A sleek, advanced ship resembling a high-grade technological escape vessel drifted into the secluded port of San Antonio, Chile. The area, long abandoned and shielded from public view, provided the perfect landing zone for the clandestine arrival. From its mechanical belly, two figures emerged—both clad entirely in black suits, gloves, shoes, and wide-brimmed hats. One was a man in his twenties, his composure calm and studied; the other, a woman of similar age, with eyes that glittered with wonder.
They moved in unison toward the center of the port and dropped to one knee as though awaiting the arrival of royalty. The ground trembled faintly as a rift tore open in the fabric of space before them. From within the tear, an entourage stepped through—a procession of grandeur both otherworldly and ancient.
Two towering dark-green beasts, larger than trucks, emerged first. They carried a veiled throne atop a platform enshrouded in rich fabrics. Six pale-green women walked ahead of the beasts, scattering blossoms onto the ground, their movements graceful and ceremonial. Behind them marched eight warriors clad in antique Chinese armor, two stationed on each side and two trailing at the rear. Each glimmered with ornate jewels and sacred symbols, their faces stern, their steps synchronized.
"So, this is the great Zombie Colony that took over Chile," the woman whispered, awe evident in her voice.
"Or, you mean virus," the man replied with a quiet chuckle.
"Sir Zack, what if they hear you?" she hissed in alarm.
"They won't," he assured her—until he noticed several of the warriors aiming their weapons directly at him.
A smile curved across his lips. "Greetings, Majesty of the Cui Mo. I am Zack Charles, of the 59th Branch of the Black Men."
A soft, icy voice drifted from behind the veil. "Humans of the Black Men, I welcome you to my domain. I hadn't expected your arrival so soon. Had you made an appointment, we could have welcomed you more properly."
Despite the gentle tone, the voice carried a chilling weight that sent a ripple of unease through Zack. His partner visibly recoiled beside him.
"The chairman believed it more appropriate to respond swiftly, Your Highness," Zack replied steadily, masking the pressure bearing down on him.
"Mmm. That sounds like something your leader would say."
The veil fell away with a soft rustle, revealing a vision both elegant and intimidating. Two of the maids stepped forward to guide their queen from the throne. Unlike her entourage, Queen Abe's complexion was closer to a pale human, though tinged with a faint green hue. Her mouth remained hidden behind a sheer veil, leaving only her piercing emerald eyes—each with a crimson pupil—visible to her guests.
She stepped closer to Zack, the suffocating pressure dissipating with her approach. "Rise," she commanded, and the two stood.
"For you to stand tall under my gaze... the rumors of the Golden Era talents must be true," she said, her eyes lingering on Zack. "And you're quite handsome, too."
Zack offered a modest laugh. "You overestimate me. I'm just an average officer. Had you used more of your aura, we might not even be standing here now."
"You flatter me." She gracefully seated herself upon the outstretched hand of one of the beasts. "But let's get to the reason for your summons. One of my children has vanished—abducted, we believe, into what your people call the Shadow Garden."
"That's a grave situation," Zack said, his tone sobering.
"Forgive my bluntness," Lumine interjected, "but shouldn't your own people be able to search for him?"
"It's not that they can't," Zack explained. "They're not allowed to. After the Virus Cleansing War, it was agreed that the Cui Mo would govern Chile. But as part of that accord, they are forbidden from crossing its borders."
"Yes," Queen Abe affirmed. "We remain cloaked from physical reality until the Order grants us permission to step beyond. I fear if we delay, my child may be lost forever."
"You have our support, Your Highness," Zack replied without hesitation.
But before the conversation could continue, the air shifted violently. A surge of spiritual pressure swept over the gathering like a tidal wave, forcing the Cui Mo, Zack, and Lumine to the ground. Only the queen remained standing, her gaze locked skyward.
A radiant figure hovered in the sky above. Wings of pure light unfurled behind him, his golden hair flowing like liquid sunlight. His eyes, radiant as twin suns, bore into Queen Abe.
"What is the meaning of this?" she demanded, unleashing her own spiritual pressure. The very air distorted with its weight, forcing those nearby to their knees again.
The winged being remained unaffected. "That's my question. What are you vile creatures doing consorting with Black Men officers?"
"What business is it of yours?" Abe snapped. Her eyes flashed green with hints of red. "Don't test me, insect."
"Insect? Hahaha!" The angelic figure laughed maniacally, covering his face with his hands. "We warned you—none of your vermin were to leave your territory. And now I hear one of your spawns stumbled into the Shadow Garden? Are you trying to test the Holy Faction's patience?"
Zack's eyes widened. How does he know this already? Their conversation had been shielded, silent even to the most skilled eavesdropper. Then he saw it—Lumine's eyes glowed yellow, her body trembling. He's reading her memories, Zack realized grimly.
"I owe you no explanation," Abe said coldly. "Besides, I am now a member of the Order. You have no authority over me. Now leave or else I will kill you!"
"Kill me? You dare?" the angel snarled. "I should erase your colony from existence."
Their conflicting auras collided, distorting the weather and sending tremors through both earth and space.
"Enough!"
The command cut through the chaos. A floating drone projected the holographic image of a young woman, with a commanding presence.
"Well, well," the angel scoffed. "Chairman of the 59th Branch. To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"Silence, Sandalphon," the chairman snapped. "This territory is not under the Holy Faction's jurisdiction."
"Perhaps, but the rule remains—no Cui Mo should leave Chile," Sandalphon growled.
"We will handle this," the chairman replied. "You have my word."
"Your word and why sh…..."
"don't test me" she glares at him
"Hmph. Very well," Sandalphon sneered. "But keep your pests in check." With that, he vanished in a streak of light.
As his overwhelming presence disappeared, the pressure lifted. Zack swayed slightly but remained upright. The others, however, collapsed or remained stunned.
"That bastard," Abe muttered, fury simmering in her emerald gaze.
"Calm down, Abe. At least no one was harmed," the chairman said.
"I should've incinerated him."
"And risk your own people—and mine—in the process?"
"Tch. Fine." She turned to the chairman. "Find my son, Stella."
"Of course," she answered with a serene smile.
With a snap of Queen Abe's fingers, she and her entourage vanished like dust in the wind.
"Well... that was both terrifying and oddly entertaining," Zack muttered, glaring at his superior through the drone.
"At least you got to experience the pressure of an Immortal firsthand," she teased.
"It's not funny."
"How's Lumine?"
"She's unconscious. But she'll recover."
"That holy maniac's meddling went too far. I might pay him a personal visit."
The drone connection flickered as she slammed the table.
"Anyway, how do you plan to handle this? You're not on Main Earth anymore."
"I'll figure it out," Zack replied grimly. "Somehow."
"That's why I trust your genius. I leave it to you, Zack," she said sweetly.
"What?!"
"Speaking of Genius today is the Paranormal Officer Candidateship exams for every organization. Wonder which Genius would come out this year like you guys in your time"
"They say this year's batch is especially strong," Zack said as he lifted Lumine and headed back toward the ship.
"What about your friend—the one who left his clan to protect his niece?"
"I don't know," he said softly .
Back in Tokyo, the final stage of the Paranormal Officer Candidateship Exam reached its conclusion. Portals shimmered open, spilling the last remaining candidates into the main hall. Excitement and exhaustion filled the air. Cheers, sighs, and murmurs of relief echoed through the chamber.
The head invigilator stepped onto the stage.
"This year's exam has come to an end," he began. "You all should be proud. Whether you passed or not, know this—you've taken a vital step. Remember, you have three chances. Don't give up. And to those who passed—your true test begins now. Don't let your company—or the Order—down."
Applause filled the hall as the leaderboard appeared:
Top 10 Companies:
Izana (first place), Yuzuara (second), Evergrey (third), Behemoth (fourth), Kurohane (fifth), Tenraku (sixth), Raiko Unit (seventh), Moon Forest (eight), Indametsu (nineth), Serian (tenth place).
Deluke's heart swelled as familiar faces rushed toward him.
"Congrats, Deluke!" Nana beamed.
"Good job, kid!" Shizu grinned, punching his shoulder.
"Thanks," he smiled.
"You should've seen Shizu when you got cornered by the Irohas—she was worr—" Chifuyu started.
Shizu covered her mouth. "Stop talking."
"You were attacked?" Sam asked.
"I handled it. Earned some points from the fight," Deluke replied.
"Four-on-one? Damn. Even I couldn't pull that off," Nana said, eyes wide with admiration.
The head invigilator's voice echoed across the grand hall once more, drawing everyone's attention as the final results of the exam were announced.
"Now, for the overall rankings of today's examination," he declared, pausing with ceremonial weight. "Starting with the third position—Elizabeth Evergrey."
Applause rose from the Evergrey Company's section. All eyes turned to the young woman stepping forward, her posture graceful and composed. She possessed a certain understated beauty—nothing as fiery or bold as Shizu's, but enough to spark murmurs among the crowd. Her presence was calm, elegant.
"Next, in second place—Nana Yuzuara."
This time, the cheers were deafening. The Yuzuara candidates erupted in celebration, voices raised in unison. Chifuyu, radiant with joy, grabbed Shizu by the shoulders and shook her back and forth in a barely contained outburst of excitement. The reaction said it all—this was a milestone, perhaps their first taste of real victory in these trials.
I smiled quietly, watching the scene. I had only met them today, The Yuzuaras had proven to be not just strong competitors, but genuinely good people. It felt right to be happy for them.
"And now," the invigilator said, his tone rising with anticipation, "for the first-place award. In the long history of the Paranormal Officer Candidateship Exams held here in Tokyo, Japan, we have never had a top performer quite like this. For the first time ever, we are breaking tradition and granting a Level One Badge as part of the reward."
He paused for effect.
"The highest rank—Deluke Izana."
For a moment, silence held as if the hall itself was stunned. Then it erupted into a storm of cheers, whistles, and applause. I stood there, stunned myself. The Level One Badge—it had always been a theoretical reward, a lofty goal never once reached in practice. And now, against all odds, it had been awarded… to me. A lone recruit from a company everyone had written off as finished.
As I stepped forward to accept the honor, a sudden blur of movement caught my attention. Shizu threw her fist toward me. Instinct kicked in—I raised my arm defensively, expecting another one of her brutal shoulder punches.
But her fist stopped inches from me, hovering mid-air.
"It's a fist bump, fool," she said with a smirk. "Or are you scared?"
I blinked, caught off guard. Then, slowly, a grin tugged at the corners of my lips. I bumped her fist with mine.
Might as well let this one go for today.