The sky over Serium Cityscape darkened unnaturally, a sickly hue seeping through the normally crystalline air. Shinjiru felt it in his veins first—the essence around him twisting, corrupted, reacting to something far beyond mere Krawler attacks. The Boneyard's influence was bleeding outward, and the rebellion was spreading like wildfire through the lower districts.
Immediate Threat — Krawlers Everywhere
The first Krawler that lunged from a shattered travel hub bore the telltale signs of Stage 3 mutation: serpentine limbs with jagged black-red veins, corrupted essence pulsing visibly along its spine. Shinjiru's kusarigama came alive in his hands, the violet-silver aura streaks extending like claws.
"Kaito!" he shouted, spotting his rival-turned-ally atop a collapsing spire. "Left flank!"
Kaito's emerald aura blazed, a chain snapping with surgical precision as he trapped two smaller Krawlers against a broken wall. "Don't let them surround us!" he replied, his voice steady even amidst the chaos.
Shinjiru advanced, anticipating Orochi's presence in the region. The Krawlers weren't moving randomly—they were being directed, controlled by something far more intelligent than any of the Stage 3 beasts they'd faced before.
Rebellion Strikes — Ranko's Ideals in Action
Ranko Hoshi's rebellion was no longer subtle. Himen loyalists found themselves confronted by colleagues turned rebels wielding corrupted essence. Shinjiru glimpsed a squad of young Himen struggling against rogue allies, their aura colors flickering under stress.
Miyu's voice crackled in his comm link:
"Shinjiru… Ranko's factions have gained control of multiple Essence Archives. They're liberating forbidden experiments, including… dammed Himen essence. Orochi's influence is spreading through their networks."
Shinjiru's stomach tightened. Dammed Himen essence wasn't just dangerous—it was deadly. The corruption could twist any Himen who touched it, amplifying their powers while eroding their morality. The rebellion wasn't just political anymore; it was existential.
Uncovering Secrets — Orochi's Bond
As Shinjiru fought through the crumbling streets, he stumbled upon a fragment of Orochi no Kyōfu's lair: a shattered containment chamber. Inside, he saw the horrifying truth—the Krawler had bound itself to dammed Himen essence, remnants of Shinjiru's father's failed experiments.
"This… this is why he's unstoppable," Shinjiru muttered, realization dawning. "The Stage 3 Krawler isn't just a beast… it's feeding on essence that was never meant to exist in the human realm."
The memory of his father flashed vividly—Haruto Arakami had been desperate to protect Shinjiru, breaking rules that should have stayed inviolate. His death at the hands of Orochi was no accident—it was consequence, punishment, and a warning encoded in blood and essence.
Strategic Combat — Applying Elite 8 Lessons
Shinjiru's aura flared violently as he engaged multiple Krawlers, the hybrid power inside him reacting with unprecedented speed. He utilized layered tactics:
Ryuzen's decoy shadow technique to confuse the Krawlers and draw them into traps.
Kaoru's Still Strike concept to halt regeneration nodes.
Setsuna's speed drills to dodge high-velocity strikes and maintain positional advantage.
Akihara's thorned chains as crowd control, punctuated with Shinjiru's instinctive improvisation.
The streets became a battlefield of light and shadow—vivid aura streaks cutting through corrupted crimson, debris flying as chains and claws collided. Every strike tested his skill, endurance, and moral compass, especially when rebels risked collateral damage.
Moral Crossroads — Choices Under Pressure
During the chaos, Shinjiru encountered a trapped group of students and low-ranked Himen. To save them, he would have to overextend himself, leaving Kaito exposed. His mind raced:
If he saved the students, he risked being fatally struck by Orochi.
If he ignored them, innocents would die, and the moral foundation he was building would shatter.
He chose the former, acting on instinct and empathy. His aura flared to its peak, the hybrid energy surging in controlled brilliance. Chains slashed through Krawlers while creating shields of essence to protect the group. It was a brutal, precise maneuver, leaving him physically drained but victorious.
Cliffhanger — Orochi's Emergence
The final panels of the chapter zoomed in on the streets' far end. Orochi no Kyōfu rose from a fissure, the dammed Himen essence glowing within its body. Its multiple heads swiveled in unison, ember eyes locking on Shinjiru and Kaito.
"You… hybrid…" the voice hissed, resonating through the corrupted essence. "You carry the blood that defies the natural order. I will finish what your father started… and I will break you."
Shinjiru's violet-silver aura flared like a storm. His fists tightened on his kusarigama. "Then I'll be the one to end you," he whispered.
Above, the skies of Serium Cityscape swirled violently. Essence cracked, rebels clashed, and the Boneyard's corruption spread. Chaos had truly been unleashed, and nothing would ever be the same.