Gaia Chronicles: The Integral Saga

Location: Gaia HQ – Combat Simulation Hall, Late Night

The lights dimmed to a ghostly hue, casting long shadows on the steel floor. Hikari stood alone, the arena's air thick with artificial mist. Sanguira was in her hand—lightweight, but it pulsed now with a heartbeat of its own, as if sensing her transformation.

"Simulation mode: Specter Protocol."The automated voice droned coldly.

Suddenly, the floor shifted, and illusions of former Integral Knights—holograms created from battle data—emerged from the mist. They were swift. Ruthless. Designed to test every weakness.

"Why am I doing this alone?" she whispered.

"Because I need to know… that I can stand, even when no one else does."

The first specter charged. Hikari spun with inhuman grace, narrowly avoiding a blade aimed at her throat. Her scythe met the strike with an echoing clang. She pushed forward, dancing through attacks, every move flowing like water. But the longer it went on, the more the ghosts of past warriors began to speak.

"You're too soft.""She'll falter.""The girl with the cursed blade."

Their voices came from nowhere and everywhere. Echoes planted from old data. But they struck like real memories. Hikari faltered.

"You're not strong enough."

"Stop," she whispered. "I'm not her…"

A blow sent her skidding across the arena floor.

Location: Surveillance Room – Observation Deck

Cyg stood watching her from behind the glass.

"End the simulation," Irene said quietly beside him. "She's at her limit."

"Not yet," he said, almost under his breath.

"Cyg—"

"She asked to be tested. This is the only way."

"Or the fastest way to break her," Irene frowned.

But Cyg didn't look away. His fingers clenched into fists behind his back.

"I need to know she'll survive without me."

Location: Combat Simulation Hall – Moments Later

Hikari rose, blood dripping from a cut above her brow. Her breath came in gasps, but her eyes were sharper than ever.

"You're not real."

She charged. The specters swarmed.

"You're just shadows of a fear I've already faced."

She moved faster—cleaner. The blade of Sanguira gleamed, and for the first time, it responded to her will, not her pain. One by one, the illusions fell into fragmented light.

"I am Hikari Synthesis 26," she shouted, her voice ringing with unexpected command. "And I'm not afraid anymore."

The final ghost—a tall figure draped in red—lunged at her. She didn't flinch.

Shnk—

She drove Sanguira into its core, splitting the figure into dust.

The arena fell silent.

Location: Outside the Arena – Aftermath

She stumbled into the corridor, sweat pouring from her skin, cuts burning. But she was smiling. A true smile.

Cyg waited for her, leaning against the wall, arms crossed.

"I'm fine," she said quietly.

"You look like hell."

"Then maybe I belong here."

He looked at her for a long moment before nodding.

"You were incredible."

Her breath caught slightly. Then, almost awkwardly:

"You stayed the whole time?"

"...Yeah."

"Why?"

He hesitated.

"Because the ghosts you fought today… I've seen them in myself."

She looked down, but then gently reached out and touched his hand.

"We're not ghosts. Not yet."

He met her gaze.

"Then let's make sure we never become them."

They stood like that in silence—two broken souls, slowly becoming whole.

Location: Integral Knight Memorial Wall – Midnight

Later, Hikari walked alone past the names of the fallen.

Her fingers brushed against the carved letters of Ayane Synthesis.

"Thank you for carrying this… so I could learn how to."

Sanguira pulsed once, then stilled.