Disqualified?!

“You failed.”

The words cut through the fog like a knife, sharp and cold.

Rei froze.

His heart slammed against his ribs.

The forest fell silent around them.

No whispers. No music.

Just that voice.

Cold. Absolute.

Akira and Itsuki stiffened beside him.

Rei slowly turned toward the examiner.

“…Failed?”

The syllable stuck in his throat.

“You stepped off the official path,” the examiner said calmly.

“That is disqualification.”

Rei’s chest tightened. A shiver ran down his spine.

“So that’s it?”

His fists clenched.

“All three of us?”

“Yes.”

The answer came without hesitation.

Rei took a step forward.

“I understand the rules,” he said, voice steady but low.

“I know the goal of this trial wasn’t to fight.”

The examiner raised an eyebrow.

“It was to see who could resist hypnosis.”

Rei nodded.

“I know.”

His fingers trembled slightly as he curled them into his palms.

“But I heard someone calling for help.”

The fog swirled thickly, almost pressing in on him.

“I thought a real person was in danger,” Rei continued.

“And I couldn’t just keep running.”

Silence.

The forest seemed to hold its breath.

The examiner watched him for a long second.

“That was noble,” he said at last.

“But rules are rules.”

Rei inhaled sharply.

“Then eliminate me. But don’t eliminate them.”

Akira’s eyes widened , just for a second , before he looked away. 

Itsuki clenched his fist, nails digging into his palm.

Rei turned, glancing at his friends behind him.

“They weren’t hypnotized. They only left the path because of me.”

He bowed slightly, shoulders tight with tension.

“I made the choice. I take full responsibility.”

The fog thickened.

The examiner’s gaze sharpened.

“And what about that choice?” 

He tilted his head.

“Do you regret it?”

Rei lifted his eyes.

“No.”

His voice was firm, unwavering.

“Isn’t that what exorcists are supposed to do?” Rei said.

“Protect innocent people when they’re in danger?”

The words hung in the air.

Akira swallowed hard. While Itsuki let out a quiet hum, looking away, hands in his pockets.

The examiner didn’t answer right away.

Rei pressed on.

“And Sarutobi never said we’d be eliminated for stepping off the path.”

“That follow-the-leader game wasn’t the real test.”

“It was meant to identify who was hypnotized. Right?”

He took another step forward.

“So eliminate me if you want.”

His eyes blazed with determination.

“But my friends passed the trial.”

For a moment, nothing happened.

Then—

“Right.”

Itsuki finally spoke.

His tone was calm. Sharp.

“And if someone breaks free from hypnosis,” he added, eyes locked on the examiner, “they can still reach the crystal before the time limit.”

A pause.

“…right?”

The examiner stared at them.

Then he laughed.

A low, amused chuckle that cut through the fog.

“Indeed.”

His smile widened.

“I’m impressed,” he said.

“You understood the true purpose of this trial.”

Rei’s breath caught.

A flush of relief ran through him.

The examiner turned slightly, gesturing toward the fog-filled forest.

“You may proceed. But hurry”

He tapped his wrist.

“You don’t have much time left.”

Rei’s watch lit up.

05:00

The countdown had already begun.

He exhaled sharply, pushing the fear aside.

Then ran.

The forest whipped past him, branches scraping, leaves slapping against their arms, fog curling thick around every tree.

Itsuki and Akira followed closely, lungs burning, muscles straining, hearts hammering.

A line of the main trail appeared.

Rei’s chest eased slightly. Relief hit him like a jolt of warmth.

“Look, the main path is right there!”

But the clearing was empty.

No crystal yet.

Only shadows flickered at the edge of the mist, teasing, moving, disappearing.

03:00

Far ahead, blurred shapes flickered.

Other candidates, dashed forward.

Then vanished.

Into a strange swirl of fog.

Rei squinted, trying to make sense of it.

“Could that… be where the crystal is?” he whispered, pointing to the circle where they vanished.

Itsuki nodded slightly, tense.

His jaw tight, every muscle alert.

Akira stayed silent, eyes scanning the mist, every shadow a possible threat.

02:00

All the shapes disappeared.

Only the faint echoes of movement remained.

There were the last candidates.

Rei’s chest tightened.

His pulse raced, every step urgent.

“We’re too slow… Are we even going the right way?”

01:00

Rei’s voice cracked, loud in the fog.

“It’s over… we won’t make it.”

Silence swallowed his words.

The mist seemed to press in closer, thick and suffocating.

Akira’s eyes closed.

He gave me a chance… I can’t let him down. Just this once…

He gripped Rei’s and Itsuki’s hands tightly.

“Closed your eyes”

00:10

A flash of brilliant light.

Wind tore past, whipping hair and clothes.

The world blurred.

Branches streaked past, leaves scattering in a haze.

They surged forward at an incredible speed.

00:01

Impact.

Their feet hit hard, dust and mist flying, splintered bark cracking beneath them.

They landed in the circle.

The fog shifted, parting just enough to let faint light spill around them.

The other candidates stood scattered where the circle had been, shuffling uneasily, eyes straining through the thick fog.

Nothing gleamed. No crystal.

Rei’s heart skipped. Doubt clawed at him.

“Are we really in the right place?”

Then he spotted Sarutobi in the distance, standing calm and watchful.

“Everyone who made it this far has succeeded,”

The three exchanged quick glances, breaths heavy. Hearts still racing.

“Now… the last trial before a break.”

“This time, no need to follow me. You have one hour to find the crystal.”

The watches on everyone’s wrists lit up.

01:00.

The circle shimmered.

Then, in an instant, it vanished.

The fog rolled back in, thick and suffocating, swallowing trees and paths alike.

Visibility dropped to almost nothing. Shadows flickered, then disappeared entirely.

Whispers turned to panicked shouts. Candidates stumbled, calling to each other.

“Where… exactly is the crystal?”

“How are we supposed to find it?”

A voice drifted through the haze, distant but sharp:

“It’s easy… it’s over there.”

More groans, frustrated cries, and short, frantic exclamations broke out.

“Where over there? We can’t see a thing!”

“It was hard enough to follow Sarutobi before… now it’s impossible!”

The wind howled through the mist, carrying muffled steps, shuffling feet, and the occasional thump of someone tripping.

Fear and confusion clung to everyone, thick as the fog itself

Rei’s chest tightened.

He looked at Itsuki and Akira.

Both were panting, faces pale, sweat dripping in the cold fog.

Akira swayed, nearly collapsing. His light flickered weakly, barely holding in the mist.

“Sorry… I can’t keep up,” he muttered, voice strained. “The teleport … it drained me completely.”

Rei shook his head, determination flaring.

“We finish this together,” he said firmly, gripping Akira’s shoulder. “No one gets left behind.”

Itsuki’s eyes were sharp, almost cutting. Reality weighed heavy in his gaze.

“You do remember there’s only one winner at the end, right?”

Rei smiled softly.

“I know. But I want to stay with you as long as possible.”

Itsuki’s stern expression softened.

With a flick of his fingers, a card appeared in his hand, a 2 of hearts.

Two glowing hearts rose from the card, enveloping Rei and Akira in warm light.

Akira’s glow flared bright, energy coursing through him. Strength returned to his body.

Fatigue melted away. Rei’s limbs felt light, his chest steady, breath even.

“Wow… Itsuki’s spell… it’s incredible,” he thought, voice almost a whisper.

“I feel… unstoppable.”

He glanced at Itsuki

“This guy… he’s amazing. He can block, heal… but … I only see defensive skills so far.”

“I wonder… what else can he do?” Rei thought, excitement bubbling.

Akira’s soft smiled.

“Thank you… both of you.”

Itsuki, waved a hand dismissively.

“Don’t get the wrong idea. My magic won’t do much here. We need your light.”

Akira nodded, a gentle smile forming.

“Understood. I’ll do my best to guide us through.”

But even as he spoke, his glow flickered weakly.

“There’s so little light… my power is weak here.” he admitted.

Rei’s mind raced.

“If you had more light, would it help?”

Akira tilted his head.

“Yes… but how? Oh right, your element is fire. Maybe that can boost my light magic.”

Rei grinned, eyes sparkling with mischief.

“I have something even better.”

From his pocket, he pulled a super-powered lamp, its lens slicing through the fog with brilliant white light.

Itsuki smirked, voice dry:

“As always, you’re well-prepared.”

The trio moved forward, pushing through dense fog, shadows flickering at the edges of vision, alert, ready.

Suddenly, yōkai lunged from the mist.

Claws scraped the trees, teeth gleaming, low growls echoing through the fog.

Itsuki snapped a card.

Small shimmering barriers shot up, slowing the yōkai, forcing some to stumble.

Rei flung fire orbs.

They exploded with bright sparks, scattering shadows and lighting the mist in flickering reds and oranges.

Akira struck with his sword, finishing the rest.

Metal sang as it cut, the air buzzing from impact.

They moved as one, fast, precise, unstoppable.

But something felt… off.

Some monsters fought back, ripping claws across armor and skin, leaving shallow cuts.

The rest vanished the instant they were struck, puffing into nothing.

Stranger still, most of them cast no shadows.

Rei’s eyes narrowed. A cold realization shivered down his spine.

“Wait… I think most of these are illusions.”

Itsuki studied them closely. His jaw tight, eyes scanning for subtle traces.

“I think you’re right… but not all of them.” he said, calm but alert.

Akira frowned.

“How do we know which ones are real?”

Rei’s lips curved into a confident smile.

“I have an idea.”

Itsuki raised an eyebrow, already guessing.

“Let me guess… you’ve got a gadget for that too.”

Rei’s grin widened. He reached into his pocket, fingers brushing against something hidden.

“Exactly.”