Capture or Perish

Rei smirked, eyes on Kazuto spinning above him.

“Race to the top?”

Kazuto’s grin widened.

“No chance. You’ll eat dust before you even climb a step.”

Rei’s fingers brushed his grapnel gun, hidden beneath his cape.

He lifted it slowly, right hand raised like he was about to perform a magic trick.

Eyes closed. A deep breath.

Bang!

The grapnel shot into the air, rope unrolling behind it in a perfect arc.

The hook spun at the end, climbing higher and higher, vanishing into the fog.

Kaitsuki, already perched at the summit, tilted his head.

“Ah! Master’s rope!”

With a flick of his tiny paws, the white rabbit caught the hook mid-air and slammed it into the rock.

It stuck firmly.

Two playful tugs on the rope signaled:

Ready.

Rei opened one eye, smirked, and called out:

“See you at the top.”

Kazuto’s eyes widened as he realized Rei’s plan.

“Shit… I’m drained, but I can’t let him win … not again!”

He surged upward, blades spinning violently beneath him, slicing through the fog.

Rei’s hand pressed the trigger on the grapnel.

In an instant, the rope rewound, yanking him forward with insane speed.

Air whipped past him.

A blur of motion.

Kazuto spun frantically on his knives, trying to catch up.

But Rei shot past him effortlessly, a streak of motion and confidence.

Below, Akira climbed the fragile barrier-stairs Itsuki had conjured.

A flash of the rope whipped by.

Akira’s foot slipped.

He tumbled.

Itsuki lunged, fingers stretching toward him, but Akira slipped past his grasp.

“Akira!” he shouted, looking panicked.

Akira’s stomach dropped as he slipped off the barrier.

“Not now… if I hit the ground—”

The fog swallowed everything.

Panic clawed at him.

Suddenly, a figure shot through the mist.

Hands wrapped around him, steady and sure.

In an instant, he found himself at the summit, safe and stunned.

Akira’s hair tumbled, eyes wide.

His chest still raced.

“What… what just happened? I’m safe? How?”

He glanced to his left, spotting Rei beside him.

“Rei… you can fly?”

Itsuki landed gracefully beside them, eyes calm but unmissably amused.

A slow clap echoed, deliberate, as if savoring a show.

“Impressive timing. You never fail to surprise.”

Kazuto’s knives slowed, eyes wide, chest heaving.

He finally reached the summit, exhausted.

His jaw clenched, eyes narrowing as he glared at Rei.

“This isn’t over,” he growled.

“You’ve been lucky so far. Tricks like yours won’t hold up in a real magic duel.”

Rei’s lips curved into a confident smirk.

“I’ll show you it’s not luck!”

A chuckle floated through the fog.

Sarutobi approached, hands behind his back, grin teasing.

“Who would’ve thought… the last three from the previous round are the first to reach the top?”

Rei raised an eyebrow.

“You… recognize us?”

“Of course,” Sarutobi said, eyes twinkling. “Watching all of you is part of my job.”

He paused, scanning Rei.

“And you… you intrigue me.”

From far below, Sarutobi’s voice boomed.

“Good, you find the last checkpoint. But hurry, only the first thirty count!”

The remaining climbers struggled up the mountain, muscles screaming, fog swallowing their forms.

Every step was a fight, their breaths ragged, energy nearly spent.

Rei stretched, trying to catch his breath, while Itsuki leaned against the crystal.

A rhythmic chant echoed:

“25… 21… 14… 7… 2… 1… 0…”

“Time’s up! No more climbers allowed. The first trial is complete!” Sarutobi shouted.

He turned his gaze to those who had made it to the cliff, a small, approving smile tugging at his lips.

“Congratulations. You’ve all completed the first trial.”

Cheers erupted, some cries of relief, some laughter, some shaky sobs.

“Oh… my… god… that was insane!”

“If tomorrow’s trial is like this… I’ll die,” one candidate gasped.

Sarutobi smirked, eyes sharp.

“Speaking of trials… want to know what comes next?”

“Yes! Of course!” the crowd yelled in unison.

He raised a hand, voice playful.

“There are three trials in total.

The first, endurance , it’s done.

The second, group combat, five per team.

Finally… one-on-one battles.”

Rei’s eyes narrowed.

“Five per team? Need two more members…”

He scanned the summit, plotting silently,mind racing through options.

Sarutobi’s grin widened.

“And now… a bonus trial for those still standing. Optional, of course.”

Groans rolled through the group.

“Now?! I can’t!”

“This day won’t end!”

Sarutobi’s eyes glinted, sharp, teasing.

“Optional, yes. But the first to exit will skip one fight in the one-on-one rounds. Worth a shot, isn’t it?”

Some candidates whispered excitedly.

Rei’s gaze hardened.

If I can skip a fight… my chances to win the tournament raise. I can’t miss this.

“What's the bonus trial?” a voice asked.

“Simple, find the crystal in the next zone” Sarutobi said, pointing to a distant darkness that swallowed the horizon.

Rei exhaled sharply, rolling his shoulders.

“It’s never simple with you, is it? Where’s the catch?”

Sarutobi’s grin widened in response.

“This zone… isn’t dangerous to the body.

But the darkness will twist your mind.

Even light magic won’t protect you for long.

You must bring fairies, three at least, five if you want a real chance.

Lose them, and you’re done. Blindness, Madness or death… no one can save you.”

Rei’s chest tightened as he stared into the pitch-black expanse.

“This… this is by far the deadliest trial. No wonder it’s optional.

but passing it up? Not an option.”

Akira nudged him, resolute.

“If you go, I’ll protect you.”

Itsuki exhaled, fingers twitching.

“Guess my healing magic isn’t done yet.”

Sarutobi’s hand rose once more.

“Who dares to attempt the bonus? You’ll have thirty minutes

before you start.”

Rei didn’t hesitate. His hand shot up without a second thought, sharp and decisive.

Akira and Itsuki followed silently, their expressions firm, ready.

Kazuto raised his hand next, grinning, eyes gleaming with competitive fire.

A blind monk joined calmly, as if darkness meant nothing to him.

Then a soft, gentle healer, a ninja, a samurai, and a fire-user completed the group.

Nine challengers stood ready, each carrying their own aura of focus and determination.

Thirty minutes later, the examiners returned, each carrying a lantern shaped like a tiny cage.

A large wooden chest sat in front of them.

With a creak, the lid opened, and a swarm of tiny glowing orbs burst out, darting and flickering like sparks.

“Three fairies minimum to enter the Darkness Zone. Ten minutes. Go!”

The blind monk tilted his head.

“Do I need to catch them too?”

Sarutobi hesitated… then nodded.

“Yes. They’ll guide you.”

Kazuto reshaped one of his blades into a cage.

The ninja’s hands were a blur.

The healer waved her hands, weaving a soft, magical pull that seemed to ensnare the fairies gently, as if charmed.

Akira did nothing but radiate a soft glow; the fairies seemed

drawn to him naturally.

Rei’s eyes widened as he watched his friend.

“Wow, you don’t even have to chase them,”

Akira’s cheeks flushed slightly, a playful grin on his face.

“Just lucky, I guess. Want me to hand you one?”

He extended a tiny glowing orb toward Rei.

But the moment the fairy neared Rei, it darted away like a spark.

Rei shook his head, chuckling.

“No worries. I’ve got this myself.”

Akira’s smile softened, a quiet confidence in his tone.

“I’m sure you will.”

Itsuki, leaning casually nearby, let his gaze linger on Rei, amusement glinting in his eyes.

“I wonder what trick he’s going to pull this time…”

Rei crouched, eyes scanning their movements, reading the fairies’ patterns like a chess game.

Timing was everything.

As a cluster of fairies tried to escape the fire-user, Rei leapt.

He blocked their path, slid his lantern over them, and snapped it shut.

Three fairies captured instantly.

The fire-user scowled.

“Hey! Those are mine!”

Rei grinned, proud and mischievous.

“Not anymore.”

Akira blinked, impressed.

“You’re… really smart.”

Itsuki’s eyes gleamed, amused.

“Hahaha… didn’t even need a gadget this time? Incredible!”

But Rei noticed the tiny wings quivering.

The little lights blinked rapidly, their glow uneven, eyes wide with fear.

He exhaled, gently swinging open the lantern door.

“I’m sorry. You’re free.”

Itsuki, brows furrowed, leaned closer.

“You had them… why let them go?”

Rei met his gaze calmly.

“They shouldn’t be forced into the forest. Maybe… they’re scared too.”

Itsuki’s lips curved into a soft, quiet smile.

“You really are the only one who thinks that way,” he murmured to himself.

Rei held the lantern open, voice firm yet gentle.

“Listen… I know you’re scared. But if you come into my lantern, I promise I will keep you safe.”

One tiny fairy hesitated… then floated closer, her glow flickering like a candle in the dark.

She asked if Rei would really risk his life for them.

Rei’s smile was wide and warm.

“Fear nothing. I promise.”

The fairy nodded.

“I will follow you… but only if you help us.”

Rei’s eyes sparkled.

“Of course. How can I help?”

The fairy’s glow pulsed as it explained, its voice urgent.

"Find the queen’s medallion in the Darkness Zone. It’s lost, and the queen’s life depends on it.”

“But… we’re too afraid to enter. The exorcists… they only want to capture us."

Rei lifted his pinky.

"Don’t worry. I’ll protect you and find the medallion. I promise."

The tiny fairy grasped it with both hands, balancing herself on his finger.

Her wings fluttered like sparks, eyes bright with trust.

"Deal!" she chirped.

She called to her friends. One by one, the other fairies zipped into Rei’s lantern, until not a single one remained outside.

Sarutobi’s eyebrows shot up. He’d never seen this happen before.

“Not even ten minutes have passed, but… with no fairies left, time’s up,” he declared, a mix of surprise and amusement in his voice.

The fire-user only managed to snatch three, just the bare minimum, his glare snapping toward Rei.

The others easily gathered five, their lanterns glowing with confidence.

The tiny fairy from before slipped into Rei’s pocket instead of the lantern.

The group stepped toward the Darkness Zone.

Shadows thickened. Fog curled like smoke around their ankles.

Rei held the fairy gently, whispering.

“Don’t worry, everything will be fine”

The path ahead was unseen…

And Rei had no idea what would happen next.