The moment Aragi and Mai laid eyes on the monster, their bodies froze.
It was unlike anything they had ever seen. Even Mai—who had fought through twenty floors—stood pale and rigid. This wasn't a monster she knew. It didn't even feel like a creature that belonged inside the Tower.
The monster tilted its head toward them. A wide, bloody grin split across its face.
Mai's voice trembled as she whispered, "Aragi… run. We can't fight that thing."
Aragi's throat felt dry. But before he could respond, the monster dropped on all fours. With a sickening clank of metal against the steel floor, it sprinted toward them—crawling on the walls, ceiling, and floor like some deranged beast. Its speed was terrifying.
They ran. Footsteps echoed through the bunker halls, Mai leading the way. But the sound of claws scraping steel grew louder and louder.
Just as the monster lunged toward Mai, Aragi's instincts took over. He shoved himself between her and the creature, raising his katana. The blade met the monster's claw—
—and shattered into pieces.
Aragi's eyes widened in shock. "What—!?"
The monster swiped again. Mai tried to counter, using her speed to strike from behind, but the moment she closed in, the creature's arm twisted unnaturally backward, catching her mid-attack. Its massive claws wrapped around her body like chains.
"Mai!" Aragi shouted, charging forward with the broken hilt of his katana. His anger burned hotter than fear. But the monster batted him aside with a single blow.
The impact sent him flying. He slammed into the steel wall, ribs aching, blood filling his mouth. His vision blurred, but through it, he saw Mai trapped in the monster's grasp, about to be crushed.
"No… wait… wait! Kill me instead! Don't kill her!" Aragi's voice cracked as he staggered forward. He screamed, his desperation pouring out in one raw roar.
"MAIIIII!"
The world went black.
---
When Aragi opened his eyes, he was no longer in the bunker. He was standing in absolute darkness. No walls. No ceiling. Just an endless void.
His heart raced. Where am I? Where's Mai?
"Oi. Stop shouting."
The voice came from behind him. Aragi spun around—
—and froze.
A man stood there. He looked exactly like him. Same height, same face, same sharp gray eyes.
Aragi's jaw tightened. "Who… are you? Why do you look like me? What is this place?"
The man smirked coolly. "So many questions for someone who just got here. I can't believe I'm half of you."
"…Half of me?" Aragi whispered.
"Yeah. I'm the other soul inside your body."
Aragi's mind reeled. "You're saying… you're me?"
"Something like that."
Aragi's eyes widened. "Then… the power I used before. That wasn't mine, was it? That was yours."
The man crossed his arms. "Correct. Back there, if I hadn't come out, you'd be dead already. And if you die, I die too."
Aragi's fists clenched. "What about Mai!? Is she alive!?"
"For now."
Aragi stepped closer, desperation shaking his voice. "Please—use your power! Save her! She's going to die because of me!"
The man's smirk faded. "It's not only my power. Half of it belongs to you. If you force it out now, you might end up killing her too. Your body isn't ready."
Aragi's breathing grew heavy. "Then what should I do? Tell me! I have to save her… she doesn't deserve to die because of me!"
For the first time, the man looked serious. "…Tch. Looks like I'll have to take over." He stepped closer, shadows swirling around his body. "But listen carefully. This is the last time I'm helping you with something this small. Don't call me out unless you're prepared."
Aragi's eyes burned with both fear and hope. "…Who are you?"
The man's voice was calm, steady. "Call me Igara."
The void shattered into blinding light.
---
When Aragi opened his eyes again, he was back in the bunker—his body still on the ground. But something was different. He could see everything, and yet it wasn't him moving.
Mai's voice cried out desperately, "Aragi! Run! Don't worry about me!"
Aragi struggled to respond, but instead of his own voice, another tone echoed from his lips—cold, confident, dangerous.
"Shut up, girl. That thing's not killing you."
Mai's eyes widened. Her instincts screamed at her: This isn't Aragi.
The monster squeezed tighter, but before it realized, its arm was severed cleanly. Blood and oil sprayed as Mai dropped to the ground.
Igara had already moved. His katana—or what remained of it—was now a gleaming blade, reshaped by sheer force of will. He caught Mai by the edge of her cloak, lowering her carefully without even touching her body.
Then he turned toward the beast. His voice dripped with contempt.
"Now… let's see what you're made of, little mouse."
The monster screeched and charged, claws flashing. But Igara dodged each strike effortlessly, weaving through its attacks with mocking ease. Every slash missed by inches.
The moment the beast slowed, Igara appeared behind it. He grabbed its head with one hand, grip like iron.
"Bye-bye. Sleep forever."
With a single motion, he smashed its skull into pieces. The monster collapsed, lifeless.
Igara stood over the corpse, expression unreadable. Then his voice echoed inside Aragi's mind. Satisfied now?
Aragi, still reeling, could only mumble, …Yeah.
Their souls shifted. Igara vanished, and Aragi found himself in control again.
---
"Mai!" Aragi rushed to her side. She was unconscious but breathing. Relief washed over him.
He hesitated. Should he carry her back? But the thought of touching her made his face flush. Respect—or maybe shyness—kept him frozen.
Igara's dry voice echoed in his mind. Why not just wait here? You look dead tired. And besides… if another monster shows up, don't forget what I just did. Nothing down here can touch us.
Aragi frowned but finally sat down. Twenty minutes passed in silence before Mai stirred awake.
Her eyes fluttered open. "Aragi…? I'm alive?"
Aragi forced a smile. "Yeah. You're awake."
"What… happened to the monster? Did you defeat it?"
Aragi hesitated. His chest tightened, but he forced the words out. "No. It… ran away."
Mai's expression twisted in disbelief. "It ran away? Why would something that strong just leave?"
"Who knows?" Aragi replied quickly. "But we shouldn't stay here."
---
They returned to the elevator in silence.
Back at Drektown, Mai clutched her arm. "I'm injured… I won't be able to climb for a few days. Sorry, Aragi."
He shook his head. "No… it's my fault. You got hurt because of me."
She gave a faint smile. "Don't blame yourself." Then she disappeared into her room.
But in her heart, doubt gnawed at her. She couldn't forget what she had seen. That wasn't Aragi. So who… or what… was it?
---
Instead of resting, Aragi wandered to Goro Soros' shop. The old trader greeted him with his usual grin. "Yo, young man. You're late today. What do you need?"
Aragi leaned on the counter. "I need to ask you… about a monster. One I fought earlier."
The shopkeeper's expression turned serious. "Ahh. You mean the beasts."
"…Beasts?" Aragi echoed.
"Yeah. They roam floors here and there. Nobody knows why they appear. Even on the upper floors, they're rare. Strong, too. Strong enough to crush seasoned Vindicators."
Aragi's stomach tightened. "Do you know the one I saw? Tall, spikes on its back…"
The old man shook his head. "There are many kinds. Not all of them are known. But if you survived one… you should count yourself lucky. Even the weakest beast could wipe out Vindicators from the 60th floor."
Aragi froze. "…What?"
The shopkeeper leaned in. "Tell me—did you kill it?"
Aragi forced a laugh. "No. It ran away."
The man sighed. "Shame. Beasts drop rare items. Sometimes worth sixty thousand ren. Sometimes custom-made gear. You could've been rich."
Aragi's face twitched. "WHAT!? Sixty… thousand…!?"
The old man chuckled. "Too bad for you, eh?"
Aragi cursed in his mind. I didn't even collect anything! I'm such an idiot!
"By the way," Aragi asked quickly, "how long does it take for a floor to reset?"
"Depends. Upper floors take days. Lower ones reset in hours."
Aragi slumped. It's been more than an hour… damn. Everything's gone.
He thanked the shopkeeper and dragged himself back to the hotel.
Collapsing on his bed, he muttered, "Today was insane." His eyes closed, but his mind reached out.
Hey, Igara… you there?
A voice answered smoothly inside his head. I'm always here. I'm part of you, remember? Watching everything, every second.
Aragi frowned. "Then why are you always hiding? Why now?"
Igara's tone was calm. Because your body was too weak to handle me. Even now, it can barely contain my power.
Aragi clenched his fists. "…It's not just yours. It's mine too."
For a moment, silence. Then Igara chuckled. You really think of me as someone else? Don't. I was born with you. Raised with you. I am you.
Aragi's eyes softened. He had thought of Igara as another person, but now… maybe he wasn't wrong. Maybe they really were the same.
"…Yeah," Aragi whispered. "You're me."
Exhaustion finally pulled him under.
---
✨ End of Chapter 7 ✨