Chapter Seventeen: “The Return of Rein” (Part II)

Chapter Seventeen: "The Return of Rein" (Part II)

Tournament Arc – Escalation & Clash of Kings

The air crackled. Lightning danced in oppressive silence. Smoke curled low.

Rein's eyes—now pale silver-blue, unblinking, Rengoku arrives—eyes locked onto Rengoku Arashi, who had just stepped onto the mist-draped field. He arrived alone, face grim, arms crossed, energy like embers around him.

Rengoku (steady): "You resigned your right to fight children the moment you returned, and you resigned your right to live 34 years ago"

Rein smirked, advancing.

"I came here to claim what was stolen—my power, my purpose. You stand in my way."

Rengoku let loose a shockwave—Infernal Spiral, flames coiled around his fist. Heat shattered the mist.

Blades of flame struck. Rein grinned as they bounced off an unseen barrier in front of him.

The Mentor Falls

Rengoku surged in, flame aura burning white-hot.

"You'll pay—for every life you damned and for Yukari".

Columns of fire lashed out. Rein twisted backwards, evading, cast no spells—his body was the weapon of choice. With one brutal swipe of his shapeshifting arm, he cleaved through Rengoku's aura and struck him across the chest.

A bone-rending CRACK. Rengoku staggered, eyes widening in shock. With another blow—a spine-shiver—the sensei crashed to his knees, blood seeping through his coat.

Takashi stepped forward—his hand twitching at his side, but danger paused him.

Rengoku, broken but not defeated, gripped the ground.

"How did you grow so strong and fast, You'll—never—break me," he rasped.

He pushed to his feet, flames roaring back into life.

Rengoku Unleashed

He drew runes in the air—Infernal Covenant—incantation echoing across the mist. Flames blossomed. Pain sketched across his face.

Flame Whip Barrage: Lashes of fire erupted around him, twining like serpents, pushing Rein back.

The battlefield cracked. Dust and embers exploded. Rengoku roared.

"You took my love, happiness. You destroyed my pride. Now… face my wrath!"

He lunged—fist swinging. Each blow shattered rock.

Rein barely dodged, taunting:

"Your time is gone. They don't need you."

Rengoku braced, aura flaring:

"They need every last spark I have!"

With a roar, he channeled everything—flames, rage, legacy. His aura flared white then burned black at the edges.

He struck. One, two, three devastating punches. Rein reeled.

"Feel… this!"

A final blow exploded against Rein's chest—detonating aura like a phoenix blast.

Rein flew back, smashing into the field wall. He lay twitching, nearly broken.

The arena fell silent. Dust drifted, smoke swirled.

Rein rose slowly, eyes glowing with something new—pure black energy spilling over silver-blue. He raised both hands, dripping blood threads across the ground.

"Domain Expansion... Kuroigi no Kyōkai—Boundary of the Black Seraph!"

"A new domain?". Rengoku said in shock.

The sky shivered. The world warped. A black cathedral erupted around them—pews of bone, stained glass of shadows, a vaulted ceiling so high the skull-shaped chandelier glowed.

Flames of shadow coalesced. Black chains rattled.

Rein stood at the pulpit, spotlit.

"You fight like a hero… but this is my territory now."

A hush gripped the battlefield.

Takashi steadied his breath. He gazed at his sensei—battle-broken, yet unbowed—and at Rein standing above them all.

An ember of resolve sparked.

He moved forward.

Hand signaled.

"No way, Domain Expansion?", Rein asked himself out of surprise.

Takashi opened his eyes

"Ryoiki Tenkai: Jigoku no Gyokuza"

"Domain expansion: Throne of Hell"

Red-black smoke erupted beneath him. The world shattered into dimensional fragments. A throne of void magma rose, dripping crimson rifts into the ground. He seated himself calmly, aura flaring into veiling smoke that swallowed sound.

"Demon King's seat is not stolen. Earned."

The mist drained. Silence. Rein's domain was overthrown

"How did you do this, Pulling of Domain expansion being a fourth year?" Rein asked.

"I learned it in the jungle and also, I think I'm the demon king, I saw it in a vision".

"Well demon king or not, I'll destroy you" Rein said charging forward.

"Barka (idiot)" utters Takashi.

With one snap from Takashi's fingers, legions of demons attacked Rein's scream echoed—till it didn't. He collapsed to his knees, tearing him to pieces and bringing his head to Takashi.

"Domain cancelled". Utters Takashi.

"You're strong…stronger than expected.". Sakura said.

He said nothing aura still crackling like dying stars.

Silence slammed in. Smoke cleared. Dust settled.

Rein erased. The cathedral domain collapsed—bone pews splintering.

Takashi stood. His aura faded. He rose slowly from the Throne.

Rengoku knelt, bloody, pale—but alive. He looked at Takashi with as he left awe, relief, and a weary pride.

Rengoku (soft): "I carried this moment like a burden."

Takashi helped him stand.

Sakura limped forward, supporting Airi.

"We… all fought for this freedom against evil."

Above them, storm clouds parted. Flecks of sunlight touched the fractured field.

Takashi picked up the broken Holy Sickle—millennia-old symbol of discipline and power. He dropped it—a King has no crown if he doesn't have the people. He looked at Rein, unreadable.

"You tried your best but. She will be proud."

To Be Continued.