The wind howled across the demolished streets of Kanagawa, swirling ash and frost in the air. The Veynos clone, now cracked and dripping black sludge, let out a chilling hiss as his body pulsed with raw, unnatural essence.
Hina and Hajime stood side by side, shoulders heaving, bruised and bloodied. Reika narrowed her eyes, standing just behind them, hands encased in icy spikes.
Then—with no warning—Veynos surged forward.
"—Move!"
Too late.
A black arm blade extended from Veynos's side, slicing across Hina's shoulder and sending her flying into a concrete wall. A second slash struck Hajime, a burst of lightning sparking from his body as he was blasted backward through debris, crashing through the second floor of a nearby building.
"HAJIME!" Reika cried out, turning too late as Veynos descended upon her.
She raised a frost barrier—shattering instantly under the pressure of his next blow. She was knocked back, skidding across the ground, blood trailing behind her.
Veynos lunged forward—a predator poised to kill all three.
And then—a blur appeared between them.
Kaito.
"Stop!" he shouted, spreading his arms wide.
Veynos grinned like a demon.
"How noble."
Splat.
Without hesitation, Veynos's spear-like limb plunged clean through Kaito's chest, bursting out the other side. Blood sprayed the pavement. Reika's eyes widened in horror. Hina, struggling to move, let out a strangled scream. Hajime, barely conscious, could only groan.
Kaito coughed, blood leaking from the corner of his mouth. His knees buckled, but he managed to look back, eyes calm beneath his pained expression.
"…You three… are part of this mission team," he said softly, voice fading.
"…Finish it."
Then, with a horrible squelch, Veynos yanked his arm back, letting Kaito's body crumple to the ground.
Reika let out a cry of grief and fury, frost exploding from her body. But Veynos didn't stop. His movements were too fast. Too brutal.
He spun, slamming a fist into Reika's stomach and hurling her into a nearby apartment building, cracking its side wall on impact.
Next, he dashed toward Hina, grabbing her by the neck. He whispered something unintelligible—and threw her like a ragdoll into the remains of a flipped truck, crushing the metal on impact.
Hajime tried to stand. Lightning surged weakly around him. But he was still too slow.
Veynos appeared in front of him and with a cruel, satisfied smile—drove a knee into his chest, then hammered him into the ground hard enough to create a crater.
Silence.
Three bodies. Three warriors. Scattered across the ruins. Beaten, broken, and unconscious.
And in the middle stood the clone of Veynos—laughing softly as he stepped over Kaito's fading body, black ooze swirling around his legs.
"They were supposed to be strong…" he muttered. "How disappointing."
He disappeared into the shadows, his voice echoing faintly.
"…Only one of you fought smart. Too bad he died first."