At the request of Essence President Kensei Gojuro, Riku received a direct order: travel to Kanagawa and investigate a string of recent and highly suspicious incidents tied to rogue Essence fluctuations and unknown disappearances.
Riku immediately understood the gravity of the assignment. He would need a specialized strike team. Not just strong warriors—but those he could trust to face danger head-on and protect civilians at all costs.
The next morning, they assembled at the Essence Warrior HQ—an elite facility stationed near Tokyo Bay designed to host classified operations and briefings. Riku, dressed in his Hayashi clan coat, entered the meeting room, where fourteen warriors stood at attention.
He glanced around the room.
"This team… will be known as Unit Vanguard Blaze."
The members:
1.Riku Hayashi – EX-Rank, triple/divine avatar user, team leader.
2.Toru Kurotaki – EX-Rank, versatile essence combatant, always trying to surpass Riku.
3.Yumi Aoyama – S-Rank, precise blade and wind essence master, heart tethered to Riku.
4.Daigo Shinoseki – S-Rank, super strength + magnetic essence (can manipulate metallic fields).
5.Sora Tenmei – S-Rank, teleportation on touch; any physical contact links her to you spatially.
6.Reika Muro – S-Rank, ice manipulation expert, calm in all conditions.
7.Hajime Kenta – S-Rank, lightning essence with speed boosts and chain attacks.
8.Kaito Sorimachi – S-Rank, illusion and stealth essence user, infiltration specialist.
9.Amari Fuse – S-Rank, flame burst essence and explosive mobility.
10.Zenji Takamura – S-Rank, soundwave-based attacks; excellent for large crowd control.
11.Naoko Ishigari – S-Rank, gravity essence user; can bend localized fields to immobilize enemies.
12.Mikio Dazai – S-Rank, healing and defensive barriers; team medic.
13.Arata Nojima – S-Rank, beast summoner with contracts to three rare spirit beasts.
14.Hina Morikawa – S-Rank, darkness veil essence; can blind and confuse groups.
15.Kuro Emi – S-Rank, water essence with the ability to shift form into liquid briefly for evasion.
Riku stepped forward. "You fifteen were chosen because I believe in your strength, your minds, and your hearts. Kanagawa needs us. We move out in one hour."
The room buzzed with energy. They knew they were heading into the unknown.
And as Unit Vanguard Blaze departed toward Kanagawa… the real mission had only just begun.