The captain raised his voice with power and unity:
"Always and forever, we stand together!"
"Always and forever, we stand together!" the Shinras echoed in perfect unison, their voices shaking the very ground.
"All mages, teleport all courts to intercept the darkside spirits. We strike first. We don't wait for them to reach us!" the captain commanded with unwavering authority.
"Yes, sir!" the mages responded in harmony.
The mages—Shinras without innate Renshi—relied on Renshi-infused tools and objects. Their strength lay in teleportation and defense, making them the backbone of battlefield logistics and shielding. While they lacked direct offensive Renshi, they were the lifeline of the operation. These mages belonged to various courts—sub-groups of Shinras assigned to different kingdoms across the Soul Continent. With over thirty thousand courts across the country, only five had been chosen for this elite mission under the country of Wuhan.
At the helm of the operation stood a high-ranking Shinra, a special Darkside Knight—second only to the legendary God-Slaying Knights, the most powerful warriors known.
"Stand strong, Smith," the captain said, turning to Falco. "You have a family to protect. Pick up your sword—and fight." He pointed to the very weapons Falco had delivered.
"I'm no stranger to the sword," Falco replied, gripping a blade and shield of his own forging. "I tried the academy four times. Failed each time. But that doesn't mean I didn't learn something."
"That's the spirit of a true Shinra," the captain said with a proud nod. "You don't need a title to prove you have the heart of one."
Falco stepped up beside the court, ready to head to the front lines.
"I'm not waiting here to die. If I go down, it'll be fighting."
"Tch. Don't get cocky, blacksmith," sneered the Shinra with the second dark cape. "You'll be dead in a millisecond."
"Watch your mouth, rock-head," Falco snapped. "People like you are the real darkside of the Shinras."
"What did you just say?! Say that again and I'll cut off your tongue—!"
"Enough!" the captain barked. "Save your strength. We are comrades now—bound by battle, not by choice. Get it together."
The tension dropped instantly, silence falling over the group.
"That will do," the captain said firmly. "Mages, teleport the five courts to their designated positions around the forest. We finish this—together."
"Yes, Captain!" the mages replied.
Each unit locked hands with their court members, preparing to channel their Renshi. The mages activated their Renshi Orbs, concentrating energy as glowing purple sigils formed above their heads—ancient symbols of teleportation, pulsing with raw power.
Falco stood alongside the captain's court—the strongest of the five—just as the spell activated. In a flash, they vanished.
They rematerialized directly in front of the charging darkside spirits—dozens, then hundreds, flooding the battlefield like a wave of pure chaos.
"Advance—now!" the captain ordered.
"Yes, sir!" the second dark cape Shinra yelled. Then, with a smirk toward Falco, he added, "Try not to slow us down, blacksmith."
"Same to you, loudmouth. Let's see if you're more than just bark," Falco shot back, raising his sword.
"Let's see," the Shinra replied with a grin.
"All Sage Shinras, lead the charge! Cyborg Shinras, stay behind for the counter-attack! Nature Shinra, fortify our defense!" the captain commanded telepathically through the mages' link.
"Yes, Captain!" the various Shinras responded.
"Come with me, Smith. You said you want to fight?" the captain asked.
"I've got no plans of dying out here. I'm fighting for the people who matter to me," Falco said, stepping forward.
The captain glanced at him with respect. "I like your spirit. If we make it out of this alive, I want to know more about you."
"Don't call this a mess, Captain," Falco said with fierce eyes. "We're protecting the ones we love. That's not chaos—it's purpose."
"I like that, Smith. You know more about loyalty and passion than many with a Shinra title," the captain replied.
"There's no time for praise! Here they come!" Falco shouted.
"You're damn right—let's end this!" the captain roared.
The darkside spirits hit like a storm, their shrieks echoing through the forest. Each court faced nearly four hundred spirits, totaling over 2,000 enemies. The Shinras stood barely 125 strong, 25 warriors per court.
The battle had begun.
Swords clashed. Shields cracked. The forest itself shook under the fury of war as steel, Renshi, and fire collided in a fight for survival.
And through it all, Falco stood shoulder to shoulder with the warriors he once only served—no longer just a blacksmith, but a fighter with something real to protect.