Kaijou looks out the window, exhaling in relief. "Looks like Sora had a breakdown, hm?"
"About time they leave us alone." Bakura mutters, plopping onto the chair.
Hayami scans the Ascendants through her binoculars, guilt tightening in her chest. "It's insane... they don't even bother... to retrieve the fallen."
Bakura leans back in his chair, recalling how Saichi offered himself and Daijo ran. "Unity and sacrifice… two things that don't go together."
"Precisely. That's why Yamada's ways will always be flawed," Kaijou says flatly, pushing off the window to head upstairs.
"We'll need to renovate this place... I have plans to turn this into something big." Kaijou mutters before stepping up the stairs.
Bakura sighs, tossing a shovel over to Hayami. "Here. Dig up a spot where we can bury and burn them. It's the least we can do to dispose these bodies."
Hayami catches the shovel, nodding. "On it. I'll keep an eye out for anything suspicious."
Bakura crouches, gripping a few bodies by their collars, dragging them into a single pile. He remembers seeing these faces, once full of life.
Now, only shell remains. The thoughts of Saichi and Daijo linger on his mind, something he could never understand. Yet, curiosity gnaws at him.
Why do they care so much about Ascendants Order? Even if their hands are stained with blood... why?
Kaijou steps down, his clothes free of any bloodstains
Bakura's gaze shifts to him as he surveys the bodies. "Where are you going?"
Kaijou moves toward the entryway. "I'm going to find the Shōri Club. They're crucial for my plans."
Hayami follows into the building, shovel in hand. "Oh! That's the place you said Yamada couldn't control?"
Kaijou nods, striding calmly toward the exit. "Yes— but I'll have to act as our representative."
"Alone? Is that wise?" Bakura asks flatly.
Kaijou smirks, sliding on a Melpomene mask he found— a mask of tragedy— before vanishing into the city. "Audentes fortuna iuvat, my friend."
Hayami raises an eyebrow. "That mask… I've seen it in several books. The mask of tragedy. What a coincidence he stumbled across it here, and with what he just said—"
Bakura steps in front, eyes cold as ice. "I know, he's being influenced by literature again... He dives blindly, just to shine the light for us to see."
Kaijou slips into the crowded streets. Vendors shout over each other—folding clothes, sizzling meat, water jugs clanging against crates. The noise barely registers; his eyes catch movement down a side alley.
He notices several men in suits entering a bar, keeping a close eye before approaching the entrance. A security stops him.
"Boy, you can't wander here, this place isn't for you." The security says, gripping Kaijou's wrist firmly.
Kaijou pauses, his eyes tracing back to a smear of lipstick on the security's collar, "Let me go."
"I can expose you to your family... that you've cheated on them... taken bribes, and protected someone you shouldn't have..." Kaijou mutters lowly.
He raises the security's hand up, a smirk etching onto his face. "Look, you're married. Possibly with kids, yet here you are... being unfaithful."
The security freezes, unexpected by the sudden turn of events. He releases his grip on Kaijou, bowing down. "My apologies, please enjoy your night..."
Kaijou steps inside. The room hits him immediately—cheap perfume and alcohol stinging the nose, neon lights flickering over gamblers shouting at cards, strippers twirling on poles. Cigarette butts crunch underfoot.
Several men in suits circle a figure. Kaijou's lips curl into a grin as he steps forward. "Hello... I assume you're the boss here, yes?"
The boss scoffs "And who the hell are you supposed to be? You look like a lost kid. Let me remind you— you ain't finding your mom here, kiddo." the boss says flatly, while drinking his wine.
Kaijou's face darkens, his grin diminishing into something sinister. "Haha... you're funny."
He approaches closer, the men in suits forms a barrier in between. The boss smirks. "Oh, you're implying your mother works here?"
Kaijou's dark yellow eyes glares onto the boss. "You shouldn't have said it."
The boss takes another sip of his wine, carelessly. "Ooh, tough boy... however, there's seventy people against you... Good luck!"
Kaijou's eyes darts around, visualizing his position, mentally noting their formations, weapons and physicality.
The strippers flee, gamblers follow suit, some stay behind as order from the boss. Everything goes from a loud party... into a chilling confrontation. Add to the fact that Kaijou is the instigator. Alone, unarmed, dangerous...
Kaijou steps back. Looking around at the men seizing him from all directions. His heartbeat calm, his mind still fresh.
Seventy isn't enough. They're rotten through and through. I will personally purge them—make them remember. When a herd of sheep meet a lion, numbers mean nothing.
Kaijou stood in between. Seventy people, he mentally notes... This is it.
One tall man approaches with a mocking grin on his face. "Yo kiddo. Did your parents forgot you here?"
Laughter ripples amongst the gangs, as they corner him, Kaijou clenches his fists at his side. Then, without a warning, he moves— snapping the man's neck with ease.
Their eyes widen, their movement hesitant. Some quietly mutter in awe of Kaijou.
Holy shit. This kid smoked Brian.
Fucking hell... now that's speed!
Kaijou steps forward, eyes cold. "Fools,"
"You all shouldn't have underestimated me. But because you all fight like brutes, you're never gonna win against me."
A muscular but lean man surges forward, he claps his hands deliberately. A smirk etching on his face. "Excellent boy...Now, let's see if you're just all talk against me."
Others freeze, the man is known as Axel, a brute yet fights like a calculated prey, a legend in the underground world.
Kaijou falters slightly by his boldness, within a blink, Axel dashes forward already appearing behind Kaijou with a menacing grin. "I've got you now—"
Kaijou slips under, dodging his fist narrowly, "You're quick, but not fast. I can handle you."
Axel's eyes wide in awe, Kaijou spins, landing for a kick, then a gunshot.
The bullet hits Kaijou's shoulder, causing him to lose balance and stumble to the ground.
Axel raises his hand, his amusement fades. "Don't interrupt me! Let me settle with this kid right here..."
Kaijou pants, wincing slightly as the pain finally catches onto him.
Axel sighs, "Stand up, boy. Our fight isn't over yet."
Kaijou scoffs. "Tch... I wasn't gonna give up yet." he stands up, his stance shaky—
Axel's figure crashes against him into a wall, Kaijou coughs blood, his internal organs taken the most hits...
Axel grabs Kaijou, smashing him into another wall, the impact cracking the concrete layer. He backs away, enjoying his strength over Kaijou.
Pain laces through Kaijou's body, blood dripping from his lips. His thoughts incoherent.
What the hell—... is that strength?
Axel charges forward again, Kaijou rolls to the side just in time before the floor splinters beneath Axel's weight.
Kaijou controls his breathing, his stress level rising. He wipes some blood off his mouth.
Axel cracks his neck, ready for another charge. "You sure are agile... but you'll lose stamina way faster like that!"
Kaijou sidesteps, barely dodging another strike. One of the thugs anticipates this, and strikes Kaijou off guard with a metal bat into his skull.
Kaijou grunts, his vision darkening. His head spinning in a daze.
Why does it hurt... I thought I had endured something much worse than this...
Axel angrily charges at the thug, grabbing him before snapping his spine like paper. "The kid's right! You all really are fools!"
Axel barrels forward, smashing Kaijou to a wall again... he slumps, barely upright.
Suddenly, smoke hisses into the room. Grenades clattering, white clouds surrounding the chaos. A calm, commanding tone speaks. "Clear them all out."
Gunshot erupts from above, Axel grins, preparing to charge at Kaijou with his maximum strength. Kaijou jumps above him, using the momentum to efficiently kick him away.
Axel crashes back to a wall behind, Kaijou's kick breaking his solar plexus. He grunts, looking at Kaijou...
I'm gonna die. I know it.
Kaijou moves like a specter, closing in on Axel. Then— he leaps, one ruthless kick to the shoulder. Axel's vein bursts with a sickening snap.
He howls, clutching his arm as agony consumes him.
Kaijou stands over his body, his expressions unreadable.
Above— two men drop down gracefully. One steps forward, clapping his hands in excitement. "Wow,"
"That kick— man, that was precisely executed.... I'm Takuya. Current leader of Shōri Club."
Kaijou's eyes widen, glancing back at the two. "Shōri Club...?"
The man besides Takuya steps forward. "Yes, we seek the strong, and with the will to grow..."
Takuya grabs Kaijou's hand, "Join us! You'll love it. We make the strong become stronger through unity!"
The man sighs. "Don't mind too much about him, he has Histrionic Personality Disorder— my name's Satoru, the co-leader to Takuya."
Takuya releases his hand, stepping closer to Satoru. "Oi! I'm not that annoying."
Kaijou strides towards the exit. "I'll think about it, I need to go back to my friends."
Then a card strikes besides Kaijou's foot. Satoru and Takuya taking curious glances.
The message on the card says, "Kaijou, while you were away... we attacked. Sorry, brother."
Kaijou's eyes widen, before he storms out, going back to the building with Satoru and Takuya following closely.
Kaijou's mind races with possibilities.
Brother...? Who the hell is this?
Is this Ascendants Order?
I need to know!