Back on Earth – The Next Day
Akira walked through the bustling school hallway, students chattering on all sides. As he moved, he couldn't help but smile to himself.
"I didn't know healing could feel this good. I feel better than I did before the mission."
Up ahead, he spotted Yukiko, earbuds in, a lollipop twirling between her lips.
"Isn't that Yukiko?" he muttered, then jogged to catch up to her. He fell into step beside her, waiting for her to notice him.
She didn't.
She kept walking, completely unfazed, bobbing her head slightly to the music.
Akira sighed, then gently took her headphones off her. "Now you notice me?"
Yukiko glanced at him. "What's up, Akira?"
"You ran up to me and just stared," she said, smirking. "What normal girl would respond to a guy doing that?"
He chuckled. "Fair point." Then, curiously, he placed her earbud in his ear. "Is this… Eminem?"
"Yeah," she replied. "It's Business."
"I didn't think you were into rap."
"I'm not. I hate most rappers," she said bluntly. "But Eminem, Tyler the Creator, Kendrick, and Kanye—they're the exception."
Akira smirked. "Huh. I thought you'd be more of a Swifty."
Without warning, Yukiko maxed out the volume on her phone.
Akira flinched, removing the headphones out. "What was that for?!"
"That's for lumping me in with those morons," she replied, unbothered.
"My bad," Akira muttered.
Yukiko gave him a playful punch in the chest.
"Ow—what was that for?"
"Don't worry about it. Also… thanks."
Akira paused. "For what?"
She sighed. "For saving me yesterday."
Akira's lips curled into an uncontrollable smile. "Awww, you remembered. It was my pleasure."
Yukiko recoiled in mock disgust. "Do you want me to break your ribcage?"
Akira quickly straightened up. "No, ma'am."
Mr. Oliver's Office
Meanwhile, in Mr. Oliver's office, Mikage and Edward sat attentively as their teacher briefed them.
"This might look like a fun excursion to your teammates," Oliver began, tone serious. "But it's not. Labyrinths are often infested with monsters, and many Divine Visionaries are stuck-up bastards more concerned with appearances than action."
He leaned forward. "So don't be surprised if they try to abandon you… or worse—exploit your female teammates."
His eyes narrowed. "You two need to be on full alert. You're the ones I'm counting on to lead this team if it comes to that."
He handed each of them a glowing gem.
"If things get out of hand, break this. I'll come to your aid immediately. Understood?"
"Yes, sir," they replied in unison, rising to leave.
As the door shut behind them, Oliver slumped into his chair, rubbing his face.
"God… is this what being a parent feels like?"
Just then, Simon walked in with a stack of papers.
"Simon, could you please knock? This is my school."
Simon raised an eyebrow. "You begged me to work here. I should get at least some privileges. And you look exhausted."
"You look worse," Oliver grumbled. "What've you got for me?"
Simon dropped the documents on the desk. "That Nightwalker the kids killed? It was a banshee. But she wasn't born a Nightwalker."
Oliver's brows furrowed. "You're saying someone turned her into one?"
"Exactly. According to the files, she was experimented on. Continuously. Her brain was practically mush, yet she kept muttering something even in that state. Like… primal instinct took over."
"Then how the hell did she do that much damage if she was brain-dead?"
"She was acting on pure hunger," Simon said grimly. "That's what made her even more dangerous."
Oliver nodded. "Can you trace the substance that caused the change?"
Simon shook his head. "That's the weird part. It disintegrated… into sand."
"Sand?"
"Black sand."
Oliver's tone darkened. "Any DNA from it?"
"Only from the people she devoured."
"Do you think she ate her creator?"
"Highly unlikely," Simon said. "No smart scientist lets a weapon like that get near them. If you ask me, this is bigger than it looks. We should notify the Sorcerer Supremes immediately—before this gets out of hand."
Oliver nodded slowly, taking in the weight of the situation.
"And tell the students," Simon added as he turned to leave, "all my classes are cancelled. I need sleep."
He shut the door behind him, leaving Oliver alone with his thoughts.
As Mikage and Edward walked down the hallway, an awkward silence lingered between them. Neither spoke for a while, the tension hanging in the air like fog. Eventually, Edward broke the quiet.
"How strong was it?" he asked.
Mikage glanced at him, confused. "Huh?"
"The Night Walker," Edward clarified with a sigh.
"Oh, that," Mikage nodded. "Honestly, it was pretty tough. I don't even think my sister has ever hit me that hard before."
Edward raised an eyebrow. "So you're saying that thing was on par with your sister?"
Mikage chuckled softly. "Not even close to her full power. I just mean she's never hit me that hard. She holds back when we spar."
"I'm guessing you didn't use your family's sacred technique then?" Edward asked.
"Don't get me wrong, I was tempted," Mikage said. "But Yukiko and Akira were close by. I had to hold back. I'm sure Yukiko could've handled herself, but Akira? Not so much. And even then, the sacred technique wouldn't have taken it out instantly. It burns through my mana like crazy. After twenty minutes, I would've been helpless—easy prey."
"That's rough," Edward muttered, then paused. "So... if I were the one fighting it, without any teammates, how do you think I'd do?"
Mikage shrugged. "Honestly, it's hard to say. You're versatile and strong, and you get a boost at night. You could probably kill it. Or it might kill you. But either way, you'd leave it in rough shape."
Edward gave a small nod. "Fair enough."
There was a short pause before Mikage smirked. "But I'm still stronger than you."
Edward rolled his eyes. "Please. We're not rivals or anything. I'm not trying to compare myself to you. I want to reach the level of an S-Tier Divine Visionary. You? You're just a stepping stone."
He glanced at Mikage with a grin.
"Kane's the one obsessed with beating you, not me."
Mikage scoffed, pretending to be offended. "That's kind of rude, you know."
"It's the truth," Edward replied simply. "Anyway, get your team ready. The car'll be here in two hours."
Yukiko and Akira sat together in class, chatting casually. Around them, some of the boys were whispering among themselves.
Boy 1 muttered, "Damn… how long has Akira even been at this school? He's already talking to Yukiko like they've been childhood friends."
Boy 2 nodded. "I know, right?"
Boy 3 added, "Is it because they're both Asian or something?"
Boy 2 turned to him with a frown. "Bro, don't say that. That sounds kinda racist."
Just then, Trixie walked into class. She waved at Yukiko and Akira before joining their conversation, smiling brightly. The boys watched in disbelief.
Boy 1 whispered again, "No way… now he's cool with Trixie too?"
Boy 2 shrugged. "She's chill with everyone. If she's cold to you, that's a you problem."
Boy 3 said, "Okay, true… but do you think Akira's into one of them?"
Boy 1 replied, "My money's on Yukiko. He walked straight up to her on his first day."
Boy 2 countered, "Nah, I think it's Trixie. I swear I saw her wearing his shirt once, and didn't she carry him to class after that fight?"
The group hummed in agreement.
Just then, Mikage walked into the classroom. The girls immediately lit up, calling out his name. He waved politely and chatted with a few of them before heading to Akira and Yukiko's desk to talk about the mission.
One girl leaned toward the boys' group, whispering with a smug look, "You guys are missing the obvious. He's clearly into Mikage."
Boy 1 blinked. "I highly doubt that."
She smirked. "Come on, don't you see the way they look at each other? Like they're in a slow-burn romance."
Boy 2 glanced at them. "They're not even making eye contact right now."
She rolled her eyes. "You clearly don't know anything. Akira was being chased by a Night Walker in the hospital before he awakened his powers, and guess who showed up to save him? Mikage. Sounds like a classic setup to me."
Boy 1 sighed. "You need to stop reading those BL manhwas."
She leaned in, playful. "Okay, but seriously, if Mikage came out of the shower in just a towel and cornered you, wet hair and all—you're telling me you wouldn't feel something?"
Boy 1 replied flatly, "I'd be scared."
Boy 2 said, "I'd laugh awkwardly and try to escape."
Boy 3 raised his hand. "Wait, hear me out—"
All the boys cut in immediately, "No. We're not hearing you out."
The girl smirked. "Let's just ask him before he leaves."
Right then, Edward entered the class.
Edward: "The car's here. Time to go."
Mikage: "Wasn't it in two hours?"
Edward: "Change of plans."
He turned and walked out. Mikage, Yukiko, Trixie, and Akira followed. Just as Akira reached the door, Boy 3 called out to him.
Akira paused, looked around, then pointed to himself. "Me?"
Boy 3 nodded. Akira stepped closer, a little cautious.
Akira: "Please be quick. I'm in a hurry."
Boy 3 put a hand on Akira's shoulder and leaned in.
Boy 3 (whispering): "Are you… into guys?"
Akira froze, wide-eyed. Slowly, he removed the boy's hand.
Akira: "I'm into girls."
Boy 3: "Are you sure?"
Akira, now clearly uncomfortable, nodded. "Very sure."
He slowly backed away and left the classroom.
Boy 1 stared at Boy 3. "Why would you even ask that?"
Boy 3 shrugged. "I thought that's what we all wanted to know. If he likes Mikage."
Boy 2 sighed. "We were supposed to ask who he likes, not throw random questions at him. Now we may never know."
Meanwhile, as Akira walked down the hallway, he thought to himself:
"Do I need to start talking to more girls…?"
Akira sat in the back seat of the vehicle, visibly traumatized by what had happened in class. His eyes were distant, and his posture tense. Sitting beside him, Trixie noticed his expression and nudged Yukiko, who had her headphones in.
Yukiko removed one earbud and looked at Trixie.
Trixie pointed subtly at Akira and made a questioning gesture, silently asking, "Do you know what's up with him?"
Yukiko glanced at Akira, then shook her head. No idea.
Trixie smirked and whispered, "Make your hands cold."
Yukiko raised a brow in confusion but complied. Her hand chilled with ice magic.
Trixie turned to Akira and suddenly cupped his cheek with her frosty hand.
"Wha—!" Akira jolted in his seat, wide-eyed. "What was that for?!"
Trixie giggled. "It's just my hand."
Akira blinked, then took her hand in concern. "Are you okay? Your hands are freezing. You shouldn't let them get this cold—you might get frostbite."
Trixie blinked, momentarily thrown off by his sincerity. She gave a nervous laugh. "I'm fine! I should be asking you that. You've looked zoned out this whole time. Aren't you excited? A helicopter ride, a real labyrinth?"
Akira took a deep breath. "Yeah… I'm excited. Don't worry. It's nothing important."
Trixie looked a little disappointed. "Oh… okay."
Noticing her shift, Akira tried to lighten the mood. "I've never seen you use magic before. What kind do you use?"
Trixie perked up, a smug grin forming. "My magic's one of a kind around here."
Akira raised a brow, curious. "That so?"
"Don't get too jealous," she teased. "You might not be able to handle how awesome it is."
Akira smirked. "Show me, show me, show me, show me—"
"Alright, alright!" she said, motioning for him to stop chanting.
She brought her hands close together, and a shimmering golden silk began to form between her fingers.
Akira's face dropped slightly. "Oh… cool."
Trixie frowned, clearly offended. "'Oh cool'? Do you have any idea how durable this silk is? It's stronger than iron!"
"I didn't mean anything bad," Akira replied, confused. "I just said it was cool…"
"Yeah, but your tone said 'meh.'"
"I didn't mean it that way."
"Want me to show you just how versatile this stuff is?" she challenged.
Akira raised his hands. "No need! I believe you."
From the side, Yukiko tried to stifle a laugh, a faint smile tugging at her lips. Mikage, seated in front, glanced back and smiled at the scene.
Meanwhile, Edward, who was driving, let out an irritated sigh.
"Will you two shut up?"
Akira and Trixie instantly fell silent—but began making exaggerated hand signs behind his back like children. Ice slowly began creeping up Edward's cheek.
Edward stiffened. "Mikage…"
Mikage turned to Yukiko. "Yukiko, can you not freeze Edward?"
Yukiko ignored him, her expression calm, but the ice thickened.
"I get it—he's a pain," Mikage added, "but still. Let's not cause crash."
With a sigh, Yukiko finally stopped the ice.
Edward whispered to Mikage, "She really doesn't like me."
Mikage responded dryly, "You don't say. What a shock. And where's your third teammate anyway?"
"He said he wasn't feeling well," Edward muttered. "So he stayed behind."
A large helicopter sat ready for takeoff. Nearby, an ogre with a massive blade stood impatiently with a slender elf in a green cloak.
The ogre scowled. "Where are those damn kids?"
The elf sighed, arms crossed. "You're the one who insisted we arrive two hours early. Now I have to suffer with you in this heat because of your lack of planning."
"Whatever," the ogre grunted. "I still hate babysitting."
The car pulled up to the helipad, where a helicopter sat idle. Inside, an ogre and an elf sat waiting. The ogre peered out the window.
"Are those the kids?" he asked.
"I believe so," the elf replied calmly.
"Let's activate our disguises, just in case they're regular humans."
The elf let out an exaggerated sigh. "Are all ogres this dumb, or are you just special? Can't you sense the mana signatures? All five of them?"
The ogre grunted as he stepped out behind the elf. "My people don't care much about mana. We sense battle prowess. Only three of them have a decent presence."
"Shut uppp, already," the elf groaned, clearly irritated.
Akira, Trixie, Edward, Yukiko, and Mikage stepped out of the car. As they approached, the ogre leaned toward the elf and whispered, "Hey, those girls are hot. Two for both of us."
The elf gave him a look of pure disgust. "They're teenagers."
The ogre shrugged. "So? That's normal where I'm from—"
The elf cut him off sharply. "Then your entire culture needs a serious reevaluation."
He left the ogre behind and walked up to the students.
"Welcome," the elf said with a slight bow. "I'm Cyrus, and the brute behind me is Goro. Try not to engage him in anything that requires a brain."
Akira narrowed his eyes. Goro… I've heard that name before.
Cyrus continued, "Here's a quick briefing: A few weeks ago, a labyrinth was discovered on a remote island.
Normally, twelve Divine Visionaries are deployed for such anomalies. But this one has a weaker mana signature, so Goro and I were sent as guides."
He looked each of them in the eye.
"You're to stay close to us at all times. We'll only be exploring up to the halfway point. Once we reach it, the tour ends and we head back. Clear?"
Everyone nodded. "Yeah."
From inside the helicopter, the pilot leaned out. "Great. Let's get moving."
As they boarded, Goro approached Yukiko with a broad smile. "Hi, name's Goro, as you heard. Looking forward to this mission with you." He stretched out his hand.
Yukiko didn't even glance at him.
Edward burst into hysterical laughter.
"I'm so sorry," Trixie said quickly, trying to smooth things over while Akira held Edward back.
Mikage, meanwhile, noticed Cyrus watching him intently. He shifted his gaze and met his eyes.
As the helicopter lifted off, the roar of the engine filled the cabin. They soared over the ocean, cutting through clouds.
Inside:
Edward was already fast asleep, snoring softly.
Yukiko had her headphones on, calmly listening to music.
Akira sat beside Trixie, shaping small shadow constructs in his hands as she tossed him creative ideas.
Mikage glanced at them and smiled. At least everyone seems relaxed… but how can Edward sleep through all this noise?
His eyes then drifted to Cyrus, who was still watching him.
"What's up?" Mikage asked. "You've been staring at me since earlier."
"Oh, sorry," Cyrus replied with a polite smile. "Didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. It's just… it's an honor to be seated with someone from the Magata family. I assume you already know the family's sacred technique?"
"I do," Mikage answered, voice cool.
"Would you mind showing me?"
"If I let just anyone see it, it wouldn't be very sacred, would it?" Mikage replied.
Cyrus chuckled. "Fair point. Seems your family passes on more than just powerful magic—intellect and a lethal face card, too."
Mikage smirked. "Thanks."
Just then, the helicopter jolted slightly. The pilot's voice came over the comms.
"Hold tight—we're approaching the island now."