A group of Hoju operatives stands in a dimly lit war room, their eyes trained on the maps and mission pns spread across the table. The air is thick with anticipation, but Ren, a newly promoted Heishi at the time, can feel something off.

  Akira—the strongest Hoju of that era—stands at the front of the room, his sharp, commanding presence making even the most seasoned operatives take him seriously. He’s dressed in a crisp white button-up, suspenders over his shoulders, exuding both authority and raw strength. His aura, so smooth and controlled, hums softly in the air—a testament to his power.

  Ren had never worked directly under Akira before, but he’d heard the stories. Missions completed with near-zero casualties, entire Musabori strongholds dismantled before reinforcements could even arrive. If anyone could stop Kuroda’s tamashkii experiments, it was him.

  The buff Hoju beside Ren nudges him, whispering, “Lucky you, rookie. You get to see Akira in action on your first major mission.” He grins. “Fastest recruit to reach Heishi level, huh? Let’s see if you live up to the hype.”

  Ren says nothing, just tightening his fists. He didn’t care about reputation. He just wanted to prove himself.

  Akira clears his throat, instantly commanding silence.

  “Kuroda’s research team has developed a tamashkii core capable of directly altering soul energy flow. If left unchecked, it could permanently shift the bance between Ju Setai and Musabori.” His gaze sweeps across the room. “Our mission: secure the core, eliminate all hostile threats, and gather intelligence on Kuroda’s next moves.”

  The mission seemed straightforward, and it should have been.

  But sometimes, things don’t go as pnned.

  ?