Akira, Sora, and Gaku stopped before the towering gates of the Hunter Association. Smoke still curled from fractured stone, and the air vibrated with residual Tao, like the battlefield hadn't finished breathing yet.
Sora glanced sideways."Akira. You actually learned Tao, right?"
Akira raised his Hunter ID toward the scanner, smirking."Obviously. You literally can't become a Hunter without it."
Sora shrugged."Just checking if you live up to that prodigy label."
"I did."
The word echoed from above.
A woman with deep crimson hair stood atop the gate, arms folded. Her presence pressed down on the air itself, heavy and suffocating. Her eyes glimmered with anticipation.
"Are one of you a prodigy?" she asked. "It's been far too long since I fought someone worth my time."
Before Akira could respond, Gaku moved.
With a sharp pivot, he flipped the sheath of his massive odachi over his shoulder and kicked it upward like a launched missile.
The woman's eyes widened as she leapt aside. The sheath struck where she'd been standing, pulverizing stone in an explosive crash.
"Impressive strength," she said, landing lightly—
—but Sora was already there.
Her fist rose in a single, efficient motion. Tao surged—precise, controlled.
The punch slammed into the woman's chin.
Her eyes rolled back. She dropped instantly, unconscious before her body even hit the ground.
Sora crouched, retrieved Gaku's sheath, and tossed it back."Whoever's running this knows what they're doing. Putting someone like her on gate duty."
Akira nodded slowly."Yeah… like Kenji Sato." Akira instantly covers his mouth
Sora hesitated."Maybe. But the Grand General of the Sao Kingdom wouldn't pull something like this."
Akira then thinks for a second, Oh, I see Kenji Sato, no one will believe that he started this false group of Scissors, I guess that's the perks of being a grand general of Yoru."
Far from the chaos—deep beneath the city—
Stone Strickland stood before a massive stone table carved with glowing Tao maps. Purple flames licked along his braids, painting the chamber in flickering light. Kingston leaned against the wall, arms crossed.
"They really went all in," Kingston muttered. "Hunter Association. Asura. Public broadcast. Whoever framed us knew exactly how to push the button."
Stone exhaled slowly. The heat around him dipped—not anger, but restraint.
"It could be random kids using our name," Stone said calmly. "But if that were the case, the Hunter Association would've figured it out by now."
Kingston glanced over."Honestly? I can't think of anyone crazy enough to fake Scissors."
Stone paused."Neither can I. And that's the problem."He straightened. "We'll ask the Director for a favor. Make sure he doesn't send the entire Association after us."
Kingston smirked."Stone, we're labeled terrorists."
Stone stopped."…Alright. What's your plan?"
Kingston's smile widened."We gather proof they're fake Scissors—and release it publicly. Clear our name."
High above Hunter Association HQ—
Jin stood atop one of the tallest buildings, hands in his pockets, gazing down at the chaos below.
"I'm getting bored," he muttered. "I should just end this."
Figures marked with glowing Xs swarmed up the building's walls, scaling toward him like insects.
Jin smiled.
Tao flooded into his dagger, the metal screaming as it strained under the pressure.
"Menace."
A massive demonic Yokai tore open reality behind him, its jaws stretching wide.
Jin stepped forward—
—and leapt.
The impact shook the building as he crashed straight through the swarm, bodies scattering as the structure groaned beneath the force.