December 4th, 2008, 06:32 a.m.
Chichibu Mountain Roads, Japan.
Fushhhhhhh…!
The snowstorm lashed against the road and the frozen trees, the air biting cold to the bone.
Krukk… Krukk… Krukk…
The sound of footsteps echoed along the snow-covered road. A silhouette could be seen with its back to the rising sun over the whitening hills of Chichibu.
At the edge of the winding road, Riko and Rika sat helplessly, their small bodies beginning to be covered in snow. They were still trying to warm Dianna's body, who had yet to regain consciousness.
"K… Sister, I'm hungry." Rika spoke in a trembling voice. Her body shivered violently, and her lips had begun to crack from the extreme cold.
"J… just wait a little longer. Father… Father will come." Riko whispered, her voice shaking but forced to remain calm. She held Rika tightly, as if that embrace could become their last barrier against the cold.
The snow continued to fall. Time seemed to slow, pressing down on their breath and their hope.
Then…
The pale sunlight was suddenly blocked.
A tall shadow stood before them, cutting off the fragile morning light.
Its presence was silent, yet enough to make the air feel heavier.
Slowly, Riko and Rika lifted their heads. Their innocent gazes stared straight at the figure, into the eyes of the silhouette drawing closer through the storm.
Fear crept in without a sound.
Instinctively, they pressed themselves closer to Dianna, holding her tighter, the only protector they had, who could no longer protect them.
***
Meanwhile, Katsushika District - Hugo's Residence.
The atmosphere was utterly silent and suffocating. Only two predators now faced each other, their eyes locked.
"Gerhh… Grohh…" The breath of Alpha Urqell echoed through the room, the only sound breaking the stillness.
"Heh… Did you fall in love with me? If you keep staring at me like that, I might get the wrong idea, you know." Hugo spoke with a relaxed smile, one that slowly widened into a teasing expression.
WUUUUSSSHHH~VREEE!
The sound of a scythe infused with Gamma energy tore through the air, slicing across the room with a sharp screech.
"Show time." Hugo murmured, still wearing that faint smile, his body already moving out of the path of the deadly swing, beyond speed, beyond time.
KRAAAKKKK~BLARRR!
Without warning, Alpha Urqell swung its scythe again toward Hugo. The single, powerful strike instantly shattered the sofa, ripped through the floor, and tore apart the walls of the room.
Pukk!
At the speed of light, Hugo was already behind the Alpha, casually patting the creature's shoulder.
"Oi… oi… I just bought that sofa yesterday." Hugo said, his expression still calm, his smile unwavering.
WUUUUSSSHHH~KRAAAKKKK!
"Grohh…" In an instant, the Alpha spun its body. One swing of its scythe tore through the wall like a sheet of paper, triggering a violent internal explosion.
"Tch… slow." Hugo said lightly as he leapt past Alpha Urqell. Both his hands remained in his pockets, as if this battle was nothing more than a minor inconvenience.
JEEG~BOM!
Without pause, Alpha Urqell unleashed another vertical strike. A massive explosion ripped through the floor and walls, destroying the structure and tearing down into the street below.
"Hehe… did I offend you?" Hugo asked, now standing beside Alpha Urqell, as relaxed as if moving at the speed of light were nothing unusual.
In the midst of the fierce battle…
Kukuruyuk~Kukuruyuk…
The ringtone of Hugo's phone broke the tension, ringing sharply amid the roar of Gamma energy.
WUUUUSSSHHH~VREEE!
Ignoring the interruption, Alpha Urqell swung its scythe again with overwhelming speed, slicing through the air with a deadly hiss.
Hugo remained standing calmly in place. With a casual motion, he took his phone from his pocket, paying no attention to the sharp scythe rushing toward him, ready to cut him in half.
Just as the blade came within inches of his skin, Hugo raised a finger into the air.
Snap!
The sound of his finger snap echoed softly, yet its vibration seemed to tear through reality itself.
In an instant, the scythe's swing stopped. Dust froze in midair. The ticking of time came to a halt.
Time stopped!
***
Meanwhile, on the Chichibu Mountain Roads, Japan.
Fushhhhhhh…!
The freezing morning air gently brushed over the snow-covered roads of Chichibu. The scene stood in stark contrast to the blackened craters left by erupting magma, now beginning to cool and harden, as if the earth was swallowing its own fury back into its deepest core.
Hiji remained unmoving, sitting cross-legged in the middle of the shattered asphalt road. His gaze was fixed forward, meeting the rising sunlight that began to touch his face with a faint warmth.
"They still haven't woken up." Hiji murmured softly. He glanced briefly toward the ambulance, where Sanna, Kaito, and Zulo were still trapped in deep unconsciousness. Meanwhile, Jōgan showed no sign of waking.
Tirt… Tirt… Tirt…
A holographic notification chimed sharply, breaking the cold silence of the hills.
Hiji raised his arm, tapping the surface of his wrist device until it projected the silhouette of a middle-aged man. The figure stood with his back to the glow of dawn, creating an aura full of mystery.
"Tch… Hey, old man. You're still alive?" Hiji said with a feigned annoyed expression, masking the respect beneath it.
"You're the one… who'll die first, you brat." The silhouette replied in a deep voice, sounding completely at ease.
"Stop acting like a child." Hiji shot back, his eyes widening in irritation.
"Tch, you started it. Bastard!" the silhouette snapped.
His face was now clearly revealed in the glow of the hologram of a middle-aged man marked by a terrifying scar.
The wound stretched from beneath his cheekbone, crawling upward past the back of his ear. A permanent mark from a battle of life and death he had once survived.
"I contacted you because Hugo hasn't been reachable since last night." He said, his tone growing heavier as he struggled to restrain the anger on the verge of erupting.
"Hah… he's probably getting himself a new Alpha Urqell to play with." Hiji replied, his expression showing a quiet acceptance of his comrade's madness.
"Tch… he never changes. Dianna's signal is gone. Are you with her?" the man responded, shaking his head slowly.
"I left her behind, with Hugo's daughters. Do you want me to go back to them, Putra Antaboga?" Hiji said, glancing toward the road stretching behind him.
"M… I don't think that's necessary." Putra narrowed his eyes, sinking into his thoughts for a moment. He answered after a brief silence, his voice now filled with absolute certainty.
"They'll be fine, Apo Laki." Putra concluded calmly, before ending the holographic connection.
***
Chichibu Hills, on another road.
Dianna's body still lay limp, unconscious, while Riko and Rika clung tightly to each other. Their innocent eyes stared in anxious silence at the silhouette standing before them, looming within the vast white expanse.
The silhouette moved slowly, lowering itself to their level before extending a hand toward the two little girls.
Pukk.
The touch was warm, gently stroking Riko and Rika's heads one after the other with quiet tenderness. Instantly, the fear frozen on their faces began to fade, as the figure's fingers softly wiped away the remaining tears from their cheeks.
Syuuuup... Puk!
With careful attention, Dianna's body began to lift from the snow-covered asphalt. The silhouette effortlessly gathered her into its arms, while the other hand held firmly onto Riko's fingers, who still embraced Rika.
"Come… it's too cold here." the figure said softly, guiding them as they began to walk along the whitened road.
"W… what about Sister?" Riko asked in a hoarse voice filled with sorrow, still holding her younger sibling close.
"R… relax. For now, let's find shelter and something warm to eat, alright?" The silhouette replied.
As they walked away, the figure gradually revealed his back, a tall man with a firm build, his long hair neatly tied in a half-up man bun.
Slowly, they continued along the winding road amid the graceful dance of falling snow. The white flakes gently covered their footprints, erasing all trace of their presence in the silent hills of Chichibu.