The sky over Mount Akatsuki was painted in hues of gold and crimson, the setting sun casting long shadows across the vast training grounds. The wind roared through the peaks, carrying with it the weight of nearly a year of relentless training.
At the center of the battlefield stood Dangoichi Haruka, the Emperor of Mount Akatsuki, his wooden staff resting lightly on his shoulder. His expression remained smug, but there was an undeniable sharpness in his gaze.
Five warriors surrounded him, their eyes filled with determination.
Blade Taizuka stood at the front, gripping Kazeshin and Kamikaze. His aura was perfectly balanced—order and chaos, creation and destruction flowing as one.
To his right, Suntaro Akammi crackled with pure lightning, his speed and power beyond anything the others could match.
To his left, Kibito Akammi burned like an unstoppable wildfire, the flames of his will raging against the cold mountain air.
Behind them, Kagami Hanera stood as a silent storm, her blade coated in absolute-zero frost, her presence quiet yet undeniably lethal.
And lastly, Majinto Sakagi smirked, his unpredictable aura shifting constantly, making it impossible to read his next move.
Dangoichi let out a chuckle. "So, this is it. Your last lesson."
A pulse of raw power erupted from his body, sending tremors through the ground. The wind howled as the very air around him bent under the force of his presence.
"Come."
Blade lunged first, Kazeshin slicing through the air.
Suntaro vanished in a flash of lightning, reappearing mid-air with Raitaro raised high.
Kibito and Kagami attacked from the flanks, their fire and ice clashing together in a beautiful yet deadly fusion.
Majinto lurked in the shadows, waiting for the perfect opening.
The final battle had begun.
---
The Weight of Experience
CLANG!
Blade's Kazeshin met Dangoichi's staff in an earth-shaking clash, the force of the impact splitting the ground beneath them. But before Blade could counter, Dangoichi was already gone.
Suntaro barely had time to react before a staff struck him in the ribs, sending him skidding across the battlefield.
Kibito's flames roared toward the emperor, but with a mere flick of his wrist, Dangoichi spun his staff, parting the fire as if it were nothing.
Kagami lunged, her blade coated in ice colder than death, but the moment she was about to strike—
BANG!
She was sent flying, her attack completely negated.
Majinto appeared behind him, his blade moving at an unnatural angle, ready to pierce through any defense—
But Dangoichi didn't even turn.
He simply tilted his staff, catching Majinto's blade effortlessly before slamming him into the ground with brutal precision.
Majinto coughed, clutching his ribs. "Damn old man…"
Blade's grip on Kazeshin tightened. Even with all of them working together—
They still couldn't touch him.
Suntaro wiped blood from his lip but grinned wider. "Heh… No wonder you're the emperor."
Dangoichi rolled his shoulders. "You're fast, but speed alone won't save you. You hesitate."
Suntaro's golden lightning flared violently, the air around him crackling with static. "Guess I'll stop holding back then."
Kibito and Kagami merged their auras, fire and ice fusing into something even more dangerous.
Majinto cracked his neck, his smirk never fading. "Alright. Time to actually try."
Blade closed his eyes, his breathing slow and steady.
When he opened them—
Kazeshin pulsed.
Dangoichi's smirk faded.
"…Oh?"
The battle resumed.
---
A Farewell to Mount Akatsuki
The battle lasted nearly an hour.
They had not won.
But they had forced Dangoichi to fight seriously.
And that, in itself, was a victory.
Dangoichi stood before them, arms crossed, his usual smugness replaced with something genuine.
"That… was not bad."
Kibito groaned, lying flat on his back. "NOT BAD?! I can't even feel my body, dammit…"
Suntaro chuckled, sitting up. "Hey, we lasted longer than five seconds. That's progress."
Kagami exhaled, her hand resting on her sword. "It was… a good fight."
Majinto, despite his injuries, only smirked. "Eh. Still think I could've done better."
Blade remained standing, his body battered, but his spirit unshaken.
Dangoichi's eyes scanned them one last time.
"You've all become true warriors. Tomorrow, you will leave Mount Akatsuki… and the world will test you in ways I never could."
The mountain winds whispered around them, carrying the weight of his words.
"But no matter what, never forget your training. Never forget who you are."
Suntaro stretched, his usual cocky grin returning. "Man, you drilled that into us way too hard."
Dangoichi laughed. "Good."
The sky turned a deep shade of crimson and gold as the sun disappeared behind the peaks.
Tomorrow, they would descend Mount Akatsuki.
And they would no longer be students.
They would be warriors.
---
The Journey Begins – A New Destination
The next morning, they stood at the base of the mountain, their gazes set on the horizon.
Their next destination—
The Phoenix Order.
Blade adjusted Kamikaze, looking toward Suntaro and Kibito. "I think Kinattsu and Yutako-san are waiting for us."
Kibito grinned. "Now that we're at their level, we'll be captains too."
Suntaro laughed, throwing an arm over Kibito's shoulder. "Don't say dreams, big bro."
Majinto cracked his neck. "Tch. You guys go ahead. I've got my own path."
Kagami raised an eyebrow. "You're not coming with us?"
Majinto shrugged. "Nah. The Phoenix Order's cool and all, but there's more out there. I'm gonna explore the outer world for a bit."
Blade extended a hand. "You'll find us again?"
Majinto smirked, shaking it. "Try and stop me."
And with that, he turned and walked away.
Suntaro crossed his arms. "He's gonna cause trouble."
Kibito sighed. "Obviously."
Kagami smiled faintly. "But that's just how he is."
Blade exhaled. "Alright. Let's go."
And so, their journey to the Phoenix Order began.
---
The Road to Hiraguri Town
Six hours later.
And they were starving.
Kibito groaned, dragging his feet. "WHY IS THIS WALK SO DAMN LONG?!"
Suntaro smirked. "You literally trained for nine months straight, but now you're complaining?"
Kibito shot him a glare. "Shut up. Training and hunger are two different things."
Kagami, walking calmly beside them, chuckled softly. "You two never change."
Blade remained silent, his mind focused on Hiraguri Town—the heart of the Phoenix Order.
Kagami had explained earlier, "The Phoenix Order isn't just a military force—it's an entire civilization. The captains hold authority like governors, and their training facilities… are beyond anything we've ever seen."
Suntaro grinned. "I also heard the top 11 swordmasters are captains."
Blade's lips curled into a true smile.
For the first time in a long time…
He was excited.
Kagami noticed and smiled softly.
For all the pain, the battles, and the sacrifices…
This was what they had fought for.
Their journey was far from over.
But now, they were truly stepping onto the battlefield of legends.
And no matter what waited ahead—
They were ready.
To Be Continued…