Night had fallen over Kuzari. The flickering neon lights of makeshift shops barely lit the alleys, where a heavy silence reigned.
Kaen strode forward, his bag slung over his shoulder, Tobias walking at his side. Both of them knew the atmosphere was anything but normal.
— "You feel that?" Kaen murmured, narrowing his eyes.
— "… Three presences," Tobias replied calmly. "Left side, behind the warehouse."
A shadow detached itself from the wall. Then a second. Then a third. Hooded figures, each marked with the glowing red insignia of the Haseidan.
— "Well, look what we've got here," one of them sneered. "The brat from the other night… and his friend."
Kaen instantly drew his ethereal katana. The translucent blade burst forth in a shimmer of moonlight, vibrating faintly as though it shared his emotions.
Tobias raised a hand, his face impassive.
— "Don't rush in headfirst this time. Watch first."
But Kaen didn't wait. With a furious shout, he lunged at the nearest enemy. His katana sliced through the air and clashed against the edge of a machete. The impact sparked a shower of spiritual energy.
— "Tchh…!"
Kaen staggered back, surprised by his opponent's strength.
Another Haseidan member lunged at him from behind—but Tobias moved. His ñinkû, a translucent white pistol, materialized in his hand with a cold glow. He pulled the trigger.
A shot rang out, a blazing bullet tearing through the night and slamming the enemy against the wall.
— "… Shiki," Tobias said darkly.
Kaen stared at him, breathless.
— "You… you've had that all this time?"
— "Focus. We'll talk later."
The remaining criminals faltered, fear flickering at the sight of the spirit weapon. But Kaen wasn't about to let them take the initiative. His katana vibrated, resonating with his determination.
On instinct, he swung diagonally. The ethereal blade released a luminous wave that hurled his opponent backward.
— "Hah! You see? I can—"
— "Behind you!"
Tobias cut him off, firing another blazing shot that grazed Kaen's shoulder and struck an enemy hidden in the shadows. The explosion lit up the alley, revealing the scorched Haseidan insignia on the man's clothes.
Silence fell. The remaining attackers fled into the alleys, leaving behind only the mark of chaos.
Kaen panted, his katana trembling in his hand.
— "… I pushed them back. You saw that?"
Tobias calmly holstered his pistol, which dissolved into particles of light.
— "You have power. But your naïveté will get you killed someday."
Kaen grimaced, then gave a defiant grin.
— "And you, always playing the strategist… But if you hadn't been here, I still would've won!"
Tobias stared at him for a moment before letting out a short laugh.
— "We'll see."
Behind them, in the shadows, a figure observed the scene in silence. Its eyes glowed with a malevolent light.
— "Interesting… The vessels have finally awakened."
Tobias reveals his Shiki: a classic fire pistol.
Kaen discovers his katana can unleash a spiritual wave instinctively.
They win the fight, but it's clear they are still far from the true danger.
A mysterious figure watches from the shadows—perhaps to report back to the Haseidan.