A heavy silence hung in the air above the abandoned subway site. Cracked asphalt, flickering streetlights, and a cold breeze brushing past the rusted bus stop sign—this was the last known location of Kaito Hiroshi.
Alexander stood at the edge of the site, his white hair fluttering lightly in the wind. His sharp blue eyes scanned the uneven ground as headlights flickered behind him. Alia's car came to a halt, and Arthur, Alia, and Kaito's father, Sui Hiroshi, stepped out.
"Stay here," Alexander said flatly, his voice calm but commanding. "It'll be dangerous down there."
Arthur frowned. "But—"
Alexander turned slightly, just enough for Arthur to feel the pressure radiating from him. "You'll only get in the way."
Arthur gritted his teeth but said nothing. Alia's voice cut through the tension. "He's right, Arthur. Let him handle it."
Sui Hiroshi moved beside Alexander, placing a firm hand on his shoulder. "I'll go with you."
Alexander nodded once. Without hesitation, he drew his right hand back and slammed his fist into the concrete.
The ground erupted.
With one strike, the asphalt caved in, cracking like shattered glass. Dust and debris shot upward as a five-meter-deep crater tore into the earth. The echoes of the impact rolled like thunder across the area, shaking the nearby lampposts.
Arthur and Alia shielded their eyes as the dust cleared. "He… punched through solid ground…" Arthur muttered in disbelief.
Alexander leapt into the hole first, his movements clean and precise. Sui Hiroshi followed, landing with a grunt beside him. Below, dim lights flickered—a faint metallic corridor hidden beneath the surface.
"Subway tunnel," Alexander murmured. "They're definitely here."
They moved through the tunnel's narrow passage, the air thick with metallic dust and faint traces of ozone. The hum of old machinery echoed in the distance. As they approached a wider chamber, faint silhouettes appeared under the flickering light.
At the far end stood Kuro, calm as ever, his black trench coat brushing the floor. Behind him were Samuel, visibly anxious, and the other members of his team—Billish, her wrench resting on her shoulder; Sinon, holding her sleek black suitcase; Andreo, gripping his sickle; and Michael, standing with his staff like a guardian.
Their presence carried the quiet tension of killers waiting for an order.
Alexander and Sui Hiroshi stepped into the open. The sound of their boots against the metal floor made everyone turn.
"So," Kuro said, his lips curving faintly. "The Regan No. 2 himself graces us. I suppose the rumors about your power weren't exaggerated."
Alexander said nothing. His eyes locked onto Kuro, unreadable and cold.
Billish chuckled, stepping forward with her wrench spinning in her hand. "Boss, this guy looks strong! Can I fight him?"
"Not yet," Kuro said. "We have guests to entertain first."
Sui Hiroshi's voice echoed through the tunnel, deep and controlled. "Where is my son?"
Kuro's smile thinned. "Safe. For now."
"Bring him out," Sui Hiroshi said.
"I can't do that." Kuro raised a hand slightly. "His power is unstable. You take him out of that capsule, this whole place collapses."
Alexander paused on the ledge, observing them. Kuro, Bilish, Sinon, Samuel, Michael, Andreo—every one of them moving with precision, every movement deliberate. His eyes narrowed, analyzing. What type are they? he thought. What kind of ability do they possess?
He catalogued them silently: Kuro—his presence calculated, cautious, his movements almost ritualistic. Samuel—methodical, cold, yet unpredictable; always calculating the ratio of success and failure. Bilish and Sinon—their attacks synchronized, almost like dancers, but lethal. Michael and Andreo—powerful, straightforward, but with a subtle finesse that suggested more than brute strength.
Are they solar? Lunar? Or… something else entirely? He traced the faint trails of energy, the way their attacks rippled through the air, the slight variations in aura. There was a pattern. A rhythm. A signature. Yet it eluded him. They were dangerous, yes—but not predictable in type.
He shook his head, dismissing the analysis. Leave it. Observation could wait. Categorization would not save him now.
His gaze sharpened, the tension in his body coiling. Direct attack. That's all we need.
The moment crystallized. Alexander's lips curved into a faint, almost imperceptible smile. His decision was made before his conscious mind even caught up. The six of them—whatever type they were, whatever power they wielded—would meet him head-on.
And he would meet them in kind.
Alexander cracked his knuckles once. "Then we'll take him and deal with the rest."
The faint hum in the tunnel shifted. Every member of Kuro's team subtly adjusted their stance. Sinon moved her suitcase forward, its inner locks clicking open. Andreo spun his sickle once, the sound slicing through the heavy air. Michael lowered his staff slightly, whispering under his breath as faint light formed at its edge.
Then, without warning, the ground trembled.
Alexander's boots scraped against the concrete as he stomped once—his aura flaring faintly, a wave of invisible force rippling outward. The lights above them flickered violently. Even Kuro's smile faded slightly.
Sui Hiroshi readied himself, his gaze sharp. "We're wasting time talking."
Kuro sighed. "I was hoping to avoid this…"
In the corner of the chamber, behind thick glass, Kaito floated in his black capsule. His body was motionless, suspended in a pool of dark fluid. Faint cracks glowed along the capsule's surface—tiny fractures spreading like veins. Black energy flickered through them, so faint that no one had yet noticed.
"Boss," Samuel muttered, glancing at the monitors. "That capsule—something's happening—"
"Focus on them," Kuro said sharply, never taking his eyes off Alexander.
Billish was the first to move. She swung her wrench down at the floor, creating a shockwave of compressed air that rushed toward Alexander and Sui Hiroshi. Alexander stepped forward into the blast, his aura flaring brighter—then he vanished from sight.
A heartbeat later, he appeared behind Billish.
She barely raised her wrench in time as his fist met the metal, sending sparks flying. The ground cracked under her feet as she skidded backward, her playful grin fading into something more serious. "Whoa—he's strong!"
Andreo moved next, his sickle slicing through the air with deadly precision. Alexander caught the handle barehanded, the blade stopping an inch from his neck. The metallic ring echoed sharply. Michael raised his staff, chanting under his breath, and a wave of force shot toward Sui Hiroshi.
Sui Hiroshi sidestepped and struck the ground with his baton, creating a counter-shockwave that nullified the attack. The tunnel shook violently from the collision.
"Uncle fights well," Andreo remarked, spinning back beside Michael. "But the big one—he's a monster."
Sinon remained still near the back, her eyes on Alexander. Her suitcase clicked open further, revealing a long metallic rope wrapped inside. Her hand brushed over it as she murmured something inaudible.
Kuro's gaze flicked briefly toward the capsule. The cracks were spreading faster now, faint ripples of black aura leaking into the air.
Then came a faint pulse—a thrum of dark energy so subtle it passed almost unnoticed.
Kaito's fingers twitched.
None of them saw it.
Alexander blurred again, closing the distance toward Kuro. But Andreo intercepted, his sickle flashing in the dim light. The two collided midair—sickle and fist—sending a shockwave that shattered nearby glass panels.
Michael followed up instantly, spinning his staff and slamming it into the ground. A barrier of light formed around Kuro and Samuel, shielding them from the blast wave.
Alexander landed smoothly, dust swirling around him. The metallic floor beneath him was warped from the force of his steps.
Billish grinned, raising her wrench once more. "Guess we're fighting for real now!"
"Stay sharp," Michael said, his voice calm but firm. "Don't get close. His hits will crush bone."
Above the chaos, Sinon's rope flicked open, coiling midair like a serpent waiting to strike. Her gaze followed Alexander's every move, calculating.
And deeper within the capsule, Kaito's aura flared again, unseen by anyone. The cracks along the vantablack surface widened just slightly, a thin stream of black liquid seeping out and evaporating instantly in the cold air.
A faint glow illuminated Kaito's face from inside—the color of eclipse light.
"Boss!" Samuel suddenly yelled. "There's a reaction—"
Kuro didn't even turn. "Handle it later."
The next moment, Alexander's aura surged again, visible now—an outline of white-blue energy wrapping around him. The ground caved under his step as he lunged forward, his fist clashing with Andreo's sickle once more. This time, the impact was like a cannon blast—dust and metal shards exploding outward.
Even Kuro was pushed back a few steps, his coat whipping from the force.
Sui Hiroshi advanced, targeting Kuro directly. "Give me back my son!"
Kuro raised his arm, blocking a blow with surprising strength. Their eyes locked—a father burning with fury, and a man shrouded in unreadable calm.
"You have no idea," Kuro said softly, "what that boy really is."
"I don't care!" Sui Hiroshi roared, driving another strike that sent Kuro sliding back.
Up above, Alia and Arthur waited in the car, hearing the distant rumble through the earth. The steering wheel vibrated slightly under Alia's hands.
"They're fighting," she whispered.
Arthur clenched his fists. "Then we should—"
"No," Alia cut him off. "We wait. My brother can handle it."
Inside the tunnel, dust filled the air as the clash continued. Andreo's movements became more desperate, Michael's chants faster. Billish was bleeding from a cut on her cheek but still grinning wildly. Sinon's rope hovered like a poised whip, its end glowing faintly.
Kuro exhaled slowly, glancing at the monitors again.
And then—his smile faded.
On the screen behind Samuel, the capsule containing Kaito flared pitch-black, a sharp crack echoing through the chamber like a gunshot.
Everyone froze for a second.
The energy leaking from the capsule spiked—small, almost invisible tendrils of darkness curling into the air. Kuro's eyes narrowed.
"…Too early," he muttered.
Alexander's gaze shifted for the first time—noticing the faint vibration behind Kuro. "What—"
Before anyone could react, the capsule pulsed again, black veins of light running across its surface. The crack widened audibly with a metallic shriek.
Kuro's expression hardened. "All units—brace yourselves!"
The floor shuddered. Lights flickered. A low, rumbling hum filled the air.
---
Alexander moved through the tunnel like a predator, his white hair barely brushing the ceiling of the cramped subway shaft. His footfalls were measured, controlled, each strike leaving tiny cracks in the concrete beneath him. Ahead lay the black capsule that held Kaito, the boy whose power had thrown the world into chaos.
Alexander's eyes were fixed, unblinking. The air smelled faintly of ozone, metal, and something darker—something primal. He reached the edge of the chamber, just a few meters from the capsule, when a whisper cut through the tunnel.
"Don't look away from the battlefield."
Alexander stiffened and instinctively spun around. From the shadows emerged a figure cloaked in black, a skull mask covering the lower half of his face, and a blue sword gleaming faintly even in the dim light. His presence radiated authority and lethal precision.
Alexander's muscles tensed as the figure took a step forward, sword raised, aiming directly at his neck. Reflexively, Alexander pivoted, the swing of the blade missing him by mere centimeters.
A spark of steel and shock echoed through the chamber.
Billish froze, wrench mid-air. "Boss… who is he?"
Andreo's sickle shivered in his grip. "What… who…?"
Michael's staff quivered slightly, the protective barrier wavering.
Kuro's voice cut through, calm but sharp. "He is… our main member. The true leader of this group."
The room's atmosphere shifted. Even Alexander felt the pressure—the aura of someone far above ordinary combatants.
The masked figure did not hesitate. He lunged forward, blue sword flashing in a blur. Alexander's physical buff gave him strength and speed beyond human limits, but the blade came with an unerring precision that tested his limits. The clash sent shockwaves rattling through the metal tunnel, dust spraying in all directions.
Meanwhile, Andreo and Michael joined the engagement, flanking the masked swordsman. Their combined assault pushed Alexander back—but he moved like liquid steel, deflecting blows and retaliating with brute force. Every impact sent shards of metal and concrete flying.
Across the chamber, Sui Hiroshi—Kaito's father—stood alone. No flashy powers, only a faint physical buff, yet he was determined. He lunged at Kuro, Billish, and Sinon, attempting to disrupt their formation. Punches and strikes landed, but without abilities beyond human-enhanced strength, his attacks were met with counterblows that forced him back again and again.
Alexander noticed kaito father struggling. With a roar, he hurled Andreo into a corner, grabbing Sinon's rope mid-air to prevent it from ensnaring Sui Hiroshi. The chain of action was seamless—a dance of brute force and precision, but the opponents were relentless.
And then—something impossible happened.
The capsule. The black container holding Kaito began to pulse violently. Cracks had already formed in its vantablack and unbilium shell, but now the energy inside surged outward, creating a faint tremor that rattled every object in the chamber.
A sudden, explosive hiss split the air. The capsule's lid cracked fully. A swirl of dark, obsidian-like aura burst out, flowing around the chamber like liquid shadow.
Kaito emerged. His body radiated pure black energy, tendrils of it weaving around him like serpents of darkness. His movements were fluid, almost graceful, yet terrifyingly powerful. The aura spread rapidly, making the hair on everyone's neck stand on end.
Samuel, seeing the transformation, immediately scrambled toward the exit. "I need the pill—now!"
The pill. The last resort. A 10% chance of success, 90% chance of failure, designed to boost solar affinity to extremes. Even if it failed, it would leave Samuel at risk—but the alternative was worse.
Kaito's eyes opened fully, crimson light searing through the shadow. He smiled. A dark, twisted smile that sent a chill through the spine of every person in the room. He was not calm. He was not restrained. He was… hungry for chaos.
Billish's grip on her wrench tightened, Andreo's sickle shimmered, and Michael readied his staff defensively. The masked swordsman froze for a heartbeat, calculating his next move. Alexander's aura flared brighter, muscles tensing, yet even he hesitated for a split second—this presence, this power, was something he had never faced.
Kuro's eyes narrowed. He took a step back, assessing the black energy emanating from Kaito. "So… this is what he has become," he muttered under his breath.
The chamber shook again. Black energy tendrils snaked across the walls and ceiling, brushing against machinery and causing sparks to fly. Even Sui Hiroshi felt a pressure that threatened to crush him physically.
Kaito's smile widened. His aura pulsed in rhythm with his heartbeat, dark and malevolent, yet mesmerizing. Samuel returned, clutching the pill in a trembling hand. He glanced at the black energy spiraling around Kaito and swallowed hard.
"I… I don't know if this will work…" he muttered, but his fingers tightened on the capsule of the pill.
Kaito's gaze flicked toward him, crimson eyes catching Samuel's movement. "Do you really think that will help you?" His voice was low, almost melodic, yet every syllable carried the weight of pure danger.
Billish and Andreo moved in unison, trying to hold their positions. Michael braced the staff against the ground, preparing to counter Kaito if he lunged. The masked swordsman raised his blade, reflecting the dim lights of the tunnel like a blade of blue lightning. Alexander tightened his fists, muscles coiled like springs, ready to intercept.
But Kaito… he didn't attack yet.
Instead, he stepped forward, his black aura spreading like ink across the chamber, the very air trembling with his presence. Shadows stretched and warped around him, creating a dark corridor that seemed to pulse with intent.
Samuel's grip on the pill tightened, sweat running down his face. "It's now or never," he whispered.
And then, as if sensing the collective tension in the room, Kaito's lips curved into that same unnerving smile. His body shifted, aura flaring violently, shadows spinning outward and brushing against every person in the chamber. The crack in his capsule glowed, emitting a faint metallic hum.
The masked swordsman stepped forward, blue sword poised. "So… he awakens," he said calmly. "Then it's time."
Alexander adjusted his stance, readying for the coming assault.
The tunnel seemed to hold its breath. Dust, sparks, and the faint hum of black energy combined into a palpable tension, like the entire world had narrowed into this single moment.
Kuro's team, Alexander, and Sui Hiroshi braced. And yet, no one dared move first.
Then, Kaito's aura flared violently, expanding outward in a wave of darkness that pushed back everyone in the chamber. The shadows bent unnaturally, curling around his body as though alive. His smile widened further, and his eyes glinted with pure malice and delight.
"Let's see who survives tonight," Kaito whispered, his voice echoing in the tunnel like a sinister lullaby.
And in that instant, the chamber was alive with tension, every weapon raised, every muscle coiled, every breath held—waiting for the storm that was Kaito Hiroshi.