A few hours earlier…
When Joshua arrived in Rigsville, the townspeople wasted no time. They quickly led him to the massive lake where the Shadow monster had been lurking beneath the surface.
The moment he reached the shore, Joshua felt it.
The giant Shadow's energy had drawn others to it. Dozens of smaller monsters now rested at the bottom of the lake, motionless, waiting for their next victim.
Joshua let out a slow breath.
Light energy flared around him as he stepped closer to the water, deliberately making himself visible. The grotesque shapes below stirred.
They took the bait.
What followed was swift and brutal.
By the time the water finally stilled, Joshua stood alone at the edge of the lake, his clothes soaked and stained with dark blood. The grateful townsfolk rushed to him, offering to clean them. Joshua accepted, heading to a nearby bathhouse while his clothes were washed and dried.
Once he was finished, he felt refreshed.
Then his stomach rumbled.
He decided to grab a quick bite before returning to Benville City.
At the crossroads, he found a spot at BFC, slid into a booth, and set his sword carefully at his side. Moments later, he unwrapped his burger and began to eat quietly, observing his surroundings.
Joshua: That mission took longer than I expected. What's with everyone here being so generous? Maybe they've never seen a Hunter before…?
He glanced up at the TV, his heart dropping as he watched a breaking news report:
"HUNTER FORCE ACADEMY UNDER ATTACK"
Joshua: (to himself) Under attack!? I can't sit here. I need to get back!
He shot to his feet, ready to bolt for the door—but a firm hand clamped down on his shoulder.
Joshua froze.
He turned slowly.
Standing behind him was a man with unnaturally pale skin. His presence alone made the air feel cold and dangerous. Every instinct Joshua had went on high alert.
Something about this man wasn't normal.
Zero: Yo
Joshua: (with urgency) What do you want? I'm in a hurry…
Zero: Relax. My friends wouldn't kill any of yours unless they're provoked. Everyone's fine, for now.
Joshua: Your friends?
Zero: That's right. I'm Zero, leader of the Kaimi Daja, the group attacking the HFA right now.
Joshua's hand went to his sword, but the man raised both hands slowly, a crooked smirk spreading across his pale face.
Zero: Easy…
The way he smiled made Joshua's grip tighten even more.
Zero: Not here. I'd prefer somewhere with more room to move around. Besides, I just want to talk.
He sat down, and then gestured for Joshua to join him.
Zero: Come on.
Joshua: (to himself) What the hell? He actually wants to talk? And why is the leader of the Kaimi Daja here in Rigville? I can't sense any energy from him. So he's human? He's a human who wants to fight a Level 1+ Lighter?
No matter how many questions popped in his head, the scenario still felt off to him.
Joshua: Fine. Let's see what he has to say.
He sat across from Zero, eyes locked with his. Neither of them looked away.
In an instant, the rest of the restaurant disappeared; chairs, tables, and diners all vanished, leaving only Joshua and Zero.
The sudden emptiness pressed in on him, amplifying his confusion.
Zero: Wondering where everyone went? It's a technique from one of my Kaimi Daja associates. The restaurant's owner allowed us to use this place to bait you.
Joshua looked at Zero with an intense look on his face.
Joshua: So, this whole setup was just for me. You must be the ones responsible for the shadow monster in the lake, just to draw me out.
Zero: (grins) Sharp, aren't you? Probably top of your class back at the academy. It's no surprise you're an Heir of the Fracture. I assume you've got questions. Ask away.
Joshua immediately spat out.
Joshua: What was the point of releasing those shadow bugs from May to July?
Zero: Straight to business, huh? (cleared his throat) Our goal is to collect the body parts that make the Heirs unique among shadows and lighters. So, naturally, we're after your left arm too.
Joshua: (to himself) So it's not just me huh?
Zero: Tracking down the Heirs wasn't difficult, but locating anyone from the Hamorabi Clan has been nearly impossible for the past 500 years. So, we recreated the Shadow Bug Technique from Sorin Hashido, the first anomaly, hoping to locate a shadow conduit by awakening one. The chances were low, given how rare shadow conduits are, especially those from an extinct clan. But it worked; it led us to Kato Hamura. After we kidnapped him, we confirmed he possesses the God Eye and that he's a direct descendant of the Hamorabi Clan. So you can say it wasn't all for nothing since it led us right to him.
Joshua's anger flared, and he shot back at Zero without holding anything back.
Joshua: So, you ruin lives, Kato's and countless others just to achieve your so-called goals?! What possible reason could justify this destruction?!
Zero responded calmly.
Zero: Peace.
Joshua: What?
Zero: The main reason I assembled the Kaimi Daja was to bring peace.
Joshua: So you ruined the lives of so many people for "peace"?
Zero: Do you remember the incident of 1997? The incident of the battle between the shadow with the Shadow core and Eldon Snyder? I lost my family to the destruction they caused. I was haunted by one thought: if Shadows and Clarions didn't exist, that tragedy wouldn't have happened.
He paused and watched Joshua's facial expressions before he continued.
Zero: The endless cycle of hate cost me everything. But thanks to that incident I was able to find my true purpose. That's why I'm collecting the body parts of the Heirs; to harness the Nexus power and remove Shadows and Clarions from this world. If they didn't exist, tragedies like the 1997 incident wouldn't happen.
Joshua: The Nexus? Remove Clarions and Shadows? What makes you think you have the power to do that?
Zero suddenly grinned.
Zero: Explaining wouldn't make sense. I'll show you instead. However this means that our conversation has come to an end.
Without warning, the ground exploded upward. A massive dog's head burst forth, swallowing part of the restaurant and with it, Zero and Joshua. The remaining section of the building shuddered and collapsed, sending wood and debris flying in every direction.
On the street, Desmond Gravy, a member of Kaimi Daja and the one who had summoned the monstrous beast, stood watching with a calm, calculating gaze.
Desmond: He survived that… right?
In the next moment, Zero phased through the dog's massive jaws, his Ghost Transformation technique activating just in time. He emerged from the creature's body, battered but alive, a small gash marring his right arm.
Zero: Watch that technique, Desmond! If I hadn't used the ghost transformation, I wouldn't have made it out.
Desmond: You're the one who didn't just use the ghost technique on time so don't blame me for an injury you can heal off.
Zero: Fair point.
Desmond: (exasperated) So… think my illusion dog is enough to hold him?
Zero: Don't be a silly old man. If a Level 1+ Hunter was easy to kill, I wouldn't have come up with this plan.
Desmond: SHUT UP.
In a blur of motion, a 360-degree slash tore through the dog's gaping mouth.
Joshua seized the moment, propelling himself free and leaping out of the monstrous jaws.
Zero: And there's the star of the show. Hope you noticed it, yeah?
As Joshua landed in front of his opponent, he began to process what he had just seen.
Joshua: (to himself) What in the…? I didn't sense any energy from him, yet he used a ghost technique. That was Sanito's technique!!
He looked at Zero's arm and saw steam coming from it; an indication that he was healing himself.
Joshua: (to himself) And he's using Harmonic Restoration to heal himself. But how? Using techniques without shadow or light energy should be impossible! (adjusts his glasses) What exactly is he?!
Zero: (grins) I see you noticed. I'm using techniques without any detectable energy.
Joshua: Yeah. So… what are you?
Zero: (laughs) I'll explain it all while we fight. Hope you don't mind, I brought some company.
Joshua's gaze swept around and froze.
He was surrounded.
Five Kaimi Daja members surrounded him: Zero, Desmond, Korra, Lokk, Gaki, and Jokita. Each one poised, every stance radiating lethal intent, ready to strike.
Joshua: A six-on-one fight? Hardly seems fair.
Zero: Hey, when you're dealing with a Level 1+ Lighter, it's best to play it safe.
Joshua eyed his opponents: three Shadows, two Clarions, and Zero, whose abilities defied all logic. And thus, the battle between Joshua and the six Kaimi Daja members was about to begin.