🏛️ Odessa Facility — Council Room
A heavy tension fills the room.
The counselor observes both boys.
— From today… you will be separated.
Silence.
— Until now, you've fought together. Now… we want to see what you can do alone.
Zadkiel frowns.
— Alone…?
Shin'en smirks slightly.
— Finally. I was getting bored.
The counselor places two files on the table.
— Shin'en… eliminate a dangerous man. A child is involved.
A pause.
— The child must not die.
— Zadkiel… capture a traitor.
He leans forward slightly.
— But this will not be a simple capture.
— These targets… are different.
🚪 SEPARATIONOutside, a strange silence.
Zadkiel:
— Be careful.
Shin'en:
— Say that to them.
The two walk in opposite directions.
🔥 SHIN'EN — THE ABANDONED DISTRICTA dead place.
No life.
Only pressure in the air.
Shin'en walks slowly.
Then stops.
Two figures.
A child.
And a calm man.
They are playing.
The man speaks:
— You have a burning Empreinte… interesting.
Shin'en tenses.
— …It's you.
The child looks up.
Gorath:
— You came for me?
Silence.
Gorath:
— Tell Odessa to stop. I don't want more blood.
Shin'en narrows his eyes.
— …What?
The man disappears—
—and reappears behind Shin'en.
💥
A violent strike.
Shin'en is thrown into a ruined courtyard.
⚔️ SHIN'EN VS GORATHThe air becomes heavy.
Gorath activates his Empreinte:
🪨 TITAN ARMOR
His arms expand.
Stone-like.
Massive.
Shin'en attacks instantly.
🔥 Black flames.
💥
CLANG.
Blocked.
Effortlessly.
Shin'en (thought):
…Impossible.
Gorath advances.
💥
Heavy strikes.
One after another.
Shin'en is pushed back.
Breathing harder.
🔥 SHIN'EN AWAKENINGShin'en:
— …I'm done playing.
His Empreinte explodes.
🔥 Red + black flames
His body shifts.
His eyes turn red.
The air distorts around him.
Gorath:
— …What is that?
💥 FINAL IMPACTBoth charge.
💥
Massive collision.
The ground cracks for dozens of meters.
Shockwaves destroy nearby buildings.
Silence.
Both collapse.
Exhausted.
But Gorath is still alive.
Gorath:
— …You're not normal.
Shin'en approaches the child.
Gorath (shouting):
— DON'T TOUCH HIM!!
Pause.
Then—
Gorath:
— …I'll talk. Odessa… isn't what you think.
⚔️ ZADKIEL — THE TRAITOR VANEAn empty warehouse.
Wind blowing.
A man waits.
Vane:
— You're faster than expected.
Zadkiel says nothing.
👁️ Aokugan activated.
Zadkiel:
— You're the traitor.
⚔️ THE FIGHTVane disappears.
💨 Illusions.
Zadkiel strikes—
Nothing.
Vane:
— Too slow.
💥
Invisible wind blades.
Zadkiel is cut.
Blood.
Zadkiel (thought):
…The flows.
He focuses.
Adjusts.
👁️ Enhanced perception.
He begins seeing through the attacks.
⚡ EVOLUTIONZadkiel increases speed.
Dodging perfectly.
Then—
He channels Empreinte into his legs.
💥 Extreme speed.
Vane:
— …Interesting.
Vane releases his true power.
💨 Body surrounded by pure wind.
But Zadkiel doesn't stop.
💥 FINAL STRIKEA final exchange.
💥
Blade vs Wind.
Zadkiel strikes.
Vane falls.
Zadkiel:
— You're going to answer.
🧠 REVELATIONSMeanwhile, Shin'en listens.
Gorath:
— Odessa… takes gifted children.
— And turns them into weapons.
Silence.
Gorath:
— My brother was taken too.
On the other side—
Vane speaks:
— Odessa…
— They are the real monsters.
Zadkiel clenches his fists.
— So…
— They are the enemy.
🔚 END OF THE CHAPTERBoth return to Odessa.
Lies.
Forced smiles.
Something has changed.
🌑 FINAL SCENEIn the shadows.
Raizen watches.
— The Black Executors…
A pause.
— Will soon begin.