The alleyways erupted with motion—APC soldiers pouring in from both ends, shields clashing against the Solena of Memento's squads. Spears were braced but useless against the onslaught of Tsuki's shadows, bending to her will. Each tendril claimed more lives than she could count.
"He left fodder in his place," Valera smirked, her hand glowing pale with Solena.
Hajima cracked his knuckles, nodding in response. "Not exactly a challenge, is it?"
Beside him, Giji slammed his fists together, and an eagle's caw shook the alley—knocking soldiers and squadmates alike off balance. Giji proudly outstretched his arm, Beaky landing with grace.
"Valera, scroll," Giji said calmly. His other hand extended toward her, folding his fingers like they asked politely.
She flicked her wrist, illusions shimmering as the parchment floated into his grasp. He rolled it swiftly, slid it into the hawk's beak, and thrust his arm skyward.
"Thanks. Time to really start this invasion."
Beaky shot upward in an unbelievable show of speed, twisting through the air with a single flap of its wings.
"Stop that hawk!" a stalker barked, Giji launching himself at the man.
"Not a hawk," he said like a calm instructor, while cocking an arm back. The fist landed directly in the stalker's nose, leaving an imprint as the soldier hit the floor.
Above them, an arrow hissed through the air, nearly clipping its wing—when the world split into dozens of Beaky silhouettes, scattering across the sky. Valera's illusions shimmered, twisting reality. Soldiers cursed, losing arrows at phantoms that weren't there.
Meanwhile, Tsuki continued her rampage and surged forward, her shadows uncoiling like serpents. Dozens of soldiers cried out as inky tendrils lashed their ankles, dragging them into darkness. One stalker ripped Solena threads from the air itself, weaving them into luminous strands. With a snap, he lashed at Tsuki, his weapon sparking.
Tsuki met the strike with a wall of shadows, the impact ringing like struck iron. She lunged, fist snapping against his jaw in a brutal crack. Before he could stagger back, she pivoted—leg rising high and crashing down across his shoulder. The stalker hit the ground with force, stone cracking beneath him.
Geo smiled behind her, before driving both palms into the cobbled path. The street buckled and split in two, the stone rising into jagged ridges to block APC advancement.
Toko kicked off the alley wall, gathering momentum toward another stranded soldier pinned against the alley wall. She picked her teeth with another thistle as the soldier's body crumpled beneath her grip. Toko, feeling pitiful after a few moments, thrust her hand forward and the soldier's body compacted inward.
"There's no way that was the main force," Hatori said, turning back to the others in a newly opened alleyway. APC bodies littered around Hatori, which he openly ignored. "That felt intentional. No stalkers or anything… like they're herding."
Geo laughed out, stone rising behind his back. "Easy! There'll be more. Doesn't matter, they'll see us at full power soon enough."
From a moment of distraction, a soldier who'd been playing dead lunged with his knife drawn. Hatori merely turned, Resonant Flow activating as the soldier entered his sight.
"Picked the wrong target," Hatori said flatly, the world slowing to a crawl. The soldier's desperate snarl dragged across stretched seconds as Hatori stepped forward, placed a single precise jab through the gut, and let time snap back into place.
The body dropped before the echo of steel had finished ringing.
Hajima spat into the dirt, giving a dead soldier a scowl that could've killed him twice. "Beaky's long gone now. Dunno where Doji ran off to…"
A single, obsidian feather of a crow fell into the center of the alley, Hajima spotting it instantly.
"...but I doubt it's far."
The squads tightened formation, shadows and Solena lighting the narrow streets like a storm contained in stone walls. Above them, with Beaky vanishing into the clouds, the invasion officially began.
The clash had ended as quickly as it started.
Many by many, the APC forces were repelled. Their armored bodies lay scattered across the narrow backways, slumped against walls or sprawled across cobblestones slick with blood and dust. The faint stench of iron mingled with the salt air, heavy and bitter. The echoes of the fight still clung to the alley—groans fading into silence, weapons clattering from lifeless hands.
Though their breaths came heavy, the squads remained standing. Fatigue pulled at their limbs, but no wounds had cut deep enough to slow them yet.
Tsuki and Geo stood side by side atop the fallen, their silhouettes outlined in the dim gray light filtering through the alley mouth. Tsuki's shadows still lingered faintly, curling and retracting like restless smoke around her ankles. Geo's hands rested at his sides, stone ridges slowly sinking back into the street with each exhale.
Around them, the others moved methodically. Azumi flicked blood from her blade and crouched beside Hatori, who pressed his ear to the cobblestones, listening for the rhythm of approaching boots. Valera leaned against a wall, pale eyes sweeping the bodies to ensure no illusions were hiding enemies still breathing. Hajima stretched his neck with a crack, while Giji dismissed his bear with a snap of Solena.
They were alive. Their enemies were not. But the quiet felt uneasy.
Tsuki broke it first, her voice low as she toed the body of a fallen soldier.
"How do they always have so many pawns?"
"You're the former stalker… shouldn't we be asking you?" he shook his head, catching a breath.
"Fair enough," she replied, rubbing the back of her neck with a crooked grin.
But the grin didn't last. Her gaze drifted down the alley, past the broken bodies, past the haze of smoke and shadow. Her black hair slid across her cheeks as her expression shifted—lightness giving way to a solemn, almost haunted look. The color in her face dulled, her rosy cheeks hardening with something unspoken.
The squad kept moving through the endless paths of the alley, eventually finding open ground. Igumi was just as it was—a beautiful cultural paradise. An overgrown garden sat before them, filled with carrots, cabbage and other vegetables. Around it, was a vast courtyard, empty—perfect for a battle.
"Finally out of the alleyways," Hajima muttered. He did a quick perimeter scan, checking every detail.
"More will be on the way," Valera said. "We need to keep moving—stall until Danzo and the reinforcements get here."
Hajima halted, a hand raised for a stop. He remained completely still, as if he was feeling the vibrations through the air.
Tsuki raised a brow, the others trading glances as if their leader had gone crazy. Toko waved a hand in front of Hajima's eyes, but he stood there obliviously listening.
It took only seconds for Judgment and Phantom to see dust fall from roofbeams as pigeons flocked the opposite way overhead. Then, the distant shake of the ground began. The collective sound of boots approaching.
"I think it's too late for that," Tsuki pointed. Countless shields slid into place from all angles, each raised alongside gleaming spearheads held in the soldier's opposite hand.
Parting the shields, a brute of a man took charge with an unmistakable arrogance in his stride—the ground dipping below him.
"Long time no see!" boomed Tobamako, with a grin that carried no warmth. He wore a torn APC uniform at the sleeves with baggy dark trousers—his huge frame shaped with oversized muscles reminded Tsuki of Makoro.
Beside him, Lalo sat swinging herself on a bent chain. Other stalkers stood behind them, awaiting a signal.
Geo's eyes bulged—he saw it again: Tobamako backstabbing Knoxx, his limp body falling into his arms with fluttering eyes.
A memory he was forcing himself to relive. One he couldn't forget.
"He's mine," Geo stammered, stepping forward. The ground rumbled in agreement below him, Hajima putting an arm out to stop him before he went too far.
"Don't rush him, Geo. He's deadly."
"I'm well aware, Hajima," Geo said unbudgingly.
Hajima's eyes met Geo's, and was met with the flare of intent. "We'll take him together."
Geo returned the look, before nodding.
Hajima raised a hand to his squads, calling out orders to each member. "Hatori, take the purple haired woman on the left," he called.
She was beautiful—her eyes were blue, and her lavender hair was pulled into a pony-tail. Her stance was somewhat jittery, like she was trying to gather herself.
Hajima continued. "Azumi—the tiny girl to the right of Tobamako. Tsuki, I trust your shadows can handle the man on the right?"
"Yes sir," Tsuki said in confidence, but in reality, she'd never seen the man. His eyes read that he was reluctant to be there, and yet, he stood.
"Good," Hajima called, his hand lowered into a fist now, as he readied for war. "Valera, you do you. Toko and Giji, I want you two to head back through the alley. Once Memento's here, lead them to us."
He paused for a moment, smiling as he clenched a fist. "The rest of you, we have to stall for time. Stand your ground, and let's turn the APC on their backsides."
Toko shook her head. "Sir, I'm not—"
Hajima interrupted her instantly, "Toko, listen to my orders. We will be fine. I need you two to find Danzo and the rest of the force when they enter Igumi. Then, your battle begins."
Toko hesitantly agreed. Giji grabbed Hajima's shoulder, and gave a faint nod of respect.
"Lead the dawn, commander," he said, before turning off. Toko gave one last look, before following the giant back into the alley.
"Oh no you don't!" called Tobamako, before Hajima again interrupted.
"Tobamako, let's keep it fair, why don't we?"
Tobamako stopped in his tracks, a puzzled look on his face.
"And why would I want to do that?" he asked, still approaching. The ground below him seemingly shook with each step. The other three stalkers followed.
"Doesn't the APC have any honor?" Hajima said, stepping forward.
"Not sure, I really don't give a shit," Tobamako answered. "I get orders, I follow them. Pretty simple, Vortex."
Hajima's voice didn't falter. "Well, have some now. Grow a pair, Tobamako, and face us in duels. No blindsides and no retreats."
He's trying to stall for time, while also keeping us alive. Clever, Tsuki thought to herself.
A crooked grin crossed his face, as he contemplated the request. His smirk consumed him, and before long, he waved his men into a circling formation.
The thousands of APC soldiers surrounded the battlefield, allowing a large clearing in the vast courtyard of Igumi. The innermost soldiers prepped their shields into the ground, with their spears readied—pointed inward. The men behind had their spears upwards, slamming the hilt on the ground in unison. Judgment and the remainder of Phantom were surrounded.
"Stay true to your word," muttered Tobamako, smiling. "My forces won't move… so, face us like the brave unnaturals you claim to be," his voice echoed in a mock, quickly drowned out by the loud thumps of spears.
"Don't worry about us blindsiding!" Geo shouted, his voice abnormally filled with anger. "Watch yourself first!"
Tobamako peered at Geo, before an unrelenting laugh escaped his lips. "You're from the first battle of Igumi… you were with that boy. The one with the dual daggers."
Geo glared as Tobamako continued.
"Yes… Knoxx was it? What a pathetic kid. I'll enjoy ending you just as I did to him."
With that, Geo launched forward, manipulating the ground below. The rock shifted uncontrollably, and Tobamako struggled to keep his balance. Geo shot upward, going in for a direct punch. It landed, but Tobamako didn't flinch—rather, he smiled, before sending one of his own. Geo shielded with his arms crossed, before sliding backwards.
Behind him, each Memento member engaged with their assigned stalker, the sound of the spears echoed across the district. Every thump. Every grunt of the men that encircled them, preventing their leave.
Geo looked up, and saw Tobamako before he disappeared—his ability, Geo remembered, engraved in his mind. Tobamako appeared from the back, launching a strike. However, it didn't land.
Hajima held the arm that had been thrust toward Geo, and followed it up with a swift kick to Tobamako's abdomen. Tobamako skidded, boots carving trenches into Igumi's stone. He straightened mid-slide, brushing dust from his jaw with a sneer.
"Two for one? A generous offer," he taunted, cracking his neck. "Let's hope you both last longer than that dagger-brat."
Geo's fists tightened. The ground beneath him trembled—not wild, but angry. Pebbles rose as if gravity loosened its grip.
Hajima stepped forward, with arms raised and loose fingers. The air around him warped subtly, threads of invisible wind twisting into a spiral at his feet. In the pressure of Tobamako's ability, it felt more like the storm was starving.
"Geo," Hajima murmured, eyes locked on Tobamako, "don't overextend. He needs you angry. Use it—but control it."
Geo didn't answer. He couldn't. Knoxx's final scream still rang in the back of his skull.
Tobamako vanished without a flash or distortion. Just gone.
Time-stop, Geo thought. One second—one heartbeat—
Hajima moved before the second ended. A swirl of vortex wind snapped outward like a whip, carving a crescent in the dirt as he pivoted. He didn't see Tobamako—he felt the slight displacement of air behind him.
Tobamako reappeared mid-strike, fist inches from Geo's spine.
WHUMP.
The vortex wall caught his arm, diverting the blow just enough. Geo rolled forward, the ground rising to cradle and carry him like a living wave before setting him back upright.
Tobamako shook his arm, the limb shimmering with residual distortion. "Cute trick, commander. Didn't know you could predict time-stops."
Geo thrust his palm downward. The courtyard floor bucked violently, sending up jagged ridges of stone. Tobamako hopped over one—only for another to catch his shin midair. Geo was already in place.
CRACK!
A stone-coated uppercut slammed into Tobamako's jaw, launching him skyward. But the stalker twisted midair, eyes narrowing. The world flashed white.
Another time-stop. Then—impact.
Tobamako reappeared behind Geo again, knee buried in Geo's ribs. Geo spat blood as he flew sideways, skidding across the courtyard.
Hajima didn't let Tobamako finish.
"Vortex—pulse!"
A concussive burst exploded from Hajima's chest outward, a spiraling wave that sucked inward before detonating. Tobamako crossed his arms, bracing, but the force still hurled him backward across the stones.
The APC soldiers surrounding them roared—some in awe, some in anticipation. Their spears slammed more.
THUMP. THUMP. THUMP.
A war drum made of metal and discipline. A constant beat to match with each strike.
Tobamako wiped blood from his mouth, eyes wide with something new—excitement.
"Oh, I like this," he said, voice cracking with mania. "A battle that made me bleed… is one to remember."
His fingers snapped. The air behind him warped—a subtle ripple.
Geo raised a brow as Hajima launched toward Tobamako, throwing relentless strikes at the brute. Tobamako didn't counter. He snapped consistently—each time with a few seconds of rest between them.
What're you plotting, devil?
"You're quick to dodge," Hajima gathered a breath. "You normally this scared?"
"Scared?" Tobamako chuckled. "I wouldn't call it that… more like charging."
Charging?
Geo's eyes widened, reaching an arm outward frantically.
"Hajima, wait—he's stacking time stops!"
Geo could make out a brief grin on the brute's face, just before Tobamako blurred. Not disappearing entirely, but phasing—like he was stepping halfway in and out of frozen time, flickering between seconds.
A tank becoming untouchable. And that tank charged forward at untrackable speed.
Hajima grit his teeth, dragging one arm back as vortex energy spiraled into a violent column behind him.
Geo braced, hand pressed to the floor, stone surging upward like a rising fortress.
Tobamako flashed between moments, each flicker bringing him meters closer, every "second" of frozen time compounding his momentum into a monstrous charge.
Then—Hajima and Geo met him at once. Wind and stone collided with unrestrained fury.
The courtyard erupted as a shockwave tore outward, dust spiraling into the surrounding APC formation. Soldiers staggered, shields rattling. Spears quivered, dropping to the ground in unified clatters. The chant of thumps faltered for the first time.
Inside the dust cloud, three silhouettes moved like demons. A swirling vortex and a jagged, shifting earthbound form.
And Tobamako—flickering like a broken star.
Every collision sounded like thunder trapped in a cage. Every movement sent cracks racing across Igumi's courtyard.
Tsuki, locked in her duel, dared a glance.
Geo… Hajima… just hold on. Memento is coming.
But she could see it now—Tobamako wasn't slowing down. And Hajima knew it too. He leaned close to Geo between clashes, voice strained.
"He's faster than both of us inside the stop… Geo, listen to me. If we don't break his rhythm, he'll kill us in under a minute."
Geo wiped blood from his lip, eyes burning.
"What's the plan?"
Hajima inhaled sharply. "We've gotta tire him out. Make him use continuous time-skips."
Geo blinked. "But how? He'll get the upper hand eventually… you can only hold off time for so long."
Hajima's lips curled into a deadly grin. "I'll tell you what—he can't survive too many of these…"
Hajima raised both arms as wind spiraled outward. It tore into an endless spiral that Hajima wielded like a weapon. He drove it forward, aimed at the beast before him.
And Tobamako smiled, as he charged forward to meet the vortex.