The forest rustled softly in the morning light. Sunlight trickled through the tall pines like golden spears piercing the mist.
Hime Kuraragi bent down to gather wildflowers, her black eyes reflecting the quiet of the woods. Her long sleeves brushed against petals as she plucked a violet bloom.
"I know you're there," she said gently, not looking back.
From the shadows, Zenith stepped out sheepishly. "Guess I'm not great at being subtle."
"You were sent to watch over me, weren't you?"
Zenith nodded and scratched the back of his head. She handed him a bunch of leaves, casually.
"Hold this, would you?"
Zenith blinked, staring at his hands full of herbs.
(So I'm her basket now?)
She wandered further into the forest, her pace light, almost rhythmic. He followed, eyes still on her as the breeze teased strands of her hair.
"Your Flow feels aggressive," she murmured, stopping. "Is there something you're holding in?"
Zenith forced a grin. "Nothing serious."
She turned slightly, smile soft and eyes closed, and for a moment the forest stilled. With the wind lifting her hair and the light hitting her face, Zenith caught his breath. The elegance. The calm. The distant kindness.
"Y-you're pretty sharp," he muttered.
"Sometimes you just need to calm your soul and listen," Hime said, turning back. "To the beauty in every melody around us… even in the cry of a child. Or the chirp of a cricket."
(Those are... really annoying sounds though...) Zenith muttered internally.
But then… the wind changed.
The air tightened. Instinct screamed.
Without thinking, Zenith moved, shielding her with his body.
Something was coming.
No—someone.
From the woods emerged a pale-skinned figure, blond hair hanging lazily behind him, ears pointed, eyes gleaming. A demon. His spear dragged on the ground behind him with a dreadful scrape.
Gakurashi.
Zenith's gaze locked on the weapon.
(The same... from the selection exam... It is him.)
Without another word, Zenith's blade flashed.
"Were you the one who killed those twins?" he growled.
Gakurashi grinned like a beast.
"You don't stop a hunter from hunting his prey, do you?"
His words twisted the wind. Hime's eyes narrowed, sensing the rage exploding from Zenith's body.
The two clashed—steel and spear cracking the air with every movement.
"Fourth Flow: Zero Cut!"
A blazing crescent slashed forward, but Gakurashi weaved aside, lunging in with savage precision.
His spear pierced Zenith's shoulder.
Again.
And again.
Blood stained the forest floor.
"You humans are nothing but prey," Gakurashi whispered maniacally, "and I am the hunt!"
Zenith staggered back, breath ragged.
Hime stared in horror. Her fists clenched.
(If I don't help… he'll die.)
Despite being forbidden to use her ability in front of others, she knelt and pressed her palms together.
"Amplify Flow."
The petals around her bloomed into glowing sigils. Golden light swirled, and in a breath—
Zenith's aura exploded.
A divine pulse. A celestial shiver.
Behind him, the Oborowa Mandala spun into existence—larger, clearer than ever before. Glyphs of judgment and mercy rotated around his spirit.
His hair had grown long and white. His eyes were glowing white orbs—no longer fully human.
He was in control now.
And Gakurashi... froze.
From the demon's back, three black wraiths clawed their way into the air. Each one manifested a piece of Gakurashi's soul, shaped by guilt and sin.
Hime gasped.
(He materialized... his guilt?)
Zenith didn't move like a man.
He blinked—and he was behind Gakurashi.
CRACK—! A three-layered slash echoed out.
Gakurashi blocked the first.
But the second and third pierced his soul.
Blood burst from his mouth. He fell to one knee.
Zenith's foot came crashing down on his head.
"Didn't you say humans are prey?" he whispered coldly. "Then let death treat you like the beast you are."
The three guilt wraiths began tearing into Gakurashi's body, mirroring his sins with every blow.
Gakurashi screamed.
But before Zenith could finish him—
Blood surged from his mouth.
He collapsed.
"No!" Hime rushed to his side. "The amplification… it wasn't done yet!"
Gakurashi crawled back, broken. But sensing another overwhelming presence—he fled into the shadows.
Moments later, Kazui arrived on the scene, his eyes wide.
"That aura… it happened again."
He picked up Zenith's unconscious body and looked to Hime.
"We're going back."
The Veilborn Compound – Later
Gakurashi limped into the throne hall, still bleeding. Kenzo Shinigami sat cross-legged, spear resting lazily at his side.
Silence.
Then, without a word—
Kenzo stood.
Stab.
Gakurashi screamed.
"Disgrace," Kenzo spat. "You lost… to a human?"
He stabbed again. And again. Flow laced with spite.
Each strike wasn't meant to kill.
It was punishment.
Blood ran from Gakurashi's eyes as his body convulsed.
And yet, all he could see… was Zenith's foot on his head.
All he could hear… was that voice.
"Then let death treat you like the beast you are"
And from his shattered mouth—
Came a whisper of pure hatred.
"I'll kill you…"