a fierce gust of wind swept through.
SHRRKK! SHRRKK! SHRRKK!
Three razor-thin slashes ripped across the air in an instant. Flesh and bone split apart—the Demon's second head toppled away, its right arm severed clean, and a narrow cut tore across its left shoulder and chest.
It dropped to its knees before Haruto, blood pouring freely. For a heartbeat it looked intact—then, as its body collapsed fully, the severed head and arm rolled loose across the ground, lifeless.
Haruto's breath faltered. His eyes widened in shock, his face pale. Slowly, almost in disbelief, he lifted his gaze.
There—partially hidden in the drifting smoke—stood a lone figure. His clothes swayed with the night wind, carrying an aura so heavy it seemed to weigh on the very air. In one hand, he slid a gleaming katana back into its saya (scabbard) with a sharp, echoing shhnkk! The metallic note rang out, cutting through the silence like thunder stretched in slow motion.
Haruto's chest tightened. Confusion, fear, and awe tangled across his expression as he stared at the figure. His voice shook as he whispered directly to him, "W-Who… who are you?"
The figure turned at last, his presence radiating raw, unshakable power even in the shadows. His tone was calm and steady, yet heavy enough to silence the night.
"I am Renzaki KazeKami," he said, his eyes narrowing on Haruto. "Who told you to wander outside at night, Haruto?"
Scene 1
Haruto blinked rapidly, disbelief flashing across his face. "R-Renzaki??" He stumbled up to his feet in a rush, voice trembling. "T-Thank you, Renzaki! How did you even get here?"
Renzaki's gaze stayed steady, his voice calm as he walked closer. "I was heading back to you all after training, but when I saw your condition here, I stepped in to save you."
He folded his arms loosely, his presence steady but questioning. "Now tell me, why were you out here alone so late at night? Do you not realize how much more dangerous Demons become after dark? You should be grateful tonight is a Full Moon, otherwise this Demon wouldn't have been so weak."
Placing his hand thoughtfully against his chin, Renzaki tilted his head. "Judging from its presence, it looked like a B to low A-Rank Demon. But because of the Full Moon, it was no stronger than slightly above C-Rank."
Haruto's face scrunched, confused and almost pitiful, his eyes wet. "Rank? Explain to me what these Ranks are!"
Renzaki sighed softly. "For that, you'll need to attend the Academy. Only there can you learn about this world's system. But if you ask me… it's all useless. A waste of time. You'd be better off not going."
Haruto's expression flickered—confused, yet oddly excited. "But I still want to—"
He froze. His gaze dropped to the bandaged cloth wrapped around Renzaki's forehead. His guilt twisted inside him. He lowered his head, fists clenching awkwardly at his sides as he muttered, "Renzaki…"
Renzaki glanced at him quietly. "What is it?" His tone remained calm—serious, but not harsh.
Haruto's voice cracked. "I-I'm sorry… for that day. I hurt you. I shouldn't have… it was my fault, Renzaki."
Silence lingered. Then, with a calm step, Renzaki closed the distance, stopping right before Haruto. His hand lifted slowly toward Haruto's head.
Haruto stiffened, fear flashing across his face.
"You've suffered deep wounds on your head," Renzaki said quietly. His palm pulsed faintly, and a fresh bandage materialized, wrapping itself around Haruto's scalp. "Let me heal them."
Haruto turned his head in disbelief. "But you use Dark Magic… how can you heal me?"
"I bound this cloth with Dark Magic," Renzaki explained evenly. "It will continue to heal you until you remove it."
Haruto touched the bandage with his hand, still uncertain. "But I feel—"
"—That's just your mind in confusion," Renzaki cut in firmly, shaking his hand lightly as if dusting away the thought. "Your wounds have already closed under that bandage—in just a second. That's the effect of Dark Magic Healing."
Then his gaze sharpened, steady on Haruto. "But you still haven't answered me. What were you really doing out here?"
Haruto's cheeks warmed, his hand nervously scratching at his head as his lips fumbled. "W-Well… I was sleeping and then…"
"I understand," Renzaki interrupted, nodding once. "But you could have managed that in the Jungle too."
Haruto coughed lightly, still scratching his hair. "Actually… with Miss Sayuri's forest and Einzuro Sensei's eyes, I can't exactly trust such things."
A faint smirk curved across Renzaki's lips, a small hmph escaping. "You misunderstand them. Einzuro Sensei can watch over the Stone Kingdom even from here, but he likely hasn't activated his eyes tonight. You needn't worry so much."
Haruto yawned loudly, stretching his arms. "Huaaahhh… I'm getting sleepy. Let's just head back to rest." He turned toward the jungle path.
"Stop."
Renzaki's tone dropped with a sudden weight, carrying authority that froze the air.
Haruto paused, confused, turning back. "What is it, Renzaki?"
Renzaki drew his katana with a sharp, ringing shhnk! His stance lowered, aura brimming with resolve. "Draw your sword, Haruto. Fight me."
Haruto's eyes widened. He raised his hands quickly as if to stop him. "No, Renzaki, stop! We already fought enough today—the test ended earlier. If we fight again, Sensei will scold us!"
Renzaki's lips tightened. "Who told you this is about that test? That meaningless trial was unfair—it was designed only for you. Wooden blades, no magic… of course you'd win. ShinKami style thrives on strength, while KazeKami thrives on speed."
His eyes gleamed faintly as he adjusted his grip. "Besides, that test was dull. Just weapons. No magic. I sensed something within you—something hidden. That alone makes me want to fight you."
Haruto stepped closer, his hand half-lifted as if to stop him. "Renzaki, don't! You're my—"
But before the word could leave his mouth—Renzaki moved.
The world blurred.
Renzaki appeared on Haruto's left in a blink. Haruto's hand darted to the hilt of his blade—
SHRRKK! SHRRKK! SHRRKK!
Three swift katana strikes landed before Haruto could even react—one across his collarbone, one cutting into his arm, and one slashing across his thigh. The blows were deep enough to bleed, shallow enough to spare crippling damage. Blood spilled fast, heat searing his skin. Haruto's gasp tore out, his body staggering with pain.
He gritted his teeth, yanking his sword free with his left hand and slashing at Renzaki on his left side in desperation.
But Renzaki smiled—a sharp, knowing smile—and ducked low. Haruto's blade cut through empty air above his head.
Haruto twisted his grip, rotating the blade, and brought it down in a heavy, two-handed swing.
But the veins around his wounds tightened violently, popping against his skin. A burning tension locked his muscles, his movements slowing. His breath caught. Poison. Renzaki's blade had carried poison.
Renzaki slipped away in a crouch, retreating with uncanny speed.
He appeared behind Haruto in a blink, katana flashing for three more strikes—
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Steel rang out as Haruto spun, his own blade intercepting all three cuts with a burst of sparks. His arms trembled, but he held firm.
Renzaki leapt back, landing lightly. "So you resisted even the poison. Impressive. But don't worry… that was just a distraction. The real poison will come later."
Then, with no warning, he burst forward again—faster, sharper, angling from Haruto's left.
Haruto thrust his right hand outward, chanting:
"Light Magic: Radiant Aegis Burst"
A translucent wall of shimmering light surged directly into Renzaki's path.
Renzaki slammed into it head-on. The surface bent, stretching unnaturally like some magical membrane, his body pressing partway into its glowing form. The shield quivered, warped—then snapped back with explosive force.
BOOOOM!
Renzaki was hurled backward like a ragdoll, blasted across the field. His speed carried him uncontrollably, until his foot slammed against a protruding stone. The impact crushed through his boot, blood spraying from his mangled foot as his body tilted out of balance.
His form crashed into the jungle, tearing through leaves and bushes before disappearing from sight. The forest swallowed him whole, branches shaking, dust and smoke rising faintly from where he vanished.
Haruto staggered, staring at his own hands in disbelief. "What kind of power is this…? This shield, those lasers… and the way those Marks appeared and disappeared… My mother only taught me the basics of ShinKami Attacks and the Stone Element. The Sensei who used to train me—he taught me the basics of other elements and taught me Black Magic as well. But I never imagined this power would be so overwhelming. Against enemies like these, defeating my Sensei with such attacks would have been impossible… yet these foes can't even withstand them."
Haruto clenched his fist tightly. "I can't even remember what he looked like… or what his name was. All I recall is the way he patted my head before leaving—and after that day, I never saw him again."
His thoughts sharpened suddenly, realization twisting like a blade in his chest. "No… not again! I tested my powers… at Renzaki's expense." Sweat poured down his brow as panic sank into him. "He'll never forgive me!"
He broke into a sprint toward the jungle, urgency clawing at his chest. "I need to reach him fast. That shield flung him so far. My wounds may have closed, but my speed is still dulled from fighting that Demon. I can't waste time!"
The forest loomed nearer. Haruto darted between trees, his voice echoing into the silence.
"Renzaki! …Renzaki!!"
His breaths grew ragged, desperation rising as he called again, "Renzaki!!" His voice broke as he shoved through branches, his arms scratching against rough bark.
He stumbled into a small clearing where the trees thinned, leaving only dense bushes. His heart pounded. "This must be where he fell… somewhere in these bushes."
The shrubs were thick, tangled with thorns that scratched at his legs. He winced. "Tch! These bushes are so dense… I can barely walk. Why are there so many here?"
He pushed forward, then stepped—and the ground gave way.
Haruto's foot slipped through empty space. His balance shattered, his body pitching forward as the earth vanished beneath him.
"Wh—Wha!?"
He plunged down, crashing into cold water. A hidden lake swallowed him whole. When Haruto looked upward, he saw only a dark opening above—the gap in the stone surface where he had fallen through. His chest tightened as realization struck. A trap… this was a trap.
Bubbles streamed around his face as he sank. Glup… Glup… His cheeks puffed, desperately holding his breath, but the weight of exhaustion dragged his body deeper.
He flailed his arms and legs, trying to swim, to fight against the pull, but his body grew weaker, his strength slipping away. "I… I feel dizzy… This water… it's poisoned—it's forcing me unconscious… I can't control my body…"
From the wounds Renzaki had carved into him, blood seeped freely, ribbons of crimson trailing out into the water. The streams spread like ink, curling upward in dark clouds before dissolving into the depths around him.
His limbs weakened further. His chest burned. His lips parted against his will, releasing a burst of bubbles that shot toward the surface. Water surged into his mouth, flooding his nose, ears, and lungs. His vision wavered, the last fragments of light smearing into nothing. His eyelids grew heavy, sinking closed under the weight.
Haruto's body drifted lower and lower, helplessly descending toward the lakebed—still, silent, swallowed by the darkness.