Something’s off. Inhuman.
That’s what my instincts scream when I look at her.
The devout, gentle woman I knew now radiates something cursed. Something foul.
I tighten my grip on the gun.
“Vrrrgh-KAALGH!”
She lets out a guttural cry. Not a human voice.
A beast’s howl, ripping through the air like claws down bone.
Reflex kicks in and I squeeze my eyes shut. Almost cover my ears.
Shit. I studied this. I knew Demons had tricks like this.
But knowing isn’t enough. Not when your body flinches on instinct.
Despite her frail frame, she moves with impossible speed.
One moment she’s across the room.
Next, she’s in front of me. A blur.
She knocks the gun from my hands and grabs my throat, lifting me like I weigh nothing.
That’s demonic strength. I’m seeing it for real now—raw in the flesh.
Turns out I wasn’t ready. Couldn’t even pull the trigger.
“Ngh, uhhh... Director...”
“Aaah.”
Demon Possession. A human twisted into a monster at a Demon’s whim.
They call this a Possession-Type. Usually shows up early in a curse’s lifecycle. She’s probably only been like this for a few hours.
“Ugh, ah, ngh!”
“Vrrrgh.”
“Director... it’s me, Ikaku... This is awful, isn’t it?”
“Aah, vrrgh.”
“Please... let go... it hurts...”
She doesn’t let go. Her fingers dig in, sharp and hard, cutting through skin.
My carotid’s getting crushed. Vision flickers. Black spots bloom.
My voice isn’t reaching. She’s not coming back.
There’s no miracle to be found.
“Ngh!”
I grab the arm choking me. Crush her wrist with raw grip strength. Drive my thumb into the pressure points along the tendons.
It’s a Binding Clutch technique striking at meridian points.
Effective on Demons—so long as the mutations are minimal.
“That body you took... that strength you built using her...”
“KAAALGH!”
Crack.Snap.
Joints buckle and her grip loosens.
I drop to the floor, slam an axe kick into her knee.
Bone shatters. She collapses.
I twist her arm, lock the shoulder.
“Vrraah! Gaagh!”
She howls and lashes at me with her free hand.
I release the wrist, step back.
She charges, swinging wild.
I meet her halfway with a hand blade, slipping into her guard.
Then—Rising Elbow. Straight into her gut.
Hardest part of my body, driving in full force.
Force Release. A gouging burst of energy.
Pierces through ribs. Slams into her heart.
Her body lifts off the ground and flies backward. Crashes into the pipe organ.
The sound it makes is... wrong. A scream of metal and discord.
Cracks spider across the chapel floor from where I stood. Seismic Kick still rumbling through my soles.
That hit. That alignment. That Force...
It’s fatal.
I retrieve my gun, climb onto the altar, and confirm the kill.
Chest caved in. Organs pulped.
But she’s still twitching. Still alive.
What the hell kind of vitality is this?
I walk over and aim the barrel at her face. Her breath rasps out.
“I... kaku... Ikaku...”
I kneel. Let my face reflect in her pitch-black eyes.
But she’s not looking at me. Her gaze is somewhere else.
“Is that... Ikaku?”
“I’m here, Director.”
I strangle the emotions in me.
Her hand floats up, slow and shaky. Finds my chest.
Fingers brush my pecs. Gentle. Familiar.
I keep the gun trained on her. Finger tight on the trigger.
“Ahh... you’ve grown so big, Ikaku.”
“...”
“I wanted... to see your face.”
“I’ve become a fine man.”
“Of course you have.”
“I finished Boot Camp top of my cohort. Got assigned to mansion security. The head of the family counts on me. The Akai daughters know my name. The young masters too. And... I even made Coral Terminator.”
“I knew it... Ikaku... you’ve become so distinguished... Then you can’t stay forever... You have to go fulfill your duty. The Demons... they’ve come...”
“Yeah. I’m heading to the mansion now. I’ll protect everyone.”
“That’s right... Ikaku’s already a grown man... You knew even without being told...”
Her hand falls. I catch it.
Just skin and bone. Wrinkled. Tough.
A mother’s hand—one that stroked my hair more times than I can count.
Now, it’s cold. Drained of life.
Her lips barely move to give her final words.
A blessing.
“Take care, Ikaku.”
“I will. I’m going now, Director.”
I wait. Watch her breathing slow. Stop.
Then I press the barrel to her forehead.
Gunshots ring out in the chapel.
One. Two. Three. Four. Five.
I grit my teeth. My eyes blur. Something hot runs down my cheeks.
My throat trembles, aching to break into a sob.
But I don’t let it.
All those mercury bullets, shot one after another.
All to leave no room for doubt.
Goodbye, childhood.
Goodbye, peaceful days.
You stay behind as beautiful memories. I can’t carry you now.
Not when duty calls.
I make the sign of the cross over what’s left. Bow my head.
Lord, take her soul. Free her from the curse. Let her rest.
“Thank you for everything, Director. Rest in peace. Amen.”
I leave through the back of the chapel.
Head for the mansion.