Flashback – Three Years Ago
Rain sliced through the night of Tokyo, dripping down neon signs and soaking the narrow alleys.
The city slept, but its underworld was wide awake.
Atop a hidden warehouse in the Shinagawa district, Nyra crouched, her gaze fixed on the illuminated complex below, guarded by dozens of armed men.
The cold wind swept through, making her silver coat flutter. Her blue eyes reflected the crimson glow of the distant panels.
"The Yūrei Clan... den of the Yakuza and the renegade Kitsune."
"This is where the blood debt ends."
She leapt from the rooftop, landing without a sound. Within seconds, the first guards fell —clean, swift, silent. The sound of steel cutting through the air merged with the distant roll of thunder.
Inside the warehouse, chaos took form. Nyra advanced, slicing through the air with ruthless precision — dodging bullets, striking without mercy, a hunter driven by vengeance.
Kitsune with flaming tails appeared from the shadows, conjuring illusions and firestorms — but none of it mattered.
The floor soon lay littered with bodies. The air reeked of smoke and blood.
Nyra pushed through the main doors, stepping into the inner hall —bthe heart of the clan.
There, seated on a throne of gold and bones, was Uryu, the nine-tailed Kitsune.
His expression was calm, yet his eyes burned with hatred.
"So, you're the apprentice of that cursed hunter from that wretched order," he said, his voice echoing like muffled thunder.
"Eijiro slaughtered half my kin. Tonight, the cycle closes."
Nyra raised her sword, eyes sharp as ice.
"My master died by the hands of a coward like you. And now, I'll make you pay."
Uryu smiled, his tails flickering with fiery power.
"Coward? Child... I am an ancient god."
"Do I look afraid to you?" she spat.
"I don't care if you're a god, or a monster. Tonight, you fall."
His tails exploded outward, sending waves of fire across the hall. Nyra dashed forward, spinning through the flames. Steel met claws— sparks, roars, thunder.
Uryu's strike slashed her shoulder, hurling her against the wall. Blood dripped from her lip, yet her gaze never faltered.
"You... have no idea what I carry inside."
Uryu raised his claws.
"Then show me."
And she did.
A primal scream tore through the air. A surge of black and blue energy erupted from her body, twisting the ground, making the lights flicker and shatter.
Her eyes glowed brighter, fangs extending, black veins spreading down her arms.
This was her parcialy monsterawaken.
Uryu's smirk vanished.
"What... are you?!"
"I'm what happens when the monster wins."
She vanished in a flash of shadow. The sound of the strike was clean — final.
Uryu didn't even have time to react before the Kaburami pierced his chest.
His body dissolved into ash, his nine tails falling like smoke to the floor.
Silence.
Nyra stood still, breathing heavily, her body still radiating demonic energy.
Around her, nothing but ruins—no Kitsune left alive.
She wiped the blood from her sword, her eyes slowly returning to normal.
"Rest in peace, sensei," she murmured.
"I kept my promise."
But before she could leave, a deep voice echoed behind her.
"Impressive. The descendant of the first ones."
Nyra turned.
A tall man in black robes and a wide-brimmed hat stood there, amber eyes gleaming with amusement.
"Who are you?" she asked, blade still raised.
The man lifted his hands in peace.
"Call me Cletus. Merely... a scholar of ancient things. Let's say I once knew someone from your family."
Nyra's eyes narrowed.
"What do you mean by that?"
Cletus approached slowly, his footsteps echoing through the broken hall.
"The Kramer bloodline is special. It reaches deep — into the very heart of the abyss."
"And you, my dear, can become something far greater than you imagine."
"And why would I trust you?" she hissed.
He tilted his head with a faint smile.
"Because... I can give you what you seek. Power. Knowledge. The truth of what you really are."
The blade gleamed with a crimson reflection.
Nyra hesitated, her eyes locked on the mysterious man.
Then she spoke:
"Talk. I'm listening."
PRESENT DAY
Atop the newly reborn demonic castle, Nyra stood motionless.
The breeze tangled her short silver hair. Her katana rested against the black stone floor as she watched the chaos below.
Lights flickered. Alarms screamed across the city.
The sky was painted in blood and ash — a false sunset of apocalypse.
Soft footsteps echoed behind her.
"Beautiful view, isn't it?"
Cletus's voice dripped with veiled malice.
Nyra didn't turn. Her tone was cold, controlled.
"Cletus…"
With a theatrical smile, Cletus spread his arms, gazing down at the burning city.
"Tell me this doesn't thrill you... The demonic fortress reborn!"
"The place where once, both humans and monsters knelt before absolute power."
He stepped beside her, eyes gleaming with near-religious reverence.
"The greatest dark minds of their time —cultists, conquerors, architects of doom —built this magnificent citadel!"
"And now, after centuries buried in the depths, it rises again... to fulfill its destiny! Isn't it glorious?"
Nyra exhaled slowly, unimpressed.
"That's not my problem."
Cletus's smile faltered.
Nyra turned her head slightly, eyes glinting.
"Does she still have the pendant?"
Silence.
Cletus adjusted his collar, theatrically.
"Of course. After all..."
"It's the only memory you two have of the mother you lost. But you could've taken it a year ago. Why didn't you? It would've made things easier."
Nyra's gaze hardened, fury flickering beneath calm.
"I have my reasons. She has no idea of the true power she carries..."
Before Cletus could reply, the mist around them thickened.
A creature made of shadow emerged before Nyra — clawed, twisted, whispering in guttural tones.
Nyra turned her back on it.
She took a single step forward.
In one swift, silent motion, the katana flashed from its sheath.
A clean cut. Instant death.
The creature disintegrated into ash before realizing it was dead.
Nyra slid the blade back into its scabbard without looking back.
Cletus swallowed hard, glancing at the fading mist.
Then — his eyes shifted downward, toward the castle's entrance.
Far below...
A blue motorcycle skidded to a stop on cracked earth. At the seat sat a woman — short blonde hair, piercing blue eyes. A fitted blue combat shirt, black tactical shorts, and a high-tech spear strapped to her back. Gear on her thigh hinted at military training —or something far more dangerous.
She raised a pair of binoculars, focusing directly on the top of the castle.
Her lips curved into firm determination.
" I found."
The ground behind her began to tremble as twisted creatures clawed their way up from the dirt, hissing for blood.
She didn't even look back.
The throttle roared. The bike surged forward, leaving a trail of glowing blue vapor that burned and disintegrated the monsters in a blinding flash.
She sped toward the castle.
And nothing would stop her.