The following day, November 4th, during lunch at the academy, Hinata sits at the usual table with Sama, Fumiko, and Josuke. The cafeteria hums with chatter, but among them, a heavy tension lingers. The group has grown accustomed to a missing presence at their table.

  Hinata pushes her food around, barely eating. Her eyes occasionally drift to the empty seat where Rei usually sits. It's been two weeks since the assassination attempt, and his absence weighs on her more than she wants to admit.

  Fumiko notices Hinata's distraction. "It's weird not having him here, isn't it?" she says quietly. "Even though I didn't know him as well as you did."

  Sama nods. "The table feels unbalanced. I never realized how much space his presence filled until now."

  Hinata sets down her chopsticks with a soft clatter. "I'm going to visit Rei again today," she says. "See how he's healing. Are any of you coming?"

  Sama, Fumiko, and Josuke all shake their heads.

  Fumiko stretches slightly, rolling her shoulders. "Training with Josuke has been going great. His concept is improving faster than I expected. He can almost turn sand into crystal now."

  Josuke exhales sharply. "Still not good enough."

  Hinata glances at him, sensing something deeper behind his words. The change in him has been alarming—his usual laid-back demeanor replaced with a grim determination. Ever since Rei transformed during the assassination attempt, Josuke had been distant, throwing himself into training with an almost desperate intensity.

  "Josuke," Hinata begins carefully, "you haven't visited Rei once since it happened. Don't you think—"

  "I can't," Josuke cuts her off, his knuckles white around his juice box. "You weren't there, Hinata. You didn't see what I saw." His eyes take on a haunted look. "When Hikito took over, he looked at me like I was nothing. Less than nothing. And he was going to kill me—would have, if Rei hadn't fought back."

  Fumiko and Sama exchange uncomfortable glances.

  "I've never felt so powerless," Josuke continues, his voice lower now. "Me, who passed Haikito's trials, who earned my place here—reduced to a terrified kid again." He crushes the juice box in his hand. "I can't stand the sight of him right now. Being called weak... I'm not dealing with that again."

  Hinata studies him for a moment, then speaks in a calm voice, "When Rei returns, I hope you two can talk. Maybe even be friends again."

  Josuke scoffs but says nothing. The memory of Rei—no, Hikito—towering over him with those cold blue eyes still sends shivers down his spine. It wasn't just fear—it was the brutal reminder of every childhood taunt, every moment his father had called him useless. In that moment, he was eight years old again, powerless and afraid.

  Hinata sighs softly, watching him before turning to Sama. "What about you?"

  Sama shakes his head. "I have patrol duty tonight. Master Rengo, Gojima, Bernard, and Dante are doing sword training."

  Josuke, finally breaking from his hardened demeanor, squints in confusion. "Who the hell is Dante?"

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  Hinata chuckles, relieved to hear a glimpse of Josuke's usual personality. "One of the academy's greatest heroes."

  Josuke, who followed the academy closely even before joining, snaps his fingers as recognition dawns on him. "Oh, he's the one nicknamed 'Blade of the Limitless,' right?"

  Hinata nods. "That's him."

  The group murmurs among themselves about rumors they've heard of Dante—his fights, his techniques—but they all realize something: they never actually knew his name.

  Inside the Academy Hospital -- Rei's Mind Awakens

  Rei's body flickers again, unstable energy rippling through the medical ward. The hum of machinery monitoring his vitals crackles with static. But then—his body suddenly stabilizes, the flickering ceasing entirely.

  Inside his mind, Rei finds himself seated across from Hikito.

  Underneath the four glowing eyes in his mind, doors now exist. They were never there before.

  Hikito tilts his head, his expression both intrigued and amused. "Oh? Looks like we have a guest now, don't we?"

  Rei remains expressionless. "Did you wipe my memory?"

  Hikito shakes his head firmly. "No, I didn't. That wasn't me." He leans forward, eyes intent. "Our memories were taken from both of us, brother. I just happened to wake up sooner inside this shared mind."

  Rei narrows his eyes. "Then why are you helping whatever—or whoever—is trying to use us?"

  Hikito's expression softens, showing genuine confusion. "I'm not sure I can explain it, Rei. It's like... a calling. I feel Lucifer's will inside me. It feels right, like fulfilling a purpose I've always known." He taps his chest. "I don't know why, but I know we were chosen for this."

  "Chosen to be what exactly?" Rei demands.

  "The vessel, the bridge between worlds." Hikito's voice carries conviction rather than cryptic mystery. "We're meant to bring Lucifer back. I don't know all the details either, but I can feel it's true."

  Rei's expression remains cold. "You sound delusional."

  "And you sound naive," Hikito counters. "Think, brother. The whispers in the dark, the way reality bends around you. You feel it, don't you? You've always felt it. The world is shifting, and we are at its center."

  Rei clenches his fists. "I won't be a pawn in anyone's game."

  "You already are," Hikito says, not with mockery but with what sounds like concern. "The only choice you have left is whether you accept it or let it consume you. Fighting it has already cost us both so much pain."

  Rei's eyes narrow. "You almost killed Josuke. My friend."

  Hikito's expression hardens instantly. "Friend? That weakling?" His voice takes on a colder edge. "The weak have no place in Lucifer's presence. They will only hold us back from our destiny."

  Rei rises to his feet, anger flashing in his eyes. "That's not for you to decide!"

  As their tension builds, the red-eyed door begins to pulse, emitting waves of crimson energy that fill the mental space with heat and pressure. The door creaks open further with each surge.

  Hikito clicks his tongue, glancing at the door. "Well then... looks like our conversation will have to wait. But remember my words, Rei. This connection between us, these doors appearing—it's all happening for a reason. You will understand soon enough."

  His body starts to fade as the red energy from the door intensifies, and as he dissipates, Rei's real-world body stops flickering.

  From the red door, a tall, slender man steps forward. His body is riddled with scars—not just marks, but a tapestry of battles fought and survived. Each scar tells a story, a testament to wars endured, wounds that should have claimed his life but didn't. This is not just a man—this is a warrior who has seen the brink of death and laughed in its face.

  His burning red eyes glow against his pale, scarred skin, each illuminated mark etching a tale of violence, resilience, and an unrelenting will to survive. His arms are unnaturally long, ending in sharp claws. His hair—sleek red and wild like a lion's mane—gives him an untamed presence. Despite his lean frame, his aura is crushing.

  A devilish grin spreads across his face before he bursts into manic laughter.

  Rei immediately shifts into a defensive stance, eyes locked on the newcomer. The man's every step feels calculated, exuding an aura of power and control.

  Rei assesses him quickly. His reach is dangerous—engaging in close combat would be reckless.

  The man finally stops walking, tilting his head ever so slightly, still grinning.

  In a calm yet manic voice, he speaks.

  "Finally, we meet, young master."