⚔️ Episode 17: "New Ranks and the City of Shadows"
🏯 Shinjū Academy – Rank Exam
Two weeks had passed since the war.
The academy had been rebuilt, and the students were being put through their rank exams before being briefly released into the city.
Ryokuryu, Yuki, and Hayato stood in the center of the hall.
The students were being called one by one.
Ryokuryu: "This exam measures not only your strength, but also the stability of your soul."
Hayato: "Strength does not mean rank. Any power you cannot control is weakness."
The lights came on. A giant stone tablet appeared.
The students' names appeared on it.
🏅 New Ranks
🐺 Riku – Advancement to Silver Rank
He can now use Shinjū energy more intensely. He can partially control the "Wolf's Awakening" technique.
Riku: "One more step… I'm closer to Abyssion."
🐻 Ren – Upgraded from Bronze Rank to Iron Rank
"Bear Breath" can now cover a wider area.
Ren: "His bear heart is just waking up."
🦁 Haru – Upgraded to Silver Rank
His roars now have a shocking effect.
Haru: "The lion will no longer roar in the forest, but in battle."
🐶 Taro – Upgraded from Iron Rank to Silver Rank
His defensive techniques have been strengthened, and "Loyal Claw" can now break barriers.
🐉 Ryūjin & 🔥 Tensei
The two were already at "Gold Rank," but Ryokuryu added a new title:
"Senior Shinjūsha"
Ryokuryu: "You are no longer just students, you are guardians."
🌆 Strangeness in the City
A strange energy was felt in the city this afternoon.
The sky suddenly turned gray, and the water began to flow backwards.
People panicked.
Yuki immediately raised the alarm.
Yuki: "This energy resembles Abyssion's power wave."
Hayato: "If this is going to be a test, the surface city is a good place to start."
Ryokuryu selected three people for the mission:
👉 Riku, Ren, and Haru.
Ryokuryu: "This isn't a mission, it's a responsibility. The people of the city are under our protection."
Riku: "Understood. Don't wait for us if we don't return."
🏙️ Shinjū City – Under the Shadows
The trio made their way through the rainy streets.
Blue glows emanated from the water, and the air grew colder.
Suddenly, someone passed in front of them—
A figure, half-human, half-aquatic, with eyes that glowed like a fish.
Ren: "What the hell is this?!"
Riku: "Abyssion's servant… but this isn't an ordinary creature."
Three people emerged from the shadows.
All bore the symbol of Abyssion.
⚔️ New Enemies: Shadows of Abyssion
🐠 Maris – Sea Serpent Power
Can transform her arms into chains of water, strangling people.
Phrase: "The touch of water is the beginning of death."
🐚 Kuroto – Shell Turtle Power
Extremely durable armor. Specializes in defense.
Phrase: "Defense isn't just waiting, it's slowly destroying."
🐙 Zerun – Octopus Power
Can disappear into shadow, launching invisible attacks.
Phrase: "No one can breathe in the dark."
💥 The Battle Begins
The battle erupted in the rain.
Riku lunged forward, cutting Maris's chains with his "Storm Claw."
Ren shattered the ground with a giant fist, and Haru roared.
Haru: "The Lion King's Roar!"
The glass in the streets exploded, and Zerun's shadow dissipated.
Maris grabbed Riku from behind with a chain, but
Ren intervened, breaking the chain with a "Bear Fist."
Ren: "You will never bind my brother!"
Kuroto lunged forward in his massive armor, slamming into Haru.
But Haru didn't kneel.
Haru: "Lions don't retreat!"
He broke Kuroto's armor with a roar.
The three enemies retreated in an instant.
Zerun left one last sentence:
Zerun: "This is just the first wave on the surface."
🌊 As the Sky Darkened
The trio were exhausted but standing.
The city was slowly returning to normal.
Riku: "If this is just the first wave… who knows how powerful the second wave will be."
Ren: "But this time, we will be ready."
Haru: "And we will be together."
At that moment, a distant glow appeared in the sky.
A giant sphere of water was taking shape, a shadow floating within…
Mizura watched them.
Mizura (coldly): "The first test has passed.
Now… let the real hunt begin."