AFTERNOON – LATER IN THE TRIALS
Dust kicks up in the arena. The duels have become faster, louder, fiercer.
SHIN-RI and RIKU stand side by side in victory. Their blades hang loose in their hands, sweat dripping from their chins. The crowd cheers their names.
GOJIRO (watching quietly):
Hmph. Two blades... sharpening each other.
CUT TO – FINAL MATCH OF THE DAY
KAZU and RIKU stand in the ring.
Maen watches from the side, biting her lip.
KAZU:
You study people.
Let's see if you can read me while I'm breaking you.
The match begins. Chain rattles. Sparks fly. Kazu is brutal, unpredictable. Riku holds his ground—but misreads one feint.
RIKU (panting):
He's... wild. Out of rhythm.
Kazu delivers a clean blow, knocking Riku out of bounds. The crowd roars.
ANNOUNCER:
Winner—Kazu of the Chain Blade!
KAZU (grinning wide):
Maybe next time, brain-boy.
But some of us were born for this.
DARKNESS LOOMS – A NEW THREAT ARRIVES
A sudden gust of black wind washes over the field. The crowd quiets. The sky dims unnaturally.
A shadowy figure steps forward from the treeline—tall, twisted, wearing a cracked mask. Wisps of screaming faces swirl around its cloak.
❖ NAME: MURMUROTH – THE SOUL-TAKER
It raises a black blade dripping with mist. People begin collapsing—souls ripped straight from their bodies. Chaos erupts.
CITIZEN:
What is that thing!?
It's... it's taking people!
A FLASH OF STEEL – A NEW DEFENDER ARRIVES
A man lands in front of the shadow—calm, composed. A red scarf whips in the wind.
❖ NAME: DAISO – 3rd Class Swordsman
DAISO:
This trial is over.
You've brought death to the wrong field.
He charges with a swift slash—but Murmuroth parries, claws lashing out. Daiso is fast, skilled—but even he begins to falter.
GOJIRO JOINS THE BATTLE
Sensei Gojiro steps in, planting his feet beside Daiso.
GOJIRO:
I told myself I was done drawing this blade...
But I hate being wrong.
He pulls out an old, scarred sword. The blade hums.
Together, Daiso and Gojiro fight the shadow—but it's relentless. It screams, and more souls twist around it.
SHIN-RI STEPS FORWARD
RIKU (grabbing Shin-Ri's arm):
Don't go. You're not ready!
SHIN-RI:
I can't just watch again.
GOJIRO (shouting):
Stay back, boy! This is beyond your class!
SHIN-RI:
Then I'll fight beyond it.
He rushes in, swinging with fury. For a moment, he lands a clean strike.
MURMUROTH screeches and retaliates—slamming Shin-Ri into a stone pillar. His body crumples. Blood pools beneath him.
RIKU:
SHIN-RI!!
PANIC – THE ARENA BREAKS
People flee in terror. Maen helps carry Shin-Ri's unconscious body. Kazu grits his teeth, frozen for the first time.
Gojiro and Daiso are wounded, struggling.
GOJIRO (to himself):
We're not enough...
THE SKY SPLITS – A CELESTIAL ARRIVAL
The clouds part. A figure descends—armor shimmering with silver and blue light. His blade glows like a star.
❖ NAME: SYLDEN – 4th Class Celestial Swordsman
His arrival is silent. Reverent. The earth trembles as he lands.
MAEN (whispering):
It's... it's him...
That's Sylden! The Celestial Blade!
He's real...
Her eyes shimmer with admiration.
FINAL STRIKE
Sylden draws a second sword from his back. Light condenses around him.
SYLDEN:
Murmuroth.
You will not stain this ground any longer.
He raises his sword to the sky.
SYLDEN:
Shining Art – The Shining Slash.
A single arc of brilliant light explodes from his blade.
It cuts through darkness, purifying the sky itself.
Murmuroth lets out one final scream—then vanishes in a storm of burning ash.
AFTERMATH – QUIET SETTLES
The survivors kneel in silence. Shin-Ri is carried to safety. Riku walks beside him, his expression unreadable. Gojiro sits, catching his breath beside Daiso.
MAEN (still stunned):
He used it...
The real Shining Slash...
I—I never thought I'd see it.
SHIN-RI (V.O.):
I thought I was strong enough.
But strength isn't about swinging harder...
It's about surviving when you're shattered.
Next time... I won't fall.
Next time... I'll be the one who stands.
TO BE CONTINUED...