The moment Ayu stepped inside, the dim golden glow of lanterns flickered across the stone walls, casting eerie shadows. The air was thick with dust, undisturbed for what seemed like years. In the center, a long wooden table stood covered in scrolls, their edges frayed with age. But what caught their attention were the walls—lined with carefully framed pictures, arranged in perfect order. Each portrait displayed a warrior, their eyes fierce, their swords resting proudly at their sides.
Kento ran his fingers across the wooden carvings below each frame. "These are the successors of the legendary swords," he muttered in awe.
Ayu's gaze followed the line of pictures until his breath hitched. "These… These are all the successors of the Average Anti-Sword."
Kaito's eyes sharpened as she pointed towards one frame. "Ayu, look here. Isn't this your father?"
Ayu's heart pounded as he recognized the man in the portrait—his father, a successor of the Sword of Destruction. His throat tightened, and before he could stop himself, memories rushed back. The past clawed at his mind, dragging him into a place he didn't want to return to.
Kento placed a firm hand on Ayu's shoulder. "Don't drown in memories that only bring you pain. Stay here, with us."
Rai nodded. "We've all lost something But"
Kaito—he turned to her with a smirk, "it looks like you've gained something big. Congratulations, you're the first female successor."
Kento's lips parted in shock. "What?"
Rai gestured towards the scrolls they had found, flipping through their ancient contents. "There are no female names in any of these scrolls. You're making history."
But their excitement quickly faded as they reached the eighth, ninth, and tenth scrolls. Unlike the others, they were blank. The ink that should have told tales of legendary warriors was missing.
Rai's voice turned wary. "Why is there nothing written here?"
Ayu's fingers tightened around the parchment. "Because there were no successors for these swords."
Kaito's brows furrowed. "But my father once told me—every sword has an owner."
Ayu's voice was grave. "Yes. But not every owner has a sword." His gaze darkened as he continued, "Think about Sensei. He trains us, but does he wield a sword with power?"
Kaito shook her head. "No… but where is his sword then?"
Ayu exhaled. "A sword can lose its owner. Maybe those missing successors faced a fate worse than death. Maybe they vanished… or something far worse happened to them."
A sudden noise echoed through the hall. A presence.
They turned swiftly as a familiar voice spoke. "Ayu."
Getsu.
Everybody come to hall Getsu was standing A all alone
Getsu shocked,"why You come here"
Ayu explaining "after you go two Shinobis attack us then I think that place is not safe anymore so we come here"
Getsu in serious tone "but we have to leave,now"
Kaito stiffened. "Where to?"
Getsu's expression hardened. "Kuroshin. A large force of Yukato's Shinobi is heading there—to find Ayu. They will destroy everything in their path."
Ayu's eyes narrowed. "But Kuroshin has an army greater than all kingdoms combined. How could they fall?"
Getsu's voice was low and grim. "Because Yukato's army is stronger."
Kento cracked his knuckles. "Then it's time for another battle."
Rai held up the scrolls. "What about these?"
Getsu studied them for a moment. "Take them. If they hold any knowledge about the swords, they might help us in the fight."
Without another word, Getsu called forth his Twilight, the majestic beast appearing before them in a swirl of dark mist. But as they climbed on, the creature shifted uncomfortably.
Getsu sighed. "We won't all fit."
Kento smirked. "Leave it to me." He raised his hand, and with a surge of power, the Twilight expanded, its body growing sleek and powerful, its fur glowing in the moonlight.
Ayu glanced at it warily. "What about speed?"
Rai stepped forward, placing his hand gently on the creature's head. A soft glow spread across its body. "Now it'll be faster than ever."
Getsu smiled. "Well done. Now, let's go."
As they climbed onto Twilight, the beast let out a powerful roar and took off into the night—faster than the wind, carrying them toward the battle awaiting them at Kuroshin.