Part 1: The Meeting at the Container Yard
Deep in the heart of the Neotokyo docks, the container yard lay eerily silent under the midnight sky. Massive grey steel boxes were stacked like monoliths, creating a labyrinth where the only sound was the low whistle of the sea breeze.
High atop the tallest stack, Shina stood poised. She had traded her school uniform for a sleek, navy-and-azure tactical suit. Within her pupils, faint currents of electricity danced restlessly.
"You can stop hiding in the shadows now," Shina said, her voice carrying through the cold air. "My Static Sensing is active. You can't run from the field I've cast."
As the last word left her lips, two glowing amber slits ignited in the darkness below. Hana stepped out from the shadows of the containers. Her fingernails elongated, shimmering like silver blades under the moonlight.
"I wasn't hiding," Hana countered coldly. "I was simply choosing the best place to kill you."
Shina arched an eyebrow, a smirk playing on her lips. "Wait... you're Takuto's little sister, aren't you? I took you for a normal girl. But this aura... you're the owner of the Wolf Eye?"
With a sudden burst of speed, Hana leaped, rebounding off the steel walls with predatory grace until she landed on the top container, facing Shina.
"I won't let anyone crawl their way near my Onii-chan," Hana hissed. "Your organization, your people... and you. It all ends here tonight."
Shina gave a haunting laugh, gathering swirling Electric Orbs in the palms of her hands. "Fascinating. The descendant of the Phoenix is actually a wolf. Let's see which is faster—your claws or my lightning!"
The air between them crackled and warped as their opposing auras collided.
"Let's begin!" Shina shouted.
Part 2: The Dance of Thunder and Fang
Shina lunged forward like a railgun projectile, leaving a trail of blue light in her wake.
"Electro Bolt!"
She thrust her palms forward, discharging volleys of lightning needles. Hana didn't flinch. Her violet-tinted Wolf Eye tracked every micro-movement. Dropping into a low, beast-like crouch, Hana sprinted along the vertical sides of the containers, defying gravity as she evaded the electric barrage.
"Too slow," Hana whispered.
She kicked off a metal corner, launching herself at Shina. Her claws tore through the air, aiming straight for Shina's throat.
"Tch!" Shina recoiled at lightning speed, conjuring an Electric Shield on her forearm.
CLANG!
The collision of claws and plasma created a shower of sparks that illuminated the entire yard. The force of the impact sent both girls reeling back to opposite ends of the container roof. Shina's suit was frayed at the shoulder, while Hana's fingertips emitted faint wisps of smoke from the shock.
"Not bad," Shina smiled excitedly. "Not many in this city can keep up with my output. Your Wolf Eye truly is a high-spec sensor."
Hana flicked her hand, shedding the residual static. "This is just the warm-up. I won't stop until your lightning runs dry."
Shina slammed her hands onto the steel surface. "Electromagnetic Surge!"
The massive containers groaned and vibrated as a powerful magnetic field took hold. Hana felt her limbs grow heavy, her movements shackled by the invisible force. Shina seized the moment, darting through the air and raining down blades of electricity from every angle.
Hana gritted her teeth, pushing her Stella Flow to the limit. She became a blur of violet motion, contorting her body in mid-air to escape the crossfire.
"Wolf's Pounce!"
Hana's claws glowed with purple energy as she shredded through the magnetic barrier, forcing Shina to retreat higher onto a nearby utility pole.
Part 3: The Phantom Wolf and the Great Escape
As Shina gathered a massive orb of concentrated voltage for a finishing blow, Hana's eyes shifted. The amber glow deepened, and strange ancient sigils manifested in her pupils.
"Wolf Eye Ability: Eternal Dark!"
Suddenly, Shina's world vanished into pitch black. It wasn't the darkness of the night; it was a direct neural shutdown of her optic nerves.
"What?! I can't see!" Shina panicked, her aim faltering.
Hana moved like a phantom through the void she had created. She lunged, striking Shina squarely in the chest with a powered claw strike. Shina was sent flying through a stack of containers, the metal buckling like paper as she crashed into the ground.
Coughing up blood, Shina realized she was outmatched in close quarters. Driven by survival instinct, she touched the ground and detonated every remaining ounce of her energy.
"Final Spark: Blind Flash!"
A supernova of white light engulfed the yard. Hana hissed, shielding her eyes from the blinding radiance. When the light faded, only scorched earth and ozone remained. Shina had used the distraction to vanish into the night.
"Dammit!" Hana roared, punching a container wall. Her right arm was badly burned from the final blast, blood dripping from her fingertips, but she barely felt it. She stared at the trail of blood Shina left behind. "Next time, Shina... you won't get away."
Part 4: The Wounded Hunter and the Warmth of Home
Miles away, Shina collapsed in an alleyway, her breathing ragged. Before she hit the pavement, a pair of strong arms caught her. It was Baltos (The Stone Eye).
"Shina! What happened? Did that boy do this?"
"No..." Shina rasped, spitting out blood. "His sister... Hana. She's a monster. We need to leave, now."
Hana slipped through the front door of her home, hiding her burned arm behind her back. She expected silence, but the living room light flicked on instantly. Takuto was sitting on the sofa, his face etched with worry.
"Hana... where have you been this late?"
"Oh... Onii-chan, you're still up?" Hana forced a sweet smile. "I just went out to get a snack. I was hungry."
Takuto walked over and gently took her arm. Hana winced. When he pulled back her sleeve, his eyes widened at the sight of the severe burn.
"Hana! What is this? How did you get hurt like this?"
"It was... a stray dog," she lied quickly. "I tripped on a metal fence trying to get away. It's nothing, really."
Takuto didn't look like he believed her, but he didn't push. He grabbed the first-aid kit and sat her down, his hands trembling slightly as he cleaned the wound with gauze.
"Don't go out alone at night anymore, Hana," Takuto said softly, his head bowed. "If something happened to you... I don't know what I'd do. You're all I have."
The raw sincerity in his voice melted the coldness in Hana's heart. The predator vanished, replaced by a girl who desperately needed that warmth. She leaned forward and hugged him tightly.
"I'm sorry, Onii-chan. Thank you for protecting me."
After a moment, she pulled away and headed to her room. "Goodnight, Onii-chan. Get some sleep."
Once the door was closed, Hana's expression turned stone-cold again. She looked at her bandaged hand.
(Hana's thoughts): Onii-chan... just as you protect me, I will protect you from the shadows. I won't let anyone destroy the warmth of these hands.
[END OF CHAPTER 25]