The day to Libra Academy had finally come.
Renji had just received permission from the doctors that he could go—though they warned him not to stress his arm.
Mr. Ain had already packed his things neatly in a small bag. He stood by the doorway with his usual gentle smile.
"Take care, Renji. And have fun," he said warmly.
Renji nodded. "Thank you, Mr. Ain."
"Here," Mr. Ain said suddenly, handing him a black diamond ring.
Renji blinked. "What is it?"
The old man pressed his fist against his lips, a strange, almost malicious grin spreading across his face.
"It's a secret," he whispered. "You'll understand it once you reach A-rank."
Renji frowned in confusion, but before he could ask again, Mr. Ain pulled him into a hug.
"Goodbye, Renji."
---
The morning air was sharp, the sky faintly orange as the sun rose beyond the village edge. The massive train floated inches above the rails, humming with beast-essence energy as steam-like mist hissed from its sides.
Students crowded around the platform—some excited, some nervous, all clutching their new admission letters to Libra Academy.
Renji stood among them, silent as always, his bag slung over one shoulder. His body still ached slightly from the fight with Denji, but the bandages on his arm were a reminder—he was still alive. Still standing.
To think I was out for eight days… he thought, staring at the reflection of his new blue eyes in the train's metallic surface.
"Boarding for Libra Academy! All qualifiers, please step in!" the announcer called.
Renji exhaled slowly, feeling the faint vibration beneath his feet as the beast essence engines roared to life. He stepped inside and took a seat near the window. The scenery outside stretched endlessly—rolling plains and far-off mountains blurred into streaks of color as the train lifted higher along the rail.
Whispers spread through the carriage:
> "That's him… the Alpha Killer."
"Didn't he almost beat Denji?"
"He was F-rank, right? How the hell did he survive that fight?"
Renji ignored the chatter, resting his chin on his hand. The rhythmic hum of the train was almost soothing. He closed his eyes.
Libra Academy, huh? he thought. I wonder what kind of monsters wait for me there.
Then—his Void Sense twitched.
A subtle vibration. Too irregular. Too alive.
His eyes snapped open.
The lights flickered once.
Then twice.
And then—a deafening boom.
The entire carriage shook violently. Students screamed as the walls trembled, luggage tumbled, and sparks rained from the ceiling.
Renji shot to his feet, instincts kicking in. "An attack?!"
Through the window, he saw a hover bike slicing through the clouds. The rider's armor was black with crimson streaks—sleek, deadly, fast.
The man leapt off, landing on the train roof with a thunderous impact. A crimson glow flared across his armor as the lion emblem on his chest roared to life.
"Target confirmed," came a distorted voice. "Renji Kurozawa. Capture alive. Payment doubles if the body's intact."
Renji's expression hardened. "So… they're after me now."
He activated his Heavenly Eyes—and saw through the armor's energy lines.
Raghnar, the Crimson Red Lion.
Molten energy hissed from his armor, every step leaving a faint scorch mark. His helmet folded back, revealing a scarred face and amber eyes gleaming with greed.
"The Alpha Killer himself," Raghnar said with a grin. "You're worth more than a nation's treasury, boy. Lucky me—it's my lucky day."
Students screamed and ducked, but Renji stayed calm. He cracked his knuckles, lightning sparking faintly around his arms.
"Then come and earn it."
The moment their fists met, a shockwave tore through the carriage roof. Both fighters burst through the ceiling and landed atop the train, the wind howling and lightning dancing around them.
Renji dashed forward, his body flickering between motion and blur. Raghnar blocked the blow, sparks exploding as thunder echoed through the sky.
Raghnar's armor glowed brighter. "Let's turn up the heat."
He slammed his palm on the roof—a surge of plasma energy erupted, hurling Renji backward.
Renji twisted midair, landing on one knee, smoke curling from his clothes. "Tch…"
"You're durable," Raghnar taunted. "But I've killed tougher prey."
Renji narrowed his eyes, activating Peak Viper Form. His body glowed faintly, absorbing the kinetic energy from Raghnar's strikes. Lightning crawled across his skin, merging with the plasma heat.
"You talk too much."
A blur.
A flash.
A crack.
Raghnar's armor dented as Renji's punch connected squarely against his chest.
Raghnar staggered back, laughing. "Heh… impressive. But—let's see you survive this."
From his armor's core, a red device unfolded—EMP bomb.
Renji's instincts screamed. The air around him tensed with unstable energy—ready to detonate.
Then suddenly—
The bomb imploded, crushed by an unseen force.
Raghnar froze. "What the—?!"
The roof split open like paper as a shadow descended from above.
Hair unkempt. Eyes hollow. Aura heavy enough to bend the air.
Boros.
Is he Aura farming right said Raghnar and Renji said yeah I think he is.
The gravity user landed beside Renji, boots denting the steel roof.
"You attract too much trouble, kid."
"Boros…" Renji muttered, startled.
Raghnar sneered. "Still alive? Heard you had a bounty too."
Boros smirked. "Yeah. And if you're smart, you won't collect it."
Raghnar laughed darkly. "Try me. I'm not one of those low-level crooks you've squashed."
He fired his plasma cannon—but the beam halted midair, folded inward, and burst into sparks.
The air shimmered—gravity distortion.
"Gravity freak," Raghnar spat.
"Correct," Boros said calmly, raising one hand.
The entire train shuddered as gravity inverted, pulling Raghnar skyward. The bounty hunter roared, thrusters blazing as he countered with a Red Resonance Roar—his ultimate form igniting. His hair turned crimson, eyes glowing predator red, his teeth like a beast's.
Renji barely stayed grounded as sound and gravity collided, tearing through the sky.
"Boros!" Renji shouted. "The train—!"
"I know." Boros' eyes flared yellow. "I'll handle this."
He clenched his fist. Gravity slammed downward—Raghnar crashed back into the roof, armor cracking apart. Sparks exploded from his suit's core.
"Damn… suit's fried." Raghnar coughed, backing away. He glared at them both. "You're not worth dying for. Not yet."
With a blast from his jetpack, he vanished into the horizon.
Silence followed.
Renji dropped to one knee, panting. Boros crouched beside him, pulling a crushed cigarette from his pocket, though he didn't light it.
"Nice work, kid," he said quietly.
Renji looked up. "Ah… thanks."
Boros smirked. "Don't bother. You're my disciple. Protecting you just gives me more headaches."
Renji blinked. "Huh? Disciple? Wait—when did I become your disciple?"
Boros straightened, cracked his neck, and replied with a grin, "You are now."
He raised one hand, and gravity wrapped around them like a cloak. "Now come on. Lesson one—never let a criminal go."
Before Renji could protest, the two lifted into the air, Boros controlling the gravity field beneath them. The damaged train shrank behind as they shot into the clouds, chasing after the fleeing bounty hunter.