The chamber was quiet.

  Too quiet.

  A low mist rolled across the obsidian floor, cold and undisturbed. The space stretched wide in every direction—endless shadows, impossible scale. No walls. No ceiling. Just void.

  Then—

  “It is time. Prepare for battle.”

  The Shingan raised his hand.

  And the world shifted.

  The darkness bent, folding in on itself, like paper being creased by unseen fingers. In seconds, the endless bck snapped into something new.

  A grand arena.

  Stone spires jutted into the sky like broken bdes. Sand swept in a spiral across the coliseum floor. The space echoed with weight, with power—like the air itself remembered every battle that had been fought here, and every warrior who didn’t walk away.

  The Death Phantoms stood in a half-circle.

  YuYu tilted his head, arms folded behind him.

  “…Prepare?” he scoffed. “No one prepares to lose a fight.”

  He let the words hang, then gave a toothy grin.

  “Especially not me.”

  Kenzo chuckled. “Hah. Might be the truest thing you’ve ever said.”

  Daisuke didn’t smile. He didn’t look at either of them. His arms were crossed, his golden eyes fixed on the center.

  “You two are setting a terrible example… for the new order.”

  The mist thickened.

  A hearty ugh broke the tension.

  Toshiro stepped forward, his massive frame casting a shadow over the others. His smile was sharp. His eyes were fire.

  “I’ve waited for this day for a while,” he said, voice rumbling like thunder. “YuYu… I hope you’re prepared to lose.”

  YuYu licked his lips, grin widening.

  But before he could speak—

  A sigh.

  Soft. Controlled.

  Uta.

  She stood with perfect posture, brushing a strand of midnight hair behind her ear. Her gaze cut through all of them.

  “A room full of loud, fragile men pying at being fierce,” she muttered. “Embarrassing. Truly a sad day… when the only woman in the Death Phantoms is the strongest.”

  The silence that followed was immediate—and lethal.

  Kenzo arched a brow. “You’ve gotten a sharp tongue tely.”

  Daisuke gnced her way. “Snark doesn’t suit you, Uta. Also, there’s a woman as the captain of the Jumōnban. Kind of shuts down your whole point.”

  YuYu cracked his knuckles. “I’m gonna enjoy wiping that smug look off your face.”

  Toshiro just grinned wider. “Oh, I like her. She’s got bite.”

  But before things could spiral further—

  Footsteps.

  Slow.

  Measured.

  Someone approached the Shingan.

  They knelt in front of him without a word.

  Subaru.

  Still as stone. Calm as dusk.

  “My lord,” he said, his voice quiet, but firm. “May we begin? I’d like this to be over with as soon as possible.”

  The Shingan let out a soft, knowing chuckle.

  “Of course, Subaru. I know you’re eager to move on to the next phase.”

  He turned slightly, addressing the others.

  “Well then… how shall we do this?”

  He raised a brow beneath his hood. “Would you prefer one-on-ones? Or shall we go all out?”

  Kenzo cracked his neck.

  “A one-on-one sounds fun… but when everyone attacks at once, it really lets me show off.”

  YuYu’s grin didn’t fade.

  “Let’s skip the warm-up. Make it a one-v-five. I’ll still win.”

  Daisuke didn’t flinch.

  “Whatever you think is best, my lord.”

  Toshiro began chanting.

  “All out. All out. All out.”

  Uta sighed, pcing her fingers to her temple.

  “The manner in which we do it is irrelevant,” she muttered. “I’ll be the victor either way.”

  The Shingan turned his gaze back to Subaru.

  “Well then… I’ll let you make the final decision.”

  Subaru didn’t rise.

  He simply raised his head.

  “…Everyone for themselves.”

  The air tensed.

  The Shingan smirked, his robes fluttering faintly from an invisible breeze.

  “I have matters to attend to,” he said. “But I will be watching.”

  He stepped forward once, the mist rising up gently to meet his ankles.

  “This battle,” he said, “will determine your standing. Let this be the moment that decides your ranks… within the New Order. No. Within the Kegare.”

  His voice was calm—but final.

  He began to walk away, slowly fading into the veil of mist and dark.

  And just before he vanished—

  “Now begin.”

  He disappeared.

  Silence.

  Then—

  Toshiro lunged forward, bde drawn.

  YuYu matched him, ughing as he moved.

  Kenzo shifted instantly, his Reibaku igniting with crimson light.

  Uta blurred, moving without a sound.

  Daisuke raised his hand—and the air around him fractured.

  Subaru stayed perfectly still.

  And then—

  CUT TO BLACK.