Prologue — The Divided World
The year 4926 marked the end of a world.
Two assassin families—Sora and Kurai—once powerful and influential, waged a war so devastating that entire continents were erased from existence.
Four centuries later, in the year 5326, peace finally reigns.
A fragile peace.
It is sealed by a mysterious pact, known only to the leaders of both families.
A colossal, impenetrable magical wall now divides the land of Nanimonai in two. It forbids all contact between the clans, forcing each side to live in complete ignorance of the other—shaped by their own ideals, customs, cultures, and bloodlines.
And though peace endures, hatred never truly sleeps.
⸻
Region of Sora — Kita no Yama Castle
The story begins in the northern region, at Kita no Yama Castle, capital of the Sora territory.
The current leader, Oki Sora, is absent.
In his place, his wife Ame Sora watches over the family.
In the castle courtyard, their third son, Akarui, trains alone. His movements are precise, repeated endlessly—motions his body knows by heart.
Ame observes him quietly before speaking.
"Why do you keep training if you don't want to become an assassin?" she asks, her voice gentle but curious.
Akarui lowers his blades.
"It helps pass the time," he replies. "It's just routine."
Ame smiles softly.
She suggests that he take the assassin entrance test, despite his lack of interest. To tempt him, she offers a reward—an antique S-rank double sword.
"If you reach Rank A, it will be yours," she says.
Her insistence intrigues him.
Akarui asks why the sword matters so much to her, but Ame only smiles.
"I'll explain when the time comes."
He does not press further.
He trusts her.
⸻
Evening — The Castle Dining Room
That evening, the family gathers around the dining table.
Oki is still absent.
Ame announces that Akarui will take the assassin entrance exam.
Hana, the second eldest, immediately encourages him.
Gomon, the eldest, remains silent and unreadable.
The atmosphere shifts when Hana warns Akarui not to follow in their older brother's footsteps. Her words ignite a sharp argument between Hana and Gomon.
At the far end of the table, the twins—Daburu and Tsuin—laugh and joke, deliberately distancing themselves from the world of assassins.
After the meal, Gomon intercepts Akarui in the courtyard.
"Don't go," he says curtly.
Akarui frowns. "Why?"
Gomon turns away.
"Just be ready to face the consequences."
He disappears into the shadows, leaving Akarui confused.
Unseen, hidden by a concealment spell, Hana has heard everything.
She watches Gomon descend into the castle basement—and slip into a secret room.
⸻
The Next Day — Kita no Yama City
The following morning, Akarui heads into the city to register for the test.
In front of the assassins' headquarters—the Tatemono Asashin—a dense crowd has gathered. Aspiring assassins stand shoulder to shoulder with seasoned professionals seeking contracts.
Akarui walks forward, unimpressed.
Suddenly, a thug lunges at him from behind.
Before Akarui can react, another candidate intervenes, striking the attacker down in a single motion.
A young man with sharp eyes and crackling energy straightens up.
"I hate you, son of Sora," he says coldly. "I knew it just by looking at your face."
He smirks.
"Get ready. We'll meet again very soon."
Akarui says nothing.
He simply turns away, already dismissing the man as nothing more than a jealous nobody.
⸻
That Night — The Poor District
Dark alleys. Broken streets.
Supido Furasshu walks alone.
Voices echo nearby.
"The Sora family… gods, they're too powerful. Too elegant."
Supido stops.
Lightning strikes the ground at his feet.
In a flash, the alley is filled with screams—and then silence.
Bodies collapse.
Supido grabs the loudest man and crushes his skull against the stone.
"I will kill them," he growls.
"All of them."
Behind a wall, an unknown boy—Nagi Vechiato—holds his breath.
He saw everything.
⸻
Two Weeks Later — Sora Castle
Two weeks pass.
Akarui continues his training.
On the eve of the test, Hana comes to see him.
"Not too stressed?" she asks.
"No," Akarui replies calmly. "I just want to see where I stand."
She smiles.
"When you graduate, will you join my faction? I'll save the right-hand position for you."
"I haven't thought about it," he says. "I'm only doing this because of an agreement with my mother."
Hana laughs softly and ruffles his hair.
"Be careful. And if you need anything… I'll be there."
Akarui hesitates.
"Where is she, anyway?"
"She had to leave urgently," Hana replies. "But she'll be there to see you shine."
⸻
Two Hours Later — The Raundo
Before the towering structure known as the Raundo, over a hundred young aspirants gather.
Supido stands among them, his gaze filled with hatred.
Suddenly, silence falls.
A man appears.
"Welcome, young assassins," he says with a grin. "Today, I will be your… trainer."
He pauses.
"Or your executioner."
Whispers ripple through the crowd.
"I am Kyoshi, of the Kisa faction. Top Ten."
His presence alone crushes the air.
"This test will leave no room for hesitation. Those who wish to leave—do so now."
No one moves.
The ground trembles.
A cold, oppressive magical wave sweeps through the candidates.
Kyoshi snaps his fingers.
⸻
Teleportation — Isolated Mountain Plain
Blinding light.
Violent wind.
Cries lost in magical chaos.
Then—silence.
Akarui finds himself on a vast mountain plain, cliffs rising in every direction. A magical barrier seals the perimeter.
Kyoshi reappears in the sky, his voice amplified.
"Simple rules," he announces.
"Fight to the death. Only one hundred survivors."
A pause.
"Form alliances of up to five if you wish. Betrayal is allowed."
"Good luck."
He vanishes.
Two candidates attack Akarui immediately.
He dodges. One slash opens a chest. The other flees.
Suddenly, a presence.
"You—Sora's son," a man with an axe laughs. "I spotted you back at the Tatemono. I knew you weren't like the others!"
"Tch. You all say the same thing," Akarui mutters, raising his guard.
"I'm Kyofu Zefa!" the man shouts, hurling his axe. "Nice to meet you!"
Akarui dodges—
—but the axe reappears in front of him.
A violent blow strikes his back.
He crashes to the ground, gasping.
Akarui forces himself up.
The battle had only just begun.
⸻
— End of Prologue —