Tournament’s Dark Secret Revealed

Rei’s hands trembling as he stepped forward to the crystal, heart hammering in his chest.

“No … Itski ! ”

Sarutobi stepped in, one hand raised, shoulders stiff.

“Wait… calm down. Think. There are at least two demons. Maybe more.”

Rei shook his head, jaw set. His whole body trembled, but he didn’t back down.

“I don’t care … I’m getting him back.”

Even if he had to go alone, nothing could stop him. His gaze fixed on the spot where Itsuki had disappeared, muscles coiled like a spring.

“We will,” Sarutobi said, voice tense but firm “But first… we need a plan.”

But at this moment, Rei didn’t hear anything else.

Eyes fixed on the crystal, his mind was a storm, focused on only one thing, his friend. Hoping the demon hadn’t hurt him.

Kazuto snorted, hands on his hips, voice rough.

“Hm… A plan? And do what? Without magic? That’s suicide.”

Murmurs ran through the group.

“He’s right…”, “I just want to go home.”, “I didn’t sign up for this.”

Amaya, the healer didn’t look at Rei. Her gaze stayed low, fingers digging into his sleeve.

“Sorry, Rei… we wouldn’t have made it without you.”

A pause.

“But… we just want to stay alive. Back to the arena is safer.”

Sarutobi’s jaw tightened. He ran a hand over his face, exhaling sharply.

“The arena’s under attack too. We’ve got a better chance if we push forward,” he muttered, trying to sound firm. But his eyes flickered with doubt, betraying the weight of the choice.

But the group didn’t move.

Their panic hung in the air like smoke. Whispers ran through them, faces paling, fists tightening, all eyes glued to the crystal.

“The arena… it’s not safe,” one muttered, voice low and tight.

Another, voice trembling, added, “Demons… they’re everywhere. We’re screwed.”

“Not here.”

Amaya’s shoulders hunched slightly, fingers twisting nervously at her sleeves. Her gaze swept the cliff edge, then the shadowed forest beyond.

“We’ve cleared all the golems… maybe this is the safest spot?”

Murmurs rippled through the group, a quiet wave of relief.

“She’s right… maybe this really is the safest spot,” several voices admitted, shoulders loosening, grips on weapons easing. Faces that had been tight with fear softened, if only a little.

Rei bit the edge of his thumbnail, tapping his foot against the stone.He twisted on the spot, eyes darting to the crystal.

“Tsk… we’re wasting too much time,” he muttered.

If no one comes… I’ll go alone. Just need Sarutobi to open the portal.

He was about to speak when Sarutobi cut him off.

“No… we can’t.”

Sarutobi’s hand went to his face, rubbing his temple. His jaw tightened, and for a moment his voice wavered, betraying the

panic he tried so hard to hide.

“We need to protect the crystals. If we don’t… something terrible will happen.”

Denryuu frowned, tilting his head.

“Like what?”

Sarutobi’s eyes flickered, refusing to meet theirs.

“I… I can’t tell you.”

Amaya’s expression darkened, her words slicing through the tension.

“The demon king will be released.”

Sarutobi’s eyes snapped wide like it was a secret that no one was supposed to know. His jaw tightened, the tournament’s secret was out.

“Tch… indeed. The crystals aren’t just magical stones, they’re seals. Seals that hold a demon king.”

The air seemed to shiver at her words.

Denryuu stepped back, disbelief flashing across his face.

“Demon king? What are you even talking about?”

Akira’s hands clenched.

“So… if they break or get corrupted … ”

Sarutobi’s voice dropped, heavy with warning.

“Exactly. Now you understand why protecting them isn’t optional.”

A quiet panic settled over the group. One of the younger candidates whispered, barely audible.

“But… we don’t even have our magic. How can we fight?”

“Hm… magic?” Rei muttered under his breath, thumb brushing his chin.

His mind raced, a storm of thoughts spinning faster than his heartbeat.

Why now?

Why did the demons wait until now? Why not before?

The Oni’s words… the red stone… his gaze flicked to the crystal, sharp and searching. Something clicked.

“I think… I can bring your magic back!” His voice cut through the tension, sudden and certain.

All eyes snapped to him.

Akira’s mouth dropped, eyes bright with hope.

“Really? How?”

Rei stepped closer to the crystal.

“The demons…” His eyes swept the ground. “I think they hid something here during the first trial.”

“Yeah… I feel it. Something… over there.”

Daichi pointed toward the left side of the crystal.

Akira crouched down.

The ground looked… off.

Like someone had dug there before, then tried to hide it. Badly.

He scraped at the dirt with his bare hand, using his fingers like a shovel. Dirt and stone shifted beneath his fingers.

Then—

Something cold brushed against his skin.

“There! There’s really something here!”

A red stone glimmered faintly, sealed inside a thin crimson barrier. Akira reached for it. But his fingers stopped short, like hitting invisible glass.

“Oh no… we’re so close,” he whispered, frustration tightening his jaw.

Rei stepped forward, calm but resolute.

His hand moved through the barrier as if it weren’t there, fingers closing around the red stone. The stone was in his hand.

Sarutobi exhaled, relief washing over his face.

“If you’re right, we just need to break it… and our power should return isn’t?”

Rei gritted his teeth, trying to crush it.

Nothing.

Akira tried next, then Daichi. Nothing budged.

Denryuu stepped forward, smirk in place, fingers twitching with impatience.

“Hah… give me that thing”

Then, against all expectation, the crystal shattered like glass, sharp shards catching the light as it split.

Magic stirred in their veins, faint and teasing. Fingers tingled, hearts raced, but nothing sparked.

No fire, no light.

Just the raw, restless pull of power waiting, taunting them.

Sarutobi’s brow twitched, uncertainty flickering in his eyes.

“Maybe it’ll take a little time to come back,”

Minutes passed. The air remained heavy and nothing changed.

Rei’s brows drew together, mind sharp as ever.

“What if… there’s a stone under every crystal? What if we have to destroy them all?”

Sarutobi’s jaw set.

“Then we’re back at the same conclusion. We have to move forward. No more waiting.”

Daichi’s gaze flicked toward the broken crystal.

“Wait… before we move… I think there’s one under the first crystal too.”

They returned, tense, scanning the rubble. Sure enough, another stone gleamed faint red.

Denryuu exhaled slowly, a smile creeping across his face.

“I feel my true strength coming back!”

A chorus of quiet relief spread. But it faded almost as quickly as it came.

Akira’s hands sparked briefly, flames flickering over her fingertips, then fading.

The others felt it too, a little of their magic stirring, teasing, but uncontrollable.

“Finally… we can feel it again,” whispered someone, almost in awe.

“But is still not enough” someone else said.

Sarutobi drew a slow breath, eyes sweeping over the group.

“Alright kids… listen carefully. Now that we know how to unlock our power, we don’t have a choice.”

He raised his fist, trying to rally the group.

“Let’s move forward and destroy all the stones.”

But honestly, it didn’t work.

The group just stood there, exchanging uneasy looks. No one spoke. With only a fraction of their power back, the idea of facing real demons still felt impossible.

Amaya took a step back, hugging her arms close.

“Can I… stay here?” she asked quietly. “I’m just a healer. Without my full magic… I’m too weak.”

Murmurs followed.

“Me too…” , “And me.” ,  “I don’t want to die.”

Denryuu scoffed, turning sharply.

“Are you stupid?” he snapped. “And if this crystal breaks? You’ll be stuck here forever.”

Kazuto stepped forward, jaw tight.

“He’s right. Let’s go back to the arena instead.”

Sarutobi shook his head.

“No. The next crystal is forward. That’s where we need to go.”

Confusion rippled through the group.

“So… what do we do?” ,  “Who do we follow?”

Rei watched them, eyes flicking instinctively to the floating timer above the crystal.

Too slow.

His jaw clenched.

We don’t have time for this nonsense.

He stepped forward, voice cutting clean through the noise.

“Listen. The clock’s ticking.”

Silence fell.

“We split into three groups. Choose. Now.”

He pointed.

“Those who want to stay here, go with Amaya. Follow Kazuto If you want to return to the island. And those who aren’t afraid to fight, come with us.”

For a moment, no one moved.

Then feet shifted. Steps followed. The 3 groups formed kind of fast.

As expected, most gathered behind Kazuto, while the rest drifted toward Amaya.

Sarutobi glanced behind him. Only five stood there. The bravest of the thirty candidates:

Rei. Akira. Daichi. Denryuu. Kazumi.

His jaw tightened.

That’s far too few.

He raised his voice.

“Anyone who doesn’t come with us will be disqualified from the tournament.”

Kazuto didn’t even hesitate.

“We don’t care about the tournament.”

Others echoed him.

“Yeah!” , “I just want to be safe!” , “I’m too young to die!” , “We can’t fight real demons!”

Sarutobi exhaled, shoulders slumping.

He tried to make them see reason, tried to push them to follow him, but again , failed miserably .

“You’re right… I’m sorry. Okay. Let’s go.”

The group behind Kazuto gathered silently, waiting next to the crystal as they’d be the first to be teleported.

Sarutobi didn’t move.

No one else either.

Then Rei frowned, eyes narrowing, and spun toward the examiner.

“Why don’t you activate the crystal?”

Sarutobi blinked, caught off guard for a moment, then a wide grin spread across his face.

“Hm? I don’t have enough magic. You’ll need to activate it, my dear hero.”

Rei laughed nervously, scratching his head.

“Ahaha… sorry. After the darkness trial and all these fights, I’m

empty. Denryuu, your turn.”

Denryuu smirked.

“Tch… I really have to do everything, huh? What would you do without me?”

He placed his hand on the crystal.

The light flared.

The first group vanished, leaving only Amaya’s group and Sarutobi’s behind.

Denryuu reset the teleporter for a second use, pausing for a moment. His gaze sharpened as he scanned the horizon through the crystal to be sur it will be safe.

But it wasn’t.

His eyes narrowed.

“Ok guys, bad news.”

The group tensed.

“There’s a kitsune in front of the next crystal,” he said slowly. “But I don’t see Itsuki. No other yokai either.”

Rei didn’t hesitate.

“Good. At least we know our next enemy. Which mean, we can prepare a plan!”

He turned to the group.

Time blurred. Whispers. Gestures. Positions traced in the dirt. At the end, Rei looked at each of them.

“Everyone clear?”

Nods.

“Ok so let’s go.”

The crystal flashed.

They teleported in formation.

The forest stretched out around them, roots tangled like claws, stones jagged and broken, and thick fog curling through every shadow, as dense and blinding as the first time they went there.

A figure sat calmly atop a rock.

Lavender haze like a fading twilight, tails swaying.

The kitsune smiled.

“Finally you’re here,” she said lightly. “I was starting to get bored.”