"The Grand Elementalist is the person destined to be one of the members of the Twilight Faith. Which means… Ryūsei Ryugu… you are the 4th Grand Elementalist…"
Ryūsei froze. His eyes widened, his chest tightening. "Me??? The 4th Grand Elementalist??!!!" His voice trembled as disbelief and fear collided in his heart. He sank to his knees, shaking, unable to comprehend the enormity of what Ryushi Ryugu had just revealed.
Ryushi knelt before him, calm, steady, a beacon of control in Ryūsei's storm of thoughts. "Yes… Ryūsei. There is no doubt. You are the 4th Grand Elementalist," Ryushi said, his voice firm yet gentle, as if trying to anchor Ryūsei amidst the chaos of his emotions.
"But… how? The Grand Elementalist… they're supposed to be the strongest Elementalists in existence!" Ryūsei exclaimed. "I… I'm just… me!"
Ryushi let out a measured sigh. "The Dragon King foresaw the possibility that Quintella would one day escape her ancient seal. To prepare for that day… he cast a spell on Akashino Shitetsu's lifeless body—a spell to reincarnate him from generation to generation. You… Ryūsei… are the 4th reincarnation of Akashino."
Ryūsei's mind spun. "Reincarnation… so… I carry the legacy of Akashino? I'm… supposed to continue his mission?"
Ryushi's eyes darkened, weight settling on his shoulders. "Yes. But this knowledge is dangerous. You cannot tell anyone, not even those you trust. If it becomes known… old enemies will return. Friends, family… all could be destroyed."
Ryūsei swallowed hard. "Old enemies… weren't they all defeated? Weren't they gone?"
Ryushi's gaze turned sharp, heavy with the burden of centuries. "No. The Fallen God—the one who killed the 3rd Grand Elementalist, Akashino's previous incarnation—still exists. He lurks in the shadows, waiting. He will strike when the next Grand Elementalist rises. That is why you must remain hidden. You are marked, Ryūsei. And the moment he learns you have awakened… he will come."
The words hit Ryūsei like a hammer. He felt a chill seep into his bones. "The Fallen God… alive? I thought my uncle Kūgeki… thought he destroyed him years ago…"
"He survived," Ryushi confirmed quietly. "Patient, cunning… biding his time. He has waited a millennium for the next Grand Elementalist to appear. And now, Ryūsei… that moment is here."
Ryūsei's hands shook as he clenched them into fists. "I… I understand. I won't tell anyone. Not a word. I'll protect everyone… even if it costs me everything."
Ryushi allowed a faint, proud smile. "I know you will. You carry centuries of legacy—the hopes of the Twilight Faith, the power of the Grand Elementalists, and the promise of a new era. But know this… you are not alone. You never will be."
From his palm, Ryushi produced a black ring, gleaming with shadows and faint light, almost alive. "Take this," he said. "When the time comes, this ring will show you your path, your destiny. It belonged to my dearest friend… and to your past selves. Just as the sun rises and sets, it is your destiny to possess it once again. Guard it well."
Ryūsei took the ring carefully. A pulse ran through him—a quiet, persistent rhythm, almost like a heartbeat across time. "I… I will. I promise."
Ryushi's eyes softened, a gentle nostalgia in his gaze. "Train, grow, Ryūsei. Prepare yourself. The day will come when you meet your Chima, and when that day arrives, the world will change. You and she… your union will be the fulcrum upon which the fate of the world balances. Until then… trust yourself. Trust the ring. Trust your heart."
With a slow, deliberate bow, Ryushi faded from sight, leaving Ryūsei alone, his hands gripping the black ring, his mind racing, his chest burning with both dread and determination. The weight of destiny had descended upon him, heavier than any physical burden he had ever known.
Ryūsei blinked, returning to the bench where he had been sitting, the village around him unchanged—but he felt different, sharper, alive in a way he hadn't before. Meisai Kakusu ran up, her bright smile cutting through the tension in his chest.
"I'm sorry to keep you waiting! The meeting is finally done!" she exclaimed.
"It's alright, Meisai. I didn't wait long," Ryūsei said, standing carefully. His eyes flicked down at the black ring—its faint pulse reminded him that the world's fate rested in his hands.
Inside the meeting room, blueprints and documents were scattered across tables, maps rolled open. Akanishi Kakusu, the warden of the village, looked up. His scarlet hair caught the light, violet eyes sharp with authority.
Meisai hurried forward. "Dad, this is the Elementalist I was telling you about!"
Akanishi's gaze softened slightly. "Hello. I'm Akanishi Kakusu. And you are?"
"Ryūsei Ryugu," he said, bowing politely.
Akanishi's expression became serious. "Ryūsei Ryugu… First time I've heard that name. Newly ranked, I assume?"
"Yes… my first quest," Ryūsei replied, his voice steady despite the storm of thoughts swirling in his mind.
Akanishi gestured toward the documents on the table. "Then let us get to business. Meisai, please wait outside."
Once alone, Akanishi leaned forward, voice grave. "Several Elementalists have vanished recently. Investigations point to a Necromancer—taking children into the Forest of Azure, west of the village."
Ryūsei's pulse quickened. "A Necromancer… dangerous. What rank?"
"A-Rank, though it has escalated to S-Rank due to the risk," Akanishi replied. "You still wish to proceed?"
Ryūsei's eyes narrowed. "I can't let him take more innocents. I'll face it. I… I must stop him."
Akanishi nodded, handing over a map. "The Necromancer was last seen west of the village. Be cautious. Even seasoned Elementalists hesitate before facing one alone."
Meisai's voice trembled slightly. "Be careful…"
"I will," Ryūsei said firmly. The black ring on his finger pulsed softly. A subtle warmth filled him. I am Ryūsei Ryugu… the 4th Grand Elementalist. I will not fail.
The Forest of Azure loomed before him. Mist curled around gnarled tree trunks, shadows hiding countless threats. Ryūsei's heart pounded. He moved cautiously… until a scream shattered the quiet.
"Someone's in danger!" Ryūsei shouted, sprinting toward the sound. Ahead, four Corrupted Treants loomed over a defenseless child. Their twisted forms pulsated with dark energy.
"Let go of him!" Ryūsei yelled. He leapt, kicking one of the Treants into a tree with a loud crack. The others hesitated—then a black shockwave erupted from the forest floor, warping nearby trees into more Corrupted Treants, closing in.
Ryūsei leapt to a branch, clutching the child. "Now's your chance to flee! I won't hesitate to destroy every last one of you!"
The black ring pulsed in response, faint whispers brushing at his mind: "Your destiny begins now… trust yourself, Ryūsei. Trust your heart. Trust the light within you."
Ryūsei gritted his teeth, his eyes blazing. I am the 4th Grand Elementalist… and I will protect this world. No matter the cost.
With that thought, he prepared to face the darkness, ready to unleash the legacy of the Grand Elementalists—and to confront a destiny centuries in the making.