A faint smile crept across Oza's face before slowly twisting into something darker.
"If I can make my World stronger..." he muttered to himself, his eyes fixed on the distant horizon. "If Black Sea can one day swallow the entire planet..."
A low chuckle escaped his lips.
"Then I'll finally have peace."
The wind swept through his dark hair as his gaze drifted toward the sky.
"A quiet world. No noise. No people. Just me."
His smile widened slightly.
"And that will be true freedom."
For years, Oza had searched for a way to surpass Shougo. He had considered countless plans, countless methods, but all of them ended the same way.
Failure.
Shougo's Passive Intangibility was nearly impossible to bypass.
And his Forbidden Energy made him even more terrifying.
That was why Oza sought out the one man who might possess an answer.
Mr. Fushi.
Meanwhile, deep within the forest, Reji could barely remain standing.
His arms trembled.
His legs felt numb.
Every muscle in his body screamed from exhaustion.
Finally, he collapsed onto the grass.
"Master..." he whispered weakly, tears gathering in his eyes. "Please... let me rest."
His breathing became uneven.
"I just want to see my family..."
His voice cracked.
"My home... my pet... please..."
Oza looked down at him in silence.
Then he spoke.
"Reji."
The boy slowly raised his head.
"Your family is gone."
For a moment, the world seemed to stop.
"The Royal Guards of the Sacred Crown destroyed Astral Virel City."
Reji froze.
His face instantly lost all color.
"You're lying..."
His voice was barely audible.
"My father is a hero..."
His trembling hands tightened against the grass.
"I'm sure he's alive."
Without responding, Oza walked toward a small campfire nearby where a chicken was roasting above the flames.
He removed it and handed it to Reji.
"Eat."
Reji stared at it blankly.
"It's your favorite food."
Slowly, he accepted it.
But then something felt wrong.
His eyes widened.
His hands began to shake.
"Master..."
He looked up.
"Where did you get this chicken?"
Oza calmly sat down beside the fire.
"Outside your house."
The roasted chicken slipped from Reji's hands and fell into the dirt.
His body trembled violently.
"No..."
The realization struck him like a blade.
His eyes filled with horror.
"Who are you?!"
He staggered backward.
"What did you do to my family?!"
"My house?!"
Oza remained calm.
"I did nothing."
His expression never changed.
"Now continue training."
He stood up.
"You still haven't awakened your Advanced Energy."
Then he simply walked away.
Leaving Reji alone.
Crying.
Broken.
Traumatized.
Later that day, Oza traveled to the Ember Isles.
There, overlooking the sea, sat an old man in a wheelchair.
Books rested upon his lap while a cup of coffee steamed beside him.
Mr. Fushi.
The old master didn't even look up as Oza approached.
"Mr. Fushi."
Oza stopped before him.
"I'm here for information."
Fushi turned a page.
"About what?"
"Shougo."
The old man sighed.
Oza continued.
"I need an item. An ability. Anything that can bypass his Intangibility and defeat his Forbidden Energy."
At last, Fushi looked up.
Then he laughed.
A strange, almost disappointed laugh.
"You're an idiot, Oza."
Oza's jaw tightened.
Fushi closed his book.
"The only thing capable of bypassing Shougo's Intangibility is Origin Anchor."
Silence followed.
"But I won't give it to you."
His eyes became cold.
"And I already know what you're planning."
The air grew tense.
For several seconds neither spoke.
Finally, Oza smiled.
A smile that hid his irritation.
"You're pathetic, Mr. Fushi."
His voice remained calm.
"No wonder you've become such a boring master."
Fushi's expression didn't change.
"Then leave."
His gaze returned to the book.
"You're wasting my time."
Back in Astral Virel City, Reji finally returned home.
Or rather...
What remained of it.
The city that once overflowed with life now stood silent.
Broken buildings.
Burned streets.
Dust.
Ash.
The wind carried the scent of smoke through the empty ruins.
Reji wandered through the destruction.
His eyes searched desperately.
"Mama!"
No answer.
"Papa!"
Only silence.
"Kenji!"
His voice echoed through the ruined streets.
Nothing answered him.
The boy continued running.
Searching.
Hoping.
Praying.
But there was nobody left.
Eventually his legs gave out.
He collapsed onto his knees.
The kusarigama rested beside him.
His hands shook.
Tears streamed down his face.
"I thought..."
His voice cracked.
"I thought I was the happiest person in the world..."
The memories returned.
His birthday.
His dreams.
His family smiling at him.
The future he imagined.
All of it.
Gone.
"I wanted to save the world..."
He lowered his head.
"I wanted them to see me become a hero..."
His fists clenched.
"But why?!"
The scream echoed across the empty city.
"WHY?!"
His shoulders trembled violently.
"I'm stupid..."
He sobbed.
"I failed..."
The tears wouldn't stop.
"I just wanted to be happy..."
Silence answered him.
The wind passed through the ruined city.
For the first time in his life, Reji felt truly alone.
Slowly, he looked down at the kusarigama resting beside him.
His expression became empty.
Quiet.
Numb.
Then he closed his eyes.
Back in the present day, within Grimreach, Tyouro sat atop a large rock, sweat running down his face after the previous mission.
Beside him, Kairo stared toward the sky.
His eyes were unusually serious.
Starting today...
His fists slowly tightened.
I won't be useless anymore.
I'll find my own motivation.
Nearby, Kimimaru stood with his arms crossed.
"Tsk."
He clicked his tongue.
"Eru is surprisingly strong."
His brows furrowed.
"I honestly thought he was weak."
A small figure suddenly emerged from his body.
Ishika.
She stretched before grinning mischievously.
"Hey, Maru. You look bored."
She floated beside him.
"Should we hang out?"
Kimimaru rolled his eyes.
"Are you stupid?"
"We're literally in the middle of a mission."
Tyouro laughed loudly.
"Then hang out with me instead."
He smirked.
Ishika giggled.
"Oh my God, you're hilarious."
She pointed toward Kimimaru.
"But Maru would get jealous."
Kimimaru's eyebrow twitched.
"Shut up."
He turned away.
"You don't know anything about me."
Yura watched the interaction before shaking her head.
"Tyouro, you're actually annoying."
"So what?"
He laughed.
"At least I'm entertaining."
Yura sighed.
Unfortunately, she couldn't argue with that.
A moment later, she noticed two familiar figures approaching.
Shougo.
And Lady Chōko.
Shougo calmly stopped before the students.
"Your first mission was a disaster."
Everyone immediately became quiet.
"You ignored instructions."
His gaze swept across the group.
"And you failed to follow several rules."
Kairo immediately pointed at Tyouro.
"It's his fault."
"You too."
"What?!"
Lady Chōko burst into laughter.
"Yayayayaya!"
She clapped excitedly.
"It's good to see all of you again!"
Then she pointed directly at Kairo.
"And yes, I can teach you new techniques."
Kairo's eyes lit up instantly.
"Really?!"
"Of course."
The students laughed while the tension slowly disappeared.
"It's honestly surprising how powerful Shougo became."
He took another sip of coffee.
"His Intangibility alone is nearly impossible to bypass."
The old master closed his eyes.
"And his Forbidden Energy..."
A small sigh escaped him.
"Unlike Oza, he doesn't possess a World."
The wind rustled the pages of his book.
"Instead..."
His eyes slowly opened.
"He possesses something far more terrifying."
A long silence followed.
Then Fushi spoke three words.
"Automatic Win."