[4:00 A.M. – Prismic Gathering Laboratory]
James rubbed his eyes, fatigue clawing at his brain. The room was deathly quiet except for the low hum of machines and the occasional beep of scanners. He stared at the armored suit on the test table.
"One last test," he whispered. "Just one drop. This time it'll hold... I know it will."
He clicked the remote. A single droplet of acid lowered from the claw above.
But then—
CLANK.
The robotic arm jerked.
The entire barrel of acid slipped.
James's eyes widened. "Wait—no—NO!"
It landed on him with a sickening splash. The sizzling began immediately. He screamed, a sound that tore the silence apart.
"IT BURNS! IT BURNS—SOMEONE—HELP ME!!"
His voice cracked and faltered. The acid ate through his skin, his nerves, and finally, his lungs.
Then—nothing.
[7:03 A.M.]
Selene covered her mouth in horror. "T-That… is that James?"
York knelt beside the half-melted corpse. "Yeah… it's him."
Selene's voice trembled. "He was just a kid…"
"He was fourteen," York murmured. "You're what, nineteen? You're still a kid too."
Selene wiped a tear away with her lab sleeve. "Still… no one deserves to die like this."
[7:19 A.M. – Deep Lab Corridor]
Kazimir walked without expression, his katana resting at his back, his coat brushing the floor.
Selene matched pace with him, speaking softly. "We… weren't sure who else to call. The others were already gone."
Kazimir said nothing.
They reached the body. Kazimir's eyes fell on James's burned figure. He squatted beside it, brushing a finger near the edge of the charred remains.
York stepped forward. "Sir, we came in not even twenty minutes ago—found him like this. No alarms triggered. No protocols activated. Just… just silence."
Kazimir didn't move.
"…His body is already cold," he said. "This happened at least three hours ago."
Selene's voice cracked. "So what do we do…?"
Kazimir stood. "Move the body. Avoid the acid trail. York—get the disposal unit. Don't try this yourselves."
"Yes, boss."
Kazimir turned without another word.
[8:12 A.M. – Prismic Gathering Field]
Neve saw him first. "Kazimir—what happened at the lab?"
His voice was quiet. "James is dead."
Her breath caught. "What…?"
Conversations stopped. All eyes turned.
Mia approached slowly, her scythe at her back. "You're kidding… right? That's a joke, Kazimir. A cruel one."
"I don't joke like that."
"C'mon," she laughed nervously. "He probably just forgot to charge his communicator. I'll call him. He always answers me."
She did.
No answer.
Again.
Still nothing.
"James, come on… pick up… Please…" her voice broke.
When the third attempt failed, her hands fell to her sides, and her legs gave way.
Kazimir stepped forward. "Come with me."
[8:32 A.M. – Emergency Room]
The room was silent except for the soft buzz of lights overhead.
Kazimir pulled back the white sheet.
Half of James's face was gone.
Mia screamed.
"No—NO! Please, no!!" She fell to her knees, sobbing. "Why him!? Why now?!"
Kazimir stood still. Watching. Silent.
She cried until her body gave up, and she collapsed.
[9:41 A.M. – Mia's Room]
Lihanna folded her arms. "The full moon is tonight. And the world decided to spit in our faces first."
Tyrone sighed. "What a night for hell to open up."
Lihanna glanced at him. "Maybe you'll die tonight, too."
"Not a chance. I'm not dying to vampires."
"You always act so fearless," she said softly. "Keep that energy when you're bleeding."
"You've been… different lately."
Before she could answer, Mia stirred.
Tyrone leaned forward. "Hey, there she is."
"You feeling okay?" Lihanna asked, voice surprisingly gentle.
Mia didn't respond.
"I know it hurts," Lihanna said. "But we don't have time to break. There's a battle coming."
Mia stared at the ceiling. "Let it come. I don't care. Let the world burn."
"You should care. James did," Lihanna replied, sharper now.
Mia turned sharply. "Don't pretend to understand what I feel!"
Lihanna's eyes narrowed. "Maybe not. But if you become a monster—if you dishonor James's memory—I will stop you myself."
She stood. "You never fought for this world. You only ever cared about him. And now that he's gone, you've got nothing. That's on you."
"Lihanna…" Tyrone muttered.
"Let's go."
[10:42 A.M. – Outside the Mansion]
The breeze was calm.
Until someone bumped into Mia.
"Watch it!" she snapped.
The recruit apologized, but Mia's eyes flared red.
Without warning—she swung her scythe.
Blood sprayed. A head hit the ground.
Everyone screamed.
Kazimir's aura spiked across the field.
Mia raised her scythe again, channeling Zamas's power. "I'll burn this world if I have to! I have NOTHING left!"
"THAT'S ENOUGH!"
Kamaki rocketed into view, fire bursting from his feet. He drop-kicked her straight into a tree.
"You psycho! You killed someone!"
Zamas's energy surged, forcing everyone back. Gendai, Tyrone, Lihanna, Felicia, Raijin—they all arrived.
Tyrone shielded his eyes. "Great. Vampires tonight and a dragon now?"
[11:01 A.M. – Sky Above the Mansion]
A roar shattered the sky.
Zamas emerged—his form massive and terrifying.
Then Riah appeared. Floating beside Kazimir.
He stepped forward, drawing his nodachi.
Riah stopped him.
"I'll handle it," she said firmly.
"…Alright."
She soared upward, flames trailing.
Zamas's eyes narrowed. "Who dares—?"
"I am Riah," she said. "Satura of Solaris. Loved by Kazimir. Forgiven by Gendai. Entrusted by the Phoenix. By you... my flames are rebirth… and judgment."
Her energy of flame burst igniting—red, then blue, then white.
Zamas roared and charged a dark energy sphere.
"Fall with pride, then," Riah whispered.
Her blade met his blast—and cut through it.
Zamas's soul disintegrated in Riah's Phoneix Judgement.
The battlefield erupted in stunned silence.
Kazimir smiled faintly. "She's surpassed even herself."
[11:18 A.M. – Battlefield Aftermath]
Mia knelt, broken and powerless.
"You killed one of your own," Riah said. "Then tried to kill the rest. Because you felt empty."
"Just kill me," Mia sobbed. "End it."
"No."
Riah turned.
Mia screamed and lunged. "THEN I'LL KILL YOU!!"
She slashed.
Flash.
Riah appeared behind her.
Mia's scythe shattered. A burning white slash carved across her chest.
She fell.
"I didn't want this," Riah whispered. "But your choices made it so. May Solaris welcome James into his garden… and may you rot in the roots of hell."
She walked away.
Kazimir followed.
Everyone stood still, hearts heavy, eyes wide.
Mia's body burned in the white flames, as the blood moon began to rise.