The decision was final.
Mei and Kaiden would continue missions—together, always. One blade of water, one strike of lightning. Hayami would remain near Master Tsuchishiro at all times, guarding the only man capable of sensing Soul Eaters across vast distances.
And Ren?
Ren disappeared.
Not vanished—hidden.
A secluded training ground deep within the mountains, far from trade routes, far from villages, far from eyes that might recognize the glow of fire on a boy's palm. The Kings of the Soul Eaters were hunting. That much was certain.
If they found Ren now, they wouldn't fight him.
They would execute him.
Ren didn't like that word.
Execution.
"So basically," Ren muttered, walking beside Daigo through the forest, "I'm grounded."
Daigo didn't respond.
That alone annoyed Ren.
"You know," Ren continued, "Mei would at least yell at me. Kaiden would laugh. You just… walk."
Daigo stopped.
Ren nearly walked into his back.
"This is the training," Daigo said calmly.
Ren frowned. "Walking?"
"No," Daigo replied. "Listening."
They reached a waterfall.
Not a peaceful one. Not the kind monks sat beside.
This one roared.
Water slammed down from a jagged cliff, crashing into stone with enough force to shake the ground beneath their feet. Mist filled the air. The sound swallowed everything else.
Ren stared.
"…You brought me here to scream at water?"
Daigo stepped closer to the edge.
"Handstand," he said.
Ren blinked. "Sorry?"
"Handstand. Against the rock."
Ren laughed. He actually laughed.
"You're insane. I can't even stand normally here."
Daigo didn't argue.
He simply placed one hand on the stone and lifted himself upside down—perfectly balanced. Water smashed against his body. His arm didn't shake. His breath didn't change.
He stayed there.
Ren's mouth slowly fell open.
"…What the hell."
Daigo dropped back down like gravity was optional.
"I do that every morning," he said.
Ren stared at the waterfall again. Then at Daigo. Then back at the waterfall.
"…Okay," Ren said. "You win. You're mad."
Daigo nodded. "Good. Then we'll start easier."
Ren relaxed. "Thank—"
"Sit."
Ren's relief vanished. "Sit?"
"Twelve hours."
Ren's soul left his body.
"Twelve—ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?"
Daigo already sat down, legs crossed, back straight, eyes closed.
The waterfall roared.
Ren sat beside him reluctantly.
Five minutes passed.
Ten.
Ren's legs screamed. His back burned. The mist soaked his clothes. The noise drilled into his skull.
"This is torture," Ren hissed. "This isn't training."
Daigo opened one eye.
"This," he said, "is the foundation."
Ren groaned. "Foundation of what? Suffering?"
Daigo closed his eye again.
"There were never gods," he said.
Ren froze.
"What?"
"Only will carriers," Daigo continued. "History changed the names. But power always came from the same place."
Ren leaned forward, listening despite himself.
"Will power depends on three things," Daigo said. "Life force. State of mind. Resolve."
"And stages?" Ren asked quietly.
"Three," Daigo answered. "Stage One: Control. Stage Two: Manifestation."
Ren swallowed. "And Stage Three?"
Daigo opened his eyes.
"Broken," he said. "Unreached. From the beginning of the world."
The waterfall thundered.
Daigo turned to Ren fully now.
"You have a higher probability than anyone alive," he said. "That's why you're hidden. That's why you're restricted. And that's why you train."
Ren clenched his fists. "If I'm so dangerous… why not just lock me away?"
Daigo's voice hardened.
"Because if you fail," he said, "the Kings will kill you."
"And if I succeed?"
Daigo looked straight into Ren's eyes.
"Then you end them."
Silence fell between them—heavy, crushing.
Ren exhaled slowly.
"…This sucks."
Daigo allowed the smallest smile.
"Yes," he said. "It will."
The waterfall kept roaring.
And Ren stayed seated.