The black fog spread like a living beast.
It seeped through cracks, spilled across floors, and swallowed every corner of the underground facility. The sirens that had been blaring moments ago cut out one by one, choked by the density of the darkness until the only sound left was the low hum of something ancient and restless.
Shrouded.
Night's Trigger.
No one inside the chambers had ever felt anything like it.
Not even the creatures meant to kill them.
---
Yū's Chamber
Yū clicked his tongue as the fog rolled over his knees, then his waist, then his head, plunging everything into pitch darkness.
"Great. Perfect. Just what I needed," he muttered.
His voice echoed strangely—dampened, delayed, like the fog swallowed his words before giving them back. He could barely even make out the outline of his own hand in front of him.
Across from him, Ogre—who had been regenerating nonstop—stilled.
His mocking grin faded.
His nostrils flared.
"…This essence…"
Yū stiffened. Ogre wasn't just pausing. He was cautious.
For the first time.
Ogre turned sharply, muscles tensing. The fog curled around him like it recognized him.
"You," Ogre growled to no one Yū could see. "Your back… after all this time?"
Yū raised a brow. But before he could say anything, Ogre jerked his head toward the corridor.
"Boy. I'll deal with you later."
"What? Hey—!"
But Ogre was already sprinting into the darkness, the fog swallowing his body whole until his heavy footsteps faded out.
Yū clenched his fists, teeth grinding.
Great. His opponent ditched him. In the middle of a fight.
But he didn't have time to feel offended.
There was someone else in danger.
Mira.
He shut his eyes—not because it helped, but because he didn't need them.
He breathed slowly.
Listened.
Felt the ground beneath him.
Left… three steps… wall… five meters… then the hallway…
Even in darkness, his instincts sharpened.
He moved.
"Just hang on," he whispered into the fog, "I'll find you."
---
Kaito's Chamber
Kaito swung his bat blindly, unable to see anything through the thick, choking darkness.
CLANG!
The metal man blocked without effort, laughing as the sound vibrated through the chamber.
"What's wrong, student? Lost your sense of direction?"
"Shut up," Kaito spat, stepping forward.
He couldn't see the enemy—but he could hear him.
Feel him.
The ground trembled where the metal man shifted his weight, and Kaito reacted to those ripples like a second heartbeat.
CLANG!
CLANK!
CRACK!
Each collision between Kaito's bat and the metal man's limbs sparked briefly before being swallowed by the fog.
The metal man laughed harder.
"Ohhh, interesting. You're adapting. Instinct over sight… that's good."
He leaned in. Kaito felt the metal presence behind him like a cold knife.
"Let's see how far you can evolve in the dark."
Kaito twirled the bat behind him and swung—
But the metal man had already stepped away.
"You might just become fun to train," he said, voice echoing from everywhere at once.
"Don't die before then."
"Who said anything about me dying?" Kaito growled.
The fog around him pulsed.
Something old inside him stirred.
But whatever it was… he held it back. For now.
---
Ren's Chamber
The fog in Ren's chamber was thinner than in the others—almost as if something held it back.
Only a thin veil curled across the floor.
Chimera's monstrous form collapsed to its knees.
Metal plates cracked.
Limbs melted.
The hulking beast that had been roaring moments ago suddenly convulsed—and melted down further.
Ren stumbled backward in shock as the creature's armor peeled away like molted skin.
When the steam cleared, a small boy lay curled on the floor.
Barely teen. Frail. Trembling.
Child Chimera.
He looked up, eyes glassy, confused, scared.
"W-why… why am I wha…?" he whispered weakly.
"Did I… do something... Again? What do I do, Mr. Yuto? "
Ren froze.
This kid—this kid who had tried to smash his skull in a minute ago—was crying.
Ren swallowed hard.
"Hey… it's okay." His voice shook. "You're… you're fine now."
The child flinched as the fog crept closer, reaching for him like curious hands.
Ren instinctively stepped in front of him.
"Get back!" he shouted at the darkness.
The fog recoiled slightly.
Ren exhaled shakily. He didn't know what he was doing. He didn't know why he was protecting the kid.
He only knew one thing:
Nobody this scared deserved to die.
Even if they were a monster.
The child tugged weakly at Ren's sleeve.
"Are… are you mad at me…?"
Ren crouched beside him.
"…No. I'm not mad."
He said it even though terror still squeezed his chest.
The child slumped against him, relieved.
Ren held him carefully, his heart pounding.
Somewhere deep inside the fog… Night and Chimera's real body were still fighting.
But this child—
he wasn't Night's enemy.
He wasn't anyone's enemy.
He was just lost.
And Ren couldn't let Night kill him.
---
Ayato's Chamber
Troll swung wildly as the fog poured in.
Ayato ducked under his fist, pivoted, and slammed his palm into the monster's chin—
CRACK!
"Why…" Ayato hissed, tightening his grip around Troll's collar, "won't you just fall already?!"
He threw Troll against the wall, grabbed him again, and smashed him down.
Over and over.
Not out of anger—
but because he needed this fight to END.
He needed to follow Shimei.
Troll finally slumped, body twitching.
Ayato released him, breathing hard.
"…That's enough."
He turned and sprinted into the fog without hesitation.
---
Night's Path Through the Dark
The fog parted for Night like a living creature bowing to its master.
He walked slowly, hands in his pockets, as if strolling through a familiar corridor rather than a battlefield suffocating everyone else.
He reached the far wall.
A place no one else could see.
No one else could sense.
But he knew.
He had always known.
The air shifted.
A figure stepped out of the shadows.
Shimei.
Smiling faintly.
No fear.
No surprise.
No hostility.
Just… recognition.
Night's eyes sharpened.
"So it really is you," he said quietly.
Shimei chuckled under his breath, brushing dust off his coat.
"Of course it's me. Who else did you expect to be waiting here?"
Night didn't answer.
Not immediately.
The fog stirred restlessly around him—like it sensed something personal in this reunion.
Shimei stepped closer.
"Welcome back, Night."
Night's jaw clenched.
Not in anger.
Not in relief.
In something far deeper.
"You…" he whispered, "have a lot of explaining to do."
Shimei met his stare without blinking.
"And you," he said softly, "have a lot of remembering to do."
The fog swirled violently—like a storm forming around the two of them.
And somewhere far behind them just above the shattered facility, floating effortlessly in the air, stood one of the Five Stars—Ash Valeheart.
---End of Chapter 21---