The hospital smoked.

  Half the facade destroyed.

  Broken windows.

  The main doors opened with a creak.

  Naoko came out first, holding Akihiro by the shoulder.

  Akihiro was walking, but barely.

  Visible cuts.

  Dry blood on his shirt.

  Behind them, coming down with heavy steps—

  Akuma.

  Shirtless.

  Chains hanging.

  Annoyed.

  As if the whole world owed him an apology.

  Under the tree, the book slowly lowered from Uta’s face.

  His eyes scanned the scene.

  First relief.

  Then…

  Horror.

  He looked at the building.

  Looked at the smoke.

  Looked at the hole that pierced several floors.

  An uncomfortable silence.

  —I’m glad to see you alive.

  Small pause.

  His gaze sharpened.

  —Why does it look like you tried to assassinate the hospital?

  Akihiro raised a hand weakly.

  Pointed behind him.

  Naoko did the same.

  Both in unison:

  —Him.

  Akuma frowned.

  —What did I do?

  Uta closed his eyes for a second.

  Took a deep breath.

  —We will talk later.

  Suddenly—

  From the nearby sewers…

  Footsteps.

  Irregular.

  Heavy.

  Everyone turned their heads.

  Emerging from the darkness appeared Hayate.

  Covered in dust.

  Clothes torn.

  Holding Yūrei with one arm, still unconscious.

  And over the other shoulder…

  Mitsume, injured but conscious.

  Hayate raised his gaze.

  Looked for Uta.

  He smiled.

  Proud.

  Exhausted.

  —I did it…

  A small weak laugh.

  —I’m brave…

  And he fainted.

  Akuma reacted first.

  He caught Yūrei before he fell.

  —What happened to you, friend?

  Yūrei did not respond.

  He was still unconscious.

  Uta reached Hayate.

  He lifted him carefully.

  Observed him one second longer than necessary.

  —Good work.

  He said it quietly.

  So only he could hear.

  —We’re going to the mansion.

  He looked at Naoko.

  —Take Mitsume.

  Akuma was already carrying Yūrei without anyone asking him to.

  The group began to move away from the smoking hospital.

  The sun was descending.

  The orange sky was beginning to turn violet.

  Uta stopped for a second.

  He looked upward.

  The night slowly falling.

  Thoughtful.

  He exhaled.

  —What about Team 3?

  The wind moved the leaves of the tree.

  The narrator drags us away from the ruined hospital.

  Away from the smoke.

  It takes us back to the forest.

  The moon barely filters through the treetops.

  A crumpled map trembles between tense hands.

  Tadaaki stares at it as if he could force it to make sense.

  They are lost.

  —This can’t be right…

  They do not know where they are.

  Next to him, lying on his back on the grass, is Minato.

  Looking at the stars.

  Or what he can see between the branches.

  His stomach growls.

  Literally.

  —I’m hungry.

  Silence.

  Tadaaki does not respond.

  —Hey.

  Nothing.

  —Tadaaki.

  A contained sigh.

  —What?

  Minato sits up.

  He smiles as if they were not lost in the middle of nowhere.

  —What if the map is upside down?

  Tadaaki looks at him.

  Long.

  Flat.

  He turns the map.

  Silence.

  —It wasn’t upside down.

  Minato nods.

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  —I had to try.

  He stands up.

  Brushes the leaves off himself.

  —We can hunt something.

  Tadaaki watches him.

  —Don’t go far.

  Minato takes three steps.

  Trips over a root.

  Falls.

  He stays face down for a second.

  —I’m fine.

  Tadaaki closes his eyes for a moment.

  Inhales.

  Exhales.

  He approaches.

  Extends his hand.

  —Get up, ground hunter.

  Minato takes it with a huge smile.

  Minato stopped suddenly.

  He sniffed the air.

  Once.

  Twice.

  His pupils dilated.

  —…

  Tadaaki frowned.

  —What are you doing?

  Minato turned his head like an animal that has detected prey.

  Or rather—

  Food.

  —It smells like warm sweets.

  Silence.

  Minato’s stomach roared violently.

  And he ran.

  —FOOD, TADA-SAN!

  —Minato—?!

  Tadaaki folded the map and followed him immediately.

  Because Minato loose was a walking catastrophe.

  The trees suddenly opened.

  A wide, dark river.

  A small wooden dam.

  And on the shore…

  A campfire.

  Small.

  On top, an improvised griddle.

  Sweets browning.

  Sweet steam rising into the air.

  Minato arrived first.

  He knelt down.

  Grabbed one.

  Stuffed it into his mouth without thinking.

  —THEY’RE HOT!

  He burned his tongue.

  But kept eating.

  Tadaaki stopped a few meters behind.

  Then—

  A voice from above.

  —WATCH OUT!

  Tadaaki raised his gaze instantly.

  High in a tree, a silhouette.

  Hard to distinguish in the firelight.

  —In the water! There’s something in the water!

  Minato kept chewing.

  —Huh?

  The river changed.

  The surface tightened.

  As if something large were moving beneath it.

  Tadaaki stepped toward Minato.

  Hand ready.

  Cold gaze.

  —Step away from the edge.

  Minato slowly turned.

  With a sweet still in his mouth.

  The water exploded.

  A dark mass shot into the night sky.

  Black scales.

  Deep scars crossing its body.

  Two heads rising several meters above the river.

  Fangs protruding, long like daggers.

  Yellow eyes shining with ancient hatred.

  The river stopped flowing calmly.

  Now it boiled around the creature.

  Minato blinked.

  Then smiled.

  He looked at Tadaaki.

  —Tada-san… we found the dam.

  Tadaaki did not smile.

  He observed the marks on the monster’s body.

  Old wounds.

  Scars from past battles.

  It was not an ordinary beast.

  It was the guardian.

  —Minato.

  His voice was firm.

  —Be careful.

  Minato was already removing his shirt and vest.

  He threw them to the ground without taking his eyes off the monster.

  His smile was wide.

  Simple.

  —Always.

  He bent his knees.

  The serpent hissed.

  Both heads descended like living spears.

  Minato jumped.

  With all his strength.

  A brutal push from the ground.

  He rose several meters into the air.

  He joined both fists above his head.

  And descended like a human meteor.

  —AAAH!

  Impact.

  ??

  His fists struck the skull of one of the heads.

  The sound was dry.

  Water exploded in every direction.

  The creature roared with both throats.

  Minato landed on the scaly neck, sliding over the moisture.

  —It’s hard!

  The second head turned violently toward him.

  Jaws open.

  Fangs shining.

  Minato let out a nervous laugh as the head descended toward him.

  —Okay… maybe a little big for dinner.

  The serpent moved faster than its size suggested.

  A brutal whip.

  The snout slammed directly into Minato.

  He crossed his arms instinctively.

  The blow sent him flying several meters.

  He crashed into the water violently.

  Huge splash.

  The river roared.

  On the shore, Tadaaki hesitated half a second.

  Only half.

  The creature turned one of its heads toward him.

  Yellow eye locking onto his position.

  It was measuring him.

  Calculating whether he was a threat.

  Or the next prey.

  “My objective was to destroy the dam…”

  Tadaaki clenched his jaw.

  “I didn’t account for this.”

  The water exploded again.

  The serpent’s tail emerged.

  Coiled around Minato.

  It lifted him into the air like a doll.

  —HEY!

  Minato, trapped, began biting the scaly tail in pure desperation.

  —LET ME GO!

  The second head rose slowly.

  Jaws opening.

  Tadaaki drew the sickles.

  The metal shone under the dying firelight.

  Two years.

  Two years watching Naoko surpass him in direct combat.

  Two years training.

  Not from envy.

  From necessity.

  “I can’t stay behind.”

  He breathed deeply.

  He remembered Akihiro’s voice.

  “All of that is nothing without Reikon.”

  “It’s the fuel.”

  “What enhances the body.”

  “What turns talent… into monsters.”

  “The awakening of the soul.”

  Tadaaki closed his eyes.

  The forest fell silent in his mind.

  He pulled the dark cloth up to cover his nose.

  When he opened them—

  His gaze was no longer cold calculation.

  The air changed.

  A red aura began to emanate from Tadaaki’s body.

  The energy was quickly absorbed by his Cursed Twin Sickles.

  The metal vibrated.

  As if drinking his soul.

  The serpent roared.

  Both heads lunged at the same time.

  Fangs descending like living spears.

  Tadaaki moved forward.

  He did not retreat.

  Side dodge.

  The second head bit where he had been a second before.

  Tadaaki was already beneath the arc of the neck.

  Circular cut to the tendons.

  Scales flew.

  Dark blood splattered.

  The tail still coiled around Minato.

  Tightening.

  Tadaaki inhaled.

  The sickles responded.

  Both sickles projected Reikon cuts in the form of red air.

  They left red trails in the air, as if the night itself were tearing.

  Tadaaki crossed both weapons.

  And released.

  Two red waves shot forward.

  Direct impact.

  The tail separated in an explosion of blood and scales.

  Minato fell into the water.

  Free.

  The serpent roared with both throats.

  Real pain.

  Tadaaki landed on a rock.

  Heavy breathing.

  That attack had drained his energy.

  The serpent turned.

  One of the heads descended toward him.

  Fangs open.

  Too fast.

  Too close.

  Tadaaki had no time to dodge.

  The jaw closed—

  CLACK.

  Silence.

  The fangs were embedded…

  But not in flesh.

  Minato stood in front of him.

  Arms open.

  Body in between.

  The teeth pressed against his back.

  And did not pierce it.

  Tadaaki opened his eyes, surprised.

  —How…?

  Minato smiled.

  Literally inside the monster’s mouth.

  —The power of friendship.

  The serpent pressed harder.

  The fangs creaked.

  They did not pierce.

  They did not break.

  Narrator

  Minato Yajuu

  Human Magic — Ningen-Hō

  Domain: Total Armor — Kanzen Shīrudo

  An invisible layer of energy covered his skin.

  The serpent’s jaw began to tremble.

  It could not bite him.

  Minato looked at Tadaaki.

  —Now, Tada-san.

  Wide smile.

  Sincere.

  —Cut it again.

  Tadaaki breathed with difficulty.

  His arms trembled.

  Reikon was not infinite.

  It burned.

  But then he remembered.

  Naoko.

  Covered in mud.

  Bleeding.

  Getting up.

  Again and again.

  No technical talent.

  Only will.

  “If he can…”

  Tadaaki tightened the sickles.

  —So can I.

  He closed his eyes for a second.

  And charged.

  Everything left.

  All the Reikon still burning in his chest was absorbed by the weapons.

  This time it was not dark.

  It was red.

  Deep red.

  The blades vibrated as if they would break.

  The serpent raised both heads at the same time.

  Furious.

  Desperate.

  Tadaaki advanced.

  One single step.

  Explosive.

  He jumped.

  And in the air—

  Crossed both sickles in an X attack.

  Direct impact on the chest where both heads joined.

  The red energy exploded inward.

  Both throats screamed at the same time.

  A sound so sharp it made the entire forest vibrate.

  Minato was launched out of the mouth of one of the heads.

  He hit the ground.

  Rolled.

  Got up without hesitation.

  He saw the serpent staggering.

  And smiled.

  He ran.

  Jumped with all his momentum.

  Grabbed one of the giant fangs with both hands.

  —I GOT YOU!

  He twisted his body.

  And slammed the head against the ground with brutal force.

  The impact opened a crater of dirt and water.

  The other head reacted.

  It lunged sideways toward Minato.

  Tadaaki tried to move.

  Tried to cut.

  But his Reikon was already dry.

  The sickles struck scales.

  Sparks.

  They did not penetrate.

  —Damn it…

  Without energy, he could not pierce that skin.

  His legs felt heavy.

  His vision blurred.

  The second head’s jaw descended.

  Minato looked back.

  There was no fear in his eyes.

  Only trust.

  —It’s okay, Tada-san!

  He smiled.

  —Come on!

  The head descended—

  And Minato, instead of dodging…

  Advanced.

  Planted his feet.

  Loaded all his weight.

  And threw a straight punch directly to the snout.

  A clean hit.

  Dry.

  Brutal.

  The impact echoed like a cannon blast.

  The head stopped.

  The yellow eyes unfocused.

  The serpent became stunned.

  Staggering.

  Tadaaki breathed with difficulty.

  Minato spat a little blood onto the ground.

  —I think I’m not hungry anymore.

  The serpent staggered again.

  The serpent trembled.

  It tried to rise once more.

  Its two heads moved without coordination.

  The yellow eyes blinked.

  And finally—

  The enormous body fell sideways.

  A crash shook the shore.

  Silence.

  The river could be heard again.

  Minato blinked.

  He smiled widely.

  —WE WON!

  From the top of the tree came down three boys who had been watching.

  Simple clothes.

  Dirty faces.

  Probably villagers.

  They applauded.

  One shouted:

  —You did it!

  Minato raised both arms in victory.

  —Did you see that?! I punched it right in the face!

  Tadaaki was still standing… barely.

  He looked at the dam.

  Improvised structure of wood, rock, and mud blocking the water flow.

  The original objective.

  —We haven’t won yet.

  Minato turned.

  —Huh?

  Tadaaki pointed with the sickle.

  —The dam remains.

  Minato looked at the structure.

  Then looked at the enormous head of the unconscious serpent.

  His eyes shone.

  —Ah.

  He understood instantly.

  He ran.

  Grabbed one of the heads by the fangs.

  Dragged the enormous weight with pure stubbornness.

  —A little more… it weighs like ten cows!

  With brutal effort, he pushed and smashed the head against the dam.

  The structure gave way.

  The contained water roared free.

  The river flowed again with natural force.

  The current carried remains of wood and mud downstream.

  The mission was complete.

  Tadaaki watched the water advance.

  He felt the weight of exhaustion fall over him like a wet blanket.

  He tried to take a step.

  His legs did not respond.

  He leaned.

  Almost fell.

  Minato appeared beside him instantly.

  —Hey, hey.

  He held him before he touched the ground.

  Tadaaki tried to push him away.

  —I’m fine.

  He wasn’t.

  Minato smiled.

  He crouched.

  —Get on.

  Without waiting for an answer, he lifted him piggyback.

  Tadaaki protested weakly.

  But he had no strength to get down.

  Minato looked at the boys from the tree.

  —Hey… can you help us get out of here?

  One of them nodded quickly.

  —Yes, we know the path to the village.

  Minato smiled, satisfied.

  —Perfect.

  The river flowed freely.

  The mission completed.

  And as they walked through the forest—

  Tadaaki, on Minato’s back, murmured quietly:

  —Good punch.

  Minato smiled even wider.

  —The friendship one, right?

  Tadaaki did not answer.

  But for the first time all night…

  He allowed a small invisible smile.