Morning came quieter than expected, but no one stayed down for long. The room didn't feel like a resting place anymore—it felt like a pause before something bigger.
Corjaudo sat up slowly. "…If this is another mental torture session, I'm done."
"You were done yesterday too," Kaito said, already up.
"I'm consistently done."
Jenres stretched. "At least be consistent at something."
Daigo was already standing near the door. Arai beside him. Shizuma in the center, thinking. Tetsuya, silent as always.
The door opened.
"Grounds. Now," Kaizen's voice came.
No one argued.
They moved.
The training grounds stretched wide under the open sky. The air felt sharp, like it carried intent.
Kaizen stood at the center.
Waiting.
They gathered in front of him.
Silent.
"You've faced yourselves. You've begun to understand each other," Kaizen said.
A pause.
"Now you face reality."
Corjaudo muttered, "…I don't like how that sounds."
Kaito elbowed him. "Shut up."
Kaizen raised his hand.
One envelope appeared.
Shizuma stepped forward and took it.
Opened it.
His eyes moved once across the contents.
Then again.
"…Four locations," he said.
Kaito frowned. "Only one mission?"
Shizuma turned the paper slightly so the others could see.
A map.
Four villages marked.
"Targets?" Daigo asked.
"Fragment users," Shizuma replied.
Jenres smirked. "How strong?"
Shizuma read further.
"…B-tier."
Silence.
Corjaudo blinked. "…That sounds important."
"It is," Kaizen said.
All eyes shifted to him.
"Fragments are ranked. C-tier. B-tier. A-tier."
A pause.
"And beyond that… Z."
The word landed heavier than the rest.
"…And we're fighting B-tier?" Kaito asked.
"Yes."
"…So not weak."
"No."
Arai folded her arms slightly. No reaction—but focused.
Shizuma continued. "…Four villages. One by one."
"Yes."
"…Time limit?"
"Eight days."
Corjaudo froze. "…ALL FOUR in eight days?!"
"Yes."
"…I'm going to die."
"No," Kaizen replied calmly.
"…That doesn't help."
Daigo stepped forward. "Objective?"
"Neutralize," Kaizen said.
A pause.
"Or understand."
That word lingered.
Shizuma's eyes narrowed slightly.
Kaito frowned. "…That's vague."
"It's intentional."
Silence.
Kaizen stepped forward slightly.
"These are not controlled enemies. They are unstable fragment users. They will not wait. They will not hesitate."
A pause.
"They will kill you."
The air tightened.
"You will travel together."
Something shifted instantly.
Corjaudo blinked. "…Together together?"
"Yes."
"…Okay that's slightly less terrifying."
Jenres smirked. "Don't slow us down."
"I absolutely will."
Daigo cracked his knuckles. "Good. Then we move."
"Already?" Kaito asked.
Shizuma folded the paper carefully. "…No reason to delay."
Arai turned toward the exit immediately.
Tetsuya moved without a word.
Jenres stretched once. "Let's see if B-tier is actually worth it."
Daigo followed.
Kaito glanced once at the map. "…Four in eight days…"
A small smirk formed.
"…Nice."
Corjaudo stood there for a second.
"…If I die, I'm blaming all of you."
"No one will be there," Kaito replied.
"…That's worse."
He ran after them.
The path ahead stretched long.
Unknown.
Unforgiving.
Seven figures walked forward.
Not separated.
Not alone.
Together.
Shizuma glanced at the map again.
Four villages.
Four targets.
Eight days.
"…We don't waste time," he said.
Kaito nodded. "…We move fast."
Arai added quietly, "No unnecessary fights."
Jenres smirked. "Where's the fun in that?"
"Living," Daigo replied.
"…Fair."
Tetsuya walked ahead slightly.
Silent.
Shizuma noticed.
But said nothing.
Because for the first time—
they weren't just individuals.
They were moving as a unit.
Far ahead—
in the first village—
a figure stood on a broken rooftop.
Watching the horizon.
A faint glow pulsed from their hand.
Unstable.
Violent.
"…So they're finally coming."
A slow smile formed.
"Good."
The air twisted around them.
"I was getting bored."
Silence returned.
Because this time—
they weren't walking into a test.
They were walking into a hunt.
And something was already waiting.