Afternoon. Five-twenty.
Erdao Coffee Shop.
Cael ordered a caramel coffee and settled into his usual spot by the window, watching the street outside.
Nanahara Taketo, wiping down cups, glanced at him casually. "You're waiting for Reze, right? But she said she's flying back today."
Cael took a slow sip. "I know. I just want to see her before she leaves."
Nanahara sighed, a look of knowing melancholy crossing his face. "You should let it go. You're young, talented. There'll be plenty of girls more suited for you."
"Ah? Mr. Nanahara, you've misunderstood. I'm not trying to date her. I just want to recruit Reze for a job."
"Oh—right," Nanahara's face softened. "That makes sense. At your age, love can really trap you if you're not careful."
Outside the coffee shop, Reze walked down the familiar road. Her steps were lighter than they had been in a long time.
Her mission had failed, completely.
But Cael had been right. Why couldn't she have a chance to make her own choice? Between the country mouse and the city mouse, why must she pick one? Loyalty? She'd had enough. Why couldn't she be like Cael… a cat-eating mouse?
Reze turned into an alleyway. At its end, the familiar coffee shop waited. Cael had promised he'd be there. Her heart quickened.
She removed her black baseball cap and pulled off the mask disguising her face. Her cheeks flushed slightly—she wanted him to see her clearly. Could a new life be waiting for her?
Squeak—
Several rats scurried past her feet.
"Hmm?"
Squeak, squeak—
More rats followed, swarming from behind. They moved unnaturally fast, piling on one another to form a living, writhing monument taller than a person.
An unfamiliar, gentle voice whispered in Reze's ear.
From the rat tower, a figure emerged. Graceful, confident, deadly. White shirt, black tie, pink braids, and orange-ringed eyes.
Makima.
"I also prefer country mice, Pomu," she said with a faint smile.
Reze broke into a cold sweat. She was a KGB agent, trained to handle many dangerous enemies—but Makima in Japan? She was the deadliest of them all.
"Witch…" Reze muttered, her left hand reaching behind her back for the dagger at her waist while her right tried to pull the pin on the bomb around her neck.
Makima's smile widened, a pale halo forming above her head.
"One Hundred Years."
A pitch-black spear cut through the air, descending with terrifying force. Reze's right hand was severed in three jagged pieces.
Makima's calm gaze never wavered as she held a rat in her palm. "I have friends with a large farm. Every autumn, I help out during harvest."
"Tch!" Reze grit her teeth, enduring the pain, and vanished behind Makima, dagger poised for a lethal strike at her throat.
Shink!
Another flash, another strike. Reze's left hand was cut to pieces.
Pfft.
She spat blood, leaning against the wall, face pale as death. "Makima, you witch…"
On the surface, Makima looked serene, but inside she was thrilled.
How did it feel to lose both hands? Katanas, swords—they were only as strong as the one wielding them. So far, she had used the powers of three devils against Reze: the Angel Devil, the Katana Devil, and the Longsword Devil.
But Makima wasn't done. Pomu had other sins to atone for:
First, killing and wounding her loyal dogs.
Second, using her beauty as bait, biting off Cael's tongue, severing his hands, even kissing him.
Before controlling Pomu, at the very least, she would feel the same pain as Cael.
Makima crouched, placing the rat from her palm into a nearby trash can. "The fields are full of mice destroying crops. They must all be cleared before the snow falls."
She pinched Reze's chin, locking her gaze on her emerald eyes. "I will overturn the fields and let the dogs finish off the hidden mice. Seeing that brings me peace."
Her smile turned icy. "That is why I love country mice. Killing them feels just as good as killing you."
Reze's lips curled into a bitter grin. "You… you're using Cael. Even if you kill me, your plans won't succeed."
Makima's brow furrowed. "Using?"
Fine. A reversal, an insult. Pomu dared to defile the bond between her and Cael? Despicable.
One more sin added.
Makima abandoned the idea of controlling her. She was just a Bomb Weapon Human Form. Let her die. Let the dogs feed on her.
Her tone froze the air. "Pomu, as punishment for insulting me, you will die in the most miserable way."
"One Thousand Years…"
A rift tore through the void behind her, revealing the vast, starry sky. A terrifying aura brewed within it.
Meanwhile, inside Erdao Coffee Shop, Cael had stood to refill his cup.
Not good.
Was Reze about to be killed by Makima?
His pupils constricted.
"Whistle!"
Crash!
Cael smashed through the glass. A strong updraft swept through the area. Neither Reze nor Makima were prepared. Both were sent flying. The spell was interrupted.
Cael became a shadow, moving freely through the typhoon.
Thud.
He caught the severely injured Reze in a princess carry. Seeing Makima losing balance as well, he steadied her with a hand.
Makima had psychological issues. He couldn't show favoritism.
The typhoon receded. Cael held Reze, gaze fixed on Makima, complicated thoughts racing.
Before he could speak, Makima's voice cut through.
"Cael… why did you hug her and not me? I was falling too."
Her voice carried a trace of grievance.
Cael hurriedly set Reze down. "She's badly injured. You're fine. Please, don't continue to hurt her."
Makima's chest rose and fell, voice trembling. "Cael is afraid she'll get hurt, but aren't you afraid she'll hurt me? Aren't we friends? Pomu's affection for you is fake, but I truly like you. Wait… I understand now. You hugged her because she kissed you, while I haven't."
Reze: "Huh? My liking is fake?!"
Cael's scalp tingled. What the hell was going on?
Neither of them were his girlfriend. Why was this turning into some dramatic Shura battlefield?
At least Asa wasn't here. Otherwise, he couldn't even imagine the chaos.
===
100 Powerstones = 1 Bonus Chapter
200 Powerstones = 3 Bonus Chapters
===
If you want to read more, check out my patreon.
Patreon.com/ _Zeph