The group looked around, prepared for an ambush. Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows, and a flashlight illuminated the area. It was a handsome red-haired Shimanese young man.

“Tch! There goes the surprise element, the ninja has spoiled it! Mamoru Kusanagi’s the name and summoner’s the game, at your service,” he said, greeting them with a smug smile.

Shiori raised an eyebrow, unimpressed.

“Such courtesy from a former GI agent who went rogue, working for both sides of the law,” Fuwa snorted, eyeing Mamoru suspiciously.

“You mean, he worked in GI and went rogue before I became a GI agent?” Nishi asked, confused.

“Yes, but we don’t talk about him. He was considered lost in action until we finally, actually stumble upon him again,” Keiji explained, wary of Mamoru.

“Of course! I’ve found a place where the money is way better than being a GI agent,” Mamoru boasted.

Shiori rolled her eyes. “A very typical, yet very interesting excuse. What place is that? I can use some extra money,” Shiori quipped, curious about Mamoru’s source of income.

“You think I’d fall for that stupid parlor trick? I got news for you, I won’t tell you about that place even if I must lose my life!” Mamoru snapped, his tone defensive.

“There, the typical Shimanese stubbornness. The difference is, this one lacks honor,” Shiori remarked, unimpressed with Mamoru’s attitude.

“We must hurry! Let’s sweep this roadblock aside and continue our search,” Fuwa interjected, trying to steer the conversation away from the summoner’s ego.

“Now you’ve done it! You think I’m insignificant because I’m only in for the money, huh?” Mamoru growled, his eyes narrowing in anger. “That’s a mistake, and I’m going to make you regret it, mortally! Transform, Hakutaku form!” he bellowed, his body changing into a monstrous creature.

Within the Mallevarte magma cave rides area, a fierce battle unfolded. Keiji, Shiori, Fuwa, and Nishi stood united against their formidable foe, Hakutaku, the giant fire one-eyed buffalo. The lava slope’s dimly lit surroundings provided an eerie backdrop to the clash of strength and willpower.

Fuwa, armed with her trusty guns, took a defensive position, her gaze fixed upon the blazing beast before them. Shiori, her katana gleaming in the flickering light, radiated a resolute determination. Nishi, a skilled sniper and karate practitioner, balanced her semi-automatic gun with lethal precision, ready to strike from afar or engage in close-quarters combat. Keiji, armed with his semi-automatic gun and bo stick, surveyed the area, searching for the perfect strategy.

The heroes swiftly recognized the advantage that lay before them – the roller coaster track that snaked its way through the cavernous terrain of Mallevarte. With swift movements and tactical awareness, they utilized the track to their benefit, darting in and out of the shadows, their actions synchronized as if guided by an unseen force.

Hakutaku, the embodiment of ferocious power, unleashed waves of scorching flames that licked at the air, threatening to consume everything in their path. The heroes evaded the fiery onslaught with calculated agility, their senses attuned to the beast’s every movement.

Shiori lunged forward, her katana cutting through the air with swift grace. Each strike aimed at Hakutaku’s vulnerable spots, searching for the weakness within its fiery armor.

Fuwa’s guns echoed in the cavern, their shots ringing out with precision and determination.

Nishi, her karate-trained bare hands an extension of her indomitable spirit, delivered swift and calculated blows, her strikes guided by a keen understanding of her opponent’s weaknesses.

Ryonoken moved like a shadow, flashing here and there so quickly he was almost invisible.

As the battle raged on, the clash of weapons and the roar of the flames echoed through the cave. The heroes moved with unyielding resolve, their hearts intertwined in a symphony of unwavering purpose. With each coordinated attack, they wore down the mighty Hakutaku, chipping away at its fiery facade.

Suddenly, a flash of light from Shiori’s ogi, Falling Sakura Petals illuminated the cave, and Hakutaku’s form flickered, its immense presence diminishing.

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The esper’s host, Mamoru, partly emerged, his face etched with fear and confusion. The flames that once enveloped him had subsided, leaving him vulnerable and disoriented.

Amidst the smoldering embers, the heroes stood tall, their weapons lowered but their resolve unwavering. Keiji stepped forward, his voice steady yet tinged with compassion.

“We do not seek to cause harm,” he said, his words carrying the weight of understanding. “But we cannot allow you to unleash such destructive power. It is time for this to end.”

Before he could respond, Mamoru lay unconscious on the ground, fully reverted to his human form.

“Thank goodness he’s knocked out. Serves him right to summon real monsters in this fun-filled, civilized theme park, causing its closure.” Shiori sighed, relieved that the battle was over.

Nishi said, “Now, all we have to do is to wait for Hannya to show up and collect that Mamoru guy.”

“No, Nishi, we don’t have time for that! Besides, Hannya is still too strong for us to fight!” Keiji warned, trying to keep them focused on their mission.

“Keiji is right. Don’t push your luck too much with Hannya,” Ryonoken agreed, his eyes darting around for any signs of danger.

Fuwa concluded, “Anyway, we must hurry. Let’s go!”

At last, just before the clock struck midnight, Shiori and her team entered Kraal’Thragon, the Demonic Palace of Sylvania. The air was thick with anticipation and danger as if the entire citadel was waiting to strike at any moment. Keiji led the way, his eyes scanning the walls and ceilings for any traps or ambushes.

“This is a museum,” Keiji explained, breaking the tense silence. “The inside is full of life-sized dioramas, depicting one of the greatest events in the History of Everna, the Third Fireheart Crusade.”

Shiori’s eyes widened with recognition. “Oh, I know! It’s like in the greatest box office movie series of all time, Fireheart Legacy, right?”

Fuwa cut in before Keiji could respond. “Exactly. But enough about movies and history. We must hurry, so our mission won’t turn into a bad history.”

As they made their way deeper into the citadel, the tension only grew. Every step felt like a test of their survival instincts. Finally, they reached the throne room on the top floor of the Demonic Palace, where they heard faint but clear voices from afar.

“The meeting they seek is taking place, and they don’t want to miss a thing,” Ryonoken whispered, his sharp eyes catching sight of the intended targets. The team then moved to secure hiding spots, eavesdropping and spying on the whole activity.

Ryo was right. Todo and Hayato Mori were engaged in a heated conversation about Reika Diose’s abduction. Todo presented the CCTV footage that showed the Hannya-masked man abducting Reika when she was vulnerable. Hayato apologized for his earlier outburst and asked Todo if he knew where Hannya had taken Reika.

Todo showed another recording he had compiled, which revealed that Hannya had taken Reika into an old, abandoned Sekishou Clock Tower in Southwest Daitoshi. Hayato was shocked to hear that the tower was haunted and a massacre had taken place there.

“Thousands of protesters made a stand to defend the tower and prevent the government from tearing it down to modernize the town,” Todo explained. “Losing their patience, the soldiers shot. Almost all the unarmed protesters were killed, flooding the tower with innocent blood.”

Hayato was visibly shaken by the revelation. “And Hannya took Reika into that haunted tower!?”

Todo confirmed that was what the recording showed. Hayato thanked his old friend and turned to leave, but not before warning Todo that if the evidence pointed back to the GI, he and his fellow agents would suffer the Yakuza’s full wrath.

“I deeply, sincerely hope it won’t come to that,” Todo replied. “But if the worst case should happen, I’ll defend GI until my last breath. Even if I must kill you, my old childhood friend.”

Hayato snorted and said, “Lemme see if you have the guts to do it. See you soon, old friend.”

“Not too soon, I hope.”