The fog in the battlefield thickened.
Broken stone floated midair around Daichi Iwamoto, earth energy pulsing violently from his body. The ground beneath his feet cracked as if it feared him.
Across from him stood Koi Ren—breathing heavy, body covered in bruises, hands gripping Ko and Ru.
Daichi smirked.
"So you actually made it this far."
Koi said nothing.
"You know," Daichi continued, rolling his shoulders, "people like you disgust me. No element. No talent. Yet you keep standing where you don't belong."
The earth surged forward.
Koi vs Daichi – The Clash
Daichi slammed his fist into the ground.
A wall of stone erupted toward Koi.
Koi dashed sideways, barely escaping as rock exploded behind him. He slid across the dirt, pain shooting through his legs.
"Too slow!" Daichi shouted.
Stone spikes burst from below.
Koi leaped—his muscles screaming—and flipped midair, landing hard. Blood dripped from his lip.
Don't panic…
Read him…
Daichi charged, coating his arms in hardened rock and swinging with monstrous force.
Koi crossed his blades—
BOOM!
The impact launched him backward. He rolled, barely stopping himself from crashing into a pillar.
Students watching from afar gasped.
"Is he insane?" someone whispered.
"He's fighting Daichi head-on!"
Turning Point
Daichi laughed.
"This is why you'll never be chosen!"
He raised both arms.
The arena shook.
Massive stone fists formed above Koi, ready to crush him.
Koi closed his eyes.
Watashi's voice echoed in his mind:
"Strength without control is weakness."
Koi opened his eyes.
At the last second, he sprinted toward Daichi.
The stone fists crashed behind him.
Daichi's eyes widened.
"What—?!"
Koi ducked under a punch, sliced upward—not to kill, but to disarm. Ko struck Daichi's wrist; Ru followed, slashing the earth armor apart.
Cracks spread across Daichi's body.
Koi spun, slammed the hilt of his blade into Daichi's chest—
—and stopped his blade inches from Daichi's throat.
Silence.
Daichi froze, shaking.
Mercy
Koi's arms trembled. He could end it.
But he lowered his blades.
"You're not worth it," Koi said quietly.
"You're a waste of my time."
Daichi collapsed to his knees, breath broken, pride shattered.
Koi turned his back and walked away.
The Winners of the Trial
Hours later, the battlefield calmed.
Aearis Valen stood before the exhausted students.
"The trial is over," he said, wind rustling through the arena.
He raised his hand, announcing the students who advanced:
First-Year Students: Koi Ren, Aqua Mizuno, Rin Ketsuki
Second-Year Students: Daichi Iwamoto, Raide Shinkai, Seira Inoche
Third-Year Students: Moricha Kodana, Hikari Amane, Dotsu Kitso
Aearis' eyes swept the crowd.
"These nine students will receive special training under my guidance. Their potential is extraordinary. They are the future defenders of Himmel."
Koi's chest swelled. He had achieved his goal, survived the trial, and made it into the chosen nine.
A smile broke across his face.
The FIRE
He turned to head home, excitement bubbling in his chest.
But then…
Smoke.
The smell hit him instantly.
Koi froze.
His eyes widened.
His house—burning.
Flames consumed the roof. Ash drifted like snow around him.
And on the ground… a motionless figure lay sprawled in the shadows.
Koi's heart stopped.
"NO—!"
He ran forward, adrenaline and fear driving him.
Everything he had fought for, every victory, every scar… suddenly felt meaningless.
The world seemed to crumble around him.