The arena had gone silent.
Endou stood at the center, completely still.
The air around him shifted—subtle, but unnatural.
Isao watched from the sidelines, his eyes locked onto him.
That's him…
My future teammate.
His fists clenched.
He's different.
With the matches concluded, the four brackets came to an end.
All participants were instructed to report to the Hishe Capital Office to receive their squad assignments.
The capital building stood tall, not far from the arena.
It was where Isao had grown up.
Where his mother ruled.
As they entered—
Isao: "Hey, Mom."
Hope didn't even look up.
Hope: "Don't call me that while I'm working."
A small pause.
"…But good job."
She stepped forward, her presence commanding the entire room.
Hope: "I will now announce the squads."
The room grew tense.
Even TJ leaned in slightly.
Hope: "Knight Squad One, Regiment 30…"
A brief pause.
"…Isao Yamazaki, Ryo Endou, Koji Mura, and Mika Aoki."
Isao's eyes lit up.
A smile spread across his face.
A girl stepped forward.
Mika: "Hi! I'm excited to work with you, Yamazaki. You can call me Mika."
Isao froze for a second—slightly flustered.
Isao: "Y-Yeah… I'm looking forward to it too. Call me Isao."
Hope: "You four are dismissed. Return in one hour."
As they stepped outside, the tension eased.
Isao: "You can all call me Isao… what about you guys?"
Endou: "Endou."
Short. Simple.
Koji: "Koji! Nice to meet you!"
Mika: "Mika works for me."
Isao: "What powers do you all have?"
Endou: "Whirlwind."
Isao blinked.
Isao: "…So the rumors were true."
Koji: "Fire."
Mika: "Water."
Isao: "Lightning."
He smiled.
"That's perfect… we're all different."
They began walking.
For a moment, everything felt… right.
But something had been bothering Isao.
He glanced at Endou.
Isao: "Hey… what's that on your back?"
Endou reached behind him casually.
Endou: "This?"
He pulled it slightly into view.
"…You've probably heard of it."
"The Robe of Wind."
Silence.
Isao's eyes widened.
Mika froze.
Koji didn't speak.
One of the legendary weapons.
Created by Yuto Yamazaki himself.
And Endou had one.
Meanwhile…
Hope: "Final group. Knight Squad Four, Regiment 30…"
"…Jinno, Nakamura, Katou, and Hayashi."
TJ looked down.
His fists tightened.
Hope: "As you know, your squad will be assigned to Pyro Island."
The room grew quiet.
Hope: "It is a military training facility. A place for squads with lower rankings to improve."
A pause.
"You will depart in three days."
TJ: "…Understood."
He didn't argue.
But his voice… was different.
As squads began to leave—
Two groups crossed paths.
Isao: "TJ!"
TJ stopped.
Turned.
TJ: "…Isao."
Isao: "Why do you look like that? It's not like we won't see each other again."
TJ forced a small smile.
TJ: "I don't know when that'll be."
"…But next time we meet…"
His eyes sharpened.
"…I'll be stronger than you."
Isao smirked.
Isao: "We'll see about that."
For a moment…
They were just friends again.
Then TJ turned—
And walked away.
Hope: "Enter."
Squad One stepped inside.
Hope: "You are the strongest squad in Regiment 30."
Her gaze sharpened.
"I expect results."
Mika: "You'll get them."
Hope: "You'll begin with low-risk missions. Your assignments will increase in difficulty over time."
She placed small devices on the table.
Hope: "Take these."
Endou: "What are they?"
Hope: "Communication radios. You'll be contacted when needed."
They each took one.
Hope: "You're dismissed."
Everyone left—
Except Isao.
Isao: "…Mom."
Hope sighed slightly.
Hope: "What is it?"
Isao: "Why do we have Pyro Island?"
A pause.
Hope: "To build strength. There are other nations like Ravadal trying to cause harm."
Isao: "At what cost?"
Silence.
Isao: "There has to be another way."
Hope turned away.
Hope: "…We'll talk about this later."
"I have work to do."
Isao stood there.
For the first time—
He questioned everything.
Three Days Later
Isao woke up suddenly.
Today…
He rushed out the door.
Knock. Knock.
The door opened.
TJ: "Isao?"
Isao: "I came to see you off."
TJ stepped outside, a single backpack over his shoulder.
Isao: "That's all you're bringing?"
TJ: "That's all I'm allowed."
A pause.
TJ: "I've gotta get to the train station."
Isao: "I'll walk with you."
The station was crowded.
TJ's squad stood nearby.
A train pulled in.
Already aboard—
A higher-ranking knight squad.
Watching.
Waiting.
Isao: "This is it, huh…"
TJ: "Yeah."
A small smile.
TJ: "Next time we meet…"
"…we're rivals."
Isao nodded.
TJ turned—
And stepped onto the train.
The doors closed.
The train began to move.
Isao stood there.
Watching.
Until it disappeared.
Tears ran down his face.
Be safe…
Suddenly—
A voice crackled.
His radio.
Hope (over comms): "Knight Squad One, Regiment 30—report to the capital immediately."
A pause.
"You have your first mission."
Isao wiped his tears.
His eyes sharpened.
It begins.