Part 1: Shadow in the Storage Room
Inside the pitch-black storage room, two streaks of light—one crimson and one blue—seemed to split the very air. Takuto felt a numbing sensation crawling up his arm from the electrical surges radiating from Shina's eyes, but his grip remained firm. He refused to let go.
Under Takuto's fierce gaze, Shina's smirk only widened. Instead of resisting, she leaned forward, resting her chin on his shoulder and whispering into his ear, her breath cold against his skin.
"You're... even more interesting than I imagined, Takuto-kun," she murmured. "There are only a handful of people in this world who can exert such intense Nova pressure..."
As she spoke, she ran her cold fingers gently across his cheek. The gesture felt far deeper than a simple provocation from an enemy; it felt intimate, almost predatory.
"What are you implying?" Takuto demanded, his voice low. "Are you with the Shadow Syndicate?"
Shina let out a mocking laugh. "Syndicate? Don't compare us to those rats hiding in the mud. We are... the shadows fallen from the heavens. And let me warn you, I'm not the only one interested in your Phoenix Eye."
Her voice suddenly turned ice-cold, dripping with hidden malice.
"Our organization, The Fallen Eclipse, has arrived to hunt down those who play 'hero'—like you. Specifically, we want the precious 'treasures' held by you and your little sister."
"Are you targeting Hana too?!" Takuto's Phoenix Eye flared with brilliance. The temperature in the room skyrocketed, causing the dust in the air to sizzle.
Unfazed, Shina stepped back slowly, her body beginning to flicker.
"Not today," she said playfully. "I just came to say 'hello.' But be careful, Takuto-kun... our leader has some unfinished business with your father."
She turned toward the exit. Blue sparks began to swirl around her, blurring her silhouette into a hazy afterimage.
"We'll meet again soon... Master of the Phoenix. Next time, I won't be quite so gentle."
With a sharp crack of electricity, a blinding flash filled the room. When Takuto's vision cleared, the storage door was swinging open. Kaminari Shina had vanished without a trace.
Part 2: The Gathering of the Eclipse
Later that evening, Takuto urgently summoned Ayano and Kaori to an abandoned, sheltered gymnasium on the school grounds. It was a secluded spot, safe from prying eyes.
"What's wrong, Takuto?" Kaori asked, her face pale with worry. "Why the sudden meeting?"
"I ran into someone earlier... a possessor of the Electro Flash Eye," Takuto explained. "Her name is Kaminari Shina."
Ayano frowned. "Electro Flash? That's an incredibly rare and dangerous eye type. The last user we knew of was Hayate Shiro. Is she with the Syndicate?"
"No," Takuto replied. "She belongs to a group called The Fallen Eclipse. They seem to have a grudge against my father, and they're after my eyes—and Hana's."
The atmosphere turned heavy. This new enemy was far more mysterious and organized than they had anticipated.
"The main thing is," Takuto said firmly, "Hana must not know about this. I want her to live a normal life as a student. I will face this danger alone."
"But Takuto-kun... she's also—" Ayano began.
"No, Ayano-senpai," Takuto cut her off. "I won't pull her into this. I will protect my sister."
Unbeknownst to the three of them, a figure stood in the shadows just outside the gym door. Hana had heard every word.
The innocent smile she usually wore at school was gone. Her jaw tightened, and for a fleeting second, her Wolf Eye glowed with a faint, predatory purple hue in the darkness.
"So... those bastards are finally making their move," she whispered, her voice cold and sharp.
She took one last look at her brother's back and turned away. Her demeanor was no longer that of a younger sister, but of a seasoned warrior. She pulled out her phone and dialed a number.
"I need to contact Ryu immediately," she muttered to herself. "Shadow Syndicate, Fallen Eclipse... I don't care who they are. If they try to touch Onii-chan, I won't forgive them."
As she walked into the deepest shadows of the campus, a terrifying resolve flared within her.
"Don't worry, Onii-chan... Just as you want to protect me, I'll protect you too. And if I have to kill to do it... I'm ready."
Part 3: The Wolves in the Moonlight
At the edge of Neotokyo, inside a rusted, derelict steel factory, the air felt unnaturally heavy. On a raised platform, the core members of The Fallen Eclipse had gathered.
Kage, the Leader and Gravity Master, stood at the highest point. Below him stood Baltos, the Stone Eye, whose massive frame looked like it was carved from rock, and Lyra, the Phantom Eye, who flickered in and out of invisibility.
Shina walked in, still in her school uniform.
"So, Shina," Baltos boomed with a gravelly laugh. "How was playing student? Did you seduce the Phoenix boy?"
"Shut up, Baltos," Shina snapped. "He's stronger than he looks. His Nova pressure is the real deal."
"How interesting," Lyra giggled, appearing out of thin air. "And the sister? Can she see through my illusions?"
"She seems ordinary for now," Shina replied. "But we should be cautious."
"Enough!" Kage's voice silenced the room. He descended slowly, the gravity around him so intense that the floor cracked beneath his feet. "We aren't here to play. We are here to complete our 'Eye Collection.'"
He smiled darkly. "Let the Shadow Syndicate strike first. Let them exhaust Takuto. When the time is right, we will step in and take everything. Especially the girl, Hana. She is his greatest weakness."
Little did they know, they were making a fatal mistake. They saw Hana as a hostage—a lamb to be slaughtered—completely unaware of the Wolf hiding within her.
Meanwhile, in a moonlit park, Hana met with Ryu. He handed her a tablet containing the profiles of the four Eclipse members.
"Hana, don't overdo it," Ryu warned, looking at her glowing eyes. "You haven't fully mastered the Wolf Eye's true power yet. If it gets dangerous, retreat."
Hana gave a chilling smile, her fingernails lengthening into sharp, obsidian-like claws.
"Don't worry, Ryu. If it gets dangerous, I'll run. But I wonder... how many of them will be left standing by then?"
As she walked away, her shadow on the ground stretched out, transforming into the shape of a giant, hungry wolf.
"Now then... let's show them what happens when you touch my Onii-chan."
[END OF CHAPTER 24]