On a rooftop, quite far from the stadium, Killa and Kaito were positioned for scouting.
"So, what are we doing here?"
"Scouting."
Killa lay on her stomach, scanning the area through the scope of her sniper rifle.
"Is there reall—"
Kaito was interrupted by a loud bang as Killa fired her sniper.
"Another one down. And if you're wondering if there is a point to this, there is."
Kaito remained silent, his thoughts drifting elsewhere.
"Well, never mind that question. Can you tell me, then, why you care so much about Sato?"
Killa took her eye off the scope and looked up at Kaito.
"Quite an insensitive question, don't you think?"
"It's just that I was curious... it's alright if you don't want to tell me," Kaito said, a little embarrassed, avoiding her gaze.
Killa sighed in defeat, deciding to answer.
"Whatever, if you want to know I will tell you, it's not like it's some big secret. I like him because he was able to understand me. This is all."
"All?" Kaito asked, still confused.
"Yes. When I met him, I was wounded by a relic that prevented me from healing completely. He was able to clear that effect. Besides that, he was able to understand my mana at a level only my comrades from Nexus can."
"I still don't get it."
"Man, you are hopeless."
Killa sat up and leaned against the wall next to him. Rolling up her sleeve, she materialized a military knife in her other hand and cut herself slightly.
"Here."
She pointed at her arm, signaling him to touch it. Kaito did so reluctantly.
"What do you feel?"
"Only your mana... and maybe the blood."
"That is exactly why I care about Sato so much. He doesn't look only at the surface."
Moments later, Killa rolled back her sleeve and sat down again, leaving Kaito even more confused.
Why are girls so hard to understand?
Suddenly, an explosion roared from the direction of the park. Killa immediately shifted her view toward the noise.
"What happened?" Kaito moved next to her, looking at the thick cloud of dust rising in the distance.
"A hero gone berserk," Killa said, peering through her scope.
She saw the hero rampaging and other heroes lying on the ground.
"Isn't that bad?"
A small smirk appeared on Killa's face.
"No, it's an opportunity."
"What do you mean?"
"With such a foe loose, it is bound that more and more heroes will come to check out what happened. Among them, Irina is sure to come."
Squeezing the safety railing on the roof, Kaito looked into the distance.
"Let's hope that happens."
In the park explosions could be heard as Butterfly approached the side.
"Megumi, once we're there I'll draw him somewhere quiet so people aren't caught in the crossfire. Stay close enough for me to use my full power, but far enough to stay safe. When we move, follow our trail and don't lose sight of us."
Butterfly quickened her pace, letting Megumi fall behind as she pushed through the bushes and trees.
When she reached the side where the Black Knight stood, the four heroes who had fought him lay defeated on the ground.
What an ugly sight.
The field before her was a ruin: craters scarred the earth, trees lay shattered or ripped from their roots, and a thick veil of black mana hovered over everything.
Alright, Suyuna… you've faced worse. Let's do this.
Trying to steel herself, Butterfly raised her scarf to cover her mouth, shielding herself from the overwhelming surge of mana ahead.
She leapt from the tree, landing silently, and approached the Black Knight with caution, keeping a safe distance between them. He remained perfectly still… until he sensed her presence.
In an instant, he spun around to face her. Butterfly circled him warily.
"Alright, big guy… how about we have a little chat?"
The Black Knight didn't even seem to hear her. Instead, he let out a furious roar that shook the air. His sword materialized in his hand, and in the next instant, he charged straight at her.
Butterfly dodged at the last second, landing lightly on a street pole.
"Well, you clearly aren't planning to talk."
This is bad. He's not just strong… he's fast as well. I can't let my guard down.
The Black Knight's charge smashed everything in his path until he came to a halt, turning to face her again.
Fighting him here would only wreak more havoc around… where can I…?
From the pole she perched on, Butterfly scanned the area until her eyes landed on a stadium.
I hope there aren't any matches scheduled for this hour.
While Butterfly scanned the area, the Black Knight leapt into the air, his sword poised to strike.
"Easy there," she muttered, landing on another pole just in time to dodge.
"Ready for a little walk?" Butterfly asked with a teasing smile, eyes locked on him.
She leapt from pole to pole, steadily widening the distance between them.
When he saw her fleeing, the Black Knight roared once more and gave chase, relentlessly.
"About what I expected…" Butterfly glanced back, checking if the bait had worked.
On their way to the park, Irina and Sato could see how the dense black mana began to shift and swirl in the distance.
"Tsk… he's on the move," Irina muttered under her breath.
She glanced back at Sato.
"I'm going to pick up the pace. Whatever you do—don't lose sight of him."
Sato was left alone as Irina burst into her purple flame form and vanished into the distance.
"Back to doing whatever she wants…" he said under his breath, watching the fading light. "I really hope that by defeating that knight, she'll come back to normal."
Following the trail of black mana, Sato ran through the empty streets until he spotted a familiar face up ahead.
"Dr. Shigure?"
The man turned toward him, stopping mid-stride.
"Sato? What are you doing here?"
"Uhh…" Sato hesitated.
What should I even tell him? 'I'm an exis, so I came to stop a rampaging hero' or maybe 'I'm chasing someone who went this way'?
Ahh, I don't know… With Megumi, it was so much easier. At least she was direct when she asked if I was an exis too.
While Sato was lost in thought, trying to figure out what to say, he suddenly felt a faint trace of mana coming from Shigure.
"Dr. Shigure… could it be, you're an exis too?"
The moment Sato said that, Shigure froze. For a heartbeat, his expression hardened… but then his shoulders relaxed, as if a heavy weight had been lifted.
"So you are one as well…" he exhaled, almost relieved. "Thank God. Sato, you and your hero need to help me calm Eryon down."
Eryon… so that's his name.
"What happened to him?"
"I'm not sure,"
"Last night, a girl came to my apartment and said she wanted to talk to him. He was initially reluctant, but he finally agreed to go outside. After that… I don't know what happened."
"I see…" Sato fell silent, trying to piece everything together.
What should I do? Irina will probably try to kill him… but he's Shigure's hero.
He took a deep breath, steadying his thoughts.
"Very well then. We'll help you. In fact, my hero already went ahead to confront him."
There's no point in holding back. I will talk with Irina when the time will come.
"Thank you, Sato," Shigure said, his tone firm but grateful. "We should move before things get worse."
Without wasting another second, the two of them rushed after the trail of dark mana, still visible from miles away.
In the park, Irina arrived at the scene where Eryon had fought the four heroes. Their exis were beside them, all collapsed on the ground and breathing heavily.
Three heroes left. Four exis. Traces of dark mana everywhere. I guess one got intoxicated by it and was eliminated… How pathetic.
Irina walked closer to the surviving heroes who were struggling to catch their breath.
"It's the Dark Witch!" one of them shouted in alarm, trying to get up but failing.
"What are you trying to do? The competition's already over for you," Irina said coldly.
"Hah! And who do you think you are to say that? Once this mana fades, we'll be as good as new!" another hero said, forcing a grin.
"Is that so?" Irina replied, her tone flat. A small purple flame flickered to life in her palm.
"Then I suppose I'll finish this before the mana dissipates completely."
The small flame split into three, darting forward in an instant—each one latching onto a hero.
"The Undying Flame!? You can't! We're supposed to work together to stop that monster!" the proud hero shouted in panic.
Irina took a few steps forward, tilting her head slightly as she looked back at them from the corner of her eye.
"Work together? With who?" Her lips curled faintly. "Cockroaches barely clinging to life? Don't make me laugh."
He's mine.