Note: The past timeline - Three years before Ryoto and team rescues Aem and friends. ❤️ - represented by this symbol

The present timeline - Ryoto and team rescues Aem and friends. 🟥 - represented by this symbol

The future timeline - one year after Ryoto and team had rescued Aem and friends. ♦️ - represented by this symbol

***

❤️...

In the dim light filtering through the dense canopy above, Ayeta nestled beside a heap of slashed tree trunks, exhaustion evident in his weary yawn. "I feel so sleepy," he murmured, his voice barely audible over the rustling leaves.

Remeshi glanced over, concern etched across his features. "Are you okay, Ayeta-san?" he inquired, his voice soft yet filled with genuine worry.

"Hm? Are you okay, Re-chan?"

Konosa observed the exchange from the shadows, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. "What's this?" he interjected inwardly, his tone laced with incredulity. "Re-chan? Why are you so familiar with him? He's a demon, for goodness sake!" His disdain was palpable even in his thoughts, his skepticism evident in every syllable.

Remeshi, his gaze steady as he addressed Ayeta. "Yes, yes. I'm fine, Ayeta-san," he assured, a faint smile gracing his lips.

His expression then taut with pain as he sat beside them, his injury demanding attention.

"Hey, uh, Remeshi-san. Time to change the bandaid," Oya spoke up, her voice gentle yet tinged with uncertainty.

Remeshi glanced up, meeting her gaze with a mixture of confusion and acquiescence. "Yeah, okay...?" he responded, a hint of question in his tone.

Oya hesitated, her fingers fidgeting nervously. "Well... I don't know," she admitted, her uncertainty palpable in the air.

Sensing her hesitation, Remeshi rose to his feet, ready to seek guidance from their companions. "Oh, okay. Let's ask them then," he suggested, preparing to step forward.

But before he could take another step, Oya's hand shot out, pulling him back down with surprising strength. "Ah, no. No," she protested, her voice wavering with apprehension.

Confusion clouded Remeshi's features as he processed her words. "Eh?" he uttered, his brow furrowing in bewilderment.

"It's... uh... you need to take your shirt off..." Oya stammered, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

The realization dawned on Remeshi, his cheeks coloring slightly in embarrassment. "What?!" he exclaimed, his voice rising in incredulity.

Quickly attempting to clarify her intentions, Oya stumbled over her words, her explanation disjointed and halting. "Ah, no. No, Remeshi-san. I am not going to bandaid you, uh..Ayeta sama will," she hurriedly clarified, her gaze darting nervously.

With a reassuring smile, Ayeta intervened, offering his assistance without hesitation. "Sure. I can help you. Don't worry, Re-chan," he reassured, his tone calm and reassuring.

As Remeshi relinquished his shirt and hakama to Konosa, Ayeta gently guided him to a more comfortable position on the forest floor. With practiced hands, Ayeta began to carefully remove the bandage from Remeshi's stomach, his movements gentle yet purposeful.

Meanwhile, on the outskirts of the group, Konosa's curiosity got the better of him, prompting a whispered inquiry. "Ayeta-sama. Since when did you begin calling him Re-chan?" he queried, his voice barely above a whisper.

Ayeta's response was equally cryptic, his tone carrying a hint of amusement. "Hm. Since when you started to address me as Ayeta-sama," he retorted, his words laced with playful insinuation.

A dry laugh escaped Konosa's lips, the tension momentarily broken by the exchange.

In the dappled light of the forest clearing, Remeshi sat shirtless, the cool breeze gently caressing his skin as he leaned against a tree trunk. Ayeta, kneeling beside him, inspected the freshly bandaged wound with a practiced eye, his expression thoughtful.

"Perfect. Do you want to put on your shirt or do you want to stay like this for a while?" Ayeta inquired, his tone casual yet considerate.

Remeshi chuckled softly at the suggestion, shaking his head in amusement. "Yeesh. Why would I stay like this, Ayeta-san?" he replied, his voice laced with light-hearted incredulity.

A faint smile tugged at Ayeta's lips as he regarded his companion. "Hm. You should, Re-chan," he mused, his gaze drifting to the surrounding forest with a hint of concern. "But looks like we can't rest too much."

Remeshi nodded in agreement, his demeanor determined despite the discomfort of his injury. "Yes. Don't worry. I'm fine," he assured, his tone resolute.

"As you say," Ayeta conceded, though a flicker of apprehension lingered in his eyes.

As the group ventured further along the winding path, Remeshi's footsteps echoed softly against the forest floor, his mind swirling with questions and uncertainty. With a mile behind them, he couldn't contain his curiosity any longer.

"Did we cross the first stage yet?" he finally voiced, his tone tinged with a hint of apprehension.

Konosa, walking alongside him, shook his head in response. "Nope. We have two days and a half to go. Don't worry," he reassured, his voice steady despite the unexpected revelation.

Remeshi's brows furrowed in confusion at the unexpected timeline. "What? Two days and a half? What do you mean two days and a half? Shouldn't we reach the top within a day?" he queried, his voice laced with disbelief.

Konosa's response was matter-of-fact, his tone tinged with a hint of exasperation. "You didn't know?" he retorted, a note of incredulity coloring his words. "It was written on the instructions form."

The revelation left Remeshi momentarily stunned, his mind racing to recall any mention of such a document. "What form?" he asked, his voice tinged with frustration.

Frowning slightly, Konosa explained, "On the table where we left our swords. There was a form there. You didn't see it? It said that we need to reach the top of the hill within three days."

Realization dawned on Remeshi, a pang of embarrassment coloring his cheeks. "Oh. I must have been too nervous leaving my sword that I didn't pay attention," he admitted sheepishly.

Konosa's response was tinged with a hint of amusement as he shook his head. "Sure. But how can you even think of crossing the entire hill in a day..." he trailed off, the incredulity evident in his tone.

Feeling a mix of frustration and resignation, Remeshi sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly. "I told you! I didn't pay attention! Hmpf," he muttered under his breath.

Sensing the tension in the air, Oya, ever the peacemaker, intervened with practicality. "Uh, Remeshi-san. Let's just check in case... the number of days we have left," she suggested, tapping her glass jar for emphasis.

Ayeta, the voice of reason amidst their confusion, nodded in agreement. "Hm. It's hard to figure it out because this hill is always dark," he remarked, his gaze scanning the shadowy landscape.

Remeshi, however, remained steadfast in his intuition. "But I feel like we have two days to go," he insisted, his voice carrying a note of certainty.

Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of Carla, the pink dragon, who brought news from beyond the forest's edge. Oya relayed the information with a sense of urgency, her voice hushed as she whispered the dragon's message.

"It is morning outside. Two complete days to go," she announced, her eyes alight with newfound clarity.

Remeshi couldn't help but express his surprise at Oya's ability to communicate with Carla. "Oh? You understand dragon?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.

Oya's response was pragmatic yet laced with amusement. "Yeah, and... there is no such language called dragons," she clarified, a faint smile playing on her lips.

Remeshi couldn't contain his sense of vindication at the confirmation of his intuition. "Nice. Surprisingly I was right!" he exclaimed, a grin spreading across his face.

Ayeta, ever the wise mentor, offered a reassuring reminder amidst the uncertainty. "You will always be. I have told you this before, haven't I?" he remarked, his voice gentle yet firm.

Seeking to learn more about his enigmatic companion, Remeshi turned to Ayeta with a question. "You know a lot about Argons, don't you, Ayeta-san?" he inquired, his tone earnest.

Ayeta's response was enigmatic, his words carrying a hint of mystery. "As it pleases," he replied cryptically, leaving Remeshi pondering the depths of his companion's knowledge.

Undeterred, Remeshi pressed for more insight. "Tell me something I don't know then," he challenged, his curiosity driving him forward.

But Ayeta's response was characteristically elusive. "You know it all," he remarked, his tone filled with a sense of resignation.

Remeshi's shoulders sagged slightly, a sense of frustration washing over him. "To adapt to a sword and make it mine is..." he began, his voice trailing off as he struggled to articulate his thoughts.

But Ayeta offered a reassuring reminder, his words carrying a sense of wisdom born from experience. "Everything takes time, Re-chan," he reassured, his tone gentle yet firm.

As the group continued their trek through the dense forest, their conversation ebbed and flowed, punctuated by the rhythmic cadence of their footsteps. Remeshi, Ayeta, Oya, and Konosa forged ahead, their determination unwavering.

Amidst their exchange, Oya's voice rang out, breaking through the canopy of conversation. "Oh look, Remeshi-san. I see the cross mark," she exclaimed, her tone filled with excitement.

Remeshi's eyes widened with anticipation as he followed Oya's gaze, spotting the telltale sign amidst the tangled undergrowth. "We are here. We crossed the first stage," he declared triumphantly, a surge of adrenaline coursing through his veins.

A chorus of cheers and congratulations erupted from the group apart from Ayeta who stood with a small smile on his face as they reveled in their milestone achievement. "Here we come stage two," Konosa proclaimed proudly, his voice brimming with confidence.

[Examination hills. Team eight. Stage two - ❤️]

As they pressed deeper into the shadowy depths of the forest, the atmosphere grew thicker with an eerie pallor, casting a shroud of darkness over their path. The once-familiar surroundings took on a sinister hue, with completely shed trees and pale leaves dotting their route, a stark contrast to the slightly vibrant foliage they had encountered earlier.

Despite their efforts to adjust to the encroaching darkness, the air grew increasingly oppressive, weighing heavily on their chests as they struggled to breathe. Remeshi felt his lungs constricting, a tightness gripping his chest as he clutched at his clothes in discomfort. With each step forward, the atmosphere grew thicker and denser, making their progress feel like a futile struggle against an unseen force.

Sword masters battle in a number of different terrains. The limit is endless, and that's why it's very important to make sure the examinees understand that. They knew that they had to go through this if they wanted to enter the squads. Konosa attempted to speak but to no avail, his voice strained with exertion as he fought to maintain his composure amidst the stifling air.

Remeshi, his breath coming in ragged gasps, voiced his struggle with a panting confession. "I...wow...hard to...breathe," he wheezed, his body bent over as he fought to catch his breath.

Konosa, equally affected by the oppressive atmosphere, he finally voiced his frustration with a heavy heart. "Do they want fresh talent or not!" he exclaimed, his chest pounding heavily as he struggled to maintain his resolve.

Meanwhile, Ayeta and Oya strode behind them with an air of casual indifference, seemingly unaffected by the oppressive conditions. Remeshi couldn't help but voice his bewilderment at their resilience. "How are you both not affected at all?" he asked, his voice tinged with a mixture of awe and frustration.

Oya offered a simple explanation for their endurance, her tone matter-of-fact. "We live under lavas and stuff. So it's easy to adapt," she explained, her words carrying a sense of practicality born from experience.

Ayeta, likewise, attributed his resilience to a unique source of protection. "I have a mana layer covering me," he elaborated, his demeanor calm and composed despite the dire circumstances.

Seeking a solution to their predicament, Oya suggested they consider thinking of their jōshō kits, essential tools used by sword masters to navigate and battle in a variety of terrains. Jōshō kits consisted of a harness machine, controls, and a fuel tank, allowing sword masters to maneuver with precision and agility in even the most challenging environments.

The harness machine, worn around the hips, released strings that could be attached to trees, buildings, and other structures, enabling sword masters to battle in mid-air. With the control unit, they could manipulate the strings with their thoughts, while the fuel tank kept the harness machine charged and operational.

These kits had been developed in the era after demons emerged, a testament to humanity's ingenuity and resilience in the face of adversity.

As they pressed forward through the oppressive darkness of the forest, Remeshi's legs suddenly gave way beneath him, sending him crashing to the ground with a resounding thud. Concerned voices immediately surrounded him, their words a jumble of worry and inquiry.

"Ah! What, are you okay? Re-chan?" Ayeta's voice rang out, filled with genuine concern.

Struggling to catch his breath, Remeshi responded between gasps, his voice heavy with exhaustion and frustration. "No. My jōshō's strings got stuck and didn't come out and the fuel was empty and I couldn't grab the nearby tree on time and ultimately I fell," he explained, his breaths coming in ragged bursts.

But before anyone could offer further assistance, Oya's voice pierced through the tense silence, her frustration evident in her tone. "AH! REMESHI-SAN! YOU WERE NOT SUPPOSED TO OVER IMAGINE THINGS. IT WAS JUST A LOGICAL SCENARIO TO HELP YOU BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE IN THE SKY AND NOT OUT OF BREATH," she scolded, her words laced with exasperation.

Remeshi, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment, rubbed the back of his head sheepishly as he faced his team. "Oh," he muttered, a sense of chagrin coloring his expression.

But Oya wasn't finished with her admonishment yet. With tears threatening to spill from her eyes, she delivered a swift reprimand, her hand connecting with the back of Remeshi's head in a sharp slap. Konosa, unable to contain his amusement, burst into laughter, his earlier struggles with breathing momentarily forgotten.

"She said it wasn't funny," Remeshi protested weakly, attempting to defend himself amidst the laughter of his companions.

Realizing the gravity of the situation, Konosa sobered up quickly, his expression shifting from amusement to concern. "Oh, I'm so sorry. I just couldn't hold back," he apologized, his tone contrite. "How can you be so dumb? This is very unique, you know. You need to be one of the wonders," he added with a hint of admiration.

Remeshi sighed in resignation, his cheeks still burning with embarrassment. "Ah... Senpai," he sighed, acknowledging his mistake.

But Oya's focus shifted from reprimand to concern as she noticed Remeshi's discomfort. "No, it's not about that. You are hurt already. You fell on your stomach. It must have hurt," she observed, her voice softening with genuine worry.

Quick to reassure his companions, Remeshi waved off their concerns with a weak smile. "Oh no, no. I'm fine," he insisted, though the strain in his voice betrayed his discomfort.

Relieved by Remeshi's reassurance, Oya wiped away her tears, her expression softening with relief as they resumed their journey, albeit with a newfound sense of caution.

But their lighthearted banter was abruptly interrupted by a sudden threat. A blade came hurtling towards them, embedding itself in a tree just behind Konosa with a menacing thud. Startled, Konosa exhaled deeply, his heart pounding in his chest as he scanned the surrounding darkness for any sign of danger.

"Whoa! That was close. Someone's already behind my life here? I didn't even do anything yet! Show me your face," Konosa demanded, his voice tinged with a mixture of apprehension and defiance.

Remeshi, still reeling from his earlier mishap, couldn't help but voice his concern. "Were you going to do something that'd make people thirsty for your blood, Senpai?" he asked, his tone tinged with apprehension.

But before Konosa could respond, another blade came hurtling towards them, slicing through the air with deadly precision. With a loud clang, it collided with the previous blade, splitting it in two along with the tree it had embedded itself in. Shocked and bewildered, the team turned their attention to the source of the attack, their expressions a mixture of fear and confusion.

"W-what did you do, Senpai!" Remeshi exclaimed, his voice tinged with panic.

"I swear on my sister, I didn't mess with anyone yet!" Konosa protested, his tone defensive.

"Were you planning on messing with someone? What is wrong with you?" Remeshi shot back, his frustration boiling over.

Their heated exchange was interrupted by the sudden realization that they were not alone. A group of knights clad in silver armor emerged from the shadows, their swords drawn and pointed menacingly at the team.

As the tension reached its peak amidst the shadowy depths of the forest, Konosa's frustration boiled over, his voice ringing out with a mixture of anger and disbelief. "ARGH! AGAIN! WHY DO WE KEEP COMING ACROSS WEIRD THINGS!" he exclaimed, his words punctuated by the sound of clashing swords and echoing footsteps.

But Remeshi, ever the voice of reason, attempted to interject with a calm observation. "But they are humans, Senpai," he pointed out, his voice a stark contrast to Konosa's growing agitation.

"SHUT UP! THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!" Konosa shot back, his words dripping with accusation as he redirected his frustration towards Remeshi.

The accusation struck a nerve with Remeshi, his own frustration bubbling to the surface as he defended himself. "Oh yeah? Now it's my fault, huh? What did I even do?!" he retorted, his voice rising in indignation.

Before the argument could escalate further, Ayeta intervened with a firm command, his voice cutting through the chaos with authority. "That's enough out of you both. Let's take care of them first. They seem like trained knights," he ordered, his tone brooking no further argument.

With Ayeta's directive ringing in their ears, Konosa and Remeshi refocused their attention on the task at hand, their swords flashing in the dim light as they engaged the mysterious knights in combat. The knights, their movements unnaturally fluid, appeared to be controlled by invisible strings, their limbs manipulated like marionettes in the hands of a puppeteer.

As the battle raged on, Konosa and Remeshi couldn't shake the feeling that something was off about their opponents. "Senpai... they don't seem right," Remeshi observed, his voice tinged with unease.

Konosa, his mind racing with possibilities, voiced a troubling theory. "I second what you are thinking. What if miss. Hizakun is the one controlling them? That makes sense right?" he speculated, his voice laced with concern.

With a swift and graceful maneuver, Konosa leaped into the humid air, his agile movements allowing him to evade the attacks of the floating knights. As he swung from branch to branch, his sword clashed against his adversaries with precision and skill, each strike ringing out like a bell in the stillness of the forest.

But amidst the chaos of battle, a moment of hesitation proved costly for Konosa. As he lunged forward to strike, his footing slipped, causing him to lose his balance and narrowly dodge a lethal blow from one of the knights. The frustration and self-doubt boiled within him, fueling his next attack with a fierce determination.

With a primal roar, Konosa charged forward, his sword slicing through the air with deadly intent. In a split second, his blade found its mark, severing the head of one of the knights from its body in a gruesome display of violence. The head rolled to the ground, leaving behind a trail of eerie white strings that danced in the air like malevolent specters.

But as the reality of his actions sank in, Konosa recoiled in horror, his hands trembling as he stepped back from the gruesome scene before him. "Ah... Oh no," he murmured, his voice filled with regret and disbelief.

Ayeta, his demeanor calm and composed, acknowledged the gravity of the situation with a simple observation. "You killed him," he stated matter-of-factly, his words carrying a weight of solemnity.

Meanwhile, Remeshi, his voice laced with concern and disbelief, questioned Konosa's actions. "Senpai. What did you do...?" he inquired, his eyes wide with shock as he continued to fend off the attacks of their remaining adversaries.

As the reality of the situation sank in, Konosa's mind reeled with shock and disbelief, his heart heavy with the weight of what he had just done. "Shut up! I...I didn't do it on purpose. What would I have done anyway? He could have killed me if I wouldn't have defended myself... I merely defended myself... this is not what I had planned to do... I didn't intend this... what do I do now...?" he stammered, his voice trembling with a mixture of fear and remorse.

Remeshi, his own emotions in turmoil, attempted to offer words of comfort to his distraught Senpai. "C-calm down, Senpai... I..." he began, but his words faltered, unable to find solace in the face of such tragedy.

Amidst the chaos and confusion, Ayeta's calm voice cut through the tension like a beacon of light in the darkness. "Thin strings emerged out of his sliced neck," he mentioned, his observation drawing attention to the eerie phenomenon surrounding the fallen knight.

Remeshi, still grappling with the enormity of what had transpired, voiced his bewildered thoughts aloud, his mind racing with unanswered questions. "Strings? What strings? Were they controlled from inside their body? Or is someone using magic from afar? Either way, an innocent person died and I couldn't stop it, none of us could. I never predicted something like this would happen..." he trailed off, his voice thick with emotion.

Sensing the rising panic and despair in his companions, Ayeta stepped forward, his movements deliberate and purposeful. "Calm down, Re-chan," he urged, sliding closer to Remeshi and pushing away the encroaching knights with a wave of his mana.

With gentle hands, Ayeta took hold of Remeshi's shoulders, his touch grounding and reassuring. "You both need to calm down," he stated firmly, his gaze shifting to Konosa, who knelt on the earth with tears streaming down his face like raindrops in a storm.

"Re-chan. Breathe," Ayeta whispered in Remeshi's ear, his voice a soothing balm to the turmoil raging within. Remeshi swallowed hard, his chest rising and falling with each deep breath as he fought to regain control of his emotions amidst the chaos and uncertainty.

On the other side of the chaotic battleground, Oya found herself caught up in a whirlwind of confusion and fear as she was unexpectedly swept away by a trio of knights from the same group they had been fighting. Though she couldn't see the unfolding events, the distant echoes of the commotion reached her ears, sending a shiver of apprehension down her spine.

Determined to reunite with her teammates, Oya swung her sword with renewed vigor, pushing back the knights who stood in her path. With each step, she felt herself drawing closer to the familiar voices of Remeshi, Ayeta, and Konosa, their presence a source of comfort amidst the chaos of battle.

"Guys-" Oya began, her words cut short as her foot caught on something unseen, sending her stumbling forward.

"Yikes!" Remeshi exclaimed, tossing his sword into the air as Ayeta swiftly caught it, their movements seamless as Remeshi intercepted Oya's fall.

"You okay?" Remeshi asked, concern etched in his voice as he helped her to her feet.

"Yeah, I guess...but - what did - I trip over?" Oya questioned, her gaze sweeping the area until it landed on the severed head lying nearby. In an instant, her composure shattered, and she let out a piercing scream, her hands flying to cover her ears as tears welled up in her eyes.

Frantically, Remeshi moved to comfort her, his hands covering her mouth as he attempted to calm her down. "Senpai was just defending himself. Try to calm down," he urged, his voice laced with urgency.

But Oya couldn't tear her eyes away from the gruesome sight before her, her mind reeling with horror and disbelief. "But his head-"

"Don't look," Ayeta interjected softly, his voice a steady anchor amidst the turmoil. "Just don't look," he repeated, his words a gentle reminder of the harsh reality they faced.

Meanwhile, amidst the chaos, one of the knights spoke up, his voice trembling with emotion as he struggled to articulate their plight. "It is no use," he began, tears glistening on his cheeks. "We weren't even supposed to be here. We were just normal people minding our own businesses when one morning, suddenly, some strings came flying towards us from the sky and the next thing we know, we were here in these...in these silver armors," he explained, his words filled with anguish and confusion.

Another knight, tears streaming down his face, added to the somber confession. "I don't want to die but...please, just please kill us before we kill more of you skilled and innocent young girls and boys," he pleaded, his voice choked with sorrow and desperation.

But Oya refused to entertain the notion of further bloodshed, her heart breaking at the sight of their torment. "NO! No we can't. We can't go around chopping off your heads. You don't even want to be here. You aren't doing this on your own free will," she insisted, her voice trembling with emotion.

As one of the knights raised his sword, aiming for the defenseless Oya, Remeshi leaped into action, positioning himself between them in a protective stance. With swift reflexes, Konosa swooped in, lifting Oya from the ground and carrying her to safety high up in the branches of a nearby tree.

As they found refuge amidst the treetops, Oya struggled to make sense of the chaos unfolding below. "Huh.. am I flying..?" she murmured to herself, her mind still reeling from the events of the battle.

But Konosa, his voice steady and resolute, sought to reassure her, his words a beacon of calm in the midst of the storm. "Listen. I too had a hard time taking it in but I couldn't just space out mid-battle-"

"But they are humans, the creatures we fought were just some mutants who weren't humans before," Oya interjected, her voice tinged with confusion and disbelief.

"Senpai! I will handle her. Take care of these guys," Remeshi called out to Konosa, his words a command as they swiftly exchanged positions. Remeshi now stood by Oya's side, ready to guide her through the tumultuous events unfolding around them.

Amidst the turmoil of battle, Remeshi's voice cut through the tension, his words heavy with the weight of their grim reality. "What happened to the girl who fought against those from her own land?" he questioned, his gaze steady as he addressed Oya, his fellow warrior.

Oya's brow furrowed in contemplation, her mind wrestling with conflicting emotions. "I know they are anything but good," she replied, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

Remeshi nodded solemnly, his expression grave. "Well, I understand how you might be feeling, but we have no option here. We... have to defeat them... humans or not," he reasoned, his tone laced with determination. "And how do we know if the mutants were humans or not? One thing I can say is, if you can't battle with your eyes wide open, then shut them while fighting."

The suggestion hung heavy in the air, Oya's eyes widening in disbelief as she struggled to comprehend Remeshi's words. "Remeshi-san. I - respect you for how brave and kind - you are. But I just can't do that - no one can. What - are you - even saying?" she protested, her voice trembling with uncertainty.

But Remeshi remained steadfast, his resolve unshaken. "You can. Just trust your dragons, tie your eyes with a piece of cloth and go for it. You can at least rely on your dragons if not us," he urged, his words a desperate plea for action.

Oya hesitated, her gaze fixed on the unfolding chaos before her, her heart heavy with indecision. "But.... it isn't that easy... even if I trust them... I know in my head... I'm hurting humans," she murmured to herself, her voice barely audible amidst the din of battle.

Meanwhile, as Konosa and Ayeta pressed forward with their relentless assault, the violence of their actions spoke louder than words. Konosa, his sword flashing in the dim light, landed a brutal blow on one of the knights, severing their head with a swift and decisive strike. With a grim determination, he leaped down from the branch, his expression hardened by the grim reality of their situation.

Ayeta, too, found himself grappling with conflicting emotions as he unleashed his mana in a flurry of powerful attacks. Despite his frustration, his promise to Remeshi weighed heavily on his conscience, his sword swinging with a reluctant precision as he engaged the enemy before him.

As the battle raged on, the line between friend and foe blurred, the once-clear distinctions now lost amidst the chaos of conflict. For Oya, Remeshi's words echoed in her mind, a haunting reminder of the harsh choices they were forced to make in the name of survival. And as the bloodshed continued unabated, she couldn't help but wonder if there would ever be a way to reconcile the violence of their actions with the compassion in their hearts.

In the midst of a tense battlefield, Ayeta, with his senses honed to a razor's edge, circled his adversaries like a silent predator. His eyes gleamed with determination, waiting for the opportune moment to strike with lethal precision, aiming for a kill that would be as swift and painless as possible.

Across the battlefield, Oya, her resolve unyielding, gripped her sword tightly as she prepared to unleash her formidable companion, Icarus, the pearly white dragon. With a decisive gesture, she tapped her glass jar, releasing the majestic creature into the fray. Icarus unfurled his shimmering wings, poised to heed his master's command.

With a voice that carried across the chaos of battle, Oya called out to Konosa, her request echoing with urgency. Without hesitation, he tossed his scarf into the air, a simple action that would prove crucial in the unfolding conflict. Icarus, ever obedient, swooped down to catch the scarf with his claws, a testament to the unbreakable bond between dragon and rider.

With her vision obscured by the makeshift blindfold, Oya steeled herself for what was to come. Inhaling deeply, she counted the seconds in her mind, each moment stretching into eternity as anticipation mounted. Finally, with a forceful exhale, she uttered the command that would unleash devastation upon her foes: "Break Jinx."

Icarus, responding with a primal roar, unleashed a torrent of white flames, an inferno that engulfed everything in its path with merciless intensity. The air seared with the heat of his breath, the ground quaked beneath the onslaught, and screams of agony pierced the chaos as enemy forces fell before the onslaught.

With a leap born of both courage and desperation, Oya descended from her perch, landing upon Icarus's back with a grace that belied the carnage around her.

In the heat of battle, Ayeta found himself embroiled in a fierce struggle against a lone opponent, yet despite his formidable powers, he struggled to gain the upper hand. With each passing moment, the weight of the fight bore down upon him, his breath coming in ragged gasps as sweat trickled down his brow, a testament to the intensity of the conflict.

"Re-chan, I'm getting dizzy now," he exclaimed, the pressure of holding back his powers under the relentless assault of their foes dawning harshly on him.

Meanwhile, Konosa, ever vigilant, continued to eliminate their adversaries with swift and decisive strikes, his blade cleaving through armor and flesh with deadly precision. Yet, to his dismay, each fallen foe was swiftly replaced by another, as if their ranks were inexhaustible, an endless tide of adversaries threatening to overwhelm them at every turn.

They fought with all the skill and determination they could muster, striving to dispatch their foes with as little suffering as possible. Yet, no matter how many they dispatched, the knights continued to appear, their numbers seemingly limitless.

Shadows danced along the lines, casting an eerie atmosphere over the scene. "I can't anymore Re-chan," Ayeta, his once noble countenance twisted by dark magic, stood at the center, his sword cloaked in an ominous aura. With a grim determination, he tossed himself into the air, a blur of motion as he unleashed a swift, deadly assault upon his foes.

The air crackled with tension as Ayeta's blade slashed through the air, cleaving through his adversaries with frightening speed. Heads rolled, severed from their bodies in a macabre. Remeshi, though unsettled by the brutality of Ayeta's actions, recognized the grim necessity of their situation. There was no other recourse against the overwhelming darkness they faced.

Meanwhile, Konosa, shaken from his reverie, forced himself back into focus. With trembling hands, he tightened his grip on his sword, a silent prayer on his lips as he steeled himself for the impending battle. Each breath he took was a struggle, a battle against the fear threatening to consume him.

In the thick of battle, Ayeta's movements were a dance of death, his sword a lethal instrument cutting through flesh and bone with terrifying precision. Remeshi dared to inch closer to Ayeta, his voice barely above a whisper as he sought answers amidst the carnage. "Hey, Ayeta-san," he called out, his tone tinged with both concern and curiosity, "What is Konosa Senpai doing? I saw you and Oya do it too."

"Eh? He is just gathering focus," Ayeta replied, his voice a chilling contrast to the chaos around them. With a swift motion, he emitted blade-like structures from the slash of his sword, each strike cleaving through the armored bodies of the knights with ruthless efficiency.

Remeshi, witnessing the carnage, couldn't help but question the nature of Konosa's technique. "That's it? Is it not a trick for enhanced movements or something?" he asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.

"Haha, no," Ayeta chuckled darkly, his eyes glinting with a force barely recognisable. "He is just focusing. You know, like calming down his nerves."

The realization dawned on Remeshi, a grim acknowledgment of the dire situation they faced. "Oh. It will be hard to battle against these people anyways.."

"I mean.. Konosa clearly sees them as enemies. That is all you need to know, right?" His own words cut through the air like a blade, sharp and merciless in his head. "I don't see them as my enemy, but I don't see them as my friends either. They are being manipulated. By someone else. They are not doing it on purpose. And it is manipulating. It is basically direct controlling here. Yeah, sure. I can never battle properly like this."

Oya, perched atop the mighty dragon, surveyed the battlefield with her sharp ears. With a commanding gesture, she urged the dragon to fly closer to the relentless onslaught of knights, their numbers seemingly endless, like a relentless tide crashing against the shores of sanity.

"There is no end to these guys! Where do they keep popping up from!" Konosa's voice rang out, frustration and exhaustion seeping through his words like venom.

"I am so done! I have reached my limit! I can't fight anymore!" he exclaimed, his breath ragged as he struggled to regain his composure amidst the chaos.

But Remeshi, ever the stalwart companion, refused to yield to despair. "No! Not now, Senpai! If we give in, we won't make it out!" he shouted, his voice a beacon of defiance in the face of overwhelming odds.

Despite his resolve, Remeshi found himself locked in a deadly dance with the knights, his katana clashing against their armor with a resounding clang. But even as he fought for survival, his mind churned with doubt and uncertainty. Questions swirled in his head like a tempest, each clash of steel a reminder of the weight of his burden.

Remeshi couldn't bring himself to deliver a fatal blow, his hesitation born from a desperate hope that there might be another way, a path that didn't lead to further bloodshed. The dream he had, the vision of the two brothers, its fragments flickering before his eyes like ghostly apparitions amidst the chaos of battle.

As the chaos of battle raged on, a sudden misstep caused Ayeta's katana to inadvertently strike Konosa, eliciting a cry of pain from his comrade.

"Hey! Watch where you are aiming!" Konosa's voice pierced through the cacophony of battle, his anger palpable in the air.

But Ayeta, unfazed by the accidental injury, offered a cryptic reassurance, his smile tinged with a hint of menace. "You are not dead, friend. I hope you understand that it is getting very irritating right now with these knights. Please bear with me," he said, his words laced with a chilling calmness.

Caught off guard by Ayeta's demeanor, Konosa couldn't help but notice the stark difference in the way he interacted with them. His smile, warm and reassuring towards Remeshi, now held an air of intimidation that sent shivers down Konosa's spine. Yet amidst the turmoil of battle, there was little time to dwell on such thoughts.

But before Konosa could fully process the situation, Ayeta's attention shifted back to the relentless tide of knights, his resolve hardening into a steely determination. "Forget it! I'm sorry Re-chan, but... They are dead," Ayeta declared, his voice devoid of emotion as he swiftly moved to dispatch the encroaching foes.

With the precision of a machine, Ayeta's blade danced through the air, beheading the knights with ruthless efficiency. Their screams went unheard as their heads tumbled to the ground, their bodies collapsing in a gruesome heap.

Covered in a splatter of crimson, Ayeta seemed almost inhuman as he continued his relentless assault, each swing of his blade leaving a trail of carnage in its wake. Konosa, his senses reeling from the onslaught, could only watch in horror as his once steadfast ally descended into a frenzy.

"He has lost it," Konosa muttered, his voice barely audible over the din of battle.

High above the chaos of the battlefield, Oya perched atop the mighty dragon Icarus, her senses honed to a razor-sharp focus. Despite the distance, she could hear the distant echoes of her comrades' voices, their words carrying on the wind like whispers of fate.

Oya formulated a daring plan, her mind racing with calculations and contingencies. Gripping her sword tightly, she turned to Icarus, her silent companion, and relayed her intentions with a steely resolve. "I will jump off your back and chop their heads off. As I fall, I hope you will trap the fish in the net," she declared, her voice firm with conviction.

Icarus, ever obedient to his master's commands, nodded in understanding, his gaze unwavering as he prepared to execute her plan.

With a heavy inhale, Oya leaped from Icarus's back, her form a blur against the backdrop of the sky. As she plummeted towards the earth below, her senses heightened, capturing the subtle nuances of the surrounding environment-the rustle of leaves, the whisper of the wind, the faint sound of footsteps drawing closer.

"The girl is crazy! They all heard her masterpiece. And she falls from there!" Konosa's voice rang out, a mixture of disbelief and admiration coloring his words. His eyes flickered upwards, catching a glimpse of Icarus circling above, a silent sentinel guarding his master's descent.

But the height from which Oya had jumped was incomparably dangerous, a testament to her unwavering determination in the face of adversity. And as she landed gracefully on a nearby tree, her sword gleaming in the dappled sunlight, it was clear that she was a force to be reckoned with.

Meanwhile, on the forest floor, Konosa braced himself for the onslaught to come, his senses alert to the ever-shifting tide of battle. But as he prepared to engage the encroaching enemies, a new threat emerged-a band of men armed with bows and arrows, their intent clear as they climbed atop trees with uncanny agility.

Confusion clouded Konosa's thoughts as he struggled to make sense of the newcomers' motives, their presence adding another layer of complexity to an already dire situation.

Remeshi's keen eyes caught sight of the archers aiming their deadly arrows not just at any tree, but at Icarus himself, the noble dragon circling above as a guardian to his master, Oya.

"Not just any tree!" Remeshi exclaimed loudly, his voice cutting through the chaos of battle. "They are aiming for Icarus!"

With a swift motion, Oya leaped down from her perch on the tree, her sword flashing in the air as she dispatched the would-be assailants with lethal precision, their heads tumbling to the ground in a grisly display of carnage.

But amidst the fray, Konosa's voice rang out in a desperate plea, his fear for Oya's safety palpable in the air. "Oh no! I won't make it in time!" he cried, his heart pounding as he fought tooth and nail against the encroaching enemies.

Seeing the danger looming overhead, Remeshi acted swiftly, tossing his sword into the air with practiced precision. With a resounding thud, the blade embedded itself within the tree opposite him, creating a makeshift platform for Oya to land upon.

Unaware of the unconventional landing spot, Oya gracefully touched down on the blade, her material-insensitive boots shielding her from the sharp edge beneath her feet.

"Thank you, Icarus! I knew I could count on you," Oya murmured, her gratitude palpable as she prepared to continue the fight.

Konosa breathed a sigh of relief, his anxiety ebbing away as he witnessed Oya's safe landing. "Ah! Good job. Thank God she is safe," he muttered, his eyes scanning the battlefield for any sign of impending danger.

Meanwhile, Remeshi turned his attention to Icarus, the magnificent dragon hovering above them with an air of stoic determination.

"Why don't you do it yourself?" came a coarse, heavy voice from high above, catching Remeshi off guard.

"Wait! You can talk?" Remeshi exclaimed, his surprise evident as he realized he could understand the dragon's words.

"I do. Humans hear it as a 'roar'," the dragon replied, its voice reverberating through the air with a sense of ancient wisdom.

"Go and save her," Remeshi urged, his eyes locking with the dragon's gaze.

"She is already saved by your katana, young man," the dragon replied cryptically, its words carrying a weight of mystery and intrigue.

Confused by Remeshi's one-sided conversation, Konosa glanced over, his curiosity piqued by the sight of his companion seemingly talking to thin air.

"No, it's nothing," Remeshi replied quickly, his attention returning to the battle at hand as he deftly evaded the swinging swords of their enemies.

In the darkened forest, the air hung heavy with tension, thick with the weight of betrayal and impending danger. Remeshi stood beneath the shadow of the majestic dragon, Icarus, his heart heavy with conflict. The dragon's eyes blazed with a fierce intensity, mirroring the turmoil within Remeshi's own soul.

"Sir, Icarus. She trusts you because she is a dragon rider," Remeshi's voice wavered, carrying the weight of his guilt. "Do you want to break your master's trust?"

The dragon's massive form loomed over Remeshi. But Remeshi's next words pierced through the silence like a dagger.

"You couldn't swoop in in time because your wings were hurt," he accused, his voice laced with bitterness. "Who cares if you couldn't save her then? All that matters is if you can save her now."

Icarus roared in defiance, the sound echoing through the forest like thunder.

"From what?" The dragon's voice cut through the tension. "She is merrily standing on that sword of yours thinking it is me," he confessed, his words heavy with regret.

"I really don't want to do this to her," Remeshi whispered, his heart aching with the weight of his betrayal. "But she will eventually figure out it's my sword. I don't want that."

With a determined stride, Remeshi rushed towards the nearby tree, his hand reaching out to grasp the hilt of his sword. The blade toppled over with a resounding crash, sending Oya tumbling through the air.

"W-what was that?" Oya's voice trembled with fear. The dragon's roar filled the air once more, a mixture of warning and submission. With a small bounce, Oya landed upon Icarus's outstretched wings.

The forest seemed to hold its breath as tension crackled through the air like lightning. Remeshi stood, his hand still trembling from the action he had just taken, while Icarus loomed above him, a silent sentinel of the chaos that had unfolded.

"Hey! Remeshi!" Konosa's voice pierced through the stillness, filled with equal parts shock and anger. "What was that about? You wish to kill our teammate after saving her?"

Remeshi's heart sank at the accusation, his eyes flickering with guilt as he struggled to find the words to explain his actions. "I'm sorry, Senpai!" he stammered, his voice tinged with desperation. "I didn't mean to do that. But thank god she is safe, huh..."

The slight giggle that escaped Remeshi's lips only served to further incense Konosa, who regarded him with a mixture of confusion and frustration. "What's so funny?" he demanded, his voice tinged with impatience.

But Remeshi offered no reply, his gaze distant as he grappled with the weight of his actions.

Oya stood amidst the aftermath, her senses overwhelmed by the scent of charred flesh and the metallic tang of blood. With deliberate care, she untied the scarf from around her eyes, allowing the humid breeze to caress her skin, a stark contrast to the brutality she had just unleashed. Her gaze swept over the battlefield, where the once proud knights lay in a macabre tableau of death, their bodies burnt to ashes and heads severed by her own hand.

As she looked down at her hands, her sword, her boots-each dripping with the crimson evidence of her deeds-a chill settled in her bones. The sight of her sword glistening with blood sent a shiver down her spine, yet a disturbing calmness washed over her.

"I think I should get used to this," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, as she tossed the scarf back to Konosa.

Icarus, ever vigilant, retreated into the safety of his glass jar before she could call upon him again. Worried, Oya glanced at the jar, a flicker of concern crossing her features. "Was he too tired?" she wondered aloud.

"Or perhaps he just didn't want you to know that he was hurt," Remeshi muttered darkly.

"What was that?" Konosa inquired, his brow furrowing in confusion.

"No, nothing," Remeshi replied hastily, his grip tightening on his sword. His recent conversation with Icarus echoed in his mind, a reminder of the secrets lurking within their midst.

Their battle had been relentless, a symphony of clashing swords and whistling arrows, the air thick with the scent of impending death. As Ayeta carved a path through their remaining enemies with lethal precision, Remeshi and the others fought on, their resolve unyielding even in the face of overwhelming odds.

And finally, as the last of their foes fell before them, Konosa sank to his knees, exhaustion and relief washing over him in equal measure. "It's finally over," he breathed, his voice tinged with disbelief.

As the team caught their breath and allowed the tension to ebb away, Remeshi voiced the question that lingered on all their minds, a question born of exhaustion and uncertainty.

"So, what next? Did we make it through the second level of this test?"

Konosa strode confidently through the dense undergrowth, his eyes scanning the surroundings with a sense of pride. To him, it felt as though they were making remarkable progress, surpassing the challenges of the exam with ease. Each obstacle they faced seemed to strengthen their resolve, propelling them forward with unwavering determination.

"Seems we will be out of danger for quite a while now, don't you think?" Oya's voice cut through the stillness of the forest, her words tinged with a hint of optimism.

But Konosa's response was swift and sharp, his frustration bubbling to the surface like molten lava. "No, you crazy girl! I think we still have to be careful!"

The tension between Konosa and Oya crackled like wildfire in the dry forest air, their words sharp as daggers as they faced off against each other.

"How dare you talk to me like that? I am not the crazy one, you are!" Oya's voice rang out, her frustration palpable as she confronted Konosa.

Konosa's retort was swift and cutting, his anger boiling over like a pot left unattended. "Oh yeah? You are the one who couldn't control herself in the middle of the battle, crying!"

Oya's response was immediate, her words laced with defiance. "I am just not heartless like you are!"

The accusation struck a nerve with Konosa, his jaw tightening in response. "Right, if you are not heartless then why didn't you trust your friends?"

Their argument escalated, each accusation and rebuttal fueling the flames of their conflict. Konosa's accusations of cowardice were met with Oya's steadfast defense, her loyalty to Remeshi unwavering despite the doubts cast upon her.

As the exchange grew increasingly heated, Ayeta's voice cut through the tension like a knife, a voice of reason in the midst of chaos. "Hey now... let's not fight over something so trivial."

The tension in the air was thick, suffocating, as the exchange between Konosa and Oya reached its peak even with Ayeta's reasoning. Remeshi then stepped forward, his calm demeanor a soothing balm to the frayed nerves of his companions.

"Cut it out, you both. This is not the time to quarrel like this," Remeshi's voice cut through the tension, his words carrying the weight of authority.

But Oya's frustration was palpable, her voice edged with bitterness. "Tell him. My voice doesn't reach that far anyway."

Konosa's retort was swift, his tone mocking. "Obviously! It doesn't! Borrow a strong one from the jinx priestess."

Oya bristled at his words, her anger simmering just beneath the surface. "What did you say?" she demanded, her eyes flashing with indignation.

Konosa's response was flippant, his smirk widening. "Why didn't you hear?"

Remeshi interjected once more, his voice a soothing presence amidst the rising storm of emotions. "Hey now! Don't go out of hand."

But the tension between Oya and Konosa was palpable, their gazes locked in a silent battle of wills. "Tell him," Oya demanded, her voice a sharp retort.

"Tell her," Konosa echoed, his tone equally defiant.

Remeshi found himself sandwiched between the two, a mediator in a conflict fueled by anger and frustration. His attempts to reason with them seemed to fall on deaf ears, the rift between Oya and Konosa widening with each passing moment.

"Ugh! What was I thinking when I allowed you to join in," Konosa's voice dripped with disdain as he addressed Oya, his eyes narrowed in anger.

But Oya refused to back down, her resolve unyielding in the face of Konosa's accusations. "You are no one to allow me. Remeshi-san asked me to join, and I did," she retorted, her voice firm and unwavering.

Konosa's temper flared at her defiance, his pride wounded by her rebuttal. "Stop it! I am the one who helped him. He didn't even know where to go until I told him. So in that sense, I am the whole reason you are even allowed this opportunity," he countered, his voice tinged with arrogance.

Oya's response was swift, her words cutting through the air like a sharpened blade. "Egocentric much, do you even hear yourself?"

Konosa scoffed dismissively, his disdain evident in his tone. "Of course. Unlike you, I don't waste time in pointless dilemma."

Their verbal sparring continued, each barb more cutting than the last as they traded insults and accusations. Konosa's words struck a nerve with Oya, her frustration mounting with each passing moment.

"Who are you to bring in my personal situation?" Oya's voice was sharp with anger, her eyes flashing with indignation.

Konosa's response was callous, his words dripping with contempt. "Oh? I am just enlightening you, Hashiro. Your situation is the most senseless thing I have come across."

The exchange reached its breaking point, Oya's patience wearing thin as she confronted Konosa head-on. "So you are saying I am hopeless?"

Konosa's reply was cold and unforgiving, his words a final blow in their verbal sparring match. "And ding, ding, ding. You finally know where you stand."

With a wordless cry of frustration, Oya drew her sword, her movements swift and decisive. In response, Konosa mirrored her actions, his own blade gleaming in the dappled sunlight filtering through the forest canopy.

But before their blades could clash, Remeshi intervened, his figure appearing like a guardian angel between the two combatants. With a swift motion, he grabbed the edges of their swords, his voice firm and commanding. "Stop acting like this."

The forest echoed with the sharp exchange of words, tensions running high among the group as they traversed the treacherous terrain. Oya's fury was like a wildfire, fueled by Konosa's derogatory remark.

"He started it by calling me a crazy girl," Oya spat, her voice thick with anger.

Remeshi, ever the peacemaker, interjected gently, "Well, you shouldn't have, Senpai."

Konosa's response was defensive, his nerves visibly frayed as he attempted to justify his actions. "Well, I only said that because she was being too careless."

But Remeshi was quick to rebuke him. "Well, you shouldn't have been."

Oya's retort was swift, her voice laced with frustration. "I wasn't being careless. I only said so because everyone needed a break."

Before Remeshi could mediate further, both Konosa and Oya raised their voices in unison, demanding his silence. "Stay out of this, Remeshi," they chorused, their anger palpable.

As tensions continued to mount, Ayeta attempted to diffuse the situation with a hint of humor. "If you both are going to kill each other, friends, then do it after we reach the top of the hill," he suggested, a playful smile dancing on his lips.

But Remeshi was quick to remind him of the seriousness of their situation. "Ayeta-san, this is not the right time for demon jokes," he sighed wearily.

Konosa's frustration boiled over, his voice tinged with bitterness as he defended their actions. "This forest had gone completely berserk just now, and we had to kill them to survive. We did what we had to do."

Oya, however, remained unconvinced, her skepticism evident in her tone. "We could have evaded them and raced them out or figured out what else was going on."

But Konosa's resolve remained steadfast, his conviction unshakeable. "We did all that, Oya. You don't think we didn't think of that first? But that was our only choice. More situations like this will occur again, and we might have to resort to the same solution. You can't just expect nothing to happen."

Oya's skepticism turned to accusation as she turned her gaze to Konosa. "I doubt a person like you, Konosa-san, can call the shots like this. After all, your best decision was running away, wasn't it?"

Remeshi attempted to intervene once more, but Konosa silenced him with a wave of his hand. The forest fell silent as Konosa spoke, his words heavy with regret and self-doubt.

"She is right, isn't she?" Konosa's voice wavered, his vulnerability laid bare for all to see. "I ran away. From my family, from my possible responsibilities. I didn't mean to do all this. I didn't mean to run away. But at the time, that seemed like the only possible way to prove myself."

As his confession hung in the air, a weight lifted from his shoulders, and the group fell into a contemplative silence. In that moment of vulnerability, Konosa bared his soul, his inner turmoil laid bare for all to see, how he admired them for their strength and their greatness while he only himself for his own weakness.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

[Scene: conversation between two sisters
Location: somewhere in the world, a dark tower covered with shed trees and dried flowers - ❤️]

In the depths of a moonless night, within the heart of a desolate, towering castle, a chilling atmosphere hung heavy like a shroud. The air was thick with the scent of decay, and shadows danced ominously in the dim light filtering through the cracks in the ancient stone walls. Amidst this eerie scene, stood two figures, cloaked in darkness, their silhouettes barely discernible against the backdrop of gloom.

One, the older of the two, possessed an aura of sinister elegance, her every movement graceful yet calculated. Her eyes gleamed with a cold intensity as she turned to her companion, a younger girl whose innocence seemed untouched by the darkness that surrounded them.

"Sister? Did you find the young boy?" the younger one inquired, her voice trembling slightly with anticipation.

A faint smirk played upon the lips of the elder sister as she replied, her tone dripping with satisfaction, "Oh, yes! I definitely did, my sweet, little sister."

A spark of excitement ignited in the younger girl's eyes, dispelling the shadows of doubt that had lingered there moments before. "Then let us inform about this to our Nee-sama! She will be very pleased," she exclaimed, her voice filled with youthful enthusiasm.

Together, the two sisters made their way through the labyrinthine corridors of the castle, their footsteps echoing ominously against the cold, stone floors. Finally, they arrived at their destination - a dark, unlit room at the very top of the tower.

Pushing open the heavy wooden door, they stepped into the chamber, where the air hung heavy with the scent of dried flowers and ancient magic.

In the eerie silence of the unlit room, the two girls skipped cautiously, their shadows dancing across the floor as they approached the figure standing by the open window. The silhouette of furniture loomed ominously in the dim light, casting long, twisted shapes against the walls.

"Nee-sama," the younger of the two girls spoke timidly, her voice barely above a whisper. "Waimi Nee-chan has found the young boy."

Waimi, the second oldest sister, cast a wary glance at their terrifying elder sister, her nerves on edge as she awaited her response. The figure at the window remained still, her slender back facing them, the moonlight casting a haunting glow upon her small grin.

At last, the figure turned to face them, her presence commanding yet unnerving. Her pale skin seemed to glow under the slim moonlight, her lips red as blood itself, glistening with an otherworldly sheen. A dark veil obscured all but her lips, with a red netted rose attached to its top left end, adding to the eerie atmosphere that surrounded her.

"Tell me then. Where is he?" she inquired, her voice like a soft whisper that sent shivers down their spines.

Waimi hesitated, her eyes fixated on her sister's unsettling smile, before stammering out her response. "Oh? Tell me then. Where is he?" the figure repeated, her voice cold and cutting.

With trembling hands, Waimi struggled to speak, her words tumbling out in a rush of fear and uncertainty. "I haven't... located him, but there is news of him. A young boy who ran away from his home... amazing at sword fighting... a traditional katana... near Kamakura."

A wicked grin spread across the figure's lips as she listened, her sharp, elongated canine peeking out from the corner of her mouth, drawing a trickle of dark blood. With a deliberate motion, she traced the blood along her chin, leaving behind a single letter on the table before her - 'R'.

"W-well, you see Nee-sama," Waimi stammered, her voice trembling as she struggled to maintain her composure. "There is no mistaking that..."

The figure's grin widened, her eyes gleaming with a malevolent light as she stepped forward, her veil swirling around her like a shroud. "Is that all?" she asked, her voice dripping with sinister amusement.

Waimi could only nod in response, her heart pounding in her chest as she awaited her sister's next move. And as the figure loomed closer, bathed in the eerie light of the moon, Waimi knew that they were truly at the mercy of the darkness that lurked within their own blood.

In the opulent chambers of the sisters, a sense of unease settled over the room like a shroud. Quami, the youngest of the three, stood frozen, her eyes fixed on the unfolding scene before her. The oldest sister, her face obscured by a delicate veil, continued to toy with the intricate fabric, her slender fingers dancing across the material with an air of quiet amusement.

The silence was oppressive, heavy with unspoken tensions and secrets. The air was thick with anticipation, as if the very walls were holding their breath in expectation of something momentous.

Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows, his presence commanding attention. The man, his face lined with age and experience, wore a black cloak that billowed behind him like a dark cloud. In his hand, he grasped a scythe, its curved blade glinting in the dim light.

"You! You little punk," he growled, his voice like a rusty gate, as he marched towards the eldest sister. His eyes blazed with a fierce intensity, his gaze piercing through the veil that hid her face.

The eldest sister, her back still turned towards the room, did not flinch. Her slender figure remained rigid, her shoulders squared in defiance. "What is it, Father?" she asked, her voice low and measured, her tone laced with a hint of disdain.

The man's face twisted in anger, his eyes flashing with a fierce light. "What do you mean, what is it?" he snarled, his voice rising in indignation. "How long do you think you can keep it from the others?"

With a sudden movement, he grasped the eldest sister's dress, his hand closing around the delicate fabric like a vice. The neckline stretched downward, revealing a tantalizing glimpse of her alabaster skin. Quami's eyes widened in shock as she witnessed the scene unfold.

"Get him here, you little jerk," the man growled, his voice dripping with malice. "He can't be roaming around freely. I need the boy."

The eldest sister's face remained impassive, her eyes hidden behind the veil. But her voice was laced with a hint of warning, a subtle threat. "Father, you shouldn't."

Waimi, the middle sister, stepped forward, her eyes flashing with concern. "Father, please. This is not the way."

But the man's grip only tightened, his fingers digging into the fabric like claws. Quami watched in horror, her heart pounding in her chest, as the scene played out before her. The air was heavy with tension, the silence oppressive, as the oldest sister and their father engaged in a silent struggle for power and control.

In that dimly lit room, the air thick with tension, a chilling exchange unfolded between a father and his daughter. The eldest sister, adorned in a striking dress, sought her father's attention, but his focus was elsewhere, consumed by his own agenda. Ignoring her attempts to engage him in conversation about the beauty around them, he dismissed her with a cold finality, fixated on a decision that seemed non-negotiable.

Frustration brewed within the daughter, her delicate facade masking a simmering rage. With a flick of her slender fingers, she commanded attention, sending her father careening backward, a cacophony of chaos ensuing as he collided with the table. Undeterred, she approached him gracefully, a twisted smile dancing on her lips as she toyed with him like a puppet on strings.

The threat of her mother's fate hung heavy in the air, a reminder of the darkness that lurked within their family. As her father struggled against her grip, his defiance only fueled her determination, a dangerous glint gleaming in her eyes as she tasted the metallic tang of blood upon her fingertips.

With a haunting innocence, she questioned her father's intentions, the word 'monster' echoing through the room like a curse. And in that moment, her facade shattered, revealing the true depths of her depravity as she unleashed her wrath upon him.

The room reverberated with his screams, a symphony of agony as flesh tore and bones shattered, painting the walls in a grotesque tableau of violence. Yet, amidst the chaos, the daughter remained eerily composed, her gaze fixed upon the window as if reveling in the carnage she had wrought.

As the final echoes of her father's torment faded into silence, the room fell still once more, the only sound the gentle rustle of the curtains as she traced her blood-stained hands along their delicate fabric. And with a chilling smile, she turned to her sisters, their shock mirroring her own twisted satisfaction.

The rose on her veil fell, a crimson tear amidst the sea of blood that pooled around them, a stark reminder of the horrors that lurked within their family's dark legacy. And as the moon cast its pallid light upon the scene, illuminating the horror in stark relief, they could only watch in stunned silence as their sister's dark silhouette vanished into the night, leaving them to confront the gruesome reality of their shared fate.

In the eerie stillness of the chamber, the aftermath of the gruesome scene played out in haunting echoes. Waimi, the eldest sister, stood as a spectral figure amidst the chaos, her gaze piercing through the darkness with an unsettling intensity. Quami, the younger sibling, trembled in fear, her eyes wide with horror as she grappled with the chilling reality of her sister's monstrous nature.

"Father! I told you not to... even... even after I warned you," Quami's voice quivered with fear, her words a desperate plea for understanding.

"You warned father that I would kill him?" The older sister's tone was cold, her words laced with a sinister edge.

"No! Nee-sama, no! I meant I warned him of how strong you are but he didn't seem to listen," Quami's words tumbled out in a frantic rush, her fear palpable.

"I see," her lips curled into a macabre smile as she licked the blood from around her lips, sending shivers down Quami's spine.

Stumbling backward in terror, Quami's foot caught on the shattered remnants of a glass ball that had once adorned the table, the sound of its demise a chilling reminder of the violence that had unfolded.

"Poor little sister Quami. Don't be afraid of me. I might kill others but I still am your sister. Your older sister," the oldest' voice was soft, almost tender, as she reached out to Quami, her touch sending a shiver down her spine.

"Right?" Her grip on Quami's chin tightened slightly, her eyes boring into hers with an intensity that made Quami's blood run cold.

Quami nodded weakly, her body trembling with fear as she struggled to comprehend the nightmare unfolding before her.

Minutes later, a group of men arrived to dispose of their father's lifeless body, their presence a grim reminder of the horrors that had transpired.

"Just you wait, sweet little boy," the oldest sister's voice dripped with malice as she traced her finger along the rusted grill of the window. "For the day when we meet is round the corner. We will have a reunion soon, Ryoto-san."

And as the moon cast its ghostly light upon the scene, illuminating the horror in stark relief, Quami could only watch in stunned silence, her heart heavy with the knowledge that the darkness within their family ran deeper than she had ever dared to imagine.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

[Scene: Team eight
Location: examination hill - ❤️]

On the dark hill, where the shadows danced with the whispers of the wind, a conversation unfolded among the group. Oya's voice broke the silence, her words carrying a weight of curiosity and concern.

"Hey, Konosa Senpai. What about Remeshi-san's memory? What did your sister say?" Oya's question hung in the air, prompting Konosa to offer a response tinged with uncertainty.

"That is there. My sister said that remnants of his life will flash before him and he will eventually regain all of his memory but it will take a lot of time," Konosa explained, his words shrouded in a sense of mystery.

"Remnants?" Remeshi's voice cut through the stillness as he busied himself with chopping down branches, his movements betraying a hint of confusion.

"Yeah, remnants. You know, those bits of-" Konosa's explanation was interrupted by Remeshi's interjection, his tone tinged with impatience.

"Senpai, I know what remnants mean. I was just-" Remeshi's words trailed off as he struggled to articulate his thoughts, his mind drifting into a realm of uncertainty.

"They might come in as small shockwaves or nightmares?" Konosa's probing question drew Remeshi back to the present, his expression clouded with uncertainty.

"Small shockwaves or nightmares," Remeshi repeated slowly, his voice betraying a sense of introspection as he grappled with the implications of Konosa's words.

As Konosa pressed for more details, Remeshi hesitated, his mind struggling to piece together fragmented memories. "Yes, I did see some dreams," he finally admitted, his words tinged with a sense of discomfort.

"Like here? On the hills?" Konosa's inquiry was met with a hesitant nod from Remeshi, his mind swirling with memories he couldn't quite grasp.

"...twice," Remeshi confessed, his voice faltering as a sudden wave of dizziness washed over him, his hand instinctively reaching for his stomach.

"Remeshi-san, are you okay?" Oya's voice trembled with concern as she watched him lean against a nearby tree, his face contorted in pain.

"The wound on my stomach... did it open again..." Remeshi muttered through clenched teeth, his grip tightening on his clothes as he fought to steady himself.

"Do you want to lie down?" Konosa's offer of assistance was met with a hesitant refusal from Remeshi, his determination to push through the pain evident in his voice.

"That's alright, Senpai. I can handle this much," Remeshi insisted, his resolve unyielding despite the discomfort he faced.

"Are you sure?" Konosa's concern was palpable as he watched Remeshi struggle, his own internal turmoil hidden beneath a facade of composure.

"...about a young child who couldn't do things properly. His mother died first. Then his brother was hurt. I am sure there was more... I just don't remember," Remeshi's words tumbled out in a rush, his voice tinged with frustration and confusion.

"What were the names, Re-chan?" Ayeta's inquiry drew Remeshi's attention, his mind grappling with the elusive fragments of memory that danced just beyond his reach.

"Unclear. I couldn't hear the name. I know he said it. His name and his brother's. But it was all static. I don't know. It was very... weird," Remeshi confessed, his gaze falling to the ground as he struggled to make sense of the fleeting glimpses of his dream.

The journey through the forest had been arduous, each step feeling heavier than the last. Despite crossing two entire stages, the distance seemed to stretch endlessly before them. The dense foliage of the forest loomed overhead, casting shadows that seemed to swallow the path ahead. Unfamiliar sounds echoed through the trees, adding to the eerie atmosphere that surrounded them.

As they pressed on, the air grew thicker, making it difficult to breathe. Remeshi stumbled to his knees, his vision blurred and his breath labored. Sweat beaded on his brow as he struggled to stay conscious, his eyes desperately searching for his companions.

"What is going on..." Konosa's voice cracked, his words barely a whisper as he voiced the shared concern.

Ayeta and Oya, normally unaffected by altitude, found themselves struggling to draw in each breath, their chests constricting with each inhale.

"This might kill us," Remeshi gasped, the gravity of their situation settling heavily upon them.

Oya crawled toward Konosa, offering him support as they trudged forward together. Meanwhile, Ayeta hurried to Remeshi's side, lifting him gently in his arms as he collapsed onto the ground. Blood seeped from the open wound, staining his clothes and the grass beneath him.

"Hold it together, Re-chan. Come on. We need you. I need you," Ayeta pleaded softly, his voice laced with urgency and fear.

Konosa cursed inwardly, frustration and exhaustion mingling as he struggled to comprehend the severity of their predicament.

"What is wrong with this exam? If this is why only a handful of students pass, then it's just ridiculous," he thought bitterly, his mind swirling with questions and doubts as they fought to survive the trials of the forest.

Resting against the sturdy trunk of a towering tree, the group finally managed to gather enough oxygen to breathe deeply, if not normally. In the midst of their brief respite, Remeshi's senses tingled with an uneasy awareness. "Some strange things are around," he announced, almost springing up from his position. The rest of the group, defeated but knowing they had no choice but to follow his curiosity, rose to their feet and followed him.

"Three boys and two girls. One of the girls is wounded, and there are very strange creatures around them," Remeshi relayed, his voice filled with a mixture of concern and determination.

"How do you know?" Konosa questioned, his skepticism evident in his tone.

"Sword master? You should become a card reader or something," Konosa muttered to himself, half in jest, half in admiration for Remeshi's intuition.

Remeshi explained how he had heard a faint, shrill shriek, though Oya protested, claiming she hadn't heard anything of the sort. Despite her doubts, she joined in the search, her resolve unwavering. Suddenly, as if in response to Oya's skepticism, a piercing scream tore through the air, causing dry leaves to cascade from the swaying branches above. Without hesitation, the group raced toward the source of the sound, following Remeshi's lead.

Their journey led them to stumble upon another team, one unfamiliar and not part of the groups dispatched by Hizakun Nemori. Startled by the unexpected encounter, they exchanged wary glances with the newcomers.

"Who are you guys?" Konosa demanded, leaping to his feet, his hand instinctively reaching for the hilt of his sword.

"Are you from the teams Nemori Sensei registered?" the stranger inquired, his voice calm but tinged with authority. He was a boy with striking green eyes and silky light green hair tied in a slim ponytail.

"Yes," Konosa confirmed.

"We are from the north," the boy replied proudly, his demeanor unyielding.

Sensing a common purpose, Remeshi gestured for Konosa to follow, and the stranger fell in step with them, his curiosity piqued. Together, they followed the echoes of distress until they stumbled upon a scene of desperation. Two helpless girls lay under the shade of a tree, one wounded and the other sobbing uncontrollably. Their tear-filled eyes were fixed on a group of menacing figures, their bodies clad in silver armor, standing ominously on limping legs, unarmed but undeniably threatening.

The tension in the air thickened as the teams exchanged wary glances, uncertainty hanging heavy between them. The green-eyed boy stepped forward, his demeanor nonchalant despite the gravity of the situation. "We aren't here to help," he stated bluntly, his words sending a chill down Remeshi's spine.

Remeshi's fury simmered beneath the surface as he regarded the strangers with narrowed eyes. "Don't look at us. They might just die anyway," he retorted coldly, gesturing toward the tree where three unconscious young boys hung upside down by their ankles, suspended by thin strings. Though relief washed over them at the sight of the boys' lack of visible wounds, the gravity of their predicament remained undeniable.

"If there were points given to save people, I definitely would have helped," the stranger boy continued, his tone tinged with a hint of remorse. "Yet you are here to save them anyway, isn't it?" he added, his gaze piercing as it swept over the group, challenging their convictions.

Konosa studied the three boys before him, his gaze lingering on the green-haired male who stood out amongst them. "Perhaps you are the leader?" he ventured, curiosity tugging at his thoughts.

"I guess you are too. I am Karashi from the north," the green-eyed boy introduced himself, his voice carrying a note of finality. With a fleeting glance, he and his team faded into the depths of the forest, leaving the group to contemplate the weight of their encounter.

As the echoes of their departure faded into the distance, a sense of foreboding settled over the group, a silent acknowledgment of the trials that lay ahead. "Good luck... because I know we will meet again," Karashi's parting words lingered in the air, a portent of future clashes yet to come.

With adrenaline coursing through his veins, Remeshi scaled the tree with lightning speed, narrowly evading the outstretched hands of the silver-armored assailants. His heart pounded in his chest as he attempted to slice through the thin string binding their unconscious friends, but to his surprise, his blade merely left a small carve, the material proving stubbornly resistant.

"That's weird. I am not able to cut it down..." Remeshi muttered, frustration tugging at his resolve as he grappled with the unexpected obstacle.

"Don't! If you finish them, then they won't free our friends!" the girl seated next to the wounded female cried, her voice trembling with desperation and fear. Their silhouettes covered by the h avy shadows cast around them.

Feigning ignorance of the girl's plea, Konosa, Oya, and Ayeta sprang into action, their swords flashing in the dim light as they swiftly dispatched the silver-clad figures. Ayeta's movements were a blur, his agility unmatched as he danced among their adversaries, leaving trails of blood in his wake. Meanwhile, Konosa's strikes cleaved through the air with such force that the mere momentum sliced through their limbs like butter.

"Our friends!" the girl screamed in anguish as some of the remaining assailants slithered their way toward the unconscious boys, their intentions clear.

Remeshi leaped into action, his determination overriding his fear as he intercepted the advancing foes, his blade cutting through their bare fists with precision. But before he could fully assess the situation, a sudden force caught him by surprise, a large pearl-white figure with claws sinking into his flesh-Tiamat.

"He will listen to you, Remeshi-san," Oya shouted above the chaos, her voice carrying a note of urgency.

"Surprise..." Remeshi muttered, a flicker of recognition igniting within him as he recalled his earlier conversation with Icarus.

As Tiamat soared closer to the tree, Remeshi seized the opportunity, springing off the creature's back with practiced agility. Twirling through the air, his blade flashed as he sliced through the torsos of the slithering figures, each strike fueled by a mixture of determination and desperation. As he began to descend toward the forest floor, Tiamat swooped in, catching him mid-air and carrying him to safety on its back, their fates intertwined in the midst of chaos and conflict.

As Remeshi and Tiamat found themselves momentarily suspended in the chaos of battle, a brief exchange unfolded between them, their communication surprisingly fluent despite the barrier.

"Tiamat, we must cut down the strings first. If we save the people there, then we can fight better. I can't take full swings while protecting them," Remeshi urged, his voice laced with urgency as he sought to strategize amidst the turmoil.

"Done," Tiamat replied simply, his understanding evident as he prepared to heed Remeshi's directive.

"Great, thanks," Remeshi acknowledged, a sense of relief washing over him as he realized the dragon's cooperation.

"You can understand what I am saying?" Tiamat questioned, his surprise evident in his tone.

"Surprisingly, I can. I had a small conversation with Icarus as well," Remeshi admitted cryptically, his words hinting at a deeper connection between them.

"...who are you?" Tiamat inquired, curiosity tugging at his thoughts.

"Who knows," Remeshi replied enigmatically, his demeanor inscrutable as ever.

He then pressed on. "Can you breathe fire just so the strings take the damage?" he requested, knowing it was a tall order but hoping for Tiamat's cooperation nonetheless.

Tiamat smirked visibly, a glint of mischief dancing in his eyes as he unleashed a torrent of flames, burning through the strings with precision. As the unconscious boys landed safely on his back, Remeshi couldn't help but marvel at the dragon's power and finesse.

"Amazing," Remeshi breathed, his admiration evident as he watched Tiamat's display of prowess.

With the boys safely rescued, Tiamat flew closer to the ground, his massive wings spread wide as the boys slid down from his body. Konosa hurried to their side, catching them and laying them down next to the girls. Remeshi leaped down as well, his gratitude toward Tiamat palpable as he thanked the dragon for his assistance.

"No problem, prince," Tiamat replied, his voice tinged with warmth as he patted Remeshi on the head with his enormous wings. Despite his initial aversion to the title, Remeshi found himself surprisingly accepting of Tiamat's gesture, a sense of camaraderie blossoming between them in the heat of battle.

Meanwhile, Oya watched from a distance, her thoughts swirling as she observed the interaction between Remeshi and her dragon. Minutes later, Remeshi signaled that Tiamat was ready to depart, and Oya tapped her glass jar to summon the dragon back.

"Great work, Remeshi," Konosa praised, his admiration evident as he signaled his approval. However, their moment of triumph was short-lived as the enraged crowd, now freed from their bindings, surged forward with renewed fury.

"On second thought, not so well done," Konosa sighed, his frustration evident as they braced themselves for the onslaught of their adversaries.

Remeshi couldn't help but snicker slightly at the turn of events, his spirits undampened by the impending threat.

Bare fists they were, but the silver-armored assailants proved to be formidable adversaries, their relentless attacks difficult to evade.

"How did you slice them earlier?" Konosa inquired, turning to Remeshi for answers amidst the chaos of battle.

"I don't know...it just happened," Remeshi admitted, frustration gnawing at him as he grappled with the unexpected challenge.

Their swords flashed in the dim light as they struck out at their foes, their blows landing true yet failing to penetrate the steely armor that encased their adversaries. Despite their best efforts, it seemed nearly impossible to gain the upper hand against the relentless onslaught.

Ami, the girl seated next to the wounded female, rose to her feet, determination etched into her features as she dusted off her clothes and gripped her sword tightly. "I will help too. This was our problem anyway," she declared, her resolve unwavering as she joined the fray.

With a swift motion, black slashes erupted from Ayeta's blade, swallowing the enemies whole as he fought with a ferocity born from desperation. Their swords clashed against the unyielding metal fists of their opponents, the sounds of battle echoing through the forest as blood stained the ground beneath their feet.

Meanwhile, Ayeta grew bored of his own sword, his restless energy seeking new outlets for destruction. With a snap of his fingers, he conjured flames that engulfed the enemy ranks, burning them to ash with ruthless efficiency. Remeshi watched him with narrowed eyes, a mixture of concern and admiration flickering in his gaze as Ayeta's powers surged forth.

As the skirmish raged on, the group fought with a fierce determination, their resolve unshaken even in the face of overwhelming odds. With each clash of steel and burst of flame, they pressed forward.

As the battle came to a bloody conclusion, the group gathered around the fallen enemies, their faces grim with the weight of what they had done. In a somber moment of reflection, they offered prayers for the peace of the souls of the fallen men, their words whispered into the stillness of the forest. Even Ami, her heart heavy with the burden of their actions, joined in their prayers, seeking solace amidst the chaos.

But as their prayers reached a crescendo, the earth beneath them began to tremble, sending shockwaves of fear coursing through their veins. Konosa clung desperately to the nearest tree trunk for support, while the rest of the group huddled close to the unconscious boys, their hearts pounding with dread.

"You all killed my kids!" a voice roared, shattering the eerie silence with its fury. Before their eyes, a colossal creature emerged from the depths of the forest, its massive form uprooting trees and tearing through the underbrush as it advanced toward them, its eyes blazing with rage.

"What a big guy," Konosa remarked dryly, his attempt at levity failing to mask the fear in his voice.

Ayeta, undaunted by the giant's wrath, met its gaze with a cold glare, his resolve unyielding as he prepared to face the monstrous foe. With a deafening roar, the giant lunged forward, its massive fists pounding its own chest in a display of primal rage.

With lightning speed, Ayeta sprang into action, his movements fluid and precise as he climbed up the tree nearest to Konosa and swung on the hanging branches toward the giant. Drawing his sword with a swift motion, he struck out at the behemoth's right arm, severing it with a single clean stroke. Enraged, the giant lashed out, its remaining limbs flailing wildly as it sought to crush its diminutive adversary.

Undeterred, Ayeta moved with uncanny agility, evading the giant's clumsy attacks with ease as he methodically dismantled its defenses. With a series of swift strikes, he chopped off the creature's left leg, sending it crashing to the ground in a heap. As the giant lay helpless before him, Ayeta pressed his advantage, driving his sword through its chest with a savage twist, eliciting a guttural groan of agony from the beast.

With a final, decisive blow, Ayeta severed the creature's head from its body, sending it tumbling through the air like a grotesque ball before it came to rest at Remeshi's feet with a sickening thud. "I can do as much even without mana," Ayeta muttered, his voice tinged with grim satisfaction as he surveyed the carnage he had wrought.

But as the dust settled and the wind began to howl, a sense of unease settled over the group, their chests tightening with an oppressive weight. Remeshi coughed uncontrollably, his open wound seeping blood under the pressure of the suffocating atmosphere. And then, as if from nowhere, a figure materialized before them, her presence shrouded in mystery and menace.

Ayeta, startled by the sudden appearance of the mysterious woman, leaped back in alarm, his hand instinctively reaching for his sword.

As the dust settled and the tension in the air thickened, the group found themselves face to face with a mysterious woman who had appeared seemingly out of nowhere. Her presence exuded an aura of power and danger, her gaze piercing as it swept over them.

"Konosa, wasn't it?" she said, her voice laced with a hint of amusement.

"T-Totasha," Konosa stammered, his recognition evident as he met her gaze.

"Yeah. I assume you already met the rest of my children before coming here," she remarked casually, adjusting her spectacles on the bridge of her nose as she fixed her sharp gaze on Konosa.

"We meet yet again, Konosa Sakado," she continued, her tone dripping with amusement as she addressed him directly.

Konosa's mind raced as he struggled to make sense of the situation. Memories of their previous encounters flashed before his eyes, each more unsettling than the last.

"The Hasedera Temple..." he muttered, the realization dawning on him as he pieced together the fragments of their shared history.

"Oh? You are here too, prince?" Totasha remarked, her words laced with a hint of mockery as she licked her right hand's index finger with a long, venomous tongue, her eyes fixed intently on Remeshi.

As the gravity of the situation began to sink in, Remeshi's mind reeled with confusion. "This is like a dream. Meeting you for the third time," Totasha mused, her amusement evident as she observed the group's reactions.

"Th-third time?" Remeshi questioned, his voice betraying his uncertainty as he struggled to comprehend the significance of their encounter.

"No, Remeshi. Don't take her words too seriously. She is good at manipulating. Don't mess with his head," Konosa interjected, his tone grave as he issued a warning to his companions.

With resolve hardened, Konosa charged toward Totasha, his determination unwavering as he prepared to confront the enigmatic woman head-on. As tension reached its peak and battle seemed inevitable, the group braced themselves.

***

"run, son! Run!"

"father"

"run or she will kill you too!"

"No father! I won't leave without you!"

"Listen to me! Run! Now!"

"no father! Father!"

"run! She is controlled by-"

"FATHER"

***
A

s Remeshi's scream echoed through the air, he found himself abruptly yanked from the chaotic battlefield, his surroundings shifting in a disorienting blur until he found himself standing on the examination hill. Confusion clouded his thoughts as he struggled to make sense of the sudden transition, his mind reeling from the abrupt shift in reality.

"What is it?" Oya's voice cut through the haze of Remeshi's thoughts, her concern evident as she regarded him with furrowed brows.

Remeshi blinked, his gaze darting around him as he attempted to piece together his fragmented thoughts. "Huh..." he muttered, his voice trailing off as he struggled to articulate the jumble of emotions swirling within him.

"Are you okay, Remeshi-san?" Oya pressed, her tone tinged with worry as she reached out to steady him.

"Yeah...yeah... I am fine," Remeshi replied, his words coming out in a choked whisper as he fought to compose himself. "Thank you...Oya...thanks a lot," he added, his voice catching in his throat as he struggled to contain the flood of emotions threatening to overwhelm him.

Oya studied his pale face with concern, her own expression mirroring his turmoil as she silently offered her support.

Meanwhile, on the battlefield, Konosa clashed swords against Totasha, their blades ringing out in a deadly dance of steel and fury. Trees and boulders flew through the air as Totasha unleashed her wrath upon her adversaries, her power formidable and her rage unchecked.

"Why? Why not their faces? Why only the conversation and only the tragedies? Why not their names? Why is everything so blur? Why can't I remember who these people are?" Remeshi's thoughts raced as he grappled with the unsettling sense of deja vu that gripped him.

As Ayeta circled around the battlefield, dispatching the creatures thrown by Totasha with ruthless efficiency, Remeshi felt a surge of raw emotion welling up within him. Pure revenge, fueled by an anger he struggled to comprehend, coursed through his veins as he raced toward his adversary.

With a fiery determination, Remeshi sliced through the ends of Totasha's hair, freeing the unfamiliar strangers bound to her twisted strands. Smoke billowed around him as the portal appeared, dragging Totasha and her captives into its depths.

Ami gulped nervously at the sight of the strange portal, her eyes wide with fear as she struggled to comprehend the otherworldly spectacle before her. For Ayeta, Konosa, and Oya, the appearance of the portal seemed almost routine, a grim reminder of the dangers they faced as they ventured deeper into the unknown.

As Remeshi and Totasha engaged in a deadly dance of blades and hair, the intensity of their battle escalated with each passing moment. Totasha's hair regrew almost instantly, stretching out towards Remeshi with lethal intent, only to be swiftly chopped off again by his relentless onslaught. The air crackled with tension as they clashed, their movements a blur of speed and skill that left Konosa and the others watching in stunned silence.

With each stroke of his katana, Remeshi pressed forward with unwavering determination, his resolve unyielding as he sought to vanquish his formidable foe. Meanwhile, Totasha fought with a fierce determination of her own, her hair whipping through the air like a deadly serpent as she unleashed her fury upon her adversary.

As the battle raged on, the strain began to take its toll on Totasha, her energy waning as she struggled to keep up with Remeshi's relentless assault. Her glasses slid down her nose and fell to the ground, her dress torn at the corners as the mana required to regenerate her hair spiraled out of control.

With a desperate flick of her hair, Totasha pushed Remeshi back, buying herself a moment's respite as she attempted to gather her strength for the final showdown. But Remeshi remained undeterred, his determination unshaken as he continued to press forward with renewed vigor.

Meanwhile, Ayeta battled against the relentless onslaught of creatures that emerged from the unreachable ends of Totasha's hair, his movements fluid and precise as he cut through them with ruthless efficiency. With each swing of his sword, he carved a path of destruction through the horde, his mana cloaked blade burning through their flesh with deadly precision.

As the bodies of his fallen adversaries piled up around him, Ayeta's eyes burned with a fierce intensity, his resolve unyielding as he stood atop the body of his latest victim, his sword dripping with green blood. With a steely gaze, he surveyed the battlefield.

As the battle raged on, the vines protruding from the back of Totasha writhed and twisted, reaching high into the sky toward Ayeta with deadly intent. With a swift motion, Ayeta tossed the severed head of his latest victim aside and leaped into the air, his body a blur of motion as he deftly dodged the entangling vines. With a series of precise slashes, he carved his way through the cage of vines, freeing himself from their grasp before landing gracefully back on the ground.

Meanwhile, Konosa surveyed the battlefield with a sense of unease, his gaze flickering between the two sides of the conflict before settling on Oya. "I don't like this," he confessed in his head, his voice tinged with concern as he voiced his apprehensions. "He calls me his Senpai. But I can't even see an opening to help him. And Ayeta...I don't like him one bit. But the way he uses his katana is on another level. I need to get better. At least for the sake of our team."

Ami stood nearby, her expression one of dumbfounded disbelief as she watched the chaos unfold before her. Beside her, Oya stood guard over their unconscious friends, her senses alert for any sign of danger.

But amidst the chaos, one of Remeshi's wild swings pierced through Totasha's arm, eliciting a scream of pain from the young woman. In her agony, her hair curled back toward her, a manifestation of Totasha's lost control over the creatures she had created through her own magic.

Totasha, infuriated by Remeshi's audacity, clicked her tongue in annoyance as she turned her attention toward him. "What is it? And how dare you hurt me," she spat, her eyes flashing with fury as Remeshi darted around her in a desperate attempt to evade her wrath.

But Remeshi refused to be cowed by her threats, his mind racing as he searched for a way to turn the tide of battle in his favor. With a sudden burst of speed, he dashed around Totasha in dizzying circles, his movements too swift for her to follow with her eyes alone.

Realizing her disadvantage, Totasha spread her green hair across the forest, creating a barrier of defense against Remeshi's relentless assault. Yet even as she prepared to strike back, a sharp pain lanced through her neck, causing her to roar in frustration and pain.

Before she could react, Remeshi closed in, his blade slicing through the vines protruding from her back with deadly precision. Totasha's roar of agony echoed through the forest as she struggled to regain control, her mana stretched to its limits as she grappled with the sudden loss of her most potent weapon.

As Remeshi lifted himself with a determined resolve, he leaped over Totasha, his sword poised for the final blow. With a swift motion, he drove his blade through her front, piercing her flesh and drawing a gasp of pain from her lips. Blood seeped from the wound, staining her clothing as she struggled to comprehend the sudden turn of events.

On their hand, Ayeta intervened, his voice cutting through the chaos with a sense of finality. "That's it. You have done enough," he muttered, dropping his sword to the ground with a resounding thud.

As Ayeta's blade struck the earth, a ground-shaking force rippled through the battlefield, shattering every inch of the creatures before him into a million pieces. Flesh and blood rained down upon them, obscuring their surroundings as Ayeta covered his face with his hood, stepping away from the grisly aftermath of his power.

With a determined resolve, Remeshi withdrew his sword from Totasha's body, causing her to falter forward, her face coming to rest on his shoulder. "You have done enough too," he said softly, his voice tinged with a mixture of compassion and determination.

"You...have...grown...into a fine young man," Totasha coughed, her words strained as she struggled to speak through the pain.

As green dust enveloped their surroundings, Remeshi instinctively reached out to support Totasha's falling body, cradling her gently in his arms as she descended from the air. He crouched beside her, laying her down with a gentleness that belied the chaos of the battlefield.

As the green dust cleared away, revealing the serene scene before them, Totasha gazed up at Remeshi with a soft smile. "You...freed me from my curse...to make them my children...my children to save myself...myself, I was being very selfish...wasn't I?" she mused, her voice filled with a sense of remorse and gratitude.

Remeshi met her gaze with silent understanding, his heart heavy with the weight of their shared history. Behind him, his team gathered, their presence a silent testament to the bonds forged through hardship and sacrifice.

Her once vibrant form now dissolving into particles, starting from her toes and slowly working its way upward. The realization of her impending departure clawed at his heart, leaving him feeling helpless and desperate.

"Listen, young prince," she began, her voice strained with the effort of speaking through the decay that consumed her. "I am so sorry... I apologize... I really do regret it all... but what can I do... those... those... our enemies made this happen... you know your aunt would never... never in a million years... harm you, right?"

Each word she uttered felt like a heavy stone dropping into the depths of Remeshi's soul. He wanted to believe her, to cling to the notion that she was someone he knew and could never betray him. Yet, the evidence of her betrayal was undeniable, a bitter truth he struggled to accept.

As her disintegrating form weakened, she reached out and placed both hands tenderly on his cheeks. A surge of warmth radiated from her touch, flooding his senses with a familiar comfort that he had longed for since childhood. Tears welled in his eyes, streaming down his cheeks unchecked.

"Don't cry, my child," she whispered, her voice barely a whisper amidst the crumbling remnants of her body.

Remeshi grasped her hands tightly, desperate to hold onto the fleeting connection they shared. Her smile, though pained, filled him with a sense of peace amidst the chaos of their final moments together.

"Silly prince. You freed me. You freed your aunt. You should be glad. I am so glad you believe me... poor prince... you'll soon remember it all, my child."

A bittersweet chuckle escaped Remeshi's lips, mingling with the tears that choked his words. The weight of her words hung heavy in the air, carrying with them a promise of revelations yet to come.

"My child... when things finally settle... go back home... you must..."

His voice trembled as he pleaded with her, desperate for answers that seemed just out of reach.

"Tell me then. Please tell me who I am."

The disintegration reached her lips, but her eyes remained fixed on him, filled with an unspoken love and understanding that transcended the confines of their current reality. With a final smile, she surrendered to the inevitable, her form crumbling into dust that settled upon his lap.

Remeshi watched in stunned silence as the remnants of her existence slipped through his fingers, carried away by the gentle caress of the wind. Her words echoed in his mind, a haunting melody that danced on the edge of his consciousness, promising a future illuminated by the truth he so desperately sought.

As Totasha's body dissolved into a fine mist, carried away by the whispering winds, a palpable sense of grief settled over the small group. Konosa and Oya stood silently beside them, their presence a solemn testament to the weight of loss.

Remeshi remained kneeling, his hands still cradling the fading remnants of Totasha. Even amidst the profound silence, the anguished cries of Ami pierced through the air, a haunting reminder of the tragedy that had unfolded.

"Labetsu! Shona! Niogo!" Ami's voice cracked with desperation as she shook the unconscious forms of her companions, her hands clutching at their collars in a futile attempt to rouse them from their slumber.

"Wake up you three! Wake up!" Her words echoed hollowly in the stillness, the weight of her despair pressing down upon her like a leaden shroud. Labetsu stirred, his hands instinctively reaching to cradle his throbbing head as he groaned in pain.

"Labetsu-senpai!" Ami's voice trembled with relief and anguish as she threw herself into his embrace, her tears flowing freely now, unchecked by the barriers of restraint.

"Ami," Labetsu murmured, his voice a gentle reassurance amidst the turmoil, as he wrapped his arms around her trembling form. Slowly, he rose to a seated position, leaning wearily against the sturdy trunk of a nearby tree.

"What is wrong? Why are you crying?" His words were soft, spoken with a tenderness born of empathy and understanding.

"Senpai! You were unconscious the whole time!" Ami's voice wavered as she struggled to articulate the depth of her fear and sorrow.

Labetsu's expression softened, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips as he gently wiped away her tears with a calloused thumb.

"Ah. Stop crying, Ami," he murmured, his voice a soothing balm against the raw edges of her grief. With a sigh, he shifted slightly, allowing her to settle into his embrace once more, her head resting against his chest as she sought solace in the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.

Under the shade of the tree, amidst the gentle rustle of leaves and the soft murmurs of the forest, emotions ran deep. Ami's tear-stained face bore the weight of memories, her voice trembling as she addressed Labetsu again. "Senpai," she choked, her voice barely a whisper. "Do you remember what happened here?"

His brow furrowed as he strained to piece together the fragments of their shared ordeal. "What... happened... here..." His words were slow, deliberate, each syllable a struggle against the fog of memory. Slowly, the events began to resurface, the image of a lady clad in green, their sudden slumber, and the harrowing ordeal that followed. Anaka, injured and vulnerable, left them feeling helpless, stranded atop the towering branches.

A somber smile danced upon his lips as he reflected on the journey they had endured. "It was hard, wasn't it?" he mused, his voice tinged with both sorrow and resilience.

"Don't smile, Senpai," Ami pleaded, her grief spilling over into frustration as she pounded his chest with delicate fists.

"I would appreciate it if you'd stop punching me," he quipped gently, his words a tender counterpoint to her anguish. With a graceful gesture, she rose to her feet, extending a hand to help him up.

As the remaining two boys, Niogo and Shona, stirred from their slumber, Ami's gaze drifted towards Remeshi and his companions, a glimmer of gratitude shining in her eyes. "They saved us," she murmured, her voice a whisper of reverence. "Though they too have faced their own trials."

Labetsu, ever the pragmatist, glanced towards Remeshi, a note of curiosity in his voice. "Is the kid sitting down there crying?" he inquired, his gaze lingering on the figure below.

Ami nodded solemnly. "Yes," she confirmed. "He was the one who safely brought you three down from the tree."

A flicker of realization crossed Labetsu's face, his demeanor shifting from indifference to appreciation. "He did?" he remarked, straightening his shirt. "I should show him my gratitude when he's sober, I guess."

Turning her attention to Anaka, Ami knelt beside her fallen friend, her voice trembling with emotion. "Anaka! Anaka, wake up!" she implored, her words a desperate plea. "Look, everyone is fine now. No one is hurt. Anaka, please, wake up!"

In the quiet aftermath of the chaos, amidst the scattered remnants of their ordeal, Ayeta found himself comforting a distraught Remeshi. The air was heavy with unspoken sorrow as Remeshi's tears flowed freely, his anguish palpable in the tremble of his voice.

"Please stop crying, Re-chan," Ayeta implored gently, his hand moving in soothing circles upon the boy's back.

But Remeshi's anguish was unyielding, his need for answers a relentless ache in his heart. "Tell me, Ayeta-san," he pleaded, his voice choked with emotion. "Please tell me why I am crying..."

Ayeta hesitated, grappling with the weight of Remeshi's pain. "Re-chan, I..." His words faltered, unable to offer the solace that Remeshi sought.

Desperation laced Remeshi's next words, his voice tinged with confusion and self-reproach. "I don't know... why does it feel so wrong... what I did to that woman..."

With each word, Remeshi's anguish deepened, his grip tightening on Ayeta's cloak as if seeking an anchor in the storm of his emotions. "She called herself my aunt," he continued, his voice trembling with raw vulnerability. "She knew who I was... I was this close to finding out who I am, Ayeta-san."

Ayeta listened in silence, his heart heavy with the weight of Remeshi's pain, yet knowing that some wounds ran too deep for mere words to heal.

And then, amidst the turmoil of Remeshi's grief, came a whisper of longing, a plea for closure that echoed in the depths of his soul. "She is dead," he murmured, his voice barely a whisper, "and yet I wish... I just wish she could have told me something before dying... I disgust myself, Ayeta-san..."

Remeshi's words hung heavy in the air, a testament to the tangled web of emotions that gripped his heart. In that moment, there were no answers, no easy reassurances to offer. There was only the quiet strength of Ayeta's presence, his arms a silent refuge for Remeshi's shattered spirit.

Without a word, Ayeta wrapped Remeshi in a tender embrace, his cloak a shield against the chill of the events and the weight of Remeshi's sorrow.

As the minutes ticked by, Remeshi felt the weight of exhaustion settle over him, his senses dulled by the steady drone of Ami's sobs and the anguished cries of the three boys. Slowly, he turned his gaze to Ayeta, who loosened his embrace around him with a gentle nod. With a faint smile, Remeshi rose to his feet, his movements deliberate as he made his way towards Ami's side.

"The wound on her forehead is not very deep," Remeshi reassured, his voice a soft murmur amidst the turmoil. "And she has no other wounds. She'll be fine."

"Why did she pass out then?" Ami's voice trembled with uncertainty.

"Shock, maybe," Remeshi offered, his words a quiet echo in the stillness of the forest.

As Remeshi turned away, wiping his tears and plucking leaves from a nearby tree, Labetsu's voice cut through the silence like a blade. "This boy..." he began, his tone laced with suspicion.

"What is wrong, senpai?" Ami's voice quivered, her gaze shifting to meet Labetsu's.

"He was the one staring at us during the ceremony," Labetsu stated, his words heavy with accusation.

"Yeah, because he found fellow Argons. Maybe that's why," Ami interjected, her defense tinged with desperation.

"Well, we found a companion too," Labetsu countered, his gaze lingering on Remeshi with a mix of curiosity and suspicion.

Undeterred by the scrutiny, Remeshi continued his task, gathering leaves and berries with a focused determination. With steady hands, he fashioned a string of leaves, each one carefully threaded onto the next until it formed a delicate chain. Turning to Oya, he wordlessly placed the string in her outstretched palms, a silent offering of gratitude.

As Anaka stirred from her unconscious state, Remeshi shifted her gently, cradling her head in his lap with a tender care. With practiced precision, he applied the soothing paste to her forehead, his touch gentle yet sure. As Anaka's eyes fluttered open, she met Remeshi's gaze with a mix of confusion and gratitude, her expression softening as he pressed the makeshift remedy against her skin.

With a grateful smile, Anaka introduced herself, her voice a whisper amidst the hush of the forest. "Thank you so much, Remeshi-kun, Oya-chan, Konosa-kun, Ayeta-kun, for helping us. My name is Anaka... Louse Anaka."

"And I am Ami Meroko," Ami added, her voice tinged with relief.

"Labetsu Aiyo," Labetsu chimed in, extending his hand to Remeshi in a gesture of camaraderie.

"Shona Arna," the third boy stated, bowing respectfully to Oya and pressing a gentle kiss to her hand.

"Niogo Inima," the final boy winked playfully, his demeanor lightening the somber atmosphere.

Konosa and Oya exchanged a glance, their thoughts unspoken yet understood. These newcomers were far different from what they had expected, their actions speaking louder than any words.

"You guys are Argons too, right? Do you recognize me?" Remeshi asked Labetsu, his voice tentative.

Labetsu's brow furrowed in confusion, his gaze narrowing as he studied Remeshi intently. Sensing the tension, Ayeta stepped forward, enfolding Remeshi in a reassuring embrace. "Nothing. It's nothing," he murmured, his words a gentle reassurance amidst the lingering uncertainty.