The wind was cold that evening, brushing against Kaido's face as he stood atop the apartment complex's rooftop. Tokyo sprawled below him like a breathing entity—alive, yet indifferent. The scarlet mark around his wrist pulsed softly, like a second heartbeat.
He hadn't told Aiko about it—not the mark, not the strange voice, not the flicker of power that distorted the air around him. How could he? He didn't understand it himself. All he knew was that he had survived something no one else had. And survival came with a price.
As the sun dipped below the skyline, his phone vibrated. A message from the Hunters' Association.
> Report to Sector 3 Outpost tomorrow. Gate Activity Detected.
A mission. So soon?
He clenched his fist, eyes drifting to the faint glow on his skin.
---
The next morning, Kaido arrived at the outpost, greeted by a wave of unease. A temporary team had been assembled—two men and one woman, all D-rank hunters. None of them spoke as they waited. The atmosphere was heavy.
"Kaido Shin?"
A voice called out behind him. He turned to find a young woman in uniform—sharp eyes, short silver hair, clipboard in hand. "I'm Kana Fujita. I'll be your handler for this mission. The gate is unstable. Estimated Rank: C. It appeared in an abandoned warehouse two kilometers north. Your team will be responsible for reconnaissance only. No engagement unless necessary."
Kaido nodded. "Understood."
Kana's gaze lingered on him. "You're the one from Shibuya, right?"
He stiffened slightly but didn't answer. She didn't press further.
---
The gate pulsed like a wound in the world—concentric circles of golden light spinning in slow, unnatural patterns. Kaido's breath caught as he stared at it. It was different from the first one, yet somehow familiar.
The team stepped through.
Inside, the air was thick. A strange distortion clung to every sound, like echoes within a dream. The environment looked like a warped version of the real world—twisted structures, frozen debris, gravity that hummed slightly off-key.
They moved carefully, weapons drawn, scanning the area.
Suddenly, a low growl cut through the silence.
From the shadows, a creature emerged—twice the height of a man, sinewy limbs, glowing eyes. A C-rank gate shouldn't have monsters like this.
"Back!" Kaido shouted.
The beast charged.
The first hunter tried to block its path, but the creature's claws tore through his shield, sending him flying. Kaido didn't think—he moved.
His body reacted before his mind did.
The mark on his wrist glowed, and a surge of energy erupted through him. In a blur, he was in front of the beast, palm extended. A red sigil formed in the air, and with a flash, a wave of force blasted the creature backward.
Silence fell.
The other hunters stared in shock.
"What... was that?" one whispered.
Kaido lowered his hand slowly. The mark faded back into a soft pulse. His heart raced.
He didn't know how to explain it.
---
Back at the outpost, the report was brief. "Unexpected anomaly. One casualty. Gate cleared."
Kana approached him afterward, arms crossed.
"You disobeyed orders. You were supposed to observe."
Kaido met her gaze. "He would've died."
She studied him. "And what exactly did you use? That wasn't standard combat technique."
He didn't answer. After a long pause, she sighed.
"You're lucky no one else filed a complaint. But if you plan to keep hunting, you better start understanding what's happening to you."
---
That night, Kaido sat at his desk, the lamp casting long shadows across the room. His hand trembled slightly as he reached for a notebook. He began writing, for the first time, what he remembered from the white void:
> "Seven pillars. A voice. The Bloodbound Pact. It spoke to me. Offered me power... in exchange for something I don't yet understand."
He stared at the words.
Was this the beginning of something... or the end of who he used to be?
Behind him, the window creaked.
He turned sharply—nothing.
But he knew.
He was being watched again.
And whoever it was... they were getting closer.