"So basically," Katsu began, glancing at the others as they rested near the cliffside, "we were all born with hearts, not the normal kind, but the kind that decides what power you get. Our hearts are our life source. Lose it, and… either you die, or you lose your power completely."
He scratched his head. "Though honestly, I've never seen someone lose their heart before."
Kentarō snorted. "You wanna try losing yours?"
"Not funny," Katsu shot back, though a smirk tugged at his lips. "Anyway, there are different kinds of hearts. The common ones like ours… and then the legendary hearts. Rare. Ancient. The kind that can change the outcome of a fight with just one beat."
The group grew quiet. The wind shifted, heavy and uneasy.
Meanwhile, deep within the Abyssal Spire
Bellerophon's eyes opened. A wave of dread pulsed through the air.
"That feeling… something's stirring."
He raised a hand.
Mikoto, the swordsman who bore the Heart of Valkyrie, appeared in a shimmer of pale light and knelt. Calm. Controlled. Sharp.
"What do you require, Your Majesty?"
"I sense a disturbance. Investigate it… and erase it if necessary."
"As you command."
He vanished instantly, leaving only the faint hum of divine energy.
Moments later
Mikoto appeared before the boys, sitting casually on a rock as if he'd been waiting all day.
"You guys were hard to find," he said. "So you're not with Ingram. Interesting."
He stood, eyes narrowing.
"Shichiro. You're coming with me. Orders from the boss."
Katsu squinted at the faint light glowing in Mikoto's chest. "Wait, your boss is who again?"
"Bellerophon."
"Then how come you still have your heart?"
Mikoto paused. His eyes flickered.
"If you're wondering about that…"(They've never fought an elite grade before.)
"Reflect his movements, Kentarō!" Shichiro shouted.
"I CAN'T, we have new hearts REMEMBER!" Kentarō panicked.
Before they could prepare, Mikoto lunged.
Three blades flashed, two slicing through Rokuro's legs, one grazing Katsu's side.
Katsu stumbled. "Shichiro, we need a plan, we don't even have a combo yet!"
Shichiro turned, too slow.
Mikoto's blade pierced his back.
"Got you now, 'group leader,'" Mikoto whispered. "Without you, they fall apart."
The world went silent.
Katsu's heart awakened.
His aura spiked.
And then.time stopped.
Katsu stepped forward, eyes glowing.
"You shouldn't have done that."
One hit.Two.Three.
In three frozen seconds he brutalized Mikoto, then knelt beside Shichiro, pulling the blade free and propping him gently against a boulder.
Time resumed.
"Rokuro," Katsu whispered. "Freeze him… then we leave."
Still shaking, Rokuro obeyed. Ice crawled over Mikoto's body, encasing him entirely.
Silence.
Then-
crack…
The ice shattered. Golden light burned in Mikoto's eyes.
"Oh… I see now," he breathed. "So that's what you've become."
He stepped out of the frost.
"I've learned everything I needed."
His gaze sharpened, focused entirely on Shichiro.
"I'm coming for you," he said softly."I'm not holding back anymore."