The room was dark, lit only by a single, focused light. It shone directly on the man tied to a wooden chair — Hawthorne, the one Itoshi had defeated months ago. His hands were bound tight.
A man walked slowly around the chair, his palm brushing the seat.
"Hawthorne-san..." he chuckled.
"What do you intend to do with the Rhythm? Or should I ask—what does the World Elemental Special Control Unit plan to do with him?"
Hawthorne snickered, refusing to break.
"Hahaha, you're gonna have to try harder than that."
The man stood tall. He was the same one who had appeared in the Room That Observes All just a few chapters ago.
"It's impressive you've lasted three months under torture. Honestly, I admire that. But you're on the wrong side," he muttered.
Hawthorne laughed bitterly.
"Wrong side? Hah! Don't make me laugh. You've kept me tied up for three months, then say that? You've got quite the humor."
As Hawthorne spoke, the man slipped on a dark rubber glove. His voice dropped.
"Yeah, switch sides before it's too late." He paused, smile fading. "WESCU will crumble."
Hawthorne's eyes widened.
"Hell no. We're still far from that timeline."
The man took a deep breath.
"How about this — you give us information about WESCU, and we'll let you work with us." He shrugged.
Hawthorne smirked.
"Finally a new offer? After months of 'Give us information and you'll be free,' you switch it up."
"Heh, figured I'd try something different."
Hawthorne scoffed.
"I'm gonna miss that line. But I refuse."
The man sighed, then grabbed Hawthorne by the hair, pulling him close enough to whisper.
"The Skulls won't let go of the Rhythm. Especially now. His value's only grown."
He shoved him back and stepped away.
Hawthorne clenched his fists.
"Tsk... his value grew?"
"Yeah. You don't know yet? Familiar with the 'Guardians'?"
Hawthorne narrowed his eyes.
"The spiritual creatures of every elemental power?"
"Exactly."
Hawthorne raised a brow, uncertain.
"What about them?"
The man's wicked smile flickered in the dark, though his identity remained hidden.
"Well, Itoshi has been chosen by the Flame Griffin."
Hawthorne's eyes widened. Sweat beaded on his forehead as his trembling hands tightened against the ropes.
"Ch-chosen?!"
The man chuckled.
"Yeah. Interesting, right?"
"N-no way... It's been centuries since the last Guardian was chosen!"
Hawthorne's disbelief broke through his hardened composure.
"No," the man corrected, his grin sharp.
"You're wrong. He was chosen three days ago."
With that, the man turned and stepped out of the room, leaving Hawthorne in suffocating silence.
~~~Kaba Island~~~
[May 1, 2169 - 8pm]
The squad stood frozen on the island, a mysterious figure waiting ahead of them.
"Could it be?!"
Ayro cried out, heart sinking.
Ryujin clicked his tongue,
"Tsk."
Itoshi and Kirashi stepped up beside Ryujin, weapons ready, while Kara and Aldrin stayed behind.
"Seele?"
Itoshi asked.
Ryujin clenched his fist.
"No. Even worse."
"There are worse than Seele?!"
Kirashi's voice wavered.
Ryujin's tone was firm.
"Yeah. Demons."
"Hah?"
"Huh?"
"Demons?"
Confusion echoed among the new members as they faced something far darker than Seele.
Demons—mysterious beings of unknown origin, predating even the first "gift." Some believed they led the Seele, others called them a byproduct of humanity itself. They resembled humans and Seele alike, but what they had done was far from human.
Ryujin hushed, eyes sharp.
"It's too fast... too early."
He thought to himself as he looked back to his colleagues.
"They're too inexperienced for them.."
Itoshi cracked his fist and scoffed, eyes burning with confidence.
"It's just another Seele."
"No. Stay where you are."
Ryujin ordered.
Then, a voice echoed across the clearing.
"Ah! Humans!"
Itoshi, Kara, and Kirashi froze—it spoke.
"It can talk?!"
The towering figure opened its arms wide, smiling.
"It's been a while! Welcome to Kaba!"
Ryujin clicked his tongue again.
"Tsk."
The demon tilted his head.
"What's with the rough face?"
"Why are you here?"
Ryujin asked,
"I need to buy time... my squad can't handle this yet," he thought.
"I should be the one asking that. This... is... MY territory."
"You don't belong on this Earth. Go back to where you came from."
Ryujin shot back.
"To where? Hell? But... it's painful there! Always hot! Always burning!"
The demon hissed.
While the two spoke, Itoshi whispered to Ayro.
"What's the elemental weakness? It doesn't glow."
Ayro's eyes locked on the demon.
"He has no specific weakness. It's all brute force with them."
"Can't we just attack now?"
Ayro shook his head.
"No. Not yet. Demons hunt the weakest first. They feed on your fear."
The demon's grin widened.
"So what brings you here, humans? Busy with our little pets?"
Ryujin chuckled.
"Haha. No pets here. But there is one prey."
"Hoh?"
Suddenly the demon was at Ryujin's ear.
"I see... six here."
Ryujin leapt back.
"Stay away!"
The demon raised his hands.
"Woah! Woah! No need to be stiff! You're really gonna push away your own kind?"
Everyone stiffened at the words.
"O-own kind?"
Kirashi asked.
"Tsk. No. I'm not—"
"Hep hep hep! Enough talk. Let's get physical."
Ayro's eyes widened.
"Itoshi! It's Kara!"
In an instant, the demon appeared in front of Kara. The tall, gaunt figure with burning red eyes loomed over her.
"Holo~ What's your name?"
Itoshi and the others rushed forward. The demon reached out, fingers brushing Kara's cheek. She trembled.
"It's been so long since I felt the warmth of a human."
He pressed harder; Kara cried out in pain. Aldrin, nearby, swung his helmet into the demon's head.
"You stupid damned—!"
Unfazed, the demon raised his left hand. Aldrin slumped to the ground, asleep, without even being touched. Kara dropped as the demon let go.
Kirashi froze.
"In one touch?!"
But Itoshi didn't stop.
"Tsk. Kara!"
He dashed forward, blue flames igniting his fists.
"Itoshi! Wait!"
Ryujin shouted.
Itoshi aimed to burn the demon's head. The demon caught the flames mid-swing, surprised.
"Blue flame, huh? Interesting."
Itoshi smirked.
"Heh! I get that a lot."
"I like your confidence."
The demon slammed him to the ground, hand on his head. A flood of visions burned through the demon's mind.
"W-what was that?! You're t-telling me..." it thought to itself.
"Oi, what's your name?"
The demon asked.
"Don't tell him your name!"
Ryujin barked.
Kirashi launched a wind attack. The demon flipped back, landing atop the roof they had planned to use as shelter.
Itoshi staggered to Kara's side.
"K-Kara!"
He felt her pulse and smiled faintly.
"Thank God."
The demon's voice echoed down.
"Oi, kid."
"Tsk."
"Who's your father?"
"Hah? How does that even connect to what's happening right now?!"
Itoshi's eyes narrowed.
"Tsk, damn humans. Fine, I'll play by your rules."
In a blink, the demon was in front of Ryujin. The rest of the squad collapsed.
Ryujin stood alone.
"Ryujin, was it?"
The demon purred, circling him.
"Why do you keep denying him?"
"Denying who?"
Ryujin asked.
"He's there, isn't he?"
The demon whispered.
"Who?! Goddamn it!"
Ryujin shouted, frustration boiling.
The demon chuckled.
"There he is."
He leaned close.
"He wants to be free."
"Ryujin..."
"Tsk."
"Help me."
Ryujin froze, staring at the ground as the voice echoed in his head.
"I want to see the world."
"Shut up!"
Ryujin barked.
"Why did you do it?"
"Shut up!"
"Save me."
"Shut up! Shut up!"
Ryujin clutched his head as the voice grew louder.
"SHUT UP!"
Silence. The demon watched, delighted.
"That was it?.. Aw man. I waited years for this."
Ryujin's hands bled from his clenched fists.
"Interesting. A demon that denies itself. What have the humans done to you? Being a demon is the pinnacle of all 'gifted' creatures. Why can't you accept yourself?"
Ryujin's purple left eye glowed as rage overtook him.
"I'm not like you, you damned bitch!"
The demon's smirk widened.
~~~To be Continued~~~