December 6th, 2024 — Evening — Academy Training Grounds

  The Academy grounds hummed with focused energy as newly formed defensive teams conducted their specialized training sessions. Takao's strategic reorganization had paired heroes based on complementary abilities rather than traditional partnerships, creating unexpected but potentially powerful combinations.

  In the eastern courtyard, Dante and Master Rengo had assembled a group of sword-based heroes, their blades glinting in the evening light. Bernard moved through a complex kata with fluid precision, his movements so swift they seemed to blur at the edges. Beside him, Gojima demonstrated a more grounded technique, his massive axe creating audible disturbances in the air with each powerful swing.

  "Again!" Master Rengo barked, his scarred face set in a permanent scowl as he observed their forms. "Faster! Your enemies won't wait for you to find your perfect stance!"

  Across the grounds in a more secluded training area, Sama sat cross-legged on a meditation mat, his body perfectly still while Dr. Ayame Himura observed him with clinical interest. Her molecular models floated around her fingers as she occasionally took notes on a small tablet, recording data on Sama's biological responses during his trance state.

  Before entering his meditative state, Sama had explained the nature of his training to Dr. Himura. "My summons are beings I defeat within the Otherworld," he had said, adjusting his position on the mat. "The locust, unicorn, cockatrices, and nephilims are mine to command at will. But others—leviathans, behemoths, and... the creature..." A shudder had passed through him at the mention of the last one. "Those are too powerful and should be avoided by almost any means necessary."

  Now, as his consciousness traveled the pathways between dimensions, his physical body remained motionless, only the occasional fluttering of his eyelids indicating the intensity of his internal battle.

  In the Otherworld, Sama moved through a landscape that defied conventional physics—floating islands of crystalline structures, rivers that flowed upward, skies that shifted between impossible colors. His target today was formidable: the Third Tier Nephilim.

  He had successfully defeated the First and Second Tier variants in previous excursions. The First Tier had granted him physical prowess, strength and speed beyond normal human limitations. The Second allowed absorption of mana projectiles, turning enemy attacks into fuel for his own abilities.

  But the Third Tier was different.

  The creature loomed before him, a towering humanoid form with wings of living shadow and eyes that burned like distant suns. Unlike its predecessors, this being could not only combine the abilities of the first two tiers but could also transmute and project mana in multiple elemental forms—shifting between lightning, fire, ice, and others with terrifying ease.

  A bolt of lightning arced toward Sama, who dodged with the enhanced reflexes granted by his previous conquests. The energy struck the crystal formations behind him, shattering them into prismatic dust.

  "You are ambitious, little sorcerer," the Nephilim's voice thundered, resonating not through the air but directly in Sama's mind. "Many have sought my power. None have survived the attempt."

  Sama summoned his First Tier Nephilim, the spectral warrior materializing beside him with sword drawn. "I'm not like the others," he replied, preparing for the most difficult battle of his training.

  Ryuu's Room — Same Time

  "So that old geezer really didn't tell you much, huh?" Ryuu reclined in his massive chair, which creaked under his weight. His dogs—Pom-Pom the tiny pomeranian and Wugsby the scarred pitbull—dozed peacefully by his feet, occasionally twitching in their sleep.

  Rei sat opposite him, turning the small piece of bone over in his hands. The fragment was yellowed with age, its surface covered in minute symbols too faded to decipher. Despite its unimpressive appearance, something about it resonated within him—a faint vibration that seemed to call to something buried deep in his subconscious.

  "Not really," Rei replied, his brow furrowed in concentration as he continued examining the bone fragment. "When I asked him about Haikito..."

  Flashback — December 4th — Takao's Office

  "Who is Haikito? Not just his position, not just what he does—but who is he, really?"

  Takao remained silent for a long moment, weighing his response with visible care. The question seemed to trouble him more than any they had discussed previously.

  "There's hardly any information on Haikito, to be honest," Takao finally said, his voice measured. "He joined the Academy approximately fifteen years ago. During the trials, he wasn't particularly standout—completed only lower-tier jobs, kept mostly to himself."

  Takao moved back to what remained of his desk, brushing splinters aside to retrieve a folder. "Then there was a shift. He began taking more imposing jobs, gradually earning trust and respect. He ascended to a high-ranking official position with remarkable speed—handling government meetings, guiding the Academy from a business perspective."

  If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  He opened the folder, revealing a photograph of Haikito and several officials at some formal event. "Five years ago, he ran for chairman and won the election, beating Shoto who had been the overwhelming favorite. It was... unexpected."

  Takao closed the folder with a sigh. "I apologize, but that's the only information I can provide."

  Inside Rei's mind, Hikito scoffed loudly. "Bullshit," his voice echoed in Rei's consciousness. "The old man is lying through his teeth."

  For once, Rei found himself agreeing with Hikito. The information felt deliberately vague, stripped of any meaningful detail.

  "Surely you know more, Takao," Rei pressed, leaning forward slightly. "You say he earned your trust, but there must be more to it. What did you see in him? What made someone so unremarkable rise so quickly?"

  Takao's expression closed off, his earlier openness replaced by careful neutrality. "This is all the information Haikito allowed me to share," he said, his tone making it clear the subject was closed.

  Frustration flashed across Rei's features, but before he could respond, Takao reached into his pocket and retrieved a small object.

  "Haikito told me this would be useful to you," he said, holding out what appeared to be a fragment of bone, yellowed with age and covered in nearly microscopic markings.

  Rei took it hesitantly, turning it over in his palm. "What is it?"

  "I don't know," Takao admitted, seeming genuinely puzzled himself. "But Haikito was insistent that you would need it soon."

  As Rei's fingers closed around the bone fragment, something stirred in the deepest recesses of his mind—not Leonis or Hikito, but something else, something older. The sensation was gone as quickly as it came, leaving Rei with an unsettling feeling of déjà vu he couldn't quite place.

  Present — Ryuu's Room

  "And that's all he would tell me," Rei concluded, still examining the bone fragment. "Something about this feels... familiar, but I can't explain why."

  Ryuu leaned forward, his massive frame casting a shadow across Rei's smaller one. He studied the bone with surprising intensity, his usual mocking demeanor temporarily set aside.

  'What the hell is up with Haikito,' Ryuu thought to himself. 'What is his plan?'

  Aloud, he simply grunted and leaned back again. "Hold onto it. Haikito's a cryptic bastard, but he doesn't waste time on meaningless gestures."

  Rei nodded, pocketing the bone fragment. "I've been practicing what we discussed," he said, changing the subject. He held up his hand, concentrating for a moment before his fingernails lengthened into sharp claws—not as impressive as when Leonis took control, but a significant improvement in his ability to access those powers without full possession.

  Ryuu laughed, the booming sound startling Pom-Pom awake. "Good! You're learning to borrow their abilities without surrendering control." He reached down to scratch behind the small dog's ears, the gentle gesture incongruous with his intimidating presence. "Never lose the mark of a warrior, Rei. Too many sorcerers over-rely on their concepts and forget basic battle prowess. When shit hits the fan—and believe me, it will—you'll need both."

  The conversation gradually wound down, and as Rei prepared to leave, he paused at the door. "The physical training is valuable," he acknowledged, "but if I'm going to face whatever's coming as this... final vessel... I need to understand my concept better."

  Ryuu waved him off with a dismissive gesture, but his eyes remained thoughtful long after Rei had departed.

  Later That Night — Academy Corridors

  The Academy's administrative wing was largely deserted by the time Ryuu made his way through its winding corridors, his heavy footsteps echoing against the marble floors. Most officials had retired for the evening, leaving only the occasional security patrol to monitor the halls.

  Ryuu strode purposefully toward the high-ranking floor, his destination clear: Takao's office. He had questions that needed answers, and he wasn't in the mood to wait for convenient appointments.

  As he approached the corridor leading to Takao's quarters, a young hero from the cadre stepped into his path, hand raised in a stopping gesture.

  "Sir, I'm sorry, but you're not permitted to proceed further," the young man said, his voice carrying more authority than his nervous expression suggested. "Senior Takao isn't accepting unscheduled visits."

  Ryuu stopped, looking down at the hero with an expression somewhere between amusement and contempt. Then, without warning, he burst into laughter.

  "Fine," he said, wiping tears of mirth from his eyes. "I won't knock on the door..." His hand shot out, grabbing the cadre member by the neck with casual ease. "You will knock on the door."

  "Huh?" was all the young hero managed before Ryuu lifted him bodily from the ground and began using him as a makeshift battering ram, slamming the struggling cadet against Takao's door repeatedly.

  After the third impact, a faint "Come in" came from within the office.

  Ryuu immediately dropped the dazed hero, who slumped to the floor, groaning. "Thank you for your service, butler," Ryuu said sarcastically, stepping over the prone figure to enter Takao's office.

  Inside, Takao sat behind a newly replaced desk, glasses perched on his nose as he reviewed a stack of documents. He didn't look up immediately, finishing his notation before acknowledging Ryuu's entrance.

  "So," Ryuu began, his imposing frame filling the doorway. "What all did Haikito tell you about the brat?"

  Osaka Streets — Evening

  Streetlights flickered to life as Rei walked the familiar path home, his mind still processing everything he had learned over the past days. The bone fragment sat heavy in his pocket, its presence a constant reminder of the unanswered questions surrounding his existence.

  He was so absorbed in his thoughts that it took several moments before he registered the warning signals from his instincts—the prickling sensation at the back of his neck, the subtle shift in the air pressure around him, the unnatural stillness of the usually bustling street.

  Someone was watching him. No, not just watching—approaching.

  Rei tensed, preparing for a confrontation. His eyes darted around, scanning the shadows between buildings, the rooftops overhead, looking for any sign of the observer.

  Suddenly, a massive shadow fell across the pavement before him, belonging to a figure nearly as large as Ryuu but radiating a very different kind of energy—raw, barely contained aggression rather than Ryuu's controlled power.

  A man stepped into the light, his muscles straining against his clothes, veins visibly pulsing beneath his skin. His neck was thicker than most men's thighs, his fists clenched at his sides as if eager to crush something. His eyes burned with constant rage, like a pot perpetually on the verge of boiling over.

  "Vessel," the man growled, his voice so deep it seemed to vibrate the air between them. "You're coming with me..."

  The rage radiating from the massive figure was palpable, filling the street with an oppressive weight that made breathing difficult.

  Varkas had arrived in Osaka.