The sky turned a pinkish-red, and a thick fog settled across the city. From the massive rift in the sky, monsters of all shapes and sizes spilled out, an endless stream of grotesque creatures. Weak individually, but their numbers were enough to overwhelm anyone.
"I'll leave you this part for now, Jiji." Kurai said, frustration in his voice as he slashed down another approaching creature. "They're not that hard to kill. I need to ask Seiko how long this is going to last."
"No problemo! I can take th—" Jiji started, but a sudden eruption of gunfire from the rift interrupted him.
Through the smoky haze, two silhouettes appeared, striding confidently amidst the chaos.
"WELCOME BACK." they said in unison, voices echoing with eerie synchronization.
"EARTH AND HUMANS."
"I feel so free from that disgusting place." the girl, Satomi, sneered.
"Right? I thought we'd rot in there forever." said the boy, Junpei.
Without hesitation, Kurai lunged at Junpei, blade slicing through the air. "Who the hell are you and what do you want here?"
Junpei smirked and raised a glowing hand, forming a barrier that repelled Kurai and threw him back. "We're just a twin couple here to make some changes. The rest? None of your business."
"Kebe, take them down!" Kurai shouted.
Kebe teleported behind Junpei, aiming a swift kick, but the same electric field repelled him. He landed hard but recovered quickly with another blink.
"You humans are no match for us." Junpei said arrogantly, shaping a glowing square with his hands. A strange light dropped to the ground beneath them.
"MOVE!" Kurai warned.
"TOO LATE." Junpei grinned as pillars of fire erupted toward Kebe.
Kebe blinked out of danger at the last second, reappearing behind a pile of rubble. "That was close." Kurai muttered under his breath.
Junpei continued forming symbols while Satomi unloaded bullets into the approaching swarm.
Kurai rushed toward Satomi, aiming a clean strike to her throat, but a blast of condensed energy flew past his face, forcing him to halt.
"Thank me later, Kurai." Ararata called from a rooftop, casually holding his rifle.
"You idiot, you almost hit me! I had a plan!"
"No, you had a death wish. They were baiting you."
"Tch."
"Looks like another smart guy joined the party." Junpei said.
"Another? I'm the only one." Ararata replied smugly.
Junpei hurled a bolt of green energy at him, but Ararata blinked to the side, dodging it with ease. He then scraped some dandruff off his shoulder, converting it into miniature energy balls. The attack shattered Junpei's barrier and scratched his cheek.
"How the hell did you break my barrier?" Junpei hissed.
"A magician never reveals his secrets." Ararata grinned.
"Yeah, flex on the villain more, genius." Kurai snapped.
"You're just jealous I did more than you."
"No, you're wrong."
"I'm right."
"Stop the flirting and get ready." Junpei cut in, annoyed.
Fumiko launched an icicle toward Junpei, but he evaded and counterattacked with a barrage of bullets. Kebe portaled to her, pulling her out just in time.
Junpei grabbed Fumiko's arms mid-air, snapping them with brutal force.
"Don't think this will be easy." Junpei warned, tossing her aside.
Kurai caught her just before she hit the ground and darted toward the nearest healer.
"Tables have turned. 2v2 again. Not fair for you guys." Satomi mocked.
"Tsk, Kurai, hurry up. I'm not sure we can take them alone." Kebe muttered.
Junpei targeted Ararata, launching a bolt of energy. Ararata dodged and teleported again.
"HEY, YOU! You're my enemy now!" Satomi yelled, pulling out a sleek black pistol.
"ARARATA, YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN NOW, SORRY!" Kebe shouted, zipping through a series of dodges.
"PERFECT! Alone with this psycho." Ararata groaned.
Junpei raised a spiked mace and brought it crashing down onto Ararata's head, smashing it.
"Didn't see that coming, huh?" Junpei sneered.
"Stop moving! You're annoying!" Satomi yelled at Kebe.
"I don't wanna fight a girl yet." Kebe muttered.
"So you think I'm weak?"
"No! That's not— whatever."
"ENOUGH!" Junpei roared, firing a concentrated beam at Kebe.
Kurai returned just in time to yank Kebe to safety.
"You thought you could kill us that easily?" Kurai growled.
"What?! How are you still alive?" Junpei demanded.
"Seiko told me not to kill you. She didn't say anything about beating you senseless."
"You'll never take us alive." Satomi spat, pulling out a skull-marked gun.
The first bullet curved unnaturally midair and struck Kurai in the back.
"What the hell was that?!"
"Her weapon. She controls every bullet." Junpei explained.
Satomi screamed from the pain of firing it, but kept going.
The second bullet hit Kurai's arm, then his leg. He stumbled.
The third ripped through his other leg. He dropped to one knee.
Then a final shot, straight into his chest. Kurai collapsed, gasping.
"How are you still breathing?" Junpei hissed.
"You can't... put me down." Kurai coughed.
Satomi leaned on Junpei. "Please... I need to rest."
"We're almost done. Just hang on." Junpei replied.
Satomi fired again, the bullets embedding into Kurai's arms and shoulders. Blood oozed from his wounds.
"That girl hits like a truck." he muttered.
"Less talking, corpse." Junpei said, charging for a final blow.
Kurai's vision dimmed. But as Junpei and Satomi approached, he gripped his sword and with his last breath, swung a wide arc from left to right.
"That's my little trick." he whispered as the world faded.
Junpei smirked. "He died swinging. Idiot."
"Let's go rest." Satomi whispered, exhausted.
Junpei pulled her close. "Of course, my dear."
Suddenly, they froze.
A thin red line split across their bodies.
And they were cut in half.
"JUNPEIIIIII, WE'RE CUT IN HALF!!" Satomi screamed.
"I KNOW! I KNOW! I KNOW!!" Junpei shouted, eyes wide.
"WHAT DO WE DO?!"
"I DON'T KNOW! I THOUGHT WE WON!!"
"IT HURTS SO BAD!" Satomi sobbed.
"Satomi… teleport away. Heal. Get out now."
"But you—"
"I'll stay. I promise I'll come back."
"Promise?"
"I promise."
She vanished in a flash of light.
Junpei glared at Kurai's motionless body. "You made her cry. I'll let my friends handle you next time."
His body began to glow.
Then he exploded.