NOVEMBER 12TH, 3:43 A.M.
The mysterious artificial moon hung low over the eerily quiet streets of Sendai, casting long shadows as Furōkawa, Retsu, and the unconscious Rin moved through the ruins. The atmosphere was heavy, though not just from the tension. Retsu glanced at Furō, his eyes flickering with both awe and unease.
"How strong are you, really?" Retsu asked, breaking the silence.
Furō stopped mid-step, his wings folding slightly behind him as he turned to face Retsu. "A little strong."
"Come on," Retsu pushed, shifting Rin's weight on his back. "What you did back there wasn't normal. Not even close. And I've seen strong sorcerers."
Furō considered the question for a moment, his expression unreadable. Finally, he sighed. "I'm strong because I inherited the heirlooms of 9 ancient valkyrie cursed spirits… not the most fun time."
Retsu's eyes widened. "You absorbed their power? All of it?"
"The important bits," Furō said, his voice playfully. "But one thing I don't get… Why team up with those bums? Sooner or later Naoto would've killed you. Without a doubt."
Retsu fell silent, his mind racing. After a moment, he spoke again, his voice quieter. "When I woke up yesterday, I didn't have any of this. No cursed energy, no fire powers—nothing. Then I got dragged into this stupid Culling Game. That Kogane thing said I had to fight or die. I didn't have a choice."
Furō's expression softened slightly. "Not many do. That's how the game works."
"Naoto… he was the strongest person I'd met," Retsu admitted. "He told me I had a better chance of surviving if I stuck with him. I thought maybe we'd be better off with more numbers. But now I see how naïve that was."
Furō tilted his head. "You know he was going to let me kill you, right?"
Retsu looked down, his jaw tightening. "Yeah. I know."
The silence between them lingered until Furō finally spoke again, his tone sharp. "Look, Retsu. As much as I'd love to sit here and have a heart-to-heart, I've got a mission. Something VERY important. I'm expecting more sorcerers to show up soon, and if you don't want to die, you'd better fight like it's your last day."0
"What are you after?" Retsu asked hesitantly.
"Points," Furō said bluntly. "Once the rule allowing point transfers gets added, I'll take your points and transfer one back to you. That'll keep you safe from the game's penalties for another nineteen days. After that, you're on your own."
Furō pushed off the wall and gestured toward Rin. "Pick her up, please. It's time to move."
Retsu adjusted Rin on his back, nodding silently. As they began walking again, Furō spoke without looking back. "Stay close, but if a fight breaks out, you run and keep Rin safe."
As they walked through the ruined streets, Retsu hesitated before breaking the silence again. "How old are you, Furō?"
"Just turned eighteen," Furō replied without hesitation. "You?"
"Nineteen," Retsu said. "Not too far apart, I guess."
Furō smirked. "I guess not."
They fell into a more casual conversation, each step taking them deeper into the quiet streets of Sendai. Furō explained how he grew up in Nagoya before moving to Tokyo when his parents relocated overseas. Retsu shared stories of his upbringing in Shibuya, talking about the city's vibrant energy and how despairing it felt to see it reduced to chaos.
Their conversation came to an abrupt halt when Furō suddenly stopped, his wings twitching.
"What's wrong?" Retsu asked, shifting Rin on his back.
Furō's gaze narrowed, scanning the street ahead. "Heads up, Retsu. Something's coming."
From the far end of the road, a horde of sorcerers stumbled into view. Their movements were jerky and unnatural, their skin marked with grotesque centipede tattoos that writhed as if alive. Their eyes burned with cursed energy, but they lacked any semblance of free will.
"They're not undead," Furō muttered, his voice low. "Someone's controlling them."
Retsu's heart pounded as the group of fourteen sorcerers began sprinting toward them with terrifying speed. Without a word, he turned and bolted, remembering Furō's earlier orders.
"Smart move," Furō muttered, flaring his wings wide to block the possessed from seeing Retsu and Rin escape.
The sorcerers closed in, their snarls echoing through the streets. Furō smirked, raising one hand as cursed energy surged around him.
"No rest for the weary," he muttered, pointing a single finger at the charging horde.
The air crackled with energy as Furō readied himself, his wings glowing faintly in the moonlight.
"Let's make this quick," he said, as the first of the mind-controlled sorcerers leapt toward him.