[Scene 1 – The Desert of Silence]
A burning sun hung over an endless desert.
No arena.
No crowd.
No noise.
Only wind.
A lone figure walked barefoot across the sand.
Kaen Drayze.
His coat dragged behind him, half-torn from previous battles.
Draygion's presence flickered faintly behind him — not fully manifested, not fully asleep.
Kaen stopped.
Closed his eyes.
"I won't let him evolve before me…"
His voice was calm.
But inside — fire.
Sand lifted slightly around his feet as he steadied his breathing.
"Speed Core isn't everything."
He clenched his fist.
"If your mind is weak… your spirit collapses."
"If your body is fragile… you cannot withstand acceleration."
"If your soul is unstable… the beast devours you."
Draygion's shadow expanded behind him, massive wings spreading across the desert sky.
Kaen stepped forward again.
Each step heavier than the last.
"Riku…"
"I will surpass you."
"I will not allow your Core to evolve before mine."
The desert wind roared violently.
Not because of the dragon.
But because Kaen's will was sharpening.
[Scene 2 – Inside the Skyship Canteen]
Meanwhile—
Inside the massive tournament ship…
Riku, Mira, and Toma sat at a metal table inside the crowded canteen.
Around them—
Whispers.
Eyes.
Tension.
A boy from another country leaned toward his teammate.
"Hey… did you see his Speed Beast?"
"It reacted before the command."
"Is that… Core Evolution?"
Another voice, quieter:
"I heard rumors… when a Speed Core reaches evolution stage… sometimes the master walks the wrong path."
"Yeah… some become corrupted."
Mira's expression tightened slightly.
Toma pretended not to listen.
But he was listening.
Riku smiled awkwardly.
"…Wow."
He leaned back in his chair.
"I didn't know our Core story was that ancient."
A girl from a distant team continued whispering:
"Thousands of years ago… a meteor struck Earth."
"It wiped out most animals."
"But inside the meteor… there were crystalline stones."
"Like diamonds… or glass…"
"They contained enormous power."
"But they needed a soul inside to activate."
"Some creatures sacrificed themselves…"
"They sealed their spirits into those cores."
"That's why we can summon Speed Beasts now."
"They may look small… like discs…"
"But their history… isn't small at all."
Silence at the table.
Riku looked at Toma.
"…Is that true?"
Toma adjusted his glasses.
"Historically? There are records of the meteor impact."
"But whether beasts sealed themselves voluntarily…"
He paused.
"…That part is myth."
Riku gave a strange half-smile.
"Still."
He looked at his gauntlet.
"I just need to get past this evolution."
"After that…"
He leaned forward slightly.
"I'll challenge every Spirit Master in the world."
Lightning flickered faintly around his wrist.
Then suddenly—
He looked directly forward.
Straight ahead.
Breaking the fourth wall.
He grinned.
"Happy Birthday, Writer MK — No Jutsu."
Mira blinked.
"…What?"
Riku ignored her.
"I don't know if the main characters from your other stories wished you or not…"
"But I will."
He stood up on the chair dramatically.
"Thank you for writing World Martial Art."
"For writing The Letter I Never Sent: The Last Sunrise."
"For writing The Village That Wait."
"And all the other stories."
He placed his hand on his chest.
"So yeah."
"February 12."
"According to world calendars."
"And 2082 in Nepal's calendar."
"Don't think we forgot."
Toma stared at him.
"…You've finally lost it."
Riku sat back down.
Laughing.
But his eyes… were softer.
⚠ Author Note
Hey.
It's literally my birthday today.
I only managed to post three chapters.
Sorry about that.
Honestly…
Maybe nobody really cares if it's my birthday.
Even if it is — so what?
I know.
Probably no celebration.
No big wishes.
Most likely I'll stay inside my room again.
Lost inside imagination.
Or my dad will give me some work like always.
That's just how it is.
I don't really have many people who wish me on my birthday.
If I have hope…
It's from my big brother.
And yeah—
I've started writing a new story.
Haven't posted even one chapter yet.
But it's coming.
That one… is about my big brother.
You could say—
He's someone who deserves more than words.
We'll meet again in the next chapter.
Also—
I don't know how many chapters Volume 1 will take to finish.
But one thing is certain:
Spirit Core Evolution is coming.
And when it does—
Nothing will stay the same.
— MK