The ruins stretched far and wide, ancient and crumbling, whispering secrets of a forgotten city lost to time. Vines slithered along stone walls, and broken statues watched in silence as Kirihai and Mirio walked deeper into the forgotten place.
"This is the place Ukina mentioned," Kirihai said, her voice echoing faintly. "She said the Millennia Stone that seals the Divine Beast of the Sand is hidden somewhere around here."
Floating lazily above the ground, supported by his ever-present chains, Mirio sighed. "Let's just find the damn thing and get this over with already."
Kirihai shot him a side glance, smirking. "Stop whining. Let's do our best, alright?"
Moments later, something caught her eye—a pillar, weathered by time, with a glowing brown stone embedded in it.
"There!" she pointed. "I think that's it!"
Mirio floated up to the pillar without hesitation. As he reached out and grasped the stone, he called down, "Got it."
But just as the words left his mouth, the entire ruin began to shake violently. The ground cracked open as a massive suit of armor burst forth, its eyes glowing a deep crimson. With a metallic scream, it towered over them, dust swirling around its form.
"I am the Guardian of the Millennia Stone!" the golem roared. "Those who seek it shall pay with their lives!"
Neither Kirihai nor Mirio flinched. In fact, they looked... bored.
"So," Mirio muttered, glancing at his partner. "You want to take care of this hunk of metal, or should I?"
Kirihai stretched her arms and cracked her neck, a mischievous grin forming. "This seems like fun. I haven't had a good challenge in a while—I'll handle it."
Moments later, the golem lay in pieces, its once-mighty armor shattered and scattered across the ancient ground. Kirihai flicked her sword clean of debris and sheathed it.
"Well," Mirio sighed, his chains drifting lazily around him. "That wasn't much of a challenge."
Kirihai shrugged. "It made me draw my sword. That counts for something."
Elsewhere – City of Steel, Iron County
Within the arena of the Iron Country, Shouya (16) clashed in fierce hand-to-hand combat with Kazu (18). The training ground was vast and empty, save for the echoes of their blows.
"You've improved a lot," Kazu said, his tone composed even as he moved with blinding speed.
Shouya grit his teeth, blocking and dodging where he could. "You're still way too fast... I can barely keep up!"
As Kazu went for a spinning kick, a black tentacle erupted from Shouya's back and wrapped around him, forming a shield. The strike landed on the tentacle, sending a shockwave through the arena.
Kazu stepped back, nodding. "Alright. That's enough training for today."
Shouya panted, catching his breath. "Between your combat skills and our elder sister's harshness... I'm starting to get scared."
A voice cut in.
"You really should take it easy on him, Kazu."
Rin (19) walked into the arena, her presence calm but firm.
"You're too soft on him," Kazu retorted with a smirk.
Rin handed Shouya a bottle of water. "Drink up."
Shouya accepted it gratefully. "Thanks. I could seriously use a nap right now."
But before he could rest, Rin's expression turned serious. "You guys, Lord Yamamoto has summoned us."
In the office of Lord Yamamoto, an elderly man with a long white beard, the siblings stood at attention.
"There's been a theft," Yamamoto said. "The Millennia Stone of the Sand Beast has been stolen."
"Stolen?" Shouya echoed.
"Yes. We've confirmed that the culprits are members of the Dark Sign."
Shouya's eyes narrowed. "Isn't that the group our former sensei, Kenji, joined?"
Yamamoto nodded solemnly. "Correct. Three members were sighted: a chain user wearing a black hood, a swordswoman with terrifying skill, and Kenji himself—he's infiltrated our city, likely after another ancient artifact."
Kazu stepped forward. "Are we to eliminate them?"
"Precisely," Yamamoto said. "You are to retrieve the stone and put the traitors down."
Wastelands
Mirio and Kirihai trudged through the dry, cracked earth of the wastelands. The sky above them was pale and cloudless.
"That mission was too easy," Kirihai said, resting her hand on the hilt of her sword. "Didn't expect it to be over so quickly."
Mirio, hovering on a board formed from his chains replied Kirihai "Yeah. But its a good thing the mission ended so fast. That way, we have time to goof off all through today." Mirio suddenly grew tensed. "Look out."
A massive blast wave surged toward them from the distance. Reacting instantly, Mirio's chains shot forward and formed a barrier just in time to absorb the impact. Dust and debris exploded in all directions.
"Who's there?!" Mirio shouted, chains coiling like snakes around him.
Two figures emerged from the dust—Rin and Shouya.
"Are you two from the Dark Sign?" Rin demanded, her eyes locked on them.
Kirihai tilted her head. "And what if we are?"
Rin narrowed her gaze. "Shouya, take the chain user. I'll handle the girl with the sword."
Kirihai gave a wicked grin. "Try not to get yourself killed, Mirio. I'll handle the cocky bitch."
Rin scowled. "Who are you calling a bitch?"
Kirihai unsheathed her sword slowly, the steel gleaming. "There's only one way to find out."
Underground Dungeon
Far below the surface, among the corpses of slain monsters, Kenji walked through a massive underground chamber, a glowing scroll in his hand.
"You going somewhere with that?" a voice asked behind him.
Kenji turned—and there stood Kazu, his blade already in hand, face stern.
Kenji smiled. "Ahhh, if it isn't Kazu. Been a while. How've you been, Kazu?"
"You have no right to smile at me, traitor," Kazu spat. "You abandoned us... you left Shouya in a broken state. Don't you dare call us your students."
Kenji's smirk widened. "Still the same hothead, I see."
But Kazu stepped forward, his expression cold and resolved.
"I'm going to end your life. Here and now."
End of Chapter