Aizen stood before her, swinging his sword with chilling composure. His gaze was frozen, his will to kill unwavering. There wasn't a flicker of hesitation in his eyes—he had made up his mind: Akari had to die.
She, on the other hand, remained motionless, eyes closed, her face tense and glistening with sweat, as though she had accepted her fate. It wasn't just fear—she was ready to die. Maybe because she believed no one would come for her… maybe because she had completely lost hope.
Aizen raised his sword, aiming the fatal strike at her neck. Only a single moment separated her from death, but then—suddenly—she vanished.
Akari found herself somewhere else without knowing how. Her eyes still shut, sweat still dripping. Then, she felt a hand gently rest on her shoulder, followed by a warm, deep voice:
— "I never thought I'd see you like this, Akari."
The voice was so familiar… her heart recognized it before her mind did. Her body trembled as she slowly opened her eyes—and there, standing before her, was Ryoma.
She stared at him in disbelief. He wasn't the same. He had changed completely. He was calmer, more handsome, and far more intimidating. His eyes shone with a mysterious depth, and his voice alone made her heart shiver. She couldn't hold back her tears. She broke down crying.
From afar, Aizen watched the scene in shock, with Ashin silently by his side. For a moment, Aizen thought the figure was Saito… but when he heard Akari cry out the name through her tears:
— "Ryoma..."
His body trembled. "Impossible…" he muttered to himself. "This boy… he was supposed to be dead! He disappeared completely after the exam…!"
Ryoma stepped closer to Akari and embraced her gently, as if comforting a little sister. He didn't say much—his presence alone spoke volumes. She, on the other hand, felt a strange warmth washing over her. She was shaking… from relief, from the sense of safety she hadn't felt in so long.
— "What is this feeling…?" she whispered inwardly. "I feel… safe."
But Aizen's patience snapped. He couldn't bear the sight any longer. He lunged forward and punched Ryoma with all his might. Dust filled the air… but Aizen's fist was caught.
Ryoma had stopped it with one hand.
Aizen's eyes widened. He hadn't expected anyone to block his punch like that. Ryoma slowly turned his gaze toward him, eyes cold, furious… terrifying.
— "You've gone too far, Aizen."
Aizen stepped back in shock. "What happened to this boy?!"
Ryoma gently laid Akari on the ground and looked into her eyes.
— "Wait here, Akari… I'll be back once this is over."
Then he turned. He walked toward Aizen, the moon casting long shadows behind him. Akari watched with awe, her tears beginning to dry, and then she smiled.
All around them, the bodies of fallen students littered the ground. The scene was tragic and silent, the air thick with the scent of blood and death. Ryoma paused before the corpses, staring at them for a moment, then raised his head to face Aizen again—rage burning inside him.
From the edge of the battlefield, one of three still-breathing bodies began to stir. A blond-haired boy with blue eyes slowly opened his lids, seeing Ryoma standing tall… as if he had returned from the depths of hell—or perhaps, to end it.
Aizen (voice distorted): — "Impossible… you're alive?! Is this a trick by Saito? Or are you… a ghost?"
Ryoma (cold, thunderous voice): — "No ghost… just a man who returned from hell to finish what you started."
Aizen: — "You were just a lost kid during the test… what makes you think you can stand before me now?!"
Ryoma (deadly glare): — "Because I'm no longer that child. I died once… but I came back carrying something you can't kill."
Aizen (laughing arrogantly): — "And you think that's enough to stop me?!"
Ryoma (taking another step, the wind whipping his cloak): — "No… I know it is."
Dust filled the air. The ground still bore the scars of the previous fight. Bodies lay still, Akari's breath ragged behind him. The sun had not yet risen… only the darkness before dawn.
Ryoma walked forward… slowly. Steadily.
Aizen stood, half his body drenched in his opponents' blood, eyes sharp as blades, analyzing Ryoma in a single glance. He laughed coldly, resting his sword on his shoulder.
Aizen: "You? You expect to face me like this? No energy? No weapon?"
Ryoma didn't answer. He just lifted his eyes… cold, but heavy with something undeniable. As if he wasn't looking at a man… but a shadow from his past.
Aizen (smirking): "What's wrong? Scared? Or… are you mocking me?"
Silence…
Then Ryoma spoke, his voice low—more of a whisper—but it cut through everything:
Ryoma: "No… I just want to see how much you can take… before I start."
Aizen flared with rage.
Aizen: "You don't know who you're dealing with…!"
He charged.
The battle began. No energy. No weapons. Fast strikes. Smart defenses from Ryoma. He wasn't faster—but he was calmer. As if his body was reading Aizen before he moved. Aizen attacked with fury, with violence. Ryoma responded with precision, razor-sharp focus.
The blond boy appeared, carrying two unconscious figures, approaching Akari. He looked at Ryoma in disbelief.
Blond boy: "This fight… it's unlike anything I've seen."
Akari (breathless): "It's… Ryoma. The boy who fought Ashin in the third trial."
Blond boy: "…He's changed. Completely."
Aizen stepped back, panting. "What are you doing… why aren't you using your Raikono?"
Ryoma looked at him, eyes now filled with something deeper… eyes that had seen too much.
Ryoma: "Because I don't fight to show off power… I fight because I have no other choice."
Aizen screamed, activating his energy—purple light exploded around him.
Now, the Raikono clash began. Their strikes changed—the ground beneath them cracked. Every collision sparked an explosion of energy.
Ryoma still didn't use his energy, but he was faster now, stronger, blocking Aizen's energy with a mix of physical skill and moment-to-moment reading of his opponent.
Aizen roared: "Are you mocking me?! Fight me seriously!!"
Ryoma (sharp glare): "You asked for it…"
Silence…
Then suddenly, the dagger appeared in Ryoma's hand. He said nothing. He just slashed the air in front of him—and the battle escalated.
Aizen used his sword. Ashin watched in silence, clear tension in his eyes. Ryoma managed to scratch Aizen—and suddenly, Aizen felt a strange weakness.
Aizen (shocked): "What is this energy…? Why do I feel something being pulled from me?!"
Ryoma (quiet voice): "My dagger… doesn't just hurt you."
The fight continued. Ryoma started tiring. Aizen thought he had the upper hand. Ashin was about to step in—when—
The sun began to rise.
A faint light filtered through the trees, brushing across Ryoma's body… and suddenly, energy unlike anything before exploded from him.
Aizen stepped back instantly. "Impossible…!"
Ryoma raised his head, eyes glowing.
Ryoma: "My power… doesn't work at night. It erupts with the first light of dawn."
The earth shook, the air around him grew hot, and Ashin's eyes widened in disbelief.
Akari remembered the moment she onc
e thought Ryoma would use her… but now, the truth was clear. She whispered his name with all her heart.
— "Ryoma…!"
End of Chapter.