Renji's footsteps echoed through the academy corridor, each one heavier than the last. In his hand, he gripped the half-corroded collar he had taken from the fallen Alpha Bull. Its metal was cracked, its crest flickering faintly like a dying ember.
When he pushed open Mr. Ain's office door, the old man didn't speak right away. His sharp eyes fell instantly on the collar. Renji walked up, placed it on the desk, and lowered his gaze.
"…Another Alpha," Renji muttered, voice rough.
Mr. Ain stared at the collar in silence, his hand brushing the broken crest as though it were something fragile. His face, usually calm and stern, softened into quiet sorrow.
"…Another one, huh?"
Renji gave a small nod. "Yes."
Silence pressed between them, heavy and unshakable. The room seemed colder for it.
Finally, Mr. Ain stood. Without explanation, he gestured for Renji to follow.
They left the office, passed through the courtyards, and walked until the academy walls faded behind them. Beyond a thicket of trees lay a hidden grove, its air warm and thick with life.
Renji stopped dead in his tracks. His breath caught in his chest.
Towering above the trees was a colossal bird, its feathers gleaming faintly like threads of sunlight woven into flesh. Nearby, sprawled across a boulder, was a lizard the size of a carriage, its scales rippling with faint runic light. In the tall grass, a massive grasshopper shifted, its antennae twitching as it turned toward him. More shapes moved at the grove's edge—hulking silhouettes of beasts both familiar and strange.
Alphas.
Living relics of the ancient civilization.
Renji's body tensed, instinct warning him to fight, but the creatures didn't attack. Instead, they watched him with unblinking eyes. Then, slowly, they drew closer.
Renji felt it immediately—a deep, invisible thread pulling at him. A resonance that wasn't beast power or human will, but something older. A kinship.
The colossal bird was the first to approach. Its golden eyes lowered to his level, calm yet piercing. Renji's hand trembled as he reached out. His fingertips brushed its feathers. Warm. Alive. He felt a steady rhythm beneath them, like the pulse of the world itself.
The lizard stirred next, its claws scratching against stone as it crawled closer. Its scales shimmered faintly, and when its muzzle pressed against Renji's chest, he nearly staggered back. But instead of aggression, there was a slow exhale—a breath that rumbled like distant thunder. Renji placed a hand against its snout, feeling its steady warmth.
The grasshopper crouched low, its huge eyes fixed on him. Its antennae brushed against his shoulders, twitching rapidly as though reading something invisible in his aura. Renji blinked, startled, but then felt his own resonance stir in response, as if it had recognized him.
One by one, the other Alphas shifted closer, circling him but not attacking. They moved with patience, as if testing, as if welcoming.
Renji's throat tightened. "…Why… why do I feel like this?"
Mr. Ain's voice, calm but heavy, cut through the silence.
"Do you think the other Alphas would be sad that you killed them?"
Renji froze, his hand still pressed against the lizard's scales. His chest tightened, breath shallow. He lowered his gaze. "…I don't know."
Mr. Ain looked at the bird, then back at Renji. His usual sharp eyes softened.
"I don't know either. But… I am sure of one thing." He stepped closer, laying a hand on Renji's shoulder. "They would be glad knowing they no longer have to hurt humans. Thanks to you."
The words sank into him. His lips trembled. His eyes burned, and before he could stop himself, tears slid down his face.
"yeah," Renji whispered, voice breaking.
The bird lowered its head, brushing its beak lightly against his shoulder, as if in silent comfort. The lizard exhaled again, warm air surrounding him like a blanket. The grasshopper twitched its antennae gently across his arm.
For the first time since stepping out of the Gate, Renji let himself cry.
When his breathing steadied, Mr. Ain quietly motioned for him to follow. They left the grove together, the faint sounds of the Alphas fading behind them.
Back in the courtyard, Renji wiped his face with the back of his hand, though his eyes were still red.
"…You're going to tell me to go home now, aren't you?" he asked.
Mr. Ain smirked faintly, hands folded behind his back. "No. You're an E-Rank now. I told you before—you can enter any Gate you like, without limit. If you wanted to dive into the same one ten times, you could."
Renji blinked, surprised by the freedom in those words.
Mr. Ain's gaze flicked toward the silver knuckles on Renji's hands. A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"I also see you've picked up a new weapon. Good. You'll need it."
Renji nodded, clutching the knuckles tighter.
"Take care, Renji," Mr. Ain said. His voice carried warmth that was rare for him. "The path ahead belongs to you now."
Renji turned to leave, his shoulders still heavy but his steps firmer. The sorrow lingered, but beneath it, something else burned—resolve.
For the first time, he felt he was no longer just surviving.
He was walking forward.