Pulse of the Earth

Yamanashi Prefecture – Late Afternoon

The late afternoon sun filtered through thick cedar branches, casting mottled shadows across the forest floor. The air was damp with moss, carrying a faint sulfur tang from distant volcanic vents. Kaori crouched in a small clearing, unaware of the pulse thrumming beneath her feet. Her amber eyes widened, heart hammering. The ground seemed alive, responding to her presence, yet she couldn’t understand why.

From the shadows, the first wave of demons emerged—larger, faster, more coordinated than ordinary attackers. Red eyes glowed in the dimming light. Shadows twisted unnaturally, and a dark aura of malevolent energy warped the air around them.

Kaori froze. Fear surged through her chest. Her hands shook as she instinctively reached for the earth—nothing happened. Her breath caught.

A shadow lunged at her, claws extended. She screamed.

Kaito’s wings flared, a calm blue radiance forming a shield of light and wind that sliced through the demon, knocking it back into the undergrowth.

 He landed in front of her, arms outstretched. “Stay behind me! Move only when I tell you!” His green eyes scanned the treeline, sharp and commanding. Arisa, Koji, and Nao flanked him, forming a protective triangle, their movements fluid and precise.

Another surge of demons appeared—two of Ravukaru’s generals, taller, sleeker, their dark energy radiating in heavy waves. Faster, smarter, coordinated as if the forest itself bent to their will.

Kaito moved with lethal grace, catching one general mid-leap against his blade. “Who’s controlling you?” he demanded.

The demon hissed, teeth bared. “Ravukaru… the Demon Prince…”

Before Kaito could press further, the general twisted violently, breaking free and lunging again. In a flash of light, Kaito’s swing shattered its form completely. Shadow and smoke curled upward, leaving Kaori blinking in disbelief.

The demons circled, hissing and clawing. One Corruptor lunged, tar-like sludge dripping onto the forest floor. Panic surged. The earth erupted violently beneath Kaori, roots and stones shooting up like spears, forcing back the monsters. The forest floor shattered under the raw, uncontrolled power, even threatening Kaito and the angels nearby.

“Focus! Breathe!” Kaito shouted, dashing through the chaotic spray. “Let it follow your heartbeat, not your fear!”

Kaori’s eyes filled with tears. Trembling, she felt the pulse of the earth within her. A massive Corruptor lunged, intent on devouring her. She screamed—and instinctively, the ground exploded in a tidal wave of earth, stones, and mud, uprooting trees and sending the monster flying before it disintegrated on impact.

Kaito’s wings unfolded wide, enveloping her in a protective cocoon of light. “Hold on! I’ve got you!” He surged upward, lifting her into the sky. The remaining demons screeched, claws raking at them, but the combined force of Kaito and the angels pushed back the assault. Arisa’s blades sliced through shadows, Koji’s energy shields deflected shards, and Nao manipulated gusts of air to divert destructive attacks.

Kaori clung to him, chest hammering, panting. “I… I didn’t do that…”

“You did,” Kaito said, calm and steady. “Your power answered. The earth recognizes you. You are the Earth Guardian. But it obeys only what you control. Learn—or it will destroy more than your enemies.”

The last of the demons retreated, shadows curling back into the trees. The clearing was torn, splintered with upturned roots and rocks scattered like remnants of battle.

Kaito’s green eyes softened. “We must go. They’ll regroup. They know our location.”

With a strong beat of his wings, Kaito lifted Kaori higher, angels following closely. The forest fell away beneath them as they soared toward A-Academy. Kaori felt the pulse of the earth even as she left it behind—her power dormant but insistent, whispering promises of strength she had yet to understand.

Ravukaru’s Realm

The throne hall reeked of smoke and iron. Firelight pulsed through cracks in obsidian walls. On the black throne sat Ravukaru, eyes twin embers in shadow.

Two demon generals knelt before him, trembling.

“Speak,” he rasped.

"We almost had her. The Earth Guardian... But, the angels... They got her first." Said one of the generals.

"Almost?" Asked Ravukaru.

The demon generals were quiet, affraid of Ravukaru.

Silence followed, worse than any roar.

Ravukaru lifted a single clawed hand. The general who had spoken didn’t even have time to scream. His body ignited from within, collapsing into blackened ash.

Ravukaru exhaled slowly, voice low and deliberate. “Water. Air. Fire. And now Earth.” He rose, slow as a tide of smoke. “Four under their protection.”

He stepped down from the dais, shadows stretching behind him, thick as tar. “We have to get them.”

The air tightened, heat surging like a heartbeat. The demons bowed lower, choking under his presence.

“Let them think they’re winning,” Ravukaru whispered. “Hope makes the fall sweeter.”

Fire erupted along the walls, consuming darkness in violent bloom. The fortress shuddered, alive with his fury.

A-Academy – Living Room – Late Afternoon

Afternoon sunlight slanted across the wooden floor. The scent of tea mingled with burnt toast and quiet tension. Mizuki arranged cups carefully. Sora leaned against the arm of the couch, eyes tracking the curtain’s lazy sway. Hikari sketched absently, pencil hovering mid-line.

The door opened. Kaito led Kaori inside, walking beside her. Amber eyes darted nervously across the room, taking in the trio of girls already present. Her heart pounded—she had never met anyone like them before.

Mizuki looked up, offering a small smile. “Hi, I’m Mizuki.”

Sora straightened. “I’m Sora. Don’t worry—we’re all new here.”

Hikari set her pencil down. “Hikari. Nice to meet you. Seems like we’re all starting fresh… in more ways than one.”

Kaori hesitated. “I… I’m Kaori. I hope… my future can be brighter than my past.” She swallowed, thinking of her old life—without parents, without guidance—and realized maybe here she could leave it behind.

The girls exchanged subtle glances, warmth in their eyes. Kaori sensed it—this unspoken solidarity—and for the first time in a long while, she felt less alone.

Mizuki stepped closer, offering the tray of tea. “Here—start with this. It might help you feel a bit more settled.” Kaori nodded, taking the cup, allowing a small, tentative smile.

A-Academy – Living Room – Evening

Later, the door opened again. Rei entered first, followed by a young man in a dark blue coat, whose calm presence quietly commanded attention.

“Everyone, listen,” Rei said. “This is Akihiro. He’ll oversee your training and coordination. Follow his guidance.”

The girls exchanged polite glances. Sora inclined her head respectfully. Hikari straightened, attentive. Mizuki smiled carefully. Kaori took a deep breath, still overwhelmed.

Akihiro’s gaze swept over them, quiet yet firm. “No need for formalities. You’ve done well so far—that is commendable.”

Rei continued, tone clipped. “For now, focus on orientation. Schedules, procedures, familiarization. Power assessments come later. This is a team, not a test.”

Sora frowned. “A team? Feels more like a squad. Are we supposed to follow orders that strictly?”

Rei arched an eyebrow, smirk tugging at his lips. “If it were a squad, you’d be training at dawn. Consider yourself lucky—it’s just orientation.”

Hikari snorted; Mizuki’s lips curved into a hidden smile. Kaori watched silently, her gaze taking in the scene.

Akihiro observed quietly, a faint approving smile acknowledging Rei had the situation under control. He moved to the window, looking across the Academy gardens toward Tokyo’s skyline, glowing in amber dusk.

“I’ll be observing for now. Your energy flows are growing, but resonance is uneven. If you don’t breathe as one, you’ll break apart.”

Rei folded his arms. “And until we find the fifth, balance will stay fragile.”

Akihiro didn’t look away from the horizon. “The four Guardians are here, but we must remain vigilant. The fifth will reveal herself in her own time—and we cannot let Ravukaru find her first.”

Silence settled. Only the rustle of leaves outside filled the pause.

As the others drifted into small talk, Akihiro lingered at the window, lost in thought. Tokyo pulsed beneath twilight, alive with unseen rhythm. Somewhere in that rhythm—buried beneath neon and noise—something faintly stirred. A heartbeat, distant yet steady.

Tokyo was breathing. And deep within it, something waited to awaken.