The wind carried the scent of smoke long before the academy patrol reached the village.
Kurohane Village was small, resting at the edge of the Kurohana Forest about half a day's travel from Reikosha Academy. Normally it was a quiet place known for its farming fields and stone houses built along the forest slope.
But today it looked different.
A section of the village square had been destroyed.
Ice covered the ground in unnatural patterns, freezing shattered wood and broken carts where they had fallen. Several buildings were damaged, their windows cracked from the force of energy waves.
Villagers gathered nervously around the patrol team.
One elderly man spoke first.
"He came out of the forest," the man said, his voice shaking. "We thought he was just a traveler."
A Divine Warrior from the patrol squad crouched near the frozen ground, studying the strange energy marks.
"And then?" the warrior asked.
The man swallowed.
"He asked something strange."
"What did he ask?"
The old man hesitated before answering.
"He asked if… anyone here could fight him."
The patrol members exchanged uneasy looks.
Another villager stepped forward.
"He didn't attack right away," she said. "At first he just watched people."
"Watched?"
"Yes."
Her hands trembled slightly.
"It was like he was studying them."
The warrior inspecting the frozen ground stood up slowly.
"This energy…" he murmured.
It wasn't pure Yami.
It wasn't Reikou either.
It was something mixed.
Like multiple energy types layered together.
A dangerous sign.
"What happened after that?" the patrol leader asked.
The villagers fell silent.
Finally a young boy spoke.
"He fought the village guardian."
Everyone turned toward him.
The boy pointed toward the destroyed section of the square.
"He copied his power."
The patrol members froze.
"Copied?" one of them asked.
The boy nodded.
"At first he couldn't use the same energy. But after watching… he started doing the same attacks."
The warrior inspecting the ground stood up immediately.
"Energy replication," he said quietly.
The patrol leader's expression darkened.
That ability was extremely rare.
And extremely dangerous.
"Where is he now?" the leader asked.
The villagers shook their heads.
"He left after the fight."
"Left?"
The old man nodded slowly.
"He looked… disappointed."
Far away from the village, deep within the forest path leading toward the academy region, a lone figure walked through the trees.
Goro moved silently beneath the branches.
His clothes were worn and dusty from travel, but his expression remained calm.
Cold.
The wind shifted through the forest leaves.
Goro stopped walking.
Slowly, he raised his hand.
A faint pulse of energy formed around his fingers.
Reikou energy.
The same technique he had seen earlier in the village.
He released it casually.
The energy sphere floated for a moment before fading.
Goro stared at his hand.
"…Still weak."
His voice carried no anger.
Only disappointment.
He remembered the village guardian he fought earlier.
The man had been strong.
But not strong enough.
Goro continued walking.
His footsteps were quiet against the forest ground.
"For once," he murmured to himself, "I thought someone might be worth it."
The wind rustled the trees again.
Ahead, beyond the forest hills, the towers of Reikosha Academy stood faintly against the horizon.
Goro noticed them immediately.
He stopped walking.
Students trained there.
Energy users.
People who could fight.
For the first time in hours…
A faint spark of interest appeared in his eyes.
"…Maybe."
He adjusted his path slightly.
And continued walking.
Toward the academy.
At the same time, inside Reikosha Academy, Professor Takahano stood in a quiet office speaking with another instructor.
"The patrol confirmed it," the instructor said.
"Energy replication?"
Takahano nodded slowly.
"Yes."
The instructor frowned.
"That ability could become dangerous if the user continues learning."
Takahano turned toward the academy courtyard window.
Students could be seen training in the distance.
Kairo among them.
"For now," Takahano said calmly, "we observe."
But his eyes had grown more serious.
Because he already understood something important.
If someone capable of copying energy had appeared near the academy…
It would only be a matter of time before their paths crossed.
And when that happened
The peaceful days of training would end.