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After lunch ended, many plans were already in motion. Then an even bigger bombshell dropped when Director Akatsuki Satoru called all the combat-capable classes to a meeting with several teachers and introduced them to the "Canvas Bleed Phenomena."

"Because the country has officially declared a state of emergency and we can no longer rely on America for help, we will have to take matters into our own hands," he said. "All of you have demonstrated talent and strength equal to that of the teachers themselves. As students and as members of the clan, you have a duty to protect this country from these threats. Let’s work together."

Classes were not suspended, but they had been heavily modified. Field exercises now dominated the curriculum. Students completed real-world tasks as tests to earn points, pass the year, and gain benefits, all tied directly to the ongoing "Second Singularity" in Japan.

Rumors spread rapidly through the clan. Some students worried, others speculated wildly about what it all meant. A few were excited, while many felt afraid. Yet one sentiment united nearly everyone.

They had to protect their country, their home, and their lives.

The First Contact and the First Singularity had already shattered the daily lives of countless people and distorted the world into what it was now. They could not allow it to happen again.

This was more than duty. It was their dream.

To save the world, as idealistic young people always dreamed of doing.

"It might take a couple of days before I get a proper response from my family," Harumi said. "Until then, we should wait. Satoru-sensei said we need to form a team of eight. We already have the perfect number, so why don’t we pair up?"

"Yeah, I was thinking the same thing, Elena!" Matsuo nodded. "Anna, Elisa, Monica, what do you girls think?"

"Huh, we really are exactly eight!" Elisa nodded, rubbing her chin. "Meh, I don’t like that dog, but we’ve already fought together on the battlefield. I trust you all to some extent!"

"Sounds great!" Monica agreed. "We can also put Obsidian, our new familiar, to good use if we go hunting."

"Who are you calling a dog, you stupid drill-hair?!" Erika snapped angrily. "I’m going to beat you up!"

"C-Calm down, Erika..." Matsuo muttered with a nervous chuckle. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

"Frank, what do you think?" Harumi asked.

"Sounds great," Frank replied with a firm nod. "Apparently we can start going out tomorrow. The teacher said he’ll assign teams based on our skills to areas affected by the Canvas Bleed Phenomena."

"Sounds kind of exciting," Anna said. "Though there are so many things happening at once... it’s a little hard to keep up with everything."

"Me too, but we just have to adapt and overcome these challenges," Elena replied. "We’ll grow stronger from this, all while moving toward our original goal of stopping this mess. So I hope we can get along well."

"Sure!" Matsuo said. "I like you girls. You’re all great."

"Same. You’re reliable too," Frank nodded.

"Strength is nice, but some of you really need some style. You dress so poorly," Erika sighed. "Tomorrow we’re getting all of you manicures, new hairstyles, and maybe some new clothes too!"

"R-Really?" Elena felt embarrassed. She had barely taken care of her appearance all this time. "That actually sounds kind of fun..."

"Right?!" Erika smiled brightly.

"Well, it doesn’t sound bad. Sure," Anna agreed.

After the conversation, Elena and her friends returned home and found Elayne already cooking a delicious meal for everyone.

"Welcome home! Was it a tiring day? Are you ready for tomorrow, girls? Sit down and let’s eat dinner together."

Elena nodded and smiled. The dark thoughts that had once haunted her had already begun to fade, and her heart was slowly healing from the depression and sorrow she had carried for so long.

With new goals to occupy her mind and a personal mission to strengthen her Spirit Roots and Spiritual Heart through cultivation, Elena trained and worked whenever she had free time.

Even at night, inside Elayne’s Spirit Realm, with titans and spirits watching over her, Elena swung her phantasmal sword, practicing her elemental stances and shaking off all the rust she had accumulated.

The more she trained here, the more the progress transferred to her real body. Elayne had recently discovered how to create a form of time dilation, turning every night into a full week of training.

With so much extra time, Elena trained relentlessly. She ate only the spirit food of this land and practiced her stances without pause, determined to reawaken the powers she had lost after that traumatic battle.

Many of her Avatar’s abilities remained sealed, including her Soul Skill, the Blade of Emptiness. She was now trying to recall the teachings of a master who lived somewhere in Arcadia, knowledge she had inherited through that very skill.

Although she still had no access to any system, the power within her Avatar lay dormant inside her body. With her Spiritual Heart overflowing with Elayne’s divinity and her Spirit Roots permanently imprinting that power into her, she pushed herself to evolve even further.

"Back then in that fight, Mom, I was able to use some of your spells," she said. "I remember... I even conjured your Terrain Expansion and Domain of Nature, right? But they merged with my own elements."

"Indeed. You were even able to call forth Spiritual Beasts," Elayne replied. "You are slowly inheriting my power, the power of a Heroic Spirit. If you continue advancing until you make this power completely your own, I am sure that even if I disappear one day, you will be strong enough to protect your life and everyone you love."

"Mom..." Elena looked at her mother. Despite the good moments they now shared, she knew they would eventually have to part again. This time, however, she refused to let depression overtake her heart. "I know..."

Her eyes sharpened with resolve as she continued fusing her stances and techniques. She circulated spiritual energy and divine energy through her soul and body, constantly striving to reclaim what she had once forgotten.

Deep within her soul...

"Ah!"

A small spark of white light.

No.

Of emptiness.

Was slowly beginning to emerge.

"Almost there...!"

Her eyes gleamed with confidence and unbreakable willpower as she trained tirelessly.

Slowly, the "Abyssal Ghostly Forest Terrain" she had conjured earlier began to change under the force of her will and personality.

It transformed into something far more personal. The black trees surged upward as sharp wooden swords. Ghostly spirits took the form of onis and yaksha. Roots, branches, and grass grew around her body, shaping themselves into elegant samurai-style armor.

Yet the harder she pushed to mold and transform her powers...

The more they crumbled.

"Haaa... Haaa... I won’t stop."

She refused to stop. Her eyes burned with pure determination.

With her mother beside her, watching and guiding, Elena had never felt more motivated in her life.

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