Night fell over Eryndral.
The forest glowed softly, a living constellation beneath the stars.
Hajime stood on a high balcony overlooking the canopy, the mark of the Tree still faint on his palm.
For the first time since the attack on Eisenwald, he felt… peace.
"So," Rei's voice came from behind him, "How are you feeling?"
Hajime smirked, flexing a bicep.
"I feel brand new."
Rei joined him at the railing, eyes scanning the skyline.
"Don't get comfortable. The world's watching you now."
Hajime frowned.
"You guys keep saying this, but I have no idea what you mean."
Rei's gaze hardened.
Rei folded his arms, eyes narrowing. "Listen closely, Hajime. The world isn't ruled by Heaven or Hell alone. It's divided between five great factions, each born from a different Will and each ruling their own territories."
He looked out over the glowing skyline of Eryndral, his voice calm but steady. "First is the Celestine Order, the Luminary Guard. We command the skies of Solarii. I lead them with the Will of Uriel. My Lords are Hayate Tsubasa with Michael's Will, Raiden Mitsuhiro with Gabriel's, and Kazuki Haruma with Raphael's. We stand for divine order and judgment."
His gaze drifted toward the forest canopy below. "The Verdant Veil, the Emerald Vanguard, governs the lands of Eryndral. Commander Takahiro Izanami carries the Will of Moses. His Lords are Masanori Shigure with Elijah's Will, Izumi Rin with Eve's, and Ayumu Hayate with Noah's. They guard creation's balance and the rebirth of life."
Rei's tone darkened. "The Thorned Pact, the Pale Requiem, controls the wastelands of Nekros. Commander Dreadbane bears Beelzebub's Will. His Lords are Hoshigami Yoroku with Judas, Kagehira Tazumi with Cain, and Fuyutsuki Narata with Nebuchadnezzar. They spread ruin and call it freedom."
He turned his eyes toward the distant mountains. "The Crimson Legion, the Ironblood Reclaimers, holds the forges of Barakos. Commander Rokuro Kaizō wields Samson's Will. His Lords are Banshō Daiga with David's, Tenkai Hoshima with Joshua's, and Kiraha Mokuren with Deborah's. They believe strength alone can rebuild the world."
Finally, his voice lowered, carried by the faint hum of Seiki in the night air. "And the Chainbound Doctrine, the Hellbound Legion, reigns deep in Zebulum. Commander Akane Yatogi bears Lilith's Will. Her Lords are Kurotaka Hisomi with Samael, Renjiro Fushimi with Asmodeus, and Shigure Amaya with Belial. They seek truth beyond Heaven's reach, no matter the cost."
Rei turned to Hajime, his expression firm. "Those five powers shape the world. Their Wills, their lands, their wars. But you carry Adam's Will. The Will of Man. You belong to none of them. That makes you the one thing every faction fears."
Hajime looked down at his palm, the faint mark of the Tree still glowing against his skin. "So the Thorned Pact's territory… Nekros, right? That's where Dreadbane is."
Rei turned his head slightly, one brow raising. "Don't tell me you're thinking of heading there."
Hajime shrugged, his tone casual but curious. "Just curious..."
Rei sighed, resting a hand on the railing. "Be logical, Hajime. You've just gotten control of your Seiki, and the Thorned Pact doesn't show mercy... You know this firsthand. Nekros isn't just a battlefield, it's a graveyard."
Hajime glanced toward the horizon, lips curving faintly. "Guess I'll need a reason then."
Rei smiled at him. "Guess I'll have to go with you when the time comes. Can't have you hogging all the fun."
Hajime started laughing hard for the first time in a very long time.
The air suddenly shifted.
A metallic hum rippled through the forest like a plucked string.
Birds scattered from the canopy, wings beating in frantic patterns through the night.
Izumi burst onto the balcony, Seiki already glowing around her.
"The wards just collapsed!"
Rei drew his sword in one motion. Uriel's Flame (ウリエルの炎 / Urieru no Honō) ignited along the edge.
"It's her."
"Her?" Hajime asked.
Before Rei could answer, the sky tore open.
A thousand silver chains poured through the clouds, descending like a storm. Each link glowed with runic light, cutting through the air with shrieks of pressure.
At their center floated a figure cloaked in white mist.
Selaphine of the Grigori 8.
Her chains coiled like wings, eyes burning violet against the night.
"Adam's Will… reborn in mortal flesh," she said, her voice layered with two tones. Her voice with her Will Samyaza.
"Mortals are full of surprises."
Chains struck first.
They crashed into the balcony, wrapping around its pillars and tearing stone apart.
Hajime dove aside, rolling into a crouch as the wood splintered behind him.
Rei sliced through the nearest chain, his sword blazing blue-white.
"Get to cover!"
"Not happening!" Hajime shouted back.
He thrust out his hand. Gold silver Seiki (聖気) flared, intercepting another chain midair. Sparks scattered where their energies met.
The impact forced both fighters back a step.
Selaphine raised a hand.
"Two against one, how cruel.."
Rei's flames roared higher.
"You talk too much."
He leapt forward, a streak of light carving through the night.
Selaphine's chains met him midair, dozens at once, weaving into a barrier.
The collision lit up the sky like lightning.
From below, the entire city of Eryndral watched the heavens crack open with color.
On the ground, roots trembled under the pressure of the divine and fallen angel Seiki colliding.
Izumi slammed her palms against the floor, chanting rapidly.
"Verdant Domain — Bloom Sanctuary (翠の領域・花守 / Midori no Ryōiki: Hanamori)!"
A dome of green light expanded outward, sealing the city under a shimmering shield.
The blast waves crashed harmlessly against it, scattering like petals.
Sylvara appeared beside her, calm even as the Veil trembled.
"You've grown stronger, Izumi."
"They'll level half the forest if I don't hold this," Izumi said through gritted teeth.
Sylvara's eyes lifted to the battle above. Then began to use Seiki Resonance with Izumi to amplify her output.
"This barrier will hold."
Hajime leapt from root to root, channeling Seiki through his arms.
Chains whipped toward him; he ducked, twisted, caught one mid-swing.
The link burned into his palm, energy searing through his veins.
He screamed in agony and gritted his teeth. "Let's see how you like this!"
He yanked, pouring his Seiki into the chain. It glowed gold and silver, his energy crawling up toward Selaphine.
For a heartbeat, her expression shifted to surprise.
Then the chain shattered in a burst of light.
Rei appeared beside him, eyes blazing.
"Not bad, rookie."
"I'm learning from the best," replied Hajime.
Rei's eyes narrowed, the heat of his blade reflecting in them. "If this is who I think it is, don't let up even for a moment. She's stronger than any of the five Commanders. She is an Omega Level threat."
Hajime's pulse quickened. "Stronger than you?"
Rei didn't answer.
Above them, the figure smiled slowly, deliberately, her lips curving like she already knew the outcome.
Selaphine's violet eyes glowed brighter, and the chains around her began to sing.
Hajime and Rei stood side by side, auras colliding and merging. Blue white, and gold silver intertwining like twin flames.
The air warped around them, pressure rising.
Selaphine watched from above, chains swirling faster.
"Going straight for the kill, huh?"
She extended her hand.
"Dark Knowledge Covenant: Chain Spear (闇識の盟約・鎖槍 / Yamishiki no Meiyaku: Sasayari)."
Thousands of chains converged into a single spear of silver light.
It shot downward, faster than sight.
Hajime raised both hands as Rei crossed his sword.
Their Seiki exploded together in a blinding wave.
Dual Resonance (双響 / Sōkyō).
The collision tore open the sky.
For a moment, the forest didn't make a sound. Then a light started filling the night like dawn breaking too early.
Through the haze of gold and blue light, a single figure shot upward.
Rei.
His aura blazed like a collapsing star, white and blue flames bending the air around him. His smile was sharp, almost deranged, the kind that belonged to someone who longed to fight.
"Don't try to run," he called, his voice steady and charged. "You're coming with me!"
Selaphine's chains lashed forward in waves, each strike fast and sharp enough to tear through skin and bone. Rei moved faster, vanishing through the gaps, every swing of his blade tracing lines of blue fire across the night sky.
"Uriel's Ascension (天焔昇華 / Ten'en Shōka)."
Light surged upward like the sun itself breaking through the clouds.
Selaphine countered, her aura burning violet, the chains forming a crown above her as she met his strike head-on.
The two forces collided, and the sky started shaking.
Hajime could only cover his eyes as the shockwaves rolled across the forest.
Rei and Selaphine were trading blows at a speed Hajime couldn't comprehend.
Above him, Rei laughed with a joyous madness. "Now this is a fight!"
He cut through the last chain, and the edge of his sword stopped just before her throat.
Selaphine had caught the blade between two fingers and smiled.
"Interesting," she said softly. "I'll remember you, Rei Kurayami."
Selaphine hovered, chains retracting into mist.
"We'll play again soon, boys."
She vanished, the sky closing behind her.
Rei sheathed his sword, his shoulders rising and falling with exhaustion.
"You held your own out there."
Hajime panted, smoke rising from his skin.
"Nothing compared to you. What even was that power? You held your own against an Omega Level threat! Just who are you?"
Izumi approached from the bridge below, the green barrier fading behind her.
"The city's intact. Barely."
Sylvara appeared beside her, eyes still lifted toward the stars.
"That was one of the Grigori Eight," she said quietly. "The fallen Watchers who once defied Heaven, gifted forbidden knowledge to mankind, and fornicated with human women. Breaking divine law itself."
Rei's gaze followed hers.
"I heard the stories, and I'm so glad it's true."
Silence fell. Even the wind hesitated.
Hajime blinked slowly. "You're glad the near-immortal chain lady almost killed us?"
Rei smirked. "She had style."
Izumi's shadow darkened behind him. Her Seiki pulsed faintly green, eyes narrowing with a smile far too sweet to be safe.
"Style…?" she repeated.
Rei froze. "Wait, hold on, I didn't mean—"
A vine sprouted from the floor and smacked the back of his head.
Hajime burst out laughing, doubling over. "Guess that's divine punishment."
Sylvara sighed, rubbing her temples.
Izumi crossed her arms, cheeks puffed slightly. "Next time, try being less glad when someone tries to level the city, kay?"
Rei just grinned through the pain. "Worth it."
Later that night, Hajime sat on the balcony's edge, staring at the sky.
The stars had returned, quiet and unbroken.
Izumi sat beside him, her hair catching the faint light.
The stars shimmered above them.
Izumi smiled faintly. "You did great today."
Hajime looked at her, soft and sincere. "So did you."
Their laughter carried into the night.