The entire stadium was filled with noise.
Students shouted, laughed, and talked without restraint.
Hirata frowned.
"These noises are annoying… Do these fools think they'll pass just by talking? Pathetic."
Suddenly, a sharp voice echoed through the speakers.
"Students, quiet down. In five minutes, the rules will be explained."
No one listened.
The noise continued.
Then—
"SO STUDENTS, SHUT UP."
Silence.
The entire stadium froze.Five minutes later…
"We will now explain the rules."
"First — Only one student will enter at a time."
"Second — You must carry your katana."
"Third — After two years of extreme training… you are expected to control your energy."
A pause.
"There are only three examiners."
"Be careful… they will strike your vital points."
"And the loser…"
"Will return to training for another two years."
A heavy silence spread across the stadium.
"Student 1 — Ashina Shigaru."
"Step onto the test ground."
A boy walked forward.
His eyes were cold… but something burned deep inside them."Examiner, step forward."
A man entered the arena.
The moment their eyes met—
"Start."
The examiner vanished.
"…What?"
Ashina's eyes widened.
"Where did he—"
He stopped.
Closed his eyes.
"…Focus."
Energy flowed around him.
"…Water."
BOOM.
The examiner struck from behind.
Ashina barely blocked—
—but the impact shattered the ground beneath his feet.
Shikai's eyes widened.
"Wait… he reacted to that?!"
Hirata watched calmly.
"…This might go in his favor."
Ashina drew his sword and slashed forward.
The examiner dodged effortlessly.
Then—
A massive aura erupted.
Water surged around the examiner.
"…That's insane…" someone whispered.
In an instant—
The examiner struck.
Waves of water crashed into Ashina.
The world around him changed.
He was sinking.
Water surrounded him from all sides.
"…What is this place…?"
"I need to get out—"
Suddenly—
Sharp currents rushed toward him.
Fast.
Deadly.
Capable of cutting anything.
Outside—
Shikai clenched his fists.
"Will he survive that?!"
Hirata narrowed his eyes.
"…He's from the Shigaru Clan."
"The clan that possesses light and dark energy."
"If he uses light… he can vaporize this."
Inside the water—
A faint glow appeared.
"…Light…"
Ashina gritted his teeth.
"I won't lose…!"
The light spread—
But—
"…the pressure… it's too much…"SLASH.
A high-speed current cut across his chest.
The crushing force knocked the air out of him.
His vision blurred.
"…Am I… losing?"
"…After all that training…?"
"…I have to prove them…"
Flashback
"Learn something from your brother, Ashina."
"We expected more from you."
"You are the failure of our clan."
"You will never be one of us.""…No…"
"I will prove you wrong…"
"I am above all of you…"
"I can't lose here…"
"I won't…"
"…What is that light…?"
Suddenly—
The glow intensified.
Brighter.
Hotter.
Unstable.
BOOM.
The water… vaporized."…What is that light…?"
Suddenly—
The glow intensified.
Brighter.
Hotter.
Unstable.
BOOM.
The water… vaporized.
Silence.
Everyone froze.
Even the examiner.
There was no trace of Ashina.
It was as if—
He had vanished from the battlefield.