In Yamato, a nation that venerates dragons as sacred, there are those who harbor a desperate longing to cast off their humanity and transform into the creatures themselves.
Koumaru Sakai was a man consumed by this yearning, more so than perhaps anyone else.
As a former researcher for the Government's Secret Research Institute, he had encountered the one person who personified his obsession—Raiha. From that moment, his fascination had spiraled into a frantic, absolute madness.
"This plan has been a long time in the making. But it was worth the wait, for I finally have the ultimate experimental subject in my grasp!"
Raiha gasped, the color draining from her face.
Realizing she was Koumaru’s true target, she stepped forward to shield Yui. Her mind raced, searching for a way to let the younger girl escape, but she knew that if Yui were taken hostage, all would be lost. As she stood frozen, Koumaru continued with a manic grin.
"Raiha Utusemi, you are the perfect specimen! What becomes of those who feast upon the flesh of a half-dragon? Will the children you bear inherit that same dragon power? With you, my research will advance by leaps and bounds!"
His madness seemed to swell, radiating from him in waves as he fixed a bloodshot stare on Raiha.
Just as he reached out a hand toward her, a silver flash cut through the air between them. The strike was so precise and powerful that the carriage was sliced clean in half.
"Oh? My, my...!"
"Art thou safe, Raiha?!"
"Sakura! Setsuna!"
Naginata in hand, Sakura—having just cleaved the transport in two—scooped up Raiha and Yui to put distance between them and Koumaru.
She landed gracefully beside Setsuna, who already had her bow drawn. Sakura reset her stance, her eyes sharp and vigilant.
"Yui, use the communication device to contact Yugo and the others. They will surely bring reinforcements."
"Y-yes!"
Setsuna tossed the device to Yui without breaking her gaze from Koumaru.
As Yui caught it and began a frantic plea to her brother, Sakura leveled her weapon at the traitor.
"Koumaru! Thou art the mastermind behind this entire plot, art thou not?!"
"Precisely. You have no idea of the hardships I endured to reach this stage..."
"We have no desire to hear the tale of thy struggles," Sakura interjected. "Such words are a waste of breath."
Indeed, rising from a researcher in a secret institute to a high-ranking government diplomat must have required immense effort and calculated cruelty. However, Setsuna and Sakura cared nothing for the methods he had used to claw his way into power.
"Prepare thyself, Koumaru! This is an act of high treason against Yamato! We shall see that thou art granted the punishment thou deservest!"
"We aren't alone here," Setsuna added. "The Academy’s finest elites are standing guard. No matter how many Magic Armor Beasts you’ve brought, we won't fall so easily."
Though the swarm of Gigantrose surrounded them, the situation wasn't entirely hopeless. The guards consisted of warriors who excelled in combat, including students hailed as Hero Candidates. Breaking through such a line would be no simple feat.
Furthermore, Koumaru had failed to account for the communication device Anhel had crafted. Once Yugo and the others were alerted, reinforcements would be on the way. They only had to hold out until then.
Setsuna and Sakura stood firm, believing that Koumaru had made a fatal error by allowing the Luminous Academy students to act as their escort. They expected him to show frustration, but instead, a relaxed, entertained smile played across his lips.
"No, I was well aware of that. I had no desire to place myself at a disadvantage... but he was so insistent on doing it this way."
"'He'?" Setsuna’s brow furrowed at the cryptic remark.
At that exact moment, a thunderous roar shook the earth, and several students were sent hurtling through the air like ragdolls.
"No... it couldn't be!"
Raiha groaned, her skin crawling as she sensed a terrifying threat approaching through the screams of the students and the sudden, raging gale.
The ground shuddered as a massive, muscular man plummeted from the sky, landing with a heavy thud right beside Koumaru.
"What's this? Are these supposed 'skilled' Magic Knight Apprentices really this pathetic? Where's that swordsman and the guy in the black armor?"
"Unfortunately, they are not here," Koumaru replied smoothly. "These leftovers might prove a bit dull for your tastes."
"Heh, fine by me. I'll leave the trash to the Magic Armor Beasts... as for me, I think I'll play with the little female who’s to be my mate."
The newcomer had spiky silver hair and a heinous silhouette that inspired primal dread. His very presence radiated a volatile, bloodthirsty aura.
The Warrior Shrine Maidens watched in horror, stunned by the man who had neutralized several of their allies in the blink of an eye. Raiha, who had crossed paths with him once before, felt her voice tremble.
"The Dragon Eater... Zaraki...!"
"Heh, so you remember me? I’m touched!"
Zaraki grinned, a terrifying expression devoid of any warmth or humanity.
Every person from Yamato knew of the heinous criminal before them. The shrine maidens turned pale as the realization dawned on them: Koumaru was in league with a monster.
"Honestly," Koumaru sighed, "because you insisted on your little thrills, I’ve been made to look incompetent."
"What’s the big deal? I’ve done everything you asked so far, haven't I?"
"Please do not forget that it was I who arranged your escape from the country. Your service is merely the price for that favor."
The two men spoke with a strange familiarity, though it was clear there was no true trust between them.
The moment Zaraki turned his gaze toward the girls, Setsuna and the others felt a crushing pressure settle over them. They held their breath, every muscle tensed in fear.