"The Return"

Near dusk, the sky filled with the red and violet hues of the setting sun. A month had passed since Shin’ō's "death."

Somewhere in his hometown, Bezkon Arkogromov leaned casually against a wall, a confident smirk on his face. Effortlessly charming every girl who crossed his path. He’d turn heads left and right, but his eyes distant. Always looking at something far away...

Elsewhere, Helwin von Schattenreich walked calmly through a narrow street, hands in his pockets, beside a girl who clung gently to his arm. She talked mindlessly, but his thoughts distant, he didn't heard a single thing.

Far away, Jovino Delterragon slept comfortably in his room, tangled in his sheets. Half eaten snacks laying on his bed. His phone buzzed endlessly, playing an alarm that he'd never wake up to.

On a bullet train, Audaxor Noctusapius sat alone, a book resting in his hand. He turned each page slowly, eyes calm. The scenery raced past behind him, but his thoughts moved much slower.

Then everything changed...

The sun had nearly set, casting warm gold across the sky, but the moon—dark and pitch black—hovered higher than usual.

Suddenly, a crack appeared above it.

A tear in the sk. No, in reality itself. jagged and shifting, widened silently in the air. Purple light and slightly blue mist leaked out from it like ink in water. The clouds twisted unnaturally.

And then—

A man stepped out.

Dark clothes, windswept hair, eyes like chaos itself.

Shin’ō had returned.

Shin'ō causally chanting a spell. "Hear this call of mine, 'Time.'"

Everything froze.

Birds paused mid-air. The oceans stopped flowing. The world held its breath.

Shin'ō said. "Come forth, 'Castle Incarnate.'" As he stretched out his arm.

A great stone room materialized above the clouds—silent, still, untouched by wind. Five chairs surrounded a round table at its center. The room floating...

All four were instantly transported to it.

Bezkon and Helwin appeared with sharp confusion in their eyes. Audaxor closed his book. Jovino was still asleep—head slumped forward.

Bezkon elbowed him. "Wake up, sleepyhead. This isn’t a dream." He whispered in his ear.

Jovino still sleepy "…Wha? Is this heaven?"

They turned to see Shin’ō standing before the doors of the floating chamber, arms spread slightly. Bowed his head. "Welcome to our Fifth Council, gentlemen."

One by one, they entered. The stone chairs were each unique, made only for them. They sat.

The room was silent, like the pause before a storm.

Audaxor flipping through his notebook said. "The date is 31 May 2025. It’s been 31 days since your “death.” You missed all of summer vacation."

Shin'ō shocked, asked them."Damn. So, what’d you all do while I was gone?"

"Watched anime." Audaxor said quickly.

B> Trained in my hometown.

J> Slept. Trained. Watched anime.

H> Got a girlfriend.

A> Now—your turn. How many years? How many worlds?

Shin’ō looked out through the floating window, into the clouds. "Tens of thousands of years. I lost count. I went to every world that held power—more than I can remember. Took what I could. Learned what I couldn't. Conquered everything."

The room darkened slightly.

S> At the end… I became so strong that even “It” noticed.

Flashback—

Shin'ō was opening a portal, ready to return.

But before it could form fully, he froze.

Time itself shattered like glass.

A being stood before him—impossibly tall, robed in shifting shapes, faceless.

The Messenger, in a clam but in a distorted voice said. "I have come on behalf of “It.” The power you carry is too much for your world. If you return unchecked, it will break."

Shin'ō tried to speak, but his body remained voiceless.

 "You must seal nearly all of it. An event called “The Balance” will occur. Powers will awaken. The world will change."

The Messenger leaned in closer.

"You and those four… have potential. Even now, your strength rivals mine. But I… am just a pawn."

Then the Messenger vanished.

Time resumed.

Back in the floating room, Shin’ō looked at his friends. "I don’t know what happens next. But we’re in it together."

The others nodded. Quietly. Firmly.

The sky outside the castle was on fire with colours—sunset blazing across a changed world.

And thus, the Fifth Council began.