The city was no longer screaming.
It was… quiet.
Too quiet.
---
Yakumaro walked through what remained.
Ash.
Ruins.
Silence.
---
But this time…
He wasn't alone.
---
High above—
On a broken tower—
Figures stood.
Watching.
---
"…So he's still alive."
---
A man lowered his binoculars.
Eyes sharp.
Cold.
---
"Not just alive."
Another voice.
Calm.
Measured.
---
"…He fought it."
---
Silence.
---
"That's impossible."
---
"Not for him."
---
A pause.
---
"…Is he one of us?"
---
"No."
---
The answer came instantly.
---
"…He's something else."
---
Below—
Yakumaro stopped.
---
His body still hurt.
Every movement heavy.
---
But his eyes…
Were different now.
---
"…Someone's watching me."
---
He didn't look up.
---
But he knew.
---
Above—
The figures froze.
---
"…He sensed us?"
---
"…Impossible."
---
But none of them moved.
---
Because they felt it too.
---
Something had changed.
---
"He's unstable."
---
"…Good."
---
A faint smile.
---
"That means he can be used."