.
.
.
.
[Inside Kagetsu castle, 1:28 AM]
"I feel like I'm forgetting something…" Denji muttered mid-sprint, his brows furrowing as he ran.
"We can deal with it later!" Asahi shot back over his shoulder, panting between words. "Let's just focus on getting the hell out of here!"
Their footsteps echoed sharply through the crimson-lit corridor, the emergency lights casting eerie glows across the walls. Trailing before them like veins of fate were the silky threads—Toru's trail—sliding across corners, curling around door frames, guiding them through the labyrinthine facility.
They rounded a sharp turn—Asahi slipped briefly, his foot skidding across the polished tile before he caught himself with a clumsy stagger.
The threads wove upward, leading to a flight of stairs that spiraled into darkness.
Each step seemed steeper than the last. Asahi's breathing grew ragged, his steps slowing with every floor climbed. Denji, surprisingly, remained steady—his devil-enhanced stamina holding strong.
"C-Can we just rest a second?" Asahi huffed, hands on his knees.
Akemi didn't answer right away. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, her arms trembling. "We… we can't," she started, but her resolve cracked. "Actually… maybe just a minute. One minute."
They collapsed against the wall, just long enough to gather a breath that didn't burn in their lungs. Time felt thin, each second heavy with tension.
After a couple minutes, they were moving again. Driven by urgency, they followed the trail up one final corridor.
Akemi was the first to see it.
"There!" she cried, pointing with trembling fingers.
A circular opening had been carved clean through the far wall. The threads pulsed faintly as they disappeared into the tunnel beyond, now leading outside. Moonlight spilled through the breach like a silver ribbon.
They hurried toward it—each footstep faster than the last. The cold night air beckoned.
Outside, the threads continued, snaking low to the ground across a stretch of gravel and sparse brush. Far ahead, the path pierced a compound wall that had been ripped open by some unseen force—a hidden side exit. A clean escape.
"How about we rest for just another minute?" Asahi suggested, already half-collapsed against the stone wall, his chest heaving with each breath.
Akemi hesitated mid-step, the exhaustion in her muscles tugging her toward agreement. Sweat clung to her temple, her legs aching from the constant sprinting. "I…" she began, torn between urgency and the physical demand catching up to her. "I guess… one more minute won't kill us."
Toru deadpanned as he watched the scene from the side. 'It literally would.'
Denji glanced over at her, his brows raised with casual concern. "If you're really tired, I can carry you on my back, y'know—"
"Nope." Asahi cut in immediately, planting a firm hand on Denji's shoulder to stop him from getting any ideas. "She's doing just fine."
Akemi blinked, raising an unimpressed brow at her brother. "Seriously?"
Denji scratched his cheek, shrugging. "Hey, just offering. Doesn't bother me either way." he cheeks grew slightly red at the thoughts he had.
Asahi shifted slightly, "Uh huh, it's still a no." Akemi rolled her eyes but couldn't help the faint smirk tugging at the corner of her lips.
"Let's just rest a second. Then we move," she said as she down on the cold grass.
'It's already been more than a second.' Toru watched with resigned patience.
Above them, the sky began to shift.
Dark, swollen clouds rolled over the horizon, devouring the last hints of starlight. The breeze picked up, sharper now—colder. A flash flickered far in the distance,
.
.
[Kagetsu castle, outer courtyard]
The wind howled low and cold through the blood-stained stones of the courtyard. Kazuhiro stood still, a silhouette of dark enormity just meters away from the man who now revealed himself as Takeshi Hanamura—mysteriously designated the 8th.
The wind curled through the ruined courtyard, growing sharper, carrying with it the distant growl of thunder. Overhead, clouds thickened like a brewing tempest, and the acrid scent of blood lingered in the air between bodies left cooling on stone.
Kazuhiro observed his opponent.
'The Eighth… what could it mean? Could it be that there are seven more like him?'
His thoughts were halted as Takeshi finally spoke, his tone calm and cold.
"You've had time to think," he said coolly, drawing his katana halfway from its sheath. The steel caught a glint of moonlight, sharp and impatient. "I'll ask only once more. What will it be?"
Kazuhiro offered no words.
He didn't need to.
'Escape is the only viable route. Both Toru and the workers statuses are unknown. My best option is to utilize the time between the market and this world as time moves slower here, it will give me time to prepare and gain insight.'
'Another reason to add is that my stat bonuses are about expire, which would lead to a weaker state compared to now. Any further delay could trigger a confrontation I can't afford.'
he shifted—weight lowering to his back leg. In the same instant, Takeshi's eyes narrowed in recognition.
"So be it."
Steel sang.
Kazuhiro launched forward with explosive momentum, his massive claws drawn wide like reaping blades. Wind shattered around him, stone cracking under his first step as he blurred toward Takeshi. His target was clear: the head.
A decisive kill.
Takeshi tracked his movements and reacted instantly. His blade whipped from its sheath in a smooth, lethal arc—reflex forged from years of combat discipline. His stance dropped, bracing for the full force of the monstrous strike.
But it never came.
Kazuhiro vanished just as he was about land an attack, sidestepping with supernatural fluidity—his real intent unfolding in that moment. It wasn't an assault.
It was a feint.
Before Takeshi could shift from defense and respond with a quick counter in case it aimed for his body, Kazuhiro had already bypassed him.
Dust kicked into the air, swirling in his wake.
From the distance, Takeshi turned his head, his sharp eyes narrowing as the shadow of Kazuhiro disappeared into the mist—fleeing with calculated speed toward the breach in the compound wall and into the dense forest.
"Tch… such a coward's tactic," he muttered under his breath, though there was no rage in his voice—only quiet disdain.
With fluid ease, he raised his left wrist, revealing a sleek, steel-banded bracelet lined with etched sigils and faintly glowing tech. His thumb pressed against a small indented button.
"It has fled east. Intercept immediately," he spoke with calm precision. "Min—track the captive's movement and forward it to Surya."
A soft chime answered him, confirming the transmission had been received.
Raindrops began to fall—cold, heavy, a slow curtain heralding the approaching storm. One drop struck the edge of his cheek, rolling down the long scar etched just above his brow. Another landed on the flat of his katana as he brought it to bear.
Then, without hesitation, he shifted into a stance—feet wide, posture centered, blade drawn low.
The air around him trembled.
With a single, smooth arc, Takeshi swung his katana through the open space in front of him.
FWOOOSH!
A large crescent-shaped gale erupted outward, tearing across the ruined courtyard with a roar. The wind slice shimmered faintly, crackling with compressed force as it howled across the terrain, cutting clean through ancient stone and uprooting debris in its path.
He followed with two more slashes in quick succession—each one sending forth its own air-blade, forming a trio of deadly arcs that raced after the fleeing figure of Kazuhiro. They tore across the courtyard like phantom blades, seeking flesh with surgical intent.
"This shall slow you down," Takeshi murmured, sliding his katana back into its sheath.
"And if you happen to fall because of it," he added under his breath, "then I was wrong to think you had value to Father."
With a final glance toward the far-off breach "These attacks... compared to the others... are nothing." Takeshi instantly kicked off the ground—not running, but soaring forward. Each step he took landed with supernatural force, propelling him high into the air. The wind tore at his haori as he headed to the forest nd behind him, the castle grounds were already falling silent.
.
.
[At the edge of the forest. 1:39 AM]
Toru leaned against the coarse bark of a towering tree, his breath curling faintly in the chilled night air. His body, now physical, was soaked through, his shirt and apron clinging to him, hair matted with cold rainfall. Droplets traced the angles of his face, collecting at his chin before falling to the forest floor.
He exhaled sharply, annoyance etched across his normally unreadable expression.
'Of course it had to rain, like any fiction, rain occurs in tough situations.' he thought bitterly. The water made his outfit heavier and his movements slicker. 'Come to think of it, it might slow down Akemi and the others.'
He thumbed his device and made a quick swipe to wipe of the drops for clarity. He watched as a soft blue pulse confirmed his last message to Kazuhiro had gone through. No reply. Not yet.
'Those sounds and distant explosions. He's surely occupied.' He furrowed his brows. ' Once they get back here, I must get back to the market to bring those who can fight to assist.' He contemplated on who should he bring over, he was willing to pay their fees for them cross over.
Toru closed his eyes, he suddenly felt something from one his strings.
He sensed movement.
His eyes flew open, pupils narrowing.
'Twenty-five meters off the trail—right where the escape path cuts through.' He stepped forward, hand twitching. He tried to recall the recent sensation.
'I didn't feel it cut all the way through their flesh.'
That meant one thing.
'It merely grazed their skin.'
Toru's expression darkened. Rain dripped from his jawline as he muttered, "That reaction time… that wasn't human."
His stomach dropped as realization dawned.
'No... not him. Not here. Its the same as that man in that room, wasnt he supposed to be busy with Kazuhiro? What is he doing here? Did he notice us?' multiple questions surfaced, for them to notice his strings by just a simple graze. 'It must be him'
He looked back at the device, just as the screen flared red.
A sharp alarm pierced the silence, shrill and unrelenting. Crimson light bled across the display, illuminating the trees around him.
Text scrolled rapidly across the interface:
.
.
xxxx
A new threat has been detected!
• THE 4TH (AARAV SURYA).
A BOSS BATTLE HAS BEEN INITIATED.
Objective(s):
Find a way to escape along with the others.
Reward(s):
︎▪︎ 20 (STA)
︎▪︎ 20 (INT)
︎▪︎ 20 (AP)
.
Failure:
︎ ▪︎ Possibility of Death
︎ ▪︎ Possibility of Akemi's Death
▪︎ Possibility of Asahi's Death
▪︎ Possibility of Denji's Death
▪︎ Possibility of Kazuhiro's Death
︎ ▪︎ -35000 SC
.
Alternative(s):
Eliminate the threat.
Reward(s):
︎▪︎ 40 (AP)
︎▪︎ 40 (DEX)
︎▪︎ 40 (STA)
︎▪︎ 40 (STR)
︎▪︎ 40 (AGI)
︎▪︎ 45000 SC
︎▪︎ A new ability
.
Failure:
︎▪︎ Certain Death
▪︎ Guaranteed death for Akemi
▪︎ Guaranteed death for Asahi
▪︎ Possibility of Denji's Death
▪︎ Possibility of Kazuhiro's Death
.
Warning: This Mission has automatically been accepted. Choose between the two objectives to complete it.
Xxxx
.
.
[The forest]
Xxxx
+5 DEX – Successfully dodged a strong attack
+3 CON – Took moderate damage (3655/4400)
Xxxx
Kazuhiro felt the air ripple before the first wind slash even landed.
He twisted sharply, his elongated limbs shifting in a blur, narrowly avoiding the scything arc of pressure as it carved through the trees behind him. Bark exploded into splinters, and leaves were shredded midair. The force alone sent his footing sliding across the wet forest floor.
The second strike followed—merciless and immediate.
He turned his torso just in time, but not fast enough. A shallow cut ripped across his back, splitting cloth and clawing through his void-flesh. There was no blood, only a strange absence of color where the wound opened.
His movement had slowed. Sluggish—not from pain, but from his temporary buffs, they were gradually fading.
He didn't stop.
The sound of the third strike gave it away before the wind itself did—an unnatural howl splitting the sky as if space itself were tearing apart behind him.
Big. Fast. Wide.
Kazuhiro dropped low, planting his feet deep into the rain-slick earth. The mud groaned beneath the weight of his massive frame. With a surge of force, he launched himself forward in a bounding leap that tore through the underbrush, his elongated legs carrying him far—just far enough to veer off the direct center of the attack.
The third slash shrieked as it carved through the forest behind him, its sheer size turning the air into a slicing force of nature. Though he avoided the brunt of it, the thin outer edge of the wind arc clipped his side. It tore through his already lacerated back, widening old wounds and opening new, shallower ones along his shoulder and flank. The pressure alone drove him lower mid-air, his limbs briefly faltering from the concussive force before he recovered.
.
.
Xxxx
+3 CON – Took moderate damage (3122/4520)
Xxxx
.
.
He hit the ground hard, gouging a trench into the wet soil with his landing.
Still, there was no blood.
Only the hiss of impact. The rain swallowed the rest.
Kazuhiro rose slowly, shoulders hunched,
'He's not giving chase… he's testing range. Probing my limits.'
The forest around him groaned under the aftermath of Takeshi's technique. Trees lay cleaved in two. Rain began to pour harder.
He didn't look back. He didn't have time to.
'The market… It's best to summon it here.'
His clawed fingers slipped into his pocket and retrieved the device, screen flickering under the rain-slick canopy. As he scrolled with swift precision, a new notification caught his eye—Toru's message. He didn't open it. Not now.
But something was wrong.
The screen dimmed slightly, not from the device itself—but from the world around him. A strange haze was curling through the trees. It grew thicker, denser, blurring the edges of his vision. At first, he thought it was fog.
'No… this isn't mist.'
His head lifted.
'Its different.'
Smoke.
But from where?
A voice broke the silence.
"Fufufu… How fascinating," it echoed, airy and drenched in cruel delight. Feminine. Amused. "By now, anyone else would've collapsed, twitching in agony. Unless… are you undead? Hm, I wonder what Father sees in you."
Kazuhiro's head turned, scanning the treeline—but there was no figure. Just the rain and the creeping smoke.
A second voice joined in, this one deep.
"Enough talk. We're expected at Uluru in an hour and a half. Let's handle it. Quickly."
Red light flared from his device. Kazuhiro didn't need to check the screen to know what was coming, but he looked anyway.
.
.
Xxxx
A new threat has been detected!
• THE 7TH (ELOISE DURAND).
A BOSS BATTLE HAS BEEN INITIATED.
Objective(s):
Find a way to escape along with your workers
Reward(s):
︎▪︎ 15 (STA)
︎▪︎ 15 (INT)
︎▪︎ 15 (AGI)
︎▪︎ 15 (AP)
.
Failure:
︎ ▪︎ Possibility of Death
︎ ▪︎ Possibility of Akemi's Death
▪︎ Possibility of Asahi's Death
▪︎ Possibility of Denji's Death
▪︎ Possibility of Toru's Death
︎ ▪︎ -25000 SC
.
Alternative(s):
Eliminate the threat, with your workers being alive.
Reward(s):
︎▪︎ 25 (AP)
︎▪︎ 25 (INT)
︎▪︎ 25 (AGI)
︎▪︎ 25 (DEX)
︎▪︎ 31000 SC
.
Failure:
︎▪︎ Possibility of Death
▪︎ Possibility of Akemi's Death
▪︎ Possibility of Asahi's Death
▪︎ Possibility of Denji's Death
▪︎ Possibility of Toru's Death
.
Warning: This Mission has automatically been accepted. Choose between the two objectives to complete it.
.
A new threat has been detected!
• THE 9TH (SELIM ASLAN).
A BOSS BATTLE HAS BEEN INITIATED.
Objective(s):
Find a way to escape along with your workers
Reward(s):
︎▪︎ 10 (DEX)
︎▪︎ 10 (AGI)
︎▪︎ 10 (AP)
.
Failure:
︎ ▪︎ Possibility of Death
︎ ▪︎ Possibility of Akemi's Death
▪︎ Possibility of Asahi's Death
▪︎ Possibility of Denji's Death
▪︎ Possibility of Toru's Death
︎ ▪︎ -15000 SC
.
Alternative(s):
Eliminate the threat, with your workers being alive.
Reward(s):
︎▪︎ 20 (AP)
︎▪︎ 20 (INT)
︎▪︎ 20 (STA)
︎▪︎ 20000 SC
.
Failure:
︎▪︎ Possibility of Death
▪︎ Possibility of Akemi's Death
▪︎ Possibility of Asahi's Death
▪︎ Possibility of Denji's Death
▪︎ Possibility of Toru's Death
.
Warning: This Mission has automatically been accepted. Choose between the two objectives to complete it.
Xxxx
.
.
.
.
(AN: man... the HOTD arc is so long bruh.)