Night settled over the human world.
Within the Spirit Corps Headquarters, the massive training grounds slowly emptied as officers from every sector finished their drills and returned to their barracks. Lantern lights flickered on one by one, casting long shadows across the stone pathways.
Near the Sector 15 barracks, Akira and Homura walked side by side.
Akira spoke.
"You're saying you received a letter meant for Yugo… with the Sukishima crest on it?"
Homura nodded.
"Yeah. That basically summarizes everything."
Akira frowned.
"But it doesn't make sense."
Homura's voice was calm, but firm.
"Regardless, we have no choice. We'll give him the letter when he comes back."
Akira exhaled.
"Yeah… you're right."
High above the headquarters—
A distortion opened atop one of the sixteen massive pillars surrounding the Spirit Corps. Space warped violently, then stabilized as a cloaked individual stepped through. The distortion sealed itself shut behind him.
"Ahh… the Spirit Corps Headquarters," the man murmured.
"How much it has changed."
He slowly turned his head.
"I sense two strong spiritual energies together in that direction…"
His gaze shifted.
"And multiple spiritual energies straight ahead."
The cloaked man drew his sword.
"Nikai—Sword Manifestation: Shizuka."
The blade released a surge of energy that took form beside him—a woman with long, wavy blue hair, silver eyes, and a calm but dangerous presence.
Shizuka hovered slightly above the ground.
"Are you sure you want us to separate?"
The man chuckled.
"So you read my mind. That makes things easier."
Shizuka looked toward the distant barracks.
"The distance is far. You won't be able to use my full power."
"It's fine," the man replied.
"You know I'm not someone who relies solely on his sword spirit."
Shizuka narrowed her eyes.
"If you're sure… don't die. Those two seem strong."
The man smiled beneath his hood.
"Well then, it's a good thing I'm stronger."
Shizuka smirked before launching into the air, flying toward the central training area.
"Time to have some fun."
The cloaked man vanished.
Akira suddenly stopped walking.
"Hm."
Homura turned.
"You sensed it too?"
Akira nodded.
"Yeah. And one of them is coming straight toward us."
The cloaked individual appeared directly in front of them.
Akira instantly drew his sword.
"Who are you?"
The man tilted his head.
"That's rude. You should introduce yourself first before asking someone else who they are."
Homura stepped forward.
"You're not answering the question."
The cloaked man slowly removed his cloak, letting it drift away with the wind.
"Well then, since you're so eager… I'll tell you."
"The name's Rihito Shima—first commanding general of the Evil Spirit God, Lord Kamish."
Akira's eyes sharpened.
"Kamish… so that means you're with Yosuke."
Homura spoke quietly.
"Indeed. This is quite the situation we're in."
Rihito smiled.
"Yosuke spoke highly of you two. Akira, captain of Sector 15… and Homura, the first-ranked Sentinel."
Akira raised his blade.
"So why come alone without an army?"
Rihito chuckled.
"What are you talking about? My army is already here—in these headquarters."
Akira scowled.
"What?"
"You'll see soon enough," Rihito replied.
"But right now… I came to fight yo----."
Akira vanished in a flash of light.
He reappeared behind Rihito, swinging his blade—but Rihito blocked it instantly. Akira flashed again, flames erupting mid-air.
"You could've given me a warning," Akira said.
Homura smirked.
"Sorry about that. I knew you'd dodge it."
The flames cleared.
Rihito stood unharmed.
"That was a powerful attack."
Homura's eyes widened.
"No one has ever come out of my sword spirit's flames untouched."
Rihito raised a hand.
"Question. Was this the attack you used?"
He unleashed the same flame strike.
Akira and Homura dodged to either side.
Homura clenched his teeth.
"That was weaker… but it was definitely my attack."
Akira looked at Rihito.
"So you absorbed it?"
Rihito shook his head.
"You misunderstand. I can copy any attack the moment I see it. That's my power—not my sword spirit's."
Homura stared.
"That was his own ability…"
Rihito pointed his sword at them.
A frequency pulse surged through their bodies.
"…Interesting," Rihito murmured.
"How peculiar."
Akira growled.
"What was that supposed to be?"
"You two are fascinating," Rihito replied.
Suddenly, Rihito looked away.
"You've been so focused on me… you didn't notice your officers were being attacked."
A massive explosion erupted from the central training area.
Homura's eyes widened.
"What was that?!"
At the central training grounds—
Shizuka floated above the battlefield. Around her stood multiple officers, frozen in shock.
Chika shouted.
"Who are you?! Why are you doing this?!"
Tesai clenched his fists.
"The real question is—how is she is doing this?"
Shinra shouted.
"She manifested our sword spirits… and took control of them!"
Reiner looked around desperately.
"Where are the Captain Commanders?!"
Shizuka raised her hand calmly.
"My friends, you may leave now. We've dealt enough damage here."
The sword spirits vanished.
Shizuka dissolved into energy.
Back at Sector 15—
Rihito stood calmly as sword spirits appeared behind him. Shizuka rematerialized at his side.
"It seems you did well," Rihito said.
Shizuka smiled.
"Now that we're together again, we can release a stronger frequency."
She raised her hand.
A massive wave spread across the entire Spirit Corps Headquarters.
Sword spirits manifested from awakened users and flew toward her—except one.
Akira shouted.
"What's happening?!"
His sword spirit stepped forward—toward Shizuka.
Homura clenched his fists.
"The sword spirits… they're turning against us!"
Rihito smiled.
"I told you. My army was already here."
Akira growled.
"At least your sword spirit isn't turning on us… otherwise we'd be in hell."
Deep underground—
Four sword spirits entered the Infinite Sealing Prison.
Two touched a massive black-and-white pillar.
Two others reached a glowing crystalline cube.
They vanished—
And reappeared beside Rihito.
"It looks like we got the second thing we wanted," Rihito said.
Homura shouted.
"No! You can't take that!"
Darkness swallowed them all.
Rihito's voice echoed.
"Be glad my powers don't work on your sword spirit, Homura."
"Get back here!" Homura shouted.
Rihito laughed.
"See you in our next assault."
They vanished.
Akira lowered his sword.
"I can't believe we let them escape."
Homura turned.
"Akira… the Spirit War has officially begun."
Akira nodded.
"You're right."
Homura spoke firmly.
"Send word to all Command Officers, Lieutenants, and Captain Commanders. An emergency meeting begins in one hour."
Back in Hell — The Blood Spring
Ripples spread across the surface of the crimson Blood Spring as Yugo slowly regained consciousness. He emerged from the water, breathing heavily, his body trembling as residual energy faded.
When he looked up, he saw Zane seated calmly on a chair positioned directly in front of the spring, his gaze unwavering.
Yugo frowned.
"Why have you been watching me?"
Zane answered casually.
"Making sure you didn't drown."
Yugo scoffed.
"Well, that was unnecessary."
Zane leaned forward slightly.
"We have a change in plans regarding your training."
Yugo stiffened.
"A change? For what?"
"The Spirit Corps was attacked," Zane said bluntly.
"So it was decided that one of the six remaining Hell leaders will personally choose who to train and then send them back to the human world."
Yugo's eyes widened.
"Wait—the Spirit Corps was attacked?"
Zane nodded.
"Yeah. The sword spirits of every awakened officer were taken and placed under enemy control. They're operating at only fifty percent of their original strength."
Yugo clenched his fists.
"I understand the situation. So who will I be training with?"
At that moment, a bright red aura erupted from Yugo's body, pulsing violently.
Zane's eyes narrowed slightly.
"You'll be training with our leader—June."
Yugo nodded firmly.
"I see. I just hope I reach there in time."
Zane stood.
"See you later, kid."
Yugo vanished in a flash of light.
Hell — June's Domain
Yugo reappeared inside a vast dojo. The room was quiet, illuminated by faint spiritual flames. At the center sat June, cross-legged on a mat, one hand resting on a traditional Japanese hand stool.
June opened his eyes.
"So you've arrived."
Yugo stepped forward.
"Yeah. So what are you going to train me in?"
June stood.
"Follow me."
June exited through a long corridor, Yugo walking behind him as they spoke.
"The Hell Gate will take seven days to return you to the human world," June explained.
"So instead, we'll send you back through the Jummon."
Yugo froze.
"Wait a minute… isn't the Jummon a—"
"Death gate," June finished.
"Yeah," Yugo said nervously. "That's right."
June continued calmly.
"You want to know why it's called a death trap?"
Yugo sighed.
"I thought that was obvious."
"The Jummon exists in a pocket space where the laws of nature function differently," June explained.
"It's a single path with unbreakable walls. If you fail to leak spiritual energy continuously, the walls will attack you—and you'll likely die."
Yugo swallowed.
"One day inside equals one year in any other world," June continued.
"And you can't stay longer than two hours. If you do, the guardian will kill you."
Yugo's eyes widened.
"The guardian?"
"It's as tall as the space itself," June said.
"It appears every six hours to ensure no one stays inside. The worst part is—you never know when it'll show up."
"No way…" Yugo muttered. "That's why it's called a death trap."
"It'll take two hours and thirty minutes to cross," June said.
"But if you boost your speed with spiritual energy, you can cut it down to one hour."
Yugo nodded.
"Okay. I heard you."
June stopped in front of a door and opened it.
As Yugo stepped closer—
June shoved him inside.
Yugo fell nearly ten meters, crashing onto the floor below.
"What's your problem?!" Yugo shouted.
June looked down at him.
"I'll be training you to control that evil power of yours."
Yugo froze.
"You mean…"
"That power," June said, "is the true form of spiritfication."
Yugo's eyes widened in horror.
"True form of… spiritfication?!"
June turned away slightly.
"Listen. I'm probably not the best person to explain this. Only your f—"
"Only my…?!" Yugo demanded.
June paused.
"…Actually, never mind. It doesn't matter."
June raised his hand.
"I'll just remove the seal."
A glowing seal bearing Yugo's family crest, surrounded by spiraling light, began to fade—then shattered.
Yugo screamed.
"UHHHHHHHHH—!"
June spoke coldly.
"Sorry, kid. This might kill you."
Dark energy erupted from Yugo's eyes and mouth. From his chest, shadowy tendrils burst forth—whip-like limbs lifting him into the air like spider legs.
June's thoughts echoed silently.
I know I should've told him about the letter Homura received…
But if I do, he won't find balance.
I'll leave that to Homura.
Two Hours Earlier — Human World
Before the Spirit Corps contacted Hell—
Inside the Central Meeting Chamber, Homura sat at the front center. Captain Commanders, lieutenants, and high-ranking officers filled the sides of the long chamber.
Shuba spoke firmly.
"Sentinel Homura, Captain Commander Akira—you two faced the enemy. Explain what happened."
Homura nodded.
"You all experienced your sword spirits manifesting and leaving you. Correct?"
Makima crossed her arms.
"Of course. That's why we're here."
Akira stepped forward.
"The enemy possesses the ability to control sword spirits by emitting a frequency wave. We had Teja analyze why Homura's sword spirit wasn't affected."
Teja adjusted his glasses.
"I made an important discovery. Homura's sword spirit wasn't taken because it's asleep."
Masaki frowned.
"How does being asleep prevent mind control?"
Teja explained.
"It's fully focused on suppressing its power through meditation. It has cut off all external interaction—including communication with Homura."
Miyamoto nodded.
"So the frequency couldn't reach it."
Saturo added calmly.
"Because it couldn't interact with anything."
Teja continued.
"There's more. Although the sword spirits left us, the bond thread remains intact."
Fumi raised an eyebrow.
"And that means?"
"As long as the master is alive," Teja said,
"even if a sword spirit is killed, it will reform inside the sword—potentially freeing it from enemy control."
Masaki frowned.
"Easier said than done."
Kim sighed.
"What a drag."
Homura spoke firmly.
"Until then, sword spirits under enemy control are to be treated as hostile threats."
Leona smiled.
"This just got interesting."
Shuba leaned forward.
"You still haven't told us the attacker's name."
Homura smirked slightly.
"Impatient. We're getting there."
Akira spoke.
"He identified himself as Rihito Shima, first commanding general of the Evil Spirit God Kamish. The records confirm it."
Masaki exhaled.
"So he's basically the pre-penultimate boss."
"Exactly," Teja said.
Makima frowned.
"And the full records are missing."
Akira nodded.
"Yes. So we prepare for the next assault."
Homura stood.
"One last announcement. Sector 9 will temporarily fall under Masaki Senjumaki's command."
Akira concluded.
"You're all dismissed."
As officers left, only Homura, Akira, and Teja remained.
Homura spoke quietly.
"I believe you heard everything, June."
June's voice echoed.
"I did. We'll speed up the kids' training and send them back in three days."
Akira said firmly.
"Make sure they return alive."
June replied.
"I hear you. But Yugo's situation—I'll leave that to you."
Silence followed.
Back to the Present — Yugo's Inner World
June looked down at Yugo's writhing form.
"Survive for your friends… your family."
Yugo opened his eyes.
He stood on an empty battlefield, littered with broken weapons and ash.
"Yugoooo!"
Yugo turned.
"Thorfinn! It's you!"
Thorfinn smiled sadly.
"I'm sorry. I can't help you control spiritfication."
Yugo clenched his fists.
"Then why am I here?"
"This world isn't just for me," Thorfinn said.
"It's also for him."
The ground trembled.
A figure rose from black sludge—its form resembling both Yugo and Thorfinn.
"What the hell is that?" Yugo shouted.
Thorfinn faded like wind-blown dust.
The figure smiled.
"Hey there. I thought you'd never unseal me."
"Who are you?!" Yugo demanded.
"That hurts, master," the figure said mockingly.
"We've worked together twice."
Yugo's eyes widened.
"…You're saying you're—"
"That's right," the entity replied.
"I'm your spiritfication power… and more."
"The name's Kuro Jiga."
"If you want control over my power," Kuro said,
"you'll have to beat me."
Yugo scoffed.
"As if I can do that."
Kuro snapped his fingers.
Swords of every shape and size erupted across the battlefield.
"There. Fair enough, right?"
Yugo steadied himself.
"If this is what it takes…"
Kuro grinned.
"Then bring it on."