Hanato's Perspective — Hirito
The wind carried the scent of smoke.
Standing beside Shina atop the rooftop, I slowly swept my eyes across the devastated skyline of Tokyo. Emergency sirens echoed endlessly between the buildings while pillars of black smoke climbed into the evening sky.
The city below no longer looked like the Tokyo I had grown up in.
People hurried through the streets in panic.
Police barricades had been erected at nearly every major intersection.
Ambulances raced toward the newest reports of attacks while helicopters circled overhead like restless vultures.
For several long seconds, neither Shina nor I spoke.
Our earlier argument had faded into an uneasy silence.
We still weren't exactly friends.
Far from it.
If anything, we were partners who had been forced together by fate.
I crossed my arms as I searched the city for any sign of the Razorblade monster.
"...Where is that thing?"
The monster had disappeared after kidnapping Lilie, and Tokyo was far too large to search building by building.
Even with our enhanced eyesight, locating a single monster was nearly impossible.
Beside me, Shina narrowed her glowing blue eyes.
"I don't see anything either..."
Just as frustration began creeping into my thoughts—
Something caught my attention.
Across the street, several televisions inside a large electronics store displayed the same emergency news broadcast.
Every screen had switched to live coverage.
"...Shina."
She turned toward me.
"What is it?"
I pointed toward the display windows.
"There."
Both of us immediately focused on the televisions.
The reporter's anxious voice echoed from the speakers.
"We are receiving live footage from near Tokyo Tower where the unidentified monster has been cornered by police units. Authorities have completely surrounded the area, but the hostage remains in danger..."
The camera zoomed in.
There it was.
The Razorblade monster.
It stood near the base of Tokyo Tower, clutching Lilie beneath one massive arm while two Mini Razorblade monsters guarded its sides.
Dozens of police vehicles had surrounded the area.
SWAT teams aimed assault rifles.
Snipers occupied nearby rooftops.
Television helicopters circled overhead.
Reporters crowded behind the police barricades.
Every major news station seemed to be broadcasting the confrontation live.
Shina immediately understood.
"Tokyo Tower."
I nodded.
Without another word—
We both leaped from the rooftop.
Our bodies shot through the air.
One rooftop.
Then another.
Then another.
The buildings became stepping stones beneath our feet as we crossed the city at incredible speed.
The wind roared past my ears.
Every leap covered dozens of meters.
For someone who had spent most of his life walking to school...
This still felt unreal.
Within minutes—
Tokyo Tower came into view.
Police lights painted the streets below in alternating flashes of blue and red.
The entire district had been evacuated.
Helicopters hovered above.
Military vehicles blocked every road leading toward the tower.
Shina landed beside me atop a nearby office building.
I immediately prepared to jump.
"We have to—"
A hand grabbed my shoulder.
"Wait."
I looked back.
"What?"
She pointed downward.
"...Look."
I followed her finger.
Then immediately understood why she had stopped me.
The area wasn't simply surrounded by police.
It had become a public spectacle.
Hundreds of reporters stood behind barricades.
News cameras pointed directly toward Tokyo Tower.
Journalists reported live while helicopters captured aerial footage.
Police officers filled nearly every street below.
In the center of it all stood two important figures.
The Police Chief.
And the Mayor.
"So many people..."
I muttered.
If we rushed in recklessly...
Every camera in Japan would record us.
Down below—
Police Chief Roger lifted a megaphone.
His stern voice echoed throughout the area.
"You're completely surrounded!"
"There is nowhere left to run!"
"Release the hostage immediately!"
The Razorblade monster simply stared down at everyone.
Without warning—
It began climbing Tokyo Tower.
Its enormous claws dug effortlessly into the steel framework as it carried Lilie higher into the air.
"Daddy!"
Lilie cried desperately.
"Help me!"
Then—
"...This ugly monster is ruining my dress!"
I blinked.
Seriously?
Out of everything happening...
She was worried about her dress?
The Mayor looked ready to collapse from panic.
"My daughter!"
He reached toward the tower helplessly.
The monster ignored him completely.
Shina sighed beside me.
"...Some people never change."
I couldn't disagree.
We exchanged one glance.
Then nodded.
Together—
We jumped.
Our bodies descended toward the street below.
BOOM!
We landed directly behind the police barricades.
The impact echoed across the entire intersection.
Every nearby officer instinctively aimed their weapons toward us.
"...Who?"
"...Kids?"
"...Where did they come from?"
Television cameras immediately turned.
Microphones followed.
Reporters began shouting questions all at once.
The Mayor turned around in complete disbelief.
The Police Chief stared at us.
"What the—"
One officer hurried toward us.
"Hey!"
His face looked both worried and annoyed.
"You kids aren't supposed to be here!"
"It's dangerous!"
We walked right past him.
Shina remained completely calm.
She stopped in front of the Mayor and politely bowed.
"Good evening, Mayor Shiniki."
The Mayor looked utterly confused.
"...Who are you?"
"You children need to leave immediately!"
Ignoring his panic, Shina turned toward the Police Chief.
"You're Police Chief Roger, correct?"
The man folded his arms.
"I am."
Shina spoke politely.
"Would you please order your officers to evacuate?"
Silence.
The Police Chief frowned.
"...Excuse me?"
"Please withdraw your men."
"They're in danger."
His expression immediately hardened.
"And why exactly should I listen to you?"
His voice rose enough for nearby cameras to hear.
He gestured toward our outfits.
"Look."
"I understand pretending to be superheroes is fun."
"But this isn't a costume contest."
Several officers nodded in agreement.
"This area is under police control."
"We have everything under control."
"So go home."
His words irritated me.
I stepped forward.
"We're not cosplaying."
"Can't you see your men are in danger of—"
ROOOOOOOOOOAR!!
The Razorblade monster's roar interrupted me.
Every head turned upward.
The monster spread its massive arms.
Its metallic scales suddenly lifted from its back.
Ryuhou's voice echoed inside my mind.
"Master!"
"It's coming!"
The spikes launched.
Hundreds of razor-sharp scales rained down from Tokyo Tower like a deadly storm.
"No!"
The Police Chief shouted.
"Take cover!"
It was already too late.
The scales struck dozens of officers.
One by one—
Purple corruption spread across their bodies.
The officers screamed in agony.
Dark clouds surrounded them.
Bones twisted.
Armor split apart.
Within seconds—
Their bodies transformed into Mini Razorblade monsters.
One.
Five.
Ten.
Twenty.
The transformation continued.
Soon...
Nearly fifty Mini Razorblade monsters stood where brave police officers had once been.
Silence fell across the entire district.
Nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
Several reporters dropped their microphones.
One cameraman forgot to stop recording.
The Police Chief stared in horror.
"...My men..."
The Mayor stumbled backward.
"...Impossible..."
I clenched my fists.
"...Those idiots."
"They should've listened."
Ryuhou appeared beside me.
"Do not lose focus."
He looked toward the growing army.
"The only person capable of saving them..."
He glanced toward Shina.
"...is her."
I nodded slowly.
"But first..."
Ryuhou's eyes turned toward Tokyo Tower.
"...the source must be stopped."
I immediately stepped in front of the stunned officers.
"Get behind us!"
My voice echoed loudly.
"Your men have already fallen!"
"There is nothing your weapons can do now!"
I pointed toward the monsters.
"Leave them to us!"
For the first time...
The Police Chief hesitated.
He finally understood.
Bullets couldn't save his officers anymore.
The monsters roared together.
The sound shook the surrounding buildings.
Even the television helicopters trembled from the noise.
Then—
Something unexpected happened.
The Razorblade monster looked down.
Its red eyes focused on the hostage.
Without warning—
It threw Lilie.
"What?!"
She shot through the air like a cannonball.
Everyone screamed.
Even I froze.
Why would it—
"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!"
Lilie spun helplessly through the sky.
"I'msorryI'llneverbullyanyoneagainjustpleaseletmelivethisonce!!"
My brain immediately calculated the trajectory.
Too fast.
Too high.
No time.
"Phantom Manipulation!"
Dark shadows erupted from my arm.
A shadow whip shot forward.
I wrapped it tightly around two sturdy roadside trees.
Pulling with all my strength, I stretched the shadow into a wide elastic net.
"Please work..."
Lilie crashed directly into it.
THWANG!!
The shadow absorbed most of the impact.
But—
"...Oh no."
The elasticity launched her back into the air.
Straight toward—
Shina.
Her eyes widened.
"...Seriously?"
There wasn't enough time to dodge.
Shina caught Lilie.
Well...
More accurately...
Lilie crashed directly into Shina.
Both girls rolled across the pavement.
Shina ended up completely flattened beneath the Mayor's daughter.
Several reporters quietly looked away.
"...Ow..."
Shina groaned.
Lilie blinked.
Then stood up.
"...I never promised."
I stared.
"...You what?"
She dusted off her dress.
"I take back what I said."
"..."
"..."
Shina slowly stood.
Her eye twitched.
Then she looked at me.
The glare she gave me nearly froze my soul.
I awkwardly scratched my head.
"...I'm sorry."
"I was trying to save her."
"You used me as a landing cushion."
"...Technically."
Before she could murder me—
The sky suddenly darkened.
Every person instinctively looked upward.
Black storm clouds gathered above Tokyo Tower.
Lightning flashed.
Thunder shook the city.
An eerie laugh echoed across the skyline.
"Hehehehehe..."
The news helicopter immediately zoomed in.
Hovering high above Tokyo Tower—
A lone figure floated in midair.
A purple hood concealed his face.
Dark violet clouds swirled around his body.
Only his glowing crimson eyes remained visible beneath the hood.
Those eyes...
They looked almost identical to mine.
Then—
He vanished.
Instantly.
Every television across the city flickered.
Static filled every screen.
The live broadcasts disappeared.
A single face replaced them all.
The hooded man.
His voice echoed across every television.
Every speaker.
Every broadcast.
Every home in Tokyo.
"People of Tokyo..."
"I am the Divine Being known as..."
"Vetrex."
The name sent chills down my spine.
Then the lower half of every screen suddenly changed.
A second live feed appeared.
Me.
And Shina.
Our masked forms were displayed beside Vetrex.
He already knew.
He knew the Essence wielders had appeared.
Thankfully...
He still didn't know who we truly were.
Vetrex smiled beneath his hood.
"Hand over the Essences of Light and Shadow."
"You have already caused the people of Tokyo enough damage."
Immediately—
The Mayor turned toward us.
The Police Chief followed.
Then every officer.
Every reporter.
Every camera.
Every civilian.
All eyes landed on us.
Before anyone could speak—
Clap.
Clap.
Clap.
I turned.
Shina was applauding.
"...What?"
She stepped forward fearlessly.
Her blue eyes burned with determination.
"We all know who the real villain is, Vetrex."
Her voice rang confidently across the silent battlefield.
"Don't try shifting the blame onto us!"
Half the television screens switched to her image.
She pointed directly toward the floating face.
"If it weren't for you..."
"None of this would've happened!"
"You are the one who corrupted Reno!"
"You are the one who endangered innocent people!"
"You are the one who should return the Essence you stole!"
I stared at her.
Where had this confidence come from?
Just minutes ago she had been nervous enough to invent the world's most obvious fake hero name.
Now...
She stood before all of Tokyo without fear.
Even Ryuhou sounded impressed.
"...She possesses remarkable courage."
For several seconds—
Vetrex remained silent.
Then he laughed.
"Very well..."
The storm clouds slowly dispersed.
Sunlight once again broke through the sky.
His image slowly faded from every television.
"If that is your answer..."
His voice echoed one last time.
"...then prove your resolve."
The screens went black.
Silence returned.
Then—
ROOOOOOOOAR!!
The Razorblade monster roared from atop Tokyo Tower.
Below it—
Nearly fifty Mini Razorblade monsters slowly turned toward us.
One step.
Then another.
An entire army began advancing.
Shina stepped beside me.
I summoned a shadow whip into my right hand.
She gathered glowing spheres of light in both palms.
Without exchanging another word...
We prepared to face the impossible.