[1] Intercepting the Mysterious Wanderer - The Truth Revealed Late at Night Nightshade Cang walks alone toward the forbidden zone of Higashigumo Academy - the laboratory building modified by the Holy Nurturing Foundation to undergo the "First Form Activation" enhancement experiment. But just as he stands in front of the gate, a gray shadow silently descends.
The gray cloaked figure with a blurred face raised a finger and instantly Nightshade Cang's body froze.
"Do you really believe that the path you are walking is truly yours?"
"Nightshade Cang, you are just another card in their hand."
He calls himself the "World Severer" - a failed experiment that escaped the control of the Holy Nurturing Foundation, and the only one of the "Otherworld Walkers" that has never been successfully contained.
He reveals the true purpose of the Foundation:
All five major academies are nothing more than experimental fields.
The Otherworld Space isn't a training ground, but a filtration system designed to select the strongest, most stable, and most obedient individuals.
Higashigumo Academy is currently their "closest to success" prototype.
"And you, Nightshade Cang, are the miracle they pulled out of the echoes of the otherworldly space."
"Your magic cards are nothing more than byproducts of that failed summoning."
[2] The Origin of Magic Cards - Black Jack The wanderer draws a pitch-black card. Its name: 🔥 [Black Jack[Shadowed Fate].
Effect: A limited class magic card. Activated when the user's vitality reaches zero, it greatly increases all psychic and illusionary abilities, but at the cost of gradually losing the perception of reality.
He tells Nightshade: "You have the potential to become King of the Otherworld - but if you truly wish to oppose the Holy Nurturing Foundation... you must sever your past with your own hands.
"To awaken Black Jack, you must pay the price - take a leave of absence from school, disappear from public view for three months, and undergo 'true enhancement' under my supervision.
Nightshade hesitates. He thinks of MitĹŤ Karuma, Haku-ran, GĹŤzanshi Retsu... and her-FĹ«dĹŤ Saya.
[3] Saya's Night - Emotional Anchor Saya is already waiting on the small hill in front of the academy. Unlike usual, she doesn't ask where he's been. Instead, she tugs at the sleeve of his cloak.
"You're going far this time, aren't you? So far... even I won't be able to keep up."
Nightshade says nothing. He doesn't know how to face her.
"If you're hurting... let me carry some of that pain."
"If you go... please promise me you'll come back."
This time, Nightshade doesn't avoid her. He reaches out and grabs her fingers.
[4] Black God Blade - Black Prison Rift The scene shifts. In the Holy Nurturing Foundation's Polar Prison, Black God Blade undergoes a brutal mental overload test to establish a psychic connection.
"Black God Blade, 'First Form Enhancement' completed. Mental domain successfully restructured."
"Next step - are you ready to challenge all the academies?"
Black God Blade opens his eyes. In the darkness, his pupils burn with a fury that reflects the afterlife.
"With this blade... I'll shatter the false world these hypocrites have created."