"Captain."
"Instructor."
"Boss."
Darkness filled heaven and earth.
A light appeared.
The Instructor, who had already fallen unconscious, opened his eyes.
His brothers who had died in battle had come to fetch him.
Big Bear still looked as guileless as ever. He scratched his head, a warm smile on his burly frame. "Captain, long time no see."
"Have you... all been well?"
For a moment, the Instructor could not tell reality from dreams.
The brothers who had haunted his dreams through countless nights had returned.
Everyone smiled happily at him.
At that moment,
the Instructor found peace.
"I was always ready to die in battle anyway. Being reunited with my brothers is wonderful too."
With that,
he walked step by step toward his brothers in the faint light.
He spread his arms, ready to embrace them all.
But Big Bear's expression suddenly changed, and he reached out to stop him.
"Instructor, it's not time yet."
"Chief, we're not here to fetch you."
"You have to live on for us."
Smiling, they all reached out and placed their hands against the Instructor's chest.
Then they shoved hard.
His body rapidly retreated.
A golden opening suddenly tore through the dark dream.
An enormous hand reached in and grabbed him.
"Instructor, live well. Staying alive isn't easy for Shadow Ghost."
"Don't come looking for us too soon."
"We'll watch over you from down below."
His brothers' figures gradually faded. They were all smiling.
There was peace, relief, joy, and contentment.
Then Seimei's startled cry came from the sky. "It's you!"
Hearing that, the Instructor slowly opened his eyes.
A large hand supported him.
The man had a full head of silver hair and a build even burlier than the Instructor's. Terrifying killing intent radiated from him.
An aged yet resolute face, fury that