Island of Mystery

The Mission Briefing

Inside the safehouse, Satoshi and Reina gathered the Elements, their expressions serious.

A map was spread across the table, marking a remote island in the middle of the ocean.

Hikaru sat quietly.

His gaze flickered toward his sister, who sat in the corner, eyes red from crying.

He wanted to ask—but something told him she wasn't ready to talk.

Satoshi adjusted his glasses, bringing the focus back to the mission.

"There was a sighting of dark energy on this island," he explained. "If this report is accurate, it could mean only one thing—"

Reina finished for him.

"The Element of Darkness."

The room fell silent.

The Element of Darkness…

A power that was the opposite of Hikaru's own.

A power that was feared for its destructive potential.

And it was waiting for them on this island.

The Problem – How to Get to the Island?

Moriya furrowed his brows. "That's great and all, but how the hell do we get there?"

Ikazuchi crossed his arms. "Yeah, we don't exactly have a boat just lying around."

Sora smirked. "I could probably fly us there if the wind is strong enough."

Reito deadpanned. "That's the dumbest idea I've ever heard."

Sora shrugged. "Worth a shot."

Hikaru sighed, rubbing his temples.

"…My dad is a pilot."

Everyone turned to him.

Ikazuchi blinked. "Wait. What?"

Hikaru nodded. "Sasuke Nozomi. He's a trained pilot. He can fly us there."

Sasuke's Concern

At the Nozomi household, Hikaru and the others explained the situation to Sasuke.

He listened carefully, arms crossed, his protective father instincts on high alert.

"A mysterious island?" he repeated.

Hikaru nodded. "Yeah. We need to go there. It's important."

Sasuke sighed. "I should say no."

Hikaru tensed. "But—"

"But," Sasuke interrupted, "if I don't take you, you'll just find some other way to go, won't you?"

Hikaru smiled sheepishly. "Maybe."

Sasuke exhaled, shaking his head.

"Fine. I'll fly you there."

The Elements cheered.

But before they could celebrate, Sasuke turned to Hikari.

She hadn't said a word since they arrived.

And her eyes were still red.

"Hikari," Sasuke said gently, kneeling beside her. "Why are you crying?"

Hikaru also frowned, concerned. "Yeah… what happened?"

Hikari bit her lip.

She wanted to tell them.

But if she did…

They would hate Teshii.

And despite everything, she didn't want that.

So, she shook her head.

"…It's nothing."

Hikaru didn't believe her.

But he didn't push.

Sasuke sighed but didn't pry either.

"Alright. If you say so."

But deep down, he knew something was wrong.

Departure – Teshii's Absence

The next day, the Elements packed their gear and prepared to head for the Island of Mystery.

As they did, Satoshi gave them one final order.

"This mission will be without Teshii," he said.

The mood in the room dropped instantly.

No one said anything.

No one needed to.

Teshii had vanished after his outburst, and they had no idea where he was.

Moriya sighed. "It's weird not having him around."

Haruto nodded. "It doesn't feel right."

Sora smirked, trying to lighten the mood. "Maybe he'll mysteriously show up when we least expect it."

No one laughed.

Even Sora felt empty without Teshii's presence.

Still, the mission had to continue.

With heavy hearts, the Elements boarded Sasuke's helicopter.

As the blades roared to life, Hikaru took one last glance at the safehouse.

He hoped Teshii was okay.

Then—the helicopter lifted off, soaring toward the unknown.

Elsewhere – The Awakening of Darkness

Far away, on an isolated island, a storm raged.

Dark energy swirled through the skies, thick clouds blotting out the sun.

And at the center of it all—

Yami Utsuro stood alone.

His body trembled as waves of darkness pulsed through him, consuming the air around him.

His once-human eyes were now a deep, piercing violet.

His fingers curled into a fist, and with a simple motion—

The ground cracked beneath him.

A voice spoke from the shadows.

"Do you feel it?"

Yami didn't answer.

He simply smiled.

Arrival at the Island of Mystery

The helicopter touched down on the shores of the mysterious island, its rotors stirring up sand and loose leaves.

The Elements stepped out onto the rocky terrain, their eyes scanning the unfamiliar landscape.

A dense jungle stretched before them, the air thick with humidity.

Hikaru turned to Sasuke, his father.

"Dad, stay here with the helicopter," Hikaru instructed. "If things go wrong, we need a way off this island."

Sasuke exhaled. "Alright, but be careful. This place doesn't feel right."

Hikaru nodded before looking back at the others.

"Let's move."

With that, the Elements ventured into the island, leaving Sasuke behind.

A Shadow Watches

As Sasuke leaned against the helicopter, keeping an eye on the treeline—

A shadow moved.

A figure emerged from the jungle, silent as the wind.

Sasuke felt it instantly—someone was watching him.

He turned, but the figure had already disappeared into the trees.

His grip on his sidearm tightened.

"…What the hell was that?"

Exploring the Island – The Voices

The Elements pushed through thick jungle vines, making their way deeper into the island.

After some time, they discovered an ancient stone chamber, half-buried in the earth.

The entrance was carved with symbols of darkness, the air around it feeling unnatural.

"This place is giving me a bad feeling," Haruto muttered.

Sora smirked. "Yeah? Then we're definitely going in."

Hikaru sighed. "Stay sharp."

They stepped inside.

Darkness swallowed them whole.

Then—

"Shut up, Moriya," Ikazuchi snapped.

Moriya frowned. "I didn't say anything."

Ikazuchi turned to him. "What? But I just heard—"

Then—

He heard Reito's voice.

Then Tetsuya's.

Then Daichi's.

But none of them were speaking.

His breath hitched.

"…What the hell is going on?"

Introduction to Mind

A slow chuckle echoed through the chamber.

A figure stepped out from the darkness, his eyes glowing with eerie blue energy.

His expression was calm, calculating.

"Interesting," the man mused. "Your minds are quite… loud."

The Elements immediately took defensive stances.

The air around them pulsed.

The pressure in their heads grew.

Hikaru gritted his teeth. "Who are you?"

The man placed a hand on his chest and smiled.

"I am Mind."

His voice wasn't just spoken—it echoed in their heads.

"I am a mutant with telepathy. And right now—"

He smirked.

"I can hear everything you're thinking."

The Fight Against Mind

The Elements charged forward.

Ikazuchi unleashed a thunderous blast.

Reito fired shards of ice.

Sora conjured gusts of wind.

But—

Before their attacks could land, Mind simply raised a hand.

A powerful psychic shockwave erupted, sending them flying back.

Hikaru gritted his teeth.

He pushed himself up and rushed forward, summoning the Element of Light.

But—

Before he could get close, his legs locked up.

His body stopped moving.

His mind screamed, but his body refused to listen.

Mind smirked. "Ah. Paralysis."

Hikaru's eyes widened.

Mind placed a finger to his temple.

"Your willpower is strong, but even the strongest minds can be… broken."

Then—

The room suddenly darkened.

A deep, thick energy flooded the chamber.

And in that moment—

Hikaru saw him.

A dark silhouette stood in the shadows.

A presence so familiar yet so foreign.

His breath caught in his throat.

His eyes widened in shock.

It was him.

Yami Utsuro.

His childhood friend.

Now standing before him—

Awakened as the Element of Darkness.

The Element of Darkness Revealed

The dark energy in the chamber was suffocating.

It clung to the air, pulsing with a presence that felt unnatural, yet familiar.

Hikaru's heartbeat pounded in his ears.

Yami Utsuro—his childhood friend—stood before him.

But he wasn't the same Yami Hikaru had once known.

Dark tendrils of shadow coiled around his fingers.

His violet eyes glowed eerily in the dim light.

And his expression—once cold but human—was now void of warmth.

He wasn't just standing there.

He was radiating power.

Hikaru's voice was shaky.

"Yami… what are you doing here?"

Yami didn't answer at first.

He simply stared at Hikaru, his gaze unreadable.

Then, in a voice devoid of emotion, he finally spoke.

"I'm the Element of Darkness."

The words hung heavy in the air.

None of them could deny it.

The proof was right in front of them.

A Question of Loyalty

Hikaru clenched his fists.

"Why are you working with a mutant?"

His voice was a mix of confusion and anger.

Yami's expression didn't change.

"I have my reasons."

Haruto narrowed his eyes. "You're siding with Mind?"

Yami finally looked at Mind, who stood silently, observing the situation with amusement.

Then, Yami looked back at Hikaru.

"I don't trust him," Yami admitted.

Mind chuckled. "I'm right here, you know."

Yami ignored him.

"But," he continued, "Mind has something I want."

The Intel on Teshii

The Elements tensed.

Hikaru's breath hitched.

"Teshii?"

Yami nodded. "Mind has intel on him. Something that no one else knows."

That made everyone pause.

Even Hikaru, who had spent the last few days worrying about Teshii, felt a cold chill run down his spine.

"…What do you mean?" Hikaru asked, his voice cautious.

Yami's fists tightened.

"I don't know yet."

Moriya frowned. "Then how do you know he's telling the truth?"

Yami finally showed a sliver of emotion—frustration.

"Because I have no other leads."

There was a long silence.

Then, Yami exhaled sharply.

"But there's a condition."

Hikaru's stomach twisted. "What condition?"

Yami finally raised his hand.

Dark energy swirled in his palm, coiling like a living shadow.

"To get the intel," he said, his voice lowering.

"…I have to fight you."