The armored vehicle hummed as it navigated the pristine, reinforced streets of the underground city. While the residential areas were bustling, the military man was driving them toward a more secluded, high-security sector.
"When are we supposed to get food? I am hungry!" Kento groaned, slumped against the seat.
The military man glanced back with a smirk. "Be patient, kid. You'll get to eat some really good food soon."
"Really?! Yeah!" Kento's mood shifted instantly, his eyes sparkling with the prospect of a feast.
While Kento focused on his stomach, Sami was spiraling into her own thoughts. She stared out the window at the passing metallic walls, her mind heavy.
Where are they actually taking us? she wondered. Is Nitsuki going to be okay? Are we even safe here? I don't know... but I have to be ready for anything. I can't lose Takashi or Nitsuki. If I have to fight everyone in this shelter to keep them safe, I will.
Across from her, Takashi was silent, but his eyes were moving constantly. He mapped the turns they took, noted the guard positions, and kept a close watch on the driver.
He knows we have Phore, Takashi analyzed. He mentioned a Chinese Soul Reaper Hunter before. If he's taking us to a private residence instead of a barracks, that must be where the Hunter is. We need answers about that stone, and he's the only one who might have them.
The Hunter's House
The vehicle pulled up to a large, well-guarded house that looked far more comfortable than the apartments they had seen earlier.
"Whoa!! So we're staying here?" Kento asked, jumping out.
"No," the military man replied shortly.
"Then why did you take us here?"
"Because you need to meet the Chinese Soul Reaper Hunter. He lives here, and since you three have Phore, you belong with your own kind."
They walked toward the entrance, Takashi's suspicion confirmed. Finally, he thought, the answers.
The military man led them inside and called out toward the upper floor: "Xiaolong, come downstairs! I've brought some important people with me."
A moment later, a young man descended the stairs. He had a calm but sharp presence. "Who did you find?" he asked, his eyes immediately scanning the teenagers.
"Some teenagers," the soldier replied. "They have Phore. They might be useful to you. Maybe you can even take them back to Tokyo to gather more info on the Apocalypse."
Xiaolong looked visibly shocked. He gestured for everyone to sit on the plush sofas in the living room. Once settled, he leaned forward. "Really? You guys actually have Phore?"
"Yeah, we do," Takashi answered firmly.
Xiaolong's eyes widened. "Oh my god. Then... what types do you have? I have Water Manipulation."
Takashi paused, surprised by how fluent Xiaolong's Japanese was. He must have been here long enough to master the language, he realized. Out loud, he answered, "My Phore is Superhuman Speed and Strength."
Sami spoke up next, her voice steady. "I have Telekinesis."
Xiaolong's face lit up at Sami's reveal. "Damn, Sami, your Phore is really powerful. That's an incredible asset." He then turned his gaze toward Kento. "What about you? What do you have?"
Kento gave a weird, mischievous grin. "Mine? Hehe... I have Thunder Manipulation."
The room went silent for a heartbeat before Xiaolong practically jumped. "Really?! Bro, your Phore is insanely powerful! Thunder is one of the rarest!"
"Yeah," Takashi added, grounding the conversation. "The three of us together have already killed a lot of Soul Reapers. Even 3rd and 4th-grade ones."
Xiaolong leaned back, looking at them with newfound respect. "Damn... you guys don't look it, but you're actually extremely powerful and mature. Guys, we need to make a plan."
"Is there no food?!" Kento interrupted, clutching his stomach. "I'm starving—give me something to eat!"
Sami let out a light laugh, the tension finally breaking. Takashi, however, just smacked Kento lightly on the back of the head. "Shut up, you idiot."
Xiaolong chuckled and signaled to his maids to prepare a spread. When the food arrived, it was a king's feast. Kento's eyes practically turned into hearts as he saw the variety of dishes. "I've never seen this kind of food before!" he shouted, diving in.
"Just ignore him," Takashi sighed. "Kento is always like this."
Xiaolong smiled. "Alright, I get it. No problem."
But as Kento ate, Takashi's expression turned serious again. He looked Xiaolong in the eye. "Before we make any plans, I want to know how you got your Phore, what you know about the stone, and how exactly you ended up here in Kyoto."
Xiaolong nodded, setting his drink down. "Okay, okay. Let me explain everything."
Xiaolong leaned back, his gaze turning distant as he began to recount his journey.
"Actually, I was at home in China, just playing games on my PC. Suddenly, the power went out. I started getting bored, so I opened the window a little. When I looked outside, I saw that the sky had turned a dark navy blue color. I was completely shocked, wondering what was happening. Then... I saw a huge object falling from the sky."
"Yeah, yeah," Sami spoke up, nodding. "It happened to us, too. We were at school when the sky changed."
Xiaolong picked up some snacks, chewed slowly, and then continued. "Hm… so after that, there was a huge explosion. Because of that blast, I think I lost consciousness. When I opened my eyes, I was lying on the ground. Everything around me was destroyed. Then I noticed monsters flying in the sky. I felt like I had seen them before—and then I remembered the Soul Apocalypse book. I had seen those monsters in its pages."
He looked at his hands. "I went closer to the stone and touched it. That's when I got my Phore. Immediately, some 4th-grade Soul Reapers attacked me, but using water manipulation, I managed to kill them."
"But then," Xiaolong's voice dropped an octave, "I touched the stone a second time. Suddenly, a holographic System appeared in front of me. It contained a massive amount of information—what Phores exist, how many people can obtain them, and the different types of Soul Reapers. I didn't have much time to read everything, but I saw one thing clearly: there are ten such stones that fell on Earth. I couldn't see all the locations, but I saw Japan."
Takashi leaned forward, his eyes sharp. "Ten stones..."
"While I was reading," Xiaolong continued, his expression grim, "two 1st-grade Soul Reapers attacked. One used telekinesis and lifted me into the air. I shaped water into an arrow and threw it at its head, but it dodged. At that moment, the other one released a powerful sound wave that sent me flying far away. I realized I couldn't handle them alone. I used my Phore to cross the sea and rushed to Japan. I collapsed on the shore, and this military guy found me."
After hearing this, Takashi felt a rare surge of hope. A small smile touched his lips.
"Whoa… so that means if we go back to Tokyo and touch that stone again, we'll be able to see all the information."
Xiaolong nodded. "Yeah, but it won't be easy. As soon as the information appears, the Soul Reapers start attacking—just like they did to me."
"That's true," Takashi analyzed. "Which means some of us will have to handle the Soul Reapers as a distraction, while one person focuses entirely on reading the information."
Xiaolong nodded again, impressed. "This guy is different from the others," the Hunter thought. "Calm and intelligent."
"We're safe for now, right?" Sami interrupted, her voice practical. "We should take advantage of this time. Let's rest, learn more about our Phores, and master them. We need to be stronger before we go back."
The military man, who had been listening silently, finally spoke. "You're right. We have a training ground here. You can test your Phores there and train to improve them."
"Then what are we waiting for? Take us there!" Takashi said, standing up.
"No need to rush, guys," Xiaolong said calmly, gesturing for him to sit. "First, you should rest. We'll start training tomorrow."
Sami agreed. "Yeah, Takashi. Nitsuki is still unconscious. If we rush to Tokyo and start fighting before he wakes up, it wouldn't be right."
The military man stood up to take his leave. "I have work to do. Xiaolong, will you let them stay here?"
"Yeah, yeah, they can stay," Xiaolong replied. "I've got plenty of rooms."
As the officer drove away, Xiaolong led the teenagers upstairs. Kento, having finished every scrap of food on the table, let out a satisfied sigh. "Ahh, that was so delicious. I've never eaten food this good in my life!"
Everyone stared at him—his face was covered in sauce, and he looked like he'd just won a marathon.
"What? Why are you all looking at me like that?" Kento asked, confused.
"No, no, it's nothing," Xiaolong said quickly, hiding a smile. "Come on, I'll show you your rooms. And Kento, don't worry—there are three separate rooms."
"Good," Kento added. "I'm not sleeping in the same room as these guys."
Xiaolong opened the first door for Kento. The room was massive, featuring a plush bed, a sofa, a table, and a luxurious bathroom. Kento stepped inside and cheered. "Wohhooo! I could live in this room for my entire life!"
The scene shifts. It is now night. Above ground, the ruins of Kyoto are swarming with the silhouettes of Soul Reapers. Below, in the quiet halls of the shelter, the lights have dimmed.
In Sami's Room: Sami lies awake in the dark, staring at the ceiling. Her mind is a whirlwind of "what ifs." "What even happened? We were so happy... then the apocalypse started. And there's no end in sight. Nitsuki... I miss you so much. Please, just wake up."
In Kento's Room: Kento is a chaotic sleeper. He is tangled in his sheets, tossing his pillow across the room. In his sleep, his brow furrows and he mutters darkly, "I will not forgive anyone... I don't want anyone..."
In Takashi's Room: Takashi isn't sleeping. The only sound in his room is his rhythmic breathing. He is on the floor, sweat dripping from his chin as he pushes himself up. "197… 198… 199… 200." He stands up, sitting on the edge of the bed. He looks at his shaking hands. "I don't have anyone except Sami and Nitsuki. To protect them, I will destroy every single Soul Reaper. I need to be stronger. Much stronger."
In the Hospital: Dr. Ishimiya stands over Nitsuki's bed, looking at a series of blank monitors. "I've done every checkup possible," he whispers to herself, "but I can't find a single thing wrong with him. What actually happened to this boy?"
He stares at Nitsuki's peaceful, sleeping face, unaware that deep within him, something is changing.