The underground train station beneath eastern Tokyo had become a shelter.
Not for civilians.
For sorcerers.
The lights flickered constantly, emergency mana lamps lining the ceiling, casting long shadows across cracked concrete and abandoned tracks. Old trains were frozen in place, half-destroyed by earlier dimensional tremors. The air was thick with dust, mana residue, and the distant echo of explosions from the surface.
This was Gamma Group's assigned zone.
Hiko stood at the center of the platform, looking around at the people beside him.
Goru was leaning against a pillar, claws faintly glowing.
Daizen was sitting on a broken bench, stretching his arms, earth mana pulsing slowly through his veins.
Zenith stood quietly near the tracks, eyes closed, breathing controlled.
Around them were six others.
Rina Solis.
Elric Dawn.
Mae Lin.
Bran Holt.
Iris Vane.
And Sora Tyl.
Nine of them total.
A full strike unit.
Gamma Group.
Their job was simple in theory.
Hunt rogue sorcerers.
Eliminate Calamity-level remnants.
Protect the underground evacuation routes.
In reality, it meant walking into hell.
Mae broke the silence first.
"So… this is our bonding arc, right?"
Hiko let out a small breath.
"Not exactly the setting I hoped for."
Rina smiled faintly.
"At least we're alive."
Zenith opened his eyes.
"Don't say that."
Sora looked around nervously.
"This place feels wrong. My sound magic keeps bouncing weird."
Elric adjusted his glasses.
"Mana density is unstable. Something strong passed through recently."
Goru straightened.
"How strong?"
Elric swallowed.
"…Master-tier strong."
The temperature dropped.
Not physically.
Mana-wise.
The lights flickered harder.
Dust lifted from the floor.
Hiko felt it immediately.
That pressure.
That presence.
Not Tengen.
But something familiar.
Something twisted.
Something that made his stomach tighten.
Then a voice echoed through the station.
Low.
Calm.
But vibrating with rage.
"…Hiko Shinoegami."
Everyone froze.
From the darkness beyond the tracks, a figure walked forward.
Black coat.
Broken smile.
Eyes glowing with unnatural light.
Kenzuko Forami.
But he was different.
His body was covered in black markings, like cracks spreading across glass.
His mana felt unstable.
Violent.
Feral.
Dominion energy warped around him.
Goru muttered.
"…He's alive?"
Kenzuko tilted his head.
"Alive? No."
His smile widened.
"I'm something better now."
The air around him distorted.
Dominating Zone activated.
The ground within a massive radius darkened.
The station itself seemed to bend toward him.
Bran stepped back.
"This pressure is insane…"
Kenzuko looked at the group.
"So many new toys."
Then his eyes locked onto Daizen.
"And you."
Daizen frowned.
"What about me?"
Kenzuko vanished.
Not moved.
Vanished.
He reappeared directly in front of Daizen.
No warning.
No buildup.
Just space tearing open.
Daizen barely raised his arms before—
A hand pierced through his chest.
Silence.
Everyone stared.
Daizen looked down slowly.
Kenzuko's hand was inside his body.
Not blood.
Not gore.
Just crushing mana pressure.
Kenzuko's fingers closed.
Daizen's eyes widened.
"…Hiko…"
Crack.
Daizen's heart shattered under Dominating energy.
His body went limp.
Kenzuko pulled his hand out and let Daizen fall like a broken statue.
The platform shook.
Rina screamed.
"No—!"
Zenith moved instantly.
Hero's Gates activated.
He blurred forward, fist glowing with pure kinetic force.
Kenzuko turned calmly.
Zenith's punch connected.
The impact shattered three pillars and collapsed part of the ceiling.
Dust exploded everywhere.
When it cleared—
Kenzuko was still standing.
He caught Zenith's wrist.
Smiling.
"You're fast."
Zenith tried to pull back.
Too late.
Kenzuko's hand glowed black.
Karate Master Technique.
One precise motion.
A single chop.
Zenith's body split by pure force.
Not blood.
Not gore.
Just instant erasure through space itself.
Zenith collapsed in two pieces of fading mana.
Gone.
Two deaths.
In less than ten seconds.
The station fell into complete silence.
Hiko's vision blurred.
His ears rang.
His hands were shaking.
Inside his mind, something snapped.
The devil's presence surged violently.
Not calm anymore.
Not silent.
It reacted.
Hiko stepped forward.
Slowly.
His voice was shaking.
"…You killed them."
Kenzuko turned.
Eyes glowing.
"Good."
Hiko's mana exploded.
Cursed flames erupted around his body.
Not red.
Not black.
A twisted mixture.
Thirty percent.
The world warped.
Concrete melted under his feet.
The station's walls cracked.
His heartbeat became thunder.
His vision sharpened to the point of pain.
Goru shouted.
"Hiko stop—!"
Too late.
Hiko vanished.
He appeared in front of Kenzuko and punched.
The impact created a shockwave that erased the entire platform.
Kenzuko flew through three tunnels, crashing through walls like paper.
Hiko followed.
Every step melted reality.
His body screamed.
His nerves burned.
Blood leaked from his nose.
But he didn't care.
He grabbed Kenzuko and slammed him into the ceiling.
Then the floor.
Then the wall.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Kenzuko tried to activate Dominating Zone.
The cursed flames burned through it.
Hiko's fist tore through Kenzuko's arm.
Not blood.
Just space collapsing.
Kenzuko screamed for the first time.
Not in pain.
In excitement.
"Yes—! That's it—!"
Hiko kicked him.
Kenzuko's leg disintegrated.
Another punch.
Second arm gone.
Another strike.
His remaining leg shattered.
Kenzuko's body was barely holding form.
Dominion energy leaking everywhere.
Hiko stood over him, breathing heavily.
His body was cracking.
Mana veins burning.
His vision flickering.
The devil's presence was overwhelming now.
Not controlling.
But pushing.
Kenzuko laughed weakly.
"…Thirty percent…"
"…You're not human anymore."
Hiko raised his hand.
Flames spiraled violently.
Kenzuko looked up.
Fear.
For the first time.
"Wait—"
Space tore open behind him.
A forced teleport.
Kenzuko vanished.
Retreat.
No arms.
One leg.
His body barely existing.
Gone.
The station collapsed.
Hiko fell to his knees.
The flames vanished.
He vomited blood.
His body trembled uncontrollably.
Goru ran to him.
"Hiko—!"
Rina collapsed beside Daizen's body.
Sora was crying.
Mae couldn't speak.
Two empty spaces on the platform.
Two presences gone.
Hiko stared at the ground.
His hands were shaking.
Inside his mind, the devil finally spoke.
Not aloud.
Not with words.
Just a feeling.
A realization.
Thirty percent was not power.
It was a warning.
And Hiko had just crossed a line he would never be able to walk back from.