The forest bordering Spirit Corps Headquarters lay silent beneath a pale moon, its branches twisted like skeletal arms reaching toward the sky. Only the rustle of leaves disturbed the stillness as three cloaked figures stood upon a moss-covered ridge.
Yosuke Kaito, the 2nd Sentinel, narrowed his eyes.
"Yuko… your hesitation nearly ruined the plan."
Beside him, Konami Shinda folded his arms.
"Captain Yosuke is right. We can't afford loose ends."
Yuko lowered her head, her expression blank—empty, almost mechanical.
"Understood. I won't fail again."
"Good," Yosuke replied. "The final targets are ours."
*****
BACK AT SPIRIT CORPS HEADQUARTERS
Inside a dim strategy chamber, Yugo, Yuki, Akira, Homura, Masaki, and Tesai circled the table lit only by lantern light.
Yugo exhaled. "So Yuko's confirmed. She's guilty."
Homura nodded. "I've sent orders to every sector. Yuko Shindo is to be arrested immediately."
Tesai cracked his knuckles. "Once she's captured, she'll talk. She has to."
Akira stepped forward. "Until then… we move. Yugo and I will lead an expedition to the forest where the incidents occurred."
Yugo answered without hesitation. "Understood."
*****
OUTSIDE THE MEETING ROOM
Reiner leaned casually against the wall. "Maya, you're usually glued to Yugo's side. Why're you out here?"
Maya sighed. "Waiting. They've been inside forever… who knows what they're talking about."
Before Reiner could respond, the doors opened and the group stepped out.
Maya straightened. "Lieutenant, are you finished?"
Yugo nodded. "Maya, gather all in-command officers. Bring them to the chambers immediately."
"Yes, Lieutenant!"
Yugo turned toward Reiner. "Big bro Reiner? Why're you here?"
Reiner smirked. "Looking for my Captain. She's behind on paperwork."
Masaki froze. "What—paperwork?"
Reiner: "You're the new Captain Commander. That means… paperwork."
Masaki groaned. "Ugh… fine. I'll do it. Later, everyone."
Akira turned to Yugo. "We should head out as well."
"Yeah. See you around, Yuki."
Tesai nudged Yuki. "You sure you don't like him?"
Yuki flushed red. "Wh-what are you talking about?!"
Homura chuckled under his breath. "Still the same, Yuki."
*****
IN SECTOR 15 CHAMBER
All in-command officers knelt before Akira and Yugo.
Akira spoke first. "We're heading on an expedition."
Shoko raised her head. "Where to, sir?"
Yugo answered, "The forest. The place where Spiritualists have been disappearing."
Mikasa nodded. "Then we'll prepare camping supplies."
Akira smirked. "Isn't that obvious?"
*****
HOURS LATER - AT THE FOREST
A cold mist drifted along the trees as the group arrived.
Mikasa shivered. "So this is where it happened…"
Maya bit her lip. "The air feels… wrong."
Yugo pointed toward a clearing. "Subaru, Chika, Geto—set up the tents."
Akira joined him. "In-command officers will guard the camp after sundown. Yugo and I will investigate."
Mikasa: "Understood."
*****
NIGHTFALL
The forest grew deathly still.
Then—
A scream tore through the night, echoing across the trees.
Akira spun around. "Yugo, you heard that?!"
"Yeah!"
Yugo sprinted forward without waiting.
"Hey—Yugo! Wait!"
The two dashed through the forest, branches whipping past their faces. After three minutes they reached a moonlit clearing—
—and froze.
*****
THE BERSERK TEANSFORMATION
A Spiritualist stood hunched over another fallen comrade.
A pale, creeping substance coated his body like a cocoon cracking open from within. His eyes glowed with a feral light, unfocused and completely lost.
Akira's breath caught.
"It's just as Tesai described…"
The corrupted Spiritualist turned toward them, letting out a distorted, guttural sound that barely resembled a human voice. The remaining white husk around him pulsed, as if something inside was trying to force its way out.
Yugo stepped forward, fists clenched.
"That's no hollow… but it's not a Spiritualist anymore either."
The creature raised its head—
—and charged.
Yugo and Akira sprang apart as the corrupted Spiritualist lunged, each landing lightly on the thick branches above.
Yugo glanced down. "Captain… You don't mind if I handle this, right?"
Akira smirked. "Go right ahead."
Yugo dropped from the branch, landing soundlessly on the forest floor.
The corrupted Spiritualist turned toward him. The white substance had fully hardened across its body, forming a bone-like mask over its face and armor across its limbs. Its eyes glowed a violent, blood-red.
With a guttural snarl, it fired a blast of condensed spiritual energy.
Yugo flicked his hand, deflecting the attack as it burst against the trees behind him.
"That wasn't a Geisterstoß," Yugo muttered. "And not a Bakuhatsu either…"
Akira narrowed his eyes. "Looked like both to me."
In a burst of warped spirit flash, the creature appeared before Yugo, its fists slamming down with crushing force—
but Yugo slid aside at the last second.
"He can still use Spirit Flash," Yugo said, watching the ground crack beneath the strike.
Akira folded his arms. "Then we restrain him. We can't risk killing him."
The corrupted Spiritualist's roar shook the trees. Its mask twisted, the red in its eyes flaring brighter.
Yugo exhaled once, forming hand signs in rapid succession.
His voice echoed through the glade:
"Pillars of the heaven, fall and hold fast;
Bind the enemy, let no harm be cast.
By ancient stone and timeless might,
Seal their power, banish their plight.
As a pillar stands strong, unmoving and tall,
So shall my will be done—binding them all!"
—SUBAKAKU NO HASHIRA!
A thunderous sound split the air as five massive stone pillars descended from the sky, slamming into the earth around the creature. Glowing chains shot out from the tops of each pillar, linking together and forming a cage of spiritual force.
The pillars tightened.
The corrupted Spiritualist roared and thrashed against the chains, but the seal held firm.
Akira dropped down beside Yugo.
"With your level of Seirei no Jumon, he should be contained for a long time."
Yugo nodded, catching his breath—
Crack.
A faint sound split the silence.
Both turned.
A thin fracture shimmered in the air itself, like the sky had been sliced open.
Yugo stepped back. "What the hell… is that?"
The fracture widened—
ripping open reality like tearing cloth.
A swirling void pulsed behind it.
Then—
Two figures stepped out.
Silhouetted against the warped distortion, cloaks fluttering, spiritual pressure dripping like a storm ready to break.
The forest wind froze.