The air felt heavier with every step.Kazuki could feel it clearly now.It wasn't just fear.
It wasn't just tension.It was something else.
Something deeper.They moved forward in silence.No one spoke.No one joked.
No one even complained.Because now—
Everyone understood.This was not a normal mission anymore.Kazuki walked behind Mei, his eyes scanning everything around him.
The broken buildings.The empty streets.
The dark corners.But more than that—
He was watching the patterns.Every crack.
Every stain.Every mark on the ground.
Because now he knew—
Nothing here was random." You're thinking too much again," Mei said suddenly.
Kazuki blinked and then he looked at her.
" How did you " ,You make that face,she said.What face?.The one where you stop talking and start connecting things.Kazuki stayed quiet for a second.
" Is that a bad thing? " he asked.
Mei shook her head slightly " No".
She paused." It saved us " .Kazuki didn't reply.But hearing that—
It felt strange not praise not exactly but not rejection either." There's something ahead," one of the hunters said.Everyone stopped.
Kazuki looked forward.At first, he didn't see it.Then—
He did a large building half broken half standing but what stood out wasn't the building itself.It was the marks around it.
Deep scratches burn marks also blood yes a lot of blood.Kazuki's chest tightened.
" This is it," he said quietly.Mei looked at him." You're sure?" .Kazuki nodded slowly.
" This is the center."
Silence.
No one questioned him this time.Because everything pointed to it.We go in together, Mei said.No one separates.Everyone nodded.Kazuki tightened his grip on his case again.Stay focused.They approached the building slowly.The entrance was open.
Too open.Like it was waiting.Kazuki felt that same uneasy feeling again.This is wrong but there was no turning back.They stepped inside darkness cold air silence.The inside of the building was worse than outside.Walls torn apart floors cracked strange marks everywhere.Kazuki's eyes moved quickly.
Then—
He frozen " No way ".What? Mei asked. Kazuki pointed ahead.On the floor circles multiple circles drawn with dark red lines blood." What is that?" one hunter whispered.Kazuki stepped closer.His heart started beating faster not from fear from realization." They're connected," he said.
" Connected how?" Mei asked.Kazuki looked around more circles each one placed at a distance each one linked by thin lines like a web." This isn't random," Kazuki said.
His voice was lower now focused.
" It's a network , silence.A what? one hunter asked.Kazuki pointed at the circles.Each one is a core point then at the lines.And these connect them.
Mei's eyes narrowed. " So what does that mean?".Kazuki swallowed,It means he said slowly,they're sharing energy.The room went silent." Sharing?" someone repeated.
Kazuki nodded.That's why the last ones were stronger,"he said.They weren't acting alone.His chest tightened.They were supported.Silence.Then—
A slow clap everyone froze.The sound echoed through the dark building.
Clap.
Clap.
Clap.
Clap.
" Impressive " ,a voice.voice is calm cold not far away.Kazuki's body went still.Mei raised her blade instantly." Show yourself!"she shouted.
Footsteps echoed slow confident a figure stepped out from the shadows a man tall wearing a dark coat.His eyes sharp calm like he was not afraid at all.
" You figured it out faster than I expected," the man said.Kazuki felt something drop in his chest." Masaru "he whispered.The man smiled slightly.So you've heard of me.The air became heavier instantly.
Every hunter in the room tensed.This was him.The one behind everything.The one Dr. Shirogane mentioned.
Masaru.
" You did this?"Mei asked coldly.Masaru tilted his head slightly." Did what?"
" This," she said, pointing around.The infected the deaths.Masaru looked around slowly.Then back at her." Yes."
No hesitation no guilt just a simple answer.
Kazuki felt anger rise inside him." Why?" he asked.Masaru looked at him now and studying him.
" Because humans are weak,"he said calmly.Kazuki clenched his fists.That doesn't justify this!
Masaru smiled slightly.You still think in terms of right and wrong," he said.
Kazuki didn't reply." Tell me,"Masaru continued,If a system is flawed… what do you do?.Kazuki frowned. " You fix it," he said.Masaru nodded " Exactly."
Then his smile faded slightly.But what if the system cannot be fixed?.
Silence.
Kazuki didn't answer.Then you replace it,
Masaru said.The words felt heavy.Humans are limited,he continued.Fragile Predictable.
He stepped forward slowly " But demons"
His eyes sharpened " They evolve ".Kazuki felt a chill run through his body.So you're turning humans into demons?" he asked.
Masaru shook his head slightly " No."
Then—
A small smile I'm helping them become something better.
Silence.
The hunters tightened their grips on their weapons.That's insane,one of them said.
Masaru didn't react, " It's inevitable,"he said.Kazuki stepped forward slightly.
" No," he said firmly.Masaru looked at him again." No?" he repeated.Kazuki shook his head.You're forcing it,he said.That's not evolution.Masaru's eyes narrowed slightly.
" Interesting," he said.For a brief moment
the air shifted then masaru raised his hand.
The circles on the ground began to glow.
Kazuki's eyes widened " Wait—!"too late.
The ground shook.Energy surged through the lines.The network activated and then—
Something started to rise.From the center of the room a shape not human and not fully demon.Something in between.Kazuki's breath stopped.This is the next stage,
Masaru said calmly.The creature opened its eyes.
And the real fight—
Was about to begin.