A girl once danced through the cirrus clouds, her movements an elegant blur of speed and brilliance, leaving trails of light as she soared. Storms were mere obstacles beneath her wings, as she embodied the spirit of a dragon—free, unbound, and untouchable. Known as the Freedom Dragon, she was the fastest traveler in the sky, and the first to conquer the world's greatest heights.
But one day, after an invasion and a massacre stained the land with blood, she vanished without a trace. The blood-soaked ground was silent, as if her departure had taken the darkness with her.
It is said she fled the violence, searching for a sky untainted by the world's ceaseless bloodshed. Yet, in every corner of the world, the stains of war persist. Perhaps that is why the dragon never returned, forever flying, endlessly seeking the peace she dreams of but has never found.
We were still suspended in the sky, the battle raging on with no signs of resolution.
"Dammit! There are no shadows! We can't do anything with this gravity!" Julius growled, struggling against the crushing force, but it was futile.
Yukiha's magic was light, radiant and pure. Yet, even with her power, she couldn't harness it to accelerate her movements or defy the demon's overwhelming force.
I took a deep breath, steadying myself against the relentless winds. Raising my hands to either side, I closed my eyes, focusing every ounce of my energy.
"Sky Magic: Supreme of Heavenly Sphere!"
The air around us roared to life, the overwhelming winds of the high altitude swirling into my command. Gathering their ferocity, I conjured an absolute defensive sphere of wind, encasing us in its protective embrace. The sphere moved with me, a seamless shield that followed my every motion.
For a brief moment, I felt a surge of pride. The winds answered me more easily now—I was growing stronger. My mastery over Sky Magic was evolving. But this was only the beginning. The real test was still ahead.
The moment I activated the Heavenly Sphere, I pulled both Julius and Yukiha into its protective embrace. Questions filled their faces as they realized gravity no longer pressed against them, yet they couldn't see anything tangible around them.
"This is my magic," I explained. "The Heavenly Sphere nullifies external forces like gravity, but it doesn't help us descend or move faster. It's purely a defense mechanism, cutting off any magic attacks aimed at us. I'm only maintaining it for now so we can strategize."
To prepare for anything unexpected, I asked for their blood and briefly explained my Switch Magic, a technique I had yet to reveal in full detail.
Julius smirked. "You're more skilled than I thought. What's the plan, Yukiha?"
"We don't need one," Yukiha replied, her voice resolute. "I've been gathering all the light I need. Tosaki-san, dispel this barrier the moment I tell you."
Julius added, "Light magic is incredibly effective against curse power. She's been absorbing sunlight ever since we got thrown up here. She can end this."
Both of them consumed a magic pill that allowed them to hover freely in the air, preparing for the next step. Yukiha extended her hands, palms facing forward, and a single point of light appeared between them.
At first, it was no bigger than a droplet, but its radiance was unparalleled, brighter than the sun itself. Even with our eyes shut tight, the glow pierced through, its intensity undeniable.
Below, chaos erupted in the harbor as civilians and soldiers alike gazed skyward in awe and terror. A brilliant star had appeared in the daylight, its light cascading down like a beacon from the heavens.
"Dispel it now!" Yukiha's shout cut through the silence. Without hesitation, I released the Heavenly Sphere, and she unleashed her magic.
From below, it must have looked like divine intervention. The brilliant star descended, its radiance consuming the sky, eradicating every shadow in its path. The oppressive gravity dissipated, and the curse-infused darkness disintegrated entirely under its might.
"Light Magic: Heaven's Song!" Yukiha cried, her voice echoing through the air.
The harbor below was bathed in purifying light, the dark powers that plagued it swept away, leaving nothing but clarity and awe in their wake. The air felt lighter, as though the entire world had been cleansed.
As the radiant light of Yukiha's Heaven's Song reached the battlefield, the demon's curse power crumbled, and his attacks dissolved into nothingness. Yuna seized the moment, crouching into a low stance and surging forward like a predator.
"Moon Art: Blue Moon Crescent!" Yuna's voice resonated as her sword arced upward, a brilliant crescent of lunar energy trailing its edge.
The demon, weakened by the relentless light, struggled to summon his curse power. Though his body faltered, he raised his arms to block the incoming attack. The crescent slammed into him, sending him hurtling away from the ship and into the distance.
Despite his predicament, the demon grinned, raising one hand as he muttered something incomprehensible. Yuna froze, her eyes wide in disbelief. The oppressive gravity returned—but this time, it was even more intense. The force dragged all of us downward at an alarming speed, aiming to slam us into the surface.
Yuna fell first, hurtling toward the ground. Her quick thinking activated a lifesaving technique.
"Moon Magic: Moon Walker Aqua!" she shouted.
A small, shimmering space formed in mid-air—a pocket dimension that slowed all movement inside it. Yuna passed through the entrance and exited moments later, her descent slowed to a near stop. She landed safely, her feet touching the ground with grace.
Meanwhile, the three of us continued plummeting from above. Julius and Yukiha looked toward me, their eyes filled with questions, but they remained calm, trusting me to have a plan.
"Deactivate your magic," I instructed firmly. "Relax your bodies and remain completely still."
Though confused, they complied without hesitation, as skilled magic users like them could easily control the flow of their power. Their ability to toggle their magic was a testament to their training—a skill taught at the academy but notoriously difficult to master.
It was time to execute my most advanced technique: Switch Magic.
Switch Magic allowed users to exchange positions with objects or other magic users under strict conditions. The key lay in marking the target object or person with the user's blood before activation. The swap also depended on the magic state of the user. If their magic was active, their momentum would carry over post-swap—running would continue as running, for instance. However, if their magic was inactive, they would arrive in the swapped position without any movement.
I created knives and dropped them.
"Switch Magic!" I declared with determination.
As soon as the knives struck the ground, Julius and Yukiha's positions instantly swapped with stable spots below. Their deactivated magic ensured a smooth and safe landing, avoiding any harm.
However, as expected, I couldn't switch myself. My current momentum was wild, and my magic remained active. Using Switch Magic on myself required precise control, something unattainable in my state. Any attempt to switch now would only lead to a disastrous crash.
Yukiha and Julius landed safely, their expressions a mix of confusion and surprise. They quickly scanned their surroundings for me, only to realize I wasn't with them. The truth dawned on them—I had sacrificed my chance to save myself so they could live.
The demon appeared once more, intensifying the gravity to an unbearable level, leaving us unable to move properly.
"Shit…!!! He's going to crash..." Julius grunted, struggling against the force. Yukiha, too, was paralyzed under the immense pressure.
"Now, Arisu Tosaki! What can you possibly do in that situation?" The demon sneered, his grin twisted with excitement.
The height, the pressure—it was too much. I couldn't think, my mind racing but empty. It reminded me of when Yumi and I fell off the cliff. Helpless. My thoughts were fragmented, no techniques or strategies forming. I closed my eyes, bracing myself and shielding my head, resigned to the fall.
But then, just before I hit the ground, something changed. A black shadow moved across the surface, stretching and shifting. As I plummeted, it took the shape of a circle beneath me. In the nick of time, the shadow engulfed me, stopping my descent.
I opened my eyes, disoriented. The air was heavy, the atmosphere dark and oppressive. Before I could make sense of it, an arm emerged from above, gripping my clothes and pulling me up.
"That was so close. Are you alright, Arisu Tosaki?" Julius's voice brought me back to reality.
I realized I was within his Shadow Realm, a space entirely under his control. I had been mere moments from death, but Julius had saved me.
Back to what happened, Yukiha's attack should have eradicated anything cursed. Her light magic was powerful enough to obliterate even high demons, yet gravity itself remained unaffected. The situation didn't add up.
"There's no way this is normal…" Julius muttered before his eyes widened in realization. "T-This demon is using two vessels—Mana and Curse Energy!"
The revelation hung in the air, heavy and foreboding. Yukiha, deep in thought, began piecing together the puzzle. A memory from her studies surfaced, bringing a chilling possibility to light.
"Explosion and Gravity…" Yukiha whispered to herself before snapping to attention. Her expression shifted to one of shock as recognition dawned on her. "W-Wait a minute! Y-You're one of the Generals of Demon Lord Ashura?!"
The demon's sinister grin confirmed her suspicion. The weight of her words carried ancient dread, the kind found only in history books and legends.
Ashura, the second progenitor of the demon race, was a name steeped in infamy. The first progenitor, along with the original demon race, had been exterminated by the legendary hero Hayako Makoto in the third century. However, Hayako spared one newborn child—a demon blooded infant—and raised it. That child grew into the second progenitor, Demon Lord Ashura.
"Why did you come here?" Yukiha demanded, her voice sharp with suspicion.
The demon's demeanor was surprisingly calm as he replied, "I did not come here to kill you, so stand down for a second."
Yukiha's thoughts were in turmoil. According to Princess Juliet, Demon Lord Ashura was a supposed ally of humanity. Yet here was one of Ashura's demons, attacking them. None of it made sense.
"I don't buy any of your words. I'll kill you," Yuna growled, stepping forward, her blade ready.
"Yuna, wait!" Yukiha reached out to stop her. But Yuna's resolve was unshaken, her eyes burning with rage.
"He knows our brother," Yuna said through gritted teeth, her gaze locked on the demon. "He even knows our family name. He's one of those demons who took our brother away."
The demon's expression shifted to one of confusion. "I wasn't referring to any brother. I was talking about a girl named Silvia Ayanami. She's probably your ancestor. I met her a hundred years ago."
Yukiha and Yuna froze at his words. "Silvia Ayanami?" Yukiha echoed, her mind racing. "We've never heard of her."
The Ayanami siblings lived alone, raised in an orphanage. They knew nothing of their family lineage or anyone who shared their bloodline. For all they knew, the name "Ayanami" began and ended with them.
"You're lying!" Yuna snapped. "We don't know anyone by that name!"
The demon raised his hands, as if to show he meant no harm. "Believe what you will, but the truth is written in your blood. Silvia was no ordinary woman; she stood against demons and fought alongside humans. Her story is likely buried, but your power proves her lineage."
Yukiha and Yuna exchanged a bewildered glance. For the first time, doubt crept into their conviction. Who was Silvia Ayanami, and what connection did she have to their mysterious past?
The demon revealed a startling truth: the Ayanami bloodline did not originate from the Anima Continent but from a distant kingdom called Albarandis. In that land, the Ayanami clan was renowned yet feared for their unparalleled ability to rapidly develop their skills, making them targets of relentless persecution. While the Kitahara clan was the most powerful in Arima, the Ayanami clan was the pinnacle of strength in Albarandis.
The demon expressed genuine surprise that members of the Ayanami lineage existed in Arima. "It's possible," he theorized, "that your parents entrusted someone to flee with you here before they perished. It would explain why you've survived."
He then shared a significant revelation: Silvia Ayanami, an ancestor of the siblings, was not just strong—she was the strongest opponent he had ever faced. Despite this, the demon dismissed his interest in their lineage.
"I'm only here out of curiosity," the demon said dismissively. "But let me make this quick—I don't plan to stick around any longer."
He handed down a message for Princess Juliet: "Protect the sound." The cryptic message left Yukiha, Yuna, and Julius perplexed, though they recognized its importance, given the demon's insistence on delivering it to the princess directly.
Yukiha, identifying herself as one of the Land of Royal's head cops, pressed the demon for more details about this "sound." Her authoritative tone seemed to catch his attention.
"Well, I'm not trying to hide anything," the demon admitted. "By 'sound,' I mean the Trumpets. During my infiltration into one of the demons' hideouts, I overheard plans about acquiring these trumpets. They're significant—likely powerful artifacts. I came here to warn the princess to secure them before it's too late."
The Trumpets, revered as the greatest holy weapons of the heavens, each possess unimaginable power—capable of both destruction and salvation. With seven trumpets scattered across the world, each has the potential to bring about the end of the world, but their use depends entirely on the will of the holder. The locations and appearances of these trumpets remain shrouded in mystery, making them even more dangerous and coveted.
The demon continued his tale: "One of these trumpets was once wielded by Hayako Makoto during the First Great Demon Festival, a battle where he exterminated the entire demon army, including the first demon lord. However, once a trumpet is used, it is destroyed, and thus, the one Hayako Makoto used is no longer in existence. But the remaining trumpets are just as powerful." His words painted the trumpets as weapons of unspeakable power, capable of deciding the fate of the world with a single blow.
I, growing frustrated, challenged him. "Then why attack us if you came here to deliver this information?"
The demon chuckled. "What's wrong with having fun? It's been so long since I've had a good fight! Plus, seeing Ayanamis and you—well, it's just an added bonus."
Confused, I asked, "But I'm not famous, nor do I have any title. How do you know me?"
The demon seemed momentarily puzzled, then asked if I had met the Princess. I explained that we had just arrived at the Land of Royal. The demon told me cryptically, "You'll understand once you meet her."
With that, he began to leave. But before he could disappear, Yukiha stopped him, still skeptical. "I don't believe a word you're saying. History tells us that only high-ranked angels can use the trumpets—"
The demon interrupted, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Are angels really on your side, then?" His words and glare were sharp, and the tension between him and Yukiha was palpable.
Before Yukiha could respond, the demon casually waved and said, "I'm not here to risk sharing intel with just anyone, but let me show you something to prove my point."
Suddenly, an emblem appeared on the back of the demon's hands—a golden letter "R" gleaming in the light.
Anyone bearing the "R" emblem was recognized as Royal Blood in the Land of Royal, a designation granted to those born into the ruling family. These individuals, like the princesses, were granted limitless age—they would not age, unlike their predecessors who had lived for mere decades. The demon, it seemed, was one of them. His long life, marked by the emblem, suggested that he and the princess had known each other for centuries.
Despite being a demon, the emblem signified that he had a deep connection to the Land of Royal—a responsibility to protect it, even at the cost of his own life. This added a layer of complexity to his character. Although he bore the traits of a demon, his goals seemed to align with the preservation of humanity. His allegiance, though questionable due to his demonic nature, was nonetheless tied to the kingdom's survival.
With this new information, we were left to reconsider the demon's true intentions. Though he had acted with hostility, his allegiance to the Royal Blood made it clear that his motivations were far more intricate and tied to the kingdom's fate.
The demon stopped, his gaze lingering on me for a moment. Then, he spoke, "Arisu Tosaki. You're the last piece. Now is the time to find your pieces. Everything awaits for you at the world's end," before leaping into the air and disappearing.
What did that mean? I couldn't help but wonder.
Yukiha, with a serious expression, asked, "World's end? Isn't that the rift? I thought it was just a story, but the Princess might know about it. Is that why the Princess wanted to meet you?"
I awkwardly responded, "I've never heard of such things…"
"Oh, right. Chisaka-chan mentioned your memory loss. But it's possible you might know about the rift," Yukiha said.
Curiosity piqued, I asked, "What exactly is the rift?"
Yukiha didn't hesitate to explain.
A long time ago, the world's first dragon, Echidna, the Crimson Dragon, discovered the only known dungeon. Renowned as one of the most powerful beings, Echidna was never hostile toward others and embarked on an exploration of this mysterious dungeon.
The dungeon contained 100 floors, each more challenging than the last. It was teeming with dragons of various kinds, posing significant difficulties as one descended. The deepest floor anyone has ever reached was the 88th, explored by Echidna herself. However, she withheld crucial details about this floor, stating in her writings that she could not reveal them.
Among her discoveries, she recounted a mysterious encounter with a glowing, humanoid figure that was neither monster, demon, nor human. This being spoke of the "Rift," explaining that it could be found in the sky but could only be accessed by reaching beyond the 88th floor—through the elusive 101st floor, said to be the gateway to the Rift world.
Much of this knowledge remains hidden. Princess Juliet shared part of the tale exclusively with Captains and Vice-Captains under her command, keeping the existence of the Rift and its entry secret. Meanwhile, information about the dungeon's structure, up to the 88th floor, and the monsters within is public. The true nature of the Rift remains a tightly guarded mystery.
I wanted answers, but my curiosity led me to ask why they would share information about the Rift if it was meant to remain private.
Yuna explained, "The princess has never invited someone with escorts before. The way she talks about you—formal, genuine, almost respectful—it's unlike anything I've ever seen from her. That says a lot."
Yukiha added, "It means there's something significant hidden in your memory. Maybe uncovering the truth about the Rift will also explain why you lost those memories."
Before I could respond, the cops arrived. Our conversation was cut short as they started cleaning up the aftermath of the battle. Julius informed us that he needed to depart for another ship and quickly left.
We stopped somewhere nearby for Yukiha to heal our injuries using her magic. Unsurprisingly, I was the one with the worst wounds. The demon was on a completely different level—far beyond anything Moritaka had faced. It had even toyed with Yukiha and Yuna.
I've uncovered so much today that my thoughts are racing—Ashura, the Rift, and the demon with two vessels: curse and mana. Then, something clicked. In a dream I had long ago, I saw only a fragment—a man's lower face speaking to a black-haired girl with piercing red eyes. Their conversation revolved around the two vessels.
"You might be a demon," the man had said, "but you're just like a human who wants to live in this world." They also spoke of standing alongside humans, fighting together against Hell and Heaven. That's where the dream ended. I never saw them again, and their faces remain hazy in my memory.
The Rift, though—it feels like more than just a dream. A connection exists, tethering me to the Vampire Queen, Nanashi. Rifts have been mentioned in her presence before, her words laced with cryptic hints. She might hold the answers I'm searching for.
As we returned to the carriage, my thoughts swirled with everything I'd uncovered. The dreams were too fragmented, always shifting to something else before I could piece them together. Without solid proof, I couldn't bring myself to share them.
Outside the carriage, Yuzuha and the others waited anxiously. The moment they saw us, they ran over, concern etched on their faces.
"We saw the explosion and the ship flying—what happened?" Yuzuha asked, her voice tight with worry.
Yukiha explained everything that transpired at the harbor. Their expressions shifted from shock to unease, triggering Tokiro and Yuzuha's own memories of the last time a high demon appeared.
"Thank goodness you're safe, Arisu," Tokiro said, relief evident in his voice. "You always end up in trouble with things like this."
Before I could reply, Yuna stepped in, her tone brisk. "Get inside and prepare to move out. It'll take days to reach the Royal Palace."
As the carriage rolled forward, Yuna, Yukiha, Yuzuha, and I settled in, while the others—Tokiro, Yumi, Sho, Natsume, and Sheila—occupied the second carriage behind us. The elegance of the carriages was undeniable, a clear sign of the high esteem the Princess and the high cops held for their guests. Everything from the polished wood to the intricate details spoke of luxury.
The moment I sat down, exhaustion overcame me. Though I'd slept recently, it wasn't nearly enough. A deep, burning fatigue coursed through my body, pulling me into unconsciousness.
"He fell asleep..." Yuzuha murmured, watching me.
Yuna glanced at her. "He gave in, huh? Has he been sleeping enough during your travels?"
Yuzuha shook her head. "Not really. He barely sleeps at night and only catches brief naps during the day. It's no surprise he's this exhausted, especially after that battle."
Yuzuha sighed, looking at my slumbering form. But then Chisaka, who had remained silent, suddenly spoke, her tone heavy with unease.
"That look on my brother's face... it reminds me of what happened a long time ago," she said softly, her gaze lowering.
The others turned to her in curiosity and concern. "What happened?" Yuzuha asked, startled by the weight in her voice.
Chisaka hesitated, then continued. "It was in 1560, in a small, hidden village. An organization appeared and... they destroyed everything. They killed everyone in the village. It was horrific."
Yuzuha froze, stunned by the revelation. "You... remember all of this, Chisaka-chan?"
Chisaka nodded, her expression darkening. "Yes. And that event caused my brother to lose his memory. His emotions spiraled out of control, unleashing a magic power that swept us both away from the village. By the time he came to, he couldn't remember anything."
The carriage fell into a heavy silence as the others absorbed her words.