Silver's aura turned a vibrant green as a swirling tornado erupted from his core, hurtling toward Kuro. The old man didn't flinch. With a fluid motion, he drew his sword, the blade glowing with power as it sliced through the wind, dispersing the tornado effortlessly.
"You'll have to do better than that, boy," Kuro said with a smirk, his voice calm yet commanding.
Silver's aura shifted once again, turning a bright orange. This caught Ouiji's attention, who watched closely, intrigued by Silver's technique. While Ouiji had mastered sensing Mana Resonance, he couldn't use it due to his core already being maxed out with abilities. However, his keen eyes allowed him to observe that Silver wasn't merely syncing mana—he was converting his mana into the colors and properties of other cores. Silver's ability was mimicking their essence, creating temporary ability orbs inside his own core.
Yuki, watching from the side, was visibly impressed. Even Kale, who usually maintained her distance, blushed slightly as she watched Silver's aura shift and adapt. Keiko, meanwhile, felt his demon side stirring within him. He could feel the pressure building inside, like a bottle filled with CO2 ready to burst.
"I have to fight him," Keiko muttered under his breath, his demonic instincts taking over.
Unable to hold himself back, Keiko blasted through the wall with a surge of raw energy, his movements wild and unpredictable. Just as Keiko came charging in, Kuro's sword glowed with power. The old man swung his blade upward, timing it perfectly with Silver's next move. As Silver lunged, Kuro sliced downward with precision, knocking Silver to the ground.
When Silver awoke, Keiko stood in front of him, no longer wearing his mana necklace. Silver groaned as he sat up. "Keiko… where's your necklace?"
Keiko grinned. "Ouiji took it off. But look at your wrist."
Silver looked down and, to his surprise, found a bracelet secured tightly around his wrist. He tried to summon his magic, but nothing happened.
Just then, Kuro walked into the room, his presence filling the space with authority. "I placed these bracelets on both of you," Kuro explained. "You need to become strong enough to protect yourselves without relying on mana. The best way to develop your cores is by training without mana, relying on muscle memory instead."
Keiko frowned slightly. "So, what now?"
Kuro's eyes gleamed with intensity. "I'm going to teach you the Demon Sword Style and how to use Ki."
Silver, still processing the bracelet on his wrist, looked up in confusion. "Ki?"
Kuro crossed his arms and nodded. "Yes, Ki. It's the energy that flows through all living things, separate from mana. If you want to master your abilities, you'll need to find balance between Ki and mana. Without that, you'll never be able to fully unlock your potential."
Silver's mind raced. Ki was something he had never considered before, and now he was about to dive into an entirely new realm of power. Keiko, standing beside him, clenched his fists, his excitement palpable.
"We're ready," Keiko said, determination burning in his eyes.
Kuro smirked, his inverted red eyes glowing with approval. "Good. Let's see if you can keep up."
The School of Magic was in chaos. A powerful wind raged across the entire campus, shattering windows and sending debris flying in all directions. Fin stood at the center of the storm, his necklace shattered at his feet, his wind magic blazing uncontrollably. The sheer force of his aura seemed to reach the heavens themselves.
From the rubble, Toru emerged, dusting himself off and assessing the destruction. His usually calm demeanor wavered as he leapt away from the collapsing structure, his aura spiking in response to the overwhelming power Fin was unleashing. But then, in the blink of an eye, everything shifted. Toru blinked, only to find himself gasping awake in his bed, his skin clammy from the intensity of the nightmare.
Meanwhile, deep in Underhell, Keiko and Silver lay on the ground, panting heavily. Their bodies were bruised, their muscles sore from days of relentless training. They had been sparring with Kuro non-stop, yet neither had been able to land a single hit on the old demon.
Kuro's laughter echoed through the room, booming and proud. "You've been fighting for days, and still not a scratch on me! But enough! It's time for the Demon Festival Hunt."
Keiko, still catching his breath, looked up curiously. "The Demon Festival Hunt?"
Kuro's eyes gleamed. "Yes, boy. It's a sacred tradition. It pushes demons past their limits, forcing them to unlock their true potential—and with it, the proud power of Ki."
As the festival preparations began, Kuro beckoned Keiko closer. "Tell me, grandson, have you been able to summon the spirits recently?"
Keiko shook his head, a flicker of disappointment in his eyes. "No... ever since I unlocked my ability, the spirits have forsaken me."
Kuro roared with laughter again, his voice warm but teasing. "Forsaken you? Oh, my dear precious grandson, the spirits haven't abandoned you. Your ability is too powerful for them as they are. They are changing, adapting to match your strength. What you're about to receive is something even rarer—a Spirit Weapon."
Keiko raised an eyebrow. "A Spirit Weapon?"
"Yes," Kuro explained. "When a spirit can no longer aid its master in its current form, it transforms into a weapon. It's the spirit's last-ditch effort to remain useful, to help guide you in battle."
Kuro turned to Silver. "As for you, Silver, you'll undergo the Spirit Evaluation. Through it, you'll find a spirit that aligns with your soul. It will become your ally, your guide, and perhaps even more."
Keiko and Silver exchanged glances before nodding in understanding.
Kuro continued. "Keiko, you will go into the Chamber of Shadows, where you'll meet your spirit and begin the process of assimilation. This is where it becomes your weapon. Silver, you'll head into the Forest of Whispers to meditate and find the spirit right for you. Each path is a test in its own right."
Keiko entered the dark room, the Chamber of Shadows, where green light began to pulse around him, the glow of spirits filling the space. He could feel their presence, a powerful energy growing within him as he prepared to make contact with the spirit destined to become his weapon.
Meanwhile, Silver walked into the serene, eerie Forest of Whispers, where the wind carried the soft murmurings of spirits waiting to be found. He sat down and closed his eyes, preparing to meditate and let the spirits come to him. This was his moment to discover a spirit companion that could help him unlock a new dimension of his potential.
The hunt had begun. As the countdown echoed through the arena, a hush fell over the crowd. Keiko, Silver, Kale, Yuki, and the other demons stood ready, eyes locked on the horizon, where the gates to the untamed wilderness of Underhell were set to open. The Demon Festival Hunt was no mere contest—it was a test of survival, strength, and willpower, designed to push participants to their absolute limits. And for some, like Keiko and Silver, it was more than just a competition; it was a path to their next evolution.
Back in the quiet chamber, Ouiji and Kuro continued their conversation, though the gravity of the hunt weighed on their minds.
"I still can't believe you kept the ashes from Keiko's previous evolution," Ouiji muttered, taking a sip of his tea. His eyes were still wide with disbelief at the jar Kuro held so casually.
Kuro's smirk deepened. "These ashes are remnants of a power few could even fathom. They're the key to understanding what Keiko has become—and what he will be. Each evolution brings him closer to his true potential."
Ouiji nodded, though his thoughts drifted to his younger siblings. "Speaking of potential, Kale and Yuki are progressing far faster than we anticipated. They might not be as strong as me yet, but their strength at such a young age... It's frightening. And they're going into the hunt alongside Keiko and Silver."
Kuro's eyes flickered with an almost mischievous glint. "The hunt will force them to show their true colors. They'll need every ounce of that strength, especially against the creatures they'll face today. C-rank demons and above aren't the kind you want to underestimate."
Meanwhile, in the arena, the gates slowly groaned open, revealing the dark, twisted forest beyond. The thick, red skies of Underhell loomed overhead, casting everything in a crimson hue. Keiko's eyes were sharp, glowing green with anticipation. He could feel it—the presence of the spirits shifting inside him, waiting for the moment to transform into something greater. Silver stood beside him, his gaze steady, while Kale and Yuki exchanged confident smirks, ready to prove their might.
The announcer's voice boomed across the field.
"Three... two... one... Begin!"
The hunt had officially started. In a flash, the group dashed into the forest, vanishing into the shadows, their footsteps quick and purposeful. The air was thick with tension, each one of them aware that what awaited in the forest was far from ordinary prey.
Keiko glanced over at Silver, who was already scanning the area with his heightened senses. "Stay sharp," Keiko whispered. "We're in for a fight."
Silver's aura flickered, the color shifting as he prepared to channel different resonances for whatever they might encounter. "I've got your back," he replied, eyes gleaming with determination.
Ahead of them, the first rustle of movement caught Kale's attention. She grinned, her eyes glowing red as her demonic energy flared. "Let's see what these creatures are made of."
The forest was alive, filled with the sounds of dangerous beasts lurking just beyond sight. And this was only the beginning. Each step deeper into the woods brought them closer to facing not only the creatures outside—but also the growing power within themselves.