The town's morning mist clung to their clothes like a damp reminder that the world never truly rested. Pale fog curled around broken rooftops and narrow streets, blurring the line between sleep and reality.
Sora yawned, rubbing his sore arms and legs. A week of training under Lucy had left him stronger—yes—but every muscle screamed in protest. Even standing felt like work.
"Get up. There is more training," Lucy said flatly.
Sora looked at her with half-closed eyes for a moment—then, before he could speak, his feet left the ground.
"HEY—!"
He was dragged across the cold stone path, grit scraping against his back.
"Wait! I wasn't even awake yet!" Sora groaned, Lucy's grip on his arm like iron.
She didn't answer.
She released him a few meters later.
"Run laps around that ridge," Lucy said, pointing toward a jagged slope cutting into the forest. "Then push stones up that incline. Don't stop."
Sora sat up slowly, blinking at the steep terrain ahead. His mouth fell open.
"…Seriously? You want me to… move boulders?"
"Yes."
"…That wasn't a joke?"And don't complain."
Sora sighed deeply, pushing himself to his feet.He began after a few minutes.
Each stone was heavier than the last. His arms trembled as he pushed, muscles burning, breath tearing out of his lungs in ragged gasps. Sweat soaked his clothes within minutes. His legs threatened to give out, his back screaming with every movement.
Still, he forced himself onward.Mantra stirred faintly inside him—not released, not exploding—just circulating. A thin, controlled flow, keeping his balance steady, his movements just barely efficient enough to continue.
After what felt like hours—but was probably only minutes—Sora collapsed beside a flat rock, chest heaving. He lay there, staring at the sky through the mist.
"…I think I'm done ," he muttered.
Then—A sound.
Low. Guttural.
The air vibrated, as if something massive had exhaled deep within the forest.
Sora froze.
Another growl echoed, closer this time.
Slowly, he pushed himself up, eyes narrowing.
From between the trees, a demon stepped forward.
Its skin was dark and scarred, muscles thick and uneven like twisted stone. Its claws scraped against the ground with each step, carving shallow lines into the dirt. Faint red light burned behind its eyes.
Sora straightened, wiping sweat from his face.
He exhaled once.
"…Early morning warm-up," he muttered, a crooked grin forming. "This will be interesting."
The demon roared and lunged.Its claws tore through the air. Sora barely raised his arm in time—BOOM!
The impact sent a shock through his body. His feet slid backward, stone cracking beneath him as dust burst upward.
"Gah—!"His arms burned from the force.
The demon didn't stop.It attacked again—faster.
Sora ducked low, rolling across the ground as claws sliced through where his head had been a heartbeat earlier. He sprang up, twisting mid-air,clenched his fist and then–PLATINUM PUNCH!
The blow land squarely on the demons chest.
CRACK!
The demon staggered backward, feet digging trenches into the earth. Trees behind it shook violently.
Sora landed hard, breathing fast with a dangerous aura around him.The demon growled, wiping blood from its mouth.
"Brace yourself…" it snarled. "I am going to hurt you." It charged again with a huge smile this time.
The demon swung wildly. Sora slipped past the attack, sliding beneath its arm, pivoting on one foot.
"Platinum Punch."
Another impact—this time to the jaw.
The demon crashed into the ground, rolling through dirt and stone before finally stopping.
Rock detonated outward as the creature coughed violently, blackened breath spilling from its mouth in choking bursts. The shockwave rattled the clearing, fractured stone lifting before crashing back down like rain.
For a heartbeat—Silence.
Then the demon laughed.Like stone grinding against bone.
"You…" it snarled, forcing itself upright. Cracks webbed across its hide, heat leaking from within, yet it stood—rage drowning out pain. "You think that was enough?"
Sora exhaled.His arms trembled—not with fear, but recoil. The Platinum Punch still echoed through his bones, a deep, resonant ache that reminded him of the truth: he didn't get many chances. One clean hit could turn the tide. One mistake would end him.
He wiped blood from his mouth with the back of his hand and rolled his shoulders, resetting his stance.
"I've crushed Saints stronger than you," the demon growled, spreading its arms wide.
Sora raised his eyes.
"Then," he said quietly, "don't blink."
The demon roared and charged.
The ground screamed beneath its weight. Each step gouged trenches into stone as it swung both arms down like executioner's hammers—raw, overwhelming force meant to erase everything beneath it.
Sora vanished sideways casually. Each strike obliterated the space he'd occupied, stone collapsing inward as debris exploded skyward. Sora skidded across shattered ground, boots screeching, lungs burning as dust filled his throat.
The demon twisted mid-charge and swung again. Then Impact.Sora crossed his arms just in time—then the world flipped. His body slammed through loose rock, pain detonating through his spine as breath was ripped from his chest.
"Stay down, human," it sneered."You fought well–for prey."
Sora coughed, dragging air back into his lungs. His vision blurred… then sharpened.
He stood there with killing intent.Heat rippled faintly around him.
The demon faltered.
"... what are you doing?" It asked taking a step back."That heat– why does it feel like–" it voice cracked.
"Who are you?"
Sora didn't answer. He continued to walk forward.
From the ridge above, Lucy watched silently.
"As predicted," she murmured. "When he faces demons… he changes completely."
"Hey demon," Sora said softly, eyes locked onto the creature. "Come closer."
The demon lunged—panic driving it faster, harder.It swung The demon lunged—panic driving it faster, harder, but slid past Sora by a hair's breadth.
Then—Pain.
The demon staggered back screaming.
It stared down at its shoulder. It's arm was gone.
"N—No…" it whimpered, blood pouring as it scrambled backward. "No—stay away!"
Sora was already there.Inside it's reach.
"Platinum Punch."
The blow landed deep.There was no scream this time.
The demon's body ruptured in a violent burst, flesh and bone erased by the impact, fragments scattering across the ravaged clearing.Silence returned.
Then—"Sora…?"
A voice from the bushes.Sora turned.Killing intent still coiled tight around him.
"It's—it's us, dammit!" Rin said quickly, hands raised. "Easy!"
The pressure vanished."Oh," he said flatly.
Rin swallowed. "…What was that look just now?"
"What look?" Sora replied, already turning away.
The wind moved strangely after the battle.
Not violently—hesitantly. As if the land itself was unsure whether it was safe to breathe again.
Sora stood near the remains, fists slowly unclenching. Only now did the exhaustion hit him. His knees felt heavy. His chest burned with each breath.
Lucy approached."You did it"
"You knew there was a demon around?" Rin asked.
"Yes"
"You're truly evil" he sneered.
Far away—far beyond the forest, beyond the town—
Something stirred.
Deep underground, demonic markings flickered briefly… then vanished.
And in a high stone chamber lined with ancient symbols, a figure paused mid-step.
"…That presence," the Saint murmured.
Another voice answered from the shadows.
"So it's true. The King has awakened."
"Pack your things," Lucy said.
Sora blinked. "Huh?"
Rin tilted his head. "Pack… for what?"
"We are leaving for the Academy .The ship has arrived at shore. Hurry."
For half a second, Sora didn't react.
Then Rin exploded.
"FINALLY!" he shouted, leaping into the air like he'd been freed from prison. "The Saint Academy! I thought we'd be stuck in that town forever!"
AN HOUR LATER
Sora exhaled slowly, adjusting the strap of his bag. His body still ached form the battle earlier.They followed Lucy down the winding path toward the coast.
The sound reached them first—the rhythmic crash of waves against stone. Then the smell of salt filled the air, sharp and alive. As the trees thinned, the shoreline opened before them.
The ship stood waiting.
It was massive—dark wood reinforced with silver metal plating, its hull carved with faint glowing symbols that pulsed softly with restrained power. Tall masts pierced the sky, sails folded neatly like wings at rest. At its bow, a cross-shaped emblem gleamed, unmistakable.
Sora stopped walking.
"…So this is how Saints travel," he muttered.
Rin's eyes sparkled. "It's huge."
As the last rope was pulled in and the gangplank lifted, the ship groaned and shifted. The sails unfurled with a thunderous snap, catching the wind.
Sora walked to the railing, watching the shore shrink into the distance. His reflection stared back at him in the dark water—tired, uncertain… but burning with something new.
The journey had begun.
And whatever waited at the Saint Academy—
There would be no turning back.