JAPAN – AMBULANCE (UNCONSCIOUS STATE)
Sirens echoed faintly through the night
Lucan's body lay still.
Unmoving.
But his mind—
Was drowning in something far worse.
Fire.
Endless fire.
Cities collapsing.
Skies torn open like paper.
Demons poured out of fractures in reality—
Thousands.
No—
Millions.
Hunters fought back.
Desperately.
And died.
One after another.
Lucan stood in the middle of it all—
Watching.
Unable to move
"…No…"
A shadow loomed in the distance.
Vast.
Unreachable.
"…It begins…"
Lucan reached out—
"WAIT—!"
Darkness swallowed everything.
ONE WEEK LATER
Lucan's eyes opened.
Sharp.
Alive.
Fully healed.
Far away—
Draven Ashford opened his eyes as well.
"…So I survived…"
Both had returned.
But not unchanged.
JAPAN – GSSA PRESIDENT'S OFFICE
Lucan stood calmly.
No injuries.
No weakness.
Only silence.
"…Report."
Lucan spoke.
Clear.
Direct.
"There was a hunter."
The room stiffened.
"He called himself… Kuroda Renji."
Instant reaction—
"…Renji?!"
"…That bastard…"
Anger.
Tension.
Recognition.
Lucan continued
"He used portals. Weapon summoning… enhanced strength, speed… precision."
A pause.
"…His weapons were poisoned."
The officials exchanged glances.
"…So he's working with them…"
Lucan's eyes narrowed slightly.
"He knew me."
That line lingered longer than the rest.
GLOBAL INTEL EXCHANGE
Information flowed across nations.
England.
Japan.
Others.
Reports aligned.
"…Warden Draven Ashford… leader of the Order of Light…"
"…Engaged an evolved fiend…"
"…Pushed to near death…"
Lucan's eyes shifted slightly as he listened.
"…So he's a Warden now…"
A quiet thought.
Gone just as quickly.
GLOBAL DECISION
The conclusion was clear.
"…Prepare for war."
"…Increase training intensity worldwide."
"…No one holds back anymore."
The order spread.
Across every branch.
Every nation.
Something was coming.
LUCAN'S APARTMENT – EVENING
The door opened.
Lucan stepped in.
"El."
Heavy footsteps rushed in.
His dog leapt toward him.
Tail wagging wildly.
Lucan steadied himself slightly.
"I'm fine…"
A knock came at the door.
Lucan paused.
Opened it.
Lyra stood there.
Behind her—
Takeshi and Reika.
"…We came to check on you," Lyra said softly.
Lucan stepped aside.
"Come in."
They entered—
And immediately paused.
"…You live alone?" Takeshi said, looking around.
"…This is sick."
Reika nodded, clearly impressed.
"It's really nice…"
Then—
A presence approached.
El.
Takeshi froze instantly.
"…He's big."
A pause.
"…Very big."
Reika blinked.
"…He's actually cute…"
El sniffed them—
Then wagged his tail calmly.
Lucan crossed his arms slightly.
"This is El."
He glanced at the dog.
"They're friends."
El barked once.
Takeshi exhaled.
"…Good. I wasn't ready for round two."
They all settled down.
Takeshi leaned forward.
"So… what happened?"
Lucan's expression dimmed slightly.
"…A hunter attacked me."
Reika frowned.
"A hunter?"
Lucan nodded.
"He was strong."
Takeshi leaned back.
"…For someone to beat you to that extent…"
He shook his head slightly.
"…he must be really strong."
Silence hung for a moment.
Then—
Lyra spoke softly.
"…Thank God you're okay."l
Her face—
Red.
Takeshi's eyes immediately locked on.
"…Why is your face red like that?"
Lyra froze.
"…It's not!"
Reika smirked slightly.
Lucan watched them—
Then—
A small smirk formed.
"…I'm glad you guys are here."
They all looked at him.
"…I missed y'all."
Silence.
Takeshi blinked.
Then burst into a grin.
"…Yeah nah, you definitely got hit too hard."
Reika laughed softly.
Lyra looked away—
Flustered.
For a moment—
Everything felt normal again.
SEVERAL MONTHS LATER…
Silence
No demon attacks.
No sightings
Nothing.
Too quiet.
TRAINING – JAPAN
Lucan moved.
Faster.
Sharper.
More controlled.
His dual blades cut through the air—
Flames following with precision.
No wasted movement.
Takeshi clashed with him—
Lightning bursting—
"…You've gotten insane," Takeshi muttered
Lucan didn't respond.
But his eyes—
Were focused.
Heavy.
Driven.
Nearby—
Reika's sorcery became refined
Cleaner.
More controlled.
Lyra's healing—
Faster than ever
They had all grown.
But Lucan—
Was chasing something deeper.
LUCAN – NIGHT
He stood alone.
"…Those shadows…"
He focused.
Nothing.
Again.
Nothing.
"…Tch."
He exhaled.
"…Maybe it was just an illusion…"
But-
The vision.
That destruction.
That feeling—
It was real.
His fists clenched
"I'll get stronger…"
A pause.
"…I'll protect them."
Another pause.
"…And next time…"
His eyes darkened slightly.
"I'll kill him."
ENGLAND – TRAINING GROUNDS
Draven trained relentlessly.
Light surged from his blade—
More powerful than before.
His squad watched in silence.
"…He's not the same…" Jane whispered.
Draven swung again—
And again—
Until—
He stopped.
Breathing steadily.
"…I was too weak…"
His grip tightened.
"I won't lose like that again."
FINAL PARALLEL
Two paths.
Two warriors
Both defeated once.
Both preparing.
For something bigger than themselves.
And far away—
Unseen.
Something waited.
Watching.
Smiling.
The silence…
Was not peace.
It was preparation.