The Hunters' Execution
(A dim alleyway in Hakutōshi—bloodstains smear the pavement as a wounded teenage hunter (Haru) limps behind a dumpster, clutching a bleeding arm. His Seishu Mark flickers weakly—he's out of time.)
Military Officer (cocking his rifle): "You vermin really think you can hide forever?" (His finger tenses on the trigger—)
(Haru flinches—eyes darting about. The alley's a dead end, and with his Seishu drained, he's trapped. He knows it.)
Haru (desperate whisper): "No… No please!"
(The Military man takes aim. His finger starts to pull the trigger as—)
BANG!
(Something streaks through the darkness, knocking the rifle out of the man's hands.)
Military Man (startled): "The hell—?!"
(Before the military officer can react, a chilling voice cuts through the alley like a blade.)
?? (cool, mocking tone): "Ah~ how pathetic. Executing children now?"
(Three figures descend from above—silhouetted against the dim streetlights. Their presence alone causes the air to grow heavier, thick with oppressive Seishu.)
(These three ex-Hunters—now rogue entities operating outside both human and Hunter law—step into view.)
Rinze Kaito "The Butcher" (Frontline Combatant)
A towering figure clad in a tattered black haori over reinforced combat gear. His arms are wrapped in bloodstained bandages that flutter unnaturally despite no wind (sign of self-inflicted wounds binding Seishu restraints).
Brutal efficiency incarnate; speaks rarely but acts decisively. Views mercy as weakness (contrasts Ryo's protective nature directly).
Ayane Himura "The Puppeteer" (Tactical Mastermind)
Slender frame draped in an asymmetrical kimono with one sleeve missing (revealing mechanical prosthetics underneath). Her hair is cropped short except for two long braids tipped with razorwire charms (her "strings" for manipulation).
Calculated sadism; enjoys psychological torment before killing her prey (directly opposes Ryo's empathy for innocents like Kota/Haru)
Ginjiro Yagyu "The Vulture" (Scout/Assassin)
Wears lightweight armor resembling traditional samurai garb but stitched together from fallen foes' garments as trophies.A crimson tengu mask hides his face,but glowing violet eyes peer through its slits.His Kizugami Blade?A kusarigama chainsickle hybrid dripping liquid Seishu venom(paralyzes victims midcombat)
Obsessed with proving himself superior even among monsters.Will betray allies if they show hesitation. Believes true strength means sacrificing everything else including comrades(Ryo would DESPISE this ideology)
(Haru stares up at Ayane, too stunned to even flinch as she gently pats his head.)
Haru (quiet, tentative voice) : "…Why?"
Ayane (coldly gentle tone) : "You're a child. It's pathetic that these men hunt you down like animals. Go."
(Haru hesitates for only a moment—his Seishu Mark flickering as he forces open a rift back to the Hunting Realm. Before stepping through, his eyes darted back to the unconscious military man crumpled on the ground. A mix of guilt and confusion flashes across his face.)
Haru (asks himself): "...What'll happen to him now?" (He doesn't wait for an answer—vanishing into the portal with one last troubled glance.)
(Behind him, Rinze cracks his knuckles, eyeing their prey with amusement.)
Rinze: "Well… let's have some fun."
(The three Hunters drag their captive into darkness—leaving behind only whispers of dread.)
(Elsewhere in Hakutōshi, Ryo walks calmly through half-destroyed streets. Shin and Kota follow closely behind as they pass refugee camps lining sidewalks.)
Kota (whispering): "...Why are those people watching us like that?" (Pointing at wary civilians staring from tents)
Shin: "Because Hunters aren't welcome here anymore."
(Ryo and Shin exchange grim looks as they make their way through the ruined city. Kota trails behind, confused and overwhelmed.)
Ryo (softly): "It wasn't always like this."
Shin (nodding agreement) : "Before, they used to see them as heroes. Now they're like monsters to humans."
(Ryo clenches his fist as he looks around. Seeing humanity's fear of Hunters hurts more than he shows. Shin notices this, sensing the weight of his unspoken burden.)
Shin (in a low voice) : "It's hard, huh? Seeing people look at you like that?"
(Ryo's breath catches midstep. A pulse—like a whisper of Seishu, but not the kind he knows. His eyes snap toward Kota, who walks obliviously beside him.)
"That feeling… like static crawling under his skin. The same way Rumi's presence once made his instincts scream—before he even knew what she was."
(Kota suddenly looks up at Ryo, noticing his gaze. His own pupils flicker with an eerie shimmer for half a second before fading.)
Kota (innocently confused): "What's wrong?"
(Ryo forces a fake smile, hiding the unsettling feeling of Seishu flowing beneath Kota's skin. Shin, ever observant, notices the exchange, raising an eyebrow.)
Ryo (forcing casual tone): "Nothing. Just… thinking."
Shin (watching intently): "You sure? You got quiet there all of sudden."
(Ryo lets out a slow breath, shaking off the unease about Kota—for now. He turns to Shin, eyes lingering on his unique outfit before speaking.)
Ryo (directly): "You never answered me earlier. What do you do? You don't dress like a Hunter… or a civilian."
(Shin adjusts his cracked glasses with an amused smirk.)
Shin: "Observant, huh?" (He exhales through his nose, hands sliding into his coat pockets.) "Ex-investigator for Hakuto's Military Intelligence… before they labeled me 'unstable' and threw me out."
(Kota gasps softly—his earlier fear forgotten as curiosity takes over.)
Kota (whispering): "...So you were like a detective?"
(The trio walk into a small, dimly lit ramen shop. It's a quiet, out-of-the-way place. There aren't many customers, but even the staff seems wary of Hunters.)
Ryo (quietly): "This was the only place nearby that wouldn't call the authorities on us… or throw us out if we pay."
Shin (dryly): "How comforting."
(Ryo meets Shin's gaze, the weight of the question clear in the air. Shin taps his fingers on the table idly, watching Kota enjoy his meal with a sense of irony.)
Ryo (quietly): "Are any of us ever really 'ready' for the truth?"
Shin (dryly): "Exactly. Which is why I'm warning you now: I don't have a pretty story to share."
(Kota freezes midbite, his chopsticks clattering against the bowl. The air in the cramped ramen shop grows heavier—Shin leans forward slightly, his voice low and measured.)
Shin: "Alright then. Don't say I didn't warn you." (He exhales sharply through his nose before continuing.) "Eight years ago, I wasn't just an investigator... I was part of a black ops unit designed to study Hunters—by any means necessary."
(Ryo's grip tightens around his cup. Kota swallows hard but doesn't interrupt.)
Shin (voice dropping colder): "We didn't just observe. We dissected them alive—testing their Seishu limits, seeing how much pain they could endure before breaking."
(Shin's eyes darken, his fingers curling around his untouched drink. The air in the room grows suffocating as he leans in, voice barely above a whisper.)
Shin: "And the worst part? The Hunters we tortured… they weren't just random targets." (A bitter smile twists his lips.) "They were our own—Hunters who defected to help humanity. We betrayed them first."
(Silence hangs thick—until the chopstick in Ryo's hand snaps clean in half.)
⛓️💥🌌🪖End Of Chapter Fifty Four