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Phoenix Order Arc
Chapter: The Platinum Fragments
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The Summons
Two days later, Blade stood at the heart of the Phoenix Order's Council Chamber — a vast hall lit by flickering spirit lanterns, ancient banners lining the stone walls. The captains sat in a semicircle, each bearing the crest of their division. The air was so heavy with power that Blade could almost feel his heartbeat echo off the walls.
Ace, or Neo — Captain of Division 1 — rose from his seat, his gaze piercing through Blade like a blade through silk.
"Blade Taizuka," Neo's voice echoed, calm yet terrifying. "Tell us. What happened in that forest?"
Blade drew in a breath. Suntaro and Kibito, seated behind him among the other new recruits, watched him closely.
He recounted everything: Zester's sudden attack, the monstrous aura he'd felt, the humiliating way he'd lost control of his Myou, and Tensho's timely intervention. Every word made his fists clench tighter. When he finished, the chamber fell silent, broken only by the crackle of the torches.
Then a dry voice broke the tension — Sekiro Tachibana, Captain of Division 9, pushed his monocle up and spoke like he was announcing a math result.
"That letter we found… it confirms your report."
Blade blinked. "Letter? What letter?"
Kentaro Rikotsu, the child prodigy, Assistant Captain of Division 9, stood up, arms crossed. "While you were out cold, Blade, some masked freak threw a kunai straight into our camp. It had this."
Kentaro unrolled the ragged parchment, his young voice steady yet filled with a strange fire.
"'The nightmare begins. We want the Platinum Fragments. — Akuma Chi.'"
Gasps and murmurs rippled through the chamber. Suntaro leaned forward, eyes wide. "Fragments? What fragments?"
Kibito frowned. "Akuma Chi… so they really exist, huh?"
Jeitsu Meguruma, the sly Captain of Division 2, spoke up, spinning a blade-shaped charm between his fingers. "The Platinum Fragments. Shattered pieces of the legendary blades. When reunited, they're said to summon the true mythical blade: Platinum Croison."
Blade's throat went dry. "Platinum Croison…?"
Jeitsu's tone was almost mocking. "Yes. A blade forged so perfectly it can cut through space, time — even the fabric of our world. It's said that whoever controls it could reset reality itself."
Kagami's hand trembled on her sheath. "So these fragments are hidden around the world?"
Jeitsu smirked. "If you believe the Book of Ancient Mythics — yes."
Blade's voice cracked. "And what about my Kamikaze… is it connected?"
Jeitsu nodded. "Kamikaze is one of the Seven Legendary Blades. When it bonds with its wielder's soul, and if the lost blade Kazeshin is awakened, they merge to form Kamizero — the mythical zero blade."
The room froze. Blade's mind spiraled.
Yutako Koichi, Captain of Division 6, leaned lazily against a pillar, giving Jeitsu a sideways glare. Jeitsu tilted his head toward him.
"Kikai — the Nature's Gate Blade. Yutako's little friend here wields that one."
Yutako shrugged, half-asleep. "Hmm? Oh, yeah."
Sukasa Minamoto, Captain of Division 10, popped a mint in his mouth. "The third is Onimaru. Nobody's seen it in centuries. Rumor says it never even bonded to a single soul after its forging."
High above, Ryun Kairo — the silent genius from another continent — sat cross-legged on the stone beam, expression unreadable, listening yet ignoring them all.
Jeitsu continued, eyes glinting. "The next four? Raitaro — the Thunder Blade. Suntaro, that would be yours, correct?"
Suntaro jolted upright. "H-Huh?! That old blade my father gave me…?"
Kentaro let out a low whistle. "You mean you've been swinging that thing around like a toy? You reckless moron."
Jeitsu pressed on, savoring the stunned faces. "The sixth is Shiro-Ryu — the Dragon Alter Blade. Its last known wielder was an Emperor from Mount Senryuu."
Yano Mikazushi, the quiet wind user, lowered her eyes. She alone seemed to grasp that connection.
Jeitsu's grin darkened. "The seventh and final: Aizo to Zeta to. The Twin Blades — once one, broken by betrayal, now wielded by none other than our dear Head Captain Neo here."
All eyes shot back to Neo, who hadn't flinched once since the meeting started. His eyes remained closed, unreadable. Kagami swallowed hard. "Captain Neo… is that true?"
Neo didn't even look her way. He simply exhaled, a ghost of a breath — a thousand stories hidden behind those cold eyes.
A heavy silence fell until Tensho Ranmaru, leaning on his massive blade Keizoki, broke it.
"Enough chatter. We need to focus on what's coming. If Akuma Chi wants the Platinum Fragments, then they'll come for us all."
Suigatsu Okata slammed her fist into her palm, fire flaring up around her shoulders. "Let them come! The Jyu-Ichi Banteo Mission will scatter them like flies."
Suntaro raised an eyebrow. "Jyu-Ichi Banteo?"
Kinnatsu cracked a crooked grin from where he leaned against the wall. "A full-scale mission. All eleven divisions. Everyone — rookies, captains, even our laziest bums — fighting together."
Some captains exhaled softly — steeled for war. Others exchanged glances that hinted at old wounds and buried grudges. Blade felt the weight settle like iron chains around his chest.
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One by One, Shadows Stir
In the back, Kagami glanced at Ace — or Neo — still silent, still motionless. "Strange," she whispered to herself. "Not a single word from him."
Sekiro tapped his scroll. "The question isn't if Akuma Chi will strike — it's when. Everyone prepare yourselves."
A low hum of agreement passed through the hall. Yutako stretched and muttered, "Better stock up on sleep then."
Sukasa grinned, twirling a dagger. "Try not to die, rookies. That'd be boring."
Kinnatsu flashed a wicked grin. "Well then — meeting's over. Time to sharpen our fangs."
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Far Away — A New Shadow Stirs
Far beyond the Phoenix Order, in a forgotten village surrounded by mist, a ramshackle hut glowed faintly under the moon.
Inside, a figure stirred — long hair draped over hazel eyes, piercings glinting in the dark. He yawned, stretching his limbs like a cat waking from a decade-long nap.
"Again, huh… work, work. Can't a guy sleep forever?"
He cracked a grin, fangs barely visible in the candlelight. His fingers traced the Akuma Chi symbol carved into his wrist.
"Time to hunt. Let's see what these so-called phoenixes are made of."
He stepped out into the night, barefoot, the wind carrying his words through the sleeping village.
"Finally… some prey."
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To Be Continued