Manga, Japan—where neon lights and throngs of people give life to the night. In the heart of Shinjuku East, amidst the chaotic hum of crowded streets, stood a modest ramen shop, innocuous to the outside world but harboring secrets beneath its unassuming facade. Kaelen, his violet eyes sharp and calculating, stood alongside Seraphis, her pink hair gleaming under the dim light, and Draken, who leaned against the counter with restless energy. Their meeting was taking place in the hidden base of Oy Yo’s father, Gyorza, the Serpent, a powerful and reclusive kobold who controlled one of the most dangerous factions of Manga’s underworld.

Gyorza, a hulking figure with black scales and piercing yellow eyes, sat at the head of the table, exuding a quiet menace. Oy Yo, his daughter, was beside him, her demeanor cool and composed. The room smelled faintly of spices and broth, the ordinary exterior of the ramen shop masking the intensity of the conversation that unfolded within.

Draken twitched with impatience, the scent of narcotics still clinging to him from earlier deals. He had been dealing with the Yakuza for years, but even for him, the stakes of this meeting were higher than usual.

“Ryuji’s moving fast,” Oy Yo said, her sharp gaze on her father. “He’s got his fingers in everything—drugs, arms, trafficking. He’s starting to choke the life out of this city, and if we don’t act soon, we’ll be too late.”

Kaelen’s voice cut through the tension. “We’ll take the fight to him, but we need to know where and when. We can't afford mistakes.”

Kunai shuffled into the room, his beak clicking as he shared what he knew. “Word on the street is Ryuji’s got a high-stakes meeting planned on the Shinkansen. Top men only, and they’re not taking any chances. It’ll be heavily guarded.”

Kaelen’s mind raced, considering the possibilities. A strike on the Shinkansen—Manga’s high-speed train system—would be risky, but the reward was too great to pass up. If they could catch Ryuji’s top men and disrupt the meeting, it would cripple his operation.

“Then that’s where we’ll hit him,” Kaelen decided, glancing at Kunai. “You stay behind. Ryuji knows you too well, and if he sees you, we’ll lose our advantage. Keep your eyes open and gather as much intel as you can. We need every edge.”

Kunai nodded, his sharp eyes flickering with understanding. “I’ll be your ears on the ground.”

As the group dispersed, Loren, Mira, Naya, and Syra were across town in the high-end shopping district of Haruka Avenue. Loren, dressed in a discreet maid outfit, struggled to keep up with Trap Icy, whose platinum blonde hair and extravagant tastes were impossible to tame.

“Trap Icy, you’ve bought enough to dress half the city!” Loren exclaimed, her arms full of shopping bags as Trap Icy twirled gleefully in front of a boutique window.

Behind them, Mira, the ethereal druid with silver hair and wolf ears, smirked. “Let her have her fun,” she said, though her sharp eyes were scanning the street, sensing something amiss. “But keep an eye out. This place feels...off.”

Syra, always the flirt, sent a teasing text to Kaelen. Think I found something interesting. But not as interesting as what I plan to do with you later... She grinned at her phone, her red eyes gleaming with playful mischief.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Loren’s attention was drawn to a seemingly ordinary boutique with an intricate logo above the door. Something about it felt out of place—like a mask hiding a more sinister purpose. “This is one of Ryuji’s fronts,” she muttered, her instincts honed from years of dealing with criminals.

Mira nodded, her heightened senses confirming the suspicion. “We should check it out.”

Inside, the team found more than they expected—ledgers, cryptic notes, and laundered money hidden behind racks of designer clothing. While Syra kept the clerks busy with her flirtations, Loren, Mira, and Naya quietly gathered the evidence they needed. Ryuji’s grip on the city was unraveling, and Gyorza’s goons were already on their way to take over the operation.

Kaelen, Seraphis, Bolt, and Jason moved swiftly through Manga Central Station. The towering platform loomed above them as they boarded the Shinkansen, blending in with the crowd. The sleek train hummed with quiet efficiency, the perfect cover for a criminal meeting in a city where speed was the only thing that mattered.

Jason, encased in his cybernetic exoskeleton, scanned the train car with cold precision. “I don’t like this,” he muttered under his breath. “Too many civilians. Too many unknowns.”

Seraphis, her pink hair falling over her shoulders, smirked as she looked around. “An all-you-can-eat buffet,” she teased. “Maybe I’ll get a taste of some real Japanese food.”

As the train gained speed, the atmosphere within the car shifted. Passengers began to fidget nervously, some whispering to themselves, while others glanced around with suspicion. Something was off.

Suddenly, chaos erupted. Ordinary people started fighting—wild, unprovoked attacks that sent the train car spiraling into violence. Kaelen’s instincts kicked in. “This isn’t normal,” he growled, pushing through the fray as Seraphis followed, tearing through anyone who got in her way with savage glee.

“Someone’s manipulating them,” Seraphis muttered, her sharp teeth gleaming in the dim light. “And it tastes...wrong.”

Bolt, his wiry frame crackling with electricity, disabled attackers with precise shocks, while Jason moved with mechanical efficiency, his enhanced reflexes neutralizing threats as they pushed toward the back of the train.

Through the chaos, Kaelen spotted Ryuji’s henchmen gathered in the final car. Armed and ready, they seemed unaffected by the madness gripping the other passengers. As the group prepared to strike, Kaelen felt a sudden, invisible pressure—a psychic force, pushing and pulling at the minds around him.

“Delphinus,” Kaelen realized, gritting his teeth. The infamous telepath had joined the fight from afar, amplifying the chaos, using the passengers as pawns in his deadly game.

With a roar, the team launched their attack. Seraphis unleashed a torrent of pink flames, scorching the henchmen as Kaelen fought his way through, his soul gun gleaming with lethal precision. Bolt’s electricity arced through the metal walls of the train, disarming the enemies, while Jason’s mechanical fists pounded through their defenses.

The battle raged as the train sped toward its destination, a violent dance of steel, magic, and blood.

The Shinkansen screeched to a halt at Manga Station, the sudden stop throwing everyone off balance. The battle spilled onto the platform as Kaelen and his team finally overwhelmed Ryuji’s henchmen, their bodies crumpling to the ground, defeated.

Moments later, Loren, Trap Icy, Mira, Naya, and Syra arrived, following the trail of clues from the boutique. Loren tossed a ledger to Kaelen, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. “We’ve got him. Ryuji’s been sloppy.”

Kunai appeared from nowhere, his voice low as he handed Kaelen a dossier filled with critical insights into Ryuji’s network. “This should help you clean up the rest of his operations.”

Kaelen nodded, his mind already racing ahead to the next step. “Good. Let’s finish this.”

As the team regrouped, Syra slipped up beside Kaelen, her red eyes glittering with playful intent. “You know,” she whispered, her lips brushing against his ear, “I don’t mind sharing you with Loren and Seraphis...if you’d have me as your third.”

Kaelen smirked, his violet eyes locking with hers. “I don’t trust you, Syra.”

Her grin widened. “Good. You shouldn’t.”