"I'm happy for myself... that someone still chooses me."
—Kairo Kurosawa
Tyouro smiled widely as he looked toward Shougo.
"Sensei, one question please?"
Shougo paused and looked at him calmly.
"And what is that?"
Tyouro leaned forward with excitement.
"I want to see Oko fight Kairo."
Before Shougo could answer, Yuki suddenly stepped forward.
"Hey, I heard you became a volcano?"
Tyouro blinked before smiling.
"Yeah, yeah! That's right!"
Yuki sighed and looked away.
"Ugh... you're still annoying. Anyway, where's Tatsuo?"
Yura suddenly spoke from the side.
"You missed him?"
Yuki's eyes widened slightly.
"Missed him?? Ew, no. I don't like him at all."
The others looked at her silently.
Her reaction was a little too defensive.
Shougo calmly raised his hand.
"Everyone, stay silent. We're only here for introductions, especially for Kairo."
He glanced toward Kairo.
"And Kairo will not be available tomorrow."
Kairo looked confused.
"Why?"
"All of you will be sent on a mission."
Shougo smiled slightly.
"And I'll train Kairo."
Tyouro's eyes lit up.
"Wow! That's so cool!"
Yuki rolled her eyes and walked away.
---
Meanwhile, inside another part of Reikosha Academy...
Dracula suddenly jumped down in front of Tatsuo.
"Hey! I heard Griffin students are introducing themselves to Shougo. You should go and talk to Yuki."
Tatsuo only glanced at him before sighing.
"I'm not in the mood, Drac."
He looked away.
"Besides, she's just going to ignore me like always."
He paused.
"We're only Sensei Judas' students."
Dracula laughed and playfully slapped his back.
"Sensei Judas is 500 years old, remember what she did to us back then?"
Tatsuo's expression became serious.
"There's no time for that anymore."
Far away in Stonefang Highlands...
"We're waiting for the dimensional clan members."
His eyes narrowed.
"After that... we're going to take Lady Chõko."
Raizen stood with a confident grin while looking at Hiroshi.
"Is that so?"
He laughed quietly.
"We don't need Lady Chõko. We're more powerful than her."
His smile became colder.
"I can tell you want the dimensional clan to be complete..."
He turned his head.
"But just wait for her to betray Reikosha, Hiroshi."
Hiroshi stayed silent before speaking.
"Lady Chõko wanted to take Paul's sword."
His expression became serious.
"Paul Ereuos was forced to kill her family, and the sword he used was the same sword that took everything from her."
He looked at Raizen.
"After I found her, I gave her those abilities..."
A pause.
"And I've heard she has Forbidden Energy."
Raizen smiled.
"Her World too."
Hiroshi's eyes widened.
"That's... actually crazy."
He thought for a moment.
"Do you know what her Forbidden Energy is? Her World?"
"Her Forbidden Energy..."
"Was sealed."
Yurota fixed his clothes calmly before looking at Raizen.
"You need to be careful with Lady Chõko, Raizen."
His eyes narrowed.
"Your ego is too high."
Raizen glared at him.
"You..."
His fist tightened.
"I'm going to crush you."
Yurota only smiled.
Morning arrived in Reishin.
At the entrance of the city stood a large sign.
EVIL CITY
Shougo stood there with Kairo beside him.
Kairo looked at the gate nervously.
"Sensei... is this where I begin hunting evil spirits?"
Shougo looked at him.
"Of course."
He pointed at the sign.
"Are you blind? It literally says Evil City."
Kairo laughed awkwardly.
"Hehehe... sorry, Sensei. I just wanted to talk. I didn't really have anything to say."
Shougo sighed.
"Kairo."
He handed him the Black Spartan sword.
"Be careful."
"This city is not easy."
Kairo grabbed the sword tightly.
"First, you will master using Black Spartan."
Shougo looked at him seriously.
"After that, you will use your Reikou energy."
His expression softened.
"I want to see your full potential, Kairo."
"I'll be watching you."
Kairo suddenly smiled brightly.
"Yes, Sensei!"
He jumped forward and hugged Shougo.
"I'll try my best!"
Shougo froze.
Then slowly sighed.
"Don't get too excited, Kairo."
The training began.
Shougo stood nearby, watching silently.
Kairo stepped forward.
In front of him was the evil spirit.
A twisted shadow made of cold metal and pure malice.
It crouched like a hungry beast waiting to attack.
Crimson horns burned through the darkness, while a terrifying grin revealed rows of sharp teeth.
Its joints moved with unnatural violence, and its barbed tail dragged across the ground like a warning.
A nightmare given form.
Cold.
Cruel.
Unforgiving.
Kairo tightened his grip on Black Spartan.
He took a deep breath.
Then he rushed forward.
"AAAAH!"
The evil spirit moved.
Faster than expected.
Kairo's eyes widened.
It dodged his attack instantly.
"What?!"
Before he could react, the evil spirit lunged forward.
BOOM!
The impact sent Kairo flying across the ground.
His body crashed down.
He grunted in pain.
But slowly...
He pushed himself up.
"I won't give up..."
His hands trembled as he gripped the sword.
"I want to become who I really am..."
He looked forward.
"And show them..."
"I'm not weak."
The evil spirit didn't give him time to recover.
It attacked again.
Kairo was hit once more, his body thrown back.
He coughed and looked up.
"There is no such thing as someone without potential..."
His eyes became determined.
"Everyone can become stronger."
A small smile appeared.
"I'll start my motivation today."
Kairo stood again.
This time...
His eyes were different.
The world around him seemed slower.
His mind began analyzing every movement.
"When I attacked first..."
He watched the spirit carefully.
"It dodged to the left."
His grip tightened.
"So this time..."
"It will dodge to the right."
Kairo moved.
The attack came.
The evil spirit jumped upward.
Kairo immediately reacted.
But suddenly—
The spirit disappeared.
"What the hell?!"
Kairo breathed heavily.
Then he noticed it.
The movement.
"He knows I'm tired..."
His eyes sharpened.
"He knows I can't dodge forever."
The evil spirit charged toward him.
This time...
Kairo was ready.
At the last moment, he moved.
He dodged.
Then he appeared behind the evil spirit.
And stabbed.
The creature froze.
Silence filled the battlefield.
Then—
Clap.
Shougo slowly clapped his hands.
"Excellent."
Kairo looked surprised.
Shougo smiled.
"You're actually smarter than I expected."
He walked closer.
"You're the first student who calculated that quickly besides Yura."
Kairo smiled.
"Really?"
"Yes."
Shougo looked at him proudly.
"Kairo... I'm happy seeing you improve."
He turned away.
"After this training, you'll rank up."
A small smile appeared.
"But don't forget."
"The training continues."
"I'll be watching you."