Present Day
The city breathed in peace.
For the first time in a long while, everything felt… normal.
The streets of Tokyo glowed under the soft afternoon sun. Cars moved steadily, people laughed, vendors called out to passing crowds life carried on, unaware of the storm quietly approaching.
On a quiet street not too far from headquarters, Lucan walked side by side with Lyra.
No missions.
No demons.
No chaos.
Just… silence.
A rare kind.
Lyra clasped her hands behind her back, glancing at him from time to time.
Lucan walked calmly, his eyes forward, but softer than usual.
"You're quiet today," Lyra said lightly.
Lucan exhaled slowly.
"I could say the same about you."
She smiled faintly. "I'm just… enjoying this."
They walked a little further before stopping at a small bridge overlooking a narrow river. The water flowed gently beneath them, reflecting the golden sky above.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Lucan rested his arms on the railing, watching the current.
"…It's strange," he said.
Lyra tilted her head. "What is?"
"This feeling," he replied. "Peace."
She looked at him carefully now.
Lucan continued, his voice quieter.
"I'm not used to it."
Lyra's expression softened.
"You've been through a lot," she said. "More than most people our age."
Lucan let out a small, almost humorless chuckle.
"Yeah… you could say that."
A brief silence followed.
Then Lyra stepped closer, resting her arms beside his on the railing.
"You don't always have to carry everything alone," she said gently.
Lucan didn't respond immediately.
Instead, his eyes drifted to the water again.
"…I know," he said eventually.
"I'm just not good at it."
Lyra smiled softly.
"I'll help you learn."
That caught him off guard.
He glanced at her.
She wasn't joking.
For a moment… something shifted.
Lucan looked away quickly, but there was a faint warmth in his expression now.
"…Thanks."
The wind picked up slightly, brushing past them.
Then
Lucan's expression changed.
Instantly.
Sharp.
Still.
Lyra felt it too.
Her body tensed.
"…Lucan," she whispered.
"I feel it," he said
The air… changed.
The peaceful hum of the city twisted into something unnatural.
Heavy.
Oppressive.
Like the sky itself was holding its breath.
Then
BOOM.
A deafening crack split across the heavens.
Both of them looked up.
The sky… shattered.
Darkness spread like ink, swallowing the golden light. Massive fractures tore across the atmosphere as if reality itself was breaking apart.
From those cracks
They came.
Demons.
Hundreds… no—thousands.
Pouring out.
Falling into the city like a nightmare unleashed.
Screams erupted instantly.
People ran in every direction. Cars crashed. Buildings trembled.
Chaos.
Pure chaos.
Lyra stepped back in shock.
"What… what is this?!"
Lucan's eyes darkened.
"…This isn't normal," he said.
More portals opened across the skyline.
Not just in one place
Everywhere.
Across the city.
Across the world.
High above Tokyo…
On top of a towering skyscraper…
A figure sat calmly at the edge.
Watching.
Renji.
One leg hanging off the side, chin resting on his hand, a twisted smile playing across his lips as destruction unfolded below.
"Ahh…" he sighed in satisfaction.
"It's starting."
Back on the bridge
Lucan's fists clenched.
His heart began to pound.
Not from fear.
From something deeper.
Familiar.
That same dark presence inside him… stirred.
Watching.
Waiting.
Lyra looked at him, panic in her voice.
"Lucan, we need to get back—everyone—"
"I know," he cut in.
His voice had changed.
Colder.
Focused.
Controlled.
He turned toward the city.
Flames flickered faintly around his hands… then vanished.
"Stay close to me," he said.
Lyra nodded.
And without another word
They ran straight into the chaos.
Above them, the sky continued to break.
And far away… beyond Japan…
Across nations, continents, oceans
The same darkness spread.
The war…
Had begun.