Shisui stepped forward.
"Fall back," he said quietly.
There was something in his tone that carried weight far beyond volume.
Karma's gaze shifted to him. For once, he didn't joke.
"…Don't take too long," Karma said softly.
Shisui did not answer.
He closed his eyes.
And for a single, fragile second—
Everything went still.
Awakening
Darkness gathered at his feet.
Not shadow from light— but shadow from within.
It flowed upward like ink poured into clear water.
The temperature dropped.
Three distant crow cries echoed across the ruins.
Caw.
Caw.
Caw.
Behind him, something enormous began to take shape.
A silhouette first— then wings.
Massive.
Elegant.
Ancient.
A three-legged crow formed from black spiritual flame, its wings stretching wide enough to eclipse broken towers.
Feathers shimmered like liquid night. Edges dissolving into smoke.
Its eyes—
Crimson.
Deep.
Watching.
"Yatagarasu…" Lanruo breathed.
The Spirit-Grade Ape faltered mid-charge.
Its instincts screamed.
The predator sensed something above Predator.
Shisui opened his eyes.
They glowed faint red.
The transformation was subtle—no armor, no monstrous mutation.
Just presence.
Shadow-feathers circled him slowly.
The battlefield tilted.
The ape roared in defiance and leapt.
Its massive fists came down like falling boulders.
Shisui moved.
Not fast.
Not visibly.
He simply wasn't there anymore.
The fists smashed into stone—
BOOOOOOM.
The courtyard cratered inward.
But Shisui stood several meters away.
Untouched.
Afterimages of black crows dissolved around him.
The ape spun, confused.
Its eyes locked onto one Shisui.
It charged again.
That Shisui dissolved into feathers.
Behind it—
"Too loud," came a calm voice.
A single shadow-feather extended from Shisui's fingertips.
He stepped forward and slashed.
The blade cut through fur.
Through spirit layer.
Through muscle.
Blood sprayed across shattered stone.
The ape howled in fury.
It lashed backward blindly—
The strike hit nothing.
Because there were five Shisui's now.
All silent.
All watching.
Karasu Gen'ei.
Perception fractured.
The ape struck left— hit air.
Struck right— feathers.
The real Shisui slipped between its attacks like moonlight between branches.
No wasted motion.
Every step precise.
The ape gathered spirit energy into its chest.
White light blazed.
It inhaled—
Then released a compressed roar.
The shockwave blasted outward in a dome of destruction.
Stone pillars shattered. Dust swallowed the battlefield.
Students shielded their faces.
Chen Linjian's heart tightened.
"Captain—"
The dust thinned.
A massive spectral wing stood curved before Shisui.
It dissolved slowly into black motes.
He hadn't moved an inch.
The ape's breathing grew heavier.
Its movements slightly slower now.
Spirit pressure unstable.
Shisui tilted his head slightly.
Then he disappeared again.
Tsukikage Shunshin.
This time, he did not leave simple afterimages.
A full flock of shadow crows burst outward, spiraling around the ape in chaotic arcs.
Its vision shattered.
Its senses overloaded.
Every direction carried movement.
Every shadow felt like a threat.
For the first time—
It hesitated.
And hesitation, against Shisui, was fatal.
He appeared directly before its chest.
Crimson eyes meeting crimson eyes.
The air thickened.
Yatagarasu Judgment.
The ape felt its limbs grow heavy.
Not bound.
Not frozen.
Just… slower.
Its perception dulled.
Time seemed to stretch.
Shisui raised his palm.
Shadow condensed into a thin, crescent blade.
Gekkō Zetsu.
He stepped in.
One precise thrust.
The blade pierced the spirit layer and struck the core beneath the sternum.
CRACK.
The sound was small.
But final.
The ape's body convulsed.
Spirit energy erupted outward in a silent shockwave.
Dust spiraled into the sky.
Then—
The beast staggered back.
One step.
Two.
And collapsed.
THUD.
Silence flooded the ruined academy grounds.
The black flames around Shisui receded slowly.
The enormous Yatagarasu faded into moonlit fragments before dissolving completely.
His eyes returned to their normal shade.
Breathing steady.
Pulse calm.
Not a scratch on him.
Not even disordered clothing.
Behind him, the students stared.
"…He defeated a Spirit Grade alone…"
Shen Yue stood frozen.
Lanruo's gaze shimmered with awe.
Ziyun exhaled slowly, tension draining from her shoulders.
Chen Linjian finally released a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
Relief.
Genuine relief.
Because that was not brute strength.
That was mastery.
Karma stepped forward at last, hands behind his head again.
"…See?" he said lightly.
"That's why I don't challenge him when he's serious."
The corpse of the white-furred ape lay motionless in the shattered courtyard, its massive body half-buried in broken stone.
Dust drifted slowly through the air.
For a few fragile seconds, the only sound was wind passing through cracked archways.
Shisui stood where the battle had ended.
The last traces of black spiritual flame faded from around him. The silhouette of Yatagarasu Tsukikage dissolved fully into shadow, leaving only a faint chill behind.
He did not relax.
He did not even look at the fallen beast.
His gaze shifted—past it.
Toward the deeper ruins.
Chen Linjian stepped forward, relief evident in his posture.
"That was—"
"Lin."
Shisui's voice cut through the moment.
It was different now.
No gentleness. No softness.
Sharp.
Chen immediately straightened.
"Yes?"
Shisui's eyes remained fixed on the distant broken towers.
"Stay alert."
The air tightened.
"I sensed something while fighting."
His voice lowered slightly.
"There are two more Spirit-Grade demon beasts."
Silence fell.
"…What?" Shen Yue breathed.
Shisui continued calmly, but his tone carried weight.
"They're not wandering."
A pause.
"They're hiding."
The wind seemed to stop entirely.
Lanruo's expression lost all warmth.
Ziyun's fingers tightened slightly around her weapon.
Chen Linjian's relief vanished.
"Location?" he asked steadily.
Shisui narrowed his eyes.
"One to the north—elevated position. Likely watching."
"Another… below ground. Its spirit fluctuations are suppressed."
That meant intelligence.
That meant strategy.
Karma slowly exhaled through his nose.
"…So this one wasn't alone."
Shisui shook his head faintly.
"No."
The broken city no longer felt abandoned.
It felt observed.
The students began shifting nervously.
"Three Spirit Grades…?"
"We can't handle that…"
Chen Linjian's voice hardened.
"Silence."
The formation tightened instinctively.
Shisui's gaze moved once across the team.
"Do not scatter."
His eyes flicked briefly toward Karma.
"If they move, they will aim for the weaker ranks first."
Karma gave a faint grin—but there was no humor in it now.
"Then they'll have to get through us."
Shisui didn't respond.
He stepped forward slowly, eyes still scanning the ruined skyline.
"They haven't attacked," he murmured.
"They're waiting."
"For what?" Lanruo asked quietly.
Shisui's gaze darkened slightly.
"…For us to make a mistake."
The forest clearing was no longer silent.
Broken bodies of Giant Blue-Armed Apes lay scattered across the grass. Blood soaked into the soil in dark streaks. Leaves drifted slowly downward through the tense air.
Nie Li crouched behind the roots of a massive tree, crossbow raised.
Pa.
Pa.
Two bolts flew into the treeline.
"Hoo! Hoo!"
An ape staggered back, clutching its side.
Across the clearing, Chen Linjian moved with clean precision, blade flashing as he cut down another wounded beast.
"That was just a probe," Nie Li muttered under his breath, eyes sharp. "I guess the big one is going to attack next."
His expression tightened.
"This isn't right… I never heard my father mention encountering a Spirit-Grade demon beast here…"
He inhaled sharply.
"Lure it toward the fortress! We can use the terrain to fight the beast!"
"Okay!" several voices answered at once.
Chen Linjian pivoted smoothly, slashing down an ape that leapt from above.
"Move toward the ruins! Stay together!"
Suddenly—
A blur of white crashed through the trees.
"Stop, you stinky monkey!" one of the students shouted as he swung wildly.
Shua—
The Spirit-Grade white ape barreled forward, smashing aside smaller apes as if they were insects.
Its red eyes burned with intelligence.
Chen Linjian stepped forward to intercept—
BOOM!
The ape's massive arm collided with his blade.
The impact detonated the air.
Chen was thrown backward violently, skidding across grass and dirt.
"Ah Young master!" someone yelled as another student was swept aside.
The ape roared again and slammed its fists down.
BOOOOM.
The ground fractured, shockwaves racing outward.
Nie Li steadied himself behind the tree roots, jaw tight.
"Bastard…"
He loosed another bolt—
Pa!
The arrow struck the beast's side but only slowed it slightly.
It twisted its body unnaturally mid-charge.
Shuv—
It launched itself upward into the canopy.
Leaves exploded as branches snapped.
ROAR!!
The sound shook the entire forest.
Nie Li's hands trembled for half a second before he steadied himself.
Several Bronze-Rank students stumbled backward.
"It seems to be cautious of my arrows!" Nie Li called out. "Don't panic, everyone!"
The white ape perched high on a branch and let out a long, drawn-out call.
"Hoo! Hoo!"
Nie Li's eyes widened.
"Wait… it's calling its companions!"
More distant howls answered.
The forest shifted.
Chen Linjian wiped blood from the corner of his mouth and stood up, eyes burning.
"No. Our group is too obvious. It's better to split up!"
He turned sharply.
"Split into six groups! Gather at the fortress! Move!"
Students immediately obeyed, dragging the injured and scattering into planned routes.
Chen grabbed one fallen teammate and shoved him toward cover.
"Go!"
The forest erupted into chaos as the team dispersed
The massive Spirit-Grade beast bore down on Chen Linjian like a collapsing mountain.
Its roar tore through the forest canopy.
Chen braced himself—
And then—
A blur of black cut across his vision.
Shuu—
The beast's claw stopped inches from Chen's face.
A blade intercepted it.
Sparks erupted.
Shisui stood between them.
Calm.
Unmoving.
The crimson eye of the demon beast locked onto him.
For a moment, neither moved.
Then—
Shisui spoke quietly.
"Karma."
Karma, who had just pivoted mid-step to rush back, paused.
Shisui didn't look at him.
"Go."
The single word was firm.
"I'll take care of this one."
The beast snarled, muscles tightening.
"Join the others. Regroup at the fortress."
Karma studied him for a brief second.
"…Don't take too long," Karma replied lightly, though his eyes were sharp. "I'll save some for you."
Shisui gave the faintest exhale.
"I'll join you later."
Another roar interrupted them as the beast tried to overpower the blade lock.
The ground cracked beneath Shisui's feet.
Lanruo, a short distance away, gripped her weapon tightly.
"Shisui!" she called out, worr in her voice. "Come back safely!"
For a brief second—
His expression softened.
He turned his head just slightly.
"Yes."
Simple.
Certain.
"I will."
Then his gaze returned to the demon beast.
The air around him darkened subtly.
The forest stilled again.
Karma gave one last look before turning sharply.
"Move!" he ordered the others.
Leaves scattered as the squad retreated deeper into the forest toward the fortress ruins.
Behind them—
The Spirit-Grade beast roared and lunged.
And Shisui stepped forward alone to meet it.