Makoto leaned against the railing, his eyes drifting lazily toward the left.
"See her, Leo?" he said with a crooked smile. "That girl… Anny, right? Look at her. Even after the water splashed everywhere, she still looks beautiful. Don't you think?"
Leo's jaw tightened. His heart pounded violently in his chest."You said you wanted to tell me something," he said. "So say it."
Makoto chuckled. "Relax. I lied." He shrugged casually. "I didn't want to waste time explaining things to you. You were just bait. My client wanted a deal, and those two girls were part of it."
Leo stared at him in disbelief.
"If you hadn't interfered in the Sofia demon matter," Makoto continued coldly, "you wouldn't be seeing this. You're the cause of everything."
"No!" Anny cried out desperately. "Leo, don't listen to him. You're not the reason for this!"
Before Leo could shout back, a metal rod struck with terrifying force. The chain attached to it snapped forward and back violently, echoing through the dark space.
Anny screamed.
The sound pierced Leo's mind like a blade.
Something inside him broke.
He struggled violently against the ropes binding him, muscles screaming in pain, vision blurring with rage and fear. His breath became uneven. He couldn't watch anymore.
Then—
The gates creaked open.
Two silhouettes appeared beyond the darkness.
Makoto's lips curled upward. "Oh?" he muttered. "Looks like my customers have arrived."
But before anyone could react, the man and woman standing near Makoto collapsed instantly, hitting the ground without a sound. A third figure stepped forward from the shadows.
A woman.
She wore a dark combat suit, sleek and unfamiliar. Her face was hidden, unreadable. She stood completely still for a moment—calm, composed, terrifying.
A flash of steel.
A sword struck Makoto's head with precise force.
He dropped lifelessly to the ground.
Gunfire erupted.
Guards opened fire in panic, bullets tearing through the air toward her. She moved instantly, her body flowing between shots like a shadow. Most bullets missed. The few that hit shattered against her suit.
She raised her left hand.
The sword rose from the ground as if obeying an invisible command. It shot upward, then forward, slicing through the armed men in a single flawless arc. One by one, they fell.
The blade returned to her hand.
By then, Leo had torn himself free. Ignoring the pain, he rushed upward toward Mira and Anny.
The sword flew toward him.
Leo caught it instinctively.
One clean swing—ropes severed.
At the same time, the woman continued fighting below. Surrounded, she disarmed enemy after enemy using nothing but speed and precision. But then—
A sudden impact.
She stumbled.
Multiple men rushed her at once, overpowering her with sheer numbers. They forced her down, restraining her movements.
A sword hovered dangerously close.
"So this is it," one of them sneered. "Let's see who's really behind that suit."
Her voice was steady. Almost amused.
"You won't."
Two circular devices rose from her suit, spinning rapidly. The sound grew sharper, louder—
A burst of light.
The men collapsed instantly.
She stood back up as if nothing had happened, calling her sword back to her hand. With one powerful leap, she reached the rooftop.
"This mission is complete," she said calmly. "No critical damage."
A voice echoed inside her suit."Permission granted. Stand down."
She vanished into the night.
That night, Leo couldn't sleep.
The girl he had seen days ago.The girl tonight.The same presence.The same symbol.
AOB.
Morning arrived quietly.
Anny woke first, seeing Mira sleeping peacefully beside her. Moments later, Leo entered the room carrying warm mugs.
Hot chocolate.
"You didn't sleep, did you?" Anny asked gently.
Leo shook his head. "You both had a high fever last night."
Mira smiled faintly. "Thank you."
Anny tilted her head. "And that's not the only reason, is it?"
Leo hesitated. "The woman who saved us… she was there before. Watching."
"You're imagining it," Mira said softly.
Before Leo could respond—
The bell rang.
He opened the door.
"Lig!"
Leo hugged him tightly.
Lig smiled. "Good news. This Sunday—we're going to the beach."
For a moment, everything felt normal.
But unanswered questions lingered in the air.
Who was she?Where had Lig been all this time?Why was AOB involved?
And deep down, Leo knew—
This was only the beginning.
Lore Note
AOB — Ally of Blossoms A galactic military organization operating across multiple worlds.
AON — Ally of NeonA rival organization with equal reach and power.
Their presence changes everything.