Three days had passed since Akira gave his blood to Hernandez. During that time, the sound of metal striking metal had echoed relentlessly. Then, suddenly, the noise stopped. A thick, dark fog emerged from the forge, slowly dissipating. Hernandez, his face radiant, stepped out of the workshop.
"I think I've completed your weapon," he announced enthusiastically.
"Finally," Akira sighed, standing with some impatience. Together, they headed to the forge. Hands in his pockets, Akira walked calmly. Inside, he found a long sword sheathed in its scabbard.
"So this is my weapon?" he asked, drawing the blade. An unsettling aura emanated from it, a mesmerizing blend of red and black.
The blade, long and slender, was double-edged, with an elegant shape that widened slightly near the guard before tapering to the tip.
Fascinated, Akira made a motion to swing the sword, but Hernandez interrupted.
"What are you doing? Trying to destroy this place?" he exclaimed, alarmed.
"Well, I need to test my sword," Akira replied, surprised.
"I'm not stopping you, but it'd be wiser to do it outside," Hernandez countered.
"Hmm, alright. I'll drop the idea," Akira conceded, abandoning his urge to try it. "By the way, get ready. We're leaving soon."
"Thank you! I'm eternally grateful," Hernandez replied, bowing with a grateful smile.
Akira paused, glancing at the still-bowing Hernandez, then walked away without a word, leaving the artisan alone with his pride.
---
Back at the camp, Akira received enthusiastic praise for his sword from Yumi and Elysia, while the others kept their distance, avoiding his gaze, especially Dorian.
"So, when are we leaving?" Elysia asked eagerly.
"Not long," Akira replied. "Get ready. As soon as Hernandez is back, we'll head out."
At those words, everyone began packing their things. After a few minutes, Hernandez appeared.
"Looks like you're already prepared," he said with a satisfied smile.
"You're exactly who we were waiting for," Elysia replied, relieved.
"Can we go now?" Akira proposed, taking the lead, followed by Yumi and the others.
---
When they emerged from the gate, they were greeted by total silence. The hunters meant to perform checks were absent. As they stood confused by the situation, a running hunter noticed them, stopped, and spoke.
"You there, why are you still here?" he shouted. "Don't you know what's happening?!"
"Wait! Why is no one—Kyaaaa!" As Mia started to ask what was going on, a wave of energy hit them, causing her to stumble.
"Hurry up!! Go join the other hunters!" the man said before running off.
Turning, Akira looked toward the dark gate, activating his Byakugan to see everything happening. What he saw was a gathering of nearly all the hunters standing before the gate, dressed in their gear, with several auras catching his attention.
"Well… looks like they're all prepared," Akira said with amusement.
"Prepared for what? What did you see?" Rhéa asked, panicking.
Looking at her, Akira began walking away. "Let's go. You'll understand when you get there," he said.
Limping along, the others followed. Unlike Yumi and Akira, who seemed unconcerned, the others looked worried. Walking through the desolate streets of Washington, not a single civilian was in sight.
When they arrived, they were shocked, their faces paling as they recalled the prophecy made by .
"Well… I'm off," Akira said, snapping them out of their thoughts as he headed toward an alley.
"What!! You're not going to help us?!" Dorian shouted, a mix of rage and fear. "You're not abandoning us after using us!"
Stopping, Akira looked at Dorian coldly. "Don't get cocky, you piece of trash. Tsk… I used you because I wanted to cause trouble. Why should I help you?"
Under Akira's cold stare, Dorian could only grit his teeth.
Heading into the alley, Akira left, leaving a saddened Elysia behind. After a moment, Yumi followed him.
In the alley, Yumi called out, "What's your plan now?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Akira replied. "I'm going to wait for whoever's behind that gate," he finished with a smile.
"I see! You plan to face them, don't you?" Yumi said, a smile on her lips.
"Something like that," Akira replied, not hiding his intent. "By the way, can you do me a favor?"
After a pause, Yumi replied, "Sure, what is it?"
"Could you stay with Elysia?" Akira asked.
At this request, Yumi's eyes widened, then she gave a small laugh. "I expected anything but that," she said, pausing before continuing, "But tell me, why this request?"
"Let's call it a whim," Akira replied with a small smile.
Looking at him for a moment, Yumi sighed. "Alright," she agreed.
"Thanks," Akira said, preparing to leave.
"You're much more human than an Otsutsuki," Yumi murmured so he could hear.
Without stopping, Akira leaped onto one of the alley's buildings.
---
[First Person POV]
An hour had passed since the gate began showing signs of breaking. As the minutes ticked by, the waves of energy grew more violent, shaking the city's very foundations. On the rooftop of a building overlooking the area, I stood impassively before the unfolding spectacle. My hands were casually tucked into my pockets, my sword planted in the ground beside me.
My usually sharp gaze seemed lost in the horizon, as if my mind were wandering far from the apocalyptic scene brewing. Yumi's final words echoed in my mind, looping like a haunting melody: "You're much more human than an Otsutsuki." Those words had struck me deeper than I cared to admit.
Clicking my tongue in annoyance, I muttered into the intensifying wind, "What did you expect me to say, Yumi? That I was human once?" My voice carried a note of melancholy. "It doesn't change the fact that I'm an Otsutsuki now. But…" I paused, my eyes narrowing slightly. "I'm not about to abandon my human feelings."
The wind whipped my hair as I continued my monologue, a confession to myself: "I want to fully enjoy this long life ahead of me. That's why I'll eliminate anything that stands in my way." My fists clenched in my pockets. "And to do that, I need to become stronger—much stronger than all the Otsutsuki combined."
A smile spread across my face, a mix of confidence and arrogance. "Come on, bring it!!" I shouted into the void, as if challenging the universe itself.
No sooner had the words left my lips than the gate exploded with a deafening roar. The blast unleashed waves of unimaginable energy, spreading in all directions like destructive tides. Nearby buildings began to crumble, windows shattered into thousands of shards, and the ground itself cracked under the phenomenal pressure.
Without a superfluous gesture, I erected an energy barrier around myself. The same went for the hunters nearby. Debris and shockwaves crashed against the barrier like waves on a reef, but it didn't waver for an instant.
Amid the chaos, as if emerging from another world, two figures materialized. Their unnaturally pale skin contrasted with their pristine white tunics. They floated in the air, their mere presence enough to make the air vibrate.
"Ohh… interesting," I murmured, a smirk forming on my lips as I recognized those who had emerged. With a single motion, I erased my presence completely, becoming invisible even to the keen senses of the newcomers.