I AM EXTRA IN A SHONEN MANGA

Chapter 283 - 277 – Eclipse Vanguard (3)

The combined assault actually forced Raiden back several steps.Raiden grinned like a demon.

"NOW YOU'RE TALKING!"

He raised both hands.

Thunder converged into his palms.

"Rumbling Heaven—TWIN CRASH!"

The twin shockwaves collided with Kaen and Rael

Kaen resisted, screaming as fire and shadow raged

Rael anchored him with wind barriers

Together they pushed against Raiden's attack

For a full second

Two seconds

Three

But Raiden overpowered them, slamming the boys into the far wall of the training field.

Dust rose.

Flames flickered.

Wind scattered petals of glowing Shinrei.

For a moment, there was silence.

Two figures crawled from the rubble.

Kaen, bruised, bleeding, but grinning fiercely.

Rael, exhausted, steadying his breath, but refusing to fall.

Raiden crossed his arms.

He didn't smile.

He didn't mock.

He simply said:

"Good fight."

Lightning faded from his skin.

"Your coordination is terrible."

Kaen collapsed.

Rael sighed.

Raiden continued:

"But your hearts are strong."

He crouched down next to them.

His expression softened.

"You both remind me why I became a teacher. Now—"

He stood up.

"go get lunch. It's on me."

Kaen blinked.

Rael blinked.

Kaen croaked:

"…wait… we lost…"

Raiden shrugged, hands sliding lazily into his pockets as faint arcs of lightning crawled along his sleeves before fading away.

"Yeah," he said casually. "But you lasted longer than I expected."

He smirked, eyes half-lidded.

"And I'm hungry."

Kaen let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding and laughed weakly, dropping back onto the scorched training ground. His arms trembled, muscles screaming from overuse, Shinrei circuits still buzzing painfully under his skin.

Rael, on the other hand, simply shook his head, clicking his tongue in quiet frustration. He wiped blood from the corner of his mouth with the back of his glove, eyes sharp even in defeat.

Raiden stretched, spine popping audibly as the oppressive pressure that had crushed the air moments ago fully dissipated. The storm clouds above thinned, sunlight breaking through as if the sky itself was relieved.

"Tomorrow…" Raiden said lazily, glancing back at them over his shoulder.

"…we still do this."

Kaen groaned.

Rael frowned.

Raiden continued, tone shifting not heavier, but sharper.

"Because look at you two."

"You're already strong."

That single sentence hit harder than any of Raiden's lightning strikes.

Kaen blinked, then scoffed. "Strong enough to get demolished in five minutes?"

Raiden stopped walking.

Turned.

His eyes crackled not violently, but with a quiet, dangerous intensity.

"Strong enough to fight me," he said.

"And that's not something most Eclipse Vanguards can brag about at your age."

He raised a finger.

"Heck,"

he added with a crooked grin, "I'd even use my last arsenal if you two could actually control and master the Fifth Gate."

Kaen stiffened.

Rael's brows knit together.

Raiden clicked his tongue.

"'Cause right now?"

"The way you're using it is trash."

Kaen shot upright. "Oi!"

Raiden waved him off.

"I mean it. Your Fifth Gate is unstable. Forced. Leaking emotion everywhere."

"That's not how you use Shinrei."

Kaen scratched his cheek, grimacing.

"Well… pervert Master Genzu said that to me back then."

Raiden snorted.

"Looks like you still haven't recognized it," he said flatly, "even though Master Genzu told you."

"Tsk. Tsk."

Raiden's gaze shifted locking onto Rael now.

The atmosphere subtly changed.

Rael straightened instinctively.

Raiden studied him longer than Kaen liked. Not judging. Measuring.

"Your power…" Raiden said slowly.

"It's still not controlled."

Rael's jaw tightened.

"You rely too much on structure," Raiden continued. "On judgment. On rules."

"But power like yours?"

"It demands balance."

He took a step closer.

"You want to enhance your form, your Judicator Form?"

"Then stop trying to dominate it."

Rael clicked his tongue sharply.

"Ts… I know."

Raiden raised a brow. "Knowing and doing are different things, noble boy."

Rael didn't respond.

But his fists clenched.

…

Later — Academy Courtyard

The festival banners were already being strung up across the academy grounds.

Crimson, gold, and white cloth fluttered in the breeze, carrying the faint scent of fresh paint and incense. Students bustled around, laughter echoing as stalls were built, stages raised, lantern poles hammered into place.

It felt wrong.

Too peaceful.

Khael walked alone beneath the archways, hands tucked into his cloak sleeves, eyes distant.

The giant threat weighed heavily on his chest.

Kaom.

Protector of the Shard.

The one who sealed himself with it.

Lucere's plan was moving faster than expected.

Bring back the Dragon of Emotion.

Revive Yuna, the Dragon Knight.

To do that… Lucere needed Kaom awake.

And if Kaom awakened

Khael exhaled slowly.

"This academy won't survive the aftermath," he murmured.

A familiar presence stirred within him.

Protect the shard.

Khael's jaw tightened.

"I know," he whispered back.

...

Meanwhile — Hollow Nine Hideout

Lucere stood at the center of the chamber, his cloak drifting as if moved by unseen emotion.

Before him knelt the Hollow Nine.

K stepped forward, adjusting his gloves.

"The academy moves," he said calmly. "They know something."

Lucere's lips curved slightly.

"Of course they do."

Miraku tilted his clown mask, giggling softly. "Hehehe… Kaen's nearby, right? I can feel him~"

Bakuza cracked his neck, flames leaking from his grin. "Just point me where to burn."

Meduza leaned against a pillar, eyes half-lidded, gaze flicking briefly toward K.

"The seal is guarded," she purred. "Strong ones."

Lucere raised a hand.

"Let them guard it."

Silence fell.

Lucere's eyes burned quietly.

"Kaom will awaken," he said.

"And when he does."

The chamber trembled faintly.

"the shard will answer me."

Back at the Academy — Evening

Kaen lay flat on his back atop the dormitory roof, staring at the sky, hands folded behind his head as drifting clouds slid past the moon.

"…he really called our Fifth Gate trash." he muttered.

Rael sat a short distance away, legs crossed, methodically polishing his blade. The soft shhk, shhk of cloth against steel was steady, controlled very Rael.

"He wasn't wrong," Rael said flatly, without looking up.

Kaen clicked his tongue, then suddenly shot upright, fire sparking faintly around his shoulders.

"…Tomorrow's gonna be bangin'!!"

Rael finally glanced at him.

"I'm going to win."

Kaen grinned wide, eyes burning with competitive heat.

"No. I am."

Rael scoffed, returning his attention to the blade.

"Tsk. A loser."

Kaen laughed loudly, the sound echoing across the rooftops.

"Say that again after I knock you flat, noble boy."

Rael's lips twitched just barely.

"Dream on, Crimson Blaze."

Above them, the stars remained silent witnesses.

Tomorrow would bring bruises, lightning, fire and growth.

And neither of them planned to lose.

To be continue