The aftermath of the chaos left a bitter taste in Shinjiru's mouth. Smoke still rose from the shattered spires of the Research Quarter, and the Academy corridors echoed with the cries of the injured. Yet amid the devastation, an uneasy silence settled—a quiet that carried the weight of secrets waiting to be uncovered.
Shinjiru stood in the ivory-blue glow of the Filer's Archive, the massive chamber lined with shimmering Essence Files. Miyu Kage, the Chief Filer, regarded him with an expression that mixed worry and determination. Her eyes flickered as if measuring the weight of the revelation she was about to deliver.
"Shinjiru," Miyu began, her voice calm but firm, "you've faced the chaos with courage. But there are truths you must know—truths about your father… and about yourself."
He tensed. Memories of Haruto Arakami, brief flashes of warmth and sudden loss, surged within him. "What do you mean?" he asked.
Miyu gestured to a glowing pedestal at the center of the room. On it lay a single Essence File, pulsing faintly with a violet hue that matched Shinjiru's aura.
"This file… contains everything about Haruto Arakami. His work, his failures, his hidden choices. And… about you. You are not just a trainee. You are—" Miyu paused, as if weighing the gravity of the revelation, "—the first known Himen-human hybrid in history."
Shinjiru froze. The words hung in the air like a tangible force. "A… hybrid? That's impossible. You mean… my father—he…"
"Yes," Miyu confirmed, her voice steady. "Haruto Arakami broke rules that no Himen had broken in centuries. He bound a fragment of Himen essence with your life while you were still in your mother's womb. He did this to give you the potential to surpass ordinary Himen, to survive against threats that even the Elite 8 could not contain."
Shinjiru felt a chill run down his spine. The picture of his father, so human, so flawed, suddenly carried a weight he hadn't understood before. "But… he died because of Orochi, didn't he? He didn't survive."
Miyu's eyes darkened. "Yes. He faced a Stage 3 Krawler—your nemesis, Orochi no Kyōfu—and he fell. But it wasn't simply combat that killed him. Haruto's actions were against the Himen rules. He risked human exposure, experimented with forbidden binding, and ultimately paid the price. His death wasn't just a loss—it was a warning."
Shinjiru's hands clenched around his kusarigama. "So all this time… my life… my abilities… it was because he broke the rules?"
Miyu nodded. "Exactly. And now, you carry the legacy—and the burden—of that choice. Hybrids have never existed before you. That makes you unique… but it also makes you a target. Ranko Hoshi's rebellion, the Stage 3 Krawlers, Orochi itself—they all see you as either a threat or a tool."
The violet aura around Shinjiru flared instinctively, coiling like serpents around his arms. The revelation was overwhelming, yet a strange clarity came with it. Every struggle, every trial, every training session—the pieces were aligning. His unusual resilience, his ability to manipulate chains with intuitive strategy, his rapid growth—it all stemmed from the binding of Himen essence to his human form.
"And my mother?" Shinjiru asked, voice tight. "Was she… involved?"
Miyu hesitated, then spoke carefully. "Your mother… acted out of love and ignorance. She shielded you and herself from scrutiny, but her actions technically violated Rule 6—interfering with Himen processes. That is why she is now under trial. The Council cannot overlook it. Even humans can face judgment when they alter or disrupt the balance of essence."
Shinjiru's heart twisted. Rage, guilt, and fear collided. "She's being punished… for protecting me?"
"Not entirely," Miyu said softly. "It's a matter of precedent. The Council must enforce the rules. But there is hope—your heritage, your skills, your father's work—they may be the key to influencing the outcome. You must learn to harness your unique abilities, Shinjiru. Otherwise, the chaos will consume more than just the Academy."
The young Himen gritted his teeth. Every fiber of his being screamed to act. Not just for the Academy, not just for his friends, but for his family, for the legacy of his father, for the balance of essence itself.
"Then I'll do it," Shinjiru said firmly. "I'll master everything I can. I'll protect everyone. And I'll stop Orochi… and anyone else who threatens this world."
Miyu's lips pressed into a thin line. "It won't be easy. You are stepping onto a path where every choice is measured in lives, and every misstep could be fatal. But… perhaps you are the only one who can tip the scales in our favor."
A sudden tremor shook the chamber. Outside, the Academy still smoldered. Somewhere in the distance, a chilling roar echoed—a reminder that Orochi no Kyōfu was watching, waiting.
Shinjiru gripped his chains tightly, violet aura flaring with renewed intensity. For the first time, he fully understood the weight of his bloodline, the cost of his father's defiance, and the dangerous potential that lay within him.
The Chaos Arc had escalated, the legacy of Haruto Arakami had been revealed, and Shinjiru's true journey—toward mastery, sacrifice, and becoming the first ninth Elite Himen—had officially begun.