Mochizuki wondered to himself how Mikhail could possibly know what happened during the battle with the goat cult since he hadn't even been there. Mikhail just smirked, summoning a girl who looked identical to Amaya. Meanwhile, Kiyozawa continued to cry in silence, mourning the Amaya who had faded away in his arms.
Mochizuki gritted his teeth.
Mochizuki: "Kiyozawa, it's a trick! Don't fall for it!"
He yelled.
Kiyozawa was lost in his thoughts
(In his mind).
"He's right. She's gone... But why do I feel like she's real? What if he brought her back?"
"Amaya..."
His eyes shifted from red to gold as he prepared to back down from the fight.
"I can't fight her..."
(Out of his mind).
Mikhail smirked, immediately going for the killing blow by ordering the girl who looked like Amaya to run up and stab Kiyozawa in the chest. But Mochizuki darted in front of Kiyozawa, activating his black flames to block the blade. Kiyozawa's eyes widened, wondering why he had stepped in.
Mochizuki's black flames melted the blade before he whipped around and headbutted Kiyozawa. Kiyozawa reeled from the impact, stumbling backward.
Kiyozawa: "What was that for?"
He demanded, glaring at him.
Mochizuki shot him an annoyed look.
Mochizuki: "It's not her, dumbass! If it were, she'd be struggling to break free from his control. Plus, her energy feels completely off—it's definitely not her. And here I thought you were a professional, seeing as you're supposed to be second-in-command."
Kiyozawa grew annoyed after Mochizuki insulted his competence. Activating his red eyes once more, he glared at Mikhail, suddenly suspicious of how cooperative the enemy was being. Usually, a villain would seize the opportunity to strike while they were distracted, rather than standing back to let Mochizuki snap him out of it.
Mikhail: "So, shall we continue?"
With a wave of his hand, Mikhail dismissed the fake Amaya, deciding it was time to get serious. Kiyozawa braced himself to fight a Demonic Orb King. Orb Kings and Queens were on an entirely different level of power compared to normal orbs like Kiyozawa.
Kiyozawa let out a piercing screech, sending powerful sound waves barreling toward Mikhail. In response, Mikhail summoned one of his ritual symbols, using it as a barrier to block the blast. Even with the attack coming straight at him, he was currently operating at only one percent of his true power.
Kiyozawa felt a jolt of frustration as his attack failed to leave a scratch. Sprouting his long, black wings, he lunged into the air and flew straight toward Mikhail. His wings, sharp and sturdy as steel blades, lashed out in a fierce swing, but one of Mikhail's ritual symbols snapped into place to block the blow.
Determined to break through, Kiyozawa unleashed another piercing screech, but Mikhail blinked out of existence using his third eye, teleporting away in a fraction of a second. Kiyozawa's eyes widened in alarm as he whipped around, only to see Mikhail materializing right behind him, sword drawn and descending in a swift slash. Luckily, Kiyozawa managed to whip his wings inward just in time, using them as a shield to block the blade.
Kiyozawa glared at Mikhail, quickly backing away to put some distance between them. But in a blur, Mikhail teleported once again. Anticipating the move after noticing a shift in the air, Kiyozawa whipped his wings around just in time to block the incoming sword strike from behind.
As they clashed, Kiyozawa's mind raced, trying to analyze the pattern. He couldn't quite tell if Mikhail's third eye was executing movements at random intervals, or if there were specific timing rules and cooldowns governing its abilities. He wasn't entirely sure, but he needed to figure it out fast.
(In the background)
Klaudia smiled knowingly.
Klaudia: "It seems you have a soft spot for Kiyozawa, considering you jumped right in to protect him."
Mochizuki rolled his eyes, knowing full well she would have done the exact same thing.
Mochizuki: "You would've too."
He snapped back.
Mochizuki: "I saw you getting ready to use one of your blood techniques."
Klaudia sighed, a faint smile touching her lips.
Klaudia: "Fine, I guess I do have some attachment to Kiyozawa. Let's just hope he manages to impress the cartel leader."
Mochizuki crossed his arms, watching the clash unfold.
Mochizuki: "I hope so too."
(On the battlefield)
Swords clashed repeatedly against the dark, blade-like wings in a flurry of sparks. Having raised his power to ten percent, Mikhail moved with terrifying speed, leaving Kiyozawa struggling to keep up as narrow escapes turned into terrifyingly close calls
(In his mind).
"He spiked his energy..."
Kiyozawa gritted his teeth as the pressure in the air multiplied. It was getting exponentially harder just to keep track of the king's speed, let alone counter it.
(Out of his mind).
Desperate to slow him down, Kiyozawa unleashed another point-blank screech, sending a concentrated wave of sound waves barreling toward Mikhail. But it wasn't enough. The king was far too quick, slipping through the blast entirely unfazed and lunging forward to drive his blade straight into Kiyozawa's chest—right where his vulnerable life force was centered.
Kiyozawa's eyes widened in shock as he hacked up blood, the impact sending brittle shards of his life force spilling out and tumbling beneath his shirt.
In the background, Mochizuki's eyes widened in absolute horror, his heart dropping as he feared Mikhail had just delivered a fatal blow.
Mikhail smirked, confident that the match was already over.
Mochizuki started forward to catch Kiyozawa, who looked as though he was about to collapse from the wound. But despite the severe injury, Kiyozawa forced his wings to keep beating, remaining airborne through sheer willpower.
Kiyozawa: "You're fast."
He rasped, glaring daggers at Mikhail as his hand reached down to draw the blade of death.
Kiyozawa: "I'm not done yet."
Mikhail chuckled darkly, tilting his head.
Mikhail: "Want to know the hard truth about why you're still alive and she isn't? It's because you wanted to live. When a normal orb's life force shatters, it means instant death. But if an orb with a strong enough will shatters, they can keep on fighting just because they choose not to die."
He leaned in, his smile twisting into something cruel.
Mikhail: "Which means... that girl who died in your arms? She chose to die. Maybe she just wanted to finally get away from you."
Kiyozawa's eyes widened in horror. He wanted to reject the thought, to scream that Mikhail was lying, but a sickening cold dread settled in his chest.
(In his mind).
"If my will is what kept me together... then why am I still here? Did she really... want to leave?"
(Out of his mind).
Mikhail sneered, twisting the knife emotionally.
Mikhail: "And your father, too. He died right beside you, didn't he? Chances are, he wanted to get away from you just as badly."
Kiyozawa violently rejected the thought, refusing to let the poison take root—yet despite his fierce denial, a creeping shadow of doubt clawed at the back of his mind, whispering that it might be true.
Mikhail threw his head back in laughter, but the sound was cut short as Mochizuki and Klaudia simultaneously slammed their fists into his face. Mikhail stumbled back, entirely stunned—he hadn't even sensed them closing the distance.
Mochizuki glared daggers, his fists still crackling with dark flames.
Mochizuki: "Shut the fuck up!"
Klaudia crossed her arms, glancing over the chaotic scene before calling out to the sidelines.
Klaudia: "Before things completely go out of hand—did he impress you or not?"
She looked over at Marcial, the formidable leader of the Cártel de Reyes y Reinas. Marcial held a stony, silent gaze for a long moment, weighing the destruction before giving a slow nod.
Marcial: "He has potential,"
He rumbled, his voice cutting through the tension.
Marcial: "I'll let him in."
Mochizuki and Klaudia turned their attention back to Kiyozawa, who looked entirely shattered—completely ignoring the severe wound in his chest that desperately needed medical attention.
Klaudia let out an exasperated sigh, grabbing his arm to haul him along.
Klaudia: "Please don't tell me he's going to act like this the entire time."
Kiyozawa didn't offer any resistance, completely limp and lost in his overwhelming grief.
Klaudia suddenly threw her head forward, slamming her forehead against Kiyozawa's in a harsh attempt to snap him out of his trance. But he remained completely unresponsive, entirely dead inside.
Marcial didn't even blink at the display. He immediately turned away, issuing a cold command.
Marcial: "Figure out a way to bring him back to normal. I have a mission in mind for him, and I want to test if he's actually useful."
Mochizuki: "He's injured!"
He snapped, his eyes flashing with disbelief as he stared at the cartel leader, appalled by his sheer callousness.
Marcial: "Doesn't matter, he needs to start working. Money isn't going to make itself."
Mochizuki's jaw tightened in frustration, but he bit his tongue and kept quiet. Meanwhile, a faint smirk touched Klaudia's lips as an idea crossed her mind—remembering how much it used to annoy Kiyozawa, maybe a little indignity would finally jolt him out of his trance.
Without warning, Klaudia scooped Kiyozawa up into her arms, carrying him bridal-style just like she had back in the goat cult dimension.
Despite looking entirely hollow and depressed, one of Kiyozawa's eyes gave a sharp, involuntary twitch.
Klaudia noticed the twitch and let out a soft sigh, realizing her usual antics weren't going to pull him out of this deep spiral.
Klaudia: "Get over it already,"
She muttered, her tone softening just a fraction.
Klaudia: "Yeah, I know your loved ones died... but they were killed by the goat cult. You already know how ruthless those bastards are."
She racked her brain, coming up totally blank. Try as she might, she simply wasn't built for pep talks, and she had no idea how else to lift his spirits.
Mochizuki crossed his arms, looking down at Kiyozawa.
Mochizuki: "Look, I don't even know what to say about all that. Even if Mikhail was right about your dad... did you seriously forget that your old man tried to kill you?"
Kiyozawa kept his gaze locked on the ground, a heavy wave of sorrow washing over him as the memory resurfaced. He remembered that day all too well—the blinding panic, the betrayal, and the agonizing sensation of his father's sword plunging straight through his life force, all because his father had mistakenly believed Kiyozawa had hurt Amaya.
Mochizuki offered a rough, unpolished shrug.
Mochizuki: "Look, I know I shouldn't be talking. I've got plenty of my own baggage to deal with, and I'm not about to sit around acting like a sad sack... or maybe I am, whatever. The point is, we all have our mess. We just gotta push through it."
Klaudia shot Mochizuki a sharp, unamused glare from over Kiyozawa's shoulder.
Mochizuki: "You're the second-in-command of the Angels of Slaughter, so act like one. Whining about baggage is completely unprofessional."
Kiyozawa's voice was barely a murmur, laced with bitter exhaustion.
Kiyozawa: "Shut up... The Angels of Slaughter aren't even a Yakuza group anymore, remember? Once the boss died, the whole group died with him."
Klaudia rolled her eyes, adjusting her grip on him as she carried him along.
Klaudia: "Not really. You're still breathing, and you're the one holding the title, whether you like it or not."
Mochizuki narrowed his eyes slightly, his tone turning firm.
Mochizuki: "Then take his place. Show this cartel leader that the remaining Yakuza are still strong. Still kicking."
Kiyozawa slowly lifted his head, looking up at Mochizuki. The crushing weight of Mikhail's words still lingered in his chest, but beneath the sorrow, a tiny spark of resolve flickered back to life.
Mochizuki: "As for your girlfriend... I don't know if you two were actually dating or what, but I highly doubt she died just to get away from you,"
He continued, his voice softening just a fraction.
Mochizuki: "She loved you."
He spoke with a quiet, undeniable certainty. It wasn't just empty comfort—Mochizuki knew the absolute truth. Takumi, the Time Orb King, had secretly shown him glimpses of Kiyozawa's timeline, allowing him to see exactly how deep her feelings really went.
The heavy dam of emotional numbness finally cracked. Kiyozawa's breath hitched, and hot tears spilled over his lashes as he completely broke down, burying his face in his hands as all the accumulated grief, guilt, and exhaustion caught up to him.
Mochizuki's eyes widened in mild panic at the sudden flood of waterworks. Unsure of how to handle a full-blown emotional breakdown, he awkwardly reached out and awkwardly patted Kiyozawa on the back.
Klaudia's eyes widened too, her posture stiffening under the weight of him crying in her arms. She stared straight ahead, completely useless when it came to comforting weeping teammates, silently hoping no one from the cartel was watching them right now.
Kiyozawa gritted his teeth, wincing as a sharp pang ripped through his chest.
Kiyozawa: "I forgot..."
Realizing the critical danger of an exposed life force wound, Klaudia didn't hesitate. Her eyes flashed as she activated her blood style, manipulating her own crimson energy to weave a tight, sealed barrier around the gaping injury. The sealing technique stemmed the bleeding instantly, preventing any further loss of his life force, while a steady stream of her own blood flowed into him to stabilize his failing system.
Mochizuki's face drained of color as he looked down at the leaking life force.
Mochizuki: "We have to get you to a medical facility, and fast!"
Kiyozawa: "No, I want to show that the Angels of Slaughter Yakuza are still here and still kicking despite being injured."
He muttered this to Mochizuki as he stood up. He felt thoroughly embarrassed that someone like Mochizuki had helped him snap out of it, his cheeks flushing a bright pink.
Mochizuki: "You sure? I mean, that wound looks serious."
He looked at Kiyozawa with concern.
Kiyozawa: "I'm sure—since I am the second-in-command of the Angels of Slaughter Yakuza!"
Klaudia rolled her eyes because his ego was far too high.
Klaudia: "Alright then, since everyone is ready, let's do that mission."
She announced this to the group. Marcial, the leader of the Cártel de Reyes y Reinas, stepped up to them and spoke.
Marcial: "Cartels sell drugs to certain countries, and I've been trying for years to sell them in Orbmerica. But since that dream isn't going to happen, we'll be selling them in Orbpan—the place where the Heaven Orb King lives."
Mochizuki's eyes widened.
A wide smile spread across Mochizuki's face. The Heaven Orb King was his ultimate target, the one person he wanted to kill above all others.
Mochizuki: "Well."
He said, his eyes gleaming.
Mochizuki: "I'm excited."
(Meanwhile — Human World, United States of America)
Every major news network was locked onto the same emergency broadcast. Along the bottom of the screen, the red chyron scrolled in an endless loop: BREAKING: FEDERAL TASK FORCE FORMED FOLLOWING UNEXPLAINED DISAPPEARANCES — WHITE HOUSE ADDRESSES THE NATION.
Behind the podium in the press briefing room, President Donny Rump leaned forward, gripping both sides of the lectern as camera shutters clicked like rapid gunfire. He looked directly into the main lens, his expression tight and defiant.
Donny Rump: "What happened to our citizens is an outrage—frankly, nobody has ever seen anything like it."
He said, his voice echoing through millions of living rooms across the country.
Donny Rump: "We have the greatest military, the greatest intelligence agencies, and the greatest people anywhere in the world. Let me be very clear: whoever—or whatever—took those Americans, we are going to find them, and I will do everything in my power to bring every single one of them back home."
Reporters immediately erupted, shouting questions over one another, before the feed suddenly flickered.
Static tore across the studio monitors. The lights in the briefing room dimmed to a sickly, bruised violet, and the air pressure dropped so hard the microphones let out a deafening, high-pitched shriek. Outside the White House windows—and across the skyline of Washington, D.C.—the sky split open like torn black fabric, casting a suffocating shadow over the capital.
The Dark Orb King had returned.
To be continue in the next chapter