Through Smoke and Blood

“Your magic… hasn’t returned.”

“You can’t continue the tournament,” the doctor said, his eyes soft, almost downcast, as if he felt sorry for the boy.

But having no magic never held Rei back, and it won’t now.

He clenched his fists, eyes burning with determination.

“My magic… it’s still weak. That’s why you can’t sense it, but it’s still here.”

He snapped his fingers. A small flame flickered, dancing on his palm, and vanished.

Then he tilted his hat.

“I can also summon a yokai.”

A ripple twisted the air.

Katsuki appeared beside him, floating. Its ears twitched as if sensing tension.

“Doctor trust my master. He’s ready.” it said firmly, voice sharp.

The doctor’s eyes narrowed, hand resting on his chin, weighing the pros and cons.

He glanced at Rei, then at the yokai, before finally making his decision.

“…Fine, prove it.”

Relief flashed across Rei’s face. He exhaled, shoulders loosening for a fraction of a second.

Sarutobi stepped forward, cracking his neck with a dry snap.

“You have five minutes to catch this emblem.”

The doctor raised a hand and pressed the timer.

“Go.”

Rei rushed in. Heart hammering and legs pumping, he lunged for the emblem.

Too slow.

Sarutobi slipped aside, effortless, feet gliding over the ground like water.

Rei didn’t stop.

He jumped. Twisted. Reached again.

Nothing.

Sarutobi flowed between the strikes, every step measured, like a shadow teasing him.

After a moment , he laughed. A low chuckle, amused.

“That’s it?”

Rei smiled. A small, teasing curl of lips.

“No, of course. I’m just warming up.”

Light flared suddenly at Sarutobi’s feet. Smoke burst outward with a sharp crack.

Rei charged through it, trying to reached the emblem.

But missed.

Even if Sarutobi was blind, he could still feel the boy. So he ripped the emblem free and raised it.

“Nice try, but you failed.”

Rei’s smile widened , eyes sparkling

“You sure?”

Sarutobi froze. One heartbeat, then—

The emblem vanished.

Behind him, Kaitsuki floated quietly, holding it between his paws.

Sarutobi blinked, a slow smile spreading.

“Hah… didn’t see that coming.”

Rei exhaled, a quiet smile spreading. Relief lacing his breath.

He passed.

Back at the hotel, he readied himself for the next challenge. Heart still thumping.

Then the clock struck one.

The arena buzzed with energy. Spectators filled the stands, excitement crackling through the air.

Thirty candidates, ready for the next trial, took their positions.

Rei weaved through the crowd, eyes scanning for his team.There he finds them.

Akira, Daichi, Itsuki, Denryuu , they were already there, waiting.

A voice boomed.

“Let’s start the next trial!”

“Right side if you already have a team. Left if you’re solo. Move fast.”

Candidates shifted, splitting like waves and within minutes, six teams were formed.

But someone was missing.

Enma.

Rei’s stomach tightened. A flicker of unease shivered through him.

He leaned toward Itsuki.

“You didn’t hurt him, right?”

Itsuki glanced at him, eyes calm, almost playful

“I wanted to, but I respect your choice.”

“Besides, when would I even have done it? I stayed with you, didn’t I?”

Rei forced a small smile, trying to shake off the unease. Fingers fidgeted with the strap of his bag.

“Right. Probably just a coincidence.” The words came out, but without much conviction.

Itsuki’s smirk lingered.

“Karma works fast.”

The presenter continued.

“The leader wears the crown. Keep it, your team gains a point.

Steal from others, get an extra point per crown. The three teams with the most points move on.”

Crowns were placed down.

“Who’s the leader?” Rei asked.

All eyes swung toward him.

“Me? Really?” he blinked, heart skipping.

Itsuki nodded.

“Of course it’s you. We wouldn’t be here without you.”

Rei swallowed. Warmth spread in his chest.

I’ll protect it… no matter what.

The presenter’s voice rang out again.

“Step to the crystal, one team at a time. You have two hours. All moves allowed. Good luck.”

Rei’s gaze swept over his team. All determined, they stepped forward.

Together.

Light shattered, and the forest snapped into place, cold wind biting, tall trees looming, sharp stones underfoot.

A rustle.

Kaitsuki’s voice echoed from Rei’s earpiece.

“Five targets. Closing in.”

Rei’s lenses lit up. Red marks flashed through the trees. They were already surrounded.

He raised one hand.

“Formation One.”

The team snapped into place. Muscles coiling, ready.

Itsuki slid to Rei’s right. Then a red cube snapped into existence above his head. The crown locked inside. Untouchable.

Rei flicked his wrist.

Small orbs burst into the air, white light exploding outward.

Whoosh! Crack!

Shouts rang out.

Daichi slammed his foot down. The ground rolled, and the candidats lost their balance, crashing into roots and stone.

Without waiting, Denryuu unleashed his electricity.

The shock ran through the candidates, their bodies locking up for a split second, long enough for Akira to knock them out.

And like that, four enemies were taken out in a flash.

Rei pointed.

“There! The crown’s above us!”

Akira didn’t hesitate. Blade slicing, light flashing.

With a single slash, the tree screamed. “Krrraaack!” and the king fell. Hard.

They were on him in seconds.

Akira’s sword rested at his throat. Electricity hissed inches from his face. Stone shards hovered, ready to strike.

Itsuki leaned in, eyes cold. “Hand it over.”

While Rei crouched, smiling, open palms.

“Give it to us. And you can walk away.”

The crown flew from the boy’s hands, struck the dirt.

He didn’t wait. Turned, sprinting into the trees, scream cutting through the forest.

“These are Monsters…!”

Silence returned.

Rei picked up the crown and put it on his bag. Then the team regrouped, quietly proud of themselves.

Denryuu cracked his neck, sparks fading, smirk confident.

“Feels like a warm-up.”

Rei let out a short breath. Eyes scanning the forest.

“Don’t drop your guard.This was just the start.”

The forest darkened. Light barely reaching the ground. Fog curling, branches groaning.

Rei led the team cautiously. Then slowed.

“Wait… something’s coming,” he muttered, ears straining.

Daichi’s brow shot up.

“You heard that? I didn’t.”

A sudden, eerie laughter cut through the air.

“Hahaha…!”

Black smoke erupted around them, curling like living fingers.

The team froze. Vision blurred, senses scrambling.

“Get ready,” Rei shouted.

Akira swung his blade while Denryuu sparked electricity.

The smoke quivered and shimmered, twisting in the air before a figure began to solidify from it , like it grew from the shadows themselves.

Rei slid behind his friends, hands raised.

“Attack.”

Light orbs flew, flaring to blind the attacker. But the smoke absorbed them, vanishing.

Akira struck , then Denryuu followed. But their attacks disappeared too.

Trees shivered, but the attacker was untouchable, melting into smoke that swirled above the forest floor.

As a precaution, Itsuki summoned another barrier in front of Rei. But it was useless , a dart sliced through the barrier.

Luckily, the young magician leapt aside, heart hammering.

Then his gaze swept the battlefield.

This isn’t working, each of our moves is countered.

“We should run,” Itsuki said, eyes sharp.

“You’re right.” Rei nodded and shouted “Everyone , Plan E!”

The team closed in around him.

Kaitsuki sent flames swirling between them and the attacker, while Daichi slammed his hand into the ground, raising a jagged wall of earth.

They run.

Branches whipped past , shadows pressing close behind.

After a moment , Rei’s legs wobbled, breath coming in ragged bursts.

His teammates noticed instantly.

Akira’s eyes narrowed. He lunged forward, hand hovering over Rei’s right shoulder.

That when he saw it , a faint mark glimmered beneath his skin and a needle, tiny but sharp.

“You’ve been poisoned,” Akira said, voice low but urgent.

“It’s okay… Itsuki will heal me.” Rei replied, forcing a grin.

Itsuki’s gaze dropped to the ground, silent while Akira’s jaw tightened.

“That’s a spell. He can’t. We need to take down the caster.”

A low, eerie hiss cut through the air again. Smoke swirled, rising faster than before.

The attacker had caught up.

Akira and Denryuu lunged forward, strikes crackling and

Sparking while Daichi slammed a hand to the ground.

Earth shot up in a jagged wall, rising just in time between Rei and the attacker.

“Run,” Daichi barked. “We got this.”

Rei’s chest heaved, sweat pouring down his face, and even with his legs trembling, he refused to leave his team behind.

Itsuki stepped forward, grabbing his hand firmly.

“Let’s go,”

They ran together, leaving the others to deal with the smoke user.

But at one moment, Rei’s legs buckled. He could barely stay upright.

Itsuki caught him.

“Maybe you should drop the crown. The smoke user will heal you.”

Rei shook his head, voice strained but firm.

“I can’t. I promised. If I fall, everyone loses.”

“You’re really something,” Itsuki murmured, half in awe, half exasperation.

They paused.

Rei gasped, trembling. Fire crawling beneath his skin, heart hammering.

Itsuki’s eyes narrowed, a sharp frown crossing his face as if he already knew the others wouldn’t reach the antidote in time.

He closed his eyes, fists tight.

“I can help… but you mustn’t ask how and close your eyes.”

Rei obeyed instantly.

“I trust you.”

Itsuki pressed a hand to Rei’s shoulder. Heat surged, pain flaring, something moving inside him, pulling toward the wound.

He trembled, silent, enduring.

Minutes passed. 

Then Itsuki whispered, calm.

“Done.”

Rei opened his eyes.

His gaze caught a small crimson crystal in Itsuki’s palm. Then without a word, the red gem slipped into Itsuki’s pocket.

“Thank you,” he whispered, soft but sincere.

“I’m glad I can always count on you.”

Itsuki’s eyes flickered briefly but smile returned, teasing, calm.

“I know. What would you do without me? Now… let’s find the others.”

A blur dropped from above.

A girl landed lightly, dressed like a cyber samurai. Boots whispering against the dirt.

Techwear armor. Cold eyes.

Water snapped through the air.

“Shhhk!”

A solid whip with a fluid inside it. In one motion, it wrapped the crown and yanked it away.

She vanished.

Rei and Itsuki ran after her.

She stopped. Turned and Pulled out a small vial.

Water burst out. Sharp. Floating like blades, slicing the air.

“Give up. I won’t hesitate.”

Rei lifted his head. Eyes locked on hers.

“No, I can’t…” Voice trembling, teeth clenched.

She attacked.

Rei froze while Itsuki’s hand slipped toward his pocket. But before either of them could react, the water collapsed.

It fell, harmless.

Her eyes widened.

“What did you do?!”

“I… didn’t do anything!” Rei replied

Then screams erupted across the forest.

“What happened?!”, “I can’t use my power!” ,

Rei froze. Blood ran cold, limbs stiff.

“The demons have begun their attack”