The distortion split the night air like torn glass, expanding until two silhouettes stepped out.
Their uniforms were unlike anything from the Spirit Corps—sharp, militarized, and trimmed in black and white.
The first figure: short-to-medium messy white hair, bangs covering half his grey eyes, expression empty, posture calm, only 172 cm tall.
The second: towering at 245 cm, long spiky white hair and piercing purple eyes.
The tall one spoke first, voice rumbling.
"So, Tanaka… this is the human world, huh?"
Tanaka sighed.
"Seriously, Goliath—you've been here before. Even in your previous form."
"Oh. Right."
Goliath laughed weakly.
Their attention then fell on Yugo and Akira.
Tanaka tilted his head.
"Looks like we have company."
Yugo stepped forward.
"You're definitely not Spiritualists. So what exactly are you?"
Tanaka smiled faintly.
"You're right. We're… something of a cross-breed."
Akira narrowed his eyes.
"A cross-breed, huh…"
Yugo's gaze sharpened.
"Then what's your purpose here?"
Goliath leaned down to Tanaka.
"Hey, who are these guys anyway?"
Tanaka analyzed them calmly.
"Hakama, high-level spiritual energy, visible sword spirits… That makes them Spiritualists. And the one with the haori—he's a captain commander."
Yugo smirked.
"Seems like you know us well."
Tanaka shrugged.
"Well, our leader is a—"
He didn't finish.
Because Goliath suddenly lunged, throwing a massive punch at Akira.
It connected—
with one finger.
Akira didn't move.
Goliath's eyes bulged. "N-No way… impossible…"
Tanaka groaned.
"Goliath! What do you think you're doing!?"
Akira smiled politely.
"Don't worry. I'll punish him for you."
Still blocking with a single finger, Akira flicked his wrist—lifting Goliath off the ground.
Then he began spinning him in circles like a ragdoll.
"Hey Yugo," Akira said casually, "I'll take care of this one."
Yugo sighed. "Sure."
Akira released Goliath, launching him through the forest as trees toppled in the distance.
*****
YUGO VS TANAKA
Tanaka exhaled.
"So… I guess that makes you my opponent."
Yugo walked forward, calm but ready.
"Yeah. Hope you're not offended."
"Of course not."
Before Tanaka even finished speaking—
flash.
Yugo vanished with Spirit Flash, appearing behind him with a kick—
But Tanaka ducked instantly, sweeping a back-heel kick in return. Yugo bent backward, dodging cleanly.
Yugo smirked.
"You're good. Not gonna lie."
Tanaka raised his hand to his sword.
"I prefer a sword clash."
Yugo unsheathed his blade as well.
"As you wish."
They dashed forward—
KLANG!
Their blades collided, sparks bursting as they blurred from spot to spot, vanishing and reappearing across the forest. Then—
They took the fight into the air.
Clashes echoed across the night sky.
Yugo pulled back, his spiritual energy shifting into a darker hue.
"Darkness Slash!"
A wave of dark energy tore forward, hitting Tanaka head-on and blasting him backward through the air.
*****
AKIRA VS GOLIATH
Trees shook as Goliath climbed out of the rubble he'd created.
"You're… gonna pay for that!"
Akira raised a hand.
"I really won't."
Shadows crept across the ground, curling around Goliath's ankles, then his arms, pulling him down with overwhelming force.
Goliath struggled.
"What… What is this!?"
Akira stepped closer, eyes calm.
"This is the element of my sword spirit—darkness."
The shadows tightened.
Akira's voice lowered.
"And now… you'll die here."
Goliath snarled, spiritual pressure shaking the ground beneath him.
"Die here? Don't make me laugh, human."
Akira tilted his head.
"For a giant, you're not much of a loud-mouth, huh?"
Goliath's hand slid to his sword, drawing it with a heavy metallic hum.
"You should stop stereotyping people you don't know."
Akira drew his own blade in response, shadows rippling around the edge.
"Habit. My mistake if I offended you."
Goliath exhaled. "Don't worry about it."
In one motion, Goliath burst through the shadow bindings, shattering them like brittle glass, and swung his massive sword downward.
Akira stepped aside effortlessly.
He countered with a Bakuhatsu, a concentrated blast of spiritual energy.
Goliath raised his blade and deflected the blast, pushing it into the sky.
"Did you really think you could catch me off guard—?"
He froze.
Because his hand—
was gone.
Goliath looked down, stunned.
"How…?"
Akira lowered his hand.
"When I launched Bakuhatsu, you focused on blocking it. I used the distraction to send a strike through your own shadow.
A technique called Silent Darkness Slash. Painless. Quiet. Easy to miss."
Goliath grinned despite everything.
"I see. But still—"
His missing hand began to reform, matter stitching itself together.
"I can simply regenerate any limb I lose."
Akira sighed.
"That is a problem."
Goliath took a step forward—
and suddenly jerked in shock as a thin cut split across his shoulder.
He staggered, unable to understand.
"What… is this? And why can't I regenerate?"
Akira pointed his sword lightly at him.
"This is Hello Slash. Since the moment I drew my blade, I've been placing invisible cuts in the air.
Touch one, and it stops regeneration entirely."
Goliath grit his teeth.
"You're a real pain… So now even approaching you is a risk."
"That's right."
"But this won't stop me."
He charged forward—
And each movement triggered another invisible slash.
A dozen cuts traced across him before he finally dropped to his knees, panting.
Akira stepped closer, calm as ever.
"Don't worry. I'm not going to kill you. I just need you alive for questioning."
Goliath smirked weakly.
"You can try…"
Akira raised his sword.
"Subakaku no Hashira."
A pillar of dark force erupted, surrounding Goliath as he shouted out in pain.
When it faded, Goliath collapsed, immobilized.
Akira sat down with a sigh.
"You're left, Yugo…"
*****
YUGO VS TANAKA
The dust began to settle.
Tanaka stood untouched.
Yugo frowned.
"Not even a scratch…"
Tanaka rested his blade on his shoulder.
"No. I used Geisterstoß at the last moment. It nullified your slash."
"I see…"
Suddenly Yugo stiffened.
A pulse tore through him—like something awakening.
In his subconscious, a dark mark flickered into existence and vanished repeatedly.
A red eye opened briefly on the right side of his face.
Yugo clutched his head.
"G—gh…"
Tanaka's expression sharpened.
"I sense something sinister inside you."
In an instant he appeared behind Yugo.
"I plan to find out about this power."
Tanaka drew a glowing symbol across Yugo's neck—
But Yugo's eyes rolled back and he collapsed.
Tanaka spoke.
"…Passed out before I could analyze it. A shame."
A psychic message suddenly shot into his mind.
Tanaka cursed under his breath.
"We already have to leave."
He appeared beside Goliath and shattered Akira's seal with a precise chop.
Akira stood up sharply.
"What the—!?"
Tanaka bowed slightly.
"My apologies, but we must retreat."
Goliath grinned. "Finally. That was fast."
Akira narrowed his eyes.
"What happened to Yugo?"
"He's alive," Tanaka answered calmly. "Unconscious, but in no danger."
Tanaka turned away, raising his hand to open another distortion—
But at that moment, a massive blast tore through the clearing, engulfing both him and Goliath.
Akira shielded his eyes from the shockwave.
"What just happened—!?"
The smoke parted.
Tanaka stood, clothing torn but unharmed.
Goliath lay on the ground, unable to move.
Tanaka exhaled.
"So… you weren't unconscious after all."
A distorted voice echoed.
"Ag…h…gh…"
Akira stepped back.
"What's happened to him…?"
Tanaka's eyes narrowed.
"So this is the power I sensed…"
Yugo emerged from the smoke.
The entire right half of his body was wrapped in twisting dark energy.
His right eye glowed crimson.
Half his hair had turned pure white.
His aura was so heavy the ground itself groaned beneath him.
He raised his head slowly—
And spoke in a warped voice:
"You will all… die here…"
Tanaka was just about to draw his sword when the world seemed to warp.
Yugo vanished.
In the next instant, Tanaka felt a sharp tearing pain rip across his body—starting from his stomach and cutting diagonally up to his shoulder. He staggered backward, barely managing to keep his footing as blood spilled from the deep wound.
So fast…
Before, they had been nearly equal.
Now the gap was unmistakable.
Yugo stood ahead of him, his presence twisted and oppressive, dark energy boiling around his body. His eyes burned with murderous intent, devoid of reason or restraint.
Tanaka clenched his jaw as his wounds struggled to close.
My regeneration… it's slowed.
Is this the power inside him?
Akira, watching from the side, felt a chill crawl up his spine. The man standing there no longer felt like the Yugo he knew. There was no hesitation in his movements, no trace of restraint—only raw, destructive instinct.
Tanaka drew his blade and charged.
Steel collided with steel as their swords clashed violently. The shockwaves rattled the surrounding trees, branches snapping under the pressure. Then Yugo leapt high into the air, twisting his body mid-flight as his blade gathered distorted energy.
The slash descended like a falling star.
The attack struck cleanly.
When the dust cleared, Tanaka was thrown back, his left arm completely severed. He stared at the empty space calmly, teeth grinding as the wound resisted regeneration.
Tch…
Because of the rules, our power is sealed by sixty percent.
At this rate, survival takes priority.
Nearby, Goliath finally rose to his feet, rolling his shoulders as his injuries finished healing.
Akira scowled. He really doesn't know how to stay down.
Goliath glanced toward Yugo, eyes narrowing. Even to him, something felt wrong.
This is unusual… even for them.
When Akira refused the idea of cooperation, Goliath merely shrugged.
So be it.
He raised his sword.
At his command, the blade warped and reshaped, metal groaning as it transformed into a massive weapon—a long hammer with a vicious spike extending from its opposite end.
With a single swing, Goliath sent the weapon crashing into Yugo.
The impact hurled him deep into the forest, trees exploding apart as his body tore through them.
Tanaka exhaled in relief.
Then—
A violent surge of spiritual energy erupted from the forest, flattening what little remained standing. Yugo emerged from the destruction, walking forward as if nothing had happened.
Before he could strike again—
A blade pierced straight through his back.
Yugo's body locked in place, his muscles seizing instantly.
Teja stood behind him, sword embedded deep, expression unreadable.
The transformation… interesting, Teja thought calmly.
Thanks to his sword spirit's poison, Yugo's body could no longer respond. Paralysis spread through him, cutting off movement completely.
Tanaka stared in disbelief.
Attacking your own ally?
Teja showed no regret.
It's not like I killed him
As Tanaka's severed arm finally regenerated, a distortion opened behind him.
It's time to leave.
Before they could step through, Teja demanded answers.
Tanaka paused and explained.
They were Demi-Spirits—beings born from the fusion of a human, spiritual energy, and a high-ranking Hollow. Their society was ruled by a strict ranking system, one that shifted as individuals grew stronger.
Strength determined rank.
Tanaka held the rank of Fourteen.
Goliath, Eighteen.
Those ranked from Zero to Fourteen issued commands. Disobedience from lower ranks resulted in unbearable punishment.
With that, they turned away.
One last warning lingered in the air—
their power today had been sealed by sixty percent.
Next time, they would not be.
The distortion closed.
Silence returned to the ruined forest.
At least… information was gained.
Suddenly, Akira shouted a warning.
Despite the paralysis, Yugo's body moved.
He lunged toward Teja—
Then convulsed violently.
Pain tore through him as his body rejected the overflowing spiritual energy within. He collapsed, blood spilling as his power spiraled out of control.
Teja realized it immediately.
Spiritual overload.
If left unchecked, it would kill him.
A calm voice cut through the chaos.
Homura stepped forward and activated a sealing technique.
Light wrapped around Yugo's body, suppressing the violent energy. The dark aura peeled away, fading into nothingness.
Yugo collapsed unconscious, his breathing shallow but steady.
He'll live.
The technique had sealed the excess power, preventing complete collapse.
Akira exhaled slowly, lifting Yugo onto his shoulder.
With the danger finally contained, the three of them used Spirit Flash.
In a blink of light—
They vanished, returning to the campsite.
The moment they reached the campsite, Akira and the others rushed Yugo into the main tent and carefully laid him onto a woven mat. His body was cold, his breathing uneven, the traces of sealed power still clinging faintly to his presence.
Mikasa froze when she saw him.
Maya felt it too—the residue of an overwhelming clash of spiritual energy still lingering in the air, heavy enough to make her chest tighten.
Whatever had happened in the forest had been far beyond an ordinary battle.
*****
Deep within Yugo's consciousness, awareness slowly returned.
He found himself standing ankle-deep in still water that reflected no sky. The surface stretched endlessly in every direction, silent and unmoving. Ripples spread outward with each step he took, though he did not remember walking.
At a distance, an indistinct figure stood waiting.
The presence felt familiar… and dangerous.
Before Yugo could move closer, the scene faded.
*****
Sunlight filtered through the thin fabric of the tent.
Yugo's eyes fluttered open, his vision blurring before slowly sharpening. The first thing he noticed was warmth—two familiar presences seated on either side of him.
Maya and Mikasa had fallen asleep where they sat, exhaustion written plainly across their faces.
A small breath escaped him.
Relief.
As soon as he spoke, Mikasa jolted awake, her expression shifting from confusion to unmistakable joy. Maya followed moments later, eyes widening as she realized he was conscious.
Despite his weakness, Yugo managed a faint smile. He apologized for worrying them, though the guilt sat heavily in his chest.
Suburu entered the tent not long after and stopped short when he saw Yugo sitting up.
He'd been out all night.
Suburu explained what Yugo had not realized—Maya and Mikasa hadn't left his side once. Not even when exhaustion had finally claimed them.
Understanding dawned on him, and gratitude followed close behind.
When Yugo tried to stand, his legs immediately betrayed him. Pain surged through his body, sharp and unforgiving, forcing him back down to his knees.
Suburu steadied him at once.
The battle had taken far more than Yugo realized.
When Yugo asked about Akira, the answer came quickly. Akira, Teja, and Sentinel Homura were still occupied—examining the captured corrupted spiritualist and investigating the abnormal substance responsible for the transformation.
Yugo insisted on seeing them.
But the order had already been given.
The moment he regained consciousness, he was to be taken directly to the Sector Five medical chambers.
Reluctantly, Yugo agreed.
Maya and Mikasa moved to his sides, supporting his weight as his strength slowly returned. With careful coordination, the three of them activated Spirit Flash, vanishing in a shimmer of light.
*****
Not long after their departure, Akira and Homura returned to the campsite.
The tent stood quiet.
Akira immediately noticed Yugo's absence.
Suburu informed him that Yugo had already been taken to Sector Five, exactly as ordered.
Homura sighed softly.
There was nothing to be done.
Akira nodded, turning to the gathered in-command officers.
The expedition was over.
Orders were given, equipment was packed, and the forest slowly returned to its unnatural silence as the Spirit Corps withdrew—leaving behind only shattered ground, broken trees, and unanswered questions.