The moon hung faint and cold through the sterile windows of the underground lab, casting long, sharp shadows across the polished floors. Seraphine moved quietly, mop in hand, wiping away the spot where Ingress had almost strangled the life out of her. Each stroke whispered a silent, desperate prayer:
If Kazimir is really what Ingress claims… then please—let him be the one to kill that monster. No matter what the cost.
Behind her, the soft hiss of containment tubes broke the silence. Tojo and Xavier—once comrades, now empty shells—awoke within their glass prisons. Their eyes flicked open, hollow and controlled, weapons reborn.
Ingress stood at the center, arms crossed, bathed in the harsh lab lights. Power seemed to pulse beneath his skin like a living thing, a smirk curling at the corner of his lips.
Invisible drones zipped silently through the air ducts, ready to broadcast his declaration. Daylight would be his curtain rise.
He murmured, voice low and venomous:
"Count your final hours, Kazimir. This is your last run."
"You were a fool to trust humans. And Riah… after I kill you, maybe I'll take her too. Turn her into a vampire. Make her cry for you. Then forget you, like all women eventually do."
"I'll be the strongest. The new anchor of humanity. Brace yourself, boy… I'm going to enjoy killing you."
—
Meanwhile, somewhere far above the underground lab, inside the Prismic Gathering mansion—
"PFFFFFT!"
Flour exploded right into Kazimir's face as he rounded a corner. His black hair—tipped faintly with blue—turned into a cloud of white powder. Not a muscle twitched on his sharp face.
Laughter rang out from every direction.
He blinked slowly, recognizing the culprits.
"Riah… Gendai… Jessie… Neve."
Before he could react, they vanished into the shadows like ghosts.
Kazimir sighed, shaking his head as he made his way to the faucet, rinsing flour from his face.
—
Nearby, three voices whispered from the dark hallway, full of frustration.
Tyrone grumbled, "Why are we playing hide-and-seek like kids?"
Kamaki whispered back, "You think we had a choice? The girls never lose when they team up."
Raijin smirked, "This isn't normal hide-and-seek. We're hiding from a guy who doesn't even need his eyes."
Kamaki blinked, confused. "What do you mean?"
Raijin replied, "He once fought blindfolded. Took down A-rank beasts like they were nothing. I lost to him like that."
Kamaki's voice dropped, impressed. "That's… badass. Shh! He's close. Play dead!"
—
Kazimir opened the next door. The energy inside was masked but faintly detectable.
He bent down, peered under the bed, and locked eyes with Felicia.
"Found you," he said with a smirk.
Felicia groaned. "How?!"
Kazimir grinned. "Horror game rule #1: always check under the bed."
She reluctantly followed him as he circled back, spotting Tyrone behind a door, Kamaki clinging to the ceiling like a spider, and Raijin stiff as a board in the closet.
Raijin muttered, defeated, "The fed got us."
Tyrone sighed. "Note to self: never rob a bank with you three."
Kazimir glanced at Kamaki. "Why the ceiling?"
Kamaki shrugged, "Panic."
—
They searched for twenty more minutes before moving down to the basement.
Dark and silent, the flashlights flickered over cold stone walls.
Kazimir froze as a whisper sliced through the stillness.
Neve's voice: "Girls! Now! Before he finds us!"
"PFFFFT!" Another cloud of flour hit him.
Kazimir, deadpan: "Is this hide-and-seek or hunt the warlord?"
He raised his hand.
"World Clock."
Time slowed, stretched thin. Everyone froze—but their voices carried on.
Tyrone groaned, "Well damn. That sucks."
Raijin groaned, "I'm out."
Kamaki agreed, "No way."
Neve pouted. "YOU CHEATER! YOU STOPPED TIME!"
Riah scolded, "BAD KAZIMIR!"
Gendai chimed in, "VERY bad!"
Jessie threatened, "I'LL BEAT YOUR ASS FOR CHEATING!"
Raijin turned to Tyrone, whispering, "He's about to get jumped. I'm crying here."
Tyrone shrugged, "Not my problem. I value my life."
Kamaki grinned, "I regenerate. I got this."
Raijin nodded, "Respect."
Kazimir lowered his hands.
"Okay, okay! I got floured twice. Fair's fair."
—
Riah stepped up, arms crossed.
"Nuh uh."
Kazimir raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean 'nuh uh'? That's totally fair."
Neve crossed her arms too, Jessie and Gendai flanking her, forming a semicircle of doom.
Kazimir muttered, "...Am I about to get jumped?"
Raijin mocked, "He's lucky. Wish that was me."
Tyrone chuckled, "Dude fights gods but loses to girlfriends and sisters."
Kamaki admitted, "We'd last zero seconds."
Riah pinched Kazimir's cheek hard.
Kazimir laughed, "Ow! Okay, okay!"
Neve smiled, "The tough guy's gone! He's human after all."
Jessie cheered, "Execute him!"
Riah smirked, "Since you cheated, you cook tonight."
Kazimir groaned, "At this hour?!"
Riah pushed him forward.
"Into the kitchen, pretty boy."
Kazimir sighed dramatically, "Guess it's time to unleash my Gordon Ramsay arc."
Riah grinned, "Better not disappoint."
—
Tyrone shook his head.
"Don't we have maids? Kazimir's cooking?"
Raijin laughed, "He already lost."
Kamaki joked, "Even legends can't dodge girl power."
Felicia nodded, "Rare Kazimir L. Deserved."
Then Lihanna appeared, stepping in from outside.
Jessie called, "Where were you?!"
Lihanna replied flatly, "In a tree."
Everyone stared.
Jessie ordered, "Get your ass in the kitchen. Outside's off-limits."
Lihanna groaned, "Ugh. Fine."
—
Soon, the mansion's long dining table was alive with laughter, teasing, and stories—children clinging to joy before the coming storm.
In the kitchen, Kazimir and Lihanna worked side by side, quietly preparing dinner.
Tomorrow, war would return.
But tonight—they were just people.
And that was enough.