Year 560
Xers had six days left before his leave ended. He was relaxing on an island in Shadowia, finally believing he had found peace. But things were far from going well.
Back in 557, when Nystral obtained the Key of Celestial Powers, he awakened The Comp Evolved. For three years, he had been secretly planning to betray the Kurotsume clan he belonged to.
Year 557, May
Nystral had acquired The Comp Evolved during this time. In the following months, he continued exploring the depths of this ability, anonymously killing several sorcerers along the way to further strengthen himself.
Year 557, November
Nystral formed the Kurogiri unit within Kurotsume, alongside friends he trusted. There were eight members in the team:
Kaizen Ryugetsu, Shigen Kuroya, Renjiro Xankei, Vaiken Tsurogami, Zenkai Yorashu, Xandoru Meikatsu, Toragen Saikuro, Aze Nystral
Each possessed unique abilities, and all were experienced sorcerers
Year 558, February
After forming Kurogiri, Nystral began gathering sorcerers who would support them. Since he operated under the official title of the Kurotsume Representative Council, he used that authority to lead the Kurogiri unit. All eight sorcerers were skilled speakers, allowing them to attract many sorcerers—and even ordinary people—to their side.
Year 558, October
Kurogiri grew more powerful by the month. Four sorcerers not affiliated with Kurotsume joined the clan, and eight more joined from within. But soon after, reports of several important sorcerers being found dead began circulating. No one knew the killer's identity, and the death toll rose each week.Someone had even attempted an assassination on Xers.
Year 559, January
One night, after finishing training and heading home, Xers was confronted by Shigen Kuroya.
Kuroya wielded the "Fireforce" mask, granting him the ability to unleash flames from his sword.
Name: Shigen KuroyaAge: 21 (In 559)Nation: ShadowiaSkills: G-Technic Stage 2, Fireforce
Hidden in the bushes, Kuroya waited for the perfect moment. As Xers passed by—he unleashed a burst of flame.
"Burn!"
With the superior reflexes granted by Gomerai, Xers dodged instantly.
"A-Attempted assassination?!"
"Haha! It would've benefited me more if I killed you in a single strike, but luck isn't on my side tonight!"
"Don't overestimate yourself, dog."
"Empty words…"
"Gomerai!"
Gomerai burst out from underground, weaving left and right with incredible agility. It slammed into Kuroya and sent him flying into a wall. Concrete shattered and dust filled the air.
"Ahh! Hahaha! I think you broke my arm… We're talking about a man who managed to kill Sabre. I need to be more careful."
Kuroya remained hidden within the swirling dust.
"Where is he…? I really need to focus. He could jump out and strike any second."
Suddenly, GQ#41 shot out from the dust. At the same time, flames erupted from Kuroya's direction.
"A-A dual attack…?"
"LET'S SEE YOU DODGE THIS, THEND XERS!"
With Gomerai's assistance, Xers launched himself into the air.
"He knows my name… Whose pawn is this guy?"
After leaping upward, Xers grabbed onto a wall, pushed off with a powerful kick, and launched himself straight toward Kuroya.Their blades clashed—and Xers made the smartest possible move.
"GQ#41!!"
GQ#41 burst from Xers' sword, exploding on contact with Kuroya's blade.The force, combined with Xers' G-Technic level, shattered Kuroya's sword instantly.But GQ#41 didn't stop—it detonated directly on Kuroya's face.
Kuroya flew backward, rolling across the ground before finally stopping. His nose was broken, lip split, blood streaming down his head. His face was nearly unrecognizable. Leaning against a wall, he struggled to breathe.
Xers rushed to him.
"Normally, I'd pity you… but it's obvious you're someone's pawn.I won't forgive you."
Xers hurled himself upward, lifting Kuroya into the air.Still suspended mid-air, Xers slashed him 120 times in five seconds.The cuts weren't deep enough to kill instantly, but they shredded his skin.During this moment, Xers learned he could remain airborne by using his Spiritual Pressure with each strike.
Kuroya died on the spot.
After the incident, people tried to uncover who Kuroya had been working for, but with his face destroyed and his body carved with 120 cuts, identification was impossible.
Year 560, March
Nystral had originally planned to kill Xers and start the uprising then, but things hadn't gone according to plan.Later, in 559, he intended to act while Xers was on duty, but Xers had grown suspicious of him and entrusted his army to Nystral.This forced Nystral to remain near the central council instead of the Kurogiri headquarters.
However, Xers' army was one of the most elite in Shadowia—and thanks to Nystral's manipulation, they ended up siding with him. Even though Xers was still on Shadowia's lands, he was on leave, and his army now trusted Nystral completely.
Six days passed.Xers' leave ended, and he set out to return to his post.
That evening, Nystral and the Kurogiri clan were already in motion.They had gathered an army amounting to one-third of Kurotsume's forces. Their numbers seemed small, but Nystral wielded The Comp Evolved—an ability with no limits, powerful enough to shatter the entire Kurotsume army.
Nystral divided his 16,000-man army into eight units, though Kuroya was dead, so a temporary replacement was assigned. Each Kurogiri officer commanded 2,000 sorcerers. The remaining 14,000 troops scattered into various positions, awaiting orders to begin the invasion.
Nystral, leading 2,000 of them, marched toward the central council.The council panicked and immediately summoned the Super Army.This message even reached Xers.
"Attention to all Super Army units!A coup is underway at the central council! All units are to report immediately!"
"A-A coup?! What's happening?! I need to get there at once!"
Nystral shattered the gates of the central council's castle and stormed inside.The 4,000-strong Kurotsume army stationed inside now stood face-to-face with the 2,000 sorcerers of Kurogiri.