Day 15: Five Days Before the Ceremony Ends
Scene 1: Academy Council Chamber – Morning[Lysia stands before the full council of Spirit Masters. Magical projections show the Nullborn Warbrand, blinking red across the eastern quadrant. The atmosphere is tense.]
Spirit Master Iro:
"The Warbrand marks a siege pattern. If they strike at the Ceremony, we could lose half our bonded fighters in one blow."
Spirit Master Muna:
"And Zeru? His presence draws them faster."
Lysia (firmly):
"Which is exactly why he must remain under our protection — not in a cage, but on the front line."
Scene 2: Golden Crest Dorm – Midday[The squad gathers. Zeru is seated cross-legged, flames swirling faintly around him as he meditates with Ashwing Talon hovering midair.]
Daiki:
"Official word: the Ceremony resumes in three days. They're speeding it up before the Nullborn strike first."
Tama:
"Which means our rest week just became a war prep shift."
Nara (nervous):
"They've never attacked this close to a major stronghold before… have they?"
Rei:
"No. But they've also never had a reason like him to."
[Everyone looks at Zeru. He opens his eyes slowly — they glow with both galaxy shimmer and phoenix fire.]
Zeru:
"If they're coming for me… let them."
Scene 3: Training Arena – Afternoon[Zeru spars with Rei one-on-one. She moves with elegant precision, her bow folding into twin daggers between shots.]
Rei (panting):
"You've gotten faster."
Zeru:
"You've always been stronger than you let on."
[She feints, then knocks him off balance. They both hit the ground. Silence.]
Rei (quietly):
"When this fight comes… I'm not going to lose you too."
Zeru (softly):
"You won't. Because this time, I'm not fighting alone."
Scene 4: Academy Outer Barrier – Evening[Academy guards patrol the outer perimeter. The sky darkens — too quickly. Shadows leak between the clouds.]
Guard 1 (looking up):
"…Sun's setting early?"
[Suddenly, a Nullborn projectile — a corrupted spirit arrow — pierces the barrier with a crackling shriek. The ground shakes.]
Guard 2:
"INCOMING!"
[A stealth squad of Nullborn invaders breach the outer walls, moving fast — targeting the Spirit Weapon Vault.]
Scene 5: Academy Grounds – Emergency Alarm[Magic sirens ring. Students and masters scramble. Zeru and Golden Crest rush toward the vault as explosions light up the night sky.]
Tama (wide-eyed):
"They're not waiting for Ceremony Day!"
Daiki (summoning his glaive):
"They're going for the vault — they want to destroy the weapons before they awaken!"
Zeru (drawing Ashwing Talon):
"Then we stop them. Right here."
Final Panel: The Vault Entrance[Zeru stands at the front. Flames rise around him. Rei draws her bow. The rest of the squad flanks him. In the darkness, five Nullborn elite step forward — each wielding corrupted spirit weapons.]
Masked Figure (emerging behind them):
"Let's see how bright your Phoenix burns… when surrounded by death."