The sun was still low on the horizon when Kuma and his friends began their journey back home. The towering cliffs of Las Mesozoic faded behind them, swallowed by morning mist. The air here was lighter than the thick jungle heat, carrying a calm that felt strange after days of chaos.

Jagger walked near the front. He glanced back at Kuma, who was trailing a little behind the group, and gave a small grin.

"Hard to believe I'm walking away from home," Jagger said, voice steady. "But I've decided—I'm sticking with you, Kuma. My king has enough soldiers to guard the throne. Out here... feels like the battles that matter."

Kuma blinked, surprised, but before he could answer, Amy stretched her arms above her head with a loud sigh.

"Ugh, I'm going to miss that lava sauna," she said dreamily. "You have no idea how good it feels to melt the stress right out of your bones. Honestly, I think I could live in there forever."

Max gave her a look like she'd grown another head.

"You mean boil yourself alive? No thanks." He rubbed the back of his neck. "Besides, if I see one more slab of dinosaur steak, I'm going to be vegetarian. My stomach's still fighting me from last night's feast."

That earned a chuckle from Tuskarr, who waddled along behind them, his staff clicking on the stones. "Vegetarian, eh? That'll last until the next campfire when you smell roasted fish."

Amy smirked. "Not if I claim all the fish first."

Their banter rolled over the quiet path, but Kuma stayed silent with Freedo resting on his shoulder. His fingers brushed against the purple crystal necklace at his chest. The faint shimmer inside it caught the light—reminding him of battles fought, of Bloodcrush's crushing power, and of how close he had come to breaking against that mysterious Ice Dragon.

Riyu noticed his son's gaze and slowed his pace until he was beside him. For a moment, he said nothing—just let the silence settle between them. Then, gently, he spoke.

"Kuma... you've grown a lot. Stronger, braver... but I can see it. These enemies are unlike anything you've faced before. When we return home, I think it's time I teach you something new. A spell from the Sky Dragons. One that may tip the scales."

Kuma's eyes widened, the weight in his chest shifting to a flicker of excitement. "A new spell? From the Sky Dragons?"

Riyu gave a smile. "Yes I believe it's time for me to teach you the Sky Dragon's Blessing."

Back in Nibel, Riyu led Kuma out to a high cliff where the winds roared so fiercely that even Jagger and Amy chose to stay back and watch with Freedo hiding in Tuskarr's clothes so he won't be blasted away easily in small form. Only Tuskarr trudged along, arms crossed, muttering something about "reckless dragon fathers."

At the edge of the cliff, Riyu planted his Omniblade in the ground. The wind whipped his cloak as he turned to his son.

"Before we begin, let's review the basics."

Kuma blinked. "The basics?"

"Yes. If you want to master advanced spells, you must first understand the roots." Riyu lifted a hand, the air bending around his palm. "There are six fundamental classes of magic: Water, Wind, Fire, Earth, Light, and Shadow. Every advanced technique comes from these six."

Kuma listened closely as Riyu continued.

"For example to shape lava, you must first master earth—stone, soil, minerals—and then learn how fire changes it. To call a storm, you must understand wind and water together. Even ice," he gave Kuma a knowing look, "is simply water tempered by cold and infused with control."

Kuma's eyes widened a little. "So... everything builds on the basics?"

"Exactly. Once you understand how the world breathes, you can weave advanced forms naturally. That is what separates a reckless spellcaster from a true mage."

Riyu stood, brushing dust from his robes. "Now, watch closely. The Sky Dragon's Blessing isn't just about commanding the wind—it's about becoming one with it. You must allow the air to flow through you, not around you."

"This is why we train here," Riyu said, his voice carrying effortlessly against the storm. "The Sky Dragon's Blessing is not about overpowering the wind... it is about moving with it. Watch."

He walked to the very edge of the cliff, where the wind was so fierce it could have lifted anyone else right off the rocks. The gusts slammed against him—yet in that moment, Riyu closed his eyes and raised one hand to the sky.

A low hum filled the air. Then the winds, instead of battering him, spiraled around his body in perfect harmony. A faint blue aura shimmered to life, wrapping him like an unseen armor. His cloak fluttered, but not from resistance—rather, it flowed in rhythm with the currents.

The roaring gale that had threatened to throw everyone off the cliff broke against him harmlessly, dispersing in soft streams that slipped past his sides. Behind him, for just a heartbeat, the outline of a great sky dragon formed from the rushing air, its head arched proudly before fading into mist.

Amy shielded her eyes, awe in her voice. "He's... untouched."

Jagger narrowed his gaze, gripping his arms against the wind. "No... not untouched. He's moving with the wind itself."

Riyu lowered his hand, the aura fading, and walked back as if the cliffside storm had been no more than a gentle breeze. He looked straight at Kuma.

"This is the Sky Dragon's Blessing. When done properly, even the strongest gales will carry you instead of break you. To master it, you must learn not to fight the wind... but to let it embrace you."

Kuma tilted his head, eyes narrowing as he thought it over. The winds tugged at his clothes, but he spoke loud enough for Riyu to hear.

"So... it's not about blocking attacks, but more like redirecting them?"

A small, proud smile tugged at Riyu's lips. "Exactly. To resist is to shatter. To redirect is to endure. And with enough mastery... to control."

Amy crossed her arms, still holding her hood down. "That actually makes sense. He didn't stop the wind, he redirected it around him."

Jagger smirked faintly. "Hmph. Simple words, but not simple to pull off."

Riyu stepped back, his weapon in hand. "Now. Remember the Sky Dragon's Blessing is a shield of wind, shaped not to cut, but to protect. Summon it."

Kuma stretched his hands out, letting his sky magic flare faintly around him. The wind swirled, but instead of forming a barrier, it burst outward like a shockwave. He yelped as the blast threw him flat onto his back.

Amy's laugh echoed from where she watched. "That was graceful."

Kuma groaned. "Ugh... I meant to do that."

Riyu hid a smirk behind his stern expression. "Again."

Kuma took a deep breath and stepped toward the edge of the cliff. The high winds immediately pushed against him, tugging at his kimono, nearly knocking him off balance. He grit his teeth and tried to steady his stance.

"Remember," Riyu called out, his voice steady even against the roaring gusts, "Don't fight it. Feel the wind. Redirect it."

Kuma raised his hands, trying to mimic the way his father had done moments before. For a brief second, the air swirled in front of him, forming a shaky barrier. His eyes lit up—only for the wind to slam harder, breaking through and sending him tumbling backward.

"Whoa!" Kuma rolled across the ground until Jagger caught him by the arm, yanking him back to his feet.

"You'll be flying before you learn to redirect if you're not careful," Jagger muttered with a grin.

Kuma groaned, brushing dirt off his face. "That was harder than it looked..."

"Again," Riyu said firmly, with no trace of discouragement in his tone.

Kuma nodded and tried once more, stepping into the gale. He clenched his fists, focusing on the rushing force around him, but the harder he resisted, the more violent the wind became. It battered his body, forcing him down on one knee. His aura flickered and collapsed, leaving him panting.

By the third attempt, Kuma's arms were shaking, his breath ragged. Every time, he either lost control of the energy too quickly or braced too hard against the wind, letting it overwhelm him.

Amy winced. "He looks like he's getting chewed up out there..."

But Riyu simply folded his arms, eyes sharp but calm. "This is the lesson. The harder he tries to force the wind, the more it will break him. He must learn to listen before he commands."

Kuma stumbled back from the cliff's edge, chest heaving, his clothes whipped and ragged from the relentless wind. He had tried again and again, and each attempt ended the same way, his barrier shattering, the gusts throwing him off his feet, leaving him sprawled in the dirt as if the wind was mocking him.

Freedo was chirping worried about his owner's condition as Tuskarr patted him for comfort.

Amy took a step forward. "King Riyu, maybe that's enough—"

"Not yet," Riyu interrupted, his tone firm but not unkind. His eyes were locked on Kuma, watching him rise shakily to his feet again. "He still has strength in him."

Kuma's legs trembled as he dragged himself back to the cliff. His arms raised, aura flaring desperately, but the wind roared harder. He roared back, trying to overpower it, but the harder he fought, the faster his energy crumbled. A sudden blast knocked him flat, slamming him into the ground. This time, he didn't get up.

Jagger winced. "That's the sixth time. That chimera is gonna break himself before the wind does."

Finally, Riyu moved. He knelt beside Kuma, placing a steadying hand on his shoulder. Kuma looked up at him, exhausted, frustration burning in his eyes.

"I tried," Kuma panted, with his voice hoarse. "But no matter what I do... it's like the wind's laughing at me."

Riyu's gaze softened. "That's because you are trying to fight it. You see the wind as your enemy when it is not. Sky Dragon's Blessing is not about strength, it's about trust. You do not block the wind. You do not force it. You listen. You guide it."

He stood and walked back to the cliff. The storming gusts howled, but as Riyu raised his hand, the air bent effortlessly around him, flowing like water around stone. He didn't strain, didn't resist. He simply moved with it, and the raging wind gentled as though obeying him.

Turning back, he extended his hand to Kuma. "You are not here to fight the sky, Kuma. You are here to become part of it."

Kuma wiped the dirt from his face and forced himself upright again. Riyu's words echoed in his head: Do not fight the sky. Become part of it.

"Right.. don't fight the sky... redirect it.."

He closed his eyes, ignoring the ache in his limbs. The next rush of wind came screaming toward him, and instead of bracing against it, he loosened his stance.

The wind struck him... and bent.

For a heartbeat, the gust slid past him harmlessly, like water flowing around stone. Kuma's eyes flew open, wide with shock. "I... I did it!"

But before he could steady it, his focus cracked. The current surged back, slamming into him with renewed fury and knocking him onto his back once more. The moment was gone.

Riyu stepped forward, offering him a hand. "Short-lived," he said, voice calm, though a faint smile tugged at his lips. "But you felt it, didn't you? You know the feeling of it now right?."

Kuma hesitated, then gripped his father's hand and let himself be pulled up. "Y-yeah I think felt it for a moment."

Riyu nodded. "Good, remember that feeling when you use that spell again. That is enough for today. Sky Dragon's Blessing is not mastered in one afternoon. Let's go home, rest, reflect. Tomorrow, we will try again."

The group began their descent from the cliff, the roar of the winds fading behind them. Kuma trailed a few steps behind, his thoughts still circling that fleeting moment of success. He couldn't stop replaying it, the way the wind had curved, the rush of connection that had sparked in his chest.

The sun was sinking low by the time Kuma, Amy, Jagger, and Riyu crossed the castle gardens on their way back to Nibel's entrance. Golden light filtered through rows of tall flowers, casting soft shadows over the stone path.

Amy admired the glowing petals. "This place is so pretty... I didn't know Nibel had gardens like this."

Kuma said nothing—something tugged at him, nudging him to slow down.

Then he spotted them.

A large bull anthro stood in the middle of a garden patch—Aurelio, the castle's gardener of twenty years. He wore rolled-up farmer pants, a faded red shirt, and a wide straw hat with his bull horns protruding cleanly through. His skin was a pale lavender, and the ends of his arms were covered in patches of blue fur.

Aurelio was lifting a heavy tray of seedlings... with surprising gentleness.

And helping him were two familiar figures.

Laxus, arms crossed as he supervised a crate of freshly turned soil.

And beside him, carrying gardening tools, was a tall white-haired boy.

Kuma's eyes widened at that second figure.

Tristen.

The boy turned slightly, and the light hit his face—revealing eyes that didn't match at all.

One glimmered a sharp, piercing yellow.

The other was a deep void-black, swallowing color like a tiny night sky.

Amy froze. "Wh—who is THAT?"

Kuma lifted a hand and waved. "Hey, Laxus!"

All three looked up.

Aurelio glanced over and smiled warmly, tipping his hat.

Laxus nodded once.

And the boy—Tristen—stepped forward with a faint smile.

"There is someone I'd like you to meet," Laxus said, resting a hand on Tristen's shoulder.

Tristen approached calmly, mismatched eyes studying them with a strange but gentle intensity.

"Name's Tristen," he said.

Amy stared, whispering, "Is he... human? But his eyes—"

Tristen chuckled softly. "I get that a lot. My mother was human. My father was an orca."

Amy blinked in awe. "So you're part orca too...? But you look completely human!

He brushed back a lock of white hair. "I ended up looking more like her side."

Jagger raised a brow. "And you're helping the gardener?"

Aurelio snorted—a warm, rumbling sound like distant thunder. "His plant magic does help grow the garden every thing and now."

"Ooo you have plant magic too? That's cool." Jagger said with remark impression.

Amy's eyes flicked between Laxus and Tristen. "So... how does a human-orca hybrid become related to a shark?"

Laxus folded his arms. "He's my nephew."

Amy's jaw dropped. "Your nephew!?"

Tristen shrugged. "Family comes in a lot of shapes."

Before Amy could ask more questions, Riyu called from the path ahead.

"Kuma! Amy! Jagger! Time to head back."

Kuma waved. "Coming!"

Tristen lifted a hand in farewell. "See you around."

Night settled softly over Nibel, the sky painted with silver moonlight. Kuma sat cross-legged on his bed, yawning as he stroked Freedo, who purred like a warm ember in his lap. His crystal necklace glimmered faintly in the dim light, reflecting the peaceful silence of the Nibel outside.

"Finally..." Kuma murmured, falling on his back on bed with Freedo curling beside him. "I'll get that spell mastered by tomorrow. You'll see, Dad." His eyes started to get heavy.

Just as sleep began to claim him—

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

The alarm bell split the quiet night like a blade, echoing through the night. Freedo jolted upright, his eyes glowing blue, tail twitching in alarm. Kuma sat bolt straight in bed, looking at the window. From outside, voices shouted in panic:

"STRANGE ICE-LIKE CREATURES—ATTACKING FROM THE NORTH!"

Kuma's face drained of color. "Ice creatures?!" His mind flashed back to the massive ice dragon from before. He leapt out of bed, grabbing his sword from the corner. Freedo scrambled onto his shoulder, ready for battle.

Outside, torches flared to life as guards rushed through the village, families being ushered indoors. The night wind carried a biting chill, unnatural and sharp, frosting over rooftops as it spread.

Kuma gritted his teeth and ran for the door. "Guess bedtime's canceled..."

The clash of steel and the roar of magic tore through the night. Alan's blade crackled with purple lightning as he cleaved an ice beast in half, shards scattering like glass across the frost-covered street. Beside him, Max thrust his spear forward, fire erupting down its shaft, melting a cluster of creatures that had cornered a group of terrified villagers.

"Stay behind me!" Riyu's commanding voice carried over the chaos as he spread his arms, a surge of wind bursting forth. The gale swept civilians back toward the safety of their homes, shields of air wrapping around them. His gaze flicked sharply across the battlefield, ensuring not a single citizen had been harmed.

But for every ice creature shattered, two more seemed to crawl from the shadows, their forms jagged, shifting, and unnatural. They moved with purpose...too organized to be wild magic.

"They're not attacking at random..." Tuskarr muttered, standing beside Kuma as the two watched the battlefield. His staff glowed faintly, scanning the battlefield with a wary eye. "Someone's controlling them."

Kuma slashed through one that lunged too close, frost biting at his arm even after the creature dissolved. "But who?! And what for?!"

For a moment, the fighting drowned everything out, until Kuma's eyes widened. His thoughts flashed back to the mine. To the shimmering red crystal that had nearly defeated him.

"Tuskarr..." he said, breath sharp, "...what if they're not here to attack Nibel?"

Tuskarr's head turned slowly, realization dawning in his walrus eyes. "The vault."

Kuma's grip on his sword tightened. "The red crystal... they're trying to steal it back! All this... it was a distraction for that thing!"

As if to punctuate his words, a thunderous boom echoed in the distance—not from the battlefield, but deeper within Nibel. Toward the vault.

The creatures pressed harder, as if buying their master time, their icy bodies splintering under desperate attacks. And somewhere beyond the walls of the city, unseen eyes were watching... cold, patient, calculating.

"We have to still fight the creatures, if we leave them be, they'll destroy Nibel." Kuma shouted. "What to do?"

Amy and Jagger appeared as they took out the ice creatures that got too close to Kuma and Tuskarr.

"We can hold them off while you can handle the intruder, Kuma." Riyu commanded.

"Right!" Kuma confirmed.

"We will come with you!" Amy shouted as She, Jagger and Tuskarr followed behind.

The stone corridors echoed with hurried footsteps as Kuma, Tuskarr, Amy, and Jagger sprinted toward the vault. The alarm bell still tolled above the city, its deep clangs shivering through the walls.

When they reached the massive steel doors, Kuma skidded to a halt. His stomach tightened.

Two bear guards lay slumped against the wall, their weapons scattered across the frost-bitten floor. Their chests rose and fell. They are alive, but unconscious.

"Damn it," Jagger hissed, kneeling to check one of them. "He's breathing, but out cold. Whoever did this knew how to take them down fast."

Tuskarr's eyes narrowed. He brushed frost off the vault's handles, already crusted with thin layers of ice. "No mistake who's behind this..."

Amy clenched her fists, eyes darting nervously toward the sealed door. "So the ice creatures outside really were a distraction."

As they all rushed inside, the vault was no longer a room, it became a frozen cavern. Frost had spread from wall to wall, the air thick with white haze. And at the center stood Kofu, his cobalt mask catching the glow of the red crystal in his hand.

Kuma drew his blade, Freedo growling in his battle form. Jagger's hand tightened around his card set, Amy summoned her wand with Luna on her side, and Tuskarr raised his staff.

"Together—" Jagger started.

But before they could rush, Kofu lifted his free hand and snapped his fingers.

The air cracked.

Spikes of ice erupted from the ground, curling upward like prison bars, forcing Amy, Jagger, and Tuskarr back. Freedo leapt forward with a snarl, but a single wave of Kofu's hand sent a sheet of frost across the floor, making the creature slip and skid back beside Kuma.

"Stay out of this," Kofu's voice echoed coldly. "I doubt you're more than a match to me."

Kuma's grip on his sword tightened as he thrust his hand forward, ice swirling into a sharp lance. The weapon shot toward Kofu, only to shatter into snow midair with a flick of Kofu's finger. The shards of Kuma's own attack whirled back and sliced against his shoulder, drawing a hiss of pain.

"What the—" Kuma winced, staggering back.

Another spell activated, this time a shield of ice to guard his flank. Kuma raised it in time to meet Kofu's incoming shards, but the mysterious foe's finger snapped again. Kuma's shield splintered instantly, collapsing into jagged chunks that slammed into his chest and arms.

Kuma hit the ground hard, the breath knocked from his lungs.

Freedo growled and lunged again, but Kofu's cold glare froze the ground beneath him, chains of ice coiling upward and locking the lizard in place mid-pounce.

Kofu stepped forward, cloak sweeping, voice low and calm. "Ice magic is not strength, young one. It is about control. And yours... is nothing more than brittle."

Kuma's teeth clenched, his body trembling from the sting of his own rebounded magic. He dragged himself up, glaring past through the mask, his breath ragged in the freezing vault.

The vault quaked with the crash of ice on stone. Kofu raised his hand in a smooth arc, and from the swirling frost above, a flock of jagged ice-birds shrieked into existence. They dove at Kuma, wings sharp as blades.

Kuma threw up a wall of ice instinctively, only to watch it shatter as Kofu snapped his fingers, redirecting the shards back into Kuma's side. He cried out, stumbling, his breath frosting in the air.

"Ugh...!" Kuma wiped blood from his lip, realizing it was useless. "He keeps canceling everything I throw at him... If I stay back, I'll just get torn apart."

With another sweep of his arm, Kofu conjured another flock of ice-birds. Their wings glistened with sharp edges, their eyes glowing faintly blue. They cried out as if alive, then shot toward Kuma with terrifying speed.

Kuma's grip tightened on his sword. "He may have ice magic like me but I can also do this!" He dug his heels into the frozen floor, inhaled sharply, and roared—wind exploding from his chest like a spiraling gale.

"Sky Dragon Roar!"

The torrent of wind ripped forward from Kuma's breath, slamming into the incoming birds. Some shattered instantly into glittering shards, the gust scattering them across the chamber. But as the windstorm faded, Kuma's eyes widened.

The remaining birds twisted mid-flight, wings adjusting like guided missiles, and curved around his attack. Their icy cries echoed as they broke through his defenses and slammed into him from every direction.

"GAAAH!" Kuma was hurled back, crashing against the icy wall with bone-rattling force. Frost spread across his arm, biting into his skin. His breath came in ragged gasps as he pushed himself up, using his sword as a crutch to get up.

Kofu's voice cut the moment like a knife, cold and condescending. "Don't let it go to your head." He leveled his blade toward Kuma. "Just because you've learned the Sky Dragon magic from the Dragon King... doesn't mean you'll turn the table that easily."

Amy, Jagger and Tuskarr remained behind the ice bars.

"Tch—!" Jagger summoned one of his glowing cards, fire sparking between his fingers. He slammed it against the frozen bars, flame roaring out in a wave. For a moment, the chamber was filled with light and heat. But when the blaze died down, the ice remained completely untouched. Not even a drip of water.

Jagger's jaw clenched. He growled, drew his fist back, and punched the bars with all his might. The impact rattled the cavern, but the ice didn't so much as crack.

"What the hell... it won't melt, it won't break!"

"This ice magic is fueled by... dark magic. The ice magic that person uses must have more power than Kuma. Sadly the only way out is if Kuma defeats him." Tuskarr mummered.

Kuma staggered back, his breath ragged, ice cuts stinging across his arms. His grip tightened on his blade. "If ice or sky magic range spells won't work... then I'll have to get close."

With a roar, he charged.

Steel rang out as his sword met Kofu's in a shower of sparks. The masked chimera caught the strike with one hand, blade steady, unmoving. Kuma pressed forward, swinging again and again, left, right, overhead slash, but Kofu matched every swing with fluid precision. To him, it was almost effortless, each clash like swatting away a child's tantrum.

"Good form..." Kofu muttered, his voice calm behind the mask. "...but too predictable."

He twisted his blade at just the right angle, locking Kuma's weapon and shoving it aside. Before Kuma could reset, Kofu's foot slammed into his chest. The kick hurled Kuma across the vault floor, knocking the wind from his lungs. He tumbled, coughing, vision spinning.

When Kuma looked up, Kofu was already lifting his free hand. Between his fingers, the Scarlet Warden pulsed with a sickening red glow, energy swirling around it like chains ready to bind.

"No—!" Kuma wheezed, panic flashing in his eyes.

Kofu raised the crystal higher, his voice colder than the ice around them.

"Time to take you in.."

Kuma fumbled to his feet, heart pounding. "If he uses—!"

Desperation took over. Kuma's arm moved before thought could catch up. He hurled his sword like a spear.

The blade spun through the air with a sharp whistle— CLANG!

It struck hard, smacking the Scarlet Warden clean out of Kofu's hand. The cursed crystal clattered across the icy floor, its glow faltering as it skidded far from his grasp.

Kofu's mask turned sharply toward Kuma, a flicker of surprise breaking through his usually cold demeanor.

The Scarlet Warden skidded across the vault floor, glowing faintly as it spun to a stop.

Before Kuma could even think of reaching for it, a streak of yellow and black blurred past him— Freedo. The little lizard-companion dove headfirst onto the ice, belly-sliding with surprising speed. His claws scraped, tail whipping for balance, until he skidded right into the cursed crystal.

Snatch!

With a chirp, Freedo clamped it in his jaws and bounded off, deliberately running away from Kuma. He knew his owner couldn't touch it, not after last time.

"Freedo!" Kuma called, relief mixed with urgency.

Kofu's head whipped to the side, his masked gaze narrowing. He stepped forward, frost flaring at his feet.

"Give that back."

His hand shot outward, shards of ice spiraling like talons toward the retreating lizard. But before he could close the distance—

Freedo skidded across the slick surface—tiny claws scratching, tail whipping for balance—clutching the Scarlet Warden crystal in his jaws.

Kofu lunged, his paws scraping ice, but Freedo vaulted over the chimera's swipe, sliding like a living comet.

With a flick of his body, Freedo launched the Scarlet Warden across the arena.

Kuma reached out, timing perfect.

The crystal slapped against his palms—

"Nice try whoever yo-!" Then as if fire he didn't understand burned into his flesh, searing through fur and scale. His muscles spasmed involuntarily.

"AH—what the?!"

His fingers snapped open on instinct, and the crystal clattered across the ice, skidding to a stop.

Kuma staggered back, gasping. He stared down at his paws—thin wisps of steam curling from them.

"Why...?" Kuma muttered, flexing his trembling fingers. "No one's using it... so why does it still hurt?"

A low, fractured chuckle echoed across the arena.

Kofu straightened, his large form looming as he dragged his claws across the ice.

"I wouldn't touch that if I were you, vessel," he said, three voices layered into one.

"Some relics don't need to be wielded to burn."

Kofu didn't wait.

The masked figure lunged forward, ice exploding beneath his feet as he charged, his own sword ripping free from its sheath in a flash of crimson steel.

"Enough time wasted already!."

Kuma barely had time to react.

He yanked his arms up just as Kofu's blade came crashing down—

CLANG!

The clash became a flurry. Kuma slashing left, Kofu parrying, then countering right. Kuma shifted his grip mid-motion, sliding his palm down until the sword flipped into a reverse grip. He struck upward, forcing Kofu to twist his wrist to block.

Their blades rang out again and again, close and brutal—shoulder checks, sparks, metal scraping as neither gave the other space to breathe. Kuma ducked low, slashing upward; Kofu spun, meeting him with perfect precision. At one point, Kuma even vaulted over Kofu, flipping mid-air and slashing down, only for Kofu to catch the strike with one hand and shove him back.

Steel pressed against steel, the two locked in a deadlock, faces inches apart.

Kofu's masked eye narrowed, his voice cold and sharp.

"Clearly you're trained well on the arts of sword wielding, unfortunately it's not enough for you!" He sneered.

With a vicious shove, Kofu broke the clash, sending Kuma stumbling back. His sword slipped from his grasp, skidding across the icy floor.

Before Kuma could recover, Kofu snapped his fingers.

CRACK!

The air split with frost as more ice birds took form, their wings jagged, eyes glowing like shards of frozen fire. They shrieked as they launched, spiraling down toward Kuma in a coordinated strike.

Kuma's chest heaved. Instinct screamed at him to run, to shield himself, but something deeper surged. His teeth clenched, and his hands lifted, palms open.

Not this time.

The wind around him roared, gathering in his arms. Threads of power curled and bent, wrapping his body like a storm answering his call.

Sky Dragon's Blessing!

Kuma swung his arms wide—once, twice, thrice—each motion redirecting the birds' deadly dive. The ice constructs shattered off-course, their own momentum twisting into arcs before slamming harmlessly into the vault walls.

CRASH—SHH! Splinters of ice rained across the floor.

From behind the ice bars, Amy and Jagger's eyes widened.

"He... he did it!" Amy gasped.

Tuskarr's tusks gleamed as he smirked. "It was blunt, clumsy.... but it works I suppose for now."

Kuma steadied his breath, the winds still curling faintly around his arms, when a familiar presence stepped at his side.

"Well done," Riyu said calmly, placing a hand on Kuma's shoulder for just a moment.

Kuma blinked at him, startled. "Dad?! What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be handling the ice creatures outside?"

"They're still fighting," Riyu replied. "But the others have them contained. I thought it was time I checked on this battlefield."

Across from them, Kofu's blade lowered ever so slightly. The glow in his lone masked eye shifted, after hearing Kuma calling Riyu his father.

"...So he adopted you," Kofu whispered, his voice carrying through the cold air like a secret not meant to be heard. His gaze flicked between Kuma and Riyu, narrowing beneath the cobalt mask. "I wonder if... he is responsible for it...?"

Riyu's blue eyes sharpened. "Responsible for what?"

Kuma stepped forward, his sword raised again, frustration sharp in his voice.

"What do you mean by that?! What are you talking about—?!"

For the first time, Kofu's masked gaze lingered directly on him. A tremor of something, mix of hesitation, recognition, anger, flashed in that single glowing eye. But instead of answering, his jaw tightened, and silence swallowed the air between them.

Without a word, Kofu raised his arm and snapped his fingers.

The temperature plummeted. Ice surged outward in spiraling shapes, wolves with jagged fangs, falcons with wings of razor frost, serpents coiling from frozen mist. Each one screeched and charged, a barrage of frozen animal-shaped magic rushing at them like a living storm.

"Scatter!" Riyu barked, pulling Kuma with him as they split, leaping through the narrow gaps between snapping jaws and slashing wings.

The ice wolf lunged, fangs like jagged blades, but Kuma slid low and slashed through its chest, shards scattering across the floor. He sprang back, only for three falcons to screech down at him, talons made of icicles.

Kuma swatted one aside with a burst of wind.

"You know—" slash "—for a guy who doesn't like talking—" duck "—you sure make a lot of noise!"

Kofu's single visible eye narrowed as he flicked his wrist, sending a serpentine dragon of ice snaking toward him. "Your mouth will freeze shut soon enough."

Kuma braced himself, letting wind swirl around his arm as he redirected the serpent's snapping jaws away.

"Sorry, I've tried shutting up before. Doesn't really suit me."

Another wolf lunged, Kuma kicked it aside and shot back, breathless but grinning, "At least your ice pets don't argue as much as you do."

Kofu's sneer twisted behind the mask as he snapped both arms wide. Wolves, hawks, serpents, dozens of icy beasts roared to life, circling him in a storm of snapping fangs and beating wings. Kuma and Riyu stood back-to-back, their breaths fogging the air.

"Stay sharp." Riyu muttered.

Before the creatures pounced, a barrage of light streaked across the vault. A burst of star magic slammed into Kofu's flank. Then fiery cards whirled in, detonating across the ice creatures. Finally, a blast of mana energy mist swept in, colliding with Kofu's shoulder and staggering him.

"Got him!" Jagger's voice rang out from behind the prison bars of ice.

Amy followed with another volley of starlight. "You may cage us...!"

Tuskarr's tusks glowed as he thrust his staff, shooting out water like partial shot. "...But our magic can still reach you!"

Kofu staggered a step, cloak flaring in the frigid wind. His glare snapped toward the trio behind the prison walls. "Dammit... I was so focused on these two I didn't think they'll do something stupid..."

Kuma seized the opening. His eyes locked on the mask.

He drew in the air, the Sky Dragon's Blessing crackling across his arms. But this time he didn't hold it close, didn't shield, he pushed forward, gathering the gale into his fist.

Wind roared like thunder as he lunged, swinging straight for Kofu's face. "WHO ARE YOU?!" Kuma shouted, his voice carrying through the vault.

The strike connected. The mask cracked with a sharp, splintering sound.

Chapter end.