Kouga stepped out of the forest, his breaths still heavy. The taste of corruption lingered in his mouth, metallic and bitter. Whatever that energy had been, it was meant to spread—meant to infect. And beneath its foulness… there was something else. Something divine.
But this wasn't the time to dwell. Kiana was waiting. And she didn't need to know. Not yet.
He veered off the path and slipped into a quiet clearing near the city's edge. Overgrown grass brushed his boots, the air thick with the forgotten scent of old shrines. Few people came here anymore—perfect for hiding things that shouldn't be seen.
"Alright… casual Kouga mode, activated."
A faint click echoed as he summoned his CanDroids. They scuttled toward him, carrying the bundles he'd left in their care: futons, cleaning gear, and basic supplies. Kouga hefted them onto his back and arms, nodding in thanks before dismissing the drones. Adjusting his load, he rolled his shoulders and began the long walk home.
The door creaked as he stepped inside. The faint smell of his morning cooking still lingered. The house was quiet.
Until she appeared.
Kiana shuffled in, wrapped lazily in a blanket, her white hair tangled, eyes still hazy from sleep.
"There you are," she said, stifling a yawn. Her gaze flicked to the supplies. "You carried all that back yourself?"
"Yeah." Kouga set the bags down. "Figured the floor isn't the best bed. And the place needed cleaning."
Kiana tilted her head, smirking faintly. "Huh. Thought you'd be the type to let dust pile up until the walls collapsed."
Kouga gave her a flat look. "…Thanks for the vote of confidence."
"Don't mention it." She smiled, then narrowed her eyes slightly. "You were out late."
"School stuff," he said evenly. "Met some teachers. Tour of the campus. Normal, boring things."
She squinted suspiciously but didn't press. "You at least brought snacks?"
"Check the bottom bag."
Moments later, Kiana was grinning over a packet of pudding cups and crackers. "Good man."
Kouga ignored her, moving to the living room to stash the futons. His face shifted only once the door closed behind him—serious again. He rubbed his arm where the corruption had burned earlier, the sensation still crawling faintly under his skin.
The next morning came too quickly.
Another day of school. Another round of dull lectures and forced smiles. Kouga prepared food for Kiana before leaving—enough to keep her from raiding his kitchen out of boredom.
The hours dragged. When the final bell rang, he didn't head straight home. Instead, he wandered into the commercial district. A job. That was what he needed. Between Kiana's bottomless appetite and basic upkeep, casino winnings wouldn't stretch forever.
But every inquiry ended the same: a polite rejection. By late afternoon, he was sighing in frustration, resigned to going home empty-handed.
Unbeknownst to him, he wasn't alone.
High above, perched on a rooftop, a man watched him with sharp intent. Tall, rugged, his silver hair tied back into a loose ponytail. His long coat fluttered in the breeze. A pair of high-tech goggles obscured his eyes. And where his left arm should have been, there was nothing.
Siegfried Kaslana leaned casually against the ledge, smirking as Kouga disappeared into the crowd below.
Massive Electric Corporation – Top Floor Office
The rhythmic tapping of white-gloved fingers echoed in the dim office. Moonlight streamed through tall windows, washing the obsidian desk in silver. Behind it sat a man in a sharp purple suit, posture perfect, expression colder than steel.
The desk phone rang once. He lifted the receiver with quiet precision.
"Mister Ryoma, the… guest has arrived."
"Send him in. Then leave us."
The line clicked dead.
Ryoma placed the receiver back and rose from his chair. His pale violet eyes glinted in the moonlight, hard as glass. For a moment, however, a trace of warmth flickered there—regret. He had promised his daughter he'd be home earlier. Promised her dinner. Promised her kenjutsu practice. But duty always claimed him.
The door creaked open.
"Heya, Ryoma! Long time no see!"
Siegfried Kaslana strolled in, giving a lazy salute with his remaining hand. His grin was roguish, boyish even, tempered only by the rugged scruff along his jaw.
Ryoma's eye twitched. "Siegfried Kaslana. Drop the act. We have pressing matters."
"Man, you're still the same," Siegfried chuckled. "Straight to business, no drinks, no catching up, not even a 'how's the family.' You wound me." His grin softened. "Speaking of family… your kid holding up alright?"
Ryoma paused. Then, without answering, he turned to his desk and tapped at the keyboard. Data flickered on the monitor.
Siegfried sighed, dragging a chair over and flopping down. "Fine, fine. Let's talk shop. What's got you wound up this time?"
Ryoma rotated the monitor toward him. A dossier appeared, filled with sparse data and a school photo.
Siegfried squinted. "…Who's this? Some intern?"
"That," Ryoma said flatly, "is the anomaly."
"Looks like a school record."
"It is. But this record appeared in our database at exactly 11:00 PM, three days ago. One hour before the subject's first confirmed sighting in Nagazora. Until that moment—" his eyes narrowed "—this person did not exist. No registry. No archive. No trace."
Siegfried raised his brows. "Could be a damn good hack job. Some ghost prodigy, maybe."
"Incorrect." Ryoma's tone was absolute. "Even the best falsifications leave residue. Old log shadows. Backup anomalies. This is… seamless. As if reality itself was rewritten to insert him."
Siegfried gave a low whistle. "Now that's freaky."
Ryoma clicked again. The screen changed to grainy drone footage. A forest. Ten monstrous wolves. And Kouga—transformed—tearing through them with martial precision.
The last frame froze on the moment when corruption swallowed Kouga's arm, only for him to resist, radiating cleansing light until the energy shattered.
Siegfried's cocky grin slipped away. He leaned forward, serious for once. "…Well, damn."
"Exactly," Ryoma said coldly.
Leaning back, Siegfried rubbed his jaw. "So the kid's a walking anomaly." He stood, cracking his neck. "Alright. I'll report what I saw. Then I'll dig deeper. If there's a thread to pull, I'll find it."
Ryoma gave a curt nod. "Do so. And don't underestimate him."
Siegfried smirked again as he turned to leave. "Wouldn't dream of it. But don't expect me to wear a suit while I'm at it."
The door shut behind him.
Ryoma sat back down, eyes fixed on the monitor still glowing with Kouga's face. His gloved hand clenched into a fist.
"…Just what are you?"