Shibuya pulsed like a living heart beneath the neon sky.
Music blasted from every corner. Screens flickered endlessly above towering buildings, painting the streets in shifting colours violet, crimson, electric blue. Laughter echoed through the crowded crossing as people in elaborate costumes filled the night. Vampires, ghosts, warriors, mythical beasts humans disguised as monsters, celebrating without fear.
Because they did not know.
They did not know that real monsters were already among them.
Moving.
Breathing.
Watching.
Among the crowd, a man walked calmly, hands tucked into his coat.
His face was ordinary.
Too ordinary.
Yet his eyes… cold, calculating.
Nyelv. Level Special
Disguised perfectly as a human, he blended into the festival without a single trace of suspicion. A faint smile curved on his lips as he observed the chaos.
"Humans hiding behind masks…" he murmured softly.
His tongue slid slightly across his lips.
"…how convenient for us."
Around him, several "people" brushed past.
But they were not human.
Their movements were slightly off. Their gazes lingered too long. Their smiles were too wide… too empty.
Demons.
Hiding in plain sight.
At the opposite end of Shibuya Crossing—
Five figures stood near the edge of the crowd.
Seiichi Asuka.
Kurosaki Shin.
Tachibana Hina.
Miyagi Aoi.
And two others—
A man with sleepy, bored eyes…
Verse del Hila.
And beside him, a cheerful girl with bright energy—
Kaori Mitsuri.
Mitsuri clapped her hands excitedly, eyes sparkling as she looked around.
"Waaah! So many costumes! This place is amazing!"
Hina blinked, slightly overwhelmed.
"…I didn't expect this many people."
Aoi clutched her bow case gently, her voice soft.
"It's… a bit scary."
Shin sighed, crossing her arms.
"Stay focused. This isn't a festival for us."
Mitsuri pouted slightly.
"Come on, Shin~ lighten up a bit! Even hunters deserve to enjoy life, right?"
Shin gave her a flat look.
"…not when demons are hiding in crowds like this."
Meanwhile—
A few steps ahead—
Asuka and Versa stood side by side.
Silence.
Heavy.
Tense.
They didn't even look at each other.
But the air between them… was sharp.
Versa yawned lightly.
"…so."
He glanced sideways.
"They sent you too."
Asuka didn't respond immediately.
His eyes scanned the crowd.
"…same mission."
Versa smirked faintly.
"Looking for Mizorogi?"
"…and eliminating anything in the way."
A pause.
Then—
Versa chuckled.
"Still the same, huh… always serious."
Asuka finally turned his head slightly.
"…you're still lazy."
"Not lazy," Versa replied calmly.
"…just efficient."
Behind them—
Mitsuri leaned closer to Hina, whispering excitedly.
"Hey hey, are they always like that?"
Hina nodded slowly.
"…yeah."
Aoi added quietly,
"They don't seem… friendly."
Shin snorted softly.
"They're always compared. Who's stronger, who's faster… it gets annoying."
Mitsuri tilted her head.
"Hmm… I think they're both strong in different ways."
She smiled warmly.
"Still, it's kinda cool, right? Two Special Grades working together!"
Shin muttered under her breath—
"…they're not 'working together.'"
Suddenly—
Asuka stopped walking.
His gaze sharpened.
"…something's off."
Versa also halted.
"…yeah."
For a brief moment—
Both of them spoke at the same time.
"…too many."
Around them—
The crowd continued laughing.
Walking.
Talking.
But now—
If one looked carefully—
There were too many "humans" moving without rhythm.
Too many eyes watching.
Too many auras…
wrong.
Hina frowned.
"…what do you mean?"
Asuka spoke calmly.
"…demons."
Aoi stiffened.
"…what?"
Shin narrowed her eyes.
"…how many?"
Versa exhaled slowly.
"…not one or two."
His gaze swept across the crowd.
"…dozens."
Silence fell among the group.
The realization hit hard.
They were surrounded.
Mitsuri's cheerful expression faded slightly.
"…that's not good."
Shin clenched her fist.
"We can't fight here."
Aoi nodded nervously.
"There are too many civilians…"
Hina looked around, her grip tightening on her katana.
"…if we attack…"
Asuka finished her sentence—
"…panic."
Versa added lazily—
"…and exposure."
For the first time—
They were forced into restraint.
Hunters.
Surrounded by enemies.
But unable to strike.
Above them—
On top of a tall building—
A figure crouched silently.
Scales shimmered faintly under the city lights.
Eyes sharp.
Predatory.
Watching.
Ingua. level Special
A massive humanoid lizard-like demon.
Muscles coiled beneath hardened scales.
A long tail flicked slowly behind him.
His tongue slipped out briefly, tasting the air.
"…two Special Grades."
A grin stretched across his reptilian face.
"…this hunt just got interesting."
Behind him—
Several smaller figures emerged.
Lizard-like demons.
Lean.
Deadly.
Eyes filled with hunger.
Ingua stood up slowly.
Cracking his neck.
"…tonight…"
His voice deep, rumbling.
"…we feast."
Back on the streets—
Asuka's eyes shifted upward.
"…someone's watching."
Versa followed his gaze.
"…yeah."
A pause.
Then Versa smirked slightly.
"…finally."
Mitsuri tilted her head.
"Huh? What is it?"
Shin looked up—
But saw nothing.
"…I don't see anything."
Asuka spoke quietly—
"…above us."
A sudden gust of wind—
Then—
THUD.
A heavy impact shook the ground nearby.
People screamed in confusion.
Some laughed, thinking it was part of the event.
But those closer—
Froze.
A figure stood in the middle of the street.
Tall.
Massive.
Covered in scales.
Eyes glowing with predatory hunger.
Ingua had descended.
"…so many humans…"
He licked his lips slowly.
"…which one should I eat first?"
Silence.
Then—
Chaos.
People began to panic.
Screams filled the air.
Phones dropped.
Feet ran.
Fear spread like wildfire.
Mitsuri gasped.
"…he revealed himself?!"
Shin cursed under her breath.
"…damn it!"
Aoi trembled slightly.
"…this is bad…"
Hina stepped forward—
Eyes burning with determination.
"…we have to stop him."
But before she could move—
Asuka's arm blocked her.
"…wait."
Versa cracked his knuckles slowly.
"…finally."
Ingua's eyes locked onto them.
Specifically—
On Asuka.
And Versa.
"…you two…"
A low growl escaped his throat.
"…you're not human."
A grin spread across his face.
"…good."
Behind him—
More lizard demons began emerging from the crowd.
Revealing themselves.
Dropping their disguises.
The festival had turned into a battlefield.
Asuka stepped forward.
Calm.
Unshaken.
"…Shin. Evacuate civilians."
"Got it."
"Aoi. Support from distance."
"…yes."
"Hina."
A brief pause.
His eyes met hers.
"…stay alive."
Versa stretched his neck lazily.
"…I'll handle the big one."
Asuka replied without looking at him—
"…we'll see."
Ingua laughed loudly.
A deep, monstrous sound.
"…try me, hunters."
Lightning flickered faintly around Asuka.
Red.
Violent.
Versa's eyes narrowed slightly.
For once—
No boredom.
Only focus.
Around them—
The city of Shibuya burned in chaos.
Screams.
Running footsteps.
Falling lights.
And in the center of it all—
Two Special Grade hunters stood against a Special Level demon.
The hunt had begun but Mizorogi started is move to start his plan.
To be continued…