The Purification Hall stood on the edge of Yoyogi Park like it had always been there—modern glass and steel wrapped around an ancient cedar torii gate that no one remembered installing. To normal people it looked like another high-end corporate wellness center. To anyone with even a drop of essence in their veins, the golden wards etched into every window pulsed like a slow heartbeat.
Ren and Aoi arrived together at 5:42 a.m., just as the sky turned the color of weak tea.
They hadn't spoken much on the way. Hands brushed once on the subway platform. That was enough.
Two Miracles in white tactical coats met them at the entrance—silent, expressionless. One scanned Ren with a palm device that beeped once, red. The other nodded to Aoi like she was already on trial.
"Elevator to level 7," the first said. "Saint Kurosawa is waiting."
The ride up was silent except for the soft chime of floors passing.
Ren felt Aoi's heartbeat through the Echo—faster than usual, but steady. She was scared. Not of dying. Of what came after.
The doors opened onto a wide circular chamber. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked dawn breaking over Tokyo. In the center stood a single low table, three cushions, and a man in flowing white-and-gold robes who looked no older than thirty but carried the weight of centuries in his eyes.
Saint Kurosawa.
He didn't rise. Just gestured to the cushions opposite him.
"Sit."
They did.
Kurosawa's gaze moved first to Aoi—long, assessing—then to Ren.
"Ito Ren. Vessel of Kurogami. Level 7.1 as of four hours ago." His voice was calm, almost gentle. "You closed a class-3 rift in Shinjuku last night without civilian casualties. Impressive. Also impossible for a vessel of your age and experience."
Ren met his eyes. "I had help."
Kurosawa's attention shifted back to Aoi.
"Yes. You did."
Aoi didn't flinch. "The rift would have breached the main street in under ninety seconds. Standard response time is eight minutes. I made the tactical decision to neutralize it immediately with available assets."
"Available assets." Kurosawa repeated the words slowly. "You mean the Pagan sitting beside you."
Aoi's jaw tightened. "He is not—"
Kurosawa raised one finger. The room's wards flared brighter for half a second.
"Do not lie to me, Mizuki. Not here."
Silence stretched.
Ren spoke before it could snap.
"She's not lying. I'm not what you think I am."
Kurosawa tilted his head. "Enlighten me."
Ren leaned forward slightly. "I didn't ask for Kurogami. Some idiots used me to deliver a relic. It bonded. I didn't kill anyone who didn't try to kill me first. I'm not eating souls in back alleys. I'm just… trying not to become the monster everyone expects."
Kurosawa studied him. "And yet your corruption index climbs every night. Your power signature is already visible on satellite essence scans. In three weeks—perhaps less—you will cross grade 8. At grade 9 most vessels lose volition entirely. Kurogami will wear you like a suit."
Ren felt the ancient demon stir inside him—amused, not threatened.
He's not wrong, Kurogami murmured. But he's also not the first to try putting me back in a box.
Ren ignored it. "Then give me those three weeks. Let me prove I can hold the line."
Kurosawa's expression didn't change. "And if you can't?"
Aoi answered before Ren could. "Then I'll do it myself."
The saint looked at her—really looked.
"You would purify your own bonded vessel?"
"Yes."
Ren's heart stuttered. He turned to her.
Aoi didn't look away from Kurosawa.
"But only if there is nothing left of Ren inside. Not one second before."
Kurosawa was quiet for a long time.
Then he reached into his sleeve and placed a small, matte-black disk on the table between them. No bigger than a coin. A single golden rune glowed faintly on its surface.
"A suppression seal. Grade 7 limiter. Wear it and your daily essence draw will be capped at 40%. You will not level beyond 8 for at least six months. You will feel… human again. Mostly."
Ren stared at the disk.
Kurosawa continued. "In exchange, Mizuki will be placed under observation. House arrest within the Hall grounds. Weekly blood resonance checks. If either of you attempts to remove the seal without authorization, or if your corruption spikes beyond projected curves, both of you will be classified as priority threats. No second chances."
Ren's hand hovered over the seal.
Aoi's fingers closed around his wrist—gentle but firm.
"Don't."
He looked at her.
She shook her head once. "You'll hate it. The suppression will feel like drowning every time you reach for power. You'll lose ground. Mei, the other Pagans—they'll sense weakness. They'll come for you."
Ren swallowed. "And if I don't take it?"
Kurosawa's voice was soft. "Then we end this now. Here. Cleanly."
Ren looked back at the saint.
"You're afraid of me."
Kurosawa didn't deny it. "I am afraid of what you could become. And I am afraid of what she will do to protect you."
Aoi's grip tightened.
Ren exhaled slowly.
Then he picked up the seal.
The moment his skin touched it, cold fire raced up his arm. Kurogami snarled—furious, thrashing—but the sound muffled quickly, like someone slamming a thick door.
Ren pressed the disk to the side of his neck.
It adhered with a soft click.
Power drained out of him in a slow, sickening rush. Shadows that had been curling idly around his boots vanished. The constant low hum of essence in his veins dulled to a whisper.
He felt… small.
Human.
He hated it instantly.
But he looked at Aoi and saw relief flood her eyes—followed immediately by guilt.
Kurosawa stood.
"You have six months. Use them wisely."
He walked toward the window, robes whispering against the floor.
"One last thing."
He stopped without turning.
"If the day comes when the seal is no longer sufficient… and Mizuki hesitates…"
His voice dropped.
"I will not."
The doors opened behind them.
The two escort Miracles stepped in.
"Interview concluded."
Ren and Aoi rose together.
As they were led toward the elevator, Aoi slipped her hand into his.
He squeezed back—harder than he meant to.
The doors closed.
In the sudden quiet of the descending car, Ren spoke first.
"I'm sorry."
Aoi shook her head. "Don't be. You bought us time."
"Time for what?"
She looked up at him—sunrise eyes steady despite everything.
"Time to prove them wrong. Both sides."
Ren leaned down and pressed his forehead to hers.
The Resonance Echo was fainter now—muted by the seal—but still there. Still hers.
"Together," he whispered.
"Together."
The elevator chimed.
Level 1.
Dawn light poured through the lobby windows.
They stepped out into it—hand in hand—two marked vessels walking out of the lion's den with six months left to live, to love, to fight.
Somewhere high above, Saint Kurosawa watched them leave.
His fingers brushed the empty space on the table where the seal had been.
"Six months," he murmured to the empty room.
Then he smiled—small, sad, almost fond.
"Try not to disappoint me, children."
Essence Level: locked at 7.1 (suppression active)
Daily draw cap: 40%
Kurogami activity: suppressed (grumbling)
Resonance Echo: range reduced to 500 m, intensity -60%
End of Chapter 8