Walking through the portal, Chiyo finds herself lost in the Death Mist Forest. The girl looked around confused, and then notices the tens of corpses laying on the ground that died in the battlefield, both humans and demons. She felt heavy just by seeing the nauseating atmosphere, and she swiftly flies away towards Shainihebun.
As Chiyo reached the town and walked towards the Varyashim base, the first person she encounters was Etsuko, and her lips form a smile, but then notices that something felt off... the blonde girl didn't smile back, she only looked at her with some eyes that tell her she has been through a lot, and Chiyo's own smile lowers.
– Long time no talk... welcome back... Etsuko muttered, with a hardened expression in her face.
– E-Etsuko... w-what's wrong? What happened to you?.. Chiyo asked, obviously worried.
Etsuko looked away, and then turned back towards her and she says reluctantly:
– They took my sister away...
– What do you mean, did they... kidnap her or—
– They... killed her. Etsuko confesses, in a way that it shows how hard it is for her to express it.. those simple words breaking Chiyo right in the heart.
She looks down, her fists clenching as the guilt starts hitting her again, then hesitantly looked at Etsuko and asks:
– W-Who started all of this..? W-Who is... t-the king of.. the d-demons?..
– Kowamaru...
The answer shocked Chiyo even further. She starts breathing as she thinks about the time she has spent with Kowamaru in her childhood, the way they used to get along together, the unit 3. She wasn't able to imagine Kowamaru, the person she cared about, turning into this... monster.
– I am going after his ass. Chiyo affirms as she turns her back on Etsuko, instantly making her reach out after.
– Hey, Chiyo! Don't be a dumbass, it is very dangerous to go by yourself and you know that. It is a drag, I know, but we need to fight togeth—
But before she could finish her sentence, the warrior of crystals already flew away. Etsuko remains with the hand in the air, and then groans, rubbing her temples.
– God...DAMMIT!! She screams, and quickly runs after her.
While Horie was fighting against the demons and clearing up another area, Chiyo quickly flies besides him as she was slaughtering through the monsters like they were nothing, leaving Horie with his mouth hanged open comically. He turns around and sees Etsuko from the distance reaching while panting.
– Don't just stand there, just follow me before we see another dead friend. Then you'll know exactly what my problem is.
Meanwhile, while Orochi rested in his hospital bed, Kobe knocks at his door and comes in.
The snake hybrid fighter notices Kobe's depressed look and his expression softens.
– You look like you went through a lot, and perhaps wanted to express your feelings to somebody close... what happened, Kobe?
– R-Rika... s-s-she... she is dead, bro...
Orochi's expressions widens at that revelation, and tries to deny it himself:
– N-No... you must be joking, there is no way she—.. a beat passed, Rika died in battle... didn't she?..
Kobe doesn't say anything, clearly affected by her death, while Orochi looks down, no word coming out of his mouth, but tears rolling down his eyes, dripping down on his blanket. His heart was broken that one of his closest teammates died in battle, even if he tried hiding it.
A few minutes pass and Kobe walks out of Orochi's room, the hallway of the hospital was empty and dull, and he sits next to the wall and starts remembering all the times he shared with her.
He remembers when there was once a time where he found Rika by herself in the Yanuha Forest in Shainihebun, still training on her rituals. The bright warm sunshines were reflecting towards her beautiful eerie figure, roses and lilies were charmingly surrounding the area they were in.
Since their relationship and his crush for her was raising more and more as the days passed, he picked up carefully a few roses and walked up to her.
– Rika... Kobe called out her name softly, and she turned to look at him.
– K-Kobe... you sweet stuff.. you didn't need to bring me roses...
– I-I am sorry for bothering your rituals or anythi—
But then he cut himself off as he saw Rika walking towards, she took the flowers and smiled gently, a warm smile that is nothing like the crazy usual wide grin he knew, this was... genuine, and it made his heart melt back in the days, the way she was smiling genuinely and affectionately, like he had someone who actually carried about him, who thought he wasn't just a troublesome prick, who... valued him.
– Thank you... that means a lot, nobody was ever this sweet with me before.. Rika stated, with a gentle tone.
Kobe was still hearing those words even now, haunting him.. especially since he had lost the only person who valued him the most, and fell into a cycle of self-hatred and guilt. He couldn't save the girl he had sworn to protect.
As he returned home, the next thing he sees was Rika sitting on his chair, he couldn't believe his eyes, he felt... relief, joy, he thought she isn't truly dead, and maybe... it was just him, but it didn't matter.
– Rika! Rika!! He ran towards her, placing a hand on her shoulder in an excited manner, you... y-you are not dead!!
But something felt off, as she turned to look at him, she looked... empty inside, dull. Kobe looked confused, with his hand still on her shoulder.
– Hands off me. She says in a firm tone, shocking him further.
He slowly removed his shaky hand as he took a step back, while Rika kept giving him a cold death stare.
– W-What did I do, Rika?..
But she didn't respond. He took a step further towards the table and kept looking at her confused. Almost a minute passed, and still mo words came out of her mouth.
– Please, tell me, Rika, tell me... where was I wrong? What is wrong with me?.. I... I don't even know what to do... but seeing that she is not responding, his tone raises, PLEASE TELL ME WHAT TO DO?! WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME, RIKA?!! SAY SOMETH—
But then he gets pushed by her, him tripping over the tables were the vases were and destroying everything as he was knocked down.
– You fool! You couldn't even protect me! You have sworn that, and you didn't do anything about it! I am tired of you! I am tired of your constant bitching! I hope you kill yourself, you worthless loser! Why are you trying to earn my attention when you can't even respect yourself!! Rika yelled in anger, and Kobe was trembling in fear and shock as he looked at her, destroyed.
He blinked, and then... there was nobody there to begin with. There was no Rika, and he was still knocked down, porcelain pieces of the broken vases laying around him. He slowly placed his hands on his face, going insane, realizing he was hallucinating this whole time.
... What's wrong with me?...