Night had fallen, blanketing the city in calm silence. In a quiet park under the pale glow of the moonlight, Kazuki sat beside Diablo on a bench. The sky above them glittered with countless stars, yet Kazuki's gaze seemed distant—unfocused.
"There's a lot going through my head right now," Kazuki muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.
Diablo glanced at him. "What's on your mind?"
Kazuki hesitated, then exhaled softly. "I've always wondered what my parents looked like. Who they were... if they're even alive. And lately, I've had this strange feeling… like I might be related to Shinki from the Dark Sign."
Diablo narrowed his eyes slightly. "Related? What makes you say that?"
Kazuki tilted his head toward the sky. "It's probably just a wild guess. But sometimes, these... random memories flash through my mind. Like when I was a child—there was this older brother figure with red hair. I remember him laughing, playing with me."
"Hm." Diablo leaned back against the bench. "Whatever it is that's on your mind, I hope you find your answers, Kazuki."
Kazuki stood up, brushing dust off his purple trench coat. "Thanks. I'll be heading out of the city early tomorrow morning."
Diablo raised an eyebrow. "Don't go getting yourself into deep trouble."
Kazuki smirked faintly. "I won't."
Far away, deep within a forgotten ruin carved into a mountainside, a grand cavern echoed with silence. In the center stood a massive stone statue bearing a symbol: a perfect circle, with an inverted cross carved into its heart. Before it, Ukina knelt, head bowed in reverence.
A deep, ominous voice rumbled from the shadows.
"How are the preparations for war coming along, Ukina?"
Ukina remained bowed. "My allies have been dispatched to retrieve the Millennia Stone—it contains the divine beasts. I've also begun planning how to seal Diablo… the one who inherited the power of Bansha. It seems to me that he hasn't fully realised his true powers yet.."
"Good," the voice growled. "Once that's done, you may declare war upon the world. Let the era of destruction begin. And give path too my calamity."
"Yes, Lord Zodia." Ukina raised her head slightly. "However... I've yet to acquire the power of the demon child. Without it, I don't have enough strength to unseal you."
A moment of silence passed, then the figure responded with an eerie calm. "Do not be hasty, my child. Gather the Millennia Stones first. Then... seal Diablo. He's the only one in the way."
A glowing golden orb materialized in the air, drifting down toward her.
"This is a fragment of the power I sealed from you long ago. Take it."
Ukina's eyes widened, it was like as if distorted memories were playing in her head. "Thank you, my lord. I won't let you down."
"Stand," Zodia commanded, "and take the power. Then seal the one who bears the power of Bansha—the god of creation and destruction."
Back in the park, Diablo suddenly paused mid-sentence. A sharp sensation crawled down his spine, like a distant warning.
Kazuki noticed. "Diablo? You okay?"
Diablo shook it off and chuckled. "Yeah, yeah. Just a weird feeling. It's nothing."
The Next Morning – 6:00 AM
The sun had barely risen when Kazuki approached the city gates, a bag slung over his shoulder. But someone was already waiting there—Serena.
He blinked. "Serena? What are you doing here?"
Serena smiled gently. "I didn't really get a chance to talk to you properly when you came back. So... I came to see you off."
Kazuki looked around. "Where's Alex?"
"He wanted to come, but... he had training with his grandpa."
Kazuki sighed, then smiled faintly. "Figures. Tell him I said goodbye, will you?"
As he walked past her, Serena called out.
"Kazuki."
He paused and turned.
"Be careful," she said, her smile soft.
Kazuki smiled back. "Thanks."
And with that, he left the city.
Later That Day – 11:00 AM
At the training field, Alex was dashing across the space at blinding speed, vanishing and reappearing in flashes—his flash step echoing across the dirt.
Tobi stood by with a stopwatch, timing him. "Alright, stop!"
Alex halted, breathing heavily. "How'd I do?"
Tobi gave a smirk. "Your flash step speed's improved. I'm surprised you've gotten this fast in mere days."
Ranpo, standing a few meters away, crossed his arms. "You still need to work on your travel speed and physical strength."
Alex collapsed onto the ground. "I need a break..."
Tobi teased him, "You're the grandson of Ranpo the Iron Gallant, and you're still this weak?"
"Shut up already!" Alex barked.
Ranpo nodded thoughtfully. "Your durability, strength, and attack speed have increased quickly. But your stamina and long-distance speed still need work. You meet the classic requirements for a C-rank, but you still need work."
Tobi turned to Ranpo. "Say, mind telling us more about your prime years? All those legendary battles?"
Ranpo chuckled. "I wouldn't know where to start. I've seen a lot... fought alongside Kojin, my right-hand man back then."
Alex sat up. "You've never told me about those stories before."
Rampo's gaze drifted into memory.
[Flashback]
He was 22—young, fast, fearless, he was wearing a grey slim armour with his face exposed.
Facing him in the wastelands was a divine beast of the wind: a colossal white bird whose mere screams stirred tornadoes. It soared above, launching wind slashes and gusts that reduced mountains to rubble.
But Rampo danced through the storm, flying at incomprehensible speed. As the beast grew enraged, its feathers gleamed, transforming into glowing spears of wind that rained down.
"Gallant Wall!" Ranpo exclaimed.
A titanic wall of metal surged from the ground, blocking the assault.
Then Rampo's aura surged—his hair growing longer, turning blue as energy erupted from his body.
"Blast Hammer!"
A colossal hammer of light and force formed in his hands. With a mighty swing, he hurled it at the beast. The explosion that followed obliterated the battlefield, shaking the wastelands and the sky.
Back in the present, Alex's eyes sparkled. "That's insane... Grandpa, you're so cool!"
Tobi blinked. "A divine beast? Aren't those A-rank?"
Ranpo smiled humbly. "I was strong back then. I was even a candidate for Lord of the City. But Kojin... he took the title. I never wanted it."
Alex's expression turned serious. "Really, I want to be like you one day."
Rampo looked at him quietly. "You won't be like me... You'll surpass me." He thought to himself.
He smiled.
You'll be even stronger.
END OF CHAPTER