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Chapter 29 - CHAPTER 29: IDEOLOGIES CLASH (PART ONE)

CHAPTER 29 — WHAT IT MEANS TO PROTECT 

The air was still thick with smoke.

Ash drifted slowly through the ruined streets, settling over broken concrete and collapsed buildings. The heat from the earlier explosions had not fully faded.

And yet—

The shouting hadn't stopped.

"Stay away from us!"

"You monster!"

"We don't need your help!"

The civilians' voices overlapped, driven by fear more than reason. Some held makeshift weapons. Others clutched their children, backing away inch by inch.

Tokita stood in front of them.

Unmoving.

Unbothered.

Their words didn't reach him.

They never did.

A distant explosion cut through the noise.

The ground trembled slightly.

Tokita turned his head.

Ragnar.

Already back on his feet.

"…That fast?" Tokita muttered under his breath. "I thought that would keep him down longer."

Across the ruined street, Ragnar stood upright amidst the debris, rolling his shoulders as if shaking off nothing more than dust.

Tokita watched him for a moment.

Then turned back to the civilians.

"If you want to live," he said calmly, "follow me."

"Why the hell would we follow a monster like you?!"

The voice came from a man near the front.

Loud.

Aggressive.

But his hands were shaking.

Tokita stepped forward.

Slowly.

The man stiffened.

For all his shouting, fear was written clearly across his face. His stance faltered, but he forced himself to remain in place—standing in front of the others, trying to hold his ground.

Tokita stopped in front of him.

He studied him briefly.

He's terrified…

A front.

So he's their leader.

Tokita raised his hand.

The man flinched.

Just slightly.

But it was enough.

For a moment, it looked like Tokita might grab him—might snap his neck where he stood.

Instead—

Tokita's hand passed him.

Pointing behind.

"…Huh?"

The man turned.

Slowly.

Then his eyes widened.

They were coming.

At first, it looked like a distant wave.

Then—

Movement.

Too much movement.

Too fast.

A mass of infected surged through the streets, flooding into the area from every direction. Their numbers stretched far beyond what the eye could count at a glance.

Hundreds.

No—

More.

They poured in from broken roads, collapsed buildings, alleyways—drawn by the noise, the destruction, the scent of fear.

Some moved normally.

Others crawled, their limbs twisted, dragging themselves forward with unnatural speed.

The man's face drained of color.

"…We're dead."

His voice broke.

"We're all going to die!"

Panic spread instantly.

"Oh God—!"

"This is the end!"

"They're everywhere!"

"We're fucked—!"

"They're not even normal ones!"

"They're getting closer—!"

Voices rose. People stumbled backward, crashing into each other. Children began to cry. Some tried to run, but there was nowhere to go.

The chaos built rapidly.

Spiraling.

"Enough."

Tokita's voice cut through everything.

Sharp.

Absolute.

"Shut up."

The command carried weight.

Not loud.

But heavy.

It forced silence.

Even if only for a moment.

All eyes turned to him.

"There's no time to panic," Tokita said. "If you want to live, you stay calm."

He stepped forward slightly, placing himself between them and the approaching horde.

"I'll protect you."

A man scoffed weakly.

"You? Protect us?" he said. "You're just a kid—"

"Sixteen," Tokita replied calmly.

A brief pause.

Then—

"That's enough."

Some of the children were crying now.

Others clung to their parents.

Tokita looked at them.

His expression didn't soften—but something in his gaze steadied.

"You won't die," he said.

Not loudly.

Not dramatically.

Just a simple statement.

"I won't let it happen."

Above them—

Laughter echoed.

Ragnar stood atop the remains of a tall building, looking down at the scene.

Amused.

Interested.

"Look at you," he called out, his voice carrying easily across the battlefield. "Playing hero now?"

He tilted his head slightly, eyes flicking toward the civilians.

"Are these the people you're trying so hard to protect?"

He chuckled.

"They don't even trust you."

His grin widened.

"They're terrified of you."

Ragnar spread his arms slightly, as if presenting the scene.

"We're the same, you know," he continued. "You, me… Kaito… Hoshina… all of us."

His voice lowered.

More serious now.

"We evolved."

His gaze hardened as it dropped back to the civilians.

"And them?"

A dismissive pause.

"Left behind."

"They call us monsters," Ragnar said, almost amused by it. "But if they had our power… if the roles were reversed…"

He smiled again.

"They wouldn't be saying any of this."

His eyes returned to Tokita.

Cold.

Excited.

"So tell me," he said, "why does it matter if they die?"

Below—

The infected were getting closer.

Faster.

The sound of their movement filled the streets—scraping, dragging, sprinting, closing in from every direction.

Ragnar's voice cut through it again.

"I don't care what happens to them," he said plainly. "Whether the infected tear them apart… or I burn them myself…"

A small pause.

"It makes no difference."

His smile sharpened.

"What I want—"

He leaned forward slightly.

"—is to fight you."

The air grew heavier.

Tension rising from both sides.

Behind Tokita—

The civilians stood frozen.

Afraid.

Confused.

Caught between two forces they couldn't understand.

In front of him—

The infected closed in.

And above—

Ragnar watched.

Waiting.

Tokita didn't look back.

Didn't respond to the insults.

Didn't respond to Ragnar.

He only stepped forward.

Placing himself between everything.

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