Chapter 17
The next morning, the squad gathered in the open field, the cool breeze carrying the scent of damp earth after last night's mist. The pale morning sun glinted off their gear as they stood in loose formation, much like a school assembly—only with rifles slung across their backs.
Himeko stood at the front with the deputy captain beside her, her voice carrying easily over the group.
"The Honkai activity in Sapphire City has died down, and most of the threats have been eliminated." Her tone was steady, but there was a note of satisfaction beneath it.
"Our job here is done. The remaining cleanup will be handled by the local military." A pause—then her lips curved into a smile.
"So, it's time to pack up and head home."
For a moment, the squad was silent in disbelief. Then the cheer broke out, raw and loud, echoing off the nearby area. The fatigue of the last few weeks seemed to lift from their shoulders at once. Fellow soldiers clapped each other on the back, grinning as they dispersed. The dull clatter of boots and equipment followed as they hurried back to their tents, eager to start packing.
Four hours later, the thumping roar of rotors filled the air. A fleet of transport helicopters descended, the downdraft whipping dust and loose tarps around the camp. The 5th Squad boarded quickly, securing themselves for the long back to Australia.
Inside one of the helicopters, Adam and Hua found themselves seated close to Himeko—at her request. She leaned back casually, though her voice carried the authority of a veteran as she addressed them.
"This isn't something I usually explain to fresh recruits," she began, her gaze flicking toward Adam. "But with your potential to lead a squad one day, I figured it's worth telling you how the Fire Moth is structured."
Adam gave a slight nod, wordlessly inviting her to continue.
"In short, the structure is the same whether it's headquarters or a regional branch. Each region has one main group—like our Australian Anti-Honkai Task Force—that oversees the entire area and responds to any Honkai activity. Under that command are multiple squads, each tasked with protecting key cities or strategic locations. Our 5th Squad is stationed in Sydney, a city with a massive population, important infrastructure, and our Australian HQ."
She gave them a sly grin, tilting her head. "Not to brag, but my 5th Squad is basically the best in the whole branch. So… what do you think?"
Adam's expression barely shifted; he had already guessed as much. Still, he respected her confidence.
Hua, on the other hand, looked genuinely impressed. She'd only known Himeko for a week, but that was enough to understand why the squad admired her. In the field, Himeko was decisive and fearless. Off-duty, she was the kind of leader who encouraged everyone to speak casually with her, rank be damned. The 5th Squad felt less like a military unit and more like a tight-knit family.
Adam's silence didn't bother anyone—by now, it had become part of his image. To the rest of the squad, he was the quiet, capable type: a handsome man of few words, who spoke only when necessary and always delivered when it counted.
———
When the helicopters touched down at the Sydney branch of the Fire Moth, the squad filed out into the bright midday sun. The air here was cleaner, free from the metallic tang of blood and the acrid stench of burning Honkai flesh.
Himeko gathered them one last time on the landing pad, her voice firm but warm.
"You've all done well. As per procedure, everyone is dismissed for a week. Rest, recover, and let your bodies purge the Honkai energy you've been exposed to. You've earned it."
It was standard protocol—rotation leave for deployed soldiers to prevent exhaustion in battle. Those with high Honkai Resistance were too valuable to be worn down. Of course, in the event of a major outbreak or eruption, that rest could be cut short without warning.
But for now, it was freedom.
A few logistical officers moved through the group, handing out envelopes and data pads containing housing keys, addresses, and salary information. The benefits were generous, a fact Fire Moth never hid—danger pay for a job where death could come at any moment.
Adam glanced at his file: a fully furnished home in a secure, walled neighborhood close to headquarters. The kind of place most civilians would call a luxury home, complete with a captain's-level salary in the six figures, plus insurance and healthcare.
Hua peeked at her own assignment. A modest apartment in a building reserved for soldiers, ten thousand dollars a month, and the same social benefits. It was still far more than she'd ever earned, but compared to Adam's… it was obvious the Fire Moth rewarded rank and responsibility heavily.
When Himeko dismissed them, Hua headed straight for the branch hospital—Carole was still recovering there. Adam, on the other hand, hailed a taxi for his new house.
---
For the past week, he'd been trying to find a way to perform Jinzen meditation and awaken his Zanpakutō, but battlefields were terrible places for such a thing. Jinzen required total focus and a calm, undisturbed mind. Even the slightest interruption could break the flow and cause backlash; it wasn't a passive meditation, but an active one, guiding his Reiatsu to interact with his Asauchi.
He intended to change that now.
The taxi pulled into the walled neighborhood. The streets were quiet, the houses spaced far apart, each surrounded by tall fences. Adam's home sat at the corner, with a small front garden and high walls that promised privacy.
Inside, the air smelled faintly of cleaning agents, like the place had been scrubbed down for new occupancy. He wandered from room to room, taking in the polished floors, the sunlight spilling in through large windows, and the silent hum of the central cooling system.
The attic caught his attention. He climbed the narrow stairs, but halfway up he paused.
The air here was different—colder, heavy in a way that pressed faintly against his skin, like walking into a room that had been closed off for years. The silence was thicker too, swallowing even the faint hum of the cooling system.
The attic wasn't empty. Old furniture and boxes sat under white sheets, all draped in a fine layer of dust.
Adam frowned. This isn't just stale air. Something's lingering here… watching.
He stepped inside, his senses automatically shifting to that razor-edged alertness that had saved his life countless times. The temperature seemed to rise and fall in pockets as he moved, subtle but enough to make the fine hairs on his arms stand.
Localized cold spots. Classic haunting pattern. Either this is a prank… or something's about to get interesting.
The coldest point was near a tall wardrobe hidden under a thick cloth.
He approached slowly, his eyes scanning every shadow. If this is a spirit, it's strong enough to project a tangible presence. The real question is—malicious or not?
With a single tug, he pulled the cover free, releasing a cloud of dust into the stale air. The wardrobe was unremarkable—solid wood, well-made, but ordinary. Still, the cold intensified, as if something inside was holding its breath.
A faint smile tugged at Adam's lips. "A ghost, huh? Trying to scare a Soul Reaper?"
He opened the wardrobe.
Instead of shelves or hangers, there was only darkness—so deep it felt like it absorbed the light from the attic. The shadows seemed thicker the longer he looked, until—
From within, a twisted, shrieking face lunged at him, its features warped in hate and pain.
Adam didn't flinch. He'd seen Honkai Beasts roar inches from his face, felt the killing intent of enemies who could crush a man with a thought. This? This was no different from a mild gust of wind.
His Reiatsu flared, wrapping his hand as he caught the specter by the face mid-lunge and yanked it out into the light. The attic air seemed to shudder, as if the place itself reacted to the contact.
"Well," he said with a dry smirk, his Asauchi materializing in his other hand, "I was just wondering when I'd get to try Soul Burial. And here you are, volunteering."
But as the blade left its sheath, the creature's grotesque features melted away, dissolving like wax under heat. In its place stood the small figure of a boy—pale skin, eyes entirely black like ink, but otherwise human.
Adam's brow lowered slightly. Not a Hollow… No mask, no hunger. Just a spirit. Then why the monstrous form? Defensive reaction? Or a test?
The boy's expression shifted rapidly—fear, confusion, then sudden joy.
"You… you can see me?" His voice trembled. "Like, my real face? Not the ugly one?"
Adam didn't answer right away. He kept studying the boy, noting the lack of malice in his Reiatsu—or whatever passed for spiritual pressure in this world. Still clear-minded. That means his tether's intact. But for how long?
The boy edged closer, his words spilling out quickly, almost desperate.
"Are you really a Soul Reaper? Can you help me? Please? I wanna see my mom and dad again! I miss them so much! I didn't do anything bad… okay, maybe just some pranks… but nothing really bad!"
Adam stayed quiet, letting the words hang. In his experience, talking too soon often led to lies—or memories reshaped by emotion. And the boy's fear wasn't of him… it was of being alone and forgotten.
The boy waved his hand in front of Adam's face, trying to get his attention.
"Brother Soul Reaper? Can you take me to my mom and dad?"
Finally, Adam spoke. "Tell me about them. Were they soldiers?"
The boy shook his head quickly. "No. Dad builds buildings. Mom works in a place that sells food."
Adam's gaze sharpened. "A construction worker and probably a waitress? Strange. This neighborhood's only for Fire Moth."
The boy blinked, confused. Adam's mind ticked over possibilities—squatters in a Fire Moth district? Civilians relocated here temporarily? Or… was this house moved from somewhere else entirely?
"How did you get separated from them?" Adam asked.
The boy's eyes lowered, his voice small. "I… don't really remember. Mom told me to hide in her wardrobe because bad people were coming. I heard shouting, loud bangs… it got really hot, and it was hard to breathe. Then… I woke up and everything was gone. People said our house burned down. I never saw Mom or Dad again."
Adam could almost see it—the smoke creeping under a wardrobe door, a child holding his breath in the dark, heat pressing against thin wood until it became unbearable.
The boy suddenly hugged Adam's leg, looking up with tears in his black eyes. "Please, Brother… help me find them."
Adam's grip on his Asauchi tightened, but not in aggression. If he leaves him here, his soul will accumulate negative energy. He'll slip into resentment. By then, he might have turned into a vengeful spirit. Better to send him off now.
Adam wasn't sure if Soul Burial worked the same in this world. But there was only one way to find out.
"All right," he said quietly.
He raised his Asauchi, tapping the hilt gently against the boy's forehead and said solemnly. "May you have a pleasant journey to the afterlife."
A glowing blue mark bloomed where the blade touched. Light flared from the floor around them, wrapping the boy in its embrace.
"Thank you, Brother," the boy said softly before vanishing into the brilliance.
Adam stood alone in the attic, exhaling slowly. Not bad for a first try. And yet, there was a faint heaviness in his chest—something he didn't bother naming.
Ding!
[Congratulations on successfully performing a Rite of Soul Burial.]
[Host is rewarded with a Spirit Condensing Pill and 200 Shop Points.]
Adam dismissed the notification and glanced once more at the now-empty wardrobe before setting about cleaning the attic. The house was his now—and he preferred to keep it free of unwanted guests.
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