It's been a while since everything turned upside down. After the whole Crimson mess, Hyakuren was barely holding together. We were weak, scattered, and struggling to keep our place. But now? Now we're back.
We've rebuilt, regained our influence. Missions pour in from everywhere—governments, organizations, regular humans who somehow know about us. And the best part is that the Hyakuren has climbed up higher than ever in the Clan Rankings.
Yeah. We were hanging onto some hundredth place by a thread before, and now we've shot up the ranks all the way up to fourteenth in the world. And honestly, that's because of the people we have now.
When Ruby-san returned, everything changed. She's not just powerful—she's a leader. As our new president, she gave us direction, structure, and a reason to move forward. She took a crumbling clan and turned it into something strong again.
Then there's Hayato. The guy's a one-man army. Having someone with his strength makes a difference—not just in battle, but in presence. He's the kind of person who doesn't need to say much; just knowing he's with us makes us feel stronger.
And… yeah. Yora. I can't believe I'm saying this, but his crazy inventions have actually helped. His brain might be full of nonsense half the time, but when it comes to tech, he's a genius. A perverted, annoying, self-proclaimed genius, but still.
With all of us together, Hyakuren isn't just surviving anymore. We're making a mark.
The Clan Rankings-
The clan rankings are decided by the World Government. The rankings depict everything—power, influence, and how much the world relies on you. It's not just about strength; it's about handling supernatural threats and keeping the balance.
At first place, we have the Drakonis Clan, USA. Unshaken, untouchable, legendary. They have the most powerful Vorixas led by a man that is considered to be the strongest. They've ruled the rankings for decades. If there's anyone who decides the tides of supernatural battles, it's them.
In second place is Longwei Clan, China. They're warriors through and through, wielding dragon-based Seishin that makes them absolute monsters in battle. The Longweishas are actual living calamities.
The top two ranks are always competing, constantly pushing each other to the limit. They've proven time and time again that they're the strongest, the ones we all look up to. We can't help but admire them, even as we wonder if we'll ever reach that height ourselves.
Eventhough, it still feels surreal. The six of us. We fought our way up from near collapse. We rebuilt, we pushed forward, and we made it here.
But the work here isn't over.
Because somewhere out there, Crimson still exists. He's the one who brought Hyakuren to its knees—not just us, but the other Japanese clans as well. His actions shattered everything we stood for, leaving behind nothing but ruins and regrets. And the worst, we know he's not gone for good. Any day now, he could return, and when he does, the storm will start all over again. And if we want to stay on our feet, we can't let our guard down.
---
After the Hokkaido mission, things just kept rolling.
One mission after another, and we cleared them all—effortlessly. Rescuing civilians, hunting Oscuros, escorting VIPs, dismantling rogue portals—Hyakuren took them all and nailed every single one.
And now, we're here.
A mission straight from the World Government itself. We've been assigned to guard one of the most important facilities on the planet—The Nexus Research Institute—sitting at the outskirts of Tokyo. This isn't just Japan's problem. Scientists from all over the world work here, conducting research on Oscuros, their origins, their weaknesses—everything. If this place falls, it's game over for humanity's understanding of these monsters.
That's why we're here. Me, Hayato, Yora, and Shizuka-san, with Kaito-san guiding us from HQ.
And let me tell you—it's boring as hell.
We're basically glorified bodyguards, standing here and punching Oscuros whenever they show up. And sure, the pay is ridiculously good, but come on. Where's the challenge?
Every now and then, we see them. Oscuros popping up like cockroaches. They're nothing like the giant ones we fought before. No, these are just the Devoids, the mindless creatures—nothing but shadows moving in the dark. They crawl out of the cracks, slip through the air vents, and just appear out of nowhere.
It's like they're drawn to this place—like it's a beacon or something. And, sure enough, every time one shows up, we're on it. No hesitation.
They don't even stand a chance against us, the Hyakuren.
---
After another round of smashing Oscuros, we are finally given a bit of peace. That's when the assistant manager of the Nexus—Miss Kei Hidaka—approaches us.
She stands, proper and composed. Clearing her throat, straightening her suit, she speaks, "I must express my deepest gratitude for your assistance today. The Hyakuren clan's presence has truly proven invaluable in safeguarding this facility." I bet she says that to every clan they hired.
Hayato—our acting captain for the mission—just nods. "No problem," he replies, barely even looking at her.
I know Hayato isn't the talkative type, that leaves me to fill the awkward silence. "It is nothing, really. Just doing our job," I say with a grin, trying to ease the tension.
Though, truth be told, I am just glad that the Oscuros haven't completely overrun the place. We're doing our job, sure. But if we weren't here, this whole place would've been a mess.
The assistant manager nods, offering a brief, polite smile. "We'll be sure to mention Hyakuren's efforts to the higher-ups. You're truly making a difference here." She seems genuinely thankful, which was... surprising. Normally, it feels like we are just hired hands to take care of the dirty work.
Hayato shifts his stance and says nothing more, but I can tell he isn't all that interested in the praise. He isn't here for the thanks. He is here to get the job done.
I nudge him, keeping the mood light. "Well, guess we're famous now. Getting compliments and all."
"Yeah, real famous," he replies.
Hmph... he really is a man of few words. Meanwhile, Yora has been looking around, clearly more interested in the technology inside the Nexus than the pleasantries being exchanged. "So, is there a secret lair in here, or what?" he mumbles to himself. But, of course, we all hears him. Yora and his endless curiosity about the weirdest things.
Shizuka-san, who has been quiet until now, leans in and whispers to me. "He's got to be trolling them, right?"
I smile at that. "Who knows? Maybe he'll find some weird gadget to play with while we're here working our butts off."
"Anyway," I say, trying to refocus the attention back to the mission at hand, "do you need us for anything else, or are we good to go?"
Smiling politely, Hidaka-san glances at her tablet. "For now, everything is under control. We just wanted to ensure there were no more Oscuros nearby. But..."
She straightens up and speaks in a tone that's more business. "Oscuros aren't the real issue here. Our own guards can handle them just fine.
The real problem will come tonight. That's why we hired you, the Hyakuren clan, for our protection.
We've received information from the Cyberwatch. A rogue Vorixa is expected to infiltrate the Nexus tonight and cause chaos. He's got a bounty of 10 million yen on his head. That's why... we need you to protect the institute from him tonight."
A rogue Vorixa? And a bounty that big?
It's not just any guy. This guy's trouble. Big trouble.
But why would a rogue Vorixa come here? What's his plan? I glance at the others, but Hayato, Yora, and Shizuka-san all stay quiet, processing the same thing I am.
"Understood," Hayato nods. He's already in his thinking process about how to handle this.
Yora, on the other hand, looks more curious than anything. "A rogue Vorixa, huh? Sounds like fun."
Fun? This is serious you fat idiot.
Anyway, it's our job. We've dealt with worse. Still, I can't shake the feeling that we've to fight a Vorixa this time, unlike the usual Oscuros. Tonight's going to be different.
Hidaka-san's voice cuts through my thoughts. "Please, I'm counting on you. We can't afford any mistakes tonight."
"You can count on us," I nod.
Whatever's happening tonight, it's bigger than we know. And now it's up to us to stop it.
---
Hayato, Shizuka-san, and I stand around in the Nexus main hall, trying to wrap our heads around the situation. There's a tension in the air that we can all feel.
"So," I start, looking at Hayato, "we've got ourselves a rogue Vorixa to deal with. Rogue, but still... human."
"I've fought criminals before. Nothing new," he replies.
"It's not like we haven't dealt with rogue Vorixas before, Takumi-kun. There are missions where we've had to take them down, but... 10 million bounty?" Shizuka-san shakes her head slightly. "That's a different level."
Hayato snorts, clearly not impressed. "I'm not worried about money. I'm more concerned about what this guy can do."
"Yeah," I agree. "It's the unknown that gets me. We know what to expect from most of the Oscuros, but humans... humans can be unpredictable."
Shizuka-san gives a short sigh. "We'll need to stay sharp. It's different when it's a human rogue. They have tricks up their sleeves that you don't see with demons."
I cross my arms, thinking about it for a second. "Right. That's why we can't take this lightly. We'll need to gather more intel. Let's talk to Kaito-san and get the full details."
With that, I pull out my phone and dial Kaito-san. It rings a couple of times before he picks up. "Takumi? What's up?"
"Kaito-san, we just got briefed on the rogue Vorixa. The one with the 10 million yen bounty. You know anything about him?"
There's a short pause before he answers. "It's Ryuuto. I know about him. He's been causing trouble for a while now."
"We were informed to protect the institute from him tonight. Is he really that dangerous?"
"I know," he replies. "And about him, it's not just his power that makes him a threat. He's got a reputation for being strategic, a master of manipulation. His powers... they involve possession. He can control others for a short time. And from what I've heard, he targets those who've fallen out of favor with other Vorixas. I think that's why he's after the Nexus."
"Possession, huh?"
"Yeah, it's not something you'll want to underestimate.
But don't get caught up in that. Just focus on staying alert. You've got the team with you, and you'll need them. This guy is dangerous, but you've got the right people backing you."
"Right. We won't let our guard down."
"Be prepared for anything. And remember, his power is limited—he can't control people for long. And his goal is still unclear, but it's big enough that the world government's involved. Stay on your toes."
I nod, though he can't see me. "Got it."
"Good luck, team. Don't let down Hyakuren's name. I'm counting on you."
The call ends, and I lower my phone, staring at it for a moment.
The weight of the mission is settling on us.
Hyakuren's name...
I can feel it. The pressure. It's not just about protecting the Nexus. It's about proving ourselves—showing everyone we're more than just a name on a list.
I glance at Hayato and Shizuka-san.
We're one of the higher clans now. We can't afford to mess this up.
A rogue with a bounty that big? This is no ordinary fight.
But...
We've got this. We've taken down plenty of way tougher enemies before. And we've got each other.
I close my eyes for a second, taking a deep breath.
No matter what happens, we're not backing down.
"Let's get moving," I say, already feeling the adrenaline kick in.