Meanwhile, in Shibuya, the city pulsed with joy. Fireworks burst across the sky, painting the night in dazzling colors as people cheered, laughing and embracing the new year.
Far above the noise, on the rooftop of a skyscraper, a man sat alone.
From his perch, he admired the celebration. "So… it's finally a new year, huh? The view's amazing. Hopefully, the year itself will be the same."
He wore a sleek combat suit black, accented with streaks of purple. The material clung to him like a second skin, its design radiating a fighter's aura.
"Yeah… feels like it's going to be a chill one."
But then, like a spear of lightning through his skull, something struck him. He jolted upright, face grim.
That presence…? A Zunan? Here?! In Tokyo?!
Questions clawed at his mind, but urgency burned hotter. Save the questions for later.
And just like that, he vanished from the rooftop gone as though he had never been there.
---
Back in the shattered Tokyo hall, Kaori stood frozen, staring at the headless body of Yoshika. Her friend's blood pooled at her feet.
Her thoughts spiraled. Why did the screaming stop? Don't tell me… is everyone already dead? No… that's impossible, right?
Her father's words echoed from yesterday, like a cruel reminder:
"Kaori, what are your plans for New Year's Eve?"
"I haven't really planned anything," she'd replied.
"Why not go to church then? It's always good to start the year with God. Otherwise, bad luck follows. Maybe that explains why this year was so bad for you."
She had scoffed at him, sarcastic. "Very funny, Dad."
But he'd insisted, serious this time: "Just try it. Otherwise, next year could be even worse."
Now, staring into the crimson eye of the Zunan, Kaori trembled. Did I seal my fate by ignoring him? Is this the cost of my ignorance? Am I going to die here?
Her whole body shook violently. The monster didn't move, only glared. Why isn't it attacking? Is it because I'm frozen? Or is it… toying with me?
Her knees buckled. Is this how it ends?
---
BAM!
Out of nowhere, a fist collided with the Zunan.
The impact obliterated the creature's body in a shower of purple blood and torn flesh. Chunks rained across the ruined hall.
A voice rang out, calm but firm: "Young lady… are you okay?"
Kaori spun toward the voice. A man stood there short, smart brown hair, a neatly kept mustache, and piercing purple eyes. His aura was overwhelming.
Relief crashed over her trembling body, finally giving her permission to collapse. She fainted instantly.
The man caught her glance before she dropped. His jaw clenched. Seventeen survivors. That's it. Including this girl. I already evacuated the others to the hospital… but she doesn't seem injured. Just fear.
Then, the air rippled.
Before his eyes, every drop of purple blood and every chunk of mangled flesh writhed, pulling back together. The Zunan's body reformed in seconds, whole again.
The man narrowed his eyes. "Ah… of course. You're an Ichigan species. Regeneration."
The beast roared and leapt, swinging its massive fist down at him.
But its punch phased straight through.
A voice whispered behind its ear: "Can't believe you really thought I was still standing there. How does it feel… punching air?"
The Zunan spun, unleashing the horned spikes from its back like volleys of missiles. The man's hands blurred crack, smash, shatter destroying them all mid flight.
Normally I'd dodge, he thought grimly. But those horns carry too much force. If they landed, hundreds could die. I need to end this quickly… and permanently.
The Zunan lunged with another punch. This time, he caught its arm, twisting with effortless strength. With a single motion, he flung the monster upward straight into the night sky.
As it tore through the atmosphere, the man raised his palm, purple energy condensing into a sphere. He launched it with precision.
The Ichigan crashed onto the moon's surface with a thunderous impact, carving a crater deep into its gray dust.
The energy sphere followed.
It lodged in the creature's chest, then detonated.
BOOM.
The explosion shattered the moon itself, ripping it into cosmic dust. A blinding light lit up the heavens, visible from every corner of Earth.
Shockwaves tore outward waves of destruction that would've annihilated the planet.
But at the edge of Earth's exosphere, a shimmering barrier absorbed the force, bending the blast, containing the devastation.
On Earth, people watched in awe, fireworks paling beside the celestial inferno.
Taneki floated above the ruined hall, the early dawn light spilling over the broken skyline. His eyes scanned the devastation below the shattered roof, the crushed stage, the blood soaked floor where thousands had once danced.
"Seventeen survivors…" he muttered. "That leaves around five thousand bodies here."
He sighed, his expression grim. "One hell of a bloody beginning."
His gaze shifted upward, toward the empty space where the moon had once hung. "And yep… I'll be answering to the higher ups for this one. Oh well. Creating another moon isn't the hard part. The real problem… is how that thing even got here in the first place."
His eyes narrowed. Suspicion lingered.
"So much for a chill year."
It was now morning
Kaori's eyelids fluttered open.
The ceiling above her was white, sterile, humming faintly with the sound of hospital machines. A curtain swayed gently from the air conditioning. She blinked, confused.
What… where am I?
Her fingers gripped the sheets. Was that… a dream?
She sat up slowly, looking around. The smell of disinfectant hit her. The pale blue walls, the beeping monitors, the IV drip at her arm everything screamed hospital.
And then, like a tidal wave, the memories crashed into her. The music. The countdown. The roof exploding. Yoshika's head… the creature's single red eye staring at her.
Her breath caught. Her heart raced.
"NO!!" she screamed, clutching her head.
A calm voice broke through her panic. "It's okay… you're safe now."
She jerked her head toward the sound.
"Dad…?"
Her father sat in a chair beside her bed, his eyes soft but heavy with exhaustion.
"You still need to rest, Kaori," he said gently. "Take your time."
Tears welled in her eyes as the memory of their phone call replayed in her mind. Her throat tightened.
"I'm so sorry, Dad," she whispered, then louder, "I'm so sorry!"
He leaned forward, frowning. "For what?"
"For ignoring you," she sobbed. "For not going to church. If I'd just listened maybe this wouldn't have happened. Maybe… maybe all those people wouldn't have died. I was so stupid. I nearly lost my life…"
Her father let out a long, weary sigh and reached for her trembling hand.
"Kaori… you're twenty now. People your age make their own choices. No parent expects their child to follow every piece of advice forever. It's part of growing up."
He squeezed her hand.
"When I told you to go to church, even I couldn't have imagined this would be the cost. Thousands are dead and yet somehow, my child survived." His voice cracked slightly. "I'm more grateful than angry. Ignorance… is expected. Surviving something like this isn't."
Kaori stared at him, her eyes swimming with tears.
"So don't carry all that blame, my daughter," he said softly.
"Father…" she whispered.
He brushed a strand of hair from her face. "Rest now, okay?"
Kaori swallowed, her guilt still heavy but her father's words warming her chest. She nodded weakly, lying back down, tears sliding silently into the pillow.
---
Across TV screens, news anchors wore grave expressions.
"During New Year's Eve in Tokyo, an unprecedented event claimed the lives of over five thousand people," one anchor announced. "We go now to Jasmine Akiratu, live at the scene."
The broadcast cut to the ruined hall. Police had cordoned the area with crime tape. Medics worked tirelessly, loading bodies onto trucks while grieving parents clung to one another, their cries piercing the air.
Jasmine Akiratu, holding a mic, spoke with a heavy tone.
"Yes, Sam. Here in Tokyo, tragedy struck last night. A Zunan creature appeared during a New Year's Eve celebration, tearing through the roof of this very hall and killing thousands in minutes. Most of the victims were youth attending the party."
Her camera panned across the scene. Covered bodies lay in rows. Parents wept openly, some screaming their children's names.
Jasmine continued: "Every victim appears to have had their chest ripped open. All are missing their hearts. From the reports we have, the creature belonged to a regenerative species known as an Ichigan. The man who killed it was Sergeant Taneki Iruwaya, who just happened to be nearby when the attack occurred. And yes witnesses confirm that the destruction of the moon was his doing."
She paused, letting the weight sink in.
"Authorities say the explosion was necessary. The Ichigan species can regenerate from even a single surviving cell. Erasing it completely was the only option."
Behind her, medics continued carrying bodies, one after another.
"But the questions remain the ones every parent, every citizen, every nation is asking. How did this creature manage to appear here on Earth? Weren't they contained in the other universe? And if it happened once…"
Her voice faltered.
"…should we be expecting more?"
The camera lingered on grieving parents collapsing as they were handed personal belongings of their children.
"This is Jasmine Akiratu, Saiki TV, Tokyo. Back to you, Sam."