The city of Tokyo was like a massive wounded animal, breathing in gasps through its flickering neon lights. The night had fallen, but it did not bring silence; instead, chaos had crept into every alley, every street, like a slow and unstoppable poison. The cold wind blew harshly, carrying with it the acrid smell of fear and the metallic sound of sirens.
Gunshots rang out, and the panicked screams of people echoed, while Orion Saito, from his office, watched the scene through the Saito Corp surveillance cameras scattered throughout the area.
"So it's him? He's returned after two months since the incident at Site 13 in Istanbul!" Orion said, looking at a girl in his office, inviting her to look at the screen.
The girl approached, her wavy red hair and emerald green eyes catching the light. She wore a violet corset and skirt of the same color, along with a pair of boots and a pendant shaped like a cross hanging around her neck. But it wasn't an ordinary cross; it was different, not depicting the usual Christ figure, but rather a young blindfolded boy on a cross.
The girl moved closer. "That violet light around the policemen, there's no doubt, it's him."
Orion sighed. "If he's come out in the open, the other six will soon follow." He crossed his arms.
"You mean those things?" the girl asked. "Not just those, but his minions too, the six Hounds of Oblivion, Ivy," Orion said more seriously.
Ivy clenched her fists. "Then there's no time to waste. We must go there."
Orion stood up in his elegant suit, took his coat from the hanger, and put it on.
"I'll go. You stay here, Ivy," he said in a deep voice. "But I—" Ivy tried to object, but Orion silenced her with a gesture. "If Azrael finds out that a Rochester has escaped his grasp, you will become prey." Ivy lowered her head in resignation, and then Orion placed a hand on her shoulder. "It's my fault that these entities have entered our world, and it's my fault that your parents and that writer, Kenji Kaiaba, disappeared."
He sighed and finally said, "I will bring them back, Ivy Rochester." He walked toward the sliding digital door, opened it, and closed it behind him, leaving Ivy alone in Orion Saito's central office at the Saito Corporation Center, located in the Kabuki district.
As Orion descended in the elevator, he felt a sharp pain. The elevator seemed to stop in time, with the floor numbers continuing to rise while he was descending.
Orion, just like Kairo and Aenna, was experiencing a glitch.
On the digital screen of the elevator, a message appeared:
"I am waiting for you at Shinjuku Station, Saito Orion. I will finish what I started in Istanbul."
The screen returned to normal, the numbers decreased as usual, and the pain faded.
Grinding his teeth, Orion whispered, "You won't get away with this, Azrael."
He arrived at the 20th floor, where Saito Corp tested all their prototypes.
The lab was vast, filled with machines and holographic projectors everywhere, with a massive central computer analyzing everything while employees moved around the floor. Some tested weapons by shooting at the range, others examined samples of experimental medicines; the place was always bustling.
Orion presented himself, and the chief researcher, Nagisa Rey, was waiting at the entrance.
"Good evening, sir. How can we assist you today?" Nagisa asked politely. "Hi Nagisa, how is that project coming along?"
Nagisa gestured for him to follow.
"The Armelym System has made significant progress since its last use in Istanbul." Orion clenched his fists reflexively upon hearing the city's name. The memory was still vivid, when Ivy's parents, James and Alexya Rochester, and Kenji Kaiaba were taken by that giant violet hand—Azrael's appearance.
Back then, Orion had activated the Armelym System, his personal cyber combat armor, integrated into his shirt to protect himself in any situation—or so he thought.
But Azrael was on a whole different level—fast, strong, his energy able to transfer into objects, transforming even a simple stick into a lethal weapon. And his violet electric discharges were a real threat.
Orion was the first to notice the glitches around after Istanbul, and especially the Memory Drift.
Back to the present, Orion asked Nagisa, "How long until the next test?" "At least 30 minutes to reinstall the AI designed for you and ensure everything is secure," Nagisa explained.
"Just install the AI; I'll be the one to test it," Orion ordered, turning away. "But sir!" Nagisa objected, aware of the risks. "Nagsia, that's an order. In the meantime, I'll take a look around," Orion said, leaving Nagisa with a heavy sigh.
---
Meanwhile, in Shinjuku
On the rooftop of the police station, Hanazawa was breathing heavily, his heart pounding like a wild drum in his chest. The door was almost completely broken down, and the sound of wood cracking snapped him out of his paralyzing fear. It felt as if the rooftop was closing in on him, a noose of cement and iron.
However, Hanazawa noticed something peculiar—the barrier was gone. It was as if it had vanished completely.
The detective reached out with his hand, scanning the area, but the distortion in reality, resembling a ripple on the surface of water, had disappeared.
"It was here just a moment ago... So that means..." Hanazawa regained some hope, picked up the walkie-talkie from the ground, still connected to the antenna, and used it.
"This is Detective Iene Hanazawa, over," he waited for a response, hoping that the line was back online. Finally, a response crackled through, reigniting his confidence as he heard the sounds from outside, which previously felt muffled.
"Detective Hanazawa, I want a full report. What the hell is going on?"
Hanazawa recognized the voice—it was the Chief of the Tokyo Police, Commissioner Takashi Yamamoto.
"Commissioner Yamamoto, you don't know how glad I am to hear from you. I don't know what's going on—they all seem to have gone mad, like they're possessed by something."
There was a pause, then an unsettling response. "You're not the only one, Hanazawa. We're getting similar reports from other districts' police stations. They seemed normal, and then they started..." Hanazawa finished the sentence for him, "Emitting a violet light around them." "Exactly. Are you all right over there?"
Hanazawa could hear gunfire echoing from all around the station, followed by groans of pain.
"No, sir. Only I managed to survive the control. My colleagues are shooting wildly."
Yamamoto sighed on the other end. "Damn it. It's like some cursed virus, but on the outskirts, everything is normal. Do you have any idea who might have caused this?"
Hanazawa's heartbeat quickened, and with trembling words, he spoke, "It's a subject who calls himself Azrael. I haven't identified his physical appearance or his voice; he communicates with a distorted, metallic sound."
A curse came through the walkie-talkie. "Damn, he's clever. We can't trace him, and we can't even identify him using Saito Corp's voice recognition. Tsk!"
Hanazawa, still sore from the previous encounter and wary of the door on the brink of collapse, stated, "He challenged me to solve his case. I don't think it's just a random terrorist attack—it feels like he has a plan, and he mentioned anomalies."
"Anomalies? That's the same word those corrupted policemen keep repeating. We need to figure out what it means, especially the term 'Custodian of Oblivion,'" the commissioner said.
"You heard it too?" Hanazawa asked. "Yes. One of the guards lost control and kept babbling about serving Azrael, the Custodian of Oblivion, and eliminating anomalies. Do you have any leads?"
Hanazawa hesitated before answering. How far could he trust anyone? How extensive was Azrael's control? Could he really trust his superior? He decided to stay vague, careful not to reveal too much.
"Yes, Commissioner Yamamoto, but I don't know where it will lead."
At that moment, the door shattered, and two agents burst through, their eyes glowing with that eerie light.
"What was that noise?" Yamamoto asked.
"Sir, I have to go—I have company," Hanazawa said, tightening his makeshift shield made from the metal of the electric panel door, dented from the previous fight.
"Understood, Ien. Please be careful. I don't want to lose a talented young detective like you. I'm entrusting the Azrael case to you. Stay connected," Yamamoto said, ending the transmission as Ien prepared for the confrontation.
Taking a defensive stance, Ien whispered before bracing himself, "You too, Chief—stay safe."
---
A few flights of stairs below Ien
The brothers were running, their breaths broken by anxiety. "Alright, nerdy big brother, I hope that Spider-Man comic doesn't disappoint us," Yuto said as he ran up the stairs, side by side with Kairo.
"It won't disappoint, but like I said, it all depends on the officers. If they don't fight back, our Mister Negative won't leave them alone," Kairo concluded.
"Seriously, Kai? You just gave Azrael such a lame codename," Yuto countered, charging the taser he found in the evidence room.
"Absolutely," Kairo replied, gripping the Black Dragon katana securely on his belt as they kept running.
Yuto sighed while keeping pace with his brother. "God, you're terrible at picking code names." "Just because you don't like Spider-Man doesn't mean it's a lame name," Kairo replied, raising an eyebrow defiantly.
They were about to reach the rooftop when gunshots could be heard from every direction, bullets hitting the walls, and metallic sounds as they struck the digital doors.
"Damn, where did we end up? Some twisted rave with added horror?" Yuto muttered, crouching as he ran.
"It seems like he wants to create panic by making everyone shoot like crazy." Kairo tightened his grip on the sword, his resolve even stronger. "We have to find him and stop him, but first, we need to save the detective!"
Yuto couldn't help but smile. "There you are—my determined, reckless, and stubborn brother."
"Are you describing yourself, Yuto?" Kairo chuckled, speeding up his pace.
But suddenly, time seemed to slow down.
Kairo looked around. Everything moved in slow motion—Yuto beside him, their footsteps, the dust rising with each step.
"Please, not again," Kairo whispered to himself, knowing exactly what was about to happen. "Not another glitch."
Kairo felt a sudden stabbing pain, as if someone had driven a cold needle into his skull. He stopped, clutching his head. Everything became muffled.
Yuto noticed his brother had stopped and tried to talk to him, trying to understand what was happening, but Kairo didn't respond.
A cold and warm light at the same time, silvery in color, enveloped him. Blinded by this light, Kairo tried to shield his eyes to no avail, until the light finally faded.
In front of him stood a girl with long white hair, silvery eyes, petite but graceful in her movements.
She was sitting under a white gazebo, holding a cup of tea in her hands.
She wore a white, pristine dress while a necklace hung from her neck, adorned with a pendant shaped like an hourglass.
Around the gazebo, Kairo could only see a layer of black sand, as if it were made of obsidian reflecting the moonlight.
"Time flows, Kairo. You cannot stop it, but you can choose how to face it," she said without moving her lips.
Kairo took a step forward towards the girl. "I don't want to stop it. I just want to live my life peacefully with the people I care about."
The girl took another sip from her cup. "Good, but remember, you will have to make choices from now on. Be wise. Destiny never forgives."
Kairo felt his heart stop for a moment.
Yuto shook him, desperate. "Kairo, are you alright?"
Kairo looked around, dazed, feeling once again the air filled with gunpowder and hearing the constant gunfire from all around. He asked Yuto to be sure, "Did you hear it too? Like... sand flowing..."
Yuto looked at him, puzzled. "No, I just hear gunshots, and we need to move!"
Kairo snapped back to reality, gripping his katana. "You're right, let's go!"
As they resumed their rush up the stairs, Kairo couldn't help but wonder, "Who was that girl? This whole situation keeps getting stranger."
---
Not far from the police station
Riven, with his Boken in hand, was running towards the Shinjuku station.
His legs were burning, but he couldn't stop. He had to reach them. Each step seemed to dig a deeper trench into his body, but adrenaline was the only fuel left. He gripped the Boken as if it were part of his arm. A flash of vision made him gasp for breath: Kairo and Yuto wrapped in a dense, black shadow.
"I have to make it... I have to save them," he shouted through gritted teeth as a wave of panic clouded his vision.
As Riven kept running, another shadow seemed to watch him from a distance—an ominous silhouette with scarlet reflections, targeting the boy as if lurking in ambush.
"Go save your friends, Riven, but know this—you will be mine sooner or later, mark my words." The shadow dissipated, leaving behind a feral growl echoing in the outskirts of the Nakano district.
---
Underneath the police station
Behind the bars, Sayuri curled up, fear gripping her stomach like a vice. The gunshots and screams intertwined in a cacophony of madness.
The air was thick with the metallic scent of blood.
Through the glass, she saw the officers attacking one another, wielding weapons like crazed demons.
"What's going on... Yuto... Kairo..."
She pulled out a photo from her wallet—a family photo of the Kaiabas, showing her, the boys, and her husband, Kenji Kaiaba.
"Kenji, I miss you so much!" Tears ran down her face as memories flooded in—happy, carefree times, interrupted by Kenji's disappearance exactly five years ago.
He left on a journey, saying he needed inspiration from the Middle East for his new book... He was supposed to be accompanied by Orion himself, protected by Japan's most renowned entrepreneur.
Yet, he never returned. Since then, Sayuri had felt something strange at home, as if Kenji's presence had never truly left. She swore to find out the truth one day and was determined to meet Orion and demand answers about that day.
Driven by newfound determination, Sayuri noticed something peculiar.
A loose screw caught her eye.
She tore off a piece of her shirt, wrapped it around the screw, and used it as leverage until the metal gave way. The cell door creaked open, and with her heart pounding, she rushed out into the unknown, searching for her children.
---
Meanwhile, the Kaiaba brothers were nearing the rooftop, trying to save Detective Hanazawa, as everyone else was converging towards the Shinjuku station.
---
On the rooftop of the neighboring building
Within a barrier similar to the one used to cover the police station, Azrael watched the chaos like a conductor reveling in his orchestra.
Every scream, every gunshot, were like symphonies playing through his mind. "Only those who survive this purification will witness the dawn of a new era." His voice was a whisper in the devastated night.
Watching the heroes through the distorted mirror, he whispered, "The time for games is over. Tonight, every anomaly in Tokyo will be eliminated."
Azrael moved his hands over the distorted surface until his gaze landed on Aenna and Lyra, who had just arrived at the Kaiaba house. The air was colder than usual, and it felt as if shadows were watching them.
Aenna, holding her phone's flashlight, looked around, still shaken by the feeling of being followed, while Lyra approached the door, noticing strange carvings on it.
"What is this? Aen, come take a look," Lyra called, observing the odd symbols etched into the door.
"Kai wouldn't write on the door like this. Sayuri would have killed him," Aenna chuckled nervously.
"Right, but... it seems like nobody's home. Not even Mrs. Kaiaba?" Lyra noted.
"Yeah, you're right. Wait... something's really off. It's strange for them not to be home at 11 PM," Aenna pointed out, noticing two distinct footprints.
One set looked like someone rushing, almost running on the fresh ground, while the other was far more unsettling. It resembled some strange creature's footprint with three toes—two forming a V-shape and one at the heel, heading in the same direction as the first set.
"They're going towards the Shinjuku station," Aenna noted, clutching her pendant with a worried look. "Yeah, but what on earth is that thing?" Lyra asked, unnerved.
"I don't know, but we need to find out. Kai, Yuto, and even Mrs. Kaiaba might be in danger," Aenna replied, pointing to the first footprint. "Look, the first one—the human one—is older than the weird one."
Lyra was surprised. "How do you know all this?"
Aenna smiled softly, her cobalt eyes meeting Lyra's silvery ones. "It's easy for me—my grandfather used to take me hunting, only with a bow and arrows. That's how I fell in love with archery."
Lyra looked at her with admiration. "Wow, I remember you telling me that story, but wasn't it your dad who took you hunting, not your grandpa?"
Aenna paused, confused. "M-my dad? I... I don't remember him."
Tears welled up in her eyes, and Lyra felt a chill run down her spine.
Lyra moved closer to her friend, worried by Aenna's sudden change in demeanor. She knew how much Aenna was attached to her father and how his death had deeply affected her. Seeing her like this for the first time was unsettling.
Gently, Lyra reached out to touch Aenna's hand, but suddenly both girls were struck by a sharp headache. The pain surged and then abruptly stopped.
On their smartphones, both received a message at the same time, but the content differed:
"Subject Yuki Aenna - Memory Drift 23%"
"Subject Aokai Lyra - Memory Drift 10.3%"
The girls stared at each other, horrified by the strange and cryptic message that disappeared after only fifteen seconds.
Lyra frantically searched through her phone, but there was no trace of it anywhere. "This whole thing is giving me the creeps," Aenna muttered.
Before Lyra could reply, both girls froze in terror.
Ahead of them, two violet eyes glowed in the shadows, watching them intently. As soon as they noticed, the figure vanished back into the darkness.
"You saw that too, right?" Aenna whispered, seeking confirmation. "Yeah, and it was terrifying. Let's get out of here. We need to reach the station and find Kai and Yuto," Lyra replied.
Aenna nodded, and the two started running, while those eerie violet eyes continued to pursue them from the shadows.
---
Meanwhile, at the Kyumeinkan Dojo, on the tatami mat, Master Hayashi Seiji was calmly sipping tea while kneeling. A small cherry blossom petal landed on his hand, and the air filled with the smell of incense and smoke.
Seiji, slightly annoyed, set down his cup and spoke calmly: "You could at least open the door when you smoke indoors. It's rude, you know."
From the shadows of the dojo, a figure emerged—light-colored hair, canine-like blue eyes, a white robe reminiscent of snow with patterns resembling cherry blossoms. Nine ethereal tails swayed like the wind behind the figure, who took a puff from a kiseru pipe, chuckling mischievously.
"You're still so strict, even with Kairo. Relax, Sensei," the spirit teased, ignoring Hayashi's reprimand and sitting cross-legged in front of him.
"Since I've started seeing you, Shiranui, you've been quite the nuisance," the master sighed.
"Hey, did you just call me a cat? I'm a fox spirit, not some common feline!" the spirit protested.
"I wonder if the other spirits are like you. Anyway, why are you here?" Hayashi asked.
Shiranui took another drag from his pipe, leaning forward, making the bell-shaped pendant around his neck chime. "I just came to warn you," he paused, exhaling smoke before continuing. "Our disciple, Kairo, and his friends are in danger."
"I sensed something strange too—a sense of unease," Seiji responded, taking another sip of tea. He stood up, looking at the fox spirit. "Where are they?"
"In Shinjuku, at the police station," Shiranui replied. However, he looked at Hayashi more seriously this time. "Be careful, Seiji. There's a powerful force threatening them."
The spirit began to dissolve into petals, his form dispersing into cherry blossom fragments. "If you need me, just call my name, my friend," Shiranui whispered before disappearing completely, leaving a single petal on the seat as if marking his presence.
Hayashi sighed and opened an old box.
Inside, he found an azure katana that shimmered like ice, along with two highly advanced pistols, made specifically for him by the Saito Corp—Elcrist and Twisty, twin pistols customized for an old hunter. But not just any hunter—a hunter of supernatural entities.
He gathered his gear, dressing in his usual attire—a light blue shirt, a black elegant jacket, and a white long coat.
He holstered the twin pistols at his waist and secured the azure katana to his back.
Hayashi was once known by a title long ago:
The Demon Slayer.
"I'm coming, Kairo. I won't let anyone harm my favorite student," he vowed as he stepped out of the dojo, ready to face the threat.
As Hayashi made his way down the darkened streets, his coat billowing in the cold night wind, his senses remained sharp, attuned to every sound, every flicker of movement. The city, once alive with the hum of ordinary life, now felt like a haunted maze, where shadows seemed to twist and breathe on their own.
He paused for a moment, his gaze fixed on the distant glow of the Shinjuku police station. A low growl rumbled from a nearby alley, and Hayashi turned, his hand instinctively reaching for Elcrist. His grip tightened as a figure slowly emerged from the shadows—a man wrapped in tattered black robes, his eyes glowing with a sickly violet hue.
"Who sent you?" Hayashi demanded, voice firm and unwavering.
The figure smirked, his lips cracking open to reveal jagged teeth. "The Custodian sends his regards," he hissed before lunging forward.
In a flash, Hayashi drew Elcrist, a single shot piercing the air, but the figure vanished like smoke, reappearing right behind him. Hayashi barely managed to dodge the creature's clawed hand, rolling forward and drawing Twisty in his left hand.
"I guess you're one of puppets," Hayashi muttered, his mind racing as he adjusted his stance.
The creature laughed, a distorted, guttural sound that seemed to vibrate through the concrete. "You can't stop what's coming, Slayer. The anomalies will be purged, and your precious disciple will be the first to fall."
Hayashi's eyes narrowed. "Over my dead body."
Just then, a flicker of energy shot through the air, and Hayashi barely managed to deflect the violet lightning with his katana. His arm throbbed from the impact, but he didn't falter.
The creature tilted its head, amused. "You're too late. The Custodian has already marked them. They'll soon lose themselves—just like the others."
Before Hayashi could respond, the creature dissolved into ash, leaving behind a faint, mocking echo.
Breathing heavily, Hayashi looked down at his hand, noticing a faint, violet mark seared into his palm. His expression hardened.
He whispered to himself, "Kairo.... Hang on. I'm coming."
Far above, on the rooftop of the adjacent building, Azrael watched the scene unfold with a crooked smile. His eyes gleamed as he whispered, almost too softly to hear, "Let the games begin."
And just like that, the night seemed to grow darker, as if the city itself knew that the worst was yet to come.