Hospital Room Early Morning
Ren had just finished explaining everything to Souta. The truth. The demon blood. The name Lorths. The danger closing in.
Souta stared, stunned. "This is bad… they could be here anytime."
Ren yanked the IV drip from his arm, blood trickling down. "I need to run. Now."
Souta grabbed him firmly. "No. I'm going with you."
Ren shook his head. "If you're with me… they'll kill you too. I'm a demon, Souta. They won't stop."
But Souta didn't flinch. He looked Ren dead in the eye.
"Aren't we friends, Ren?"
Ren paused.
"We go through everything together, right? We don't leave anyone behind. If it's your problem then it's my problem too. So man up" he offered his hand, "and let's go."
Ren, trembling, nodded with tears forming in his eyes. He took Souta's hand.
---
Kaigenshiro Main Gate Moments Later
Zephyr stormed out of the command hall. "Lorths?! What are you doing in Kaigenshiro? I thought you were protecting your own city."
Lorths, tall and furious, didn't waste time with pleasantries. "Where is Ren Akagawa?"
Zephyr blinked. "Ren Akagawa? He's a student. Should be on the academy transport arriving"
Before he could finish, Lorths stepped forward, pulling on his sacred knuckle gauntlets.
Zephyr narrowed his eyes. "Lorths… what are you doing?"
BOOM Lorths slammed his fists into the ground, cracking the earth open in a thunderous shockwave.
The blast split the road, rupturing the pavement. The transport bus was moments away from impact.
Inside the bus, Itsuki's eyes widened. "Wait that's Lorths of the Ivory Cross…?!"
Just before the shockwave hit, he opened his spellbook. "Teles Expellia!"
A brilliant glyph pulsed Ayame, Arisa, Airi, and Itsuki vanished just before the bus was destroyed in a fiery explosion.
Debris scattered. Screams echoed.
Zephyr rushed forward and grabbed Lorths by the collar. "You maniac! There were people in that truck!"
Lorths' glare could cut steel. "There is a demon. A blood demon in your city. I'm here to kill it."
Zephyr's heart stopped.
"No way… a demon in my city…?"
Lorths spoke slowly. "Ren Akagawa the son of Shira Akagawa."
Zephyr staggered back as the name echoed in his skull. The man I executed… years ago…?
He activated his wrist device. "All units red alert. Find Ren Akagawa. Do whatever it takes…"
He gritted his teeth.
"KILL. THE. DEMON."
---
Somewhere nearby
Arisa was about to exit the room they had been transported to when she heard the broadcast.
The words hit her like bullets.
> "Find Ren Akagawa. Kill the demon."
She froze. Junpai, Haruno, and Airi fell silent, their faces grim. Arisa stood trembling.
"No…" she whispered. "He… he's one of us…"
---
Souta and Ren Rooftops
Souta's comm device crackled. The command from Zephyr echoed out loud.
> "Kill the demon."
Both of them stopped running.
Ren's knees buckled. Souta stared in disbelief. "They're… they're hunting you…"
Ren clenched his fists, his veins glowing faintly. "I knew this would happen. I should've never"
Souta put a hand on his shoulder. "Then we run. We survive. Together."
---
Back at the transport site
The teleportation spell flickered out. Itsuki collapsed, sweating, barely conscious.
Before he could speak, a tall shadow loomed.
Rylan Torvain, Vice Captain of the Ivory Cross, stepped forward and grabbed Itsuki by the collar.
"You're connected to Ren Akagawa, aren't you?"
Itsuki's glasses were cracked, his lip bloodied. "I don't know who that is…"
Rylan chuckled coldly. "Playing tough, huh?"
He slammed Itsuki's face into the concrete. Once. Twice. Blood smeared the floor.
Then he unsheathed a massive 7-foot battle axe.
"If I cut you in half… will you still lie to me?"
Itsuki didn't answer. His face was bruised, eyes dull.
Rylan turned to Ayame. "You. Where is Ren?"
She hesitated but only for a second.
"…He's still in the building," she said. "Same room as before."
Itsuki's eyes shot open. "Ayame?!"
He couldn't believe it she had betrayed him. Betrayed Ren.
Rylan didn't even flinch. He stabbed his axe into Itsuki's shoulder. Blood sprayed.
"You took too long to answer."
The soldiers began marching.
---
Lorths raised his arm.
"Search every district. Tear down every alley. We find that demon…"
His eyes glowed holy white.
"…and we erase him."