The night shattered, In Shibuya, Tokyo
What had once been laughter, flashing lights, and music echoing across Shibuya turned into pure chaos in a matter of seconds. Screams erupted from every direction as civilians realized—too late—that the horror before them was no costume.
It was real.
And it was hungry.
"RUN!!"
"MONSTER—!"
"HELP!!"
The crowd surged like a broken dam, bodies crashing into one another as people desperately tried to escape. Neon lights flickered violently, some short-circuiting from the sudden tremors caused by Ingua's landing. Phones dropped, bags were abandoned, costumes torn—fear stripped away everything that once made this night festive.
Above the chaos, Ingua stood unmoving.
Watching.
Enjoying.
His reptilian eyes glowed with predatory delight as his long tongue flicked out, tasting the scent of panic.
"…delicious…"
"Shin!"
Asuka's voice cut sharply through the chaos.
"Protect the civilians. Take Hina and Aoi—deal with the lesser ones."
No hesitation.
No doubt.
"Got it," Shin replied instantly, already moving.
Hina tightened her grip on her katana, her eyes burning with resolve.
"…leave the big one to you."
Aoi nodded, though her hands trembled slightly.
"I'll support from range."
Before another word could be spoken—
The ground cracked.
Several figures burst out from the crowd.
Lizard-like demons.
Their disguises peeled away like rotting skin, revealing scaled bodies, elongated limbs, and twisted jaws filled with sharp teeth.
Their eyes locked onto fleeing humans.
"FOOD…!"
They lunged.
"NOT HAPPENING!"
WHOOSH!
Shin appeared between a demon and a group of terrified civilians, her spear sweeping in a wide arc.
CRACK!
The demon's body was smashed sideways, crashing into a street pole.
"Move! Get out of here!" Shin shouted, her voice commanding, unyielding.
At the same moment—
SHING!
Hina drew her katana, flames igniting along its blade.
"Hi no nagare: Hi ga moete imasu!"
Fire roared to life—bright, fierce, protective.
She stepped forward, positioning herself between a child and an incoming demon.
"Stay behind me!"
The demon lunged—
SLASH!
Flames carved through its body, sending it crashing to the ground in a burning heap.
High above—
Aoi exhaled slowly.
Her fear didn't disappear.
But she moved anyway.
"…focus…"
She raised her bow.
"Don't miss…"
TWANG!
Arrows flew—fast, precise.
Each shot struck a demon attempting to flank civilians, pinning them down or redirecting their attacks.
The battlefield split.
On one side—
Shin, Hina, and Aoi fought desperately to protect the innocent.
On the other—
Two monsters faced two hunters.
Ingua's gaze shifted slowly toward Asuka and Versa.
"…so you're the strongest here…"
His muscles tensed.
"…good."
Versa cracked his neck lazily.
"…finally, something worth my time."
Asuka didn't respond.
His eyes were already locked onto Ingua.
Analyzing.
Calculating.
Then—
They moved.
BOOOOM!!
The ground exploded beneath Ingua's feet as he launched forward with terrifying speed.
Too fast.
Too heavy.
Too powerful.
Versa stepped in first.
No weapon.
No hesitation.
Just his fists.
THUD!
His punch connected with Ingua's jaw.
The impact echoed like metal striking metal.
But—
Nothing.
Ingua didn't even flinch.
Slowly—
He turned his head back.
A grin spread across his face.
"…that tickled."
WHAM!
A tail whipped through the air.
Versa barely raised his arm in time—
CRASH!!
He was sent flying across the street, crashing through a vending machine and skidding across the pavement.
Asuka moved.
ZAP!
Red lightning surged around him as he dashed forward.
Katana drawn.
SLASH!
The blade struck Ingua's torso—
Sparks flew.
But the blade barely cut.
"…hard."
Asuka muttered.
Ingua laughed.
A deep, rumbling sound.
"…you think your little lightning can pierce me?"
He raised his arm—
And slammed it down.
BOOOOM!!
The street cracked open.
Asuka leapt back, barely avoiding the impact.
Versa stood up slowly.
Dust falling from his shoulders.
"…annoying."
For a moment—
Silence.
Then—
They attacked again.
This time—
Together.
Versa rushed in close, weaving past Ingua's claws with precise footwork.
Each movement efficient.
Minimal.
Deadly.
THUD! THUD! THUD!
Punch after punch landed—
Chest.
Neck.
Ribs.
But every strike—
Felt like hitting stone.
At the same time—
Asuka circled.
Faster.
Sharper.
ZAP!
He appeared behind Ingua—
SLASH!
Then vanished—
ZAP!
Reappeared above—
SLASH!
A storm of blades and lightning.
But still—
Ingua stood.
"…pathetic."
He roared—
And unleashed a shockwave.
BOOOOM!!
Both Asuka and Versa were forced back.
Versa exhaled slowly.
"…guess brute force won't work."
He looked at his hands.
Then—
Slowly—
He removed his gloves.
The air shifted.
Asuka noticed immediately.
"…now?"
Versa smirked faintly.
"…yeah."
Ingua tilted his head.
"…what's this?"
Versa stepped forward.
Calm.
Controlled.
"Let's test something."
He dodged another claw swipe—
Closed the distance—
And placed his hand directly on Ingua's chest.
For a split second—
Nothing happened.
Then—
Versa spoke.
"…break."
CRACK.
The sound was quiet.
But terrifying.
Ingua's eyes widened.
Cracks spread across his scales.
Slowly at first—
Then rapidly.
CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!!
His hardened exterior—
Shattered.
"…what…?"
Pieces of his scale armor fell away—
Revealing softer, vulnerable flesh beneath.
Asuka's eyes sharpened.
"…now."
He moved.
Faster than before.
ZAAAAAAAAAP!!
Red lightning exploded around him as he dashed forward—
Katana glowing.
THRUST!!
The blade pierced through Ingua's exposed chest.
Deep.
Ingua roared—
A sound filled with pain.
But it didn't end there.
"…finish."
Electricity surged.
Through the blade.
Into Ingua's body.
ZAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAPPPPP!!!
The entire street lit up with crimson lightning.
Ingua's body convulsed violently.
His muscles locked.
His voice turned into a distorted scream.
"AAAAAAARRRGGHHHH!!!"
The electricity tore through him from the inside.
Burning.
Destroying.
Overloading every part of his body.
Finally—
BOOM!!
He collapsed.
Silence.
Smoke rose from his body.
Burn marks spread across his exposed flesh.
His breathing slowed.
Then stopped.
For a moment—
Everything went still.
Versa exhaled.
"…finally."
Asuka withdrew his blade.
"…done."
Both of them stood there—
Watching.
Waiting.
Then—
CRACK.
A small sound.
Versa's eyes narrowed.
"…don't tell me…"
Ingua's body—
Moved.
CRACK… CRACK… CRACK…
The corpse began to split.
From within—
Something moved.
Asuka stepped back slightly.
"…so that wasn't it."
Suddenly—
BOOOOOOM!!!
The entire body exploded outward.
Flesh.
Scale.
Blood—
Scattered across the street.
And from within—
A new form emerged.
Larger.
Darker.
More terrifying.
Fresh scales—thicker than before—formed across its body.
Its muscles expanded.
Its eyes burned with pure rage.
"…you…"
Ingua stood again.
Alive.
Stronger.
Asuka narrowed his eyes.
"…so the one we killed…"
Versa finished the sentence.
"…was just a shell."
Ingua grinned.
Wider than before.
More monstrous.
"…correct."
His voice echoed deeper.
More distorted.
"I am not something you can kill so easily…"
He took a step forward.
The ground cracked beneath him.
"…I am eternal."
A pause.
Then—
"I… am immortal."
Silence fell again.
But this time—
It wasn't relief.
It was tension.
Heavy.
Oppressive.
Versa rolled his shoulders slowly.
"…yeah."
He smirked slightly.
"…now it's getting interesting."
Asuka raised his katana again.
Lightning flickering faintly—
Though weaker than before.
"…then we just kill you again."
Ingua laughed.
A terrifying sound.
"…try."
Behind them—
The battle for civilians continued.
Shin, Hina, and Aoi fought relentlessly.
Unaware—
That the real battle…
Had just begun.
The night of Shibuya burned brighter.
Not with neon lights.
But with war.
To be continued…