The dirt road crunched underneath the group of men as they marched. In the distance, the town of Sylphera slowly came into view. Kyukyoku grinned in familiarity.

“This place really hasn’t changed, huh.”

“It’s no wonder this cult is way out here. Who would want to protect this shithole?”

Kyukyoku’s eyebrows slightly furrowed at this remark. The squad leader turned to face the man who said this.

“Unfortunately for you, we’re going to defend this shithole.”

The leader turned back.

“We’re almost there, so don’t let the townspeople here you saying that.”

“Whatever…”

As they walked into town, the heads of the people living there along with their whispers followed the men.

“Heh, they’re probably freaking out about how people as high up as we are are visiting their little village.”

“I said to stop those comments! One more peep out of you, and you can kiss your seat goodbye!”

The group approached an elderly man.

“Hello, Sir. As discussed, we have a place to stay?”

“Yes, yes, of course. Please come with me, we’ll discuss housing inside.”

“You guys stay out here. Don’t cause any problems.”

As the leader and the elder walked inside of a large building, the group of men talked amongst themselves. Kyukyoku sat down and began to meditate. The typical men snickered.

“Look at that brat. Why is he always so nonchalant about everything?”

“Make is still here… Maybe I’ll be able to pay her a visit after this…”

Kyukyoku felt a tap on his shoulder. Behind him was a girl that was his age.

“Kyukyoku? Is that you?”

Kyukyoku nodded.

“I’m Ayako. We were in the same class before you left?”

Kyukyoku stood up.

“Yeah, I remember you. How’ve you been?”

“Fine, I’ve just been studying. Despite how it looks, our little town has grown a lot, and with it developed.”

The leader walked out the building. Kyukyoku faced him.

“Alright everyone, I have the keys to where we’ll be staying. Fortunately, we’ve all been given our own rooms. Come get your keys. We’ll meet back here tomorrow morning at sunrise. Before then, you’re free to rest or go sightseeing, just don’t spur up any trouble. Dismissed.”

Kyukyoku grabbed his key then walked back to Ayako.

“If you don’t mind, we can go get some lunch?”

Kyukyoku nodded.

“Sure, I’m not doing anything else.”

Kyukyoku and Ayako sat themselves outside of a decent looking building and a waitress handed them two menus.

“Please, take your time deciding.”

As the waitress walked away, Ayako stared deeply at the menu. Kyukyoku looked at the building.

“This is similar to another restaurant I’ve been to. Is this new?”

Ayako nodded.

“Yeah. I’ve never been here before, but all of it sounds so good…”

“But look at the price! I could buy so much produce for a grilled fish! Wait, these ‘appetizers’ are a decent price. I guess I’ll have one of those.”

As the waitress came back around, she pulled out a notepad and a pencil.

“You guys ready?”

Kyukyoku looked at Ayako, who nodded.

“I’ll have the potato slices with grated cheese, please.”

“What the hell did she order?”

“Great choice! I’ll bring them out!”

The waitress walked away, and Ayako looked nearly as confused as Kyukyoku.

“Why didn’t she take your order?”

“Because you got an appetizer. Were you not ready to order?”

“That was my order…”

“You didn’t want something else?”

“Everything was so expensive, though…”

“Have you ever been to a restaurant?”

“No, this is my first time.”

“Get whatever you want, I’m paying.”

Ayako’s eyes widened with joy. As the waitress brought out the potatoes, the two teens placed their orders. As Ayako began to stuff her mouth to the brim with the potatoes, Kyukyoku leaned in slightly.

“So why is it you wanted to see me?”

Ayako tried to speak, but after realising her mouth was still full, she tried to swallow everything at once, causing her to choke. Kyukyoku slid over his water and she graciously sipped on it. Taking a deep breath, she wiped her mouth with a cloth napkin.

“I wanted to catch up with you and thank you.”

“Thank me?”

Ayako looked down.

“I know a lot of people shunned you for what you did, but you saved far more. Those kids were relentless. It seems like they only targeted those beneath them, and you showed them that they were the powerless ones. Saving yourself and your sister when you were that young…” Ayako looked up into Kyukyoku’s eyes with a smile. “It’s pretty inspirational!”

Kyukyoku leaned back in his chair and looked up at the sky.

“I guess it is, but looking back on it, there’s so many different ways I could’ve gone about it. They didn’t have to die.”

Ayako slammed her hands on the table as she jumped up from the table. Kyukyoku looked down from the sky to see her face. Her pupils contracted immensely.

“No! They needed to die! They drove countless people before them to die themselves, so what suits them best is that they have the same fate!”

Kyukyoku frowned slightly.

“Sit down, you’re causing a scene.”

Ayako looked around to see passerby’s and customers alike staring at her. She reluctantly closed her eyes and sat back in her chair. Within a few moments, the waitress arrived with two meals.

As Kyukyoku and Ayako walked away from the restaurant, Ayako was rubbing her stomach.

“That was so good! Thanks, Kyukyoku!”

“Yeah, no problem.”

“Say, Kyukyoku. Have you gone to see your sister yet?”

Kyukyoku shook his head.

“No, but I was planning on making my rounds soon.”

“You should. We’re not the best of friends, but she does talk about you a lot.”

“Right. I guess I’ll head over there now then.”

As Kyukyoku parted ways from Ayako with a wave, he walked down a dirt path. Walking through a shanty town of sorts, he finally reached the outskirts of town. A grassy field met him. Walking through the field, he listened to his bodies muscle memory to find his house. Sure enough, within ten minutes, he found the old house that used to shelter him. Opening the door, Kyukyoku peeked inside.

“Make?”

Silence greeted him.

“I wonder where she’s at?”

After a few hours of waiting at the table, Kyukyoku realised she wouldn’t be home for the night for whatever reason. Kyukyoku reluctantly scribbled on a piece of paper the words:

Make,

Stopped by earlier, but you weren’t home. I’ll see you after my mission here.

~Kyukyoku

Leaving the note on the table, Kyukyoku left the old house for his hotel.

“Alright! Let’s get this over with!”

The morning sun glared in Kyukyoku’s face as he walked with his troop. Crossing a bridge, they wandered through a forest. The squad leader held up his fist. Everyone stopped.

“We’re very close. Remember, try to detain anyone you find, but lethal force is authorized if they attempt to fight back. Back each other up. Lives are always more important than the mission. Let’s go.”

The squad quietly rushed up the forest to a large cliff. In the face of the cliff was a cave.

“Now!”

The squad rushed down the cave. They were soon greeted by cult members who were caught off guard. The squad hastily captured a handful, but the cult members soon began to retaliate. Kyukyoku became swarmed. After using his Sirushi Inochi, which killed the people surrounding him, he looked around to see if anyone needed help. Thankfully, everyone was still alive. One woman was wounded, but was still alive. A medic quickly began to heal her.

“Come on! We must keep moving before they destroy any research!”

As the squad pushed farther down the cave, the light was gradually disappearing, soon making things too dark to see. The only lights present were the glow of Sirushi Inochi’s. As bodies began to pile on the floor, exhaustion also became prevalent in the squad.

“They’re coming out of the woodwork!”

“We need to keep pushing!”

The squad eventually found themselves in a small room with tables and papers. In the walls were blue orbs that emitted light. After clearing the room of the cult members, the squad leader began to sift through the papers scattered on the desk.

“We have what we’re looking for!”

“But Sir, the cave goes farther!”

The squad leader looked at the papers, then at the tunnel that led farther down.

“Someone start compiling those notes, then seal them onto me! The rest of us will push forward!”

Rushing down the tunnel led to a large room. A staircase led up to a pedestal with a box on it.

“Everyone hold. I’ll check this out. Be prepared for anything.”

As the leader walked up the staircase, he took a deep breath. As his hands trembled, he slowly opened the box to find there was nothing inside.

“Alright everyone, let’s go!”

After climbing back up the tunnel, the squad was collectively fatigued.

“Good work everyone. Unfortunately, once you guys wash yourselves and grab a bite to eat, we need to head back. Once we reach HQ, you can all rest.”

Although the squad was still breathing heavily, it was clear that the group wanted to sigh.

As they reached their hotels, one of the members ran up to him.

“Sir, I’ve finished compiling the notes!”

“Great. Come in my room and you can seal them onto me.”

Kyukyoku walked into his hotel and bathed himself. Meeting his comrades in the cafeteria for lunch, they began to satisfy their hunger. As Kyukyoku ate, he felt a hand place itself firmly on his shoulder. It was a couple of the snickering men.

“Hey, Kyukyoku. I wanted to apologize for how I was acting. You were more prepared than us, and even saved a few of the other guys, so thank you.”

Kyukyoku waved awkwardly.

“It’s fine, and I was just doing my part.”

One of the men shook Kyukyoku’s hand.

“It was an honor working with you, and I hope to collaborate more in the future!”

Kyukyoku nervously laughed.

As the group marched down a very familiar path, the large compound that housed its members was in view.

“Everyone, come with me to meet with the director.”

As the group walked down countless corridors, they found themselves at the director’s office. After the leader knocked, the squad heard a faint ‘come in.’ Walking into the large office, the squad kneeled before the director.

“What news have you brought me, Takuchi?”

The squad leader stood up.

“Upon entering the hideout, we were met with a strong resistance. We successfully managed to capture a few cult members, but they later took their own lives using what we assume was poison hidden in their teeth. We found their research and compiled it. Here are the original documents.”

A squad member gently set a large case on the director’s desk, then kneeled back with the squad. The director opened the case and began to skim over the papers.

“Very interesting.”

“We ventured further into the hideout and found this box on a pedestal. We are currently unsure of what it does, but we do not think it is safe to assume that it is harmless.”

Another member walked to the director’s desk and sat the box down, then returned.

“Great work, Takuchi. You and your comrades deserve a good rest. I will gather everyone in the courtyard tonight at dusk, so until then feel free to rest.”

“Thank you, Director Akahishi.”

“Dismissed.”

As the squad shut the doors behind them, they seemingly sighed and cheered at the same time in relief.

“We did it! Let’s all celebrate with some drinks!”

As the group began to walk away, Kyukyoku turned to walk towards his room. The squad leader grabbed his shoulder.

“You don’t wanna get a drink?”

“I’m not old enough. Besides, I need to look into some stuff.”

As Kyukyoku began to walk away, Takuchi stopped him once more.

“Hey, Kyukyoku?”

Kyukyoku turned around.

“I don’t know if you knew some of the people down there, but you did very well. I know that people were looking down on you, but I allowed it so you could learn from it. You are a great comrade, and I think we’ll soon be peers.”

“Thank you, Sir.”

As night began to fall upon the compound, a horn was played to signal that everyone meet in the courtyard. As they did so, everyone was greeted with a stage with the box on it. Someone hit Kyukyoku’s shoulder. It was Takuchi.

“Hey, Kyukyoku. Do you think he discovered something?”

“Not sure, but it must be important if he called us all here.”

From the front of the stage, some shouted ‘Quiet!’ Once all sound was killed, the director walked onto the stage. As he waved to everyone that had gathered, people began to cheer.

“Hello everyone! Tonight, we have some very important news. Thanks to the work of Takuchi’s team earlier this morning, we have successfully destroyed the cult that was experimenting with souls! We have carefully examined their research, and as we speak, we are determining if there is any way to save more souls in the future.”

Cheers echoed throughout the courtyard.

“What?”

Kyukyoku looked over to Takuchi, who was rubbing his chin.

“What’s wrong, Sir?”

“I’ve gone over the notes several times, but it only speaks of destroying the soul to empower another. It’s like adding wood to a fire, essentially. So what is the director talking about?”

As the director held up his hand, silence once again overcame the crowd.

“More importantly is this box that sits before you. This previously unknown artifact was also brought back by Takuchi’s team. We have discovered what it can do, and let me tell you, it is magnificent!”

“I should’ve been notified if anything was found out, so what was it?”

“Tonight, we will put the cult’s research to good use, and we will all become stronger!”

“Kyukyoku, we need to go.”

The director put his hand on the box, then opened the lid. A purple ring pulsed out, and swept the floor. Immediately after, a sphere began to form itself around the box, then it slowly engulfed the stage. Murmurs were heard throughout the courtyard.

“Kyukyoku, come on!”

As the sphere began to touch the people in the courtyard, they fell over dead. Screams began to echo throughout the compound and people began to try to run away, but they were locked in.

“Kyukyoku!”

Kyukyoku hurriedly followed Takuchi to a window. As they attempted to force it open, Takuchi shook his head and grabbed Kyukyoku.

“I’m giving you the seal with all of the research. You need to go and stop this madness!”

Before Kyukyoku could respond, Takuchi was already burning something into Kyukyoku’s arm. Without a moment’s notice, Takuchi slid his arm down the window and swung it open. The sphere was meters away. Grabbing Kyukyoku by the face, Takuchi threw him into the room he had made, then shut the window behind him.

“Good luck, Jinsei no Hogo.”