The wind carried the weight of what was coming.
At the Obsidian Crossroads, the snow had stopped, replaced by a steady silence as if the world itself was holding its breath. Only one day remained until the invasion of Kurojin Tsukiro's stronghold. Fires crackled. Weapons were sharpened. Spells were refined. No one slept peacefully.
Eri stood at the edge of the camp, arms crossed, looking at the sunset casting an orange glow across the snowy peaks. Behind her, Ryuu, Hana, and Tetsu finished a final training session with other Wielders. As they returned, tired but steady, she walked up to Tetsu.
"You," she said, pointing playfully.
Tetsu blinked. "Huh?"
"You better come back."
He chuckled. "Of course I'm—"
"No," she interrupted, stepping closer. "All of you… better come back. Got it?"
Tetsu smiled awkwardly—until she leaned in a little more, teasing smirk on her lips."And you," she added, poking his chest, "don't die before taking me out for that food."
Tetsu's face turned bright red. "W-What? H-Hey, I—"
"Promise me," Eri said, softer this time, eyes locked on his.
He gulped and nodded. "...Promise."
Eri gave him a quick wink, then turned and walked off before he could say anything else. Hana watched from the side with a knowing smile, nudging Tetsu in the ribs. "You better start picking a restaurant."
Meanwhile – Northern Wastes
Kael stood in the middle of a storm of swirling black and silver energy, sweat dripping, breath heavy, eyes glowing faintly. His new technique, Dimensional Echo, was evolving under Raizen's guidance.
Raizen circled him like a hawk. "You're close. But you haven't mastered the delay."
Kael gritted his teeth, activating the skill again. This time, his echo moved ahead of him, intercepting a blast of Void Will Raizen had just thrown. Kael then reappeared behind Raizen in a blur, landing a clean palm strike to his shoulder.
Raizen smiled. "Better."
Kael stepped back, exhausted but focused. "Why do I feel like... it's not enough?"
Raizen's voice darkened. "Because it isn't. Not yet. Kurojin's team are beyond monsters now. You'll need every ounce of speed, strategy, and strength to face them."
Kael looked out toward the horizon. "Then I'll train until it is."
Back at Obsidian Crossroads
In the central arena, Ryuu, Hana, and Tetsu stood before the three most powerful Wielders alive—Magnus Kreel, cloaked in storm-forged armor, Seraphine Vale, with eyes that shimmered like galaxies, and Zhen Kairo, calm and grounded like a mountain.
Seraphine's voice echoed through the air: "Tomorrow, history shifts. Are you three ready to carry it on your backs?"
Ryuu clenched his fist. "We are."
Hana nodded. "No matter what, we'll protect everyone."
Tetsu cracked his knuckles, more serious than ever. "Let's finish this."
Zhen Kairo smiled faintly. "Then come. One final push."
The three mentors led them into a new round of combat drills, pushing their limits once again as stars lit up the twilight sky. Every strike, every block, every step—was a step toward war.