I sat in my chair, rocking it against the wall.
Back.
Forth.
Back.
Forth.
I couldn't stop thinking about the Siren.
Its words echoed in my mind.
"Your greatest desire... became your greatest weakness."
I clenched my fists.
"...Was it real?"
I whispered to myself.
"...Would they really kill me?"
Knock. Knock.
"Mr. Hisacage?"
It was the assistant.
"Your lunch."
"I'm not hungry."
"...Just leave it there."
"...Alright."
His footsteps slowly faded away.
Ten minutes later...
I stood by my window.
Something felt...
Wrong.
Hunters were running across the MHA courtyard.
Weapons.
Supplies.
Medical teams.
Everyone looked unusually serious.
I rushed downstairs.
"What's going on?"
A hunter looked surprised.
"Kyoren?"
"...You shouldn't be here."
I frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"...Nothing."
He quickly walked away.
That only made me more suspicious.
I headed straight for the High Elders' office.
"Oh!"
One of the elders smiled nervously.
"Kyoren."
"What's happening?"
"Nothing."
I looked out the office window.
Hundreds of hunters were preparing for something.
"...Then why is the entire MHA mobilising?"
The elder hesitated.
"...We're... capturing a monster."
"So why wasn't I assigned?"
"...We don't need you this time."
That answer didn't feel right.
Not after everything.
Not after the Siren.
"...Why?"
"It's for Dr. Akira."
I narrowed my eyes.
"...I don't believe you."
The elder's face changed.
He slowly looked toward the doorway.
"Hunters."
The room fell silent.
"...Do it."
Suddenly—
Dozens of techniques erupted toward me.
Fire.
Earth.
Water.
Lightning.
I jumped backward.
The office exploded behind me.
"...So it was true."
My voice became cold.
The Siren...
Hadn't been lying.
I stopped holding back.
The battle that followed was short.
Brutal.
Merciless.
When it finally ended...
Silence filled the room.
The floor was stained red.
Broken walls surrounded me.
Bodies lay motionless across the office.
Blood slowly dripped from my fists.
Only one elder remained alive.
He crawled backward in terror.
"P-Please..."
I grabbed him by the collar.
"Talk."
"I-I'll tell you everything!"
"Then hurry."
He swallowed.
"We... found someone stronger than you."
"...Who?"
"Raion Yubiwa."
"What's so special about him?"
"He's formed a bond with a monster..."
"...A Manticore."
"He can become even more useful than you."
"...Useful."
I repeated the word quietly.
"So..."
"You tried to replace me."
The elder nodded.
"...Whose idea was it?"
He hesitated.
Then whispered...
"...Yamato."
My heart stopped.
"No..."
"...You're lying."
The elder lowered his head.
"It's the truth."
Everything went silent.
Without another word...
I raised my fist.
CRACK.
The elder collapsed.
I looked around the ruined office.
The MHA.
The people I thought had accepted me.
The people I trusted.
"...Maybe..."
I whispered.
"...the real monsters..."
"...were never the ones outside."
I turned toward the burning building.
"...I'll make every last one of them answer for this."