~~~March 31, 2169~~
[9:01pm]
Kirashi woke up with a start.
Before him, Itoshi stood alone, facing a Seele that had already regenerated half of its monstrous body. Itoshi fought fiercely, The beast wielding only his two massive hands against the blue flame.
"Oi! You okay?!"
Kirashi's eyes widened in shock and relief.
"W-Windgott-sama..."
Suddenly, his gaze caught something unusual—an envelope, ablaze with fire, hurtling through the air directly toward him.
[8:48pm]
"You're kidding! He's out!"
The Seele's left hand fully regenerated, massive and menacing. Itoshi fought on tirelessly, his powerful fists blocking and striking as he shielded Kirashi at the same time.
"Damn it! I need water!"
He paused,
"WHY DID I LEAVE RYUJIN'S SPEAR!!!"
The flames from the burning envelope spread, licking higher among the dry trees. The smoke thickened, making each breath heavier and more difficult.
"Kirashi! Wake up!!"
[Kirashis Mind]
I can hear you. Itoshi. Even if I woke up. There's nothing I can do.
"Kirashi!!!"
He called out to me..
I'm... Sorry..
Then, when all hope is lost- sudden gust of wind blew behind me..
[Itoshi against The Seele]
As Itoshi struggled to catch his breath, he paused for a brief moment, gasping for air. The Seele had already fully grown its right hand. Using its newly formed limbs, the creature moved swiftly, one hand propelling itself while the other prepared to strike. It paused, locking eyes with Itoshi.
Then, its gaze shifted—directly to Kirashi.
Itoshi's eyes snapped wide open.
"Hey! Hey! Hey! What are you doing?!"
Without hesitation, the Seele bolted toward Kirashi, using both arms to move with terrifying speed.
Itoshi lunged after it, but the creature was faster. It slammed its massive hand down, swatting Kirashi away like a ragdoll.
Kirashi flew through the air, landing in a safe spot away from the spreading flames. But the impact tore Ryujin's coat—the one Kirashi treasured.
"The letter!"
The ripped coat exposed the letter, and the flames licking from the burning Seele quickly caught it on fire.
[Kirashis Memory]
The young Kirashi finally discovered the elemental power he possessed—it was wind.
A gentle distortion shimmered just above his palm, twisting and rippling the air as if the atmosphere itself were bending to his will.
"Yes!!"
Kirashi cheered, his eyes dancing with the refracted light.
"Nice!"
Windgott bellowed, his rough face breaking into a wide grin.
They both jumped in joy, their laughter echoing through the quiet mountain air, a rare moment of pure triumph in a world of shadows.
"Hey! Hey! Can you teach me more?!"
Young Kirashi asked, his exhaustion completely forgotten.
"Of course. Luckily, you're also wind. Or else..."
"Or else??"
"Well, I wouldn't be able to teach you anything,"
Windgott admitted, shrugging with a dry chuckle.
They shared a smile and laughed together, the bond between master and student sealing in that moment.
"You've still got a long way to go, kid."
In the present, as Kirashi's boots pounded against the forest floor, his mind drifted through the haze of those years—training all day under Windgott's watchful eye until his muscles screamed, then hunting the few lingering Seele at dusk to sharpen his instincts.
Windgott always made sure Kirashi got enough rest, though there were many nights Kirashi suspected his master was faking sleep just to keep watch.
"I always knew you lied to me about taking a rest,"
Kirashi thought, a faint, bitter smile touching his lips.
Suddenly, a whisper brushed against his ear, cold as the mountain mist.
"Wake up."
Kirashi spun around, heart pounding against his ribs. His hand flew to his side, his fingers ready to call the wind, but the forest behind him was empty. Only the rustle of the leaves answered him.
[9:03pm]
"The letter!!"
Kirashi struggled to stand, his body aching. The letter fluttered just out of reach, caught in the smoky breeze.
Summoning every ounce of control, he willed the wind to gently guide it back—careful not to fan the flames further.
"Kirashi! Read it!"
Itoshi shouted.
The Seele screeched, a terrifying sound that echoed through the cold night.
"You're not giving me any time, are you?!"
Itoshi grunted in frustration.
The full moon broke through the clouds, casting a pale light on the letter's paper. Kirashi's eyes scanned the message, the words becoming clear in the stillness.
Meanwhile, the Seele's body fully regenerated, its form snapping back to monstrous completion.
"Out of time! Kirashi!"
The creature's speed returned, making Itoshi struggle to keep up. With a powerful strike, the Seele sent Itoshi flying.
The creature turned to Kirashi, charging forward and grabbing his body—only to find its hands passing through empty air.
"Fly away."
An afterimage flickered—an illusion formed by Kirashi bending the moonlight with his wind powers. He disappeared behind a nearby hill, compressing wind into his palm.
When the Seele reached the spot, Kirashi released the concentrated wind in a violent blast.
A nearby fishing harbor's residents would later describe it as: "a tornado traveling sideways."
The impact hurled the Seele far down toward the sea. The flaming creature screeched in agony as it was slowly consumed by the water.
Kirashi allowed himself a small smile.
"It's... done."
To Kirashi, Kara, and Itoshi, the past hour had felt endless.
UWDS reinforcements arrived swiftly, rescuing Ryujin and ferrying him to a café turned makeshift clinic. Soon, they found Ayro and the others, gathering all survivors together.
The private doctors were stunned at their survival.
Itoshi: (Ten broken ribs, fractured left arm, severe internal bleeding.)
Ryujin: (Head split open, but skull intact.)
Ayro: (Similar injuries; survival owed to landing on the fish below.)
Kara: (Both arms broken, two ribs fractured.)
Kirashi: (Every rib broken, fractured skull, and fractures in both arms and legs.)
The doctors were baffled—how had they survived such trauma?
~~~The 7 silhouettes~~~
The seven thrones glowed with the cold light of dozens of monitors, casting long, shifting shadows across the balcony. Below, the hum of massive servers and the frantic clicking of the computer managers filled the air, but on the upper level, the atmosphere was thick with calculated observation.
The 6th Silhouette leaned back, their fingers steepled.
"Interesting. They actually survived the highest class of Seele the rookies have seen so far."
"Told you that flame user would pull something off,"
The 3rd Silhouette countered, a hint of smugness in their voice.
The 4th Silhouette shook his head, looking at a data feed.
"No, no—that was the wind user."
"You guys really should stop arguing like children,"
The 7th Silhouette interrupted. The voice was cold and sharp, cutting through the bickering with the authority of a leader.
The 5th Silhouette clicked their tongue in annoyance.
"Tsk. I still think that flame guy's bad news... but what they did was definitely impressive."
"That kid, Ryujin, is finally finding people he can trust,"
Silhouette 1 noted, leaning forward to watch the red-tinted vitals of the squad members flickering on the main screen.
"Looks like another squad is rising through the ranks,"
Silhouette 2 observed.
The 3rd Silhouette let out a dry, humorless chuckle.
"Yeah, squads climbing the ranks are multiplying fast these days."
"Wonder how those W.E.S.C.U. folks will react. Haha,"
Silhouette 4 added, their eyes fixed on the probability calculations running on the lower floor.
Silhouette 7 stood up, their presence blotting out the light from the monitors.
"Squad Segment 663... interesting."
~~~Cape Hedo Cafe~~~
[April 1, 2169 - 2:30pm]
Ryujin's eyes fluttered open. His entire upper head was wrapped tightly in thick bandages.
"What happened? My head... it hurts."
A gentle voice answered from beside him. It was a nurse.
"You were attacked by a Kolossal Class Seele in the forest."
Ryujin's fist clenched the blanket on his lap, trembling slightly with frustration.
"Damn it! I let my guard down... What about my squad?! Are they okay?"
"They're alive... but three nearly didn't make it. It's a miracle they're still breathing."
"Where are they?"
Ryujin asked, Urgent.
Worried, The nurse suggested:
"You should really get some rest first."
"No!"
The nurse hesitated, then pulled out a letter.
"This came for you. Hachi-san personally delivered it. You should read it."
Ryujin took the letter, his fingers trembling slightly. His eyes scanned the words.
"Something big..."
The nurse nodded.
"Yeah.. Ryujin-kun"
As Ryujin tried to process the message, laughter erupted from the next room.
"HAHAHAHA!"
It was Itoshi.
"Sir! You need to rest!"
Came the voice of the nurse from the other side of the door.
"Look at Kirashi! He looks like a mummy!"
Itoshi's laughter filled the room, his voice raw with amusement. Kirashi sat wrapped head to toe in bandages, glaring at Itoshi with pure annoyance.
Suddenly, Itoshi started coughing violently, choking on his own blood from laughing too hard.
"Hah. Karma's a cruel friend."
Kirashi thought to himself.
The nurse rushed to Itoshi's side.
"Sir!"
Kirashi's eyes crinkled into a smile behind the layers of cloth.
By evening, Ayro and Kara slowly woke. The nurses and doctors stayed with them all month long at the café, dedicated to helping them heal from their wounds.
Ryujin's eyes scanned the letter slowly, each word sinking deep into his mind.
Something big...The weight of those words settled heavily on his chest. This wasn't just another mission update — it felt like a warning, a call to prepare for something far beyond what they had faced so far.
"What could be coming? How much more dangerous can it get?"
His gaze flickered to the bandaged figures nearby — Kirashi, Ayro, Kara — all battered, all barely hanging on.
They had survived a battle no one should have walked away from, but the letter hinted at even darker days ahead.
"We need to get stronger. We have to."
He folded the letter carefully, his jaw tightening. This was a turning point.
Contents of the letter:
"Ryujin, Your squad faced the Kolossal Seele and lived — a feat many could not claim. But this was only the beginning. The threat looming ahead dwarfs all we've battled so far. Squad Segment 663 has caught the attention of many — allies and enemies alike. Your growth has not gone unnoticed. Prepare yourselves. The upcoming trial will test your very limits, and the fate of more than just your squad rests on your shoulders. The cleansing continues.
-Hachi"
Ryujin folded the letter with a heavy breath and glanced back to his squadmates. Their shared scars were a silent reminder of how close they had come to losing everything — but also a symbol of the bond they had forged in fire and wind.
"This is just the start. We'll rise. No matter what."
[Windgotts Letter]
"Yo, Kira. You're probably an adult by the time you find this letter. Have you found anyone yet? How is the home standing? Oh well, the home does not matter anymore. As long as you're ok. The day of you meeting them will someday come, people you can rely on. Lay your head on their shoulder, they're gonna do the same to you. Chase your dreams, you always wanted to take "that" thing down right? Do it. Use all the somewhat harsh trainings I gave to you. Use them all. Sorry I suck at writing letters but, I hope you understand. Also the reason why I'm leaving is for you to find out. I love you son. Take care."
~~~To be Continued~~~