The evening sunlight painted the stone streets of the Town of Beginnings gold.
For the first time in years—
Kiraya walked through those streets without the Eternity Lions crest on her shoulder.
The realization felt strange.
Heavy.
Empty.
Beside her—
Hinabi walked casually with both hands behind her head.
Unlike Kiraya, she looked completely relaxed.
Almost relieved.
The massive guild hall doors behind them slowly creaked open.
Kiraya stopped walking instinctively.
Then turned around.
Standing at the entrance of Eternity Lions—
were four familiar figures.
Ayame.
Fayzan.
Odion.
And Sumi.
For a brief moment—
nobody spoke.
The atmosphere itself felt painful.
Then suddenly—
Ayame ran forward.
"KIRAYAAAAA!"
She crashed directly into Kiraya and wrapped both arms tightly around her waist.
The young girl was already crying.
"D-Don't leave..."
Kiraya froze slightly.
Then slowly smiled.
A soft smile.
She gently patted Ayame's head.
"Hey..."
Ayame buried her face deeper against her chest.
"We need you..."
Kiraya's eyes softened slightly.
Then she carefully stroked Ayame's hair again.
"Promise me something."
Ayame sniffled.
"...What?"
Kiraya smiled warmly.
"Be strong, okay?"
Ayame looked up slightly.
Tears still filled her eyes.
Kiraya lightly flicked her forehead.
"And don't let the boys bully you or boss you around."
Ayame immediately nodded repeatedly.
"I won't!"
Kiraya laughed quietly.
"Good."
A few steps away—
Fayzan simply stood silently near the guild entrance.
Watching.
Unlike Ayame—
he didn't try stopping her.
Because deep down—
he understood.
Kiraya slowly looked toward him.
Their eyes met.
No words were needed.
Kiraya simply nodded once.
And smiled.
Fayzan lowered his head slightly in return.
A silent farewell between comrades who had fought together.
Odion and Sumi quietly bowed their heads as well.
Respectful.
Painful.
Final.
Kiraya gently pulled away from Ayame.
"Come on."
"You'll make me cry too."
Ayame wiped her eyes desperately.
Kiraya gave her one final pat on the head.
Then turned around.
Hinabi waited beside her quietly.
And together—
the two women walked away from Eternity Lions.
Officially.
Completely.
Without looking back.
The massive guild doors slowly closed behind them.
THUD.
The sound echoed softly through the street.
Like the end of an era.
The atmosphere between Kiraya and Hinabi remained quiet afterward.
Neither of them spoke much while walking through the outer district of the Town of Beginnings.
Eventually—
the crowded stone streets slowly faded into forest pathways.
The sounds of civilization disappeared.
Replacing them—
with rustling leaves and distant monster cries.
Hinabi stretched lazily.
"So."
"What now?"
Kiraya looked upward toward the evening sky.
"...No idea."
For the first time in a long time—
she genuinely had nowhere to go.
No guild.
No plans.
No destination.
Just freedom.
A strange freedom.
Then suddenly—
CLANG
A loud metallic impact echoed from deeper within the forest.
Kiraya and Hinabi both stopped walking instantly.
Another sound followed.
BOOOOM
A burst of blue lightning illuminated the trees briefly.
Hinabi narrowed her eyes.
"...Player fight?"
Kiraya frowned slightly.
"...No."
The energy felt different.
Stronger.
Sharper.
The two slowly moved through the forest carefully.
Branches shifted beneath their feet while distant combat sounds continued echoing ahead.
Then finally—
they reached a clearing.
And both women froze.
A silver-haired girl stood in the center of the clearing fighting a massive Forest Boar.
The monster roared violently while charging forward.
But the girl's movements were incredibly fast.
Elegant.
Refined.
Blue lightning crackled around her blade continuously.
Kiraya's eyes widened slightly.
"...Rio?"
The girl moved again.
Lightning exploded beneath her feet.
The Forest Boar swung its tusks wildly—
but the silver-haired girl vanished.
Then instantly reappeared behind it.
SLASH
Blue lightning erupted upward violently.
The Forest Boar collapsed instantly.
Dead.
Kiraya stared silently.
For a brief moment—
she genuinely thought it was Rio.
The silver hair.
The swordsmanship.
The overwhelming aura.
Everything resembled her.
But then reality hit her.
"...Wait."
Kiraya frowned.
"What would Rio even be doing on Floor One?"
The last report Eternity Lions received said Rio had already reached Floor Two.
Traveling somewhere near the desert shipyards.
Hinabi suddenly grabbed Kiraya's shoulder before she could move.
"Wait."
Kiraya blinked.
"What?"
Hinabi narrowed her eyes slightly.
"Look carefully."
"...That's not Rio."
Kiraya looked again.
And this time—
she noticed the difference.
The stance.
The aura.
The energy itself.
Rio's swordsmanship always carried precision.
Control.
Cold calculation.
But this girl's fighting style felt completely different.
Wild.
Aggressive.
Explosive.
Then suddenly—
the silver-haired girl raised her blade toward the sky.
Blue lightning exploded violently around her body.
The air trembled.
The surrounding trees shook from the pressure alone.
And then the girl shouted—
"NARUKAMI!"
BOOOOOOOOM
A gigantic pillar of lightning erupted into the sky.
Kiraya's eyes widened instantly.
Hinabi stared silently.
The entire forest illuminated blue.
Lightning roared around the silver-haired girl like a divine storm.
And for the very first time—
both women felt it.
The terrifying pressure hidden within that power.
Kiraya slowly whispered—
"...What the hell is that?"
Blue lightning crackled violently across the forest clearing.
The smell of burned wood filled the air while sparks danced through the trees like tiny stars.
At the center of it all—
stood the silver-haired girl.
Her chest rose heavily from exhaustion.
Tiny arcs of electricity continued flowing around the blade in her hand.
Narukami.
A weapon that looked less like a sword—
and more like condensed lightning forced into physical form.
Several meters ahead—
the Forest Boar roared furiously.
Its massive body was covered in black fur and hardened hide while steam escaped from its nostrils.
The monster pawed aggressively against the dirt.
Preparing another charge.
The silver-haired girl tightened her grip on Narukami.
"...Okay."
"You can do this."
Behind her—
another girl immediately shouted.
"Akari!"
"Hurry before it charges again!"
Akari panicked instantly.
"I KNOW!"
The Forest Boar suddenly lunged forward.
The ground shook heavily beneath its weight.
Akari immediately raised Narukami.
Blue lightning exploded around her body.
"NARUKAMI—!"
She swung downward.
BOOOOOOM
A gigantic bolt of lightning fired violently into the sky—
completely missing the Forest Boar.
Instead—
it struck a poor bird flying peacefully above the battlefield.
The bird exploded into smoke instantly.
Silence.
The Forest Boar stopped charging.
Even it looked confused.
Several nearby birds immediately fled the trees in terror.
Then from behind Akari—
a girl with short dark hair screamed.
"WHY IS IT ALWAYS THE BIRDS?!"
Akari immediately turned around angrily.
"I'M TRYING MY BEST!"
"This thing is hard to aim, okay?!"
Memory grabbed her head dramatically.
"You've hit more wildlife than monsters!"
Akari looked personally offended.
"That's not true!"
Memory pointed toward the smoking remains falling from the sky.
"AKARI."
Akari looked away immediately.
"...That one doesn't count."
The Forest Boar roared again.
Clearly annoyed it was being ignored.
Akari panicked and turned back toward it.
"RIGHT."
"FOCUS."
Blue lightning crackled around Narukami once more.
The atmosphere suddenly shifted.
Even the air itself felt heavier.
Memory immediately backed away.
"Oh no."
"She's using it again."
Akari inhaled deeply.
Then activated—
[Narukami: First Form Thunder Strike]
A faint blue system glow surrounded the blade.
Electricity condensed violently along its edge.
Only one percent.
One single percent of Narukami's divine power.
Yet even that tiny fraction distorted the surrounding air.
Akari stepped forward.
Then slashed horizontally.
BOOOOOOOOM
A massive frontal wave of lightning erupted forward violently—
completely missing the Forest Boar again.
Instead—
it tore straight through the forest ahead.
Several trees exploded apart instantly.
Others cracked loudly before collapsing one after another.
CRAAAAASH
A group of birds sitting peacefully on the ground got crushed beneath the falling trees.
The remaining birds fled the forest screaming.
Memory stared silently.
"...Again."
Akari froze completely.
The Forest Boar remained perfectly unharmed.
Several seconds passed.
Then Akari screamed at the sky.
"WHY DOES THIS KEEP HAPPENING?!"
Memory pointed accusingly at her.
"The birds fear you now."
Akari dropped to her knees dramatically.
"I DON'T EVEN AIM FOR THEM!"
The Forest Boar slowly backed away.
Clearly deciding this entire situation wasn't worth it anymore.
Then suddenly—
Akari paused.
Her eyes shifted toward the nearby bushes.
Someone was there.
Memory noticed it too immediately.
"...Who's there?"
The atmosphere tensed instantly.
Akari raised Narukami cautiously.
Then—
the bushes slowly moved aside.
Kiraya stepped out first with both hands raised casually.
Behind her—
Hinabi followed while sighing.
"We're not stalking you or anything."
Kiraya smiled awkwardly.
"We just thought you were someone we knew."
Akari blinked slightly.
"...Huh?"
Hinabi rubbed the back of her head.
"You two look alike."
Kiraya nodded.
"Sorry."
"We genuinely thought you were our friend."
Akari looked slightly confused.
But she slowly lowered Narukami.
"...Oh."
Kiraya never mentioned Rio's name.
But both she and Hinabi already knew internally.
The resemblance was absurd.
Silver hair.
Blue eyes.
Sword user.
Even the aura felt strangely familiar.
But now that they stood closer—
the differences became obvious.
This girl lacked Rio's terrifying calmness.
Rio always felt controlled.
Sharp.
Dangerous.
But Akari felt emotional.
Explosive.
Almost reckless.
Memory crossed her arms suspiciously.
"...You thought she was someone else?"
Hinabi nodded casually.
"Yeah."
"You kinda have the same vibe."
Akari awkwardly scratched her cheek.
"...Sorry?"
Kiraya laughed softly.
"No need to apologize."
Then her eyes slowly shifted toward Narukami.
The blade crackled violently even while resting.
A dangerous weapon.
One she had never seen before.
"...That's an interesting sword."
Akari immediately hugged Narukami protectively.
"It's mine."
Memory sighed dramatically.
"And unfortunately the local bird population agrees."
Akari glared at her.
"Can you stop bringing up the birds?!"
Memory pointed toward another smoking feather drifting nearby.
"...Can YOU stop hitting them?!"
Akari looked ready to cry now.
Kiraya couldn't help laughing slightly.
Then she watched Akari train again.
The silver-haired girl repositioned herself carefully.
Focused.
Determined.
She swung Narukami once more.
Lightning erupted forward violently—
missing the target again.
BOOM
Another tree exploded apart.
The Forest Boar immediately fled into the forest in absolute terror.
Akari froze.
Then slowly lowered the sword.
"...I hate this skill."
Memory immediately nodded.
"Honestly understandable."
Akari clenched her fists in frustration.
"No matter what I do..."
"...I can't control the direction properly."
Kiraya watched her silently for a moment.
Then slowly spoke.
"...You're forcing it too much."
Akari blinked.
"What?"
Kiraya stepped slightly closer.
"The way you swing."
"The way you release the power."
She looked directly at Narukami.
"You're trying to control the skill completely."
Akari frowned slightly.
"...Isn't that normal?"
Kiraya shook her head.
Then quietly said something she once heard herself.
"Let the skill flow through you."
"Don't force it toward a direction."
"Guide it."
The forest became quiet.
Akari stared at her silently.
Kiraya continued softly.
"A powerful skill isn't something you dominate."
"It's something you synchronize with."
Akari slowly looked down at Narukami.
Then back toward Kiraya.
"...Guide it?"
Kiraya nodded once.
"That's how someone I know fights."
Memory tilted her head slightly.
"...Someone strong?"
Kiraya smiled faintly.
"...Very."
Akari remained silent for several moments afterward.
Then she slowly gripped Narukami again.
This time—
more carefully.
Less forcefully.
She inhaled deeply.
The lightning around the blade became calmer.
Smoother.
Less violent.
Akari swung.
BOOM
The lightning slash flew forward—
and this time—
it actually struck the center of a distant tree directly.
The tree exploded apart instantly.
Akari froze.
Memory froze.
Even Hinabi blinked.
"...Wait."
Akari stared at the destroyed tree.
"...I HIT IT."
Memory immediately pointed dramatically.
"SHE HIT SOMETHING THAT WASN'T A BIRD."
Akari almost cried from happiness.
But then the tree falls down to the ground and hits another bird.
Kiraya smiled awkwardly and quietly.
"...Looks like it helped."
Akari immediately turned toward her.
"...Thank you."
Kiraya waved casually.
"Don't mention it."
Then she slowly turned away.
Hinabi stretched lazily beside her.
"We should get moving."
Kiraya nodded.
Floor Two awaited them now.
A completely different world.
As the two began walking back toward the Town of Beginnings—
Akari suddenly called out.
"Wait!"
Kiraya glanced back slightly.
Akari hesitated.
Then awkwardly scratched her cheek.
"...What's your name?"
Kiraya smiled softly.
"...Kiraya."
Akari nodded slowly.
"...I'm Akari."
Kiraya gave one final nod.
Then both she and Hinabi disappeared deeper into the forest pathway.
Leaving Akari and Memory alone once more beneath the fading evening sky.
Akari quietly looked down at Narukami.
Then toward the destroyed tree.
And for the first time—
she smiled slightly.
"...Guide it, huh?"