CHAPTER 1: THE FOURTH ASSASSIN
Yaka stood on the edge of a rooftop overlooking Kurohana City. The morning sun reflected off his messy white hair, making it look almost silver. He shoved his hands in his pockets and scanned the streets below like he always did.
People walking. Kids running to school. Delivery bikes flying past traffic.No monsters. No danger. Just normal life.
Yaka already knew most Apex "monster hunts" were fabricated anyway. Illusions. Tech tricks. Manufactured threats to keep the city scared and loyal. But none of that mattered to him. He wasn't Apex.
He was Assassin Rank 4.
A loud voice interrupted his thoughts."Yaka. Fight me."
He didn't turn around. Only one person yelled like that so early in the morning.
Yorshiro, Assassin Rank 10. Red jacket, wild hair, always hyped for no reason.
Yaka slowly faced him. "Didn't you lose last time?"
"This time I'm serious. Come on."Yorshiro lifted his hands and flames burst from his arms.
Yaka sighed. "If I beat you fast can I go home?"
Flames shot toward him before he even finished talking. Yaka stepped aside casually. The flames missed and scorched a billboard across the street.
"Fight back!" Yorshiro yelled.
"I am. You're just swinging blind."
Yorshiro sprinted forward with his fist wrapped in fire. Yaka let Eclipse energy ripple off his arm, a dark shimmering aura. He struck once. Clean. Efficient.
Yorshiro went flying across the rooftop and slammed into the railing.
Yaka walked over and crouched beside him."Done?"
Yorshiro groaned. "Join me. Be my partner. Officially."
"We already work together."
"I mean as a real pair. Mission partners."
Yaka stood up. "No thanks."
He walked away, his white hair swaying in the wind. Yorshiro lay on the ground staring at the sky.
"I'll prove I deserve it," he muttered.
CHAPTER 2: YORSHIRO'S DECISION
The Assassins hideout was loud and chaotic. People trained, sharpened weapons, shouted at each other. Yorshiro sat alone at a table staring at the wall.
Losing wasn't new. Losing that easily was.
He clenched his fists. "I'm gonna beat an Apex. I'll show him."
Some Assassins overheard and snickered.
"You? Beat an Apex?""They have military funding. Good luck man.""Don't die."
He ignored them and stormed out.
He tracked Apex Rank 12 by following social media posts and public sightings. Apex weren't subtle. They loved attention. Eventually he found him in an abandoned district.
A tall guy with electric sparks crackling around him. Thunder Technique. His uniform glowed with top-tier tech.
Apex 12 noticed him. "Assassin, right? Why're you here?"
"I'm challenging you."
Apex 12 sighed. "Fine. I'll handle you quick."
Yorshiro powered up. Flames surrounded him like a burning tornado. Apex 12 didn't even flinch. He stomped the ground and lightning erupted upward, blasting Yorshiro into a wall.
Yorshiro collapsed. His vision faded. His fire flickered weakly.
Apex 12 spun his spear. "You Assassins think Apex is fake. Try surviving this."
He raised his spear to finish Yorshiro.
Something flashed between them.
A kick smashed into Apex 12's chest, launching him down the street. He crashed into a parked truck and metal crumpled around him.
Yorshiro squinted through blurry eyes."Yaka?"
Yaka stood there, white hair blowing slightly, hands still in pockets. His expression didn't change.
"You always pick the dumbest fights," he said.
Yorshiro laughed weakly. "Trying to catch up to you."
Yaka didn't answer. He walked toward Apex 12.
CHAPTER 3: YAKA VS APEX 12
Apex 12 pulled himself from the truck wreckage. "White hair. Eclipse aura. So you're the Rank 4 Assassin."
Yaka didn't respond.
Lightning exploded from Apex 12's body as he charged forward. Yaka raised his hand lazily, letting Eclipse energy swirl around his fingers. When the lightning struck, shadows and sparks burst across the street.
Apex 12 kept swinging. Each attack was fast, brutal, precise. Yaka dodged every strike almost without effort.
"You're making fun of me!" Apex 12 shouted.
"You just can't hit me."
A spear thrust shot toward Yaka's head. Yaka stepped in, caught the spear, and punched Apex 12 in the stomach. Eclipse energy detonated from the impact and launched him back.
Apex 12 used lightning to stabilize himself midair, then fired a massive bolt straight at Yaka.
Yaka didn't move. The Eclipse aura swallowed the lightning like smoke disappearing into darkness.
Apex 12 froze. "What… what is that power?"
Yaka appeared in front of him in a blink. Apex 12 didn't even see the strike. He collapsed to the ground unconscious.
Yaka dusted off his sleeve and walked back to Yorshiro.
"Next time, don't fight someone that strong alone."
Yorshiro grinned. "So… you saved me."
"Yeah."
"Does that mean you'll team up with me?"
Yaka sighed. "…If I don't, you'll die in a week."
Yorshiro beamed. "I'll take it."
CHAPTER 4: THE NEW DUO
Word spread fast.
Yaka Rank 4 with white hair and Eclipse Technique was now officially partnered with Yorshiro Rank 10.
Assassins whispered about it all day."Why Yorshiro?""He must see potential in him.""Or he's babysitting."
The leader, Assassin Rank 1, summoned them both. He was old but sharp-eyed, calm but intimidating.
He listened to their story without interrupting. When Yorshiro bragged that he almost beat Apex 12, Yaka cut in.
"He got folded immediately."
The leader chuckled. "Pain teaches fast."
He assigned them their first mission as a pair. Monster sightings in the warehouse district. Apex hadn't responded yet.
Yaka frowned. "Probably fake holograms."
"Find out. Destroy whatever is causing it," the leader said.
Yorshiro saluted dramatically. "Leave it to us."
As they left, the leader called out. "Yaka. Protect him."
Yaka didn't answer, but he didn't need to.
CHAPTER 5: THE WAREHOUSE
The night air was cold as the two approached the warehouse. Yaka's white hair practically glowed in the dim streetlights.
Inside, the place looked like a factory for illusions. Projectors everywhere. Fake monster models. Hologram emitters.
Yorshiro whispered, "So this is how they trick everyone."
"Not all of it," Yaka said quietly.
They followed cables to a giant generator in the back room. It pulsed wildly, glowing with unstable energy. Someone had pushed it beyond safe limits.
Before they could investigate, the doors slammed shut behind them. A voice echoed from the speakers.
"You Assassins went too far."
A man stepped out wearing an Apex uniform.Apex Rank 47, Fire Technique.
He cracked his knuckles and flames rose around him.
"You embarrassed Apex by taking down Rank 12. I'm here to fix that."
Fire surged through the warehouse.
Yaka looked calm. "You handle the machines. I'll take him."
Yorshiro smirked. "Gladly."
The real fight was about to begin.