burst out laughing. "No way," Sora said. "Those animals were quiet as it could be!"
Lumei pointed at Yamato. "we ate the same thing," he said with a puzzled look, "and you're saying you heard noise?" Then he suddenly gasped. "Wait! Maybe it's because you were using your sensing ability again!"
Yamato blinked, then scratched the back of his head. "Maybe."
Master Ozaki, who had been listening nearby, laughed loudly. "Well," he said, folding his arms and smiling, "Lumei might be right. Without tuning in to your sensing power, you'd think everything was just quiet."
Then his expression grew serious. His lips tightened, and his brow furrowed slightly. "Still," he added, "the fact that the forest was that silent... something is wrong."
The group went quiet. A faint wind passed through the trees, rustling the grass. The team could feel it—the peace was only on the surface.
Trying to lighten the mood again, Ozaki chuckled and teased Yamato a bit more. Then he cleared his throat and sat down on a large rock in front of them.
"There's something I want to explain to you all," he said calmly.
The team turned to him, giving him their full attention.
"It's about Case Form," Ozaki said.
"Finally!" they all said at once, followed by laughter.
Ozaki smiled briefly but then turned serious again. "Alright, listen well," he said. "Case Form is a power system. It's similar to God Form... but also very different."
The team shifted where they sat, getting more comfortable as they focused.
"People who use God Form are actual vessels. A god lives inside them," Ozaki continued. "But Case Form users... they're people who've been granted power. Sometimes by a god. Sometimes by a vessel. They don't carry the god inside them—they are just more heightened than the normal human."
The group listened quietly. Even Sora stopped fidgeting.
"I've seen Case Form reach Form 4," Ozaki said with a thoughtful tone. "But I don't think that's the limit. Some of them can push further. Now, just because someone has Case Form doesn't mean they're weak."
Yamato raised his hand slightly. "Nent used Case Form, right?" he asked. "And honestly… even though his plan had worked, your God Form 1 would've been enough to beat him."
The others nodded.
Ozaki chuckled and nodded too. "You're right. That's true in many cases. Most of the time, Case Form 3 is equal to God Form 1. But there are rare people... people who break their limits. For them, even Case Form 1 can be equal to—or stronger than—God Form 1."
The team looked surprised. Murmurs spread through the group. Chella looked at her hands. Lumei leaned forward with his mouth slightly open. Ichiha looked off into the distance.
Then Yamato looked up suddenly, his face serious.
"So you mean, this aura I'm feeling," he said. "It's not normal. It's strong—way stronger than Nent. Could he be one of those Case Form users who could rival God Form users.?"
Ozaki's eyes widened. He stood up immediately, his muscles tense. The wind stopped.
He closed his eyes briefly and focused. Then he snapped them open.
"Stand up," he ordered. "All of you. Now."
The team obeyed quickly. They all felt it now. A pressure in the air. Heavy. Dangerous.
Their chatter was gone. Now they stood ready—afraid, but focused.
Ozaki looked around. "Let's move. Quietly. Stay alert."
The team nodded, and they began to walk again. The fun and laughter were gone, replaced by the weight of what might be coming.
---
Meanwhile, in Regns' Realm...
Leah lay on the ground, her body weak and broken. Her cloth was was with a tear, and blood her clothes. Her breathing was shallow.
Kiro ran to her, his face filled with panic. He dropped to his knees and gently lifted her head into his lap.
"Leah! Hey—Leah!" he said, shaking slightly.
A soft glow lit up the area as Regns stepped forward. Calm and powerful, his eyes glowed gold as he raised his hand. Healing energy poured from his palm and surrounded Leah.
Her breathing eased. The cuts on her arms started to close.
Across from them, Mira stood quietly. Her body was shaking, exhausted from the battle. Sweat dripped down her forehead, but she kept a small smile on her face.
She didn't regret sparing Leah.
Kiro looked up at Mira. His expression was mixed with confusion and respect.
"You could have killed her," he said angrily, almost like a question.
Mira didn't answer right away. She just kept smiling.