Chapter 71 — The Man Elias Used to Be
The rain started before sunrise.
It wasn't heavy.
Just enough to turn the streets of Shinokuni-01 dark and reflective.
Brook stood beneath the roof outside Xcution's headquarters, watching the rain.
He hadn't slept much.
Again.
His fingers kept brushing against the folded page hidden inside his coat.
B-00.
He hadn't shown anyone.
Not Henry.
Not Crowley.
Not Sera.
And especially not Elias.
Brook didn't know whether that was the right decision.
But something inside him told him to wait.
For once, he listened.
The front door opened.
Henry stepped outside.
"You look terrible."
Brook glanced at him.
"You said that yesterday."
"Still true."
Brook smiled.
Henry leaned against the wall.
"You thinking about Elias?"
Brook looked at him.
"Why does everyone keep asking me that?"
"Because you're terrible at hiding things."
Brook looked back at the rain.
"I found something."
Henry's expression changed.
"What?"
Brook hesitated.
"Something about him."
Henry waited.
Brook eventually shook his head.
"Not yet."
Henry didn't push.
"Okay."
Brook looked at him.
"You're not going to ask?"
"No."
"Why?"
Henry shrugged.
"Because if you wanted me to know, you'd tell me."
Brook smiled.
"You're getting smarter."
"Don't insult me."
Brook laughed.
For a moment, everything felt normal.
Then the headquarters door opened again.
Elias stepped outside.
He looked exhausted.
Henry turned.
"You alright?"
Elias nodded.
"Didn't sleep."
Brook looked at him.
Their eyes met.
Neither said anything.
Elias looked away first.
Inside, breakfast was unusually quiet.
Sera sat at the table reading through a report.
Kael was eating.
Crowley stood near the window.
Elias sat across from Brook.
Nobody spoke about the previous night.
Brook finally broke the silence.
"So…"
Kael looked up.
"So what?"
Brook shrugged.
"I don't know."
Kael laughed.
"Brilliant conversation."
Brook smiled.
Elias almost laughed.
Almost.
Sera looked at him.
"You okay?"
Elias nodded.
"Yeah."
"You've said that three times."
"Because it's true."
Crowley looked at him.
"Then stop looking like you're waiting for someone to kill you."
Elias froze.
Brook noticed.
Crowley continued eating as if he hadn't said anything.
Kael laughed.
"He's right."
Elias forced a smile.
"Maybe I just need sleep."
Brook studied him.
"Maybe."
A few hours later, Xcution received a mission.
A small settlement near the eastern road had stopped sending supply caravans into Shinokuni-01.
Three caravans had disappeared.
No bodies.
No survivors.
No explanation.
Crowley placed the map on the table.
"We investigate."
Henry nodded.
"How many people?"
"Everyone."
Sera looked at him.
"Everyone?"
Crowley nodded.
"Whatever took those caravans might be stronger than anything we've encountered recently."
Brook looked at the map.
"How far?"
"Half a day."
Kael grabbed his weapon.
"Then let's go."
Elias stood.
Brook watched him.
Something about Elias's expression changed when he heard the location.
Only for a moment.
Then it was gone.
Brook noticed.
He said nothing.
The road east was quiet.
Too quiet.
Kael walked beside Henry.
They argued about who was stronger.
Sera walked ahead with Crowley.
Elias stayed toward the back.
Brook slowed until he was beside him.
"You know this place?"
Elias looked at him.
"No."
"You reacted when Crowley mentioned it."
Elias smiled.
"You're imagining things."
"Maybe."
Brook looked ahead.
"You're allowed to tell me when something's wrong."
Elias's smile disappeared.
"I know."
Brook waited.
Elias continued walking.
Brook followed.
"Then why don't you?"
Elias stopped.
For several seconds, he didn't turn around.
Finally:
"Because sometimes knowing something doesn't make it better."
Brook understood that more than Elias realized.
"Fair."
Elias looked at him.
"You're changing."
Brook frowned.
"How?"
"You used to push."
"And now?"
"Now you wait."
Brook smiled.
"Michael's teaching me."
Elias looked away.
"That's probably good."
Brook studied him.
"You sound worried."
Elias didn't answer.
They reached the settlement just before sunset.
The gates were open.
Nobody stood guard.
Brook immediately drew his sword.
Crowley raised his hand.
Everyone stopped.
"No sound."
They entered.
The settlement was empty.
Food remained on tables.
Clothes hung from lines.
A child's toy sat in the middle of the street.
But there were no people.
Henry frowned.
"Where is everyone?"
Sera examined the ground.
"Look."
Tracks.
Dozens.
All leading toward the northern forest.
Kael frowned.
"They left?"
Crowley shook his head.
"No."
Brook crouched.
The tracks stopped abruptly.
He looked up.
"Something took them."
Elias stared toward the forest.
His face had gone pale.
Brook noticed.
"Elias?"
Elias blinked.
"Yeah?"
"You okay?"
"Yeah."
Brook frowned.
Again.
That answer.
They followed the tracks.
The forest became thicker.
Then they found the caravans.
Three destroyed wagons.
No bodies.
No blood.
Just black markings burned into the ground.
Sera crouched.
"I've seen this before."
Brook looked at her.
"Where?"
"Near the old ruins."
Crowley studied the markings.
"This isn't an Abomination."
Henry looked around.
"Then what?"
A voice came from the trees.
"You shouldn't have come."
Everyone turned.
A man stepped out.
Old.
Scarred.
Carrying a long spear.
Crowley raised his sword.
"Who are you?"
The man looked at Elias.
Elias froze.
The old man's expression changed.
Recognition.
Fear.
He whispered:
"B-00."
Brook's eyes widened.
Elias immediately stepped forward.
"You've got the wrong person."
The man shook his head.
"No."
He stared at Elias.
"I remember you."
Elias's breathing became heavier.
Brook looked at him.
"Elias?"
The old man pointed.
"You were there."
Elias whispered:
"Stop."
"You were one of them."
Elias drew his weapon.
"Stop talking."
Brook stepped between them.
"What is he talking about?"
The old man stared at Brook.
Then his face changed again.
"And you…"
He took a step backward.
"B-01."
Silence.
Everyone froze.
Henry looked at Brook.
Sera looked at Elias.
Crowley's expression became unreadable.
Kael looked between them.
"What the hell is B-01?"
The old man turned.
"Run."
Brook frowned.
"What?"
The man looked toward the forest.
"They're coming."
A low rumble shook the ground.
The trees moved.
Something massive was approaching.
Crowley raised his weapon.
"Everyone together."
The old man looked at Elias one final time.
"You shouldn't have survived."
Then he disappeared into the forest.
Elias stood completely still.
Brook looked at him.
"You want to explain?"
Elias didn't answer.
The rumbling grew louder.
Something crashed through the trees.
A massive creature emerged.
Its body was covered in black armor-like growths.
Its face was almost human.
Almost.
Kael raised his weapon.
"Finally."
Henry smiled.
"Been a while."
Sera prepared her magic.
Crowley stepped forward.
Brook drew his sword.
The creature roared.
Brook's white mark appeared.
Michael stirred.
Control.
Brook breathed slowly.
He didn't activate it.
Not yet.
The creature charged.
The battle erupted.
Henry attacked first.
His sword struck the creature's armor.
The impact threw him backward.
Kael rushed in.
He struck the creature's leg.
It barely moved.
Sera released a wave of energy.
The creature staggered.
Crowley attacked from behind.
Brook moved alongside him.
They fought together.
Fast.
Precise.
Brook marked the ground.
Flash.
He appeared behind the creature.
His blade struck the exposed flesh beneath its armor.
The creature screamed.
Brook teleported again.
Another strike.
Again.
Again.
His movements became faster.
Cleaner.
Michael's influence guided him.
But Brook remained himself.
He didn't lose control.
He didn't rage.
He simply fought.
Crowley noticed.
"You're improving."
Brook smiled.
"Trying."
The creature suddenly turned toward Elias.
Elias froze.
It stared at him.
Then spoke.
Not like an animal.
Like a person.
"B-00."
Elias's eyes widened.
The creature attacked.
Brook intercepted it.
The impact sent him flying.
He crashed into a tree.
"Elias!"
Henry ran toward him.
Brook pushed himself up.
"I'm fine."
Elias stared at the creature.
It spoke again.
"You were supposed to open the gate."
Elias's face went white.
Brook heard him.
"Gate?"
Elias shook his head.
"I don't know what it's talking about."
The creature smiled.
Then something strange happened.
It turned away.
It ran.
Crowley raised his weapon.
"Don't let it escape."
Brook marked the ground.
Flash.
He appeared in front of it.
The creature stopped.
Brook raised his sword.
"Who are you?"
The creature looked at him.
Then whispered:
"Ask Elias."
It disappeared into the forest.
Brook stood there.
Silence.
Everyone slowly gathered.
Henry looked at Elias.
"What the hell was that?"
Elias didn't answer.
Kael stepped closer.
"Elias."
Nothing.
Sera's voice was quiet.
"You knew that thing."
Elias looked at her.
"No."
Crowley stared at him.
"You're lying."
Elias looked away.
Brook didn't say anything.
He reached inside his coat.
His fingers touched the B-00 page.
He could reveal it.
Right now.
But he didn't.
Instead, he looked at Elias.
"Let's go home."
Elias looked at him.
For a second, relief crossed his face.
Then guilt.
Brook noticed both.
That night, after everyone slept, Elias sat alone.
He stared at his hands.
The memory came again.
White walls.
Machines.
People watching from behind glass.
A voice.
"B-00 is ready."
Then another memory.
A younger Brook.
Smaller.
Alone.
Elias watched from behind the glass.
Someone said:
"B-01 is superior."
Elias clenched his fists.
"No."
The memory changed.
A door opened.
Someone handed him the black emblem.
The Knight of Hell.
A voice whispered:
"If you want your life back…"
Elias stared at the emblem.
"…bring us Brook."
His eyes opened.
He was back in the darkness.
Elias slowly closed his hand around the emblem.
For several seconds, he looked toward Brook's room.
His expression was unreadable.
Then he whispered:
"I'm sorry."
He stood.
And quietly walked into the night.
Behind him…
Brook opened his eyes.
He had heard the door.
He sat up.
He stared toward the hallway.
Then toward Elias's empty room.
Brook didn't follow.
Not yet.
He simply whispered:
"What are you hiding?"
Outside, Elias disappeared into the rain.
And somewhere far beneath Shinokuni-01…
something ancient began to wake.