The air rippled as Martha appeared at the edge of the training grounds, her presence calm yet overwhelming.
"I'm back," she said, scanning the four before her. "Has everyone completed their training?"
Yugo stepped forward first. "I'm done."
"All of us are," Yuki added confidently.
Martha nodded once. "Good. Yugo, you'll go first."
Yugo exhaled and focused.
Spiritual energy surged outward, condensing tightly around his body. Within seconds, it formed a full suit of armor—smooth, dense, and refined. Even his face was fully covered, leaving no weak points exposed.
Martha's eyes narrowed slightly in approval.
"Well done. You pass. Next—Maya."
Maya grinned. "Here I go!"
Her body burst forward in a blur. Wind cracked beneath her feet as she moved at extreme speed, lifting off the ground effortlessly.
"I combined the traits of an eagle and a cheetah," she called out mid-motion.
Martha nodded. "Flight, vision, speed, reflexes—well balanced. You pass."
Maya landed, beaming.
"Mikasa, you're next."
Mikasa stepped forward, her expression serious.
"I'm ready."
She activated her ability.
In an instant, she vanished.
No sound.
No presence.
No disturbance in the air.
Even Yugo and Yuki felt nothing—not a flicker of spiritual energy.
Then she reappeared exactly where she had been standing.
Martha smiled faintly. "Perfect sensory nullification. Excellent control. You pass."
Mikasa relaxed slightly.
"Lastly—Yuki."
Yuki took a breath. "You might want to stand back."
A thin line of spiritual energy expanded outward from her body, stretching across the training grounds like an invisible boundary. Everything within that space—air, dust, loose stones—lifted slightly, frozen in place.
Yuki clenched her hand.
The entire field responded.
Martha's eyes widened.
"Incredible," she said quietly. "You're not manipulating matter directly—you're controlling their spiritual energy within your range."
She looked at Yuki with new interest.
"That level of precision shows enormous potential."
Mikasa stared. "Yuki… I didn't expect that."
Maya laughed softly. "You totally beat all of us."
Yuki looked away, embarrassed. "You guys are making it weird…"
Yugo smiled. "You did great. No reason to hide it."
Yuki's ears turned red.
Martha cleared her throat. "I've already sent the daily and weekly rankings to your prisms."
She turned to leave.
"Rest while you can."
"Bye, Miss Martha!" Maya waved.
The moment Martha vanished, the four were teleported back to their chambers. Their prisms activated simultaneously.
>[Notice: Daily and Weekly Reports Confirmed]
—Daily Ranking—
1. Yuki Saragaki
2. Mikasa Azagawa
3. Yugo Sukishima
4. Maya Boyle
—Weekly Ranking—
1. Yugo Sukishima / Yuki Saragaki
2. Maya Boyle
3. Mikasa Azagawa
Maya blinked. "I can't believe Yugo and Yuki are tied for first."
Mikasa crossed her arms. "Well… they are prodigies."
Yuki smirked. "Or maybe you were lazy, third place."
Mikasa turned sharply. "Don't test me, Saragaki."
"I'd refrain from using my last name so casually if I were you."
Yugo sighed and lightly smacked both of them on the head.
"Enough. You two need food before you start a war."
Maya burst out laughing. "Ahahaha!"
*****
SPIRIT CORPS HEADQUARTERS - SECTOR 1 CHAMBERS - CAPTAIN COMMANDER OFFICE
Sunny stood near the window of his office, staring out at the city below.
"I wonder how those four are doing…"
Suddenly, two spiritual signatures appeared behind him.
"So you've finally returned," Sunny said without turning. "Shinra. Tesai."
Shinra grinned. "It's been two months, Captain. Looks like we missed a lot."
"You did," Sunny replied. "Did my two lieutenants complete their mission?"
"Yes," Tesai answered calmly.
The door opened again.
"Oh—it's just you, Chika," Sunny said.
"I brought the paperwork, Captain," Chika replied, placing the files neatly on his desk.
Her eyes widened slightly. "Lieutenant Tesai… Lieutenant Shinra—you're back."
"Has everything been fine, Chika?" Tesai asked.
Chika hesitated. "Yes… aside from the betrayal. And the young master and young ladies leaving."
Tesai frowned. "What do you mean?"
Sunny sighed. "Chika… they don't know yet."
"I understand," she said quietly, bowing. "I'll leave you be."
As she turned to go—
"One more thing," Tesai added. "Please deliver this report to Kyoko."
"I'll make sure it's delivered, Lieutenant."
Once she left, Shinra leaned forward.
"Alright, Captain. Start talking."
Sunny sighed deeply.
"Sit down, brat."
*****
ONE HOUR LATER
A messenger officer entered the room.
"Apologies for the interruption. Lieutenant Shinra and Lieutenant Tesai are requested at the interrogation center."
Shinra blinked. "Why there?"
Tesai stood up. "Isn't it obvious after what we just heard?"
Shinra exhaled. "Yeah… guess it is."
Sunny looked at them both seriously.
"Stay calm," he said. "Answer everything honestly and in detail."
Tesai nodded. "Understood, Captain."
*****
SPIRIT CORPS INTERROGATION CENTER
The heavy doors of the interrogation center slid open with a dull metallic sound as Tesai and Shinra stepped inside. The sterile hallway smelled faintly of incense and cold stone.
They weren't alone.
Kyoko was already there, standing with her arms crossed, her expression calm but clearly strained.
Shinra let out a small laugh.
"Hey there, Kyoko. Of course they dragged you here too."
Kyoko glanced at them.
"Well, we were on the same mission," she replied flatly.
Tesai looked around the hallway, eyes narrowing slightly.
"So… who do you think will interrogate us?"
Kyoko thought for a moment.
"My guess is the Captain Commander of Sector 2. Punishment, execution—this falls right into their domain."
Shinra shook his head.
"Nah. I'm betting Sector 3. Intelligence and information gathering—this screams their territory."
"I'm leaning toward Sector 2," Tesai said calmly.
"Same," Kyoko added.
Shinra smirked.
"Fine. Five hundred yen says I'm right."
Tesai nodded. "You're on."
Kyoko sighed. "Sure. I'm game."
Before Shinra could say anything else, the air shifted.
Two overwhelming spiritual energy appeared at once.
Shinra's eyes widened slightly.
"…No way."
Standing before them were both Captain Commanders—Sector 2 and Sector 3.
Kyoko blinked. "So… a draw."
"It would seem so," Shinra muttered.
The Captain Commander of Sector 3 stepped forward, his gaze sharp and unreadable.
"Inside," he ordered.
*****
THREE HOURS LATER
The doors finally opened again.
Kyoko staggered out first, running a hand through her hair.
"That interrogation took way more out of me than I expected."
Shinra followed, exhaling deeply.
"I thought it was never going to end."
Tesai emerged last, noticeably quieter than usual.
"Just be grateful," he said, "that we're free."
Shinra gave a tired smile.
"Yeah… you're right."
None of them said it out loud, but they all felt it.
They were being watched now.
*****
HELL - END OF DAY 21
Time in Hell passed differently.
Days blurred together into a relentless cycle of pain, exhaustion, and growth. By the end of Day 21, their bodies had adapted far beyond human limits.
Without warning, their belongings vanished from the guest chambers.
A moment later—
They were teleported.
Yugo, Yuki, Mikasa, and Maya appeared simultaneously inside a vast, dimly lit hall. Black stone pillars lined the walls, each etched with crimson symbols pulsing faintly with hellish energy.
At the far end of the hall stood a wide staircase.
And at the very top—
Someone was waiting.
Zane.
He leaned casually against the railing, long pink hair draped over his shoulders, green eyes sharp with interest. A faint, dangerous smile curved across his face.
The four immediately felt it.
The pressure.
The shift.
The warning.
Maya swallowed. "That's… Zane."
Yuki clenched her fists. "So this is where it gets worse."
Mikasa adjusted her stance instinctively. "Figures."
Yugo stared straight ahead, his expression calm—but alert.
So this is the next phase…
Zane straightened and looked down at them.
"Well then," he said lightly, his voice echoing through the hall.
"Looks like playtime is over."
The four of them knew it without a doubt.
Their real hell training was about to begin.