The winds of Mount Akatsuki howled across the vast, open fields of the training grounds. The once-rough and unpolished warriors who had arrived nearly a year ago now stood as hardened warriors, their bodies and spirits refined through relentless training.
It had been nine long months.
Nine months of waking before sunrise, of training until their bodies collapsed, of battles against their own limits and against each other.
And now, they stood at the peak of their strength.
Tomorrow, they would leave Mount Akatsuki.
And none of them were the same people they had been when they arrived.
---
The Montage – A Journey of Growth
Suntaro Akammi had fully mastered his Myou, rising to a captain-level warrior. His lightning was now an extension of his body, and his combat instincts had reached an entirely new level. He was the fastest among them—an untouchable force of destruction and precision.
Dangoichi had personally stated that if Suntaro continued at this pace, he would surpass even the old emperor himself within a few years.
Suntaro, of course, just grinned.
Kibito Akammi had finally tamed the fire inside him. His training had transformed him into a more calculated fighter, no longer just relying on brute strength. His reckless nature had been tempered, his technique sharpened.
He still complained the most out of everyone, but his improvement was undeniable.
Kagami Hanera had mastered ice manipulation at an entirely new level. Where before she had hesitated in battle, she now fought with confidence and grace. Her Myou was unique—not just raw power, but something that flowed like nature itself.
Even Majinto had changed. The once-arrogant warrior had been humbled by the training, but rather than breaking his spirit, it had sharpened his resolve. He no longer just relied on tricks—he had become a true strategist in battle.
And then, there was Blade Taizuka.
He had finally mastered Kazeshin.
Not just as a weapon.
Not just as a technique.
But as a philosophy.
Kazeshin, the power of balance, chaos, and creation, was no longer something that simply flowed through him.
It was him.
Blade's final battle had been against Dangoichi Haruka himself.
And though Blade had lost, he had pushed the old emperor further than anyone else ever had.
That, in itself, was a victory.
---
The Final Day – One Last Lesson
The sun had begun to set, painting the sky in hues of orange and red. The group stood in front of Dangoichi Haruka, their master, their mentor.
The old emperor surveyed them, his gaze sharp, yet filled with something else—pride.
"You lot… have exceeded my expectations," Dangoichi said, his usual smug grin softening into something almost nostalgic. "When you first arrived, I thought you were just another batch of reckless fools."
He smirked. "And… you were."
Kibito groaned. "Even on the last day, this old man won't let us have a moment of peace."
Dangoichi ignored him. "But now… I see warriors in front of me. No, more than that."
His eyes settled on each of them.
"Suntaro, the fastest warrior I have ever trained."
"Kibito, the flames of pure determination."
"Kagami, the silent storm."
"Majinto, the strategist who thinks three steps ahead."
"And Blade… the one who walks the path of balance."
He exhaled, crossing his arms.
"You are all ready."
The air around them grew heavier—not from pressure, but from the weight of reality.
"Tomorrow, you will leave Mount Akatsuki. And when you do, you will face a world that is far harsher than any training I have given you."
Dangoichi's eyes narrowed. "Do not think for a second that just because you have trained here, you are invincible. There are monsters out there—warriors who have spent their entire lives honing their Myou to perfection. Do not let arrogance become your downfall."
The group stood in silence.
They knew what he meant.
Dangoichi took a step forward, tapping his staff against the ground.
"But," he continued, "I have one last lesson for you all."
Everyone tensed.
Even after nine months of brutal training, the idea of a "final lesson" from Dangoichi still sent shivers down their spines.
The emperor smirked.
"Come at me. All of you. At once."
---
The Final Battle – All Against One
The battlefield was set.
Five warriors.
One emperor.
The air crackled with energy as each fighter released their full Myou. Lightning danced around Suntaro, flames erupted from Kibito, ice coated Kagami's blade, and Majinto's aura flickered with unpredictable power.
Blade stood at the center, gripping Kazeshin and Kamikaze, their twin energies merging around him.
Dangoichi simply grinned, raising his staff.
"Come."
And then—
They attacked.
---
To Be Continued…