The building was surrounded by walls of glass and steel, right in the heart of the capital. From the outside, it could have been mistaken for a bank or the headquarters of some multinational corporation. But in the basement, three floors underground, lay the meeting chamber of the EXOR organization.
It was a wide, windowless room, centered around a rectangular table of dark wood. On it rested folders, laptops, and untouched glasses of water.
The five high-ranking officials were already seated, each dressed in immaculate three-piece suits, resembling corporate executives negotiating a merger. Yet the tension in the air betrayed any sense of formality.
At the head of the table stood their leader, Adrian Kreutz. Tall, lean, his slicked-back hair gleaming under the lights, and a black ring glinting on his right hand, he radiated an authority no one dared to question.
He rapped the table lightly with his knuckles.
—"I won't waste words. Our reports confirm something none of us thought possible: demons and monsters are working together."
The murmur was immediate. Mytra Voss, the youngest strategist of the group, snapped open her folder and scanned the reports.
—"That contradicts everything in recorded history. Demons and monsters have slaughtered each other for centuries. Their hatred was… natural. Where are you getting this from, President Kreutz?"
—"Precisely for that reason," Kreutz interjected, "the situation is so dangerous. In a matter of weeks, they've gone from sworn enemies to fighting side by side. No one knows who—or what—persuaded them. But the attacks have spread across the entire country."
Vice President Marcus Dhal, the eldest of the five and hardened by decades of war, cleared his throat with irritation as he laced his fingers together.
—"Could this be manipulation? Some unknown leader pulling the strings? No alliance of that scale forms without someone uniting them."
Mytra slowly shook her head.
—"Or they've found a common enemy that forced them to set aside their hatred. And if that's the case…" she tossed the folder onto the table, "that enemy could be deadlier than both factions combined."
Kreutz rose and paced slowly around the room, hands in his pockets.
—"Whatever the reason, we need to uncover it. I'm not talking about rumors—I want evidence. The five of you will work together on this. Until we know the truth, no one outside this room can know a word of it."
A heavy silence followed. They all understood the weight of the order: it wasn't just dangerous—it was an ultimatum.
Finally, Kreutz sat down. He leaned forward on the table, both palms pressed flat against the wood. His voice dropped a pitch, taking on a cutting edge.
—"And there's something else troubling me. Our informants have detected movements from the Blancken sisters heading in the same direction."
The shock was instant. Even Marcus, seasoned veteran though he was, clenched his jaw.
—"Is that information confirmed?" he asked.
—"More than confirmed," Kreutz replied. "We already know, from reliable sources, they've started poking their noses into the investigation."
—"And how the hell are they getting this information?" Marcus demanded.
Kreutz's gaze glinted coldly behind his glasses.
—"I'm afraid… those two have spies inside EXOR."
Mytra clicked her tongue.
—"If those two get involved, this will spiral out of control. They don't distinguish allies from enemies—anyone chasing the same trail becomes an obstacle."
The others nodded grimly. They all knew who the sisters were: women clad in stark black military uniforms, elegant yet severe, their chests emblazoned with a symbol—three swords forming a circle, a small shield at the center, and within it, a closed book. Wherever that insignia appeared, the air itself seemed to grow heavier, as though it alone passed judgment.
Kreutz looked at each of them in turn.
—"If they discover the truth before we do, our organization will be exposed. And you know it: the Blancken sisters neither forgive nor negotiate."
Marcus slammed his fist against the table.
—"Then we move fast. We find the root of this alliance before they do."
Kreutz straightened, nodding.
—"Exactly. You leave tonight. Divide your resources, contact our infiltrators, and monitor every city where joint demon-monster activity has been reported. I don't want theories—I want results."
The silence that followed was absolute. None dared to add a word. Outside, the world went on as usual, oblivious that beneath its feet, in that hidden room, the future of humanity was being decided.
Tokyo, 23:47 hours.
The city never truly slept. The suburbs of Nerima seemed calm at that hour, with two-story houses lined up like puzzle pieces, warm lights glowing through windows, and the distant rumble of a late-night train. But for the exorcist sisters, that calm was nothing more than a mask.
The black car stopped three blocks from the designated address. Its tinted windows concealed the three figures inside. The engine cut off, leaving behind a silence broken only by the restrained breaths of those who knew something inhuman was dangerously close.
In the backseat, Débora sat with impeccable rigidity, legs crossed. Her black uniform, identical to her sister's, bore the stitched insignia across her chest: three swords forming a circle, a small shield in the center, and within it, a closed book. The emblem shimmered faintly under the glow of a nearby lamppost. Her face remained unmoved, carved from stone, untouched by tension.
Beside her, Astrid leaned forward, peering through the window at the house named in their report. Her blue eyes flickered with focus—and unease.
—"I see it…" she murmured. "A modest two-story home, blinds half-drawn. In the living room, a child—no more than ten. And…" her gaze hardened, "the old woman with him isn't what she seems."
Débora's voice was steady, detached.
—"A lesser demon. I recognize the energy."
Astrid's fists tightened.
—"We can go in now. End her before the boy is in danger."
—"No." Débora's voice was dry, curt, like a wall of concrete.
The driver, a broad man with a shaved head and a scar over his brow, adjusted the rearview mirror to glance at them. He, too, was an exorcist—a loyal member assigned as driver and support. His name was Yuto. Years on these streets had sharpened his instincts, and he didn't miss details easily.
As Astrid glared at the house, Yuto noticed something across the street: a lone figure, seemingly just another passerby, but standing too still, too calculated. Yuto's eyes narrowed as recognition struck.
—"Ladies…" he said gravely, "we're not alone."
Astrid snapped her head around, but Débora only shifted her gaze slightly.
—"Who?" she asked, her tone unshaken.
Yuto swallowed.
—"I know him. He works for the monster-hunting organization… the Global Eradication Council. The CEG."
The air in the car grew heavier. Astrid's scowl was immediate.
—"The CEG? What the hell are they doing here? This isn't their jurisdiction."
Débora gave the faintest of nods, as though confirming a suspicion.
—"Not coincidence. If he's here, it means they got the same lead. Something stinks."
Astrid already had her hand on the door handle.
—"Then we move first. If that lesser demon is here… Do you feel it?"
—"Of course," Yuto muttered grimly.
Débora's calm voice cut through.
—"That presence… it's no coincidence. A high-ranking demon, and a CEG agent, in the same place."
Yuto's voice tightened.
—"Miss Débora… what are your orders?"
—"Intervene," Astrid snapped. "I'm not sitting here while they plot—whatever it is they're plotting."
But Débora raised her hand firmly, stopping her.
—"No."
Astrid turned on her, fury burning in her eyes.
—"That child is in danger!"
—"We don't know that yet." Débora's icy gaze pinned her in place. "Demons are cunning. A high-ranking one wouldn't reveal itself so easily. If you go in now, you'll alert everyone—and we'll lose the advantage."
Astrid inhaled sharply, battling to restrain herself. Silence thickened in the car, broken only by the patter of rain beginning to fall.
—"We must be patient," Débora continued. "If the CEG is caught in a scheme, wouldn't you rather uncover it before striking blindly? We'll watch, wait… and when the reasons are clear, we'll strike without mercy."
Astrid clenched her jaw, then slowly let go of the door handle.
—"I hate when you're right."
A flicker of satisfaction lit Débora's eyes, though her face stayed impassive.
Yuto looked again at the figure across the street. The CEG agent lit a cigarette, the ember briefly outlining his face before smoke swallowed it. He didn't seem in a hurry, but his posture was sharp—just as alert as they were.
Astrid sneered.
—"If he knew we had him in our sights, he wouldn't dare breathe."
Débora leaned forward, her voice a whisper.
—"Let him. Hunters think they play on the same board as we do, but they forget—they're pawns as well. Yuto."
—"Yes, Miss Débora."
—"We leave. I won't risk suspicion. If we stay, my sister will act rashly. We'll investigate another day."
—"As you command."
The engine growled to life, pulling them away from the scene.
Rain poured harder. Inside the house, lights flickered. The child laughed, blissfully unaware of the threat surrounding him. The demon, disguised as a grandmother, stroked his hair with unnatural tenderness—too perfect, too rehearsed.
Astrid pressed her forehead to the glass, each breath sharp with restrained anxiety.
—"If that high-ranking demon shows itself, I won't just sit still."
Débora said nothing. Her eyes stayed fixed on the house, calculating, waiting. Like a patient predator, she knew the true danger hadn't revealed itself yet.
The car disappeared into the rain.
The mission had barely begun, and already, the fragile balance between exorcists, the supernatural, and monster hunters hung by a thread.
!Hi!
"Every view, comment, and bit of support keeps this story alive ❤️. Thank you for being part of this journey!