Days ago—-
After the Division Raid Tournament, Han walked into the Shinkaidan Mansion, where Rei, Rika, and Zaria were busy watching TV.
"Hey, Han!" Zaria invited. "Wanna join us?"
"Can't," he replied. "Busy."
"Well, we'll save you a spot whenever you're free!" Rei assured him.
"Yep, so go ahead and do your little loner stuff," Rika added. "We'll be down here if you need us."
Han walked upstairs, heading for his room, when he bumped into Omariro, who was busy analyzing a painting.
"Oh. Hello, sir."
Omariro turned toward him. "Boy troubled."
"Hmm? Oh. It's nothing, sir. Just…my head's been messed up lately."
"Hmm."
"Sir, I have to ask…if something were to happen to me, would…would you keep me from hurting the others?"
"Boy speak clear."
"Just like…I feel as if I'm losing my mind lately. So I don't know if I'm worthy of staying in this Division. Rika, Zaria, even Rei. They're like little sisters to me now. So I don't wanna cause them any problems, or you, sir."
Omariro adjusted the painting with a flick of his wrist. "Only boy can control fate. What boy values most will come to light when in doubt."
"Are you sure, sir?"
"Boy will see."
"Alright…I'll take your word for it."
He gave a bow and headed for his room, where he saw an email on his computer. "Great. Mother. The hell does she want?"
He opened the email.
"Dear son. I'm glad you've gotten to meet and spend some time with your idol, but it's time for you to come home and stop this messy charade of attempting to be something you are not. Being a Kaitansha is a dangerous job and not one that you are cut out for. Your dad and I are waiting with your college scholarship back at home in Ashiya."
Han typed a message back.
"I refuse to become a doctor, Mother. I made a promise to a friend and I have a new family here, and it'll be the day I die before I abandon them for any reason. Until you understand that, I am not leaving this house for any reason."
He hit send and closed the computer, lying down in his bed. "I need to get this thing out of me…whatever it is."
???—-
Han found himself standing inside an abyss-like throne room, where a large armored figure stood before him. The Nurse stood beside him.
"Don't…Han…" the Nurse insisted. "Help the Huntress…it's crucial to our goal…kill all of Nyugawa's students…"
As darkness enveloped Han, a golden light blasted it away, allowing him to regain himself. "No, no, no!"
He backed away from the two as dark tendrils attempted to take hold of him.
"Your name shall be the Eighth Herald," the Abyss Lord declared. "You will join us and put a stop to this erratic dungeon culture."
"I refuse!"
"Come, Eighth," the Nurse insisted. "Come…"
Memories that weren't Han's own began to flood in his mind. Betrayal, pain, and suffering. Han shook it off, allowing the golden light to vibrate through him.
"My name…is Han Jisoo!"
The light shattered the dark energy, and with a hiss, the Abyss Lord disappeared, along with the Nurse.
"NO—-!"
And then, Han blacked out.
Floor 10,000—-
As the light died down, everyone noticed Kohaku standing in the midst of a crater, with a limp Han next to her. She held her arm, breathing heavily as Omariro landed inside the crater.
Her body returned to normal.
"Ahh," she remarked, satisfied. "Real power, at last. You've earned it, my king. You've beaten me."
Omariro used his Jugen to drag her toward him. "Woman has lost this fight. Time for woman to go."
"Mmm. And where do you plan to take me?"
"You come with me."
Kohaku collapsed to one knee, unable to stand, as Zaria and the others crowded around Han.
"Han! Han, please say something!"
Han didn't respond.
"I doubt his body could handle the strain of my Jugen," Kohaku commented. "He's more than likely dead."
Zaria shook Han. "Han, can you hear me?"
"We need you, Han!" Rei exclaimed.
"Wake up, Friend!" Sōshin demanded.
"Is he alright?" Shino worried.
"He'd better be," Nonoka mumbled.
Rika stepped forward, her hand glowing. "Everyone, move out of the way."
They cleared out while Zaria held Han's head gently. Rika placed a hand on Han's chest. "Han, I know you're still in there. Please don't let that woman win."
She touched his chest, and a glowing energy flowed through it, and his body briefly jerked before remaining still.
"Come on!"
She touched it again, waiting.
Everyone held their breath, but nothing happened.
"No, it couldn't have failed…" Rika worried.
Zaria shook Han. "Han? Han, wake up! Please!"
Nothing.
As the room went silent, a golden glow began to surround Han, shocking all of the students. And then…
"Gah!"
Han sat up, looking at his hands.
"I'm free…" he realized. "I'm finally free."
The kids wrapped Han in a hug, tears streaming from their eyes. "Han!"
Kohaku watched, utterly shocked. "How…? He survived all that?"
They helped Han up.
"How do you feel?" Rika asked. "Are you okay? Does anything hurt?"
"No…"
"We're sorry for attacking you," Zaria apologized.
"It's okay. I'm sorry I turned against you all, and let the Abyss warp me."
"It's okay!" Rei assured. "We still love you!"
Han noticed Omariro standing nearby, and he quickly got on the ground, bowing his head. "Sir?"
"Boy."
Tears began to fall from his eyes. "Am…am I still allowed in Shinkaidan after this?"
Omariro remained silent before speaking. "Stand, boy. There is no concern."
"R—really?"
"Boy found value. Proper value."
"T—thank you, sir!"
Rika and Zaria took Han by the arms. "Come on, let's get you outta here."
Kohaku cleared her throat. "How amusing. Now then, my King. Shall we get back to what's important?"
"Woman correct."
Omariro opened a portal, imprisoning Kohaku inside. Nonoka pointed to it. "Uh, what happened to her?"
"Woman dealt with."
The rest of the Kaidanchō hurried to the scene, their faces full of confusion.
"We heard fighting!" Yuka announced. "Is everything alright?"
"Kaidanchō late," Omariro pointed out.
They noticed his young form. Kaoru's eyes immediately grew wide and she began taking pictures.
"Well," Atsushi scoffed. "Seems you didn't need our help."
"Dad, are we doing this now?" Nonoka sighed.
"No, no. I do appreciate you keeping my daughter safe, Nyugawa. Have you seen my other rookie?"
"No."
Yuka noticed Shino, who rushed up to her. "And there goes mine. I knew she'd survive."
Shino stopped in front of Yuka. "Miss Yuka! Thank goodness you're here!"
Yuka gave Shino a pat on the head. "I see you had no problem down here."
"Yeah! It's all thanks to Mr. Nyugawa and his students! Speaking of which…"
Shino pulled a picture out of her pocket and hurried over to Omariro. "Can I get your autograph, Sir?"
Omariro walked away.
"Aww…"
Gakuto surveyed the area. "Wait. What happened to the Huntress?"
"Master's got her," Zaria explained. "She's in his prison!"
"Wait, what? Omariro, man! You couldn't have just done that from the start?"
"We have no one but ourselves to blame, Gakuto," Atsushi admitted. "This run has shown we clearly aren't ready to operate without the old man."
"Yes," Yuka agreed. "These rookies were entrusted to us, and we failed them."
Emeru jiggled around in Yuka's hand. "Can I go now?"
"No."
"Where's the exit gate?" Nonoka wondered. "I'm ready to go."
Yuka turned, but she immediately stopped, raising a hand. "Quiet. Something isn't right. That sound…Omariro, do you remember it?"
"Sound from trial," Omariro nodded.
Just then, a portal opened, and Shion landed on one of the trees, his eyes locked on Omariro.
"There you are, Master," Shion chuckled. "I've scouted this entire dungeon for you!"
"Shion?" Atsushi questioned.
"Shion!" Zaria hissed.
Shion noticed Zaria's blades. "Hey, Zaria! Using those blades I gave you. Nice!"
"Who is that?" Yuka asked.
"Yeah!" Rika added. "I…I've got a bad feeling from him!"
Nonoka just stared, eyes wide.
"Boy returned after all this time," Omariro noted. "Why?"
"I just want one thing," Shion told him. "A fight."
"Sir, behind you!" Han warned.
By the time Omariro turned around, Shion appeared behind him, fully armored, and he slammed him into the ground hard enough to shatter a hole inside and drag Omariro through.
"Sir!"
Floor 10,001—-
〈*7th* of the Heralds—-Herald of Ruin. Level: 275,000〉
Omariro landed on the ground, using his blade to steady himself. The Herald lowered himself to the ground, admiring the red sky around him.
They ended up in a ruined wasteland, with broken buildings all around them.
"Ahh, the Hellsfloor," the Seventh remarked. "I'd only heard stories about this."
His armored claw flexed. "What do you think, Master?"
"What has boy done to himself?"
"Only what you wanted!" The Seventh answered. "You said men don't listen to the weak. You tossed us aside because we were weak, right? You don't want students, you want monsters! Well, you've got one, Master!"
The purple on his body shifted to glowing white, mixing with his dark armor. "Now, let's see if your blade is still sharp with old age."
He slammed the ground.
"Jugen-Daraku: Shin'en no Yaiba!"
Multiple twisted weapons formed from white energy, shifting between swords, spears, and axes. The Seventh waved his hand, and they fired at Omariro.
"Jugen-Tōshi: Seijin Rangeki!"
Omariro's own blades matched the Herald's, as the latter flew forward and lifted his arm, causing more blades to rain down.
"Jugen-Henshōsha: Ruinform!"
A powerful white shockwave sent Omariro sliding back as Shion's armor shifted into the top half of a large mechanical contraption, with a large scepter in his hand.
"Reign of the Abyss!"
He stabbed the scepter into the ground, and white lightning descended from above, but Omariro dodged it all, sending a circular blade flying at Shion.
"Hah."
The Seventh blocked it, slamming the ground with one massive hand and causing repeated shockwaves. Omariro watched as his scepter shifted into Zaria's spear.
"Hmm?"
He sent it flying at Omariro, who batted it out of the air with one hand.
"Didn't think I had that, did you?" he taunted. "I've watched your little students. I've taken their tricks. I'll open your eyes, Master."
The Seventh formed another spear to block at Omariro fired his bow, striking the armor. He followed up by clapping his hands, erasing the spear, but Shion merely laughed. "Haha! Try this!"
An erratic moon blast shot from his hand, carving into the ground. Omariro jumped above it and fired two holy light blasts at Shion, pushing him back.
The Seventh batted Omariro away with one hand, before growing six legs like a spider and standing tall, with Omariro below him.
"Suffer!"
He attempted to crush Omariro underfoot, but Omariro withstood with one hand, using the other to toss the Herald aside. Shion recovered, forming a cube-like object and firing massive darts at Omariro.
"Boy has turned to evil!" Omariro called out. "Abyss taken hold! Must be culled!"
"RUIN SHALL COME, OLD MAN!"
The Seventh formed his scepter, stabbing it into the ground and channeling more lightning. Omariro side-stepped it, clapping his hands and erasing it.
The Seventh wasted no time kicking Omariro back, but Omariro placed two fingers out.
"Jugen-Metsusha: Jigen Danretsu!"
Omariro made a striking motion, severing half of Shion's armor. Shion emerged from it, breathing heavily.
"Haven't lost a step," Shion remarked. "Good."
His armor reformed, but as Omariro approached, a gray light dropped from above, landing near Shion.
"Rushing into battle without preparation, Shion. How stupid of you."
"Whatever, 'Nurse.'"
When the light cleared, Omariro noticed the appearance of a young woman with gray hair, and her eyes turned to stare at him. "Surprised to see me, Master?"
Omariro briefly paused, taking her in.
"…Mirei?"
She slowly walked off Shion's armor, with black and gray armor forming on her own body. "I grew tired of using your student. Finally, free from that prison you stuck me in. How could you? After all I've done for you! After how I WORSHIPED you?"
〈*6th* of the Heralds—-Herald of Rebirth. Level: 312,000〉
"Girl…" Omariro muttered. "Must be stopped."
He sent a barrage of blades at her, but a white field surrounded her.
"No. Not this time."
The white field evaporated the blades, aging them to dust. "Jugen-Kaiseisha: Nenrei Sōsa no Kessei."
Both she and Shion stood before Omariro.
"Face your past, Master. I've got a score to settle."
——-