Rain had stopped, but the streets of Shibuya still glistened under the neon glow. Haruto walked alone now, the encrypted pager from Miya heavy in his pocket. He hadn't decided yet—ally or lone wolf. The System's quest hung in the air like unfinished business.
He turned into a narrow alley near Nonbei Yokocho. The smell of grilled yakitori and sake drifted from tiny izakayas. A few salarymen laughed inside, oblivious to the world outside.
Haruto leaned against a wall, eyes closed for a moment.
Then it hit him.
Not pain. Not cold.
A memory.
Not Haruto's.
His own.
The old world. The Great Purge. Flames everywhere. His sister's face—young, terrified, blood on her cheek. She had screamed his name.
"Yami!"
He opened his eyes sharply.
The alley was empty.
But the scream echoed in his skull.
**[System Notification: Memory Fragment Unlocked – Purge Era.]**
A golden panel appeared, unbidden.
**[Memory Fragment 1/??]**
**Scene: The Fall of the Last Bastion**
He saw it again—clearer this time.
He stood on a ruined wall, sword dripping black blood. Nox's army swarmed below. His sister—barely sixteen—hid behind him, clutching a broken spear.
"Yami… we can't win this," she whispered.
He had laughed then. Bitter. Broken.
"We already lost. But they'll remember the cost."
He had charged.
Alone.
The last stand.
The vision shifted—her body on the ground, eyes empty. Nox's laugh. His own roar of rage.
Then darkness.
Haruto's fist clenched so hard his knuckles whitened.
"Why now?" he muttered.
**[The Divine Evolution System detects emotional resonance. Memory fragments will surface as your power grows. Each fragment unlocks potential evolutions or hidden skills.]**
**[Current Bonus: +5% to all Purge Legacy Skills until fragment resolved.]**
He exhaled slowly.
"Fine. Keep them coming."
He pushed off the wall and kept walking.
The pager buzzed.
He pulled it out.
A message from Miya:
*"Guild meeting tomorrow at 10 AM. Shibuya Branch HQ. They're discussing the A-rank clear. Your name came up. Come if you want answers. Or don't. Your call."*
Haruto stared at the screen.
Answers.
He needed those.
But on his terms.
He pocketed the device.
The city lights flickered.
Somewhere far off, a Gate siren wailed—distant, low.
Another one opening.
Haruto's lips curved.
"Good."
He changed direction, heading toward the sound.
The night was young.
And so was his hunger.
**[New Quest Generated]**
**Quest: Echoes Unresolved**
**Objective:** Investigate the new Gate siren and determine if it connects to your past memories.
**Reward:** 400 EXP, Memory Fragment 2, Skill Point x1
**Optional:** Clear the Gate solo without revealing your full power.
**Bonus Reward:** +10% Purge Legacy Evolution Speed for 24 hours.
He accepted it instantly.
The siren grew louder.
Haruto's red eyes glowed faintly in the dark.
The past wasn't done with him.
But neither was he.
He disappeared into the shadows.
The city kept moving.
Oblivious.
For now.