Suddenly her thoughts cut short by distant screaming. Everyone rushes outside, seeing a fire ablaze several blocks away with massive black plumes of smoke.

--- Chapter 135 ---

Fuji, Red, Luna, and Hiro swiftly run to the scene of the fire. People run as fast as they can. A man stands in the center of the fire, he chases some of the people running, he is wearing a oni design, pure white porcelain mask. Cries for help can be heard, but it's not coming from the people running, but the guy in the mask. The guy's skin burns, constantly gaining third degree burns before it heals over. He outstretches his hand for someone, but is surged by a sudden pain as he hunches over, and dozens of small silver canisters burst out of his back. As they touch the ground or the buildings, they explode into a hell fire.

Man: HELP! PLEASE! AGHAAAH!

More canisters burst from his body.

Red: What’s happening?!

The man looks at Red.

Man: PLEASE, HELP ME! THE MASK!

Red thinks the man is trying to tell him that he’s being controlled through the mask. Red forms his blade, and waits for the perfect moment to run in. Red runs forward, and swings his sword with precision, slicing the mask in half. The mask falls off the man's face, and he quiets down. The bombs halt, and Red believes it's over. The man takes a few deep breaths, and sighs in relief. Unfortunately, the man's head looks to the sky and screams, as Red sees, what looks like a bone-like substance forming from his skin. He screams and howls as the bone forms into the oni mask, and the bombs and fire continue. Red gets back to the group.

Red: I don't know what to do, this isn’t him. He’s being controlled by someone but I don’t know how to fix it.

The man’s gaze shifts to look at Red. The man has tears in his eyes, and a horrified expression.

Man: Kill… Me…

Red’s heart begins to race.

Red: N-no. I will find another way!

Man: Please... End this… Kill… Me…

Red thinks back to Kotas words, fear goes through Red’s body. He takes a few steps forward and swallows. He readies his blade, but before he could do it, Fuji places his hand on Red's shoulder. Fuji walks in front of Red as he collapses to his knees. Fuji takes a deep breath through his teeth, signifying the use of sword skills.

Fuji: Gentle Incision.

Fuji pulls the blade out, and teleports to the other side. An incision is made at the back of his neck. The man feels a serine calm, a swift and painless death. The man collapses, and Fuji sheaths his sword. Luna runs over, and places her hand on his chest. A faint light emanates, and she gets a confused look.

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Hiro: What’s wrong?

Luna: I haven’t quite figured out revival magic, but when someone dies, their soul leaves their body, and a spectral chain called the soul chain connects the body to the soul. Revival magic essentially reels them back in and binds their soul back in their body. However, he doesn't have a soul chain. Without a soul chain it's impossible to revive someone.

Hiro: I see, that's weird.

***

The two vampires rest on the ledge of a tall building within the city. He looks down upon the humans running from the raging fire, scurrying along like little black dots.

Man: It's rather amusing watching them as they crawl around like little ants.

He sees a mother and her two children in a burning building. She holds them close, seemingly praying.

Man: Thinking there is someone up above, to call upon in time of need. How foolish can one be?

A mage runs in and picks up the kids, and aids the mother in their escape. The mother begins to do a thanking motion to both the mage and the sky.

Woman: Yes, and how they complicate and confuse fate with what is merely chance. It's rather simple to understand, those who beg for those above to aid, and those who are favored by chance go and spread the word of god destined them to live their lives in peace. And those who were less fortunate, perish before ever spreading the grim reality.

Man: Gods do exist, all those with a simple textbook can learn that much. However, the divine gate is set, dooming all who beg and cry to the hands of chance. We’ve lived long enough to know fate is simply an excuse.

Woman: Humans are so tragic.

Man: Humans are so pitiful.

Man: I cannot fathom their spiteful existence. They pray, cry, live, and die. Their lives are so simple, and yet their content with it. Being constrained to short lives gives them ignorance. Never knowing what they believe to be true, was another man’s lie.

Woman: But it seems things are already starting to get interesting, wouldn’t you agree?

Man: I would have to agree. I-

The man’s eyes go wide, and he looks back at the woman. They both get up and look back at the city.

Man: What is happening. This scent.

Woman: I don’t understand. Do you think this is a coincidence? The boy’s scent maybe?

Man: We are getting caught in the middle of two opposing forces that shouldn’t exist here.

Woman: It smells like a demon to you as well, right?

Man: A powerful one. We should get going.

The woman nods, crouching down before morphing into a large bat. The man looks back over the city.

Man: Good luck kid. Your gonna need it.

***

On a nearby roof, the Phantom overlooks his carnage, with a pleased grin. He raises his right hand, and his cane forms, with the handle being a glass orb. In the glass orb is a small humanoid, and it's that man, or more specifically his soul. The man bangs the orb in an attempt to escape. The phantom chuckles and waves his hand as the small figure evaporates into red smoke. The man looks around, suddenly contained within, a dark world, he looks around

A sound rings out, the man turns to see a massive figure dressed in fancy outfits. It has a grey skin color and a half mask with six holes for the eyes. Peering through it are six bright green eyes. Suddenly the head zooms up to him. Up close the head looks as if it’s made of wood, having that wood-like texture to it.

P̷͉͚̹̠͖̣̾͌̎̌̄̕h̴̻͔͇̤̐́̓̈̇̇͜ą̷͔̚͠n̶̻̖̑͋͠t̷͎̱̉̂̆̌́̚ö̸̯̣̜́͛͐̋m̶̻͈̈́͆:̵̢̞̻̻̼̈́̈́̈̿ ̷̬̟̥͊̏̓́͐͗W̶̢̝̯̫̯̬̎e̵̬̥̺̎̑̏̓̌͠l̸͖̺̘̜̼̣͂́͊͛̀c̴̞̘̣̭̞̃̐́̀͠ͅó̸̜̱̀̕͠m̷̼͇̼͉͓̬̎́̑͆̒́ḙ̴̛̿͒͋̄̾ ̸̮̟̤̏͌́̏͊t̷̡̮̬̹̗́͝o̷̦̤͛ ̴̳̆́̀̎͘m̸̦̻̳̬͒́̅̈y̵̧̢̠̆͌̓̈́̾́ ̶̌̐͊͑̚ͅw̶̧̧̠̭̾o̴̩̪͆̒̓̆r̷̝̞͚̟̳͍̊̉͠l̷̠̙̼̦̦̀̒͒̈́ͅd̷̦̲̈͊̔

The mouth clicks open, and from the dark void that's the inside of the mouth, several chains shoot out and ensnare him, dragging him into the mouth as it shuts closed.

***

Red sits in defeat before a foul scent reaches his nose. This scent is so strong, it causes Red to gag.

Red: This mana. What is this mana?! It’s so strong… So, Evil…

Red gets up and runs. Luna and Hiro look at him in confusion and try to follow him, but he’s running too fast, jumping onto the roof of buildings. Red follows the scent.

Red: Where is he! Where is this scent coming from!

Suddenly Red sees the back of the red-suited figure. The man turns around slightly, revealing his mask. Red speeds up, but the man jumps down into an alleyway. Red follows it and lands in the alleyway. And sees no one.

Red: The scent. The scents gone.

He returns to the group, and aids in stopping the fire. After they gave their aid, they say their goodbyes to fuji and get in the cart to leave.