The blood in the air was stale, but Watari could still smell it.

  The iron scent clung to the very walls of the Musabori arena, lingering from the st time he had stood here. The st time he had watched people die.

  He clenched his fist slightly, exhaling.

  Well, we’re in it now.

  The arena was filled to the brim with Musabori members of all ranks, excitement crackling in the air like static. The higher seats were packed with eager spectators, their voices a chaotic mix of anticipation and jeering ughter.

  The Heishi test always drew a crowd.

  Not because they wanted to see people succeed—but because they wanted to see them fail.

  Watari gnced toward the stands.

  Kaito and Yumi sat watching, blending into the shadows of the upper section. Kaito was leaning forward, chin resting on his fist.

  “Man, the energy in here is wild. I feel like I should be pcing bets or something.”

  Yumi didn’t respond right away.

  Her eyes were fixed on the bloodstains below. Her fingers twitched slightly.

  “This pce doesn’t change.”

  A sudden roar from the crowd signaled the arrival of their so-called host.

  Yasuke strode onto the field, exuding effortless confidence, his boots kicking up dust as he made his way to the center of the arena.

  A small group of Musabori members near the edge of the stands hyped up the crowd, chanting his name.

  “Yasuke! Yasuke!”

  He lifted a hand, motioning for silence, and almost immediately, the noise settled.

  His control over the energy in the room was absolute.

  “Well, well.” Yasuke’s voice carried easily, smooth and theatrical. “Looks like we have quite the audience today.”

  He gestured toward the six Yoriki standing at the ready—including Watari.

  “And look at these brave recruits. You’ve all worked so hard to get here, haven’t you?”

  Scattered cheers, ughter, murmurs.

  Some spectators were already taking bets on who would survive.

  Yasuke continued, his smirk widening.

  “Now, since this year’s test was pushed up ahead of schedule, we’ve had to make some changes.”

  The crowd groaned dramatically.

  Up in the stands, Yumi leaned toward Kaito.

  “How did st year’s test go?”

  Kaito didn’t take his eyes off the arena.

  “Brutal.”

  Yumi raised an eyebrow. “Brutal how?”

  “They had to kill a beast. A huge one. Tamashkii-enhanced.” Kaito’s voice was ft. “It killed most of the participants before anyone passed.”

  After a small pause, Yumi exhaled, her gaze distant.

  “I was just a kid when I saw my first test. Shouldn’t have even been watching.”

  There was something in her tone—something that made Kaito actually shut up for once.

  She continued, voice lower now.

  “That test should’ve been illegal. It wasn’t some wild beast.”

  Her fingers clenched slightly.

  “They put a Hoju in there.”

  Kaito blinked. “A Hoju? Against who? Why’d we use the Hoju for a test and not kill him?!”

  Yumi’s jaw tightened. “I’ve wondered the same things. Never gotten any answers though. Who he went up against though, it was a single Yoriki.”

  Silence.

  The weight of that statement sunk in.

  A Yoriki had no business fighting a Hoju. They were leagues apart in power.

  Kaito shook his head. “Whew, I thought the beast was brutal, but no way that guy survived.”

  Yumi let out a slow breath.

  “He didn’t just survive.”

  She finally turned her head, looking at Kaito.

  “It ended before I even understood what happened.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “The moment the Hoju released his aura, I passed out from the pressure. I was too young to handle it. But before I bcked out… I saw something.”

  Her expression darkened.

  “I saw him move. I saw the ssh. And then, he was already on the other side of the Hoju.”

  Kaito swallowed. “Damn. You saw some stuff.”

  Then he paused.

  “Wait. You were already in the Musabori back then?”

  Yumi didn’t respond right away.

  For a moment, it looked like she might actually say something, but—

  ?“Alright, alright, enough small talk,” Yasuke’s voice cut back through the air, snapping their attention back to the arena. “Let’s get to it.”

  Watari inhaled sharply, shaking off the tension as he returned his focus to the field.

  Yasuke grinned, spreading his arms wide.

  “Now, since this year’s test is a little rushed, I figured we should keep it simple.”

  Murmurs ran through the crowd.

  Simple?

  That wasn’t the Musabori way.

  What was the catch?

  Yasuke smirked.

  “All these testees have to do… is kill me.”

  The arena erupted.

  The roar of the crowd was deafening—shouts of excitement, ughter, a few jeers.

  One voice called out from the stands, “Looks like everyone’s failing this year!”

  The ughter intensified.

  Watari’s mind sharpened.

  This isn’t a joke.

  His fingers twitched toward his bracelet.

  We’re fighting him?

  His grip tightened.

  Once again, this wasn’t a test.

  It was a damn execution.

  Up in the stands, Kaito let out a gulp.

  “Uhh… Please tell me Watari’s undergone some elite Musabori training.”

  Yumi didn’t say anything.

  Her gaze was locked on Yasuke, unreadable.

  Yasuke let the chaos die down just a little before lifting a hand.

  The silver glint of his bracelet caught the light as its cube dangled from his wrist.

  His smirk deepened.

  “Take Form.”

  The arena exploded in cheers as the screen cut to bck.