An unranked knight needed no famous name to enter. The arena was open to challengers willing to abide by its rules.Those rules forbade killing in ordinary bouts; only the tournament’s specified exceptions permitted a fight to the death.“We’ll do our best, but Commander Isamu, the War God Commander, has probably already told that young man!” said Riki.“Goddess! How is Kin Natsuo doing? Is he all right?” asked Shiroha.Natsuo, now twenty-one, was Reira’s only great-grandchild. She meant him to succeed her at the Frozen Lake Sect and inherit her Snow Arts.“He’s doing fine; in fact, he’s already reached the Middle Level,” replied Reira.Reira turned the cane in her hands. She had once expected him to advance faster; many of his fellow disciples were already approaching the Upper Knight level.Now she was asking about a boy younger than Natsuo who had withstood four renowned knights at once.“Goddess, will this tournament go smoothly? I’m worried, especially since that incident happened

“Kazan Nii-chan!”The name checked Sky Blade’s stride. Across the courtyard, several attackers looked toward the entrance.No one appeared. The fighting resumed, and Sky Blade took another step toward the bedroom door.Sky Blade intended to break down the door to Enjou’s room, but suddenly he sensed someone with immense energy approaching from the front of the house.“This power…? Is this Commander Isamu’s power?” thought Sky Blade, assuming it was Isamu.He turned toward the entrance. Behind him, Wind Blade struggled with his wounded leg while Kenzou pressed Water Blade back.From the hall, Sky Blade saw a black-clad youth cross the entrance, half-mask fixed over his face.The youth struck down the nearest attackers and drove toward Fire Blade in the courtyard.“Kazan Nii-chan!” Rika pulled against the men holding her. Her brother had come home.“A masked young man? Is he the one Kaito told me about?” Sky Blade wondered to himself.Sky Blade stayed beside the hall, watching. Let Fire

Kazan withdrew his Killer Aura and let the demon form fall away with it. Then he rushed toward Rika.Two attackers lunged for Rika as the pressure lifted. Kazan reached them first. He struck through their guard, then turned on the others before they could seize her again.“Rika!” He caught her as her knees gave way.No blade had touched her. Her eyes had fixed on the bloodied sleeve; then they rolled closed.Kazan carried her into a sheltered inner sitting room and laid her on a cushioned bench. Then he returned to the courtyard. Jian and Sheng still held Earth Blade; Water Blade was retreating from Kenzou.The remaining henchmen broke for the gates and walls. No one waited for another order.Fire Blade, Sky Blade, Wind Blade—three of their five strongest fighters were dead.“Master! Leave him to me. You just go after those trying to escape—if possible, don’t let a single one get away, and make sure they all die!” said Kazan.Kenzou nodded without speaking and leaped away to chase the

“Stop! Who are you?” Five knights sprang across Kazan’s path as he entered the Blood Blade Circle’s headquarters.Beyond them, roughly a dozen men and women remained among the treehouses. Several reached for their weapons.“I’m giving you one chance. Leave this place now,” Kazan said.“What do you mean, and who are you? Why should we obey you? We’re here on the Leader’s orders to guard the headquarters, so he’s the only one with the right to command us.”“We obey only the Leader, even if it costs us our lives!” One knight planted himself in Kazan’s path.The others closed around him, blades leveled at his chest.“Then you’ve made your choice.” Kazan rolled his shoulders. His neck cracked as he turned toward the nearest sword.The pursuit through the forest had left his muscles stiff. He stretched once more, watching their faces.“Your leaders have fallen. Sky Blade is dead, and no Blade Knight is coming back to save you.”A sword point dipped. Its owner glanced toward the path Kazan ha

White stretched in every direction. Somewhere beyond it, Arata was calling for someone.“Now you can speak to him, but you won’t be able to see him, and your time is very limited! Call out and explain everything to your master quickly!” Shigure’s voice sounded again.Kazan nodded and then began calling out Arata’s name.“Master! Can you hear me?”***Arata turned inside the whiteness. Nothing changed; there was no door, no ground he could distinguish from the light.“Hiyori! Mei!”Arata walked through the whiteness, calling for his daughter and granddaughter. No shape emerged to answer him.“Teacher! Can you hear me?”He stopped and turned toward the familiar voice.“Kazan! Is that you?” asked Arata, but he could see nothing of him.“That’s right, Teacher—it’s Kazan!” replied Kazan.“Kazan, where are you? I can’t see you!”“Teacher, I don’t have much time here! You must return now because your body is being taken over!” said Kazan.Arata stopped. The attack on the house, his transforma