That day was supposed to be easy.
That day was supposed to be fun.
Ziroya was the one who suggested the detour.
"Come on, we're ahead of schedule anyway," he said, stretching his arms behind his head. "There's a town near here. Let's eat something before we meet the leader."
Nagoya immediately agreed.
"Yes. Real food. Not Ren's survival rations."
Ren frowned.
"My rations are perfectly balanced."
Ziroya laughed.
"They taste like regret."
Rougen smiled faintly.
"…Fine. Just don't take too long."
So they went.
Four of them walking through a small mountain town that had no idea who they were.
No idea they were members of the Zodiac Clan.
No idea one of them was carrying the future of the world.
They ate at a small shop.
Ziroya ordered way too much.
Nagoya challenged Ren to see who could finish faster.
Rougen watched them with his usual calm expression, while Betelugo sat quietly, still adjusting to being surrounded by people this strong and this carefree.
"You guys really act like this is a school trip," Betelugo said.
Ziroya grinned.
"Of course it is. We save the world tomorrow. Today we eat."
Nagoya raised a drink.
"To tomorrow."
Ren raised his.
"To not dying horribly."
Rougen hesitated for half a second.
Then raised his too.
"…To staying human."
They laughed.
For a while, there was no Zodiac Clan.
No vessels.
No fate.
Just four friends and a guy who was about to become something more than human.
After eating, they walked through a forest path again.
Ziroya was humming.
Nagoya was talking about what kind of powers he would want if he were reborn.
Ren was explaining to Betelugo how soul fusion actually worked.
Rougen was walking slightly ahead.
Then…
He felt it.
A pressure.
Not hostile.
Not violent.
Just wrong.
Rougen stopped.
"…Everyone. Stop."
Ziroya blinked.
"Hm?"
Nagoya looked around.
"What's up?"
The air shifted.
Like the world itself leaned forward.
Someone was standing on a tree branch above them.
Clapping.
Slowly.
Clap.
Clap.
Clap.
A man with silver and red hair, black coat, and calm smiling eyes.
A massive black sack on his back.
A katana resting on his shoulder.
Fuego Logan.
"Well done," Logan said. "That was a nice scene."
Ren's expression hardened instantly.
"…Who are you."
Logan tilted his head, still smiling.
"Just a man who loves beautiful moments."
Ziroya squinted.
"Is he flirting with us or threatening us."
Nagoya muttered.
"I don't like him."
Rougen stepped forward.
"You're a Calamity."
Logan's smile widened.
"Oh? You can tell?"
Ren activated his magic.
Flames sparked.
"State your purpose."
Logan jumped down from the tree.
His boots touched the ground gently.
He looked at Betelugo.
Then back at the others.
"My purpose?"
He placed a hand on his chest.
"To steal something precious."
Ziroya laughed awkwardly.
"Bro if this is a robbery, you picked the wrong group."
Logan's eyes flicked to Ziroya.
And for the first time…
There was something disturbing in them.
Excitement.
"Good," Logan said. "I love when prey jokes."
Nagoya felt a chill.
"…Prey?"
Logan moved.
Not fast.
Not slow.
Just gone.
And then his katana was inside Ziroya's chest.
Ziroya did not even realize it at first.
He looked down.
"…Huh?"
Logan twisted the blade.
Ziroya's body went limp.
Blood spilled.
Nagoya screamed.
"ZIROYA!"
Logan pulled the katana out.
Ziroya collapsed to the ground.
Dead before he hit it.
Silence.
Ren's mind went blank.
Rougen's pupils shrank.
Nagoya froze.
Logan licked the blood off his blade.
And smiled.
Wide.
Genuine.
Happy.
"…Ah."
"So warm."
"So fragile."
"So real."
He looked at the others like a child in a candy store.
"This is why I love killing."
Nagoya snapped.
He screamed and charged.
"YOU BASTARD!"
Logan laughed.
Actually laughed.
Nagoya's magic exploded.
A full-force strike meant to erase Logan completely.
Logan opened Greator.
The attack vanished into the sack.
Logan reappeared behind Nagoya.
"Too slow."
His katana went through Nagoya's neck.
Nagoya's head fell.
His body followed.
Ren screamed.
"NAGOYA!"
Two bodies.
Two friends.
Gone in less than ten seconds.
Logan stood between them.
Breathing lightly.
Face flushed.
Eyes shining.
"…This is better than I imagined."
Rougen's hands were shaking.
Ren's flames went berserk.
Betelugo could not move.
Logan looked directly at Betelugo.
"You're the one I came for."
Ren stepped in front of him.
"Touch him and I'll kill you."
Logan tilted his head.
"…You?"
He glanced at the two corpses.
"You couldn't even save them."
Ren roared and attacked.
The forest exploded.
Their clash warped the entire area.
But Logan was enjoying it.
Laughing while dodging.
Smiling while blocking.
Letting Ren hit him just to feel it.
"YES."
"This despair."
"This hatred."
"This is the best part."
He kicked Ren into the ground.
Hard.
Rougen attacked next.
Void and Overmatter tearing reality.
Logan countered with Greator weapons.
Each strike was playful.
Like he was sparring.
Not fighting.
Not struggling.
Just playing.
He could have killed them instantly.
But he didn't.
Because he was having fun.
Logan finally stopped.
He looked at Betelugo again.
"Now."
"The vessel."
Ren stood up, bleeding.
"No."
Logan sighed.
"Then I'll remove obstacles."
Greator opened.
Chains shot out.
Wrapped around Ren.
Pulled him back.
Ren struggled.
"…Rougen…!"
Rougen screamed.
"REN!"
Logan watched Ren being dragged.
Smiling.
Enjoying every second.
Then Ren vanished into Greator.
Not dead.
Stored.
Imprisoned.
Removed.
Logan turned to Betelugo.
"Your turn."
Rougen tried to move.
Failed.
Logan opened Greator again.
Gravity pulled Betelugo in.
Rougen grabbed him.
Screamed.
The force was too strong.
Betelugo was swallowed.
Gone.
Logan closed the sack.
Exhaled.
Satisfied.
"…Perfect."
He looked at Rougen.
Eyes shining with pleasure.
"Thank you for the entertainment."
Then he disappeared.
Leaving Rougen alone.
With two dead friends.
One sealed.
One stolen.
And laughter still echoing in the forest.
Rougen was frozen in shock.
"N-no.... my... friends..."