The invasion had begun but nobody was prepared for it. No one knew the strategies of the Souls. The Great Sensei Nakashima Tsukiko knew he had to do something. He called an urgent meeting of all Wizardry Guilds. All guilds were
1. 黒炎の輪 Kokuen no Wa
{Circle of Black Flame}
2. 蒼天術士団 Sōten Jutsushidan
{Azure Sky Sorcerers}
3. 深淵の書庫 Shin'en no Shoko
{Archive of the Abyss.}
4. 星詠みの塔 Hoshiyomi no Tō
{ Star Eclipsor}
5. 幽幻連盟 Yūgen Renmei
{Phantom Illusion League}
6. 紅蓮錬魔会 Guren Renmakai
{Crimson Sorcery}
7. 氷封の誓約 Hyōfū no Seiyaku
{Oath of the Frozen Seal}
For the preparation to survive against the Yūmeikages, The Great Sensei Nakashima Tsukiko arranged a Meeting to get a clear understanding from all the Guilds. When the meeting started
Sensei: "What do we know about the Yūmeikages?"
Uchida Tatsuya
{Phantom Illusion League} : They use the lightning bolts as a medium to come down. But we Haven't discovered their UFO or Spacecraft they use to come near our planet.
Katayama Daichi
{Archive of the Abyss} : We should investigate the practice arena in Frost City which was destroyed by the lightning surge.
Kenta Hayaato
{ Crimson Sorcery} : I think we should prepare the suits which were mentioned in the Emperor's book.
Kawai Daisuke
{Azure Sky Sorcerers} : I think we should prepare a squad of 350 Soul Hunters, 50 from each Wizardry Guild, and finish the soul invasion from its roots.
Sensei: I think that would be a good idea to make squads and make suits capable enough to keep the souls away from the body. We also need to learn the Final Benediction.
Kenta Hayaato
{Crimson Sorcery} : It's decided then, our Guild takes the responsibility to prepare 350 anti- gas suits.
Nakashima Tsukiko
{Oath of Frozen Seal} : Our Guild takes up the responsibility to investigate the striking point of the bolt.
Uchida Tatsuya
{Phantom Illusion League} : We will train 350 candidates from all the Guilds in our Imperial Arena from tomorrow.
Katayama Daichi
{Archive of the Abyss} : I will research on all the scrolls of knowledge to see if the mention of souls is present anywhere.
Sensei: So, I shall see the 350 candidates fully trained and equipped with suits and skills till the end of August.
That moment a guard enters the meeting room and says: "I'm sorry to interrupt, but a soul has entered the body of a person named Akane in the South- Eastern Frost City. He is trying to capture a more powerful body. Only You can do something, please come there.
The Sensei said " I cannot come but I will surely send someone as soon as possible." Saying so the Sensei whispered something into Nakashima Tsukiko's ears. After that, he suddenly got up and rushed towards the incident site.
Time passed in tense silence as Akane collapsed unconscious. The winds changed, carrying with them a sensation none of them had felt before—an ancient, suffocating pressure. Then, a single guard returned:
"The Great Sensei is on the way."
From the edge of the horizon, a shadowed figure approached, cloaked in silence and dread. His presence turned the very air cold.
What would happen next… no one knew.
Nakashima Tsukiko: Checked if Akane was alive. After saying so he kept his palm on his chest and started chanting,
「肉体より霊を離し,瓶に封ぜよ.」
"Nikutai yori rei wo hanashi, bin ni fuuze yo."
("Release the soul from the body; seal it into the jar.")
「我が印と契りにより,魂よ,還れ.」
"Waga shirushi to chigiri ni yori, tamashii yo, kaere."
("By my sigil and binding pact, soul—return.")
「封魂の儀,今ここに成就せり.」
"Fūkon no gi, ima koko ni jōju seri."
("The rite of soul-sealing is now complete.")
Then a strange black colored ball comes out, with black smoke arising from it. Nakashima Sensei carefully held it in his hands and placed it in a jar and closed the jar with a metal lid. The soul started banging itself on the walls of the containment and resisted against the jar. The soul tried very hard but could not escape. Sensei then casted a cursed seal on the jar and sealed it till eternity.
Arata was being nursed and bandaged by the doctor. While Akane was still unconscious. Amaya said "Akane was really beating the hell out of you Arata, but really you also fought back really good. Arata was beaming with pride, he was grinning and smiling from the inside. "But Akari saved you from becoming a frozen popsicle. And Akari's attacks were like a flashing Ninja and almost knocked Akane out of his senses." Added Amaya. The lightest hope in his heart was extinguished. The smile on his face suddenly disappeared.
A messenger was passing and announcing about the entrance test to enter the 350 elite candidates "An elite Kurogane-tai 鉄隊 {Iron Unit} is going to be selected to clash against the souls and only 50 candidates will qualify from the entrance test of The Oath Of Frozen Seal Guild . If anyone is interested please submit your form at the central town hall.
Arata, Akari, Haruko, Isamu and Amaya rushed to fill the form. After submitting the form of Iron Unit they went to the open fields to practice for the entrance test. Again, Arata used the ice needles and showed different stunts and used less Seiki this time to impress Amaya again. Isamu tried using Hyōkaku 氷殻 { Ice Shell } to stop Arata's Ice Needles, but he couldn't stop ice volleys of needles, though he stopped some of the Ice Needles.
The date of the entrance exam was released the next day 1st Day of June 127.
Everyone was excited to give the entrance test, but not everyone's fate matched the same.......