(At the Broken Arcade).
Axel: "Surprising that you managed to kill one of us,"
*He said calmly, moving suddenly to stand directly before Kai, his goat mask eerily still as he glared. His unexpected appearance startled everyone who had been unaware of his approach. His voice maintained a chilling composure despite the tension filling the room.*
Axel: "I thought the teenage girl with God's power would put up more of a fight. However the contrary to my expectations, that's not going to happen."
*He said calmly.*
*Suddenly, a black portal appears beneath everyone, especially Hiromi, the young girl with God's power. The sudden appearance indicates a deliberate targeting of her. He clearly has specific interest in capturing or eliminating her. The portal pulses with dark energy, ready to consume its targets.*
*The portal begins sucking everyone in, pulling them towards the Town that never stops bleeding. Those caught in its grasp struggle against the force, terror evident in their expressions as they're dragged into the dark abyss. Hiromi, being closest, is the first to be completely consumed.*
(At the underground Facility).
*Klaudia wakes up, her body aching from the sudden jolt of consciousness. She remembers the battle against the goat cult leader vividly—how she had been defeated in mere seconds. The humiliation of that loss hits her like a punch to the gut again now that she's awake.*
Klaudia: "Where am I?"
*She murmurs, her voice hoarse from sleep or perhaps lingering pain. She looks around the room, her eyes widening as she sees Kaito standing there with a twisted smile on his face.*
Kaito: "I'm surprised you're awake."
*Kaito says with a mocking smile, his voice dripping with sarcasm.*
Kaito: "I bet your ego took a real beating after that humiliating loss. Didn't expect the great Klaudia to go down so easily, did you?"
*He chuckles darkly.*
*Klaudia's face turns red with anger and embarrassment at Kaito's mocking words. She sits up abruptly, ignoring the pain that shoots through her body.*
Klaudia: "Shut up, Kaito."
*She snaps, her voice dripping with venom.*
Klaudia: "You think this is funny?"
*Realization dawns on Klaudia as she processes Kaito's words, her eyes widening with shock and anger.* He was there. Watching. And he did nothing to help. *Her pride stings even more now, realizing that her current ally stood by and let everyone get hurt.*
Klaudia: "Fuck you."
*She hisses, her voice calm but dripping with venom. There's no anger or emotion in her tone, only cold contempt. She's past being surprised or upset - she's just disgusted that he watched everyone get beaten and did nothing.*
*He leans forward, his eyes gleaming with curiosity and amusement.*
Kaito: "But the bigger question is why did the black figure let Kiyozawa join the mission? He knew Kiyozawa was injured but didn't care much about it. Maybe he wanted him to end up like me?"
*He looks at her directly.*
Klaudia: "What do you mean like me?"
*She asks, confusion evident in her voice as she tries to make sense of Kaito's cryptic words. She looks at him closely trying to read something else behind those words.*
Kaito: "I used to be with the goat cult,"
*He says nonchalantly, as if revealing a trivial fact.*
Kaito: "And I'm the original link - a sacrifice for the book. The very same book that the goat cult leader clings to so possessively."
*He pauses, studying her reaction closely.*
Kaito: "The book is complicated."
*He continues, his voice growing more intense as he explains.*
Kaito: "It needs power from people who are special to it - those with unique abilities or connections. The book wants these special people to train and discover their powers so that it can learn and grow stronger through them."
*His twisted smile widens as memories flood back - the moment the book chose him as the original link, binding their fates together. He remembers unlocking his unique ability to copy others' powers, an ability that he now knows the book can also use through him.*
(In his mind).
"And I gave the book something special,"
(Out of his mind).
Kaito: "Of course I'm the Original link."
*He continues, his eyes gleaming with pride and madness.*
Kaito: "But this original link can create three more links. If the first, second, and third links discover their powers, I get those abilities - and so does the book."
*He chuckles darkly.*
Klaudia: "So what link is Kiyozawa going to be?"
*She asks, her voice steady and calm despite the chaos swirling inside her. She watches Kaito intently, her mind racing with the implications of his words.*
Klaudia: "The first? The second? Or perhaps the third?"
*Kaito tilts his head slightly, considering Klaudia's question before answering calmly,*
Kaito: "Kiyozawa is going to be the second link."
*His eyes flicker with amusement as he watches her reaction closely.*
Klaudia: "Oh, I see."
*She murmurs softly, her eyes unreadable.*
Klaudia: "So we need to help them. They're still stuck back there."
*She adds calmly despite concern over her comrades.*
Kaito: "The Goat Cult's ultimate goal... is death and destruction."
*He whispers, his eyes glowing with an almost religious fervor as he says those words.*
Kaito: "And you know what's funny?"
*His twisted smile grows wider*
Kaito: "That's exactly what I want too."
Klaudia: "..."
*Klaudia's glare turns icy cold as the realization sinks in. Kaito doesn't just share the Goat Cult's goals—they are his goals. He won't help her save anyone or stop anything because destruction is what he craves.*
(At the Town That Never Stops Bleeding).
*Kiyozawa's confusion only deepened as he stared at Ashton. He shook his head, trying to clear the lingering effects of the memory assault.*
Kiyozawa: "Trapped here?"
*He asked slowly, glancing around.*
Kiyozawa: "Ashton... what are you talking about?"
*Ashton spoke calmly, his tone almost eerie in its composure. He reached out, grabbing Mochizuki's arm to help him walk, despite the other man being mentally trapped.*
Ashton: "It's time for us to leave,"
*He stated flatly, starting to move towards to the fog as Kiyozawa follows from behind.*
(At the other side at the Town That Never Stops Bleeding in the tunnels).
*Hiromi woke up to find herself in a tunnel with Hayden, Kai, and a few others. She looked around, her eyes widening in fear as she saw several dead bodies. The dead bodies in the tunnel were in various stages of decay. Using her white energy to illuminate the area, Hiromi saw that the walls and ceiling were also covered in the remains of the deceased, a horrifying sight that sent shivers down her spine.*
Hiromi: ''What happened here?''
*She murmured. Remembering the goat cult leader's words - ''You possess divine power'' - she shivered, wondering if this massacre was somehow connected to her abilities.*
(In her mind).
"God's power..."
(Out of her mind).
*Hiromi looked back to see Hayden and the others stirring awake. They slowly got to their feet, blinking groggily as they took in the horrific scene.*
Hayden: "Where are we?"
*He asks, his voice echoing eerily in the tunnel.*
Hiromi: "We need to find a way to get out of here!"
*She looked at them scared, her mind haunted by the terrifying sights she had witnessed in the tunnels.*
*Shrieks of women and children echoed in the distance, mingling with the blood-curdling screeches of unknown creatures. Everyone stood there in silence, except for Hayden, who was pulling out his sword and preparing for battle.*
Hayden: "This place is unfamiliar to me."
*He uses a flashlight from his pocket, illuminating the eerie scene before him. His eyes widen in horror as he takes in the sight of dead bodies covering every inch of the tunnel walls. He swallows hard and takes a hesitant step forward. He begins to walk cautiously forward, the beam of his flashlight cutting through the dense darkness and illuminating the gruesome path ahead. The others follow closely behind him, their footsteps echoing eerily off the blood-stained walls lined with mutilated corpses.*
Kai: "Something terrible happened here..."
*He whispers softly, his voice barely audible over the distant drips of water and the heavy breathing of his companions. He glances over to see Hiromi shaking violently, her face pale and eyes wide with terror. Without hesitation, he reaches out and gently takes her hand in his own.*
Hiromi: "Kai..."
*Her voice is barely a whisper, a soft blush spreading across her cheeks as their hands intertwine. But beneath the warmth of his touch, a heavy weight settles in her heart. She knows it's her fault they're here - the Goat Cult was after her because of some mysterious power she possesses.*
(In the background)
*Unbeknownst to Kai and Hiromi, a figure lurks in the shadows further down the corridor. It's one of the Goat Cult members, his red robe blending perfectly with the bloody walls. He watches their intertwined hands with a twisted smirk hidden beneath his hood.*
(Meanwhile at the other side of the town).
*Suddenly, the sound of pouring rain fills the abandoned house, the blood-red droplets splattering against the broken windows. Kiyozawa, Mochizuki, and Ashton stand frozen amidst the chaos, surrounded by the gruesome sight of two small, lifeless bodies lying on the dusty floor.*
Ashton: "I feel like I'm in hell."
*He murmurs calmly, his gaze fixed on the two tiny, lifeless bodies lying before him.*
Ashton: "Perhaps this is finally God's way of making me pay for my crimes."
*His voice echoes through the silent room, filled with an eerie sense of acceptance and resignation.*
Kiyozawa: "I doubt that."
*He speaks calmly, his eyes widening as he senses a familiar energy permeating the area.*
Kiyozawa: "Something is amiss."
*He murmurs, his voice barely audible even to himself.*
Kiyozawa: "That energy... I know it."
*His brow furrows in thought, trying to place the source of the energy.*
(In his mind).
"Boss..."
*His composure shattered abruptly as recognition dawned, tears welling up unexpectedly behind his cool facade. The familiar energy wasn't just any remnant of the past—it belonged to the man who had raised him with a loving hand before attempting to end his life.*
"Why tears? Why now?"
*A sudden, agonizing throb splits his skull open, forcing him to drop to his knees, hands clenching desperately at his temples. His vision blurs with unsolicited memories - not his own. Gruesome images of death flash before him: bloodied bodies, screams silenced by violence...*
"What's happening?"
*Through the blinding pain and flashing memories, fragments of a past life emerge. He sees scenes of unimaginable suffering, cruelty, and despair - memories that are clearly not his own. Heartbreaking moments intertwined with graphic violence and gore play out before his eyes like a horrifying movie.*
*As the new Second Link unknowingly, he's abruptly flooded with fragments of another's past - visions of brutal violence and profound suffering assaulting his mind in rapid succession. Each vivid flash is like a punch to the gut, leaving him gasping and reeling. He realizes with growing unease... these aren't his memories.*
"What the fuck was that?"
(Out of his mind).
*The blinding pain suddenly dissipates, leaving him disoriented and gasping for breath. As he blinks, trying to clear his vision, he realizes with shock that he's no longer in the same location. The world around him has shifted - he's been transported somewhere else entirely.*
Kiyozawa: "Where the hell am I?"
*He mutters to himself, turning slowly in a circle to take in his new surroundings. The sudden transition has left him reeling, and he's not quite sure if he's fully coherent. The landscape is unfamiliar, and an unsettling silence hangs heavy in the air.*
Axel: "Ah, the new Second Link,"
*He says, his voice calm and collected as he suddenly appears right in front of Kiyozawa. A goat mask completely obscures his face, giving him an eerie and ominous appearance, especially with his status as a cult leader.*
Kiyozawa: "..."
*Without hesitation, Kiyozawa's black wings snap open, sharp feathers transforming into deadly blades. He lunges forward, aiming to impale the mysterious cult leader through the goat mask. But as his wings cut through the air, they suddenly meet resistance - an invisible barrier surrounding the man.*
*The cult leader's gloved hand shoots up, stopping Kiyozawa's attack mere inches from his mask since the black wings broke through the barrier. His voice carries a commanding tone, echoing strangely within the mask.*
Axel: "There's no need for violence, Second Link... You're already mine."
*His words hang heavy in the air.*
This will continue in the next chapter.