Sato and Aiichiro entered the ruins after one of their fellow soldiers told them to check the place.
The ruins looked really old. But strangely, the place was quite clean, like people used to live there once. Now though, there were blood stains everywhere and a weird smell spreading through the air.
Spider webs covered most of the place. Even small plants were somehow growing between the stones.
As they walked deeper inside, the strange sound they heard earlier became clearer.
"Shhnnn!!"
It sounded like someone hitting metal with a hammer again and again.
Suddenly—
"Dhadam!"
Something heavy fell from above.
Both of them immediately became alert. Their hands moved to their swords as if they were ready for an attack any second.
"Oh… the sound is coming from upstairs," Aiichiro said, feeling a little relieved.
"Shhh!"
Sato quickly put a finger on his lips.
"Stay quiet. The danger is still there."
The two of them slowly moved forward and reached the stairs. Their hands were still resting on their swords as they carefully climbed up.
After going a little higher, they finally got a clear view of the upper floor.
Both of them started looking around to understand the situation.
Aiichiro suddenly noticed one of their squad members lying on the ground badly injured.
He thought for a moment.
So that sound we heard earlier… it must have been him falling.
"Aiichiro! What are you doing just standing there?" Sato whispered from below.
"Tell me what's happening up there!"
"Ah—sorry, I'm checking," Aiichiro replied.
When he looked again, he saw the real situation.
A brutal fight was going on.
Ishida — their squad leader — was fighting alone.
Two of their squad members were already injured, and now only Ishida was still standing.
His clothes were torn apart. His blazer was completely ripped, and the white shirt underneath had turned red because of blood.
His face was covered in sweat.
Even his hands were shaking as he held his sword.
Fighting four people at once in that condition was extremely difficult.
Meanwhile, the four enemies looked completely fresh, like the fight had just started for them.
All of them looked different, but they had the same symbol on the back of their clothes.
Anyone could tell they belonged to the same gang.
Aiichiro then looked toward a corner of the room.
There, a girl was sitting curled up like a turtle.
Her face had turned completely pale.
She wasn't even blinking.
She looked frozen… like someone had locked her inside a freezer.
Aiichiro was shocked for a second.
But he quickly made a decision.
"SATO!! SAVE THE GIRL!"
His voice echoed throughout the ruins.
"What girl?!" Sato asked in confusion.
But Aiichiro had already started running.
Ishida heard the shout too, but he couldn't take his eyes off the fight.
However, one of the thugs got distracted.
Ishida immediately took the chance.
His sword pierced straight through the thug's chest.
The man collapsed instantly.
The remaining thugs became furious.
One of them had a huge mustache covering most of his face.
His thick eyebrows rose in anger.
"YOU FILTHY BASTARD!!"
"How dare you stab my brother?!"
He shouted loudly.
Ishida felt a chill.
This is bad…
Suddenly his foot slipped and he fell to the ground.
He tried to stand up again, but his body was too exhausted.
Still, he kept trying.
If he gave up now, he would die.
But strangely, death wasn't what scared him the most.
What scared him more was Aiichiro.
Aiichiro still looked up to him as a cool senpai.
He didn't want to lose in front of him.
The thug's huge sword was just about to reach Ishida's neck—
But suddenly Aiichiro appeared in front of him.
CLANG!
Aiichiro hit the enemy's sword with his own, knocking it upward.
The thug struggled to control his heavy sword.
Aiichiro's sword was lighter.
He quickly swung again and attacked the thug's chest.
The thug tried to block with his arm.
But—
His arm was cut off.
"AAAAHHHH!!!"
"MY ARM!! MY ARM!!"
The thug screamed loudly as blood started pouring out.
But instead of fighting back, he started crying.
The moment he saw the blood, he fainted on the spot.
The remaining two thugs immediately stepped back.
Aiichiro took a deep breath.
But the danger still wasn't over.
Inside, he was still scared.
But he tried to look brave.
Ishida looked a little disappointed.
I lost in front of my junior…
"Senpai… thanks for holding them off this long," Aiichiro said.
"I'll handle the rest."
"Oh? Looks like juniors are trying to act cool now," Ishida said jokingly.
Meanwhile, Sato was looking around for the girl.
He finally saw her sitting in the corner.
He ran toward her.
"Hey! Are you okay?"
He asked again and again.
But the girl didn't respond.
She just sat there quietly.
She wasn't even blinking.
Tears slowly started falling from her eyes.
Suddenly—
THUD!
She collapsed and fainted.
Everyone's attention went toward her.
Aiichiro looked worried, but he couldn't go there yet.
Not until the remaining enemies were defeated.
Just then, footsteps were heard from the stairs.
Aiichiro looked over while blocking an attack.
It was their fellow soldier who had stayed below to treat the injured man.
"Ikari! Check the girl first!" Aiichiro shouted.
But at that moment—
A blade cut across Aiichiro's shoulder, tearing his blazer.
He stepped back quickly.
His breathing became heavier.
The fight was exhausting him.
Nearby, Ishida was still trying to stand, but every attempt caused him intense pain.
Meanwhile, Keigo ran toward the girl and checked her breathing.
Her breathing was unstable.
"Sato! Hurry! Take her to the car!"
"But—"
"Please! Hurry!"
Sato understood that the situation was serious.
"Aiichiro! I'll send you the address later!"
"Finish the fight quickly!"
He lifted the girl onto his shoulder and rushed downstairs.
Keigo opened the car door and helped place her inside.
Then he started the car and drove away at full speed.
Back in the ruins, Aiichiro stood there breathing heavily.
His hands were shaking.
His legs were trembling.
But he kept fighting.
The remaining thugs were also exhausted after such a long battle.
One of them swung his sword.
Aiichiro dodged the attack and crouched low.
Then he slashed upward.
The thug collapsed unconscious.
Now only one enemy remained.
Seeing his companions defeated…
The last thug lost his courage.
He surrendered.
[Scene fades to black]