[May 8, 2169 - 8:40PM]
Itoshi grunted as he landed, facing a water-type Megalo-class Seele.
"WHAT THE HELL! WHY ARE THERE SO MANY WATER TYPES?!"
He shouted.
[A Fishing Port North of Nagasaki]
Squad Segment 663 headed to a nearby fishing port, where water-type and earth-type Megalo-class Seele emerged from the seas, wreaking terror everywhere as soon as the squad arrived.
Miss Gigi's eyes scanned the data streams flooding her screens, tracking the monstrous Seele moving through the fishing port.
"Squad, I'm picking up multiple water-type Seele clustered near the docks. Their movements are erratic but predictable—they're avoiding the deep water and staying close to structures"
She explained.
"Kirashi, you've cleared the earth-types, but the water-types are tougher. Without an earth user, we need to rely on disrupting their environment."
She switched to a live thermal scan, highlighting hotspots where Seele gathered.
"Use the fishing nets and nearby equipment to trap or slow them down. Itoshi, your speed will be vital—hit them hard and fast, then retreat before they counterattack."
"I'm analyzing the water currents and terrain. If you can push them toward the shallow edges where their mobility is limited, they'll be easier to handle."
Her voice was calm and focused, a steady guide in the chaos of monstrous battle.
Kirashi and Itoshi followed Miss Gigi's guidance along with the field men. Just outside, in the darkened street, Ayro and Ryujin watched silently.
Ryujin reopened the case file of Hoshi, flipping through the worn pages.
"You think she will come?"
Ryujin asked quietly.
"Most likely"
Ayro replied, eyes fixed on the distant chaos.
"Imma go help those two"
Ayro added, determination hardening his voice.
Through the comms, Miss Gigi contacted Ayro as he dashed onto the scene.
"Finally joined the chaos, huh?"
She said with a hint of amusement.
"Had a bit of a date with the leader,"
He answered teasingly.
"Haha... beware, Seele's clumping in the southwest. All water-type, from Megalo to Menschlich class," she warned.
"Copy that. Orders, ma'am?"
Ayro asked.
"Itoshi trapped some water-class ahead of you. Take care of those first."
"Copy that, ma'am,"
Ayro muttered, then whispered,
"Immerse."
His dark powers spread like wildfire, rippling through every patch of earth he could touch on the paved road.
For a few precious seconds, he controlled the earth element, just long enough to crush the Seele Itoshi had trapped.
His dark power disappeared instantly.
"The little ones are done."
"Okay, good. Now we head for the ones by the port. Lives are trapped within that flood of Seele."
Ayro muttered,
"No wonder they were clumping there."
Then he shouted,
"Itoshi, Kirashi, on me!"
"Ok!"
They followed in unison.
Kirashi and Itoshi ran up beside Ayro as he spoke.
"I will need time to get a lot of earth."
"We'll delay them as you regain your copy, Ayro. For now, Itoshi will distract the Seele, Kirashi—use your wind to protect the people inside. The warehouse is too big to be guarded from the outside alone."
Miss Gigi ordered.
Kirashi gave a quick nod, eyes sharpening. Itoshi cracked his knuckles, a grin forming.
"Time to run wild."
"I'll shield the civilians. Ayro, don't push yourself till you're ready."
They split, roles clear, the tension thick as the screeches of Seele echoed from the flooded port.
Itoshi got there first. He stood with pride—one hand resting on his waist, the other raised high, blue flame fuming at the tips of his fingers like a beacon.
Just as Miss Gigi predicted, the moment the Seele laid eyes on the flame, they surged toward him in a frenzy.
"The Seele are coming after him the moment they laid eyes on his flame... and they do want to devour him"
Miss Gigi muttered, eyes fixed on the screens as the battle unfolded.
The van door creaked open. Ryujin stepped in, watching the feed with mild awe.
"They really do act crazy, huh?" he said.
[Inside the Warehouse]
"Kirashi, there are 16 souls inside the warehouse. No Seele in the civilian clump, but there are 7 near your location. Nearest one is an earth-type."
Miss Gigi ordered.
Kirashi smirked.
"Copy that."
He bolted forward, wind kicking up around him as he sprinted into the darkened warehouse.
Miss Gigi's voice guided him through the comms, steady and precise.
"Head right. Door ahead. Go upstairs, then to the left—it's on the other side of that door."
Kirashi moved without hesitation, his steps light and silent even against the creaking wood and concrete.
[Outside The Warehouse]
Itoshi ran in circles around the warehouse, his feet barely touching the ground as he dodged the snarling, lunging Seele chasing after him. Their claws scraped the pavement, jaws snapping at his heels—but he was faster.
Suddenly, a massive water-type Seele burst out through the side of the warehouse in a violent splash of force and debris.
"Kira, what the hell are you doing?!"
He shouted to himself, eyes wide as he twisted mid-step to avoid a strike.
He clenched his fists, blue flames flaring up in frustration.
"You were supposed to protect the warehouse, not evacuate a monster!"
"Around thirty of them are chasing after Itoshi... I've managed to gain a lot of earth, but I'm gonna need more. Hold on out there, Itoshi."
Ayro muttered to himself.
"We've got incoming. Wind user—heading straight into the warehouse."
Miss Gigi's voice cracked through the comms.
In that instant, Ryujin and Ayro's minds connected like a spark across steel.
"There she is!"
They thought in unison.
[Inside the Warehouse]
"Kira, we got a bogey—Wind Gifted too. Only three Seele remain. The one nearest is a flame-type. DO NOT engage it. I'll lead you to a better route. Stay on your guard... the wind user might not be friendly"
Miss Gigi said, her tone firm but focused.
"The wind user is back?"
Kirashi thought to himself, tension tightening his chest just as his legs kicked into motion.
"Head straight, to the 3rd floor. Then head right."
Miss Gigi continued to guide Kirashi.
"Copy that."
He ascended the dim stairwell, wind swirling at his heels, thoughts racing faster than his feet.
Miss Gigi's eyes widened as new data hit her screen.
"Kira—you're going to meet the wind user. Stay on guard."
Just seconds after the warning, Kirashi heard the familiar, high-pitched screech of a Seele evaporating—its body breaking apart in a gust of wind.
Then he saw her.
A single saddened eye of the kunoichi stared back at him through the darkness.
"Tsk... you still fight horrible"
She muttered before turning and vanishing into the shadows, her movements silent and swift.
"Kirashi, she's heading to where the civilians are."
Then, once again, another screech echoed through the halls—a Seele erased in an instant.
"No more Seele on the way... she's reached the civilians. She's by the door. Slow down."
Kirashi's pace eased, wind still humming around his feet as he narrowed his eyes, steps cautious now.
The tension shifted—not from battle, but from something deeper. Something personal.
Kirashi approached cautiously, each step silent but heavy. The warehouse was still, save for the fading hum of distant Seele cries.
Then—her voice echoed through the halls, soft but unmistakable.
"Look" she said.
Kirashi jolted, his breath caught. That voice—it hadn't changed.
Without a word, he moved toward her, tension rising with every step as the dim light revealed her form near the door... standing between the civilians and whatever choice she was about to make.
She stood by the door, silently pointing her kunai inward—toward the civilians huddled inside.
Kirashi took a step closer and peeked in.
His eyes widened.
His heart dropped.
[Outside The Warehouse]
Ryujin rushed toward the warehouse, determination clear in his stride.
"He really wants her in the squad, huh?"
Ayro thought to himself, eyes locked onto Ryujin.
He clicked his ears.
"Miss Gigi, I'm ready." he said through the comms.
"Copy that. Itoshi, Ayro is ready. Just two more turns and you're on the finish line."
"Got it!"
Itoshi shouted, breath heavy but steady.
The moment Ayro caught sight of the Seele, he lunged forward, positioning himself between Itoshi and the monstrous creatures.
With a sudden surge, he blasted a huge amount of earth into the Seele, causing them to evaporate into nothingness.
Both Ayro and Itoshi collapsed to the ground, exhaustion weighing them down.
"Ugh... t-that... is n-not fun at... all..."
Itoshi complained, lying laboriously on the pavement.
"Hey, at least you got free training,"
Ayro muttered, pushing himself up.
"Get yourself together, we still got civilians to save."
"Ok!"
~~~To be Continued~~~