Morning light filtered through the crystalline spires of the Serium Realm, scattering rainbows across the polished stone walkways. The city hummed with life, but the hum was steadier now, grounded—a subtle heartbeat of essence restored after the chaos. Shinjiru moved among the Himen-in-training, his violet-silver aura faint yet steady, guiding their exercises with calm authority.
"Keep your chains tight, control your aura, anticipate your opponent!" Shinjiru instructed, his voice carrying both firmness and patience. Even without full memory, his body and instincts knew how to lead. The students, unaware of the epic battles that had shaped their guide, followed diligently, sensing an unspoken strength that radiated from him.
Kaito walked beside him, emerald aura flickering in perfect harmony with Shinjiru's movements. "You're… different now," Kaito said, a small smirk tugging at his lips. "Not just stronger. There's something… steady. Confident."
Shinjiru nodded. "I know. It's like… even if I can't remember everything, the lessons, the instincts—they're still part of me." His gaze drifted toward the horizon, where the remnants of corrupted rifts had been sealed. "The Serium Realm deserves protection, and I intend to give it everything I've got."
A Quiet Revelation
Later that day, Shinjiru visited the Core Citadel, the seat of the Elite 8, for the first time since his official ascension as the 9th Elite Himen. The halls were imposing, with walls embedded with glowing essence conduits, each pulsing faintly in rhythm with the city's heartbeat. Tensei Raidon awaited him in the central chamber, golden lightning aura crackling faintly around him.
"Shinjiru Arakami," Tensei intoned, voice deep and deliberate. "You have endured chaos, claimed victory, and embraced leadership beyond your years. But now comes the true test—not of combat, but of legacy."
Shinjiru approached, chains coiling lightly around his arms. "Legacy?" he asked. "I… understand that I am different, that my blood is unique, but I want to protect this realm, the humans, and the Himen equally. I don't need to fight to prove myself."
Tensei's stern expression softened slightly. "Correct. Strength is not only measured in power, but in wisdom, in restraint, and in knowing what must be done when no one else can decide. Your father—Haruto Arakami—knew this. And you, as the first 9th Elite, must ensure that his sacrifice does not fade into memory."
A shard of violet light glimmered faintly on the floor between them—the same one Shinjiru had seen at home, the subtle echo of his hybrid essence. Even without memory, the shard hummed, connecting him to the lineage that had created him.
The First Mission
A message arrived from Miyu Kage: minor essence disturbances were reported near the outskirts of the Boneyard. While the city remained stable, residual corrupted pockets threatened to resurge. Shinjiru, now fully recognized by the Elite 8, assembled a team of Himen and volunteers to investigate.
The journey was quiet at first. Shinjiru's instincts guided them around unstable zones, predicting where corrupted essence might flare. He moved with an ease that suggested deep training, his chains subtly scanning for threats. Kaito's emerald aura flared with each detected anomaly, warning the team of potential dangers.
Arriving at the site, the remnants of a collapsed Essence Rift glimmered ominously, black-red veins streaking through the ground. Shinjiru stepped forward, violet-silver aura intensifying. His body responded automatically, chains extending and looping to create protective barriers for the approaching team.
"Spread out," he instructed, voice calm but commanding. "We secure the rift and neutralize any residual corruption. Remember, this is about containment, not destruction. Preserve the balance."
Even without memory, Shinjiru's instincts reflected lessons learned from Orochi, the Chaos Arc, and the Succession Games. His aura pulsed in a measured rhythm, weaving chains in patterns that allowed movement, defense, and precise strikes simultaneously.
Confronting Shadows
As the team worked, a subtle disturbance emerged from the far side of the rift. Essence shimmered unnaturally, and shadows shifted against the crumbling walls. Shinjiru stepped forward, chains snapping into formation automatically, eyes narrowing.
From the shadows emerged remnants of Ranko Hoshi's ideology—Himen who had refused to reconcile with the Elite 8, still seeking power through dangerous manipulation of essence. Their auras were unstable, flickering like broken lights.
"Shinjiru Arakami," one hissed, voice dripping with malice. "You've grown… but do you understand what we've fought for? The rules that bind you… the restraint that weakens you?"
Shinjiru's aura flared, violet-silver chains forming defensive spirals. "Rules exist to protect, not to dominate," he said firmly. "You endanger everyone, and I won't allow that."
The clash was brief but intense. Shinjiru's instincts guided him through offensive strikes, precision chains snapping to disarm and incapacitate rather than kill. Kaito's support was flawless, emerald chains weaving in harmony with violet-silver. The rebels, unprepared for such combined skill, were forced to retreat, leaving only whispers of ideology behind.
A Quiet Resolution
After the confrontation, Shinjiru stood over the sealed rift. It pulsed faintly, as though grateful for the containment, while the surrounding city slowly exhaled relief. He looked down at his hands, chains coiling loosely, and then toward the horizon.
"Even without memory, I know… my purpose isn't just to fight," he whispered. "It's to guide, to protect, to ensure balance—between Himen and human, between the past and the future."
Miyu approached, placing a hand gently on his shoulder. "You've grown beyond even the expectations of the Elite 8," she said softly. "But this is only the beginning. The seeds you plant now will shape the future of the Serium Realm—and perhaps, one day, the human world as well."
Shinjiru's gaze drifted to the violet shard in his pocket, its faint glow syncing with his aura. Though he could not recall everything, the essence of his past—the sacrifices, the lessons, the battles—remained. He was no longer just a boy; he was the bridge, the first 9th Elite Himen, a living symbol of hope, balance, and possibility.