Ren slashed through the last of the monsters, his blade leaving a crimson arc on the battlefield. Blood soaked into the dirt beneath him as he dropped to one knee, gasping for air.
"I... feel tired," he muttered, eyes barely open.
Nearby, Itsuki flipped open his personal grimoire handwritten, overflowing with strange runes. A crooked grin crept across his face.
"Heh… guess it's time to test what I created."
He raised his hand skyward. "I summon thee Monster of the Lettered Pages!"
Dozens of pages burst from his grimoire, swirling in the air like a paper storm. They twisted and fused into a massive creature, its body composed entirely of glowing text and parchment.
Across the field, Arisa fired a steady barrage of shots, dispatching demons with cold precision. When she saw the summoned creature, she smirked.
"Nice. Use that thing to mop up the rest."
Junpei blinked, dumbfounded. "Wait... was that letter summoning?!"
Brimming with confidence, Itsuki pointed forward. "Alright! Go, Fireball!"
The paper beast unleashed a fireball but it fizzled mid-air with a puff.
"Huh?! I-I thought I upgraded the spell!" Itsuki panicked, eyes wide.
Haruno burst into laughter. "What a joke! That's your trump card?"
Suddenly, a demon lunged at itsuki too fast to dodge.
Just as claws were about to pierce him
BOOM.
Ren blurred in, a blur of motion. He struck the demon's arm with a bone-cracking kick, twisted, then ripped the beast apart in a spinning assault.
"Damn, Ren! You're unstoppable!" Itsuki exclaimed, stunned.
Behind them, Haruno clenched his teeth in frustration.
But then Itsuki noticed something. Ren's body… was shifting. His face looked unfamiliar, almost alien.
"Oi… are you okay?" he asked, cautiously tapping Ren's shoulder.
Ren forced a faint smile. "Yeah… I'm good. Just tired, hah."
Arisa dispatched the final demon with a final shot and lowered her rifle. "We'll camp here tonight," she declared.
Ren collapsed on the grass, face-first. "Please tell me we have food. Even bread would be a blessing…"
Arisa gave him a sideways glance. "Here, demon… don't drool on it."
Despite her words, she handed him bread. Ren grinned weakly.
"Yayyy…"
Meanwhile, far off in the forest, Souta and his team Ayame, Aika, and several other students made their way toward section 9 team. The wind was growing cold.
"I hope Ren's okay…" Souta muttered, concern on his face.
---
Later, at the campfire, the group warmed their hands against the flames. Ren, Itsuki, Arisa, Haruto, Junpei, and Airi sat together, resting.
Ren leaned back and yawned. "Hey Arisa… how old are you anyway?"
Itsuki nearly choked on his drink. His glasses gleamed in the firelight. "You can't just ask a girl that!"
Junpei added, "That question's far too bold for a gentleman."
Haruto sat sharpening his blade, clearly disgusted by Ren's presence.
Ren blinked. "Why not? Isn't she human like us?"
Itsuki groaned. "You've clearly never talked to a girl before…"
Ren shrugged. "I'm not trying to date her or anything."
Arisa, lightly blushing, replied, "I'm seventeen."
Junpei leaned forward with a sly smile. "Huh… did she just blush?"
Ren and Itsuki's jaws dropped. "SEVENTEEN?!"
Arisa giggled. "Yeah. I just… look older, I guess. Must be my genes."
Junpei nodded. "Not surprised. Airi, Arisa and I all started training young."
Ren turned to Arisa with a sincere look. "Well… you're beautiful. Great figure, those green eyes. Anyone would think you're older."
Arisa froze. Her cheeks turned crimson.
Junpei leaned toward her, teasing, "Maybe he is the sword."
WHAM!
Arisa punched Junpei square in the face. He didn't even flinch—just kept smiling.
No one's ever said that to me before, she thought, dazed.
Haruto stood up, eyes full of rage. "I've told you that a hundred times… but you never accepted me."
Arisa looked away coldly. "You're too loud. Too rude. Why do you think I was chosen as leader?"
"Go to hell," Haruto snapped, face twisted with rejection.
Itsuki, unfazed, scribbled notes into his grimoire with quiet delight.
Arisa turned back toward Ren, calmer now. "Thank you… for the compliment."
Ren smiled softly, a faint blush on his cheeks. "You're welcome. Heh…"
Airi, sitting beside Itsuki, clapped quietly and blushed. "That was… really sweet."
The fire crackled under the quiet sky, glowing embers drifting into the night air. Ren leaned back against a rock, bandages wrapped around his wounds. Arisa sat across from him, arms crossed, nearly falling asleep.
Itsuki, of course, scribbled intensely into his journal.
"Ren… stop talking to girls like you're in a dating sim," Itsuki muttered.
Ren grinned. "What's a dating sim?"
> "Exactly my point."
Arisa looked away, pretending to inspect her blade, but her ears were slightly red. She mumbled something under her breath.
"...You're not too bad yourself."
Junpai glanced at Arisa with a teasing smile.
> "Mhm~"
Arisa turned red. "S-Stop looking at me like that!"
Junpai just laughed.
Ren blinked. "Huh?"
"I said nothing!" Arisa snapped, turning away.
They sat in silence for a while. The warmth of the fire eased the tension. In the distance, howling winds brushed over the forest trees. Something was out there.
Elsewhere…
Souta and his group, riding in a transport truck, sensed something.
A holy knight who was with them jumped down from the back, gripping his weapon a twin-bladed sword. His name? Valen.
Souta placed his hand on his sword's hilt. Ayame looked worried, glancing around the dark woods. Aika stood behind Souta, watching him quietly as he stepped forward with a calm smile.
Suddenly, Valen shouted, loud and firm,
"ALERT!"
Other exorcists and students in the truck quickly got ready.
"You hear that?" one of them muttered.
A rustle.
A whisper.
Then silence.
Valen narrowed his eyes.
"We're getting close to Section 9's team. But something's off… Keep your guard up."
Ayame's eyes sharpened.
"I sense... a dark presence. One that doesn't belong in this forest."
---
Back at the camp…
Ren's eyes slowly started to close. Arisa watched him closely, analyzing every subtle movement.
Ren, with one eye half-open, muttered,
"Not gonna pass out… just gonna nap with my eyes open…"
Arisa stood, stretching and picking up her sword.
"Alright, you take your rest, idiot."
Just as she turned to collect firewood
CRACK!
The sound of a tree snapping echoed through the forest.
All five jumped to their feet except Ren, who was still half on the ground.
Itsuki flipped rapidly through his book.
"That's not normal… That's something else."
From the shadows, a low growl rumbled. A figure emerged not a demon, but a cloaked warrior. His armor was jagged, shaped like bone, and his aura oozed like obsidian mist.
"Ren," Arisa whispered, stepping closer. "Get up. Now."
The figure raised a hand and behind him, something floated.
Pages. Blackened. Scorched.
Itsuki froze. "No… that magic… it's mine."
Junpai narrowed his eyes.
"Wait… if that isn't yours, does that mean the demon is a mage?"
Ren pushed himself up, gripping his blade. His voice was low and focused.
"You made something… and someone twisted it."
The figure finally spoke, his voice layered like a thousand whispers.
"You write your power… but you never understood its price."
Then he raised his hand and summoned a beast, larger than before. It was born from corrupted pages, burning with cursed ink, twisted beyond logic.
"I am the Script Reaver. Your words are mine now."