Silence.

  Not the kind that follows a simple win.

  The kind that lingers when no one—not a single soul—understands what just happened.

  Watari’s breath was caught in his throat.

  Kaito wasn’t breathing at all.

  Ryuko’s fingers twitched over his bde.

  Ren—unreadable. But his grip was tighter than usual.

  Even Yumi, who always had something to say, was just staring.

  All they saw—

  Were sshes.

  Then Hyouma falling.

  That was it.

  There was no movement.

  No csh of weapons.

  No bursts of speed to follow.

  Just…the result.

  Akanagi was gone.

  Hyouma was bleeding out.

  And Ayase?

  Standing there like he didn’t even lift a finger.

  Watari exhaled sharply, his body still tense from the fight that never happened.

  His fingers curled around his hilt.

  His thoughts raced.

  “Just like Koharu…… he’s faster than Ikazuchi.”

  The realization hit like a stone.

  “They’re faster than my fastest.”

  His mind reeled, gears turning.

  Had he…?

  Had he been overestimating himself this whole time?

  He always thought he was one of the fastest.

  No—he thought he was the fastest.

  But Ayase didn’t just beat Hyouma.

  He erased the fight before it even started.

  Watari’s jaw clenched.

  “Am I really that slow?”

  Ayase let out a sharp exhale, breaking the silence.

  “I am the Lieutenant of the Jūmonban.”

  His voice was steady. Unshaken.

  “Did you expect anything less?”

  A beat.

  His golden eyes flickered over to them, glinting like sharpened steel.

  “What power did you think I possessed?”

  He tilted his head slightly.

  “Anything less than this would be a mockery to the tenth veil.”

  The squad let out a breath—like the room had just let go of its hold on them.

  Kaito chuckled first.

  “Damn. Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

  Watari let out a breath too. A half-smirk pulling at his lips.

  “No point arguing with that.”

  The tension eased.

  The room started to settle.

  Then—

  A whisper.

  The squad froze.

  Their heads snapped back toward Hyouma.

  He was still conscious.

  Still breathing.

  Blood dripped from his body, but his lips—they were moving.

  A whisper.

  Soft. But cold.

  “Everything we do… we do for the Shingan.”

  A chill crawled down Watari’s spine.

  Hyouma’s fingers twitched.

  “The Kegare… are just beginning their moves.”

  Yumi narrowed her eyes. “What?”

  “The Chūkan is not prepared for what they have pnned.”

  Kaito took a step forward. “Oi—”

  Then—

  A crooked smirk.

  A pause.

  Then—

  “Our pns will make the very air of the Chūkan… shake with fear.”

  Watari tensed.

  “Huh?”

  Hyouma’s throat shifted.

  Then—

  A cough.

  Something fell from his mouth.

  A small, glowing pill.

  Watari’s brows furrowed. “What the hell is—”

  Ayase’s eyes widened.

  For the first time all night—

  There was something in his expression.

  Not amusement.

  Not confidence.

  Fear.

  “No—don’t!”

  TOO LATE.

  Hyouma’s fingers clenched—

  And in one swift motion—

  —CRUSHED THE PILL IN HIS PALM.

  A pulse of pure energy exploded outward.

  Then—

  BLINDING WHITE LIGHT.

  A shockwave ripped through the chamber.

  The entire room vanished in white.

  And then—

  CUT TO FLASHBACK.