The colossal serpent, its maw open and glistening, lunged at Masaru.
But a shimmering rope, manifested from Saya's hand, shot out and wrapped around his torso, yanking him backward with a powerful jerk.
The serpent's teeth snapped shut on empty air. Masaru stumbled, saved by a hair's breadth.
Saya didn't waste a second. She manifested several more ropes, their ethereal glow coiling around distant scaffolding pillars and stray cranes.
"Quick! Get out of here!" she yelled to the remaining workers.
The unharmed workers, a mixture of fear and adrenaline on their faces, sprinted toward the ropes, their escape route.
But as they neared, they stopped, looking down at the immense drop, fear paralyzing them.
Suddenly, Tetsu, carrying two workers and with Masaru slung over his shoulder, burst past them.
He slid onto one of Saya's ropes, his legs expertly maneuvering to keep his balance.
"Don't be afraid!" he shouted back at the frozen workers, his voice full of conviction.
"Everyone will be alright!"
The sight of Tetsu, sliding down with three men in tow, seemed to shock the workers into silence.
A tall worker with a scarred forehead, his eyes wide with a newfound resolve, swallowed hard and grabbed a rope.
"Wait, don't be reckless!" another worker cried out, but the brave man ignored him.
He began to crawl down the rope, his movements clumsy but determined.
"We have no other choice," he shouted back, his voice echoing in the vast, open space.
"We'll just be a burden if we stay. We've been through this dangerous job for years; why are we hesitating over something like this?"
As he neared the bottom, his voice grew louder, fueled by courage.
"If you guys want to die, then be a coward and stand there! I just don't want to die!"
His words were a punch to the gut for the other workers. One of them, a younger man, swallowed and nodded slowly.
"He's right. Waiting here is definitely not a choice."
He grabbed a rope and began his descent. Soon, a steady stream of workers, their fear overcome by a desperate need for survival, were all climbing down the ropes to the safe zone below.
Tetsu, having safely delivered the injured workers, sprinted back, leaping onto the same floor.
Still in mid-air, he saw a worker lose his grip and begin to fall.
But the worker behind him, the one who had just grabbed the rope in defiance, caught his hand.
"I got you!" he shouted, his face strained with effort as he pulled the other man back up to safety.
At the same time, the serpent, frustrated by the escaping prey, launched its head at Saya.
She parried the attack with her flail, but its sheer force sent her scrambling backward.
The serpent circled, its massive body weaving around her like a cage, cutting off her escape. Its head, held high above her, opened, revealing a lethal maw and a flickering snake-like tongue.
Just as it prepared to strike, Tetsu landed on the ground, a blur of motion. He burst forward, his leg crackling with electricity, and launched a powerful punch at the serpent's jaw.
The blow, amplified by his powers, sent a small but powerful shockwave through the beast, making it recoil.
"Sorry, I came back late," he said, still airborne.
"Just in time," Saya replied, a small smile on her face.
She threw her flail high into the air above the serpent's head, manifested a rope, and attached it to the flail, ready to bring it down.
Tetsu, still in the air, shoved his hand forward, summoning a powerful lightning bolt from the sky.
The bolt struck the flail, channeling raw energy into it. Saya's flail, now supercharged, smashed down faster than ever, hitting the serpent's head and pinning it to the ground.
"Hey, you did that without my permission," Saya said, coiling her rope around the electrified flail and letting it fall back into her hand. She covered the handle with a rope before holding it.
"Nah," Tetsu replied, a cheeky grin on his face.
"Might've been a coincidence. My intention was to strike it with lightning."
The serpent, dazed but not defeated, pushed its head back up, opening its mouth and staring at them.
"Well," Saya said, her gaze fixed on the serpent, "thanks for that previous coincidence. Now we know its head is the weakness."
Tetsu's face fell slightly. "Eh? Not because my lightning was powerful?"
They stood still for a moment, exchanging a glance.
As the serpent roared and thrust its head at them, they simultaneously dodged in opposite directions.
Tetsu sprinted toward the edge of the scaffolding, grabbing onto a supporting pillar and yanking himself towards the serpent. However, he missed by a few inches.
Suddenly, a rope from behind coiled around his waist, and he felt himself being tossed onto the serpent's body. He landed headfirst and rubbed his head.
"Don't suddenly throw me around like that," he complained.
"Coincidence," Saya replied from afar.
Tetsu quickly got up and climbed his way up the serpent's body, trying to reach its head.
The serpent, agitated, lowered its body and slithered on the low ground. It then rushed toward one of the supporting pillars, intending to crash into it.
Tetsu's eyes widened, the memory of the workers' hard work flashing in his mind.
"Damn it," he muttered, jumping down and rushing to the pillar. He tanked the serpent's crash, the blow sending a searing pain through his body. He was pushed back fiercely, but the pillar remained untouched.
The serpent's head shoved toward him, and he gathered all his strength to push it away before it could bite him.
"Nice, Tetsu!"
Saya's voice called out from above.
Suddenly, a rope coiled around the serpent's neck, dragging it into the air as the rope was attached to a crane.
The serpent resisted, its massive body straining against the rope, causing the crane to crack a bit. It then swung its tail toward the crane, attempting to destroy it.
But Saya, who had jumped down from the control room, manifested a huge rope and coiled it around the serpent's tail.
As she fell, she pulled the tail downwards, straightening the serpent's body.
The rope began to tear, and Saya shouted, "Now, Tetsu!"
Tetsu, seeing his chance, parkoured his way to the top of the crane. He saw a tactical suitcase lying there.
He opened it with a code, a flashback of Saya's words echoing in his mind.
"I'll lend you this weapon for now… You might not be familiar with it now, but through time, you will."
He opened the case and pulled out a sheathed katana. He jumped from the crane, unsheathing the katana as he fell.
He pointed the tip to the sky, and the blade began to crackle with electricity.
"Ahhhhhhh!" he screamed, his blade piercing the wind as he fell.
The blade slashed, vertically pierced through the serpent's head, but then it clashed against the bone, unable to pierce further.
Realizing this, he spun, making a spinning slash that severed the head from the body.
He fell to the ground with the katana, the two halves of the serpent's head landing with a thud.
Tetsu, lying on the ground, breathed heavily. Saya walked toward him, raising a fist.
"Mission completed," she said. Tetsu, still on the ground, raised his fist, bumping it against hers.
"Ah," Tetsu said, a look of panic on his face as the serpent's lifeless body collapsed onto the scaffolding, destroying it.
The destruction was staggering. Half the building was in ruins, several workers were dead, and those who survived were in shock.
Masaru, battered but alive, stumbled toward Tetsu and Saya.
"What… what was that thing?" he asked, his voice shaking.
Tetsu glanced at Saya, then back at Masaru.
"It doesn't matter. What matters is that it's gone now."
The remaining workers were gathered; their memories were erased using the memory-altering machine that the recently arrived supporting squad brought.
To them, the entire incident became a story of a malfunctioning construction machine causing an explosion.
As the workers processed the "accident," Masaru approached Tetsu, his face filled with despair.
"This project's done. We're all getting fired for this. I've let everyone down."
Before Tetsu could respond, one of Masaru's fellow workers, a tall man with a scarred forehead, placed a reassuring hand on Masaru's shoulder.
"Hey, Masaru, stop blaming yourself."
"None of us could've seen this coming."
Another worker chimed in, his voice firm but warm.
"Yeah, he's right. That... whatever it was, wasn't something a normal person could deal with."
A few others murmured in agreement, nodding their heads.
One of the younger workers, barely in his twenties, added with a grin, "And hey, we'll make sure to tell everyone you saved us from getting crushed by the scaffolding!"
The lighthearted comment drew a few strained chuckles, easing the tension in the group. Masaru gave a weak smile, though his shoulders remained heavy with guilt.
"You're all being too kind. But this project's delays are going to cost us. The bosses won't care about the reason. They'll only see failure."
Tetsu, who had been quietly observing the exchange, stepped forward.
"Masaru," he began, his tone calm but resolute.
"Failure isn't about what happens—it's about what you do afterward."
"Your team clearly respects you, and you have a drive to push through obstacles. That's rare. Don't let one incident destroy everything you've worked for."
Masaru looked up at Tetsu, surprised by the younger man's conviction.
"But what am I supposed to do now? Construction is all I know. I gave up my dreams long ago for this."
"And maybe it's time to revisit them," Tetsu replied, pulling out a business card from his pocket.
"This is for you."
Masaru took the card hesitantly and read it aloud:
"Azure Samurai… Football Club?" His eyes widened.
"Wait, this is a contact for someone on Japan's national team! How did you even—"
Tetsu cut him off with a small smile.
"It's a long story. But if you're serious about your dream, give them a call. I've got a relative who owes me a favor, and they'll give you a shot. No guarantees, but it's better than giving up, right?"
Masaru stared at the card, his hands trembling.
"I... I don't know what to say."
"Say you'll try," Tetsu said firmly.
Masaru nodded slowly, his voice cracking. "I will. I'll try."
As the other workers gathered around, Tetsu handed out a few more business cards.
"These are connections to various industries," he explained.
"For anyone who's worried about their future after this incident, consider this a lifeline. You've got skills that are valuable—don't let this one setback define you."
The workers murmured their thanks, their spirits visibly lifting. A man gave Tetsu a hearty pat on the back.
"Young man, you're something else. You might've just saved more than lives today."
Masaru stepped forward, bowing deeply.
"Thank you. I'll never forget this."
Tetsu waved off the gratitude with a small, embarrassed smile.
"Just don't give up, Masaru. That's all I ask."
As Tetsu and Saya left the construction site, the workers stood in a huddle, already discussing their next steps and comforting each other.
The atmosphere, though somber, carried a renewed sense of hope.
Tetsu glanced back once, catching Masaru's determined expression as he clutched the business card tightly. It brought a small sense of satisfaction to know that, even in the aftermath of destruction, some good could still emerge.
When they finally reached the Darkside Destroyer base later that evening, Tetsu and Saya both felt the weight of the day lift slightly. They had done their job, and they had given people hope—a small victory in the midst of chaos.
The next morning, Tetsu walked to school, the memory of the previous night's mission—the crumbling construction site, the victorious fight, and the lingering sense of hope he'd left behind—still fresh in his mind.
He passed through the school gate, the usual morning clamor of students filling the air, when a low, powerful rumble from behind him caught his attention.
He turned just as a sleek, black limousine glided to a stop behind him. The vehicle was a perfect, polished reflection of the surrounding high school, and it drew every eye in the vicinity.
The driver's side door opened, and a pair of tall, stone-faced men in dark suits stepped out.
They moved with military precision, unfurling a thick, red carpet that trailed from the limousine's door, leading directly into the school.
Whispers erupted from the crowd of students.
"Wait, is that...?" one student murmured.
"She's back?" another said, her voice laced with surprise and a hint of awe.
Behind the two bodyguards, two more people in formal vests emerged, their instruments—a violin and a cello—gleaming in the morning sun. A soft, melodic tune began to fill the air, a live soundtrack for the spectacle.
Finally, the limousine's back door opened, and a girl stepped out.
She was beautiful, her long black hair cascading down her back, and she wore a perfectly tailored school uniform.
She walked with her head down, a deep blush staining her cheeks, clearly mortified by the entire display.
"Jeez," she muttered under her breath, her embarrassment palpable. She looked up at the bodyguards with a glare that was anything but gentle.
"That's it," she snapped, her voice cutting through the soft music. "Clean up this mess and get out of here!"
The bodyguards, unfazed by her outburst, bowed in a synchronized, apologetic motion.
They quickly rolled up the carpet, the music stopped abruptly, and they retreated to the limousine, which then sped away, leaving the girl standing alone. She let out a long, shuddering sigh of relief.
"Jeez. These people," she muttered, running a hand through her hair.
"Ugh. This is so embarrassing."
"Shoko?"
She looked up, her eyes scanning the crowd, and her gaze landed on Tetsu.
Her eyes, a beautiful shade of brown, widened with a flash of recognition.
"Tetsu?" she said, her face breaking into a bright, genuine smile.
"Good morning! Long time no see."
From behind them, Saya had just arrived, her own path to the school gate now completely blocked by the impromptu spectacle.
She watched the entire scene unfold with a curious and unreadable expression.
Her amber eyes narrowed slightly as she saw the girl approach Tetsu with such familiarity. She moved to the side, maintaining a safe distance, and watched, her curiosity piqued.
She felt a strange, unfamiliar pang of something she couldn't quite name. It was a mix of curiosity and... something else.
She quickly pushed the feeling away, reverting to her usual, detached self.
Focus, Saya.
She headed for her own class, her mind already at work.