At the end of Volume Two, we witnessed countless perspectives converge. Each of them had reached their own conclusion. Each of them had made a choice that could never be undone. Now, they stand prepared, ready to walk the paths they have chosen. From this moment onward, every decision, every battle, and every sacrifice will shape the fate of this world. Will it remain the ordinary world it once was... or is something far greater, far darker, waiting beyond the horizon?
For the past several days, the weather had refused to calm down. Heavy rain poured endlessly beneath a sky swallowed by dark clouds, making the entire city feel like it had transformed into something unfamiliar.
VOLUME 3RD - CHAPTER 25 - BEGINS....!
Inside his apartment, Kye sat quietly on the couch, his eyes fixed on the television. A live news broadcast echoed through the silent room.
Anchor:
"This individual... Kye Kurasaki.
"Age: He will turn twenty-one in just a few days, on August 6.
"Family Background: Son of Daigo Kurasaki and Mira Kurasaki, both of whom work in the medical field."
"According to our reports, this individual has been connected to several major incidents. The most recent includes the case involving four unidentified bodies. His name has also repeatedly surfaced during the investigation of the child trafficking case."
"At this time, the police have found no concrete evidence to officially label him as a suspect. However, his repeated involvement and indirect connection to these cases have raised serious concerns among investigators."
"The investigation remains ongoing. As soon as new information becomes available, you will hear it first... only on Nation New York 24×7 News."
Click...!
Before the broadcast could continue, Kye switched off the television.
"...So they've finally started taking me seriously."
He remained silent for a moment before letting out a slow breath.
"I've already been to the police station two or three times over the past few days. I never thought they'd reveal my identity to the public..."
His expression hardened.
"But this means something bigger is about to happen."
"From this point onward... I can't afford a single mistake."
"If I fall now... no one will be there to pull me back from death's doorstep."
Without another word, Kye stood up.
He opened his wardrobe and pulled out a long grey coat. After putting it on, he picked up a western-style hat from the table. Finally, he wrapped a dark muffler around his neck, covering the lower half of his face.
Then, without looking back...
...he stepped out into the rain.
Scene shifts towards the alliance
The atmosphere inside the room was heavy, thick with a subtle tension that hung over the allies like a dark cloud.
They sat in a tightly-knit circle, every face etched with seriousness as they deliberated over their next move. The gravity of the situation was undeniable.
Saito leaned forward, his expression grave."Listen," he began, breaking the silence. "Based on the intelligence we gathered from the hospital, Daigo's wife is definitely tied to this case. Which means... Kye's parents are both equally neck-deep in this."
Arisa looked around the room, her voice laced with anxiety. "So... what's our next plan?"
"We keep digging for more evidence," Elena replied coldly, her gaze sharp. "But with whatever we have right now, we're going to get it published in the official Times Square newspapers. At the very least, it will ignite public outcry and force people to start questioning the government."
Hollow nodded in agreement. "Yeah, that's a solid plan. Besides, I need to regroup with Master Null and Master Kye as soon as possible. The media has already leaked Kye's identity... which means the enemy has already made their first move."
Arisa looked down at her hands, a flicker of hesitation crossing her face before she steeled herself. "I... I don't know how much help I can actually be to you guys. But I'm still coming with you. No matter what happens to me!"
Without a word, Saito stood up. He walked over to a secure case in the corner, unlocked it, and pulled out an unusually designed suit, laying it out before them.
"For ordinary humans like us, this suit might just give us the fighting chance we need," Saito explained, running his hand over the slick, metallic fabric. "It's forged from a tungsten-carbon compound—tungsten carbide. But I've infused it with a few of my own custom elements, making it even harder than diamond. Gunshots, blade attacks—it'll block them effortlessly. On top of that, it's integrated with a new-gen AI modular system to provide real-time battlefield data, along with several emergency countermeasures."
He turned his gaze directly toward Arisa, his tone turning severe.
"First off, all of you need to learn how to handle firearms. From this point on, the mission isn't going to be easy. Everyone has to be prepared to kill—including you, Arisa. If you want to save your brothers and Kye, this is the burden you'll have to bear."
Saito paused, his eyes softening slightly. "But... if you want to step back, you can still—"
"No!" Arisa interrupted firmly, cutting him off before he could finish. "I'm doing this. I want to help as much as I possibly can. I know they already know who I am... so I can't afford to stay weak anymore!"
Determination surged through the room. One by one, they reached out, stacking their hands together in a quiet oath of unity and confidence.
And with that unified resolve, the scene shifted.
We see that the rain had subsided significantly—it had almost stopped completely.
Kye walked calmly along the road, his eyes fixed on his phone screen.
He glanced down at the display.
> Date: August 1, 2030
> Battery: 27%
Kye was currently reading a recent news article. The headline caught his attention immediately:
"Renowned Scientist Dr. Arthur Found Dead at Residence; Cause of Death Suspected to Be Strangulation."
Kye's expression remained completely lifeless as he read through the article.
"So... Arthur was killed too, huh?" Kye muttered in a silent tone. "They probably figured out that he had been kidnapped. Quite impressive how fast those bastards operate. Here I thought... he might still be useful to us down the line."
Kye suddenly came to a halt.
He looked up to find himself standing right in front of another branch of SS PARTNERS.
This particular branch was situated in a fairly large, bustling town.
> Woshwood 77
On the outside, the branch looked completely ordinary—no different from a standard corporate office building. Inside, tons of employees, managers, and staff members could be seen actively working. The building itself was massive from the exterior.
Without giving it a second thought, Kye pushed through the entrance and stepped inside.
Just as expected, the interior radiated pure corporate office vibes. The reception desk was crowded with people, and the hallway stretched out into multiple private offices, conference rooms, and employee workstations.
Compared to the previous base, this branch felt strikingly normal—almost like a genuine, legitimate business operation.
However, Kye knew better than anyone...
There was no such thing as a "normal" branch when it came to SS Partners.
Kye walked directly up to the receptionist.
Without beating around the bush, he asked point-blank:
The young receptionist greeted him with a polite smile.
"Welcome to SS Partners. How may I help you, sir?"
Kye: "Could you tell me what specific purpose this branch serves?"
The receptionist looked at him with a polite yet professional smile.
Receptionist: "This branch functions to maintain our reach and operations in the outskirts far from the main cities. May I know your name and who you are, sir? Visiting without a prior appointment isn't allowed here."
Kye: "I just came to know that much. Nothing special."
Leaving those words behind, Kye turned around and walked straight out of the building.
Once outside, he paused on the street, his mind analyzing the layout.
'Now, what matters most is how I handle things moving forward,' Kye thought to himself. 'Looking at the inside, there doesn't seem to be any major force stationed here—like a Special Executive. Everyone looks like normal executives or basic security guards.'
He narrowed his eyes, surveying the bustling town around him.
'Still... if I make a direct move right now, it could trigger absolute chaos. This town is fairly populated, which will only create unnecessary trouble for me.'
A cold, dark smile crept onto Kye's face.
"Very soon... this branch will meet the exact same fate as the one in Vorington."
And with those chilling words from Kye, the scene shifted naturally toward our alliance!
We see the Alliance fully geared up and ready to head out!
Everyone stood in the room, dressed in their sleek, newly designed combat suits, fully prepared for the upcoming operations.
Elena smirked, looking Arisa up and down with an amused expression.
Elena: "Arisa, how do you even manage to look so cute in a weird combat suit like that?"
Arisa's face flushed red, and she immediately looked away, flustered.
Arisa: "Are you crazy?! You guys just say whatever comes to your mind!"
Saito walked over to the main wall and powered on the large digital display screen. As the glowing map flickered to life, he stepped up to give everyone a detailed briefing.
Saito: "Alright, pay attention. First, everyone needs to understand the exact structure and scale of SS PARTNERS' branches!"
He tapped the screen, highlighting several major points across the map.
Saito: "SS PARTNERS operates a total of 4 Head Branches... along with 4 Sub-Branches built far outside the main city limits."
He zoomed into the primary targets first.
Saito: "First, the Main Head Branches:"
* Manhattan
* Brooklyn
* Queens
* The Bronx
Saito: "There's one massive head branch located in each of these specific sectors. Out of all of them, the Manhattan branch is the most special—that's where almost all the high-ranking Heads and Chiefs reside."
He then tapped the secondary network icons on the map.
Saito: "Next are the 4 Sub-Branches, positioned in the outskirts to expand their operational reach:"
* Vorington Village (Mostly abandoned / inactive)
* Woshwood 77 (Highly active)
* Ashmoor (Mildly active)
* Grayson (Highly active)
Saito paused, clicking on a isolated, unlisted sector near the edge of the grid.
Saito: "Apart from all of these, I discovered something else. The town where Dr. Z's secret office was located doesn't actually have an official branch... but that place is known as:"
> [ Roshwa-07 ]
Arisa: "So... what's our plan now?"
Saito adjusted the display screen, his voice turning dead serious.
Saito: "This time, we're launching a full-scale, direct invasion... on Ashmoor. Since activity there is relatively low, it'll be much easier for us to break through and secure information!"
Elena: "When do we move out?"
Saito: "Tonight. We don't have much time left. Whatever we do, we need to do it fast. The government and the organization have already become extremely aggressive. Kye's identity being compromised proves that they're actively planning their next move."
Arisa checked the time before speaking up.
Arisa: "There's still some time before nightfall... Can I quickly go check on Ren and Luca?"
Elena: "Go ahead, but be fast. And make sure you come back safe, alright?"
Hollow: "I'll go with you, Arisa. It'll give me a chance to see them too."
The moment those words left his mouth, everyone in the room turned and stared at Hollow in complete silence.
Hollow frowned, looking around awkwardly.
Hollow: "What? Why the hell are you all staring at me like that?!"
Arisa let out a small smile.
Arisa: "Let's go then!"
As Arisa and Hollow stepped out of the hideout, the scene shifted naturally...
To an unknown man standing tall atop the roof of the SS PARTNERS branch building in Ashmoor.
The heavy wind rustled his coat as he spoke into his comms.
Unknown Man: "So... did you reach your position, Cipher? Do you have eyes on the target?"
The perspective shifted to Woshwood 77, where evening was slowly setting in.
Positioned high behind a nearby building, a mysterious assassin named Cipher was observing Kye from a distance through a high-powered scope. Kye stood on the street below, clad in his dark coat and muffler.
Cipher: "Yeah, I've arrived, Grimm And I've got him right in my sight..."
With every passing second, the tension in the air grew thicker, promising a violent storm...
[ END OF CHAPTER 25 ]