The Funeral
The rain falls relentlessly under a somber, cloudy sky, making the midday feel like dusk.
Inside the memorial hall, white drapes hang low, freezing the sorrow. Yūko Tachikawa's photo sits on the altar, surrounded by flowers, her smile permanent on the monochrome picture. Relatives and friends, dressed in black, offer condolences, their faces heavy with grief.
Outside, across the street in the alley, a figure in black stands under an umbrella: Zhao Xuan. Despite saying he wouldn't come, he is here, having easily used his enhanced senses to shake the police tail that Hirama had assigned.
I shouldn't have come! Zhao Xuan thinks, hating the somber atmosphere.
Soon, some of Yūko's family spot him. As he prepares to leave, three people emerge from the hall, walking toward him under umbrellas: Yūko's parents and older sister, whom Zhao Xuan recognizes from photos.
Yūko's father bows deeply. "Thank you very much for attending the funeral! Please, come inside to rest."
Zhao Xuan shakes his head. "I apologize. I have something urgent and must leave now."
"May I ask your name?" the father asks before Zhao Xuan can turn away.
"My name is Zhao Xuan."
Hearing the name, Yūko's mother, who had been softly weeping, suddenly widens her eyes and lunges forward, grabbing Zhao Xuan's arm. "You're that Zhao Xuan? I heard you were the only survivor that day! Tell me... how did Yūko die? Who was the killer? Why did he kill so many people? Why did he kill my Yūko?!"
The police had concealed the truth of the Parasyte massacre, framing it as a serial killer incident. Yūko's mother, driven by grief, clings to Zhao Xuan's arm with shocking strength, crying hysterically. Yūko's father and sister apologize profusely, trying to pry the distraught mother away.
Zhao Xuan feels immense distress and helplessness but struggles to free himself. Only when Yūko's mother collapses from exhaustion and grief does he manage to break away.
Yūko's father and relatives apologize again as they tend to the mother. Only the sister remains, tearfully facing Zhao Xuan. "Yūko told me... she was dating you... Can you... can you tell me who the killer was?"
"I'm sorry... I passed out at the time," Zhao Xuan evasively replies.
"Yūko died so horribly! That killer... is too cruel!" The sister cries harder. "Zhao Xuan... I beg you... if you remember any clues, please tell the police! Help them catch the killer soon and get justice for Yūko?"
Vengeance?
"I absolutely will!"
Zhao Xuan bows deeply to the sister and immediately turns to leave, walking faster and faster.
The Hunt and the Second Kill
Zhao Xuan's sudden departure is not just an escape from the sadness; it's because he has detected a Parasyte's presence!
He had equipped the [Parasyte Component] for safety and now felt a Parasyte signal a few hundred meters away. He quickens his pace, easily outdistancing the area and reaching a quiet, desolate street near an abandoned construction site. He senses the Parasyte is inside.
He pushes open the iron gate of the site and walks into the gloomy construction building. The air is thick with the smell of blood, which grows stronger as he ascends the stairs.
Turning a corner, Zhao Xuan sees a figure hunched over in the dark room, ravenously feasting on what is clearly a human body.
The creature notices Zhao Xuan's approach.
"A fellow Parasyte?"
The humanoid monster slowly rises. Its head, split into the hideous "chrysanthemum" shape, still has bits of flesh clinging to it. Several ugly eyes mounted on tentacles swivel toward Zhao Xuan.
Zhao Xuan instinctively raises his left hand, and it instantly splits open, forming four writhing tentacles with blades at their tips.
"Tch! A useless one who didn't eat the brain?"
The monster dismissively mocks Zhao Xuan's left-hand transformation, confidently challenging him: "Hey! This is my dining hall. What do you want? Want to fight?"
Zhao Xuan's forehead beads with cold sweat. Despite his new power, this is his first solo encounter with a Parasyte, and fear is very real.
"Hey! I'm talking to you! It's rude not to answer!" Seeing Zhao Xuan's hesitation, the monster takes two steps forward, irritated. "Are you mute? If so, I'll just have to teach you a lesson..."
The monster's words are cut short.
Its head has been severed from its body.
Instant Kill
"Amazing!"
Zhao Xuan stares in shock.
Due to his inexperience, Zhao Xuan had subconsciously activated the "auto-attack mode" of his [Parasyte Component].
While the opponent was still talking trash, Zhao Xuan's left hand struck first, delivering a decisive, clean cut.
A beautiful, lightning-fast strike decapitated the monster before either the Parasyte or Zhao Xuan could react.
Instant kill!
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