Before the escape plan ever began, Hide met a man named Ringo.
Ringo wasn't a subject. He was a wanderer from the outside world, a man who had entered Eden's Garden searching for truth. He dreamed of forming a guild—one that would expose what this facility was doing. But he didn't make it far. He was captured and thrown into one of the lower holding cells, just another "test subject" waiting to disappear.
When Hide was ordered to dispose of him, he found the man sitting in the dark, his wrists bound and blood running down his cheek. Despite everything, Ringo was smiling.
"So," Ringo said, glancing up. "You're the one they send to finish us off now?"
Hide said nothing at first. The light above flickered, casting shadows across his face. His clothes were torn, his expression tired and hollow.
"I'm not here to kill you," Hide said at last.
Ringo tilted his head. "No? Then what are you here for, kid?"
Hide knelt down and quietly unlocked the restraints with a stolen key. "To make it look like you're dead. They'll throw your body outside by morning. Once you're out, you'll be free."
Ringo blinked. "Why risk it for me?"
Hide's tone stayed calm. "Because you're not supposed to be here. You don't belong in this place." He hesitated. "And because I need you to do something."
Ringo gave a tired smirk. "Name it."
"When you're free, find others who might escape with me one day," Hide said. "My friends—people like me. Protect them. Keep them safe until I come."
Ringo studied him for a moment, then smiled faintly. "You've got guts, kid. Most people here lose their soul, but you're still fighting. Alright, I'll help. I'll wait. I'll keep my promise."
Hide gave a small nod and turned to leave.
"Hey," Ringo called after him. "You'd better survive. Don't make me wait for nothing."
Hide didn't look back. "I'll try."
The next morning, cameras recorded only the body of a "dead man" being dragged away. By the following day, Ringo was dumped in the wastelands outside Eden's Garden—alive, waiting, and watching for the day Hide would keep his word.
A few days later, Hide shared his plan for escape. Everyone he trusted agreed.Ringo, outside the facility, had already gathered allies. Inside, Hide quietly observed the guards, memorized patrol routes, and learned the codes for every gate. He waited for the right moment.
That night, the alarms blared.
The metallic click of cell doors echoed down every hallway. Subjects stepped out one by one, confusion turning to panic—and then to defiance.
A guard rushed in shouting, "Evacuate to B-wing! We're under attack!"
No one moved. The subjects turned on him instead.
Screams filled the corridors as chaos erupted. Hide sprinted down the hall, searching for Sona, while Jin led a group of subjects toward the escape tunnels. But Sona wasn't in her room. He ran through corridor after corridor until he found her standing alone in the dark, tears in her eyes.
"Sona, what are you doing?" Hide asked, catching his breath.
She turned, startled. "I couldn't find anyone… I thought everyone left me…"
Hide grabbed her hand. "Come on. We're not leaving anyone behind."
They ran through the smoke-filled hallway as the facility trembled.
Elsewhere, in the command chamber, chaos filled the room.
"Directors!" a staff member shouted. "The attack is a diversion—someone planned this! The subjects are escaping!"
Aura's voice cut through the noise. "Kill them all. No one leaves."
"But what about Hide-kun?" another asked. "He's vital to the research!"
Hojo's lips curved into a cold smile. "So, Hide planned all this. The boy's grown smarter."
Aura turned to him. "Your orders?"
"Kill every subject," Hojo said. "Hide won't die, no matter what. If you find him—shoot to cripple. He'll heal. Then capture him."
"Yes, Director."
Outside, Ringo's group fought against the outer security forces, creating diversions and explosions to draw attention away from the subjects.
Suddenly, another alarm echoed across the compound.
"Director Hojo!" a panicked officer shouted. "The Owl has been sighted near the perimeter!"
"The Owl?" Aura's eyes widened. "It can't be—why would that thing come here?"
Hojo looked intrigued. "Maybe the fiend Hide spoke to wasn't bluffing after all."
The Owl—classified as an SSS-tier fiend—was a creature of destruction. If it was near, Eden's Garden wouldn't stand for long.
Hide and Sona ran through the corridors, stepping over bodies—subjects and guards alike. The air smelled of smoke and metal. Orders had been given to kill anyone still breathing.
Hide prayed Jin and the others had made it out.
"Hide," Sona said between breaths. "Where are we going?"
"To the north hall," Hide said. "Jin should be there by now."
They stopped briefly to rest. The faint echo of boots approached, and Hide pulled her behind a wall.
"Master Ringo! There—those kids!" someone shouted nearby.
Ringo turned. In front of him were three figures—Jin, Rin, and Lucy. They looked ready to fight until he raised his hands.
"Easy! I'm not your enemy," Ringo said. "You're Hide's friends, right?"
Jin narrowed his eyes but nodded. "Yeah. Are you the one he told us about?"
"That's right," Ringo said with a small smile. "Guess the kid kept his promise."
"Where's Hide?" Jin asked.
"He went back for someone," Ringo replied. "You can wait or go. I'm waiting for him."
Jin nodded. "We'll wait. For him—and Sona."
"Hide," Sona said as they ran, "how much further?"
"Not far," Hide said, panting. "We're close."
They turned a corner—and froze. A squad of armed guards blocked the path.
"Sir Hojo," a voice crackled through a radio. "We've located Subjects 01 and 08. Preparing to eliminate them."
"Watch out!" Hide shouted, pulling Sona into his arms as bullets tore through the air. He rolled behind cover, shielding her. "You okay?"
Sona nodded, trembling. "What about you?"
"I'll live," Hide said, forcing a grin. "We need to move."
He carried her through the corridor, weaving through crossfire until a light appeared ahead—the exit gate. Beyond it, Jin, Rin, Lucy, and Ringo were waiting, waving frantically.
"Hide! Sona!" Rin shouted.
The door was closing.
"Come on!" Ringo yelled.
Hide ran full speed, the sound of bullets echoing behind him. As the gate began to shut completely, he made a split-second choice.
He threw Sona forward, pushing her through the narrowing gap.
"Hide, what are you doing!?" she cried.
"It's fine," Hide said, smiling through blood. "Just go. I'll catch up."
The door slammed shut.
"Hide!" Sona's voice echoed as her fists pounded on steel.
Ringo placed a hand on her shoulder. "We can't stay. He made his choice."
Tears streamed down her face as Ringo lifted her up and led the others away. Together, they fled into the forest, chased by fire and smoke.
Inside, Hide stood alone among the bodies of fallen guards.
"Well," he muttered. "Guess it's just me now."
The remaining guards surrounded him. "Fire!"
Gunfire filled the hall, but every bullet stopped midair and fell to the floor. Hide raised his hand. Invisible strings cut through the air. In seconds, the guards dropped, lifeless.
"I guess that's all of you," he sighed, bleeding but already healing. "Annoying."
A metallic hum filled the air. Something heavy crashed into him from the darkness, sending him flying through the sealed exit and into the outer courtyard. His body slammed against a wall. The weapon—a massive spiked ball—whipped back on its chain to its owner.
The man stepped out of the smoke, grinning. "Name's Niles. Specialist sent to wipe out the last subjects."
Hide pushed himself up. "Hide."
"You took that hit well," Niles said, spinning the chain. "The others died in one blow. Guess you're tougher."
The weapon howled through the air. Hide dodged, rolling across the dirt. Another swing cracked the ground beside him.
"You think dodging'll save you?" Niles taunted.
Hide's eyes flicked to the terrain, searching for a pattern. He sprinted into the open field.
"Gotcha," Niles said, grinning. He hurled the ball again. It froze midair—caught in a web of faint, shimmering strings.
"What—how!?"
Hide smiled faintly. "Now you're open."
He charged forward.
Niles laughed. "You think that'll work?"
The chain snapped tight around Hide's body, binding him.
"Let me explain your mistake," Niles said. "That ball you trapped? Just a construct. The chain is real—and you're in it."
He yanked the chain, summoning the conjured ball back for the killing strike.
Hide only smiled. "That's your power? I expected more."
Niles scowled. "Enough!"
The ball flew forward—but disappeared midair.
Niles froze. Hide's left eye was glowing faintly now.
The chains shattered.
"You underestimated me," Hide said quietly, raising his hand.
A dark figure materialized behind Niles—tall, cloaked in shadows, holding a scythe.
Niles froze, his body trembling. The shadows on the ground rose up, grabbing his legs.
"Death's Touch," Hide whispered.
The figure tapped Niles's shoulder. The specialist screamed as he was dragged into the blackness, vanishing completely. The figure laughed once and faded away.
Rain began to fall.
"So they hired mercenaries…" Hide muttered, brushing the blood from his chin. "How pathetic."
He turned toward the facility.
Inside, staff were panicking. "Director Hojo! Orders from Director Nagamoto—he's sending his top subject to destroy Eden's Garden! The Owl has vanished!"
"If that's Nagamoto's will," Hojo said, "then we retreat."
Aura and Hojo boarded a small carrier and lifted off. From below, Hojo spotted Hide through the storm.
Hide looked up and ran toward the carrier—only to stop mid-stride, suspended by unseen force.
A boy floated above him, eyes glowing with telekinetic light and a smug grin.
"So, you're the one everyone adores," the boy said. "Isn't that right, Hide-kun?"
Hide narrowed his eyes. "And you are?"
"The name's Nagasaki," the boy said, smiling. "I'm here to put an end to your little rebellion. But if I kill you, Father will kill me. You're his precious prize."
"Your father?" Hide asked.
"Oh, you've met him," Nagasaki said. "One of the Directors—same level as Hojo and Aura. He wanted to claim you for himself, but that bastard Hojo got to you first. Now that I've got you, maybe I'll bring you to him… or kill you and take the credit. What do you think?"
Hide smiled faintly. "You're a daddy's boy. No wonder he prefers me."
Nagasaki's grin faltered. "You—!"
"Tell your father," Hide said, "that I'd rather die than be an experiment again."
Nagasaki's face twisted with rage. "You bastard! Fine—then die!"
Hide struggled against the telekinetic hold, but it was no use. Nagasaki raised a finger to the sky.
"Goodbye, Hide-kun. Impel Down."
A dark sphere formed at his fingertip and dropped toward Hide like a meteor. It struck him squarely, crushing him into the ground. The sphere grew, pulsing with energy.
Nagasaki hovered above, watching. "What a lovely meeting," he said with a smile, turning to leave.
The sphere pulsed again—larger, heavier—ready to consume everything.
Hide's body shook, his vision fading. He knew this explosion would erase Eden's Garden—and him along with it.
He closed his eyes.
The sphere exploded.
Light devoured everything.
Hide drifted in the silence that followed, falling deeper into his own mind.