Kito shakes his head as he walks away from Jin. He puts his palm over his face. "God damn it..." he mutters to himself. "I thought it was some stalker following me but its just some bumbling pervert. Seriously, what a pain. To think that someone would be following me. For what purpose?"
He strokes his chin. He then picks up his groceries as well as the box with the crab. "(No... There's no way somebody is onto me.)" He thinks to himself. "(There were no civilians at the scene from last night. And the kids know not to get in my way. There's a chance the Ordinance Academy sent someone else that wasn't involved in the mission. But they would've tried something by now. What if they're just trying to gather intel? No that's silly, what would they gain from me on my daily schedule... a lot actually but, even besides that, nothing has happened yet. I'd think the government would already know everything about me by now, so that's very unlikely.)"
He shakes his head. "(What if it's just stress?)"
He grits his teeth. The air around him distorts from the brief surge of Ki. "(No. There's no such thing. To be affected by something that doesn't exist? Not me. So called 'mental problems' are created by one's own mind. I won't entertain the thought of something so stupid to affect me.)"
His aura suddenly stops again. A mere second's worth of malice. And without realizing, something so quiet could also be loud. For the very moment his Ki released, 0.9 kilometers away, an alarm was set off.
Atop the roof of a building, not too far away from Kito's apartment, RUPTURE, in its invisible state, continues to execute commands through handsigns.
The way the mission was supposed to work was for Rupture to set off its plan once it sensed Kito nearby. Though its intention would've worked if Kito was closer and had a lowered sense of ki, the fact that Kito, even for a split second, radiated an aura so loud, it preemptively set off Rupture's senses.
Domino. Domino. Domino.
Through restless, now mangled fingers, Rupture releases the trigger.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4eB0B-FGOg
Near the apartment, several police officers guard the yellow tape, waiting for further instructions. All of the tenants crowd around. Some students are returning from school, clearly worried about their pets, belongings, and family. Others come back from work, clamoring at the officers, begging to be let in. "My family photos!" They say. "My dog is in there!" Says another.
In the surrounding buildings full of weary people, they gossip and crowd from afar. "Does your phone work?" Asks a person. "Nah, my phone's out of battery. Could've sworn I charged it too..." Responds another. People stare through the large glass windows of the cafes and shops. Others hurriedly walk away, overhearing something about "leaking gas." A news van with a frustrated reporter and a camera man stand nearby. "What do you mean it doesn't work?" Yells the news reporter. "Fix it!" She demands, yelling at the cameraman fidgeting with the device.
Within a .4 kilometer range surrounding Rupture, the civilians all hear a subtle sound. A buzzing noise, or a quiet static from an old pipe tv. The small crackle of electricity whenever static electricity is rubbed off the screen of old pipe tvs.
"(What is that?)" Wonders an old man.
"Do you hear that?" Says another women to her friend.
"You hear it too, right?" Asks a kid to another kid.
A random teenager looks up into the sky. Confused, he rubs his eyes.
Red clouds. Wherever the sun shines, its light inverts the color of whatever it touches. Quickly. Quietly. All of the people panic, confused about what they're seeing. People seem to resemble less and less human. Brown silhouettes slowly walk around aimlessly, until they stop.
As the panic in the heart arises, their minds, in contrast, slow down. Processing information at an altered state.
Perceptions skewed.
Misty eyes.
Downward Haze.
An eager smile, salivating.
That what must be done.
With haste.
The mind is a malleable thing. Psychopower users mold it as such. The more proficient the user, the more brains devolve into a puddy plaything. Fighting sorcerers with Psychopower is effective, though there is always a tug of war between proficiencies. Even those who specialize in one sole element can develop defenses against other specialists. Yet, that is only with the concerns of those who live in supernatural world.
When sorcerers fight each other with Psychopower, they often manipulate certain parts of their mind. That being said, It is very hard to gain complete control over another sorcerer, even with minimal defenses.
Those ignorant however are vulnerable.
As such, humans are nothing but a bunch of clay.
Rupture, like any other competent Psychopower specialist, could already take control of a bunch of people's minds. Like picking up a bunch of brain shaped rocks on the beach with one hand.
However, through the preparations set by Mishima, the prowess of Rupture's abilities are magnified. Through the hours of nonstop handsigns, the limited radius of one kilometer, as well as Rupture's specialization in general, the conditions for a grand scale plan are set with heavy limitations. Yet, the conditions are completed with an even heavier eagerness to please.
Through each condition and through each accomplishment, the rocks turn into gravel. From gravel to sand. One hand becomes two. Two hands become few. Overlapping each other, until it becomes an excavator.
Rupture quietly pants.
A distorted violin erupts through every civilian's ears. The tune sharpens and whines, winding down into a distorted, spiraling tune. A hard metronome plays alongside it, as well as a clamoring, menacing buzzing. Eventually, the claws of the tune latch onto every civilian's minds. Everyone stops walking. Everyone stops thinking.
[Mandated Society]
After a few moments, the dolls are walking.
Meanwhile, Kito continues to walk closer.
Every doll quickly takes down the yellow tape in a fixed, rapid pace. Synchronized with the beat of the tune they heard earlier, everyone steps at the same pace. As if a marching band the size of a city block all walked at the same. The synchronized footsteps let off the noise of a giant, building sized drum.
Kito, not too far away hears it. Nae, he feels it. The sensation of such a fierce vibration, as well as distant, slow drumming.
"...What the hell is that?"
All of the police's cars and firetrucks pull out of their parked spaces. Every civilian makes way for the vehicles. Each vehicle goes its own separate way, accelerating at a normal pace. Every doll then takes its place. Children group up together in friend groups. Adults stand in specific places on the street. The people in the restaurants and cafes all wait for their queue. The old tenants all spread out. Some walk to the park. Others walk towards the grocery store. People returning from work all find a business to spend their time in. A coffee would be typical right about now. The grocery store might still be open, that would be perfect. Heading towards the subway should suffice. Everyone takes their place. Silent, blank stares.
Step. Step. Step.
Every doll, mid pose, waits.
Step. Step. Step.
Kito crosses the .3 radius mark.
.
.
.
Kito hears sudden noise. Nothing loud per se rather, it's as if it got louder out of nowhere. "(The city is still lively, at least to its typical degree. Nothing out of the ordinary happened yet.)" Kito thinks to himself. "(Except for the noise of the odd beat earlier but, that could easily be something else.)" He digs his ear in an annoyed manner. He closes his eyes. He hears a loud thumping yet again, as well as a cacophony of whirring. He slowly turns to his right and opens his eyes. It's the laundry place down the road. A couple of people simultaneously washing their clothes, much like any ordinary day.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
"(Tsk. I might've picked up the noise from some place else...)" He continues to walk forward.
"(That tends to happen sometimes. I can think I heard a gunshot from inside the apartment, and it turns out its some idiot who set the tv too loud. And at that point, such manners aren't worth wasting ki over. Best to keep my ears at a normal level than to investigate something that's completely monotonous.)"
As he thinks to himself, he turns to the corner where his apartment is.
It's a typical day. The children are walking in groups. Kito overhears them talking about the new Final Fantasy game. A cop strolls by but he doesn't seem too bothered. There's a little less cars than usual but, this street is on the edge of the city after all. It's not like its that busy, compared to the actual center. He looks around. "Hmph."
"Everything seems normal yet..."
He stares at everyone.
The cashier across the street is clearly doing her job. She's smiling and is polite. But those eyes. Kito then turns around.
That old man. He's reading a newspaper. "(But those glasses eyes. Is he even reading?)"
Kito stares for 15 seconds. And then the old man looks up.
Their gaze meet each other. Kito's cat like eyes penetrate through the old man's soft eyes. And then the old man squints in annoyed fashion, and ruffles the newspaper.
Kito blinks and turns away. "(I see...perhaps staring was a bit rude. But no, something's not right, I feel it.)"
He looks around. "(There would typically be a group of kids playing basketball right next to the apartment. But where are they now? Something's off. I'm not crazy.)"
Kito gently lets his groceries down and walks over to a businessman on a phone call.
On the way there, he remembers something from a couple years ago. After he left his parent's house and was traveling, he remembers his time with the monks. While he was training with them, he remembers something that one of his teachers told him: "every cell tells the intent of your ki."
Kito latches on to the businessman's head.
Freaked out, the business man immediately puts up his hands. "Woah hey, do you need something?" Yells the businessman.
Kito squints at the man. "(His breathing. His pulse. The beads of sweat forming. The exasperation in the lungs. The adrenaline leaking out of the liver... liver right? Yeah. They all seem real. Even in those glassy eyes. The look of fear can't be feigned.)"
Kito lets go of the man's head, and bows. "Excuse me, I apologize for that." He then walks back towards his groceries.
He stares at the apartment building. Kito lays down, and puts his ear to the ground.
"..."
People walk by, looking down at Kito with confusion. Some kid audibly laughs. Kito continues to concentrate.
He then gets up. "Yes... there's people inside."
Kito gets up, picks up his bag and box and opens the door to the apartment building.
As he enters, all of the dolls' eyes shift towards the closed door. Slowly yet surely, they make sure to avoid a certain distance from the building.
Meanwhile, Kito presses the elevator door. "But why? What is this feeling? I refuse to believe I'm getting nervous for no reason. That's impossible. But what could've explained the noise from af-"
His eyes widen.
"The vibrations." He whispers. "Then what the hell were the vibrations?"
He looks towards the direction of the outside people.
He stomps.
The elevator crackles for a split second, then resumes its climb.
Through the stomp, he feels vibration of his ki spread throughout the area. Though the larger the area, the more expensive it is, that hardly matters with his specialization. He feels it; the vibrations spread from the ground, to the elevator box, to the cables, to the walls to the floors, then to the ground zero, and finally, outside on the street. People seem to still be living their li-
He stares at the ground again.
DING!
He exits out of the elevator, frantically putting his stuff down.
Two things.
He stomps again.
Mapping the same area, he stares at a single room one floor below him. If he is not mistaken, he sees Mr. Ogawa reading the newspaper.
His heart sinks a bit.
"But Mr. Ogawa is blind."
He turns towards his door.
"What is this." He growls under his breath.
His breathing gets heavy.
Someone is inside his kitchen.
He glares at the door. He sees something glow underneath the door.
"(So its true. Someone is after me. I bet its someone from the Ordinance Academy. And they're just sitting there, taunting me, waiting for me to come in. And though the government knows everything about me on the surface, they made a crucial mistake.)"
His breathing gets heavier and heavier. Breathe in, then out. In. Out.
His skin becomes red.
"(You underestimated me.)"
Right as he puts his hand on the door knob, he finally recognizes the silhouette of the figure sitting down in his kitchen.
Were it for the sake of intimidation, or blatant bait, Kito, for a split second, recognizes that figure.
It was a while ago but he remembers. That suit. That composure. The way he sits.
His eyes widen.
"(That government agent!)"
Unfortunately for him, in his haste, he realized the figure too little too late.
KAPOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH
An instant pillar of flame ignites the entire building. As the explosion occurs, Rupture's follows its final command: once the building explodes, teleport back. Rupture vanishes.
Immediately, every civilian wakes up from their stupor. Everyone starts screaming in confusion. Mass hysteria as people run away. They call the cops, of which the phones return to service. The cops turn right back around, also unaware of what they were just thinking about. Debris flies all around, inuring several people. Yet, by some sheer coincidence, its as if the nearest people were still far away enough to not be hit by the explosion itself. By some sheer miracle, no death occurs. Yet, whether it through sheer stress of near death experience, some people remember seeing something red burst out of the flames.
.
.
.
A kilometer away, Nowa sits under a dying peach tree. He sits alone on a hill. The smog of the explosion instantly turns the sky grey. Aside from the distant shockwave, there's a cold breeze in the air. Watching through binoculars, he sets them down and picks up a peach.
"Well. That's that."
He picks his phone back up.
In the distance, something thumps closer to Nowa's location.
"(I get that I technically haven't been paid yet,)" he thinks to himself. "(But...)"
He presses the "confirm order" button.
"(Fuck it.)"
"(The job's already done so, I might as well. And besides, a little impulsive spending never hurt nobody.)"
He takes a bite out of the peach.
CRUNCH
He looks down at the peach in dissatisfaction.
"(MMmm...eeewww. That was bitter as fuck.)"
"(This one wasn't ripe yet. Now that I think about it, I've been eating peaches that weren't ready yet this past week. That's not... annoying as shit noooo.)"
All of a sudden, Nowa feels something radiate heat behind him. Like a chimney with too many coals inside. A rasping wheeze accompanies the heat, as well the smell of burnt flesh. Slowly, Nowa looks behind himself.
He sees a grotesque, muscular ogre, complete with red skin and charred marks all over his body.
"𝕂𝕚. 𝔽𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕕." Simply croaks the figure.
Before Nowa could even raise his hand, brace himself, or do anything, Kito rests his hand on top of Nowa's head.
CRUNCH.
.
.
.
Three hours later, a girl is on her way back home from school. She's weary of the explosion that happened in the town nearby, but otherwise, it was a typical day. She knew that her dad got home early today so, she stayed late for the occult club; as per usual. She looks at the map on her phone. Her route home was blocked due to the incident. She looks around. It's eerily quiet, and it doesn't help that the bluish grey sky makes it a bit hard to see. The only thing that can really help her are the orange street lights that are scattered throughout the street, and the flashlight on her phone.
From one street light to the other, she continues walking, looking behind herself every few minutes for obvious reasons.
She pauses. The reception is getting worse. She looks around for another light. In the darkness, she sees a wooden post, but it didn't illuminate any light. Yet, with her flashlight for a brief moment, she saw something dark on the post. A winding stream of liquid. She looked back at it. She followed the trail up. She then saw something black.
Boots.
She slowly raised her flashlight.
Legs.
She knew she didn't want to. She didn't need to.
But she did it anyway.
Hanging from a post, in a fixed, crucified position, was a handsome man wearing black heavy clothes. Blood seeped down his eyes, nose, mouth, ears, and of course, the holes clearly indented into his head.
Dropping her phone, crawling back, no noise escapes her mouth for a couple seconds. She tries to scream.
All that comes out are retches.
Despite the morbid image that ingrained itself inside her head, she couldn't help but admit that even in death, the man looked peaceful.
She hoped that she could end up like him some day.
.
.
.
Back in Kim's home, she sits alone, on the couch. She's wearing her leather jacket as well as her floral sundress underneath. She has black lipstick on her upper lip. The news is on the background, murmuring some news about the explosion, a large beetle, and the rise of online extremist youths and their ideologies.
Yet to Kim, it was nothing but buzzing background noise.
Several unanswered texts. 11 calls that went straight to voice mail. It's already been an hour after the agreed time for Nowa to meet up with Kim.
Four cigarettes litter the ash tray.
In the back of her mind, she doesn't want to admit it. Yet, choking on words, something eventually comes out.
"Oh god."
.
.
.
Back in Rupture's lair, Mishima patiently waits. He stands right next to a large rune that's underneath Rupture's cocoon. Another person stands beside Mishima. It's a lanky man wearing a crimson surgeon smock, dark goggles, a surgical mask as well as grey metal hands. They are also wearing a pin designated to the Glow of the Night Forces.
Out of nowhere, Rupture suddenly pops out of thin air and on top of the rune. Yelps and hollers erupt from Rupture.
"Shhh," soothes Mishima. "You did well. You're a good girl." Says Mishima in a deadpan tone. "Now, show me where it hurts."
Rupture gestures towards its hands, butt and legs.
The surgeon tries to find the seams of Rupture's gloves.
"...Where do they start? Can you not take them off?"
"I would prefer if we didn't take it off, Enori." Says Mishima.
Enori shrugs. "If you insist."
Enori feels Rupture's hands.
"Several hematomas and severe bruising, minor fractures on the joints and phalanges... I don't see how I can make this work without getting it out of the suit."
Mishima grimaces. "Well, if its necessary. Just try not to spill as much as you can."
"But of course." Hisses Enori.
Enori's fingers extend into a scissors, scalpels, and several other tools. He cuts into Rupture's suit.
Black liquid leaks out.
Several minutes later, somebody calls Mishima. He picks up the phone. "Who is it?"
"It's Keiji. I'm at the police department. They found Nowa's body hanging from a post. What should we do?"
Mishima's eye twitches. He's quiet for a couple seconds.
"For now, just keep it undercover. I'll take care of it."
"Understood."
*Click*
Mishima sits still. As Enori continues the surgery, he pats Rupture's head. Mishima keeps a blank stare. "Good girl."
His eye doesn't stop twitching.
.
.
.
On the opposite side of the world, on the top of a skyscraper, Edward holds the CEO of an insurance firm at gun point.
.
.
.
Earlier that same morning, Makoto and Naoki stand in front of Principal Hanayama's office door.
"Well," starts Makoto. "Are you ready?"
With a tired gaze and a face that wasn't completely healed yet, Naoki only comments "yeah."