The darkness around him felt alive, almost whispering. Kaito's eyes, wide and unblinking, focused on the figure before him — a girl with deep purple hair, her single visible eye reflecting a strange, icy calm. Her presence was unnerving, yet strangely magnetic, pulling him into a silent tension he couldn't break.
"Who… are you?" Kaito asked, voice low but filled with determination. He stepped forward slightly, the space between them warped by the lingering shadows of the collapsed mountain, the Eclipse energy still thrumming faintly in the air. "You keep showing up… but you never give any hints. I need to know. What are you? And… what am I?"
The girl's single eye glimmered with a quiet understanding, yet her expression remained unreadable. For a heartbeat, she stayed silent, letting the hum of the Eclipse and the wind cutting through the mountain pass fill the void.
"I am…" she finally said, her voice soft but resolute, "I am the side of you that holds despair, hatred, and sadness… all the darkness you possess."
Kaito tilted his head, confusion clouding his features. "What are you talking about? Why… why a girl? Why show up like this?"
She stepped closer, her form ethereal yet distinct against the shadows. "I am you… and you are me. I exist as a symbolic representation of your emotions — specifically your negative emotions: despair, hopelessness, anger, and hatred. These are me. When your Eclipse powers awoke, I was created. Not by your conscious will, but by the force of your power itself."
Kaito's eyes widened. He felt a shiver run through him as he struggled to process her words. "Wait… you're saying… I created you? But I didn't choose this!"
"No," the girl said, almost gently, "you didn't. You were always… reserved, controlled, even expressionless. Your life rarely spilled into extremes. But now… your power has created a separated personality. Whenever you feel too much anger or hatred, I manifest to channel it, to manage it."
Kaito's hands clenched, energy subtly crackling along his arms. "So… this… eclipse power of mine… it's the reason you exist?"
"Yes," she confirmed. Her tone was calm, almost maternal in its logic. "You are serious, Kaito. Your Eclipse powers are not just raw energy; they are life-changing. And I exist because of it. I am the shadow you cannot avoid. The darker half of your will."
Kaito's chest heaved. "By the way… what do you want?" His voice hardened, tension crackling in the space between them.
"I want peace," she said, almost dreamlike. "Whenever I release the emotions you feel — the negative ones — I achieve peace. Absolute peace. And the way I can fully feel it… is through your death."
The words hit him like a strike to the chest. His pulse accelerated, and his hands trembled slightly. "What… what do you mean by death? Why? Why me?"
The girl's eye glimmered with a cold clarity. "Your Eclipse powers protect you. Even if you were killed, they will revive you — a thousand times. You cannot die as long as your power exists. But every time, you will experience unbearable pain, beyond what you can imagine. Only through enduring this torment can I reach true peace."
Kaito's jaw clenched. His mind raced — the consequences, the agony, the unending cycle. Yet beneath it all, he felt something else: a strange certainty. He could not ignore her. He could not evade her.
"I… I understand," he said, voice tight but resolute. "So… you're part of me. A reflection of the darkness I carry… and my power makes it real."
She inclined her head slightly. "Yes. Remember this: the more you resist, the more violent your emotions may become. The more you succumb… the more control I hold. And soon, you will need to reconcile with me."
Kaito swallowed hard. "Then… is this goodbye?"
The girl's form flickered, shadows rippling around her like ink dropped into water. "Yes. For now… goodbye."
The world went black.
---
Kaito's senses slowly returned. He gasped as his eyes opened to utter darkness. The air smelled metallic, thick with chemicals, and the faint hum of machinery surrounded him. He was lying in a black capsule, completely sealed — nothing visible, nothing tangible, only the faint vibration of energy beneath him.
Instinctively, he reached for the edges, trying to force them apart. Sparks of energy flickered from his hands as his Eclipse powers surged instinctively. But the capsule did not budge. His body glowed faintly, releasing raw energy, but the material resisted every strike.
Inside the dark, his mind raced. What…? This is… Eclipse power… I can feel it, fully… and yet… I can't even break this capsule?
From outside, a voice broke the silence. "He's awake."
Samuel's voice trembled slightly, both awe and fear lacing his tone. "Kuro… he's awake. Is this… his Eclipse power? It can't even break the capsule…"
Kuro's voice responded calmly, measured. "It's made of a special Vantablack alloy and Unbilium. The material can absorb energy partially, storing it within the structure without letting it escape. Even your Eclipse power won't destroy it instantly."
Kaito froze, eyes widening in shock. Vantablack… Unbilium… storing energy? His mind raced. So my power… my body… even if it surges at full strength… it can be contained?
He felt a surge of awe, tinged with disbelief. His Eclipse power was real, immense, and terrifying, yet it was no longer untouchable. It could be contained — yet stored. The realization both thrilled and frightened him.
"Your energy," Kuro continued, voice calm as if stating a fact, "even fully unleashed, will be absorbed partially by the material. The total energy is not lost — only stored. This capsule is designed for containment, not destruction."
Kaito sat up slightly, muscles tensing as he tested his abilities again. Sparks of energy danced along the walls of the capsule, reflecting faintly off the black surface. He clenched his fists, staggering backward slightly as the surge of Eclipse power coursed through his body.
I have… Eclipse powers… and I can feel them fully now. Shock and exhilaration coursed through him. He flexed his fingers, watching energy ripple along his arms like living light. This… is unbelievable. I… I can really control it… and it's… immense.
Outside the capsule, he could hear faint murmurs. Samuel shifted slightly, holding a small control device. "Kuro… should we…?"
Kuro shook his head. "Let him be. Let him awaken fully. He will learn the limits himself soon enough."
Kaito's mind was racing. Limits…? This is the full extent? I… I can release it fully… and even the strongest containment can't destroy me…
He slammed his hands against the capsule again. Sparks danced, the material humming under the force. Impossible… it's resisting… The black alloy absorbed the energy, hum vibrating through the capsule. Kaito's wide eyes reflected a mix of awe, disbelief, and excitement.
Samuel, still observing, whispered in awe. "He's… amazing. This… this is Eclipse power. Nothing I've ever seen…"
Kuro's calm tone cut through the awe. "And now he will learn… how much control he truly possesses. But first, he must understand the boundaries."
Kaito's eyes narrowed, pupils contracting as the hum of his energy pulsed. Sparks and faint light danced across the black interior, illuminating the capsule with fleeting brightness. I can't believe… I have this power. And it's… mine.
For the first time, Kaito truly understood the scope of his Eclipse powers, feeling a mixture of shock, exhilaration, and determination. His pulse raced. This… this changes everything. I am no longer just me…
The capsule remained unbroken, the darkness around him a perfect mirror to the realization settling in his mind. He could feel the weight and potential of his own power in a way he never had before.
> Eclipse… it's real… and now, I'm awake.
The scene ended with Kaito sitting in the pitch-black capsule, wide-eyed, heart racing, energy flickering along his skin — fully conscious of his power for the first time, while Samuel and Kuro observed quietly, the stage set for the next move.
---
The room was thick with tension. Sweat beaded on Minister Brown's forehead, dampening his meticulously pressed uniform. His hands clenched the edge of the mahogany desk so tightly that knuckles turned white. The once-calm air of the Krai Country chief minister's office had transformed into a furnace of frustration, panic, and anger.
"Where… where is that Eclipse boy?!" Brown's voice cracked, booming across the room. "Answer me!"
Guren stepped forward cautiously, posture rigid yet composed. Kiyara remained by his side, claws lightly extended but controlled, eyes focused. "Sir," Guren said, voice steady though the undercurrent of tension was clear, "we… we are unable to capture him. Kuro betrayed us. He arrived with his team, took Kaito away before we could react. He's… gone from our reach."
Brown's face paled further, veins throbbing on his temples. "Gone? Gone?!" He slammed a fist onto the desk. "We were supposed to use Riley! She was the key to tracking him! Why is she not functioning?!"
Kiyara exchanged a brief glance with Guren. Guren's jaw tightened. "Kuro… somehow managed to manipulate her. Her memory of him is… erased, sir. It's not just fear or confusion. It's a direct effect of his power. She cannot act as a tracker anymore."
Brown's hand shot to his forehead. "Power? His… his power?!" His voice rose sharply, shaking the air. "How long can he… last? One hour? Two hours?"
Guren's lips pressed into a thin line. "No, sir. Not like that. He could… last all day. All months, potentially years. He's extremely controlled. The abilities we've witnessed — the ones used in combat — are strictly limited to one, maybe two hours. But this… this is a passive manifestation, focused on a single person. He can recharge during the day, remain undetected, and continue indefinitely."
Brown slammed both fists onto the desk now. The metallic clack echoed ominously. "How… how can I answer the World Government? The Krai Prime Minister has been calling me repeatedly, demanding updates. I'm only a chief minister, and now they expect me to explain this chaos?!" His voice faltered, then rose to a scream. "What am I supposed to say?! I am under… too much pressure!"
The room was silent for a heartbeat. Guren and Kiyara could feel the weight of the world pressing down on the man, the magnitude of failure and inability to control the situation tangible in the air.
---
Outside, the chaos mirrored the tension inside. The streets were crowded with people, chanting slogans, waving banners, and waving hands in frustration. Police barricades had been hastily set up, but the sheer number of protestors pressed against them relentlessly.
"What kind of government is this?!" one woman yelled, tears streaming down her face as she clutched a photograph of her missing son. "How can you guarantee our safety? Thirty-seven people are still missing! And our families are left to cry in silence!"
A man nearby shouted over the crowd, voice hoarse from yelling, "This is a disaster! We trusted you to protect us! If the Eclipse boy can't be contained, then what is the point of your security forces?"
The journalists had arrived, cameras flashing, recording every moment. Screens displayed the latest newsfeed:
> BREAKING: 37 kidnapping victims still missing. Families demand answers. Security forces unable to contain chaos caused by Eclipse phenomenon.
> LIVE: Protesters gather outside Krai Country Minister Brown's mansion, demanding accountability. Chaos continues as authorities struggle to maintain order.
News reporters shouted questions into handheld microphones, voices overlapping: "Minister Brown! How can you ensure public safety? Are you underestimating the threat of the Eclipse boy? How long before Kuro and his team return?"
"Sir!" A young officer pushed through the crowd at the mansion gates, panting. "The protestors are growing restless. The barricades won't hold much longer if the crowd surges!"
Brown, still seated, head hanging slightly, pinched the bridge of his nose. "I… I don't know…" His voice trembled as the pressure built in waves, each second of public scrutiny adding to the weight on his shoulders.
Guren stepped forward, placing a hand on Kiyara's shoulder. She read his glance and nodded subtly, both aware that the chief minister was teetering on the edge. Guren's voice was measured but firm. "Sir… we understand the severity of the situation. But panic will not help. Kuro's betrayal and Kaito's abilities have created a unique challenge. We must strategize carefully before making any moves. Rash actions will only escalate the chaos."
Brown lifted his head, eyes wild with a mixture of fear and rage. "Strategize? Strategize?! The press is watching, the World Government is calling, and people are rioting outside! How can I maintain control?!"
Kiyara's claws flexed slightly, a soft metallic scrape echoing as she exhaled. "Minister Brown… if we act now without proper information, Kuro and the Eclipse boy could exploit it. We need patience. We must understand his limits, his movements, and only then can we make a decisive move."
Brown shook his head, sweat dripping freely down his temples. "Patience? How long can I wait? They will hang me if I fail. The prime minister… the entire world… expects answers from me."
---
The protestors continued to chant in waves, their voices growing louder with each passing minute. News helicopters hovered above, broadcasting live images of the unrest.
"This is absurd!" shouted an elderly man, gripping a torn sign. "Thirty-seven people vanished! We have no security! And they expect us to sit quietly while the chief minister sits inside his mansion?!"
A mother sobbed softly, holding the hand of her child. "They promised safety… they promised protection. What kind of government is this?"
Nearby, young activists waved megaphones, their voices cutting through the cries. "Accountability! Accountability! The minister must answer for the failure of law enforcement!"
On a large TV screen outside a local café, the news reporter's voice was steady yet alarmed. "As of now, 37 victims remain unlocated. Families continue to demand answers from Minister Brown, who has yet to make a public statement. Protestors have gathered outside his mansion in significant numbers, forcing police to reinforce barricades. The situation remains tense."
A small group of bystanders whispered among themselves, their conversation tense:
"Do you think they can even control him?" one asked, nodding toward the mansion.
"No," the other replied, eyes scanning the crowd. "Not if Kuro is involved. That kid… Eclipse boy… he's not human. Nothing Brown does will reach him."
---
Brown sat in silence for a moment, the roar of the crowd outside seeping into the room like a tide of pressure. His fists were clenched, veins throbbing on his temple. The weight of national scrutiny, public chaos, and the impossible task of containing an unstoppable power bore down on him like iron chains.
Guren placed a hand lightly on his shoulder again. "Sir… we must think logically. The boy's abilities are exceptional, yes. But he is still human. Kuro may have his own agenda, but we have allies, strategy, and observation. Panic will only make things worse."
Brown's breathing was heavy. "All… all right… but… how long… how long until I can even say we are safe? How do I explain this to the prime minister?!"
Kiyara spoke, voice calm but sharp. "We can't. Not yet. We must gather intelligence first. Control the chaos where we can. Only then do we act decisively."
The room fell silent. Outside, the protestors' chants continued, the press cameras capturing every second of tension. The weight of failure, the impossible expectations, and the looming threat of Kaito's power hung over everyone like a storm ready to break.
Brown's eyes flickered toward the window, toward the crowd that demanded answers he could not give. Sweat dripped from his brow, and for a moment, he looked smaller than the chaos surrounding him, swallowed by the sheer magnitude of responsibility he could not escape.
> This… this is impossible, he thought, gripping the desk, jaw tight. How do I survive this… and contain that boy?
The house was quiet, but it was a fragile kind of silence. Outside, the wind blew cold against the old windows, rustling the curtains, yet inside, the atmosphere was heavy with a tension that seemed almost physical. Arthur, Alia, Mina, and Hiroshi — Kaito's father — entered cautiously, each step muted, as if the floorboards themselves were holding their breath.
Kaito's mother sat on the couch, clutching a thin blanket to her chest. Her eyes, red and swollen from crying, followed every movement. Beside her, Kaito's younger sister fidgeted nervously, twisting her hands together in a futile attempt to stay composed.
When the group finally settled, the room seemed to shrink under the weight of anxiety. Hiroshi sat heavily in the armchair, rubbing his temples. He looked exhausted, the gray streaks in his hair more prominent in the dim light. Mina and Arthur sat on either side, exchanging worried glances, while Alia, for once, appeared unusually solemn.
Kaito's mother finally spoke, her voice trembling. "He… he's still out there… I can't… I can't just sit here." She buried her face in her hands. Kaito's sister sniffled softly, her small shoulders trembling, as though the house itself absorbed the fear.
Alia rose slightly, her posture straight, her expression steady. The calm in her demeanor cut through the emotional tension like a sharp blade. She spoke, voice firm but calm. "I know where he is."
All eyes snapped to her. The room seemed to hold its breath. Even Hiroshi leaned forward, eyes narrowing. "You… what do you mean? You know where he is?"
Alia nodded, her single visible eye glimmering with quiet certainty. "Yes. He is under the old subway tunnel near the Krai Mountains."
For a moment, no one spoke. The weight of the claim was almost too much to bear. Hiroshi leaned back, eyebrows furrowed. "How… how could you know that?"
Alia's expression didn't waver. "When Kaito vanished, I planted three of my crimson butterflies to follow him. It was… difficult. I'm not a professional, so it required extreme concentration and a great deal of effort. But I tracked him, indirectly, to that location."
Mina and Arthur exchanged a glance, then Arthur nodded slightly. "It's true," he said, voice low. "I sensed it too. Something… guiding his presence. Alia isn't lying."
Kaito's mother wiped her tears quickly, her voice trembling. "Then… then it would be better to involve the police. They could… they could send a team, someone who could…"
Hiroshi shook his head immediately. His face hardened, lines deepening with worry and determination. "No. We can't trust the police or the government." His voice rose slightly, though he fought to keep it controlled. "Look at the current situation. Thirty-seven people are missing, and I suspect the government itself may be involved in the kidnappings and Eclipse experiments. If we hand him over to them, it won't be safe. Nothing can be done with official forces. It would be worse than doing nothing."
The room fell silent again. Even Mina, who usually remained composed, felt the weight of his words. Arthur's hands tightened in his lap. Kaito's mother looked as though she wanted to argue, but no words came. The truth was harsh, undeniable.
Alia's gaze softened slightly, but her tone remained resolute. "Then… I could do something. I can handle it myself."
Hiroshi's brow furrowed, tension evident in the lines around his eyes. "What… what exactly can you do?"
Alia's voice grew quieter, almost as if speaking to herself, yet loud enough for them to hear. "My cousin, Alexander… you may know him. He is eighteen but already Regan No. 2. He is currently with us. I could… I could put in a word for Kaito. Ask him to assist."
For a moment, the room seemed to exhale. A fragile calm descended, like the brief pause before a storm. Even Kaito's mother sat straighter, as if hope had been rekindled in her chest. Hiroshi's hands unclenched slightly, though the worry remained.
Arthur's jaw tightened. "Why… why are you doing all of this for him?" His voice was low but carried a note of frustration, almost disbelief. "You barely know him. Why would you take such risks?"
Alia's single eye remained calm, her expression unchanging, almost serene. "Because… as a human, I see him suffering without reason. He hasn't done anything wrong. He doesn't deserve the pain, the fear, the burden he's carrying. And… I can't stand by and do nothing."
Arthur's face darkened. Every word cut into him, each phrase a mirror of his own failings. I am his best friend. I am supposed to protect him. And yet… I haven't done anything. I can't even take a simple step to help him while this girl — someone who barely knows him — is putting herself in danger for his sake.
The anger built inside him, coiling like a living thing. His fists clenched, nails digging into his palms. His heart pounded. "I… I can't let this be it!" he muttered under his breath. Then, suddenly, he slammed his hand against the wall with a force that made the old plaster crack. The sound echoed through the small house, sharp and angry, almost violent in its intensity.
Arthur's shoulders shook, a mixture of frustration, guilt, and helplessness flowing out in that one act. "How… how can I let someone else do what I couldn't?!" he shouted, voice almost breaking.
Kiyara and Mina watched silently. Hiroshi's brow furrowed, unsure whether to intervene, yet understanding the raw emotion driving his friend. Alia's gaze softened slightly at the outburst, but she said nothing, her calm presence grounding the room like a silent anchor.
Kaito's mother buried her face in her hands again, sobbing softly. Kaito's sister wrapped her arms around her knees, hiding her face and trying not to cry aloud. The tension was almost unbearable, but there was a strange clarity to the moment.
Alia's single eye glimmered faintly in the dim light, reflecting a quiet determination. "We will get him back," she said softly, but with the weight of absolute certainty. "We have a path. We have a way. We just need to follow it carefully."
Hiroshi finally exhaled, shoulders sagging. "Then… we have a plan. We have to trust it. But… this is dangerous. Extremely dangerous."
Mina nodded. "We need to prepare for every possibility. Kuro… his team… and the Eclipse boy himself. They're all capable of things that… things beyond normal comprehension."
Arthur remained silent for a moment, the anger still burning in his chest, but now tempered by resolve. He stared at the cracked wall where his fist had struck, then at Alia, and finally at Hiroshi. His lips pressed into a thin line. "If anyone tries to harm him… I won't forgive myself. Not again."
The house settled into a tense quiet. Outside, the wind still blew, carrying the faint smell of wet earth and the distant sounds of chaos from the city. Inside, the family and their allies prepared mentally for what was to come.
Alia's calm presence, the calculated reassurance, and the grim determination of Hiroshi and the others formed a fragile alliance of hope. They had a direction — the old subway tunnel near the Krai Mountains — and a plan, however dangerous and uncertain.
Arthur's chest rose and fell rapidly, his hands still trembling slightly. "He… he has to be okay. Kaito has to be okay," he muttered under his breath.
Alia, seated calmly, nodded once. "He will be. But we must move carefully. One mistake… and it could cost everything. We need precision, patience, and focus. That's the only way."
Kaito's mother finally lifted her head, eyes red but shimmering with fragile hope. "Then… let's do everything we can. Bring him back… safely."
Hiroshi stood, straightening his shoulders. "We will. I don't care what it takes. No one… no one will stop us."
For a moment, the room was silent again. Outside, the wind carried faint echoes of the city — but inside, the group prepared, a quiet storm of determination coalescing. Arthur clenched his fists again, but this time, the fire in his chest was tempered with focus. Alia's calm determination was a guiding force. Hiroshi's protective resolve anchored the group. Mina's support completed the circle.
And somewhere, far away, Kaito continued to be trapped in Kuro's base, unaware that plans were already in motion to reach him — plans that would test everyone, push limits, and change lives forever.
The house remained quiet now, but the storm of action was only beginning.
> The path is set. The old subway tunnel awaits. And nothing… nothing will stop them from reaching him.