The atmosphere in the Northern Shrine had shifted.
What once felt like excitement now carried tension—thick, suffocating, and heavy with anticipation. Only four exorcists remained. Every match from here on would decide not only who advanced, but who truly belonged at the top.
Itsuki-sensei stepped forward, clapping his hands once to command attention.
"For the second round," he announced, "we have Masato versus Ryuji."
A ripple ran through the crowd.
Masato swallowed.
Across the ring, Ryuji stood tall and calm, red flames dancing lazily around his shoulders like living embers. Masato couldn't help but stare—his mind replaying the image of blue fire melting Rin's strongest ice as if it were paper.
If those flames touch my shadows…
They won't survive.
Masato clenched his fists.
No. I won against Aiko. I didn't come this far to give up now.
Ryuji glanced at Masato, offering a respectful nod.
Masato returned it—hesitant, but determined.
Itsuki raised his arm.
"BEGIN!"
Masato moved first.
Darkness rippled beneath his feet as shadow energy surged outward. From the ground, three shadow wolves erupted, their glowing eyes fixed on Ryuji. Without hesitation, Masato followed up by forming hand signs, summoning a massive shadow bear behind them.
"Go!" Masato shouted.
The wolves lunged.
Ryuji didn't move.
He raised one hand, red flames intensifying around his palm. A wave of heat rolled outward, distorting the air itself.
The wolves reached him—
—and vanished.
They didn't burn.
They didn't scream.
They simply faded, unraveling into nothingness the moment they touched the heat surrounding Ryuji.
Masato's eyes widened.
The bear roared and charged, slamming its massive paws into the stone.
Ryuji exhaled slowly.
He swung his arm.
A fire arc erupted from his hand, crashing into the shadow bear's chest.
The bear disintegrated instantly.
The crowd gasped.
Masato stumbled back.
So this is the difference…
Masato gritted his teeth and summoned again—this time faster, more desperate.
Shadow serpents erupted from the ground, twisting toward Ryuji's legs. Shadow birds filled the air, diving from above. A shadow tiger leapt from behind, jaws wide.
Ryuji stepped forward.
The flames around him intensified.
The serpents evaporated before reaching his ankles.
The birds dissolved mid-flight.
The tiger vanished inches from his back.
Ryuji hadn't even attacked.
He was simply standing there.
Masato's breathing grew ragged.
This isn't a fight…
This is domination.
Masato forced himself to move.
He leapt backward, slamming his hands into the ground as shadows spread outward like ink in water.
From the darkness rose dozens of shadow figures—wolves, snakes, humanoid shapes—all charging at once.
Ryuji's expression hardened.
"Enough."
He stomped the ground.
A pillar of red fire erupted outward in a massive shockwave.
The heat was overwhelming.
Masato shielded his face as the shadows were obliterated in an instant. The stone beneath their feet cracked and glowed faintly from the heat.
When the flames subsided, the ring was empty.
Only Masato and Ryuji remained.
Masato stood frozen.
His shadows… gone.
Not weakened.
Not damaged.
Gone.
Ryuji looked at him—not with arrogance, but with concern.
"You're strong," Ryuji said. "But your power relies on space for shadows to exist."
Masato clenched his fists.
"And you take that space away."
Ryuji nodded.
"The heat doesn't just burn. It's overwhelming."
Masato laughed bitterly.
"So this is what it feels like… to be completely outmatched."
He tried to summon again.
Nothing happened.
The shadows refused to respond.
Masato's knees buckled.
He fell forward, hitting the stone floor with a hollow sound.
The crowd went silent.
Masato stared at the ground, his reflection distorted in the scorched stone.
I beat Aiko…
I thought I belonged here…
His fists trembled.
"I…" His voice cracked. "I forfeit."
A murmur rippled through the spectators.
Itsuki-sensei stepped forward. "The winner of this match is Ryuji!"
Cheers erupted.
Ryuji extinguished his flames and walked toward Masato, kneeling beside him.
"You did well," Ryuji said sincerely. "Don't measure yourself by this loss."
Masato looked up, eyes burning—not with anger, but humiliation.
"Easy for you to say," Masato muttered.
Ryuji offered him a hand.
Masato hesitated… then took it.
As Ryuji pulled him to his feet, Masato realized something painful—but necessary.
I still have a long way to go.
The loud thud echoed through the precinct, snapping several officers' attention toward Detective Reid's desk.
Reid jumped slightly.
"What the hell—?"
He looked down.
A thick, ancient-looking book sat in front of him.
Lisa stood across the desk, arms crossed, eyes sharp.
"What is this?" Reid asked cautiously.
Lisa leaned forward.
"This," she said, "is the reason behind every murder we've been investigating."
Reid frowned. "Lisa—"
"I finally figured it out," she interrupted. "The symbols. The killings. The pattern. All of it."
Reid hesitated.
"…Go on."
Lisa took a breath.
She told him everything.
About Sarah Good.
About the witch trials.
About the Book of Creations.
About the eye with the vertical line—the symbol of the Chosen Ones.
About the eye within the circle—the Goddess of Creations.
About cult worship, resurrection rituals, and the belief that Sarah Good would return to remake the world through blood.
Reid didn't interrupt.
But as she spoke, Lisa noticed it.
The tightening of his jaw.
The slight twitch in his eye.
When she finished, silence fell between them.
"You already knew," Lisa said quietly.
Reid exhaled.
"…Some of it."
Lisa slammed her hand on the desk.
"Some of it?! People are being slaughtered!"
Reid stood. "Lower your voice."
"No," Lisa snapped. "You've been hiding things from me since the first crime scene."
Reid looked around. Then leaned closer.
"This goes deeper than you think," he said. "There are forces involved you don't understand."
Lisa laughed coldly. "Try me."
Reid looked at the book.
"…The cult calls themselves the Chosen Circle," he said. "They believe the killings are offerings."
Lisa's blood ran cold.
"And you didn't think to tell me this?"
"I was trying to protect you."
Lisa shook her head. "You don't get to decide that."
She straightened.
"I'm not your partner if you keep lying."
Reid met her gaze.
"…Then you should be careful."
Lisa narrowed her eyes.
"Why?"
Reid's voice dropped to a whisper.
"Because once you know too much… they don't let you walk away."
Silence.
Lisa stared at him.
For the first time, she realized something terrifying.
This wasn't just a case anymore.