[Morning - Izumi's Home]
The day had arrived.
Izumi stood in front of the mirror.
Black jeans.
White t-shirt.
A black shirt layered over it.
"…Looks normal."
He stared at his reflection.
"…Act normal."
But his eyes—
They weren't calm.
He turned.
Picked up the katana.
For a moment—
It pulsed faintly.
"…I won't let it happen."
He wrapped it carefully.
Packed it.
"…Not this time."
_________________________
[Unknown Location — Evil Organization]
Darkness.
Energy surged violently.
Screams of spirits echoed endlessly.
Members stood in a circle.
Each absorbing power.
Their bodies shaking.
"…More," one of them muttered.
At the center—
The mastermind stood still.
Before him—
A massive, distorted spirit.
"…You will serve me."
He extended his hand.
The spirit resisted.
Screamed.
Then—
Was consumed.
Silence.
A terrifying pressure filled the room.
The mastermind opened his eyes.
"…Now…"
A faint smile.
"…Let's begin."
__________________________
[Evening — Videl's House]
Laughter filled the air.
Guests arrived one after another.
Izumi stood near the entrance with his family.
"…Happy birthday!" voices echoed.
Videl smiled.
"…Thank you!"
Her eyes met Izumi's.
A small smile passed between them.
Natural.
Warm.
Goutham entered loudly.
"…WHERE'S THE FOOD?!"
"…You just came!"
"…I came for survival."
Mr. Kaseki followed.
"…Ignore him."
"…I won't."
The atmosphere felt alive.
Gifts.
Music.
Laughter.
For a moment—
It felt like nothing could go wrong.
__________________________
[6:00 PM — At Balcony]
The sky dimmed.
Izumi stood beside Videl.
"…Nice party," he said.
"…Of course."
"…You planned it?"
"…Mostly."
A small pause.
"…Thanks for coming."
"…I said I would."
Silence.
Comfortable.
Then—
Flick.
The lights blinked.
Once.
Twice.
"…Power issue?" Videl asked.
Izumi frowned.
"…No…"
His chest tightened.
"…Something's wrong."
Suddenly—
Darkness.
Not just the house.
The entire city.
Gone.
"…This isn't normal," Izumi muttered.
Before another word could be spoken—
CRASH!
The balcony exploded inward.
Glass scattered like rain.
Figures stepped through.
Not human.
Their bodies twisted.
Eyes glowing with unnatural light.
"…Found you."
Izumi didn't hesitate.
"MOVE!"
He grabbed Videl and rolled aside just as one of them lunged.
Its claws scraped the floor where they stood a second ago.
"…Stay behind me," Izumi said.
His hand moved instantly—
Drawing the katana.
The red stone flickered.
"…Come."
_________________________
[Inside — War Begins]
Screams erupted across the house.
Guests ran in panic.
Doors slammed.
Furniture overturned.
But it didn't matter.
They were everywhere.
Walls shattered.
Windows burst open.
More entered.
"…So many…" Izumi whispered.
Then—
"IZUMI!"
Goutham landed beside him.
Daggers spinning in his grip.
"…You took your time."
"…You started without me."
"…Let's fix that."
Behind them—
Mr. Kaseki stepped forward calmly.
"…Formation."
Izumi's father joined.
"…Protect the civilians."
"…And survive," Goutham added.
"…Try," Mr. Kaseki corrected.
Then—
They moved.
A spirit charged Izumi head-on.
He stepped forward—
CLANG!
Blocked.
The force pushed him back.
"…Strong…"
Before it could attack again—
He twisted his body.
SLASH!
The blade cut clean across its chest.
It dissolved instantly.
But no pause—
Another attacked from the side.
Goutham intercepted mid-air.
"…Not happening!"
He spun—
STAB.
One dagger pierced through its neck.
The other—
THUD.
Straight into its chest.
"…Double kill," he smirked.
"…Focus!" Izumi snapped.
Behind them—
Mr. Kaseki moved like a ghost.
No wasted motion.
A spirit lunged—
He sidestepped—
Two fingers tapped its forehead—
"…Dispel."
The spirit shattered instantly.
"…Show-off," Goutham muttered.
"…Experience," Mr. Kaseki replied calmly.
Then—
Everything changed.
The floor cracked.
More poured in.
From walls.
From ceiling.
From shadows.
"…They're multiplying!" Izumi shouted.
"…No…" Mr. Kaseki narrowed his eyes.
"…They're being sent."
A realization hit all of them.
"…This is planned."
Before they could react—
Three spirits attacked at once.
Izumi blocked one—
Goutham handled another—
But the third—
Too fast—
THUD!
It slammed into Izumi.
He crashed into the wall.
"…Tch—!"
Pain shot through his body.
But he got up instantly.
"…I'm fine!"
"…You better be!"
Another wave came.
Endless.
Goutham was forced back.
"…There's too many!"
Izumi's father stepped forward.
"…Hold your ground!"
He fought with raw strength.
Punching.
Blocking.
Destroying spirits without hesitation.
"…Dad…?" Izumi muttered.
He had never seen him like this.
But even that—
Wasn't enough.
A scream echoed.
Someone behind them—
Dead.
Then another.
And another.
"…We can't protect everyone!"
Goutham shouted.
"…We have to try!" Izumi yelled back.
But deep inside—
He knew.
This was exactly like the vision.
"…No…"
His movements became sharper.
More desperate.
He cut down five.
Ten.
Fifteen.
But still—
They kept coming.
"…Why won't you stop?!" he roared.
Then—
Everything slowed.
A spirit appeared behind him.
Too close.
Too fast.
He couldn't react.
"—IZUMI!"
THUD.
His father stepped in.
The blade pierced through him.
Silence.
"…Dad…?"
Time froze.
His father looked at him.
"…You… have to live…"
"…No…"
"…Run…"
His body collapsed.
"…NO—!"
Something snapped.
[IZUMI'S RAGE BREAK]
Power surged violently.
The katana glowed.
Izumi disappeared—
Reappeared in front of a spirit—
SLASH.
Another—
CUT.
Another—
DESTROYED.
His movements became inhuman.
"…I'll kill all of you…!"
His voice wasn't normal.
It echoed.
Like two voices overlapping.
Even Goutham froze.
"…Izumi…?"
But Izumi didn't hear him.
He fought endlessly.
Destroying everything in his path.
But still—
They kept coming.
One by one—
Everyone fell.
Goutham.
Mr. Kaseki.
His mother.
All gone.
Izumi's movements slowed.
His body trembling.
"…Why…"
A blade pierced him.
"…Ah—!"
He dropped.
Breathing heavy.
Barely conscious.
[FINAL STATE — VISION BECOMES REALITY]
Silence.
Bodies everywhere.
"…No…"
He crawled forward.
Videl.
Lying still.
"…Please…"
His hands trembled.
"…Wake up…"
No response.
"…I promised…"
Tears fell.
"…I said I'd protect you…"
Thunder roared.
Rain poured heavily.
"…I failed…"
Then—
A light.
A butterfly.
White.
Glowing.
"…What is… this…"
It floated closer.
Everything slowed.
"…If… I had another chance…"
His eyes closed.
[The Time Shift — Ending]
Crowd noices~
Izumi opened his eyes.
Railway station.
Two figures in black.
And—
Himself, with Goutham.
"…I… was there…"
Everything connected.
"…I'm the one…"
The truth hit.