The world stood still, Takami's heart pounding as the shadow spear neared his face, death in its wake.
His mind raced, "I predicted this… but, why am I not moving?… Move you idiot, it's all according to your prediction isn't it? What are you waiting for."
His eyes flared not with fear, but clarity.
The 'shadow blade' flashed into his hand just as he twisted aside, grazing past the jagged spear with millimeters to spare. He redirected the spear's thrust down with the flat of the blade and rolled past the Captain's blind side.
His feet gripped the ground then he pivoted, kicked off a nearby chunk of debris to gain momentum.
CLANG!
Their blades clashed. Sparks flew. Shadows spiraled violently.
But Takami wasn't aiming to overpower. He baited. Misdirected. Let the Captain chase his rhythm.
He faked a slash.
The Captain reacted,
Too early.
Takami disappeared for a blink-step behind him.
The Captain turned, but…
Takami's real strike wasn't from the front or back, it came from above. Mid-air, he spun, channeled all the stored force into a downward arc.
Or was it?
The Captain raised his arms to block…
But it was a feint.
At the last millisecond, Takami changed the arc, landed and shifted his foot, twisted,
SHLICK!
The blade pierced straight into the Captain's chest.
Frozen. His breath caught.
The shadows around him shivered… then began to retreat like smoke sucked away.
Takami stood there, blade still plunged into the man's chest, breathing heavily.
"…It's over," he whispered.
The Captain staggered, blood dripping from his lips. The shadows peeled away from his form, revealing his human face once more. The cruel grin was gone. His body trembled as he stepped backward, slowly putting his trembling hands on the sword, then he pulled it out with his last force and leaned against a cracked wall, slowly sliding down until he sat slumped at its base.
"…heh… You really are one of the good ones, huh?" he said, voice raspy.
Takami stepped closer, kneeling down beside him. His chest heaved, not just from exhaustion, but from what he saw in those eyes.
They weren't that of a monster anymore, nor were they that of the man before the fight. They were the eyes of a human who's actions held something deeper behind them.
The Captain reached into his pocket with a trembling hand.
Pulled out a small, weathered photo.
A girl. Maybe seventeen. Smiling wide, holding a flower.
"…Her name's Mina…" he said. "My… daughter. She'll b… be waiting for something that's never… coming." His voice cracking
"I only… I only fused with the spirit… so I could… protect her. After her mom died, I… I didn't know what else to do. I wasn't strong enough. Not anymore, not in this time. But the spirit… it promised me p… power."
Tears fell down his cheeks, cutting through the blood and grime.
"But I… didn't realize… how much I was losing… how far gone… I'd gotten. Until now…"
He coughed. More blood. His hands trembled as he handed Takami the photo.
Takami took it carefully, without a word, staring at the girl. Something in his chest cracked. He understood the pain.
The Captain looked up, broken smile on his face.
"I deserve this ending… I know that. I killed too many. I wasn't… even myself anymore. But please… I know it's gonna… sound weird… asking this from… someone you tried to kill, but… please, can you… protect her, I… can only imagine her… being safe in such a man's protection."
He swallowed, eyes dimming.
"…please. Find her. She's in Shinjuku. Building 7-B…, third floor, apartment 32… Tell her her dad… has finally gone on… that long journey he's always told… her of, that she should…" he coughed blood once more, his voice becoming weaker. "…Make the best of her life and not… do anything stupid."
Takami didn't flinch, no words, no gestures, just a downed face to the ground.
The Captain gave a faint laugh, barely a breath now.
"…A return favor. If they ask… about the soldiers… Say I killed them. Say it was… the spirit in me. Don't let them… put that weight… on your name. It was best… I found my end… in the hands… of someone… like… you…"
Takami opened his mouth to protest.
But the Captain's head dropped.
Still.
Gone.
The air hung heavy. Silent. Not even the wind dared whisper.
⟨Extraction Complete…⟩
⟨Level up! Player has reached Lv. 27⟩
⟨Stats increased:
|Speed +4
|Strength +4
|Intelligence +6⟩
⟨Reward: Unavailable for this mission (player under punishment).⟩
Takami sat back slowly, still clutching the photo. His eyes stung.
He looked at the man, the warrior who died not as a villain, but a father doing what he could with what little time he had left.
Takami's voice cracking. "Just… desperate. Just human."
He looked up at the midnight sky, feeling the weight of a promise anchor itself in his soul.
"I'll keep her safe. I promise."
He closed the Captain's eyes, then stood, sliding the photo gently into his own pocket. He dismissed 'slayer blade' that was on the floor.
With heavy steps, he walked away.
One more burden. One more name. One more vow.
But it was his now.
And he would carry it.
To the end.
Meanwhile…
In Kyoto
Mount Osore
The mist slithered along the mountain path, silent and thick, curling around the black wheels of the parked vehicle.
Jin stepped out, his polished shoes pressing into the gravel with quiet purpose. His eyes locked onto a looming structure ahead, a dorm.
"Energy signatures," he said calmly, scanning the scene.
One of the men following him, a lean, quiet operator stepped forward, unlocking a matte black briefcase. From inside, he pulled out a compact device, sleek and humming faintly with glyphs. He tapped the screen, and the scanner flared to life with a soft pulse.
Seconds passed.
"It's confirmed," the man said, reading the results. "Still classified as a high-class 2 dorm... but the readings are unstable. The grant energy inside is dense…too dense. If left unchecked, it could evolve into a Great-Class Dorm within 48 hours. The reading captured from the nearby ones show same value."
Jin folded his arms, nodding slightly. His gaze remained fixed on the structure.
"That means the high-class 2 spirits inside have feasted for a long time, killed more than I expected." he muttered. "A lot more."
"Should we attack?" another suited man beside him asked, tightening the strap of his rifle. His fingers hovered over the weapon's safety. One of the other men instinctively checked his own sidearm.
Jin's response was immediate, sharp.
"No."
The word cut the air.
He turned slightly, facing the team now. "We observe. Two Spirit Keepers may be coming to assist with preparations before the raid begins. If they show up, things will be clearer."
"Understood, sir."
"Go back to Guild Master Tai," Jin ordered, his voice low but firm. "Tell him we'll need two High Grant Rank-1 Mages. Make sure they're the real deal. If we can also get two healers of similar rank, do it. You'll move at dawn."
The soldier nodded crisply. "We'll?… Are you returning to Tokyo, sir?"
Jin smirked.
"No," he said, snapping his fingers.
Another operative stepped forward with a silver-edged suitcase. He popped it open.
Inside, twin short swords lay perfectly nested in black velvet, slim, slightly curved, with etched hilts glowing faintly with resonance.
Jin removed his coat and tie with his usual calm, handing them off. His crisp shirt folded away as he flexed his shoulders, now dressed in a sleeveless black combat vest. He reached down and picked up the swords, spinning one once before sheathing it behind his back.
"I'm starting my own raid now, I'll be starting from the deep. No questions." he said. "Make sure you get rest. Tomorrow's gonna be a nightmare."
The team exchanged glances, silent but tense. It only meant one thing. Jin was about to take on whatever was inside these dorms on his own.
There were other dorms nearby, Jin turned toward the forest's edge.
Without warning, he leapt, silent, precisely landing on a thick tree branch and disappearing into the woods. His figure blended with the dusk, a blur of movement from branch to branch.
He dropped to the ground again, this time directly in front of a dorm entrance cloaked in creeping shadows.
His aura surged, subtle at first before snapping outward like a silent shockwave. His eyes glowed a soft, unnatural silver.
"I hope this won't be easy," he said under his breath, cracking his neck.
Then he slowly walked inside.
Ryusei Residence – Tokyo
The wind howled gently through the night sky, rustling the tree branches. A light creak echoed through the house as the pressure shifted.
A knock came on the door.
"Takami? Takami?" a soft sleepy voice called.
His mother entered, her hair was a mess. She glanced around the room with sleepy eyes.
Empty.
Her gaze went to the wide-open window, curtains flapping lazily in the wind.
"It was from his room afterall. Why'd he leave the window so wide open?" she muttered, walking across the room.
She pulled it closed with a grunt and shut it. The sudden silence made the room feel still…almost too still.
Then it dawned on her. Was the room empty?
Turning back, she spotted the bed. The blanket was messily pulled over a lump.
She walked slowly to it, a soft smile forming. She leaned over, brushing her hand over the blanket and pulling it gently back. "Must've been hallucinating."
Takami lay there, curled slightly, seemingly asleep. His expression was calm, breathing even.
Her smile deepened, fingers brushing lightly over his hair.
"You sleep too much, too deep for someone your age," she whispered fondly, before turning to leave the room.
She closed the door quietly behind her.
Silence.
Then…
Takami exhaled slowly.
His eyes opened.
One shimmered with a cool, glacial blue.
The other glowed with piercing gold, sharp
They were both vertical like a cat's.
They weren't human anymore.
Or were they ever human?