KHR: Decimo Primo

The past few days had been a whirlwind of investigation, paperwork, and routine. Tsuna had long since grown accustomed to the exhaustion that came with his position—both in the Mafia and in his current role as Neuhaus' assistant.

A few lingering aches from battle were nothing to him now.

Three years of constant combat and training had hardened his body, and with his natural affinity to Sun Flames, his healing ability far outpaced that of an average person. What would have taken weeks for a normal person to recover from had faded into a mild soreness in just a few days.

Still, even though his body had healed, his mind remained occupied.

The battle in the Forest District replayed in his thoughts, not as something to brood over, but as a puzzle yet to be solved. The Gashadokuro—a colossal skeletal demon—had been unlike anything he had encountered before.

Even now, he could recall the way its hollow sockets had glowed with eerie malevolence, its towering frame almost blending into the shadows of the dense forest. It hadn't just been a beast rampaging without thought. It had been searching for something.

And when it fell, it left behind more than just broken bones and dissipating energy.

Tsuna glanced at the small stack of papers on his desk, rubbing his temples as he recalled the aftermath. The shard.

When the demon had crumbled, it had left behind a small, pulsing fragment of dark energy—one that carried a sense of unease even in its inert state.

Neuhaus and the other Exorcist instructors had immediately taken an interest in it, sealing off the Forest District to students in order to investigate. The decision had caused a major disruption in class schedules, as the forest had been an important training ground for various practical lessons.

Tsuna, of course, had been kept mostly out of the official investigation.

He wasn't a formal student of True Cross Academy's Cram School, just an "assistant" and a guest. As such, while Neuhaus had personally taken his report and acknowledged his contributions, he had ultimately decided that Tsuna should not be further implicated in the matter.So, while the Exorcists analyzed the shard, Tsuna had returned to his daily routine—more or less.His nights, once filled with Neuhaus' grueling lessons, were now occupied with heavier administrative work.

The workload Neuhaus had to handle due to the incident had increased significantly, and as his assistant, much of the burden had trickled down to Tsuna.

Paperwork, lesson reports, and even overseeing some of Neuhaus' classes in his absence had become a part of his daily responsibilities. He had even found himself handing out assignments to students, despite not being an actual teacher.

It was exhausting in a different way, though nothing he couldn't handle.

That was why, when today's schedule was suddenly changed due to the restrictions on the Forest District, Tsuna wasn't particularly surprised.

Instead of his usual tasks, Neuhaus had assigned him to assist in the first-year Tamer class.

Tsuna sighed, rolling the smooth, unhatched egg between his hands as he sat on the edge of his bed. It was cool to the touch, unchanged despite the years. A mystery he had yet to solve.

He placed it back onto its cushioned resting place just as a sharp knock sounded against his door."Sawada," Juzo's voice rumbled through the wood.

"Neuhaus wants you in the training grounds. You're assigned to the Tamer class today."

Tsuna stood up, stretching slightly. "Tamer class?"

Juzo smirked, leaning against the doorframe when Tsuna opened it. "Yeah. You get to make some friends today. Demonic ones."

Tsuna rolled his eyes. "Right. Because that sounds like something I'm good at."

Juzo chuckled. "Well, Neuhaus must think you'll manage, or he wouldn't have sent you there. Besides, you've been dealing with plenty of stubborn people already. How much worse could a demon be?"

Tsuna chose not to answer that.

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The Tamer class was smaller than most. Unlike the other Exorcist specializations, not everyone had the aptitude—or the will—to forge a contract with a demon. As such, the number of students enrolled in the course was significantly lower.

As Tsuna entered the training hall, he immediately recognized one of the students standing near the center of the room—Nishiki Hojo the younger sister of Mamushi Hojo one of the seniors he got along with during his time here in True Cross Academy.

Nishiki, much like her older sister, had a striking presence. Long white hair fell in a sharp, hime-cut style, with an extra-long bang cascading in the middle of her forehead. She was only fifteen, but she carried herself with the same composed air as Mamushi. Tsuna vaguely knew her outside of class, mainly through his interactions with the Mamushi and Juzo.

Unlike most of the other students, who either ignored his presence or remained within their own friend groups, Nishiki greeted him with familiarity."Sawada-san," she acknowledged, giving a slight bow. "I heard you were assigned to assist today."

Tsuna scratched his cheek. "Yeah. Though, I'm not really sure what I'm supposed to do."

"You're here to observe," Neuhaus' sharp voice cut in as he stepped forward. "And, if necessary, intervene."

Tsuna resisted the urge to sigh. He should've known Neuhaus wouldn't let him slack off completely.

The instructor surveyed the gathered students before speaking. "Today, you will each attempt to contract with a demon. This is the first step in the path of a Tamer. Failure is expected, but persistence will be the deciding factor in whether you succeed or not."

Tsuna's gaze shifted toward the summoning circles inscribed on the floor. This was standard practice, then. First-year students attempting their first contracts.

One by one, the students stepped forward, chanting incantations and pouring their energy into the summoning rituals. Small creatures emerged—some barely larger than a cat, others taking the form of ethereal shadows. Most of the summons were low-ranking spirits or minor familiars, nothing too dangerous.

That was, until Nishiki stepped forward.

Her summoning circle flared with power, and when the light faded, a massive Naga emerged—a serpentine demon, coiling with sinuous grace. Its scales shimmered darkly, and its multiple eyes gleamed with intelligence. Tsuna immediately recognized the creature as a standard summon for the Hojo clan—similar to the one he had seen Mashima-senpai call forth during the recent incident in the Forest District.

The room tensed.

Neuhaus narrowed his eyes. "A Naga. An appropriate choice for a Hojo."

The serpent demon regarded Nishiki, its forked tongue flicking as it studied her. Unlike the other demons, it did not attack outright, but there was an undeniable challenge in its gaze.

The tension in the room slowly eased as Nishiki maintained her stance, unshaken by the Naga's piercing gaze. A few of the students murmured in quiet awe, while others looked on with a mixture of admiration and relief—relief that they wouldn't have to follow up such an impressive summoning.

Neuhaus gave a curt nod, signaling for Nishiki to continue negotiating her contract. As she began speaking to the Naga in hushed tones, the rest of the class resumed their attempts.

One by one, students stepped forward, summoning creatures of varying strength and temperament. Some were met with success, forming contracts with minor familiars, while others failed, their summoned spirits vanishing as quickly as they had appeared.

A few unlucky ones found themselves chased by their own summons, much to the irritation of Neuhaus, who dispelled the rowdier demons with a single glare.

By the time the class neared its end, only a handful of students remained. One more succeeded in forging a contract—a pale-haired boy managing to summon a floating wisp-like entity—before stepping back with a proud, if exhausted, expression.

Then, silence fell over the training hall.Tsuna blinked, realizing belatedly that he was the last one left.

Nishiki, still leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, smirked. "Looks like it's your turn, Sawada-san."

Tsuna sighed, stepping forward toward an unoccupied summoning circle. He wasn't even a student in this class, yet somehow, he had been roped into participating.

Figures.

Taking his place at the center of the circle, he exhaled slowly, feeling the weight of multiple eyes on him.

Might as well get this over with.

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Tsuna exhaled slowly as he stepped into the summoning circle. His heartbeat was steady, but he could feel the weight of every gaze in the room pressing down on him. He wasn't even a student here, yet somehow, he had ended up in this position. There was no backing out now.

The summoning circle, carefully drawn with intricate lines of ink and chalk, pulsed faintly beneath his feet. As he knelt, he hesitated for only a second before raising his hand and summoning a small blade. With a sharp breath, he pressed the tip against his palm, feeling a brief sting as blood welled up.

The words came to him unbidden, ancient syllables forming in his mind as if they had always been there, waiting to be spoken.

"O beings bound by contract and law, I call upon thee. Answer my summon, step forth beyond the veil, and reveal thyself to the one who beckons."

As his blood dripped onto the center of the circle, the reaction was immediate.

A gust of wind surged outward, rustling Tsuna's hair as the chalk lines ignited with an eerie glow. The energy shifted, thickening like a living force, and the room darkened as if the very air had been drained of warmth. Sparks of light crackled in the air. Whispers, distant yet insistent, curled around the edges of his hearing, though he could not make out the words.

Then, the summoning circle erupted.

A burst of black mist shot upward, expanding rapidly as it twisted and coiled, forming into something massive. A pair of burning eyes snapped open within the dark fog, glowing with deep crimson intensity. Then came the shape—long, sinuous, and powerful, its presence filling the space with an overwhelming aura of something ancient and wild.

The demon had arrived.

It was massive—its form shifting between beast and shadow, tendrils of darkness spilling from its body like living chains. Its claws scraped against the stone floor, sending sparks skittering, while its fanged maw twisted into something that might have been a grin.

A low, guttural voice rumbled from its throat, vibrating through the very air. "Who dares call upon me?"

The weight of its gaze bore into Tsuna, cold and assessing. He felt something stir inside him—an instinctual warning that he had called forth something far beyond what the other students had summoned. A demon not easily tamed.

And then—

Something shifted.

The egg.

Before Tsuna could react, the small, smooth egg he had guarded for years—one that had never changed despite all the battles and trials he had faced—suddenly pulsed with a fierce, golden light.

It had never reacted before.

Not to his flames. Not to his injuries. Not even when he had faced death itself.

But now, it shuddered, as if awakened.

His mind flashed back to the moment he had first received it.

It had come from Reborn, given to him two years ago with nothing but a cryptic remark. "You don't need to worry about that. Leon's species is unique. It doesn't just give birth to creatures like Enzo. It gives birth to whatever suits its owner most. It could be a creature, or it could be something entirely different. Something that suits you."

Tsuna had spent months trying to hatch it.

He had asked Dino if he had done anything special to help Enzo hatch, but Dino had only shrugged, saying it had hatched naturally one day when he needed it most. He had even gone so far as to ask his father, Iemitsu, about Leon's species, hoping for answers. But the response he got was vague at best. "Leon's species is incredibly rare. Almost extinct. They can reproduce through parthenogenesis, but even then, they almost never lay eggs. The few records we have suggest they only hatch when they have truly bonded with their owner or when the owner is in dire need. But beyond that… no one really knows much."

Tsuna had even turned to Lal Mirch and the intelligence network of CEDEF, trying to dig up anything useful. But the most they found was that Leon's silk was valuable, used in creating various Dying Will Flame-based products. Nothing about hatching methods.

So he had done the only thing he could—he kept it with him. Always. Tucked safely in his clothes whenever he went on missions, hoping that one day, something would happen.

And now, something had.

The golden light expanded rapidly, stretching outward in a flash of energy that crackled against the demon's form. The beast recoiled, snarling, its form twisting as if struggling against an unseen force. Tsuna staggered back, shielding his eyes from the radiance, only barely registering the sharp gasps from the students watching.

Then, without warning, the egg rose from his inner pocket and pulled.

The golden light expanded, spiraling outward in jagged streams before latching onto the demon with an unbreakable grip. The beast roared in fury, thrashing as tendrils of energy wrapped around its body, dragging it toward the glowing core of the egg.

Tsuna watched, breathless, as the demon's massive form began to dissolve—its essence breaking apart, unraveling into shimmering fragments of dark mist that spiraled downward and were drawn into the egg's surface. The process was quick yet violent, the beast struggling until the very last second before it was fully absorbed into the golden shell.

The room fell into stunned silence.

Tsuna swallowed hard, staring at the now-vibrating egg that had settled gently onto the floor. His mind whirled as he tried to process what had just happened.

It had absorbed the demon.

The egg trembled violently.

Then—

It cracked.

A jagged line ran across its once-pristine surface, light spilling from within. The glow intensified, pulsing with an almost heartbeat-like rhythm. The cracks deepened, spreading rapidly until the entire shell was covered in thin, fractured lines.

Tsuna took an instinctive step back just as the egg burst open in a flash of golden energy.

A powerful gust of wind rushed through the training hall, sending loose sheets of paper flying and rattling the summoning circles drawn on the floor. When the light finally dimmed, something remained at the center of the shattered fragments.

A creature, curled up, wings folded close to its small body.

Tsuna's breath hitched.

The being was unlike anything he had ever seen. It was no mere summon—it radiated power, raw and untamed. Its body, sleek and sinuous, bore golden fur like a kitten, while its wings, sharp and feathered like a hawk's, had the deep black sheen of a demon's. Its bright, intelligent eyes gleamed as they locked onto Tsuna the moment it stretched its wings.

The room remained deathly silent, everyone too stunned to move.

Then, the creature let out a low, rumbling chirp.

And smirked.

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Silence hung in the air, thick with disbelief. The students, who had been either awed or terrified by the demon's presence just moments ago, now found themselves staring at something completely unexpected.A tiny creature lay curled up on the cold stone floor, its small chest rising and falling with deep, peaceful breaths. Its golden fur shimmered under the torchlight, the black wings tucked close to its body twitching slightly in sleep. Even at rest, its tiny claws and sharp beak hinted at something more formidable beneath its innocent appearance.The instructor was the first to break the silence."What… what kind of egg was that?" His voice trembled slightly, not in fear, but in sheer wonder. His eyes flickered between Tsuna and the small creature. "I—I've never heard of a summoning absorbing a demon! The egg—it wasn't a normal catalyst, was it?"Murmurs rippled through the class as realization dawned on them. A summoning had never gone this way before. Normally, the circle would bring forth an entity from the demon realm, binding it into a contract with the summoner. But here, the demon hadn't been bound—it had been consumed.Neuhaus, who had been watching intently from the side, narrowed his eyes in deep thought. As a seasoned summoner himself, he stepped forward, scanning the creature that had emerged. His keen senses probed at the air, searching for any lingering demonic corruption."No… this isn't a demon," Neuhaus muttered, his voice firm. "The aura around it is… different. Not spiritual energy like a normal animal, but also not the tainted corruption of a demon. If the demon had possessed the being inside the egg, I would be able to sense it. But this…" He furrowed his brow. "This creature is pure. It is its own entity."One of the students suddenly gasped, pointing at the tiny creature. "It kind of looks like… a gryphon from European folklore!"The comparison sent another round of whispers through the gathered students. A gryphon? A beast of legend, a creature that was said to be both noble and powerful? Even in summoning history, such a thing had never been recorded.But none of that mattered to Nishiki.The young woman suddenly let out a loud squeal, clasping her hands together as she rushed forward, practically vibrating with excitement."Oh my god, it's so cute!!" Nishiki's face was alight with delight as she knelt down beside the sleeping creature, careful not to disturb it. "Just look at its tiny paws! And the little wings! Tsuna, your summon is adorable!"Tsuna, still shaken by everything that had just happened, could only blink at her. "H-Huh?"Nishiki pointed at the creature's mane, which was soft and slightly messy. "Look, look! Its fur even sticks up like your hair! It's like the perfect match for you! A tiny, fluffy gryphon and an innocent-looking kid with the same messy hairstyle—this is fate!"Tsuna's face burned red at the comparison. "I-It's not that similar…"But the rest of the class seemed to agree with Nishiki. More and more students began gathering around, some kneeling down to get a closer look while others gushed about how unexpectedly precious the summon was. A few of the braver ones hesitated before reaching out, gently running their fingers through its golden fur, marveling at how soft it was.Despite all the attention, the gryphon remained completely unfazed, sleeping soundly as if nothing unusual had happened."I still can't believe it absorbed a demon," one student muttered."Are we even sure that was a demon? It didn't even get a chance to attack before getting sucked into the egg.""Maybe it was meant to happen?"While the students continued their excited chatter, the instructor finally pulled himself together. Adjusting his glasses, he cleared his throat. "Regardless of what this is, this is a major anomaly. I will have to report this to the chairman." His eyes flickered toward Neuhaus, who nodded in agreement."I will also inform Mephisto of what I witnessed," Neuhaus said. "There has never been a case like this before. The egg… whatever species it came from, it may be something far older than any of us know."Tsuna's stomach churned at that. Older than they knew? No way right? He remembered Reborn giving it to him saying it's Leon's egg, but even Reborn had been vague about what it actually was."Oh, hey, Nishiki! Tsuna!" Juzo greeted them with his usual grin. "How'd your summoning go, kid?"Nishiki practically burst with excitement. "You will NOT believe what happened!" She grabbed Juzo's arm, shaking him dramatically. "Tsuna's summon was the cutest thing I have ever seen in my entire life—look at it!!"Juzo and Mamushi's eyes both dropped to the small creature resting in Tsuna's arms. Juzo blinked. "…Is that a cat?"Mamushi squinted. "No, it has wings… Wait." She sucked in a breath. "It looks like a gryphon.""You see?!" Nishiki clapped her hands together, beaming. "It's a tiny gryphon! It came from this weird egg that Tsuna had for years, and get this—it absorbed a demon before hatching!"That statement caught both of them off guard."…It what?" Juzo asked, his grin fading into surprise."It ate a demon," Nishiki emphasized, as if she still couldn't believe it herself. "Or, well, absorbed it into the egg before hatching. And now we have this little guy!" She gestured excitedly at the gryphon.Mamushi, as a tamer herself, frowned in deep thought. "That… doesn't sound normal at all." Her eyes flickered toward Tsuna, her curiosity piqued. "You said you had this egg for years?"Tsuna nodded hesitantly. "Yeah… Reborn gave it to me. He didn't tell me much, just that it would hatch when the time was right." He looked down at the sleeping creature in his arms. "…I guess now was the right time."The three of them exchanged glances, but none of them had an answer for what had just happened.Still, as they walked Tsuna back to Neuhaus' dorm, chatting casually about the insane events of the day, one thing was certain—whatever had been hatched today was going to change Tsuna's life in ways none of them could have ever expected.--------------------------------------------------------

Chairman's Office

The rhythmic ticking of an antique clock filled the dimly lit office, a soft counterpoint to the rustling of papers and the faint scent of sweets in the air. The room, lined with shelves of ancient tomes and relics, reflected its occupant—mysterious, timeless, and steeped in secrets.Mephisto Pheles sat at his desk, lazily twirling his umbrella between his fingers. His mismatched eyes gleamed with amusement as he regarded the man standing before him.Neuhaus, ever composed and serious, stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze sharp. He had never been one for excessive words, and when he spoke, his voice was measured and precise."Tsunayoshi Sawada has now spent two weeks within the academy." He paused briefly, as if considering how best to phrase his report. "He is still merely a guest, not an exorcist. His status remains unchanged—he is only here to learn a few exorcist techniques in exchange for instructing our students on the manifestation of Dying Will Flames."Mephisto hummed in acknowledgment but said nothing, allowing Neuhaus to continue."That being said," Neuhaus adjusted his glasses, "his progress is… abnormal."Mephisto quirked an eyebrow. "Oh?"Neuhaus nodded. "Despite his reluctance, his ability to grasp combat techniques is remarkable. Even though he was not been trained as an exorcist since young, his combat talent as a mafioso is evident. His instincts, reaction speed, and adaptability exceed those of most students, even those with prior training."He paused for a moment before adding, "To learn this much in just two weeks—it is beyond natural talent. It is as though his body remembers skills he has yet to be fully aware of."Mephisto's smirk widened slightly. "That does sound interesting."Neuhaus exhaled sharply, then continued. "Now, regarding today's summoning incident."The room stilled just a fraction, the atmosphere shifting.Neuhaus's tone remained steady. "As you instructed, I observed his summoning closely. He used an egg as a catalyst—an object he had been carrying for years. Upon investigating its origins, I found that it was given to him by his mentor, Reborn. A name you may be familiar with."Mephisto chuckled, amused. "Ah, Reborn. The world's strongest assassin, correct?"Neuhaus gave a short nod. "Yes. His affiliation with the mafia is well-documented, but his specific intent in gifting this egg to Tsunayoshi remains unclear. However, the summoning itself produced an anomaly."Mephisto rested his chin on his hand, clearly entertained. "Do tell."Neuhaus's gaze darkened slightly. "When the summoning circle was completed, I detected nothing out of the ordinary at first—certainly no indication of a high-level demon. Instead, the egg absorbed the summoning energy, and from it, a new creature was born."He hesitated for a moment. "I analyzed it extensively, but I could not determine whether it was a demon. It exhibited no signs of possession, corruption, or known demonic influences."He met Mephisto's gaze evenly. "The creature resembles a gryphon from European folklore. It does not match any existing classification of demons or regular animals. In terms of spiritual aura, it is… unlike anything I have seen before."Silence stretched between them for a moment.Then, Mephisto let out a low chuckle. "That's because you were looking at it incorrectly, my dear Neuhaus."Neuhaus's eyes narrowed slightly. "What do you mean?"Mephisto tapped a single finger against the desk. "It was a high-level demon."Neuhaus stiffened. "…What?"Mephisto smiled, his expression unreadable. "You didn't sense it because it was no longer separate from the creature that hatched." His tone was casual, yet his words carried weight. "Rather than simply being summoned, it was… transformed."Neuhaus felt his stomach twist slightly at the implications. "That shouldn't be possible.""And yet, it happened," Mephisto mused, spinning his umbrella. "Fascinating, isn't it?"Neuhaus remained silent, his mind racing. If the creature that had emerged from Tsunayoshi's egg was a high-level demon, then that meant…His expression darkened. "Then why was it not rampaging? If its strength was as great as you claim, it should have annihilated everyone present."Mephisto merely smiled. "Indeed."Neuhaus's grip on his wrist tightened slightly. "Then there is something you're not telling me."Mephisto chuckled, tilting his head slightly. "Now, now, I've never been one to reveal all my secrets at once. But I will say this…"His eyes gleamed with something unreadable."Tsunayoshi is special. That much is undeniable."Neuhaus exhaled sharply. "I will continue my surveillance."Mephisto waved a lazy hand. "Of course, of course. In fact, I insist that you do." His tone was light, but there was no mistaking the subtle command laced within it.Neuhaus straightened. "Then, with your permission, I will take my leave."Mephisto gave an exaggerated nod. "You are dismissed."Neuhaus turned and left without another word, the heavy doors clicking shut behind him.Silence fell over the office.Mephisto remained still, his fingers tapping idly against the polished wood of his desk.Then, ever so slowly, a wide, knowing grin stretched across his face.So, the boy truly does have the blood for it.He had suspected as much, but today's summoning had confirmed it beyond a doubt. If Tsunayoshi had been a mere human, the high-level demon would have torn free, unbound by any physical form. Instead, it had merged—contained, shaped, and transformed by the very essence of the boy's summoning.It was proof of his heritage.Proof of his blood.Mephisto let out a quiet chuckle, his fingers steepling beneath his chin."Oh, my dear Tsunayoshi… what delightful surprises will you bring me next?"His laughter echoed through the empty room.The game had only just begun.