Kudo stood before Kori, holding a faintly glowing crystal that pulsed like a heartbeat in his palm. His voice was calm but carried a weight of importance.
"This," Kudo said, kneeling so his eyes met Kori's, "is the Nexus of the Stars. Break it… and it will bind to you."
Kori hesitated for a moment, then clenched his fist around the crystal. It shattered, scattering fragments of light that dissolved into his body. A strange warmth coursed through him as the starry energy wove into his veins. He gasped, feeling his spirit expand as though he could hear the very hum of the cosmos.
"You've done well," Kudo said with a rare smile. "Train here with this new power. Learn to master it. But remember—power without control is destruction."
Before Kori could respond, Kaosu appeared at Kudo's side. His tone was urgent.
"Brother. Kurayami has called us. The Vanguard is assembling at the dojo."
Kori waved as the two vanished. "Good luck, everyone… I'll be ready when you need me."
The dojo was filled with tension when Kaosu and Kudo arrived. Kurayami stood at the center, arms crossed, a faint smile flickering across his lips. The rest of the Vanguard gathered, weapons ready, their Nexus energy flaring in anticipation.
"They're coming," Kurayami said, his voice cold but steady. "I can feel them. Enemies… closing in."
No sooner had he spoken than the dojo trembled. Shadows flickered across the courtyard as ten cloaked figures emerged from the mist. The Oscura, numbered one through ten, had arrived.
"Prepare yourselves," Seishin commanded, his gaze locked on the intruders.
The battle began.
Kaosu and Kudo rushed forward, fighting in perfect sync. Their movements were sharp, their strikes seamless, two forces of nature colliding as one. But Oscura No.3 stepped in, blocking their assault with a mocking grin.
"Your teamwork is useless here," he sneered. "We know your strengths. We know your weaknesses. And under my watch, you will never fight as one."
With unnatural precision, he split his form into two bodies—forcing Kaosu and Kudo apart. The brothers hissed in frustration, realizing they were being dismantled piece by piece.
Elsewhere, Doraibu and Shimo faced Oscura No.5. His gaze was filled with disgust as he raised a hand.
"Weaklings."
Shimo launched a flurry of flower-petal blades, but in a blur he closed the distance, striking her hard in the stomach before sweeping his leg into Doraibu's knee. Both staggered back, winded and shocked.
"How… how did you know our flaws?" Doraibu gasped.
Oscura No.5 only laughed, seizing Shimo and hurling her into Doraibu before charging again.
On the other side of the field, Kaiyo and Rai fought Oscura No.6. Rai's steel serpent lashed out, Kaiyo's lightning-enhanced fists blazed—but it was useless. With a simple flick of his finger, No.6 nullified their Nexus powers, blasting them back in a wave of force that left them unconscious.
"Pathetic."
Seishin, enraged by his team's suffering, stepped forward. "Enough! Bring me your leader!" he roared.
But the Oscura ignored him. No.7 and No.9 combined their energy into a devastating Nexus blast aimed straight at the Vanguard. Supira and Mizu leapt in, deflecting it back with perfect timing. The blast roared toward the Oscura, their eyes widening in horror—until the attack was suddenly absorbed midair.
The Vanguard froze.
Standing in the center of the battlefield was Kurayami, his hand outstretched, the stolen energy swirling in his palm. His faint smile had twisted into something darker.
"Kurayami…" Supira's voice shook. "What are you doing?"
Kurayami's expression hardened. "Protecting my brothers."
Supira's chest tightened. "No… no, you're being controlled. This isn't you!"
Kurayami's eyes narrowed. "You're wrong. This is my will. My true intention has always been to form false bonds, to learn your strengths… and your weaknesses. And now… I'll use them to destroy you."
The words hit the Vanguard like a dagger.
Supira staggered forward, desperate. "Kura, fight it! You're one of us!"
But Kurayami's gaze was cold. "I serve only my father. The rest of you were nothing but pawns." He turned, locking eyes with Kawa in the distance. "And Kori? He's in Kaosu's domain. Don't think you'll touch him."
Before Kurayami could step forward, a bright light flared. The gates of the King's Domain split open—and Kori emerged. His eyes widened as he saw his friends beaten, bruised, and broken. His body trembled, but instead of rage consuming him, he took a breath, steadied his mind, and charged straight at Kurayami.
Kurayami blinked in surprise, then smirked. With effortless precision, he struck Kori aside with a single kick, slamming him into the wall and knocking him unconscious.
The Vanguard screamed in horror.
"Why?" Seishin rasped. "Why betray us?"
"For my father," Kurayami said simply. His brothers—the Oscura—echoed the same words in chilling unison.
Seishin, bleeding, staggered forward once more. "Then you'll have to kill me too."
Kurayami raised his hand and unleashed a devastating blast. Seishin braced himself, Nexus flaring in desperation, but the power overwhelmed him. He collapsed, gravely injured, the dojo floor cracking beneath the impact.
"Nooo!" Supira's cry tore through the battlefield as he launched his attack. Kaosu, Doraibu, Supira—all of them charged, unleashing their signature moves in one desperate strike.
"Chaos Counter!"
"Velocity Breaker!"
"Infinity Spiral!"
Their combined assault connected—only for Kurayami to absorb it all. The energy crackled through his body as his grin widened. With one motion, he hurled the power back, blasting the Vanguard into the ground.
Broken. Defeated. Unable to move.
Kurayami turned, his cloak swirling as he walked toward the courtyard. His brothers followed, their laughter filling the night. Together, they unleashed their Nexus across the town, reducing it to rubble.
Finally, Kurayami stood before the burning dojo. He glanced back once at the ruins of the place that had sheltered him. Then, with a cruel laugh, he released one final blast—shattering it to dust.
As the flames reflected in his crimson eyes, Kurayami's lips curled into a dark smile.
The Vanguard's bonds lay in ruins.
And the shadow of the Dark Nexus grew stronger.
Volume 4 Start:The Castle of Kings & King's Domain
Volume 4 Prologue: From the Ashes We Rise
The dojo burned behind them, collapsing in embers. The once proud heart of their training now lay in ruins, the air thick with smoke and ash. The Vanguard were scattered, battered, silent.
Rai held the barrier of steel over them, his arms shaking with exhaustion. Mizu clung to his side, her eyes wet but steady. Kaiyo limped forward, trying to shake off the pain. Seishin muttered curses at himself. Doraibu clenched his teeth, trying to stand on his shattered knee. Shimo was pale, leaning against Kaosu's shoulder. Supira's fists trembled, his glare sharp as knives.
And then there was Kori—standing in the center, his small frame trembling, not from fear… but from fury.
He raised his voice, firm enough to silence even the fire's roar.
"Kurayami thinks he's broken us. He thinks destroying this town and burning our dojo means we've lost. But listen to me—he hasn't won anything."
The team slowly looked up, all eyes drawn to Kori. His aura pulsed faintly, stars flickering around him.
"He destroyed wood and stone, not us. What makes us Vanguard was never the dojo. It was never just training or power. It's us—our bond, our promise to fight together. That's what he'll never destroy."
Shimo's hand, weak as it was, tightened on Kaosu's arm. Her mind replayed Kurayami's betrayal, but for the first time since the battle, she felt her chest loosen. He's right… Kurayami didn't take everything from us.
Kori's eyes narrowed, his voice rising with fire.
"Kurayami knows our weaknesses—but he forgot something. We don't give up. We learn. We rise. Every time he knocks us down, we'll stand stronger than before. That's who we are!"
Doraibu's injured body shook as he forced himself upright. A bitter laugh escaped him. Even when I can't run… I can still stand. Heh. Maybe this brat's got the right idea.
"I won't lie to you," Kori continued, his tone raw. "I'm angry. I want to hunt him down right now. But I made a promise—to fight with my friends, not alone. That's our strength. That's what makes us Vanguard!"
Kaiyo smirked through his pain, sparks flickering on his legs. That idiot… talking like he's the leader. Still… it feels good hearing it.
Seishin's head lowered, guilt still pressing down on him. But for the first time since the betrayal, a small smile tugged at his lips. Maybe trusting people isn't always foolish. Maybe this kid… maybe all of them… can still pull me back from my darkness.
Kori's aura flared brighter, stars swirling around him like fireflies.
"We've been knocked down, yes. But this isn't the end. This—this is where we begin again. This is where we rise. And when we do, Kurayami will learn the truth: no matter how deep the darkness becomes, the light we carry… will always shine brighter!"
His words echoed across the ruins.
Supira's teeth unclenched, his trembling fists relaxing. His anger was still there, but it found focus. If Kurayami wants to betray us… fine. But I'll fight for the ones still standing beside me.
Mizu's eyes glimmered, her hand clutching Rai's tighter. Hope… I can feel it again. We're not finished.
Kaosu rested a hand on Shimo's shoulder, his usual stoic face softening into a faint smirk. Looks like the kid's finally found his fire. Good. We'll need it.
And for the first time since the battle, the Vanguard didn't feel broken. They felt alive. A spark had been lit again, burning bright even in the ruins.
Together, battered and scarred, they smiled—knowing the fight was far from over.