The teacher training room was quiet except for the faint sound of something trembling.
Shougo stood in the center, his hand raised slightly, eyes focused as a can of soda hovered mid-air. It shook unevenly, rising and dropping in small, unstable motions as he tried to maintain control. Sweat formed lightly on his forehead, his breathing already heavier than it should have been.
"…Still sloppy," a voice said from behind.
Judas stepped into the room, her heels making soft sounds against the floor as she walked in with a relaxed posture. A small smirk rested on her lips as she watched him struggle.
"Your students… they've become stronger than I expected."
Shougo didn't answer.
The can lifted higher.
Then tilted.
Then almost dropped.
Judas sighed slightly. "…Still ignoring me, huh."
She stepped closer, watching him more carefully this time. There was something different in his control not weaker, but strained. Like he was forcing something his body no longer handled naturally.
Without warning-
The can jerked.
Not from Shougo.
Judas' eyes flickered slightly as she subtly manipulated it, sending it flying straight toward him.
Shougo reacted instantly, phasing slightly as the can passed through his body and hit the wall behind him with a dull clang.
"…Annoying," he muttered.
Judas smiled. "You noticed."
Shougo lowered his hand slowly, letting the remaining energy fade. "…Don't interfere."
Judas shrugged. "Just testing if you're still paying attention."
She leaned against the nearby table, crossing her arms. "You're getting rusty."
Shougo glanced at her briefly. "…I'm fine."
Judas raised an eyebrow. "…If you say so."
For a moment, silence returned.
Then her tone shifted.
"…The Luminary Kingdom is active again."
Shougo froze.
Not visibly.
But enough.
The air around him changed slightly, his expression darkening as the words settled in. He didn't turn, but his voice came lower than before.
"…Why are you telling me this?"
Judas watched him carefully now. "…Because they're asking for you."
Shougo's grip tightened slightly.
"…I don't care."
Judas sighed softly. "…You should."
She stepped forward again, her voice quieter but more serious now.
"The leader of Squadra Diciotto wants to meet you."
That name-
Made something shift.
Shougo turned slowly this time, his eyes no longer calm.
"…What do they want."
Judas didn't hesitate.
"One of your students."
Silence.
"…For what."
Judas' expression didn't change.
"…Experiment."
The word hung in the air like something heavy.
Shougo's jaw tightened.
"…No."
Judas continued anyway. "…They're building something again. An Energy Extraction Chamber."
Shougo's eyes sharpened.
"They're forcing energy out of the body… turning it unstable. Not a clean transformation," she explained. "The subjects don't survive properly. They become… incomplete."
Shougo didn't speak.
"They flicker between existence and disappearance," Judas added. "One of them survived."
"…And?"
Judas looked at him directly.
"…He's powerful. But unstable."
Shougo's blood felt like it was boiling now.
"…Those idiots…"
Judas crossed her arms again. "They think it's progress."
Shougo turned away, exhaling slowly as he tried to contain the anger building inside him.
"…And they want one of my students?"
"Yes."
"…Then they can come try."
Judas smirked slightly. "You already know they won't ask twice."
Shougo stayed silent for a moment.
Then-
"…I'll go."
Judas raised an eyebrow. "Tomorrow?"
Shougo nodded once.
"…I'll deal with it."
Judas watched him for a second longer, then sighed lightly. "…Try not to start a war."
Shougo didn't respond.
Because he already knew-
That might not be possible.
Meanwhile, deep within the forest near the academy, the sound of movement cut through the quiet.
Kimimaru moved from tree to tree, his body precise and controlled as he jumped across branches with ease. His zweihander rested on his shoulder despite its size, his grip steady as he swung it mid-motion, slicing through a tree trunk cleanly as he landed.
The tree fell behind him.
Another jump.
Another swing.
Another cut.
He didn't stop.
Until-
A sudden force struck him from the side.
A kick.
Clean.
Fast.
Kimimaru's body shifted mid-air before he landed on the ground, sliding slightly across the grass before stopping. His hand tightened around his sword as he looked up.
A girl stood there.
Calm.
Cold.
"…What are you doing," she asked, her voice sharp, "cutting trees like that?"
Kimimaru stood up slowly. "…Because I want to."
He turned, already walking away.
The girl followed.
"…You're wasting resources."
"…Not your problem."
She narrowed her eyes slightly, then spoke again.
"I'm Ishika Taguro."
Kimimaru didn't stop walking. "…Kimimaru Aoyoma."
Ishika tilted her head slightly. "…You don't talk much."
"…No reason to."
She watched him for a moment before speaking again.
"…You're from Reikosha Academy."
"…Yeah."
"…Then you've heard about Squadra Diciotto."
Kimimaru stopped.
Just slightly.
"…Yeah."
Ishika's expression didn't change. "…They're looking for subjects."
Kimimaru turned his head slightly. "…I know."
She stepped closer. "…You don't seem worried."
Kimimaru looked forward again. "…If they come, I'll cut them."
Ishika stared at him.
Then-
A small smirk formed.
"…Interesting."
She raised her hand slightly, her ability activating subtly as the skin on a nearby branch twisted unnaturally before snapping back into place.
"Skin manipulation," she said. "I can reshape anything living."
Kimimaru glanced at it once.
"…Weird."
"…Useful," she corrected.
They stood there for a moment, the air between them calm but tense.
"…They're dangerous," Ishika said. "They don't care who they take."
Kimimaru adjusted his grip on his sword.
"…Then they picked the wrong place."
Ishika watched him carefully.
"…Maybe."
But deep down
Both of them knew.
Something was coming.
And it wasn't going to be simple.