CHAPTER 35 — WHEN MONSTERS COLLIDE
The air felt… wrong.
Heavy.
Unstable.
Like the world itself was holding its breath.
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Mira's gaze lingered on the distant battlefield—where the sky flickered with violent flashes of red and gold.
"…Wait," she murmured.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Is he… really okay fighting that thing by himself?"
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Kaito let out a quiet breath from where he sat, leaning against the rubble.
"Yeah."
Simple.
Certain.
"He might look like a kid…"
He tilted his head slightly toward the distant explosions.
"…but he's stronger than all of us."
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Mira glanced at him.
"…You trust him that much?"
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A beat.
Then—
Aoi nodded.
Nezuko nodded.
Even Natsuki, despite himself, clicked his tongue and muttered—
"…Yeah."
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Mira looked back toward the battlefield again.
The flames were changing.
They weren't just burning anymore.
They were… shifting.
Distorting the air.
Warping the space around them.
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"…That's not normal fire," she said quietly.
Everyone's attention sharpened.
"It feels… wrong."
A pause.
"…Like radiation."
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Silence.
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"I think…" Mira continued slowly, "…it's turning into something else."
Her eyes reflected the distant glow.
"…Plasma."
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That word landed heavier than expected.
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"…We should move," she added. "Further away."
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Aoi didn't respond immediately.
Her eyes stayed locked on the battlefield.
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"…Will he be okay?"
Mira asked again—quieter this time.
"…That boy."
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Aoi paused.
Just for a second.
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Then—
"…He will."
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But even as she said it—
Her eyes hardened.
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"…Mira."Aoi called her name.
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Mira turned.
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"…you need you to heal someone else."
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"…Who?" mira asked.
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Mira's gaze shifted.
Toward the unconscious body lying nearby.
Broken.
Still.
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"Hoshina."
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Silence dropped like a blade.
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"…What?"
Natsuki snapped instantly, his voice sharp.
"No—no way."
He pushed himself up slightly despite the strain.
"You're not serious."
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Kaito frowned.
Nezuko tensed.
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Aoi didn't look away.
"Listen first."
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Natsuki clenched his jaw.
"…This better be good."
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Aoi stepped forward slightly.
"We wake him up…"
Her eyes narrowed.
"…and we use him."
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"…Use him?" Kaito repeated.
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"As bait."
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The word hung in the air.
Cold.
Calculated.
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Aoi continued,
"Ragnar didn't kill him."
"He left him alive."
"That means something."
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Mira's expression shifted slightly.
"…You think he still has a use for him?"
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"Or a grudge," Aoi replied.
"Either way—it's leverage."
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Natsuki scoffed.
"…Or we wake him up and he tries to kill us again."
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Aoi nodded.
"Then we control him."
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"How?" Natsuki shot back.
"He controls water—look around!"
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Aoi glanced toward the river in the distance.
Then back.
Calm.
Focused.
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"We don't let him use it."
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"…What?"
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Aoi's voice stayed steady.
"We restrain him."
"No hands. No movement."
"No chance."
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Nezuko added quietly,
"And we move away from water."
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Kaito nodded slowly.
"…That lowers his output."
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"…Exactly," Aoi said.
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A brief silence followed.
Then—
Natsuki exhaled sharply.
"…Still a stupid plan."
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Aoi smirked slightly.
"…Yeah."
A beat.
"…But it might work."
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Mira watched them.
Really watched them this time.
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"…How old are you guys?"
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The question caught them off guard.
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"…Huh?" Kaito blinked.
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"You all look like high schoolers," Mira said, tilting her head slightly.
"…Except you."
She pointed at Kaito.
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Kaito flinched.
"Hey—what's that supposed to mean?!"
"…I'm 19."
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Mira smiled faintly.
"Then I'm older."
"…I'm 21."
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Nezuko spoke softly,
"…We're 17."
She gestured slightly toward Natsuki.
"…We're twins."
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Mira's eyes widened slightly.
"…Seriously?"
A small smile.
"…That explains it."
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Natsuki clicked his tongue.
"…Don't start."
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Aoi sighed.
Then lightly tapped his head.
"Try being polite for once."
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"Hey—!"
Natsuki snapped.
"Why me?!"
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"…Because you're loud," Aoi replied flatly.
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Nezuko smiled faintly.
"…Sorry about him."
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Mira shook her head.
"It's fine."
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Her gaze shifted to Aoi.
"…And you?"
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Aoi hesitated."...I'm 18..."
"Oh does that mean your the leader of this group?"mira asked politely.
"No…I'm just—"
"She's our leader."
Kaito cut in immediately.
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Aoi shot him a look.
"…I didn't say that."
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"Yeah," Natsuki added, folding his arms.
"But it's true."
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Nezuko nodded.
"…Without her, we wouldn't be here."
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Aoi looked at them.
Then sighed softly.
"…We're here because of everyone."
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Mira stared at them for a moment.
Then—
She smiled.
Genuine this time.
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"…You're all just kids…"
She muttered.
"…but you trust each other like this?"
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A quiet pause.
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"…That's rare."
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Her gaze slowly drifted back toward the battlefield.
Where the sky was beginning to distort.
Twist.
Burn.
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"…That one…"
She murmured.
"…Red, right?"
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Aoi nodded.
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"…He's 16."
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Mira froze.
"…Sixteen?"
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"…Yeah."
Natsuki smirked slightly.
"Surprised?"
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"…A little," she admitted.
"…No—actually a lot."
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She looked back again.
The air trembled.
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"…What kind of monster is he…?"
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Far away—
The answer came.
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A flash.
A distortion.
A rupture—
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And then—
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IMPACT.
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Ragnar's fist collided with Tokita's.
At the same time.
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The world split.
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A shockwave tore through the battlefield—ripping apart the ground, shredding debris, bending the air itself outward in a violent sphere of force.
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BOOM.
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Flames erupted.
Wind screamed.
The sky cracked with light.
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Back with the group—
Everyone froze.
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Mira's eyes widened.
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"…So that's him…"
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The battlefield had changed again.
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And this time—
It wasn't holding back.