Back in the Ember Isles, the air was calm, almost too calm.
Mr. Fushi took a slow sip of his coffee, the warmth spreading through his chest. "Tastes good…" he muttered quietly. The soft clink of the cup echoed in the quiet room as he flipped a page of the old book resting on his lap.
"Paul Ereuos… he was actually a pretty good man…"
His eyes moved slowly across the faded text, memories and knowledge blending together.
"He was kind. Respectful. A good man. He reached his full potential in that era… millions of years ago."
He paused, letting the thought settle.
"Back then, Reikosha Academy wasn't called Reikosha… it was Yami no Senshi… the Dark Warriors."
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"It was built… by me."
The room fell silent.
"After I found Griffin… abandoned in the trash…" His voice softened slightly. "Years passed… and about 300 years ago, he changed the name to Reikosha Academy."
He flipped another page.
"Paul Ereuos' sword is still there… preserved in the collection."
He leaned back slightly in his wheelchair, eyes narrowing.
"It's been years… and only six students have ever become Divine Warriors…"
"The second was Marvello Alexander…"
The name lingered in the air.
"A powerful fighter… no weapon… just pure strength. Strong enough to break the entire world… speed faster than light…"
His fingers tapped lightly on the book.
"He reached his peak when a Demon Warrior appeared. Even from a great distance… he killed it with a single light force."
Silence.
"But in the end… he couldn't handle the pain."
Mr. Fushi's expression didn't change, but his tone grew heavier.
"He lost everything. His wife… his two daughters… his two sons…"
A pause.
"So he chose to follow them."
He closed his eyes briefly.
"He took his own life… just to be where their souls were."
The room felt colder.
"But even now… people still love Paul Ereuos more."
He opened his eyes again.
"He's the most popular Divine Warrior in history."
His gaze sharpened.
"He mastered all energy."
"His Reikou… wasn't normal enhancement. It amplified everything, durability, speed, agility, strength, beyond limits."
"His Yami… a powerful burst of dark energy fused into his golden sword."
"He was the greatest swordsman this world has ever seen."
"And his Hikari…" Mr. Fushi's lips curled slightly. "That was his speed."
"He could react… before even a god could rewrite reality."
"He stopped a god."
Mr. Fushi yawned lazily, closing the book halfway. He gently pushed his wheelchair forward, the soft rolling sound echoing across the floor as he moved toward the kitchen.
"Incredible…" he muttered. "Now let's see… how strong this new generation of Divine Warriors really are… and whether they can carry that title."
Morning light stretched across the academy grounds.
Shougo stood quietly, holding a cup of coffee made by Judas. He took a slow sip, staring blankly ahead, lost in thought.
"You look like you haven't slept," Tine said, crossing her arms. "Why don't you just rest?"
Shougo blinked, snapping back to reality. He shook his head slightly. "I'm fine… Tine. I just… can't stop thinking about what happened two days ago."
Judas glanced at him, concern clear in her eyes.
Suddenly...
A loud, chaotic laugh echoed from outside.
Judas' eyes sharpened. Without hesitation, she rushed out.
The yard was filled with students, all watching in shock.
At the center, Lady Chõko.
She stand confidently with her hand sign, slicing through trees like paper. Wood shattered, trunks split clean in half, and the forest around the academy collapsed piece by piece.
Judas' jaw dropped.
"What the?!"
She dashed forward instantly.
Before she could react, BOOM!
Her kick slammed into her side, sending a shockwave through the air.
"HEY! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!" she shouted.
Lady Chõko grunted, sliding back slightly. "Hey! That hurt, young lady!" she snapped. "Besides, those trees were disturbing!"
"So what?!" Judas snapped back. "They protect the academy!"
She turned toward the students. "All of you! back to your classrooms! NOW!"
Grimreach, Market District
The atmosphere here was completely different.
Crowds filled the narrow streets. Vendors shouted, fruits stacked in colorful piles, food sizzling on open grills. The smell of spices and smoke filled the air.
Kairo stumbled slightly as he walked through the crowd.
Beside him, Tyouro casually grabbed an onigiri from a stall.
"Hey, Kairo!" he grinned, holding it up proudly. "I got one! And you? Nothing!"
He laughed loudly.
Kairo glared at him. "Are you serious? You just took that without paying!"
"I got it for free," Tyouro replied, taking a big bite.
Grimreach, Plaza
Far from the market, Kimimaru moved at a steady pace, scanning everything around him.
His eyes shifted rapidly, analyzing every detail.
Thanks to Ishika.
If she entered your body, everything changed.
She could reinforce your defenses, grant new abilities, even poison your soul or control your body, just like she did to Himiko, slowing her regeneration.
Kimimaru's grip tightened slightly.
He stayed alert.
Small Village, Yura
High above, branches swayed as Yura leapt from tree to tree.
Her movements were sharp and precise, barely making a sound as she landed.
She stopped, crouching on a branch, eyes scanning the distance.
"Dark blue eyes… black cloak…" she murmured.
"Good hairstyle… carries the 'Chõko Throne' symbol…"
Her gaze hardened.
Back to Ember Isles
Mr. Fushi groaned slightly, rolling his wheelchair back toward another shelf.
"Damn it… what is this…"
He grabbed a dusty book, coughing lightly as dust filled the air. A cockroach scurried away across the floor.
"Alright… Marvello Alexander…"
He flipped the page.
"He didn't just sacrifice himself… he helped defeat a god."
"The god is immortal… even if defeated, it retreats, but it always returns."
He leaned forward slightly.
"Paul Ereuos' golden sword…"
"A single slash… capable of cutting through the entire world… even from Reikosha."
"The attack travels beyond the world itself…"
"It ignores durability. Bypasses defense."
"It was created… to fight gods."
His eyes narrowed.
"With his absolute energy boost, Paul could enhance every attribute… survive divine attacks… and continue fighting."
"That battle… between Paul and the god…"
"…was one of the longest and most legendary fights in history."
Mr. Fushi took another sip of his coffee before closing the book.
He turned his wheelchair and moved toward a massive door at the end of the room.
The wheels echoed as he approached.
Slowly...
He pushed it open.
CREAAAAK…
Inside…
Countless weapons. Artifacts. Unknown items filled the massive space, glowing faintly in the dim light.
A hidden arsenal.
"…Good," he muttered.
"With this… I can build anything I need."
"Even a counter."