The room was quiet after the long talk among the three friends in Lumei's house. Night had fallen deeply. The stars outside the window twinkled like curious eyes watching them.
Sora stood up and stretched, arms high above her head. "I should head back," she said with a soft smile.
Yamato and Lumei nodded silently.
She walked to the door, then turned back one last time. Her face was calm, eyes gentle.
"Goodnight, boys."
"Night," Yamato replied.
She left. Her footsteps were light as she made her way back to her own dorm.
Yamato stayed frozen in his chair. His arms were crossed. His eyes distant—full of unspoken weight.
Lumei yawned, stretching lazily before flopping onto his bed.
"You're not sleeping?" he asked.
"I'll sleep like this," Yamato mumbled, closing his eyes as he sat upright. The old chair creaked softly beneath him.
---
That same night…
Far away, in the stillness of his home, Master Ozaki stood near his window. His robe fluttered gently in the breeze. His silver eyes were locked on the moon.
He narrowed them.
"Again… it's bigger," he muttered. "That's the third night in a row."
Something was wrong. His instincts whispered danger.
He turned from the window, crossed his legs, and sat in the center of the room. Slowly, he closed his eyes and began to breathe deeply.
Silence.
Then—a hum. Low and deep, rising from his chest.
His soul slipped into his pocket realm—a space where he stored his weapons and trained alone.
But tonight… something was off.
It was darker than usual. Not just dim—hollow. Empty.
Like a dream someone tried to forget.
Ozaki slowly turned, his brow furrowed.
"Why does this place feel unfamiliar?"
Then—click!
A light blinked on to his left.
He flinched and turned.
Click! Another lit on his right.
Ozaki stood still, body calm but senses on high alert.
Then—FWOOM.
The entire realm was bathed in soft glowing light.
From the center, a form began to emerge.
Not giant. Not monstrous.
Man-sized.
Kowichi. The God of Weapons.
Even though he appeared smaller than usual, the power radiating from him made the air press against Ozaki's skin.
Ozaki knelt slightly out of instinct, but his voice was steady.
"Kowichi. You summoned me?"
Kowichi gave a calm smile.
"You've done well in your progress as a vessel. I know your question."
Ozaki tilted his head. "You know? How—wait… why do you know what I'm going to ask?"
Kowichi's eyes narrowed gently.
"The moon. Its size is growing."
Ozaki's heart skipped. "So… it's not just me."
"There's always an answer," Kowichi said, rubbing his chin. "And this one is simple. It's the God Slayer."
Ozaki froze. "The God Slayer?! But… why would he—?"
Kowichi cut in, his voice grim.
"He never comes to a planet unless an Outlook exists—a child born from god and human. But none of us gods have sensed a new one."
Ozaki's brows drew together. "Then… why is he coming?"
"There are two possibilities," Kowichi said. "Either a god hid something here… or an Outlook exists, hidden from us all."
Ozaki stood slowly, arms folded. "Then what's the moon got to do with this?"
Kowichi's eyes flashed.
Then he roared:
"How stupid are you?! Everything about the moon concerns him!"
Ozaki flinched at the sudden fury.
Kowichi stepped forward, voice sharp as thunder.
"He doesn't travel through space like we do. He rides waves of energy—leaping from one body to another. And what's closer to Earth… than the moon?"
Ozaki's eyes widened. "So you're saying… he was on another planet, and now he's using the moon to reach Earth?"
"You've said it," Kowichi replied simply.
Ozaki began pacing. His footsteps echoed faintly in the glowing realm.
The God Slayer… coming here. For a child of a god? For something worse?
His steps quickened.
He's strong enough to pull the moon out of orbit… What kind of monster is this?
Suddenly he turned.
"If you were to fight him… would you win?"
Kowichi laughed—a deep, bitter sound that held no joy.
"No," he said. "We wouldn't last a second."
Ozaki's chest tightened. His hands trembled slightly.
Kowichi's tone softened, though it remained firm.
"But… if you train with me for a year. No breaks. No mercy. We might survive the fight. But win? Never."
Ozaki sank to the floor, breath shallow. The weight of the moment pressed down like stone.
Kowichi looked down at him, calm again.
"If I had to guess… the God Slayer might be coming for that Yamato kid."
Ozaki's eyes shot up. "Yamato?"
"He's not a god. Not a vessel. But the energy he let out… it was strong enough to catch the attention of one of the Seven."
Before Ozaki could speak again—
Kowichi vanished.
The light faded.
The realm dissolved.
And Ozaki's soul returned to his body.
He opened his eyes.
He stared at the moon.
Then he walked silently to his bed and laid down—
But the weight of the moon pressed heavier than any blanket.
---
The next morning…
Sunlight crept through the dusty glass of Lumei's window. A warm beam slid across Yamato's face.
He stirred, blinked, and yawned—stretching with a quiet groan.
"I gotta go," he mumbled, grabbing his bag and slinging it over his shoulder.
Lumei blinked at him sleepily from the bed.
Yamato was already halfway out the door. "Well, we move today—and like, right now. I have to get ready."
Click.
The door shut behind him.
"Tch. Always troublesome," Lumei muttered, smirking as he rubbed his eyes.
---
Back at his own room, Yamato tossed the bag on his bed, freshened up, and grabbed a single shirt off the hanger.
Simple. Sharp. Clean.
When he stepped outside, Lumei was already waiting at the stairway, leaning against the wall with a massive bag beside him.
Yamato raised a brow.
"Why is your bag that big?"
Lumei smirked. "Well, you're a careless kid. You somehow stay clean, but stain everything around you."
They both laughed as they walked toward Sora's dorm.
Yamato knocked twice.
"Coming!" came her voice from inside.
She opened the door. Fully packed, just like Lumei. Her long hair tied neatly back. Eyes bright and focused.
She looked between the two boys and grinned.
"Shall we?"
The sun rose quietly behind them. Their bags were packed.
Their mission awaited.
And just like that—
The 3Man Mission began.