Hiyori, Raihtasu, and Elsiya stood in the dim hallway, confusion written on their faces."There are four floors in this building," Raihtasu said. "If we stay together, we won't find him in time. We need to split up.""I see," Elsiya replied. "I'll search this floor. You two go to the next one."
Hiyori looked at Raihtasu. "You said he might be in the basement."Raihtasu frowned. "Maybe… but I'm not sure. We've already wasted half an hour. We need to explore fast.""You go," Elsiya said. "I'll handle this floor.They nodded to each other, then split up .Elsiya began opening every room on the first floor. Empty. Silent. One after another.
"This is the last room on this floor," she murmured to herself.The scene shifted to Hiyori on the second floor."He's not here," she whispered. "But something feels wrong. There's no one on this floor at all."Suddenly, an attack came from behind.She blocked it instantly and turned, her eyes sharp.
"What? Did you think I was that weak?"
She countered, and the fight exploded into motion. Before she could finish him, twenty to twenty-five figures appeared, surrounding her. Their faces were completely covered.Hiyori smirked."Looks like today will be a good warm-up."They attacked all at once. She blocked every strike, moving like a shadow, taking them down one by one."So easy."Suddenly, a knife flew past and stabbed into her arm.
She turned sharply. "Who are you?"No one appeared.Kunai began flying from every direction. She deflected each one effortlessly."Now this is getting interesting."The fight intensified.Back to Elsiya.She opened another door."No one here either…"She moved deeper and opened more rooms, until she reached two long corridors. They were dark, abandoned, and completely silent.
She stepped inside.Minutes passed."I've been walking for twenty to twenty-five minutes," she said quietly. "But no one's here. I only have five to ten minutes left. I need to find him—fast."At the end of the corridor, she saw a turn."One more path… I can't go much farther."She stepped forward.
"It's not that long…"A room appeared ahead, light spilling from inside.She ran toward it.As she approached, she saw someone sitting casually at a table, holding a vial of frozen-colored chemicals. Her hair was pale, almost icy."Come in," the girl said with a smile. "I've been waiting. You're late. We moved him five minutes ago."Elsiya's eyes widened."No way…"
She stepped inside.The door slammed shut and locked."What are you doing?" Elsiya demanded.The girl stood, her posture sharp and dangerous, and walked closer."I'm going to kill you."Elsiya flipped backward, and the fight began.
At first, they exchanged normal blows. Then Elsiya realized something was wrong.Gas filled the room."It stinks… I can't inhale this," Elsiya thought. She held her breath and kept fighting.Suddenly, acid splashed onto her leg."Ah!""It burns… but I can't stop."Pain shot through her body, but she forced herself to stay strong.Smoke filled the room, making it impossible to see clearly.Using her power, Elsiya focused, observing everything.
"You won't get away from me."She noticed a window.She dashed toward it, threw it open, and the smoke poured out.Now her opponent stood clearly in front of her."I'm not going to lose," Elsiya said.The chemical girl threw another vial, but Elsiya dodged."It's time to kill you," the girl said coldly."Go ahead."In an instant, Elsiya appeared behind her and drove her nails into the girl's back.
Elsiya smiled."What? You thought I didn't notice? This isn't your chance. It's mine."She glanced down."Look at your feet."The girl's expression froze in shock."I'm… freezing?"Elsiya flipped back, wincing in pain."I need to get to the ocean. They didn't take him here."
She jumped out the window.The scene shifted back to Hiyori.She had one of her opponents tied to a chair."You're pretty strong," Hiyori said calmly. "But not strong enough. Tell me where he is."The man laughed weakly."I won't tell you… even if you kill me.""You brat."She left the room, checked the time, and clenched her fist.
"Time's up. They took him to the sea."She ran out of the building toward the ocean.Raihtasu stood outside, smoking a cigarette. He smiled faintly."Black Fang really has weak people."He dropped the cigarette and walked away.
Elsiya reached the beach."So they already moved him…"She stepped onto the sand.Her foot burned instantly.She gasped, pain twisting her face, and stumbled back to the stairs. She sat down, breathing hard, and called Hiyori.Hiyori answered immediately. Raihtasu was beside her."Elsiya, where are you?" Hiyori asked.
"I'm on the beach," Elsiya said. "They already took him.""Stay there," Hiyori said. "Track their location. We're three minutes away. Do you hear us?"Silence."Elsiya?"The phone slipped from Elsiya's hand.The call disconnected.Hiyori's expression instantly."We need to move. Now.""She's in danger."
The cold waves crashed violently against the shore.Hiyori and Raihtasu ran across the sand."There!" Hiyori shouted.Elsiya lay motionless near the stairs, her body still, her breath shallow."Elsiya!" Hiyori dropped to her knees beside her. "Hey—open your eyes! Please!"No response.Her hands trembled as she checked Elsiya's pulse."She's alive…" Hiyori whispered, her voice breaking.
Raihtasu lifted Elsiya carefully."Move. Now.The scene shifted.A quiet room inside the yacht.Elsiya lay unconscious on the bed, her breathing uneven. Bandages covered her burned feet. The faint hum of the engine filled the silence.Hiyori sat beside the bed, gripping Elsiya's hand tightly."If we were even a little later…" her voice cracked. "She would've died."Raihtasu stood near the window, arms crossed.
"No. She's strong. Braver than most." He paused. "But her condition is serious."Hiyori looked up. "What's the plan now?"
"It's good I called the yacht early," Raihtasu said. "But taking her deeper into the ocean worries me.""It's safer if she's not alone," he continued calmly. "As long as we're with her."Suddenly, the door opened.A young crew boy rushed in, breathless."Sir Raihtasu—we've spotted their ship."Hiyori's eyes darkened instantly."Good. I'll make them pay for what they did to her."The boy hesitated."Sir… it's dangerous. They're heading toward the Mystery Side."
Silence fell."Mystery… side?" Hiyori asked.Raihtasu didn't look back."Continue. Don't stop.""Yes, sir."The boy left.Hiyori turned sharply."What is the Mystery Side?"Raihtasu finally spoke, his voice low."I don't know much. People say it's a portal. Anyone who enters never comes back."
He sat down heavily on the sofa.Hiyori looked back at Elsiya's burned feet, her chest tightening.
"I feel sick just looking at her. Her feet are completely burned… I don't think she'll ever walk again."Raihtasu shook his head."Don't overthink. You'll heal her."He glanced at Hiyori. "You always do."Hiyori exhaled slowly."You're right… but you know this is her weakest point."
Elsewhere.
The boy they had captured earlier lay tied with ropes in the ship's kitchen. His throat was dry, his voice hoarse."Water… please… just water."No answer. He forced his eyes open and struggled, rocking the chair violently.The chair fell.Outside, two soldiers froze."What was that noise?"They opened the door—"WAIT—!"Too late.He slammed into them, knocking one down, then the other. Footsteps echoed as more rushed in.
One by one, he took them down.Then—Heavy footsteps."Oh no…" he whispered. "Not again."A girl stepped inside."Who did this?" she said coldly.He panicked and dove into a cabinet.Suddenly—A cockroach dropped onto his shoulder."AH—!"He jerked.
The cabinet burst open.He rolled onto the floor."Oh no…"Back on deck.Raihtasu stood alone, staring into the endless ocean."Two hours before sunrise," he muttered.A gunshot ripped through the air.He dodged instantly.A voice echoed from the approaching ship."Long time no see… big brother."Raihtasu smiled faintly."So… you joined Black Fang."Thunder roared.A storm formed instantly. Wind howled violently. Dark light twisted the sky.His brother laughed."What is this?"The air cracked.A massive dark portal opened, swallowing everything.Inside the yacht—Hiyori clutched Elsiya's hand."What's happening?!"The girl and the boy stared in fear.
"What is this place?!"Raihtasu shouted, fighting the wind."It looks like we already stepped into the portal!"
A blinding flash consumed everything.Silence.Then Bright sunlight.Everyone lay scattered on soft sand.The tied boy woke first, confused."What…? We were on the yacht… right?"His memories felt broken."What happened?"He shook the others.One by one, they woke.Raihtasu sat up, relief flooding his face."You're all here…" he laughed softly. "I was scared."Elsiya sat up suddenly."My leg…?"She froze."It's healed."Hiyori stood, eyes wide, shouting into the open sky.
"WAIT—WHERE ARE WE?!"The wind carried no answer.The scene faded.