The Diamond Division's training hall shook like thunder.
Every ranked player in the academy had gathered—hundreds of them, each with their spirit glowing at full power. The ceiling lights dimmed, replaced by the shimmering gold of the Soul Board hovering above the court.
"Preseason starts today!" Dean Valen's voice boomed. "Teams will be formed by Division Rank. Win three matches, and you enter the official Soul League!"
Crowds erupted. Sparks of spirit energy filled the air. You could taste the adrenaline.
Riku stood near center court, hands in pockets, trying to act calm. Inside, his pulse was electric. Lira floated beside him, arms folded, veil of shadow dancing around her like smoke.
"You really jumped to Diamond in a day," she murmured. "Now everyone wants to kill you."
"Then I'll just dribble past the Grim Reaper," Riku said.
A new presence stepped forward—a tall woman in a red-and-black jacket, amber eyes fierce, fire spirit flickering behind her.
Kaori Blaze.
"So it's true," she said. "The Phantom's back."
Riku smirked. "You gonna welcome me with flowers or fireballs?"
"Depends which burns faster."
Their spirits flared simultaneously—flame and shadow twisting into a spiral above the court. Students stepped back. Even the floor began to hum.
Before they could go any further, the loudspeaker cracked:
> "Diamond Division preliminary match—Team Solar vs. Team Phantom, begin!"
Riku turned. "Guess that's us."
Kaori raised an eyebrow. "You made a team already?"
He pointed behind him. Serene Vale jogged in, calm as always, blue spirit rippling like water around her. "He didn't," she said. "I did. You two fight, I clean up the mess."
Kaori snorted. "Fine. But if he slows me down, I'm torching him."
Riku grinned. "Promise?"
---
The whistle blew.
Three opponents from Solar Division rushed forward, their spirits blazing—lion, hawk, and serpent, golden light merging into one. The air trembled with heat.
"Let's go," Riku said.
He dashed in, shadows flaring under his feet. The first player swung the ball across court—Riku vanished, reappeared behind him, stealing it with a blur of violet light. His phantom image flickered at three angles, confusing the defense.
Kaori called out, "Left corner!" and raised her hand. Fire swirled around her wrist as she caught his pass midair.
She jumped—flames erupted beneath her shoes—bang!—the ball exploded through the hoop like a comet.
"Point one—Team Phantom!"
The crowd went wild.
Riku smirked. "Nice shot."
Kaori flicked sweat off her cheek. "Don't get cocky."
Solar retaliated fast; their captain slammed down a Solar Pulse—flame lines spread like cracks across the court, forcing Riku and Kaori back. The lion spirit lunged, claws glowing white-hot.
Riku's eyes sharpened. "Lira, resonance!"
Now!
Their energies snapped together. Shadow burst from the ground, forming chains that wrapped around the lion's limbs, halting it mid-roar. Kaori launched off Riku's back, twisting midair, releasing another flaming shot.
Two points.
The crowd screamed her name.
But Solar's captain wasn't done. He fused completely with his spirit—Overdrive Mode. Heat rolled through the arena; the roof lights dimmed under the blaze.
Lira hissed, "He's burning his life-force!"
Riku clenched his fists. "Then I'll use mine."
He pushed his resonance harder. The shadow around him thickened, forming a ghostly outline of Lira herself—a phantom duplicate dribbling beside him.
They charged. The lion roared, fire everywhere; Riku darted through, each step leaving afterimages. Kaori covered the flank with arcs of flame. The court looked like night and day colliding.
At the final second, Riku jumped—spun—passed behind his back. Kaori caught, turned, and slammed the winning shot through the blazing hoop.
BOOM.
The explosion rocked the stadium.
---
When the smoke cleared, the scoreboard glowed:
> Team Phantom — 3 | Team Solar — 0
Dean Valen's voice echoed: "Diamond Division — Match One, victory to Team Phantom!"
Kaori exhaled, flames dimming. Serene jogged over, smiling faintly. "You two nearly melted the floor."
Riku wiped sweat off his forehead. "We still got two matches to go."
Lira hovered close, voice low. "You felt that, didn't you? The pulse beneath the court."
He nodded slowly. "Yeah. Something's watching."
Above the arena, unseen by most, faint runes flickered—symbols of the gods shimmering like eyes through the clouds.
One voice whispered from the sky: 'The Phantom bond grows too fast. Intervene.'
---
To be continued…