"Ugh... Phew... These bitch-ass Seeles just don't know when to quit, huh?"
Kirashi muttered between heavy, rattling breaths.
He leaned casually against a charred tree trunk, one hand resting on his stomach as if he'd just remembered he forgot to eat.
"Tch."
Itoshi clicked his tongue, his focus entirely on the perimeter. It was his turn to play vanguard.
"Come on, Itoshi, loosen up. They're as good as dead. Probably already crying in their little Seele beds,"
Kirashi chuckled, trying to find a bit of levity in the wreckage.
"I'm worried about Kara, not their bedtime stories!"
Itoshi snapped, his head whipping around to glare at his teammate.
"Alright, alright, fair. But hey..."
Kirashi stood upright, brushing dust off his backside with a slow, deliberate motion as if the dirt owed him rent.
He dropped into a sharp fighting stance, flexing his muscles like a professional athlete—then suddenly froze.
"Oh wait... I totally forgot. I'm about as useful as a screen door on a submarine right now."
"Bro!!"
Itoshi's shout was so loud it echoed across the entire island, the sound sharp enough that it might have woken Jayu up miles away.
[Abandoned School]
Jayu's eyes fluttered softly, her breath steady and light. A tiny, fragile moan escaped her lips as she slowly stirred from the depths of her exhaustion.
"W-Where are we...?"
Aldrin and Kara froze, their muscles locking tight. Then, in a terrified unison:
"Jayu-chan!"
They both gasped, eyes wide as her gentle voice shattered the heavy silence of the classroom. Realizing their mistake, they quickly clamped their hands over their own mouths.
A heavy footstep echoed outside—the ground quivered as a rumbling Earth-type Seele stirred. Its deep growl vibrated through the floorboards, a low-frequency warning as it moved closer to their hiding spot.
Kara looked into Jayu's eyes, pressing a trembling finger to her lips while pulling the girl gently against her chest.
"Shhhh..."
Jayu went still, her eyes wide but obedient. Her small hands clung to Kara's sleeve as if letting go meant falling into an abyss.
The creature's shadow stretched long across the dust-covered floor, moonlight slicing through the cracks in the walls.
Every sound was amplified—the scrape of obsidian claws, the faint rattle of ceiling debris, and the frantic pounding of their own hearts.
Aldrin swallowed hard, terrified that even the sound of his breath would betray them. The Seele's steps slowed... then finally faded into the distance.
"Is it gone?..?" Kara whispered.
"I think so?..?" Aldrin replied, his voice barely a ghost of a sound.
With her lips freed, Jayu turned her gaze to Kara. "Onee-san..." Then she looked to Aldrin. "Onii-san..." Her voice was soft and fragile, like glass about to crack. "W-What was that...?"
C-Cute... Kara thought to herself, a brief flash of warmth hitting her despite the terror twisting her stomach. She and Aldrin exchanged a silent nod. It was time to move.
"Tha—"
Before Kara could finish, Aldrin cut in with a bluntness that shattered the moment.
"That was a monster, and we're all going to die."
"W-Wha?"
Jayu blinked, fresh tears welling up in her eyes.
Without hesitation, Kara's palm met the back of Aldrin's neck with a sharp bonk.
"Fool!"
A second later, the night split open. The screech of the Seele tore through the air, a sound that chilled their very bones.
"Eep!"
The wall opposite them exploded outward in a rain of dust and jagged rubble.
A sluggish, black monster emerged from the haze, its twisted body writhing as its glowing white eyes fixed on them.
Its breath was heavy—wet and uneven—each exhale sending a foul, metallic wind crawling across the floor.
"Kara-san? Can you hand me Jayu?"
Aldrin's voice trembled as he stepped forward.
"S-Sure..."
Kara stammered, her arms tightening protectively for a final second before she reluctantly passed Jayu to him.
"Jayu-chan, I'll carry you. We're gonna run, okay?"
"O-Ok!"
The Seele let out an ear-splitting shriek that shook the building's foundation. Fear surged like a physical wave, paralyzing their muscles before pure survival instinct took over.
"Eepp! Noo!!"
They bolted toward the exit, hearts pounding. But before they could reach the door, another Seele crashed through the wall ahead—its grotesque frame twitching violently, unblinking white eyes locking onto the trio like a predator cornering its final meal. Frozen, Kara and Aldrin could only stare, utterly powerless.
~~~UWDS Africa Headquarters~~~
Through the crackling comms, Hachi's voice came through sharp, his breath hitching as Ryujin's voice finally returned to the frequency.
"Ryujin! Are you guys okay?!"
"Y-Yeah! Can you track where Kara and Aldrin are right now?"
Ryujin replied, glancing toward the burning coastline.
"On it! Hold tight!"
Hachi dashed into his office, fingers trembling as he booted up his laptop. The blue glow of the screen lit his tense face as his fingers moved in a blur across the keys.
"I'm detecting three souls at the old abandoned school!"
"Got it, thanks!"
"Ryujin, what's your situation?"
Hachi asked, his concern cutting through the static.
"Ah, right... Ayro's out cold with a wound on his back, I got one on my shoulder. We just took down eight Seeles here. I'm with Kirashi and Itoshi."
Ryujin surveyed the scene—Itoshi was finishing off the last of the stragglers, while Kirashi was slumped lazily beneath a tree.
"Yo,"
Kirashi murmured, his voice drifting like a lazy breeze.
"And the other three? I'm guessing one's Itoshi's sister, and the other's the pilot? Both powerless, right?"
Hachi's voice returned.
"Yeah... The third soul's a kid. Her name was—"
Ryujin paused, the name slipping his mind.
"Jayu-chan!"
Itoshi shouted between heavy breaths as he blocked a Seele's strike.
"Right! Ai-Jayu-Joo... We know about the two Seeles chasing them. Is anyone else around?"
"No, just you lot,"
Hachi assured him.
"Okay, thanks. Also... there's this magic barrier around the island. Can you do something about it?"
"Sure! I'll get back to you once I find a way."
"Alright! Thanks, Master."
The comms cut off. Hachi slammed his laptop shut and sprinted out of the office, the weight of the situation driving every step.
~~~Kaba Island~~~
[Northern Road]
The five flame-type Seeles evaporated into the air, their fiery forms flickering out like dying embers as Ryujin exhaled a deep, weary sigh.
"Ok! Let's go for the other three."
Despite the heat and the intensity of the fight, not a single bead of sweat rolled down Ryujin's face, even beneath the stifling layers of his heavy uniform.
"Ok!"
Itoshi and Kirashi echoed, their boots already crunching against the gravel as they stepped forward.
"Ah... Kirashi?"
Ryujin called out, his eyes lingering on the unconscious form of their teammate.
Kirashi brushed a layer of grey dust from his pants, his tone steady but firm.
"Yeah?"
"Can you use your wind to carry Ayro?" "Oh! Yeah, sure!"
With a sharp, controlled inhale, Kirashi summoned a gentle gust beneath Ayro's body. The air coiled around the downed soldier, lifting him carefully off the ground.
Kirashi adjusted the pressure with a grimace, ensuring the draft didn't disturb the jagged wound on Ayro's back.
"Say... What the hell even happened?! I won't be able to attack while doing this!"
Kirashi grunted, his fingers twitching as he maintained the delicate levitation.
"The demon knocked y'all out. And don't worry. There are no other Seeles besides the two down the road,"
Ryujin's voice remained calm and unwavering, his presence a grounding force amidst the wreckage.
"Roger!"
Kirashi shouted.
"Ok, let's go!"
Ryujin smirked, his eyes narrowing as he locked onto the path ahead.
In perfect sync, Itoshi and Kirashi yelled,
"Let's go!"
The three dashed through the thick darkness, their rhythmic footsteps echoing against the cracked asphalt.
Kirashi moved with surprising ease, his breathing synchronized with his strides as Ayro floated beside him atop a stable cushion of wind.
Soon, the school's broken silhouette came into view—its jagged roofline and shattered windows stretching long under the pale, cold moonlight.
"The school!"
Itoshi shouted, his hand instinctively moving toward his hilt.
"Almost there,"
Ryujin grunted, increasing his pace.
Suddenly, a deafening screech tore through the air, the sheer volume of it shaking the very ground beneath their boots.
"Crap,"
Kirashi muttered, the wind beneath Ayro flickering for a second.
"Tsk." "What the hell?!"
Itoshi barked.
Rounding the bend, they spotted Kara and Aldrin bursting from the school's main doors. They were a blur of motion, sprinting desperately toward the port with every ounce of strength they had left.
"There they are!"
Kirashi pointed.
Ryujin's eyes snapped upward—scanning the heights. On the roof of a nearby building, a Seele crouched like a gargoyle, its glowing white eyes locked onto the fleeing pair below.
"Shit! There's a Seele on the roof!"
Ryujin yelled.
"And one behind them!"
Itoshi added, pointing to the dark shape closing the gap from the school entrance.
Without hesitation, Kirashi swept his arm downward, gently lowering Ayro's floating form to the safety of the pavement.
His teeth clenched until his jaw ached, and the air began to coil violently beneath his feet, vibrating with a building, humming force.
"Take care of Ayro! I'll go for them!"
"Got it!"
Kirashi's voice cut through the night like a sharpened blade.
"GOOO!!!"
With an explosive burst of compressed wind that cracked the pavement beneath his heels, Kirashi launched himself forward.
The air around him transformed into a howling vortex, screaming as it was forced out of his path. He didn't just run; he soared down the street like a storm unleashed, a streak of white-hot determination aimed straight at the heart of the chaos.
~~~To be Continued~~~