#k before zero

Along with the final episode of "Limited Kingship, War Stories", I wrote what was decided. Because it includes the spoilers for the latest story, I've covered it. The initial plan, the comment of each story and the origin of the character's name. There are around 3000 characters, so read it when you have time.

Introduction:

"We will close the fan clan at the end of this year, so please write something during the extension period."

It was earlier this year that they told me that. 6 stories, from June to December. It doesn't matter, but the number 6 is good. This is because it is divisible by 1, 2, 3 or 6. The number 7 is also a prime number and it is wonderful. Have you already bought Seven Stories?

The theme was "everything is fine", but honestly, I felt like I had almost exhausted what I could do with K's main story. Have you ever seen K's time series chart? It's too tight and I think it's scheduling gimmick stuff, really.

By the way, we had a problem to digest. You already know "Ground Zero". The day before, "Before Zero", was also serialized the year before. At the same time, when I was serializing "Side Purple", I thought "I think it's possible to put it next to such an interesting story", but that's why I really liked "Before Zero". I am a Tachi influenced by what I like. In fact, the second half of "Side Purple" has been significantly affected.

So I offered to write a story from "Before Zero" to "Ground Zero", and it was successfully passed. I've done it, I can draw ruthless carnage in K's world.

"First of all, it's a story even before zero leads to ground zero."

"There is a demand for that spin-off from the day before the spin-off that has not yet come out."

It was not a surprise, but I stayed silent because it would be better if I could write what I liked and earn money.

As for the contents, at the beginning, like "Surugajo Gozen Game" and "Koga Ninpocho", a metamorphosis swordsman is released from "Scepter 4" and "Purgatory", and which one wins?! I was tense! I was thinking about something like that, but stopped because the demand that was already small would be even less.

"An older brother with burned legs stands on the shoulders of his younger brother with burned arms and turns into a flame giant."

"The jealousy of Kagutsu, an acrobat who entered Purgatory to excel, defies battle."

I was thinking about that...

I had to do 6 episodes, so I wrote 2 episodes of "red", 2 episodes of "blue", 2 episodes of "red and blue", and characters like Habari and Zenjo. It was decided like this. The number 6 is good because it is divisible by 2 or 3.

It was said that the number should be about 2,000 characters, but as Clansman writes new characters, careers, and dramas, more than 10,000 characters became commonplace. You can be a writer even if you are crazy.

The title became "Limited Kingship, War Stories" after the cool word "Limited Kingship, War" that appeared in "Before Zero". It was great.

What I like most about "Limited Kingship, War Stories" is the title "Limited Kingship, War Stories".

That is why I will do something like a comment on each story.

Episodes 1 and 2:

"Butterflies & Mantis" and "Hekireki & Senden" are stories of "red" and "blue", respectively. The concept is "member of the clan who has belonged to a clan that should not belong".

Maruha was drawn as a person who was too decent for "Purgatory" and Kuse was too crazy for "Scepter 4". Kuse has inherited the metamorphosis sword fighter gene, which was the initial plan.

So I wondered what if Maruha went into "Scepter 4" and Kuse went into "Purgatory", but it probably wouldn't work. Maruha is not that decent, and Kuse has a fushi that despises antisocial organizations. In the first place, these two people are not fit to live.

Before we started, I thought, "let's kill all the new characters so they don't affect them later," so I started writing while thinking about the best way to kill them. I'm glad they both died satisfied.

Although the name comes from, it was thought that Maruha was a younger brother of Hiragi, so it came from a plant called "Maruba holly". He's a pretty faithful guy, so he's loyal. He somehow he looks like a dark Kamamoto.

Kuse is a member of the clan which is an acronym for "Q" which means "question" in the alphabet. He's just a mystery to obsessed goodness. He had the image of Sojiro Seta from "Rurouni Kenshin", so his name turned out like this.

Episodes 4 and 5:

"The Shinigami and the Hounds" and "Drunk with the King" are stories of "blue" and "red", respectively. The concept was "King and vassal", but it was a bit out of place.

The initial plan of "The Shinigami and the Hounds" was a confrontation between Habari and a blind sniper, but I stopped it because I couldn't help thinking about it. When I was thinking of a combination to face various things like Akio and Hayatoshi, Shiotsu and Zenjo, the hunting dog's good move that "the moment I heard Habari got shot, I went straight and smelled" was interesting. That is why it happened like this. Also, Magome is the owner of the metamorphosis sword fighter gene. He is not a sword fighter.

"Magome foresaw the role of Zenjo" and "Habari who knew it smiled bitterly" were ideas that came up when I approached him for a consultation within GoRA. He is very good. Regarding Zenjo, the impression of "a dog that forgets everything if food is served" was interesting.

"Drunk with the King" is, well, a comedy as you read it. The idea was from the story of Kusanagi, who was drunk and dressed as a K story, and I thought it would be interesting if Soma was drunk and woke up among the dead.

Before we started, there was an agreement that "I would not write about Kagutsu", so when I asked "how about drawing the monster level from Dragon Quest?", they said it was fine, so it happened like this. Cool, huh? I like that Kagutsu, where brains flutter.

Hayato Magome's name comes from the Japanese mythology "Ame no Makagoya" and "Ame no Habaya". The image is like a fusion accident that occurred when Anna and Totsuka were linked by the devil. I didn't realize it when I was writing, but I can see the influence of "Golden Kamuy" everywhere, like where body fluid eagerly seeps through and where superiors are happy to be scrawled.

There is nothing from Murata in particular. A person who has just died. Sorry.

Episodes 3 and 6:

"Blue Clothes & Black Clothes" and "Aiseki 1999" are stories of "red and blue", respectively. The concept is "a story about people who were killing each other" and "a story about people who were close friends who were killing each other".

There is nothing but a concept, in any case.

Personally, I like the character of Mina in "Blue Clothes & Black Clothes". A humanly weak girl with fierce ability and a fierce personality. This is probably the first time a "female member of the "Purgatory" clan has appeared...", so it was good in that regard as well. I like the fact that she could use the color of the clothes as a metaphor for my position. Also, the story of Yata and Fushimi fighting together in the basement, which came out in the comic, is also a shitajiki.

At first, "Aiseki 1999" was supposed to be a new character on the "Scepter 4" side, but I decided to use Shiotsu because he seemed like he could be used. It is a story in which the positions of the two friends separate and kill each other in the flow of time that cannot be avoided. It was also good that the killings happened by force because of Akio's sympathy. Shiotsu has only had one terrible eye, right?

The name comes from "Takemikazuchi" for Kazumada Takechi and "Takeminakata" for Mitsuna Nakata. The gods who fight.

Takamuro Kunikatsu is from the "Takamuro Shrine" dedicated to "Shiotsuchi no Oji" and the alias "Kotokatsu Kunikatsu Nagasagami".

Conclusion:

It was a lot of fun writing "Limited Kingship, War Stories". It was serialized in a short period of half a year, but I hope those who read it enjoy it.

As soon as he woke up, a severe headache hit Hitoshi Soma.

"Uhg..."

With a groan, Soma blinked his muddy eyes several times. The side view of it showed tatami mats, chests of drawers, tables, and liquor bottles strewn about.

The liquor bottle was the trigger. At the same time that he remembered the taste of sake in his mouth, something hot and sour flowed from his stomach to his throat. He couldn't help but jump up and quickly looked around him and found the toilet. He stuck his head in there and Soma threw up all he wanted.

"Ah..."

As he endured the contraction reaction that made his body flip over several times, it became easier. He wiped the vomit that was contaminating his mouth with the palm of his hand and then Soma sat leaning on the toilet.

The interior of the room was miserable.

This is one of the multi-tenant rooms at the Kaume Detention Center. Since "Purgatory" has occupied this area, the Clansmans live where they want. The multi-tenant room, which was created for multiple people to wake up, was a popular spot and was also considered a superior room in "Purgatory."

He couldn't remember who was in that room, but at least now, several people, or what were human, were lying in a bottle of liquor.

There were two corpses, both female. One was half-naked and peeking from the belly to the bottom, and the other was almost charcoal. Without the breast lump, it would not have been possible to distinguish between men and women.

When he looked away from there, he saw a sleeping man leaning against the door of the multi-tenant room.

The "Red King", Kagutsu Genji.

The memory of last night suddenly revived.

Kagutsu that day was in a good mood. He took two women with him when he returned from outside, but of course, that was not the reason he was in a good mood. It always happens that Kagutsu likes women. There are a certain number of women who like dangerous men, but if it is too dangerous, some survival instinct will cause a mistake. They are happily hugged by Kagutsu and turn into corpses of joy.

In any case, Kagutsu started serving sake just as he was, and Soma was involved in it for some reason. There are not many parties to drink between two people. Various members of the clan came and went, and he always carried sake and left it, probably because it was an offering. Kagutsu drank like it was a sacrificial liquor, and Soma was also involved.

His memory was cut off from the point where he opened the fifth bourbon.

"I'm afraid I did something stupid..."

As he cursed himself, Soma held his aching head.

Suddenly, he found a giant body that moved to the edge of his field of vision.

"Oh, damn, Hiragi."

The "Purgatory" executive, Hiragi Toma, turned his back on this. The muscular upper body was exposed, and the burned Japanese tattoo was staring at Soma. Glancing around the corner of the room, he looked at what he was doing, and he was drinking alone.

Soma was amazed. He felt bad just looking at the bottle.

"Is it liquor? Don't drink."

Hiragi replied without looking back.

"It is the last liquor."

"Eh?"

"We are done. We are about to die."

With that said, Hiragi stirred the drink.

Soma laughed at that with his nose.

"What do you say, are you still drunk?"

There, he suddenly became aware of the current situation.

That multipurpose room was originally a room for confining prisoners. The windows had upright iron bars and there was only one person.

And Kagutsu was leaning against the door and sleeping.

Looking at him, Soma sat down next to Hiragi.

"Ah, how much did you drink yesterday?"

"Do you know? You were the first."

"Did you get drunk?"

"It was careless when I came."

A heavy silence fell in the multi-tenant room.

Even with Soma, all of Kagutsu's actions could not be read. He often killed people in a good mood and sometimes ended up in a bad mood without wreaking havoc. He was like a disaster. It may be possible to predict in rare cases, but it is by no means perfect.

However, in his experience thus far, there was one thing that was true.

Kagutsu's hangover has a habit of killing everyone who is noticed.

Only Soma and Hiragi were in this room at the time.

Soma and Hiragi were in a situation where they got caught on a ship with a beast, and the beast was taking a nap at the entrance of the ship.

Soma's decision was quick. Looking back at Hiragi,

"It's okay. Run away."

Hiragi asked.

"Where and how?"

"You are getting stronger. Can you gently lift him up and push him away?"

"Hmm, do it yourself."

"Well, are you afraid of dying, even though you always say something that looks great?"

"If you will die anyway, drink your favorite drink and die."

Cocococo… Hiragi poured sake into the drink, making a pleasant noise.

Soma threw a spoon. Hiragi seemed to have completely given up. Originally, "Purgatory" people had little attachment to life. If you die here, you probably think until then.

However, Soma still hadn't given up. It may be inevitable when it finally arrives, but there is still something that can be done.

"You can get out even if you open the door. Who are we?"

While he was lying down, Soma raised his left hand. The little finger, the cross section where the tip of the second joint was missing, began to illuminate a red light. It is an ultra-high pressure flame called a "whip", which is Soma's unique ability. Literally a flame that sometimes swings like a whip or laser and could easily cut through an iron bar.

Kagutsu said something.

Soma and Hiragi looked back at the same time.

"......"

Kagutsu kept saying something. He maybe he was talking in his sleep. They weren't sure what he was talking about

"Stop it."

Hiragi said, gliding smoothly. He was evacuating towards the wall, holding a bottle and a drink.

"You think I haven't used my power until now? I don't know what you think, but when I tried to use a different ability, I stopped. Now it is dangerous."

Soma said that, with his back to the wall like Hiragi.

"Well, then sorry."

"I already told you. Drink your favorite drink. There's still something in the bottle around that."

"......"

Soma folded his lips into a sword and looked at the sleeping Kagutsu.

A beast at the door. He cannot use different abilities. He doesn’t know when it will happen. Soma, in a slow but almost certainly dead room, laughed. By the way, the detention center also had an execution room. So, that would be the death penalty room.

Well, aside from "sin and punishment", Soma still wasn't going to die. He went through the front of his black suit and tried to get the cell phone. He wanted to contact the outside and ask the members of the "Purgatory" clan for help.

The cell phone he pulled out was melting muddy.

"......"

Soma remembered the headache and held his temples. He didn't remember why that happened at all, but it was probably drunken entertainment. "Purgatory" didn't care about that.

Soma called out to Hiragi, with a hint of hope.

"Hiragi. Do you have a cell phone?"

"Eh?"

Hiragi turned his turbulent gaze towards Soma's cell phone, which turned into a piece of iron and plastic. He then she thought about it for a while and made a voice as if remembering something: "Oh.".

"Somehow, I threw it away and it broke. So I didn't bring it."

"Goodbye hope..."

Despair was still despair, although he did not expect it. The ability was locked and there was no way to contact the outside world. At that moment, he was about to sit down and wait for death.

"Ah..."

Suddenly, the memory of him revived.

The night before, before drinking alcohol. One of the women brought in by Kagutsu, her red lips giggling slightly, her fingers thin with fine cigarettes and her fingers slipping.

He turns his gaze. Soma was about to approach the corpse of a woman that rolled onto a tatami mat. Hiragi was looking at the appearance of the open clothing.

Finally, Soma found a woman's cell phone, sturdily decorated.

"Ok!"

When he accidentally said that, Hiragi also looked at the cell phone from the side. He didn't think he wanted to die unnecessarily. Being killed by Kagutsu is almost synonymous with dying in a disaster.

When he opened the cell phone, the words "Enter password" jumped into his eyes, and Soma frowned.

"Password?"

"It's a PIN. That woman's phone is locked."

Soma groaned.

"Even though she came with Kagutsu, why is her cell phone locked? Lock your life!"

Hiragi shrugged and started drinking again.

"I can't help saying it now. Sorry, I can't use it."

"Hiragi, you are an ex-yakuza. Do you know how to find out the PIN in such a case?"

Hiragi was still holding the goblet.

"It's that easy. You should catch someone who knows and beat them until they throw up the answer."

"She's dead now! I was hoping you would say something a little more useful."

Kagutsu turned around.

The two of them looked at each other as they headed for the wall again.

"Hey. You're free to die, but don't involve me. I still have some alcohol left."

"This line is mine! It's too early to give up! Let's cooperate a bit!"

When Soma screamed, Hiragi thought with a troubled face. Looking at Kagutsu, then the corpse of a woman, and then, like a soliloquy...

"No, I heard it when I was collecting a debt. I can't ask a deceased person for a PIN, but the numbers that people use are usually fixed. I can't think of a four-digit number. Hey. There are a lot of people who use numbers that are easy to remember. "

Soma was a bit impressed.

"You have intellect regardless of appearance."

"Shut up. It's an older brother's sale. It doesn't matter if I was a scammer. Easy to remember numbers are simple numbers anyway. 1234, 1111, etc."

Soma immediately entered both passwords. However, both did not work.

"It didn't work. What else?"

"Your birthday, your family's birthday, your room number, the last four digits of your phone number, or something like that. Whether it's a date you like or a random number. I don't have that kind of information here. You know?"

"I don't know, that's all."

When Kagutsu brought them in, they thought they would die anyway. So to be honest, they didn't even remember the name. Especially some kind of detailed personal information.

When he wondered if all was lost this time, he suddenly had a flash.

Once again, Soma was about to approach the corpse of a woman. He turned the corpse over, but there was nothing to look for. He looks for the corpse of another charred woman under the scattered liquor bottles and under his desk, but he can't find it either. Another place he hadn't seen.

There was only one.

Between both feet of the sleeping Kagutsu. In the crotch, there he was.

"Why…?"

He unintentionally rushed in. But it didn't matter what the reason was. The important thing is that now it is absolutely necessary for Soma.

A thick wallet with rose gold decoration, belonging to that woman.

To achieve this, Soma approached Kagutsu.

"Hey."

Hiragi screamed as if he was impatient. At that very moment, Kagutsu could wake up. If that happened, he would definitely die. Cold sweat swirled around that premonition, but a slight smile floated on Soma's mouth.

Being around Kagutsu is already a life threatening situation. Kagutsu kills people naturally and he doesn't kill naturally. He is not even sure if he is a murderer or a perpetrator. He would be like a person erasing the life of a mindless creature or without him realizing it.

So it doesn't change wherever it is.

If ruin was coming soon, whether near or far, he wanted to at least look at it with a good cover.

The moment he touched the wallet, Kagutsu opened his eyes.

"......"

At the death sentence, cells throughout his body screamed. The muscles contracted, the skin all over his body was covered in goose bumps, and unknown chemicals were released into the brain. Soma endured a moment that seemed infinite without even swaying.

Kagutsu closed his eyes.

As he held his breath, Soma took out his wallet because it was at his crotch, and it was time to get back on top of the tatami so as not to make noise again. He exhaled grandly and struck a gutsy pose.

"Oh, safe!"

"Do you want to die or live?"

Soma replied as he opened the wallet to Hiragi, who asked him as if he was in awe.

"I'm still determined to want to live. Even if nothing starts, you don't want to end in such a place, right?"

Then Soma took out a card from her wallet.

It was a driver's license with a photo of a dead woman's face attached to it.

"Now we know at least her birthday."

"Did you cross such a dangerous bridge just because of that? I don't know if it's correct."

"Better than dying doing nothing. Now, let's see."

He enters the birthday written on her driver's license. As Hiragi said, there was no guarantee that her birthday was a PIN. If that happened, that would be the end of the road.

Soma entered the last number, hoping that was the case.

The mobile phone lock screen was changed to the home screen.

Soma exhaled deeply. The other, who was looking at him from the side before he knew it, gave a voice that seemed to admire him.

"It's hard to do it, right?"

"I'm going to try anything. Alright, next."

Soma called the Kaume Detention Center from her cell phone. Like Hiragi, the "Purgatory" clan's cell phone loss rate is quite high. Therefore, a landline phone was set up in the detention center and a system was created in which the lower end was the phone number. The area is the same as that of the yakuza organization.

The ringtone stopped in almost 1 second.

"Hello, this is 'Purgatory'!"

Soma involuntarily pulled his ear away from the cell phone as the eardrum trembled.

"How loud. Ah, I'm Soma. Who are you?"

"Ah! Soma-san! Hello! My name is Murata and I'm on the phone!"

"Is there anyone else?"

"Now I'm the only one! Sorry!"

With a bit of anxiety, Soma told him the number of the room where he was.

"For some reason, I can't open it from the inside. Sorry, can you open it from the outside?"

"I understand! I'll go right now!"

Murata hung up and said that screaming.

Soma looked at Hiragi as if blaming him as he poked at the sore hole in his ear.

"What are all yakuza?"

"I didn't have 'Shitsurei'. Education comes later."

"Yes, yes..."

Giving up everything, Soma sat down on a tatami.

Anyway, that should resolve the situation. All he had to do was open the door silently from the outside and smoothly cross between Kagutsu. By doing so, both Soma and Hiragi could safely survive. He had been through many shrines so far, but he didn't want to die for something so stupid.

The door to the multi-tenant room was slammed with tremendous force.

"Hello! "Purgatory", newcomer, Murata, I will come in!"

Soma and Hiragi froze. Of course, Murata, who did not know such a thing, knocked on the door even louder and moved the door lever up and down, and more and more the lever hit Kagutsu's brain.

Kagutsu groaned.

Soma screamed.

"Do not be stupid!"

"Huh! I'm sorry, Soma-san! Just a little, sorry to bother you, but could you let me in there?"

"If I could do that, I wouldn't have called you, don't you think?"

In his own words, Soma recalled the fact of remorse. That's right. The guys in "Purgatory" are basically stupid. He thought he was a stupid person trying to hold a life preserver.

The door was still being slammed. Kagutsu's brain was also fluttering. Kagutsu's closed eyelids came into force and a shadow of bad humor appeared on his sleeping face. Soma froze and stared at him.

"You are loud, stop!"

Holly's anger drowned everything.

The behavior behind the door stopped and there was a silence like death. At that moment, Soma understood that a true yakuza could stop sometimes.

Kagutsu wasn't awake. Not yet. However, the eyelids were rubbed together with a yank, and apparently Kagutsu is becoming a popular choice. There wasn't much time left before he woke up, maybe it would be 5 minutes or 10 minutes.

At that moment, the door quietly apologized.

"Sorry, big brother... Oh, I think it's best to open it right away, so..."

"Ah... well. Murata-kun, did you do that? Sorry, I called you all of a sudden."

Soma said that in a rather soft voice. Hiragi looked at him with a creepy face as he smirked. Ignoring that, Soma was talking to Murata.

"The door is already open. I want you to go out and go to the back of this room."

"What? Outside...?"

"That's how it is."

"Ok! Please wait a minute!"

Perhaps because he knew that he could take the mistake back, Murata escaped from the front of the door, speaking aloud.

Hiragi asked while he was frowning.

"What are you going to do this time?"

"Yeah, when you see it. Oh, before that, could you help me a bit?"

After a few minutes. Murata's voice was heard from outside the multipurpose room.

"Soma-san, I've arrived! What should I do from now on?"

Murata's cheerful voice, which seemed to have regained energy in a few minutes, was heard from outside the window, but he couldn't see him. This multi-tenant room is located on the basement floor, but the windows are attached to the top of the wall to prevent a leak. All he can see outside is the blue sky cut out by the bar.

Soma stood under the window right in front of him was Kagutsu, at the end of it.

"Thank you for your hard work. Will you come here?"

"Well... are you around here?"

"Oh, yeah. Well then, stay there. It'll be over soon."

Soma said softly as he smiled.

He released the whip.

An extraordinary red light was emitted from the cross section of the little finger of his left hand. The smoking paranormal flame, however, was shorter than usual and had a correspondingly higher pressure. It would be more correct to describe it as a saber burning with a red lotus rather than a whip.

At an unnoticed speed, Soma turned his left arm around a lot. An extraordinary red leaf pierced the wall of the multi-tenant room with precision.

When the rounded wall fell into the multi-tenant room, Soma was no longer there.

"Eh?"

Murata, who was out of the room, blinked. The situation was not swallowed at all. Soma was not in the multi-tenant room, but his boss, Kagutsu, who was sleeping leaning against the door.

Kagutsu Genji opened his eyes.

"Eh?"

Kagutsu saw Murata.

"Eh?"

Kagutsu had started.

"Eh?"

Soma and Hiragi held their breath and watched as Kagutsu crossed the room, while hiding under the tatami mat that Hiragi had ripped off. They wondered how effective this kind of deception would be on Kagutsu, that he had a paranormal feeling.

Kagutsu exited the room through a hole in the wall that was cut in a circle.

After confirming that, the two of them left the tatami. With a tone that Hiragi couldn't believe, as he dusted her clothes, he said...

"It can't be, a trick like that worked..."

"I was surprised too. Somehow, we made it."

Kagutsu's hangover kills every human he sees, on the contrary, if you groom a human in front of Kagutsu's hangover, he will go to kill him. They should have a "bait" outside and be out of sight. He thought so, but Soma didn't expect it to work that well.

"Ah?! Kagutsu-san? What's wrong?! Um, Soma-san said… Ah, I'm Murata! That's it! Kagutsu-san, did I do something wrong? Why are you raising your fist? No, that's… Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"

From outside the wall, Murata's lamentable death cry could be heard. He couldn't help but sympathize with him as a "bait", but he didn't care. Now that he was in "Purgatory", he couldn't live long anyway, but he wouldn't give up there.

Soma, who left the multipurpose room with Hiragi, grew significantly.

"Ah, I am so tired."

"Oh, let's drink."

"Huh? You've been drinking the whole time. Well, yeah."

At the time it was reported that Habari Jin was shot, Goki Zenjo kicked the door of a moving transport vehicle and jumped straight onto the street.

"Zenjo?! What?!"

Someone's voice instantly disappeared and became inaudible. No, Zenjo didn't hear anything in the first place. In the midst of an inertial movement exceeding 100 km / h, he killed the impact of the landing, he would have died instantly if he were a normal person, but with his skills and physique, he started to run backwards down the street, just as it was. Zenjo jumped the fence and disappeared into the dead of night, leaving a trail that glowed blue despite the confusing, snaking vehicle on its way.

Then about 15 minutes later.

"Scepter 4". Inside the tunsho, there was the figure of Zenjo breathing on his shoulder and Habari looking at him coldly.

"You came, Zenjo."

Zenjo silently approached Habari, who said nothing, and grabbed him by the shoulders.

"What? You're close. Hey, stop. Don't smell me."

"No blood. Where did you get shot?"

"It wasn't me who got shot. Get away from there."

As expected, Zenjo blinked several times and finally understood the situation.

A corpse dressed in blue lay under his feet.

His chest was stained with blood. Shot to the heart. Probably an instant death. He died with a shocked face and there was no sign of pain.

Habari was frail next to the corpse and wiped the blood from his chest with his fingertips.

"To be precise, they shot me, but the bullet missed me. I'm still the 'Blue King'. I can help it."

If you look closely, there are a lot of members around. Probably for status and protection verification. The giant who suddenly appeared and began to smell the "King", looked at him with a very delicate expression.

"The sniper seems like he waited a lot. I shot him as an incident, and the sniper ended up there. I wasn't lucky that he died perfectly."

Habari stood up, lamenting.

Zenjo, who was still observing the situation around him, said something decent for the first time that day.

"Sniper? Where?"

They are in the equipment warehouse inside the tunsho.

It is about 6 tatamis in size, things are stacked neatly and there are no windows. Shooting a person in this room from "outside" is impossible if you think with common sense.

But of course your war is not within the bounds of common sense.

"Commander. Traces were found."

One of the members who was conducting an inspection on the spot looked at Habari. Habari walked towards it and looked at the part indicated by the member with a slight stretch. Zenjo stood behind Habari and watched him.

Ventilation duct for taking in air from outside. There were bullet holes in the filter.

Habari narrowed his eyes and affirmed.

"Here it is. The sniper shot us through this conduit."

"But, Commander. Sure, this conduit is connected to the outside, but it coils intricately on the inside. No matter how talented you are, it's impossible to shoot from here."

"It's Magome."

It was not intuitive to say that. Even to Zenjo's knowledge, there were very few talented people who could perform such tricks, or there was only one.

Habari probably had the same name in mind. He gave orders as he traced the burned conduit with his finger.

"Notifies Shiotsu. He is a Strain criminal, looking for Magome Hayato all over the country. Alive or dead, I want to capture him urgently."

"Yes!"

He salutes in an upright and immovable position, and several members ran out of the room. After saying goodbye, Zenjo muttered as he furrowed his eyebrows.

"Why is Magome pointing at you?"

"He's a professional criminal. Did Soma ask him or did he join 'Purgatory'? In any case, he's our enemy from the start."

"I understand."

Zenjo nodded and stopped thinking. No matter what the circumstances are, he only has one thing to do.

As he feels the weight of "Hekireki" on his waist, Zenjo asks him to remind him.

"Dead or alive?"

"If Magome were to target us, the damage would be enormous. We have to stop him before he raises the death toll. First."

Habari chuckled slightly.

"You are not that skilled. Zenjo."

"Ah."

Zenjo replied without laughing and left the room. As Habari said, he was not the type of person who can wield a sword thinking about the life and death of the enemy. If there is something to be done, he will just do it.

If there is something that points to Habari, he will cut that throat. That is what Zenjo should do now.

++++++++++

When he opened the door, a strong wind blew into his face.

Taku narrowed his eyes and held his sunglasses in hand to keep them from flying. The rooftop of the building had no obstructions, so the wind became stronger. That was the third time he was there, but he hadn't gotten used to it. With tight lips, Taku searched for the person he was looking for.

He was sitting in the southwest corner.

"Hello. Taku-kun. Thank you for your hard work."

With his back to him, Magome said that.

Taku approached him silently. The military coat that wrapped Magome's body flapped in the strong wind. Still, Magome didn't make a slight move. With one knee upright, he fixed the new floor of a long sniper rifle and kept its face down.

Taku casually placed his backpack next to him.

"Soma-san told me. This is a supply."

"Yes, thank you. I can still stay here for a while."

Magome smiled with his red lips. White skin like a woman and a slim body are rarely seen in the violent group "Purgatory". By simple comparison of power, Magome is probably one of the weakest of the clan.

Still, there is no one in "Purgatory" who despises Magome.

It is well known that he is a murderer who has dealt with over 100 humans so far.

"Isn't Kyoji-kun here?"

Magome's face swayed to him, and Taku felt his spine stiffen. Even though he was known to belong to the same clan, "he" had a muzzle-like intimidation.

Magome's eyes were covered with a white bandage.

The first red eye, crudely drawn with a magic pen, was staring at Taku.

"If he only brings supplies, I can do it alone."

"Aha. That's correct."

Magome laughed slightly, lowered his face again and adopted the same tone.

"You don't have to be so scared. It's okay. I won't shoot you."

That said, Taku swallowed the dream.

Hayato Magome. Known as "Shinigami", a blind Strain specializing in sniper assassinations.

Taku doesn't know when he became famous in the underworld. What he knows is that his true ability is not to see things with his eyes but with the ability to feel. Due to his unique ability, he has managed to be a high precision sniper many times. And more recently, Magome became a member of the "Purgatory" clan, and now his target is "Scepter 4".

"What's happening down there now?"

Taku accurately grasped the intent of the question. It had already been a week since Magome settled on the rooftop of that building. Meanwhile, he has lost contact with the lower world. That was to escape the detection network of "Scepter 4".

"Nothing was broadcast to the world, but it seems that "Scepter 4" is quite adherent. It is natural because the "King" was the target."

"Huh, that's right. I wonder if the 'King' suddenly went overboard."

Magome talked about his failure in a funny way. Taku couldn't understand that behavior.

"Are you laughing? Thanks to you, the other side is dying and they are chasing me. If they find me, they will definitely kill me."

"Yes. That's correct. Either way, I'm in trouble."

"Is that the goal too?"

"I am a sniper. I am targeting many things."

Magome jokingly leaked that inadvertently. Hearing that, Magome laughed face down.

"Sorry, sorry. Don't be so mad. Well, I mean, if you target is the 'King', all the servants will be mad, right?"

"Yes, that's how it is."

"An angry prey lacks calm. Movement is simple. If you follow me, the route is limited. It is very easy to point and shoot. That's why I did it."

"......"

"In a nutshell, it's like feeding yourself. But this method works quite well. No matter how strong the organization is, if you shake it up, something will spill out."

Magome was motivated.

On the rooftop of the building, the muzzle protruding from the railing flashed.

That was it. He couldn't hear any roars like in movies and dramas. Taku didn't know if the weapon was handmade or if it was his genius.

But what was clear was...

"That's right, harvest."

It's just that a life had just disappeared from this earth.

The "Shinigami" who came back to life had a gentle smile.

"Well, but there were other objectives as well."

"Objectives?"

"I wanted to see the 'King' there. Jin Habari. I have never seen him."

Magome's "seeing" was probably different from Taku's. The views of birds of prey flying in the sky and lizards crawling on the ground are different.

"It was very nice. It was good to see it. It was beautiful. You should see as many beautiful things as you can while you are alive."

Taku's breath hitched when he saw Magome's face murmur hypnotizingly.

The first red eye on the bandage turned red and began to get wet.

"That's why I'm glad I entered 'Purgatory'. Habari Jin's beautiful blue. If I could get through that, I'm sure... it would be very good."

Blood spurted from the burned skin around his eyes. Magome's eyes were shattered when he received the Kagutsu installation. His blindness was from birth and his eyes did not originally function. As he spat flames from both eyes, he Magome silently smiled and said:

"Ah, I blame you. I finally got rid of him without any help."

Taku thought that guy was crazy.

Perhaps he finally noticed that the blood was gushing out, Magome touched his bandage for a moment.

"Oh, sorry. It was a bit expensive. I showed you a strange place."

"Yes."

He didn't care. He was filled with feelings that he wanted to go home quickly.

After reading it, Magome laughed again and lowered his head again.

"See you next week. Glad there are lots of sweets next time."

"Yes."

Nodding, just before returning the answer, he again saw the light flashing from the muzzle.

Taku frowned. Descending to the nether world means entering the rank of that god of death. He was in a place where Magome's bullets could reach, and just knowing that, neither mess nor liquor will taste the same.

"I wonder if you can kill him right away, that blue clothes."

Taku descended the stairs that led to the nether world, muttering that.

++++++++++

"Shinohara! Hey! Answer me, Shinohara!"

As he huddled behind the car, Masaki Tsuchida, a member of "Scepter 4", could only call out to his colleague who was bleeding and groaning.

There was no omen. "Scepter 4" is currently at war with "Purgatory", but has to deal with other crimes of different abilities. Upon receiving a call from the general police, Shinohara in the passenger seat was suddenly shot as the two headed there.

Tsuchida's reaction was quick. He stopped the car suddenly, got out like he was falling from the driver's seat and stuck his body to the body. However, Tsuchida did not trust the meaning of that shield. He already knew who fired that shot.

"Help me! Shinohara got shot! Magome, damn it!"

Tsuchida felt despair slowly erode his heart as he became a radio.

It's been five days since Habari was attacked by "Purgatory" sniper Hayato Magome, and six people have died during that time. And most of them were shot in places where they couldn't be attacked. Closed room without windows, narrow alley, toilet, bathtub, bed, Magome's bullets did not discriminate a place.

No obstruction made sense to that sniper. Still, he had no choice but to snuggle into the car to increase his chances of survival. Even while he was doing that, his partner in the passenger seat was bleeding and dying.

"Shinohara, hold on, Shinohara...!"

Using the driver's door that remained open as a shield, Tsuchida managed to stick his head into the car and raise his voice. Shinohara, leaning back in the passenger seat, was no longer speaking. Blood soaked his blue clothes. It was clear that his life would be lost in no time.

"Damn, if things continue like this…!"

Fear of death and affection for his comrades drew Tsuchida's spine. Little by little, Tsuchida began to crawl towards the driver's seat. If his bullets will chase him forever, it's better to start the car and run.

His right hand, reaching for the car key, exploded.

"What?!"

His blood and pieces of his flesh fell on his face. Tsuchida buried his face under the steering wheel, enduring severe pain. The last minute teething was due to fear and anger.

Magome is having fun.

The pain and desperation of fighting to help his companions and getting shot when he gets close. He laughs at Tsuchida and Shinohara, who die while suffering, somewhere.

Thinking of a sniper who didn't even know his face, laughing red, Tsuchida even wept with humiliation and hatred.

"Tsuchida! This is…!"

Suddenly, a voice called out to him from behind.

He takes a breath and look at him. Before he knew it, "Scepter 4's" transport vehicle pulled up there. It was probably the first squad, even though it had been less than three minutes since Tsuchida contacted them.

However, it wasn't because of his speed that he caught Tsuchida's attention.

It was Gen Shiotsu, the deputy director of "Scepter 4", who got out of the transport vehicle and ran towards that place.

At that moment, Tsuchida understood Magome's thoughts.

Why didn't he kill them right away? Why did he shoot Shinohara, but he didn't take his life and let the blood flow?

(We are food. It's just a pinch to attract bigger prey!), he thought.

"No! Shiotsu-san, don't come!"

Tsuchida screamed, forgetting about his death and pain. Still, Shiotsu's legs never stopped. He was constantly approaching there. How long would he have until they pierced his face? 5 seconds, 3 seconds, 1 second. Tsuchida couldn't even close his eyes and was just looking at Shiotsu.

So, he was sure that Tsuchida was the only one who saw him.

The glow of blue and red exploded like a spark.

It wasn't long before he realized that "Hekireki" that passed over Shiotsu's head had repelled the true dragon's bullets.

A burly man with a huge saber landed on the asphalt with the flexibility of a carnivorous feline. He was already running when he thought it was a good thing. Tsuchida, who was stunned, didn't even look at him, and as he exposed his fangs as if he was laughing, he jumped up and disappeared from sight.

"Tsuchida! How is the wound? Can you move?"

Shiotsu's voice suddenly came back to him. Several members came to try to help Tsuchida. Severe pain hit him, and Tsuchida frowned at his sweaty face and said painfully...

"Okay, I'm fine. He just shot me in the hand. Instead, Shinohara…"

"Shinohara is behind."

Tsuchida instinctively saw Shinohara.

He was stuck, leaning against the passenger seat.

"Damn, that bastard...!"

With tears in their eyes, they took Tsuchida out of the car and loaded him into a transport car. Shiotsu said in a low voice, giving first aid to his right hand.

"Don't worry. He will surely be killed by Zenjo."

Shiotsu's expression was calm as usual. However, Tsuchida did not miss the light hidden behind his eyes. Neither anger nor hatred. The brilliance of the "Scepter 4" philosophy itself.

Hold the sword and control the sword.

"Scepter 4" will never forgive the "Shinigami" who kills people with a deadly bullet.

"Yes, surely."

As he clenched his teeth, Tsuchida just muttered that.

++++++++++

Zenjo ran through the city at night, carving the blue glow out of the dark.

Jumping from the street and using the block wall as a springboard, Zenjo leapt like a monkey from the roof of the residential area that stretched beyond to the rooftop. Feeling that something burned on his forehead, neck and chest. Perhaps it was the line of sight of the assassin sniper Magome.

For Zenjo now, the path is not a path. Because it is straight and flat. If he were there, Magome's bullets will mercilessly attack him. Even if he could handle it, he decided there was no need to take a mindless risk. Somehow, he was just doing that.

For Goki Zenjo, thinking was not always necessary. His body reacts before thinking. He knew that surrendering to that feeling would lead to survival.

And, again, the "heat" he felt at the key point instantly increased.

"Ah!"

"Hekireki" moved at super high speed and repelled the incoming bullets.

This was the fifth attack since he protected Shiotsu. Zenjo had prevented and shot down all of that. And each time the "scent" became more precise in determining Magome's position from the direction and angle the bullet was flying.

Somewhere in the skyscraper 1 km from where he was now, Zenjo grasped Magome's position with a sense rather than a language. If he did the same a few more times, he could pinpoint his whereabouts.

That would be when Magome's neck would fly.

With that in mind, Zenjo raised his face and...

"Eh?!"

He instantly squirmed and tried to dodge it.

He couldn't dodge it. Zenjo fell from the ceiling, recognizing that heat, pain, and blood were spilling down his side.

"What?"

As he plunged into the garbage can from the head, Zenjo looked at his side curiously. He dipped his finger into the blood-dripping wound without hesitation and pulled it out.

It was a bullet.

He split in half vertically.

"Oh, I see."

With a smile, Zenjo dropped the bullet and stood up. The next bullet he fired immediately hit the lid of the trash can and he started running again.

What was trapped in Zenjo's body was a fragment of a bullet that had been thrown.

Of course, he was not accidentally stabbed. That was Magome's unique ability.

Although Magome is a Strain, he is also a member of the "Purgatory" clan. If the shots he has succeeded with are due to his responsiveness as Strain, then there must be another ability as a member of the "Purgatory" clan. And maybe that was it.

The bullets fired by Magome move freely according to his will.

At the same time, the bullet has the ability to respond like a Strain and the ability of a member of the "Purgatory" clan. He can detect the target by his sensitive ability and freely change his trajectory by emitting a red genie. In this case, whether in a closed room or in a duct with complicated curves, he can shoot as long as there is a space for the bullets. It was a magic bullet from the Shinigami.

And, if you put into words the feeling that Zenjo captured, it would be like the one on the right. Of course, Zenjo didn't think much. Magome's bullets move according to Magome's will, and even after being knocked down, he cannot be alert. All he needed to know was that.

Again, Magome's magic bullet attacked Zenjo.

"Hekireki" blinked and cut the bullet in both directions.

Starting from the good line, the separate bullets to the left and right flew again in an arc. Zenjo felt it instead of seeing it. And the body was moving before he could feel it.

The next moment, when it seemed that Zenjo's giant body had sunk, he was leaping at the top. As he spun around, he shook "Hekireki" like he was rolling it up and knocked down the bullet chunks that were attacking from behind.

The bullet that sank into the asphalt shuddered with synchrotron radiation for a time, but finally stopped moving.

Zenjo didn't look at it and ran at explosive speed. He was able to grasp Magome's position. All he had to do was run straight to that point and cut his throat.

Zenjo accelerated even more. With a smile on his fangs, he looked like a bullet-like hound.

++++++++++

Hayato Magome sees things in color.

It was too natural for true innately blind ability. People have colors. Red to blue to green to white to yellow to purple, various colors that will likely vary depending on your propensity. In the dark, those colors appear and disappear, are born and die. For Magome, this is how the world should be.

When did he want to reach him?

Blind and therefore considered vulnerable, Magome wanted to use it when he realized his power. He wanted to touch the colors with his bare hands in a world that he could only dimly see. He could do it with different abilities.

Since he knew it, for him, the world became more than a sight, a touch and a change. He touched the colors of others and watched them change. It became the meaning of Magome's life and the reason for his existence.

However, there was only one sad thing.

When Magome touched it, the color changed dramatically. If he believed it glowed, withered, or swelled, it would one day disappear. The change was very beautiful, but it was sad that Magome disappeared. He wishes he could keep swinging forever, he hadn't thought about it again, but now he had a different idea.

The color is beautiful because it disappears.

After embracing that idea, Magome began to believe that his mission was to erase the colors. He would leave drastically changing color fluctuations in his heart. Magome had had that idea for some time, saying that he was the monument for that purpose.

And now…

He had seen the most beautiful blue in his life.

"Fufu…"

On the rooftop of the building, holding a sniper rifle and turning his face downward, he smiled a heartbreaking smile on his lips. Red blood spurted from his white bandage and ran down his cheeks like tears, but he was unaware of it. There was something more to etch in his heart than such a trivial matter.

Surely, it must be a meteor.

The stars have no color. Therefore, Magome had never seen a meteor. He had just found out. Fragments of stars running in the sky. A ray of light that fulfills someone's prayer while burning.

It was coming straight for him.

"Well... well...! Very beautiful!"

Magome shot, leaking a voice of joy. He fired a bullet from the muzzle and headed straight for the meteor. Magome was a sniper who lurked on the roof of the building, but at the same time he was the bullet itself. The bullet, which was linked to the main body by its responsiveness as Strain, extended the fingertips of death to the meteor to burn it.

And it was cut without worries.

"Wonderful!"

What he admired was that blue fluctuation. Every color Magome had touched changed dramatically in that moment. He glowing, struggling, writhing, swelling, withering and disappearing. It must have been the victims' emotions, anguish, fear, rage, despair and death.

And yet that meteor hadn't changed at all.

Anger, fear, despair. Nothing. That's why it was wonderful. Things he couldn't touch. Things that cannot be changed by touching. Like a blue star that shines forever, it seemed to remain there unchanged.

That is why…

"I want to erase you!"

Screaming, Magome fired three times in a row.

The three sniper bullets were the same Magome. The three bullets were connected in a chain of beads making full use of both the sentient ability and the ability other than red. The death binary landed on the blue meteor with a time lapse of less than zero coma seconds, and just before that, each of the three bullets split into three.

Making full use of the red ability, Magome destroyed himself. Still, the nine bullets were still connected to Magome's will.

"Catch you!"

The nine bullets surrounded the meteor. That blue couldn't defeat all the bullets attacking from all directions. Since he couldn't move, he would be stuck. There were still many bullets with different abilities.

At that moment, the meteor sped up even more.

"What?!"

For the first time, he was really upset.

The meteor did not try to crush the bullet. He dared to ignore some of the bullets that struck him head-on and sank further. Naturally, some bullets dug into his body, but the meteor never stopped. On the contrary, he accelerated more and came directly to the building where Magome was.

Magome's expectation that he would enter the building as he was was completely disappointing.

The meteor did not enter the building and began to run directly down the wall.

Magome felt the nape of his neck twitch.

Death crawled from his feet. He was afraid of himself, that he was called the "Shinigami". Realizing that, Magome laughed.

"Fufufufufufufufufufu!"

As he held the sniper rifle, Magome bounced to his feet. The knuckles of the fixed body ached from the long sniper stance, but he wasn't prepared for that. He leaned over the railing, he holding a long sniper rifle "down", aiming at a meteor already approaching dozens of meters. There were no shields on the walls of the building. Even if he avoided it, he could catch up with the propelling force of different abilities. If he ate it right like before, he would go down without doing anything. Then it would be good prey for the sniper.

"Here we go, what will you do?!"

Magome's first red eye surely giggled and captured the meteor's appearance.

The next moment, it disappeared.

"…?!"

The blue color that should have existed until now, the loss of light like a meteor, had completely disappeared from view.

At that moment, Magome panicked. Like when those with open eyes were enveloped in jet black darkness. Magome finally remembered that the blue meteor, which had been rushing straight towards him, was the only one that could connect him to the world.

In total darkness, but it was certainly audible.

Some steps going up the building.

"Breathe, a harsh beast breath!"

Magome was a professional. The moment he found out that his weapon had become insignificant, he simply dropped his sniper rifle. He fled from the railing and found the submachine gun in the bracket.

At that moment, the footsteps stopped.

Magome lifted his face from him. If the red he had seen, it would have been visible.

A hunting dog dressed in blue leaped with a huge saber against the white moon.

++++++++++

Magome was still alive.

Zenjo, who landed on the rooftop of the building, turned to the blood-soaked "Shinigami" as he shook himself. Even the eyes, ears, and nose were on alert.

However, on the rooftop of the great building, there was only one enemy, Magome. He couldn't find any other members of the "Purgatory" clan. There was nowhere to hide. Recognizing that, Zenjo finally approached his true target cautiously.

Magome's body was almost severed.

The example was floating from his belly to the bottom, which had been ripped apart by "Hekireki" and into the sea of ​​bright red blood. Still, with a slight exhale from his lips, a low voice was leaking out.

"Fu, fu... wow, here you are..."

Zenjo proceeded silently. He knew more than anyone that in "Purgatory", he can be a threat if it comes from the breath of an insect.

He shook his head and saw the first red on Zenjo.

"Disappear... the "intention"... it is in your hand where the emotions disappear... for you, no..."

Zenjo frowned.

"What are you talking about?"

"Well... yes, it's true... I can't reach it, that's why my bullets are due to my 'will', so..."

Zenjo stopped next to Magome's head. Magome laughed as he coughed.

"I'm sure... a person like you... wearing that blue... can kill the 'King'..."

The tip of "Hekireki" pierced the first red.

Magome's body jerked several times and then he froze.

Zenjo took a deep breath and looked up at the sky. He was looking at the big, white, round moon as the wind blew on the rooftop of the building.

Then, Zenjo heard the approaching footsteps.

The hunting dog glanced at him quickly, and then Zenjo echoed a screaming voice.

"Habari. What are you doing here?"

"I don't think there is anything to do. I have come to kill him, but you seem to have gone ahead."

He said that calmly as usual, and then Habari added,

"There's a relief team downstairs. I hope they treat you."

"I am not hurt."

"So what is that on your side?"

"It's a scratch, just that."

When he returned, Habari laughed out loud.

Then Habari stood next to Zenjo and looked at Magome's corpse.

"It was a nuisance. Without you, more sacrifices would have been made. Well done, Zenjo."

"This guy was saying something strange at the end."

"What?"

"The "will" disappears, or the "King" may die. Well, I don't know. What did he mean?"

For Zenjo, it was just a common question. There were a lot of things that he "didn't understand", and Habari always answered them clearly.

But this time, Habari fell silent with a slightly impressive expression and started looking at Magome again.

"Habari?"

When Zenjo asked repeatedly, Habari smiled a little and turned to his true skill.

"What is it? You can see it correctly."

Habari said that.

"...?"

Of course, Zenjo didn't understand the meaning of the word, at that moment he wasn't there yet.

Habari turned to Zenjo. The usual smile returned to his mouth.

"Let's go back to the tunsho. Would you like to eat something?"

The moment Minato Hayatoshi entered the room following Habari Jin, the smell of blood and burned flesh snorted.

The room was surrounded by dim darkness. Not only were the lights turned off, but the windows were also blocked that should let in sunlight.

But it is not completely dark. The red, blue and radiant light of different abilities hit each other while flashing violently. The battle is on.

Based on information confirmed in advance, this room must be a shared room of less than 20 tatami mats. Not enough room for a full-scale battle. However, Minato's eyes, which began to get used to the darkness, clearly recognized a space that was larger than that.

A large space has been created by removing the walls of several rooms, focusing on the common room of the detention center. Is it a space for interception created in anticipation of an attack from the outside, or is "Purgatory" living in the facility piercing the wall in a playful way? He doesn't know, but this hasty "corridor" had turned into the biggest battlefield of the day anyway.

When the two of them started moving towards the shadows, looking at their surroundings ...

"Habari! And Minato!"

There was a call from the corner of the room.

"Zenjo, what is the situation?"

When Habari calls again...

"I'm addicted to this! I was waiting in this room!"

Zenjo said again as he dealt with three black clothes. The face that removes their fangs seems to laugh.

"And there is a nasty guy."

At the same time as that word, a thin whip-shaped mass of flames burst out of the darkness and attacked Habari like a poisonous snake.

When Habari instantly drew his sword and turned his "head", the flaming whip shrunk and recoiled, sucking on the hand of a man a dozen meters away and disappearing.

"Are you Soma?"

Answering Habari's question...

"Yes, it's me."

The man replied in a fuzzy tone.

Thin, thread-like eyes on the back of light-colored sunglasses. A smile that seems to stick to his mouth. It has a mask-like face that cannot be read.

The tall, slim physique and moderate demeanor, in the "Purgatory" martial arts group, their hair color is slightly different.

His "uniform", even a black suit that spreads a feeling of intimidation, only for this man, looks like a clean dress.

"Purgatory", Executive Soma Hitoshi.

He is also called the advisor and number 2 of the "Red King".

"Welcome, Habari-san. And I'm sorry. It is the appearance of the "Blue King", but my general is sleeping in the back... God only knows when he will wake up."

Soma speaks with a unique intonation like Kansai Ben's, which is exaggerated in a cartoon.

"Even if I don't get this far, I'll take care of you. I don't think it's possible, but I'll try."

"No, Soma. There is no shortage for the other party."

With a beaming smile, Habari held up the saber. The vanguard aims at the heart of Soma.

"Far from being unreasonable, you are an uncomfortable opponent. You can be said to be the worst except for Kagutsu. If you don't die soon, they will kill you."

"Ah, I must be careful. Really. A face-to-face showdown with a 'King'..."

Soma pulled out a cigarette case from his chest.

"Before that, let's take a break, huh."

When the breathless Habari smiled a bitter smile, Soma also bowed with a masked smile, then took a cigarette and raised his left hand to his face.

The little finger on Soma's left hand was missing at the second joint. The cross section of the cut finger glows red with the extraordinary capacity of the flame. That was Soma's "Holy Mark".

Using the chipped finger in place of a lighter and moving the fire toward the tip of the cigarette, Soma began to smoke deeply.

Meanwhile, the sound of the sword battle between "Scepter 4" and "Purgatory" echoes through the room. Also, what hides it is the moan of the wounded black clothes.

However, Soma pays no attention to them at all. Habari also just looks at Soma with interest.

Finally, Soma turned his face towards the ceiling and exhaled for a long time.

"Fuu..."

Soma moved his left hand forward at the perfect moment to cut off the conversation. It is like throwing luggage in his hand, but he has nothing in his palm. Instead, a high-pressure "flame" erupted from the severed surface of the little finger and was shot into the space in front of it.

Soma's technique is called "whip". The flame that emerges from the missing finger cross section literally flutters like a whip. Autonomy and trajectory.

Like a laser, like a poisonous snake, the flaming whip piercing the darkness was not targeting Habari, but Minato at his side. The moment the tip of the fire whip seemed to crush Minato's eyebrows, Habari's saber flashed and the blade with a blue light flickered from the side.

The flaming whip that floated in the air for a moment, when swiftly swaying like a snake, attacks Habari this time in an arc-shaped orbit.

As he touched the head of the whip again, Habari stomped, crossing the "hole" in an instant with his extraordinary leg strength, and advanced until he reached Soma.

Whether or not the difference in range between the whip and the saber changes to the saber advantage when sneaking into the chest, the fire whip, which moves more freely and precisely than a live arm, is fully functional even in attack and defense at close range.

Habari and Soma began to fight a fierce battle.

In contrast to Habari's sword skill, which unifies all of his sword, body, and abilities, Soma keeps his left hand down and does not hold it.

The whip that extends from the little finger blinks rapidly like a creature of its own will and accurately repels the blue blade that thrusts itself over and over again. Soma himself protects his body with the whip, keeps the cigarette in his mouth and adjusts his standing position calmly leading the stars in a dance.

"After all…"

Habari said without any sign of discomfort.

"It is not easy to kill if the messenger is on the defensive."

"No... this is barely."

Soma responds with a suffocating tone and finally spits out a cloud of smoke.

"Minato!"

Without letting go of his swordsman's hand or looking back, Habari said...

"Please rebuild the place. Ask the others."

"Yes."

Within 30 seconds after that, she takes control of the battlefield and makes a breakthrough.

Minato quickly looked around. Eyes accustomed to the dark pick up the situation in the room and the disposition of his companions and the strength of the enemy, and reconstruct the history of the battle in his brain.

That way, Minato must understand, how "Scepter 4" and "Purgatory" have been fighting in this room for the past few minutes.

And how Akio died.

++++++++++

The "Saw Traction Unit", which deviates from the original "Scepter 4" powerful control and cooperates at high speed by reflexes and instinct, has the power to easily cut through "Purgatory" like a flock of beasts. Neither a group of daring black suits nor executives with destructive abilities could contain a swarm of rapidly rotating blades.

However, the situation changes when a strange brain named Soma appears in the herd.

Soma was an exceptional technician among the powerful and crudely talented of "Purgatory." He was a genius who reached the realm of art, a genius comparable to Zenjo and the "Saw Traction Unit", and an advanced precision machine.

"Red King", from the existence of Kagutsu, flowing through the relationships formed by the facility, raging in the body, a tremendous amount of heat gives the subordinate clansman the power of destruction, but in the end, the energy it will burn its own body.

Soma is in full control of his own free will.

A strong "individual conscience" that does not renounce its own reason even with the "King of violence" on top, that is the basis of Soma's technique and also the reason for his peculiar position.

His position is the "immovable number 2" position in "Purgatory."

There is no organized chain of command in the prison. Like a flock of beasts, there is only one hierarchy of forces, which is very fluid and fluctuates with replacement of personnel.

It is not limited to this, the situation always boiled in a violent whirlpool around the "Red King". Nothing can maintain a firm presence there.

However, in the situation where even life is lost in an instant, Soma has been Kagutsu's assistant for about two years.

As a ghost beast that lives in lava, he himself is a superhuman by Kagutsu's side, and is an abnormal existence.

However, personal characteristics and abilities are only part of Soma's danger.

Soma was the best in individual combat technology and at the same time, he had more skill as a group commander. The whip of fire that pierces the heart, leaving the enemy's neck, was also the whip of a beast master who commanded a group of allies.

When Soma appears on the battlefield, the black clothes fighting for a strong self-begin to behave as if they are living creatures with only one will. Soma himself does not give clear instructions or strike the underside of the black robes, but Soma's "whip", which has both precise movement and long range, intervenes at key points in the battle unfolding around it. By doing so, he can control the transition from the war situation.

It was a unique ability in all clans under the Seven Kings. To put it bluntly, it was close to the combat assistance provided by Hayato Minatoshi's slow knife, but it was even more sophisticated and strategic. The flaming whip that runs between the beasts was an extension of Soma's brain, a nerve fiber that controls the body of a beast.

In fact, even in this "hall", the black robes of "Purgatory" acted under Soma's intent without being aware of themselves, releasing the power of fire and dispersion. Soma's "one move on the board", and because of that they burned their lives and collapsed, they were the game pieces that Soma enjoyed, the exploding stones and the abandoned stones.

The black clothes self-destructing special attack folds up, and Zenjo and the "Saw Traction Unit" split up and isolate themselves.

A group of swordsmen who surpassed the instinct of the beast were on the verge of being crushed when entangled in a mysterious and unusual intelligence.

++++++++++

But now…

Habari represses Soma's actions. The tentacles are blocked and the giant beast once again divided into an uncontrolled swarm of beasts.

"Scepter 4, get together!"

Minato threw a knife to each corner of the room in rapid succession, giving a sharp command.

The black clothes of "Purgatory" are like amateurs in the sense of a group battle. Without Soma's guidance, they couldn't cooperate properly. The individually encircled and divided chainsaws were able to quickly defeat several black clothes and escape by simply hammering in a few knives and creating an opportunity.

Zenjo, Azuma, Bado, Chidjiiwa, Daiba. When the five men gathered together, Minato called to Habari's back.

"Commander!"

"Yes."

While shooting a strong blow in moderation, Habari jumps away from Soma, after a few steps back, he is left with Minato and Zenjo.

"Habari!"

"Commander, are you safe?"

Habari gives brief instructions to the men who speak to him.

"Rebuild the 'Saw Traction Unit'. Not everyone can go."

"But Akio is not here!"

Zenjo said that. It was also a word that he said for the other members.

Zenjo and the others understand. The "Saw Traction Unit" is not just a team of powerful swordsmen. It is a fierce precision machine in which individual qualities and unconsciousness are intertwined at the instinct level, it cannot move properly without Akio, one of the gears.

But…

"I will take the place."

When Habari said that, everyone was shocked by the void for a moment and understood immediately.

Certainly, Habari will have sword skill and divine judgment, and Habari Jin will more than make up for the hole Akio Minato has left.

"But, Commander..."

Minato won.

The "Saw Traction Unit" is, so to speak, the "king's alternate force" in clan fighting, and it is the end of the story that the "Blue King" himself joins it. In the unlikely event that they are killed outright with the "Red King", it can unleash an unprecedented disaster, the "outbreak of royalty."

"Yes, Minato."

Habari responded with Minato's will.

"Today we cannot fight Kagutsu. This battle is our defeat. So…"

Habari turned the tip of the saber toward Soma.

"Today's ultimate goal is to seize the head of 'Purgatory' executive, Hitoshi Soma, and retire."

"Oh."

Zenjo, Azuma, Bado, Chidjiiwa, and Daiba resumed in anger and fighting spirit.

It was a reasonable place to end the battle that Akio lost.

"The same order."

"I will need your eyes again."

Minato leaning forward was controlled by Habari's words and Zenjo's hand.

"Go ahead, Minato. Now, I'll get souvenirs in the fall."

Zenjo was sharpening his fangs to laugh. There was only anger in his eyes.

The words ran out and the remaining killing intent focused on Soma with a sharp eye.

"Really."

Soma coughed with a smile on the edge of his mouth.

A chunk of ash fell from the tip of the cigarette.

"Everyone, draw your swords!"

They have already drawn their swords. Members of the "Saw Traction Unit" ceremonially repositioned the swords they had been holding.

Zenjo has a saber, Azuma has a twin sword, Bado has a spear, and Chidjiiwa and Daiba have daggers.

"With a sword, according to heaven, our justice is incomparable. "Saw Traction Unit", mission execution!"

With the command, his specialties were tinged with an extraordinary light. As he spilled the blood that wet the blade, it was blue, strong and glowing brightly, illuminating every corner of the "hole".

The six-body "Saw Traction Unit" has been revived. He was a divinely combative figure who turned anger and murder into light.

Soma got ready for the first time. In the next moment, a series of super speed attacks can turn to dust.

Distrustful of the reassembled "Scepter 4", the black robes that had been rolling in the distance began to move in anticipation of the resumption of the battle.

The tension was building in the room again.

++++++++++

There is still something.

Minato's consciousness couldn't fully digest the sensation of strange matter in the corner of his thoughts.

First of all, the "Saw Traction Unit" was a perfect wall. It was a unit organized to be a perfect wall. No matter how strange Soma was, there should have been no possibility of attaching him to the ring of blades spinning at high speed.

What killed Akio, an unknown factor that broke the "ring" circulating in the perfect wall should still be in this room.

Minato looked around the "hallway" again. Before, he was paying attention to the position and movement of humans, but now that he's in a winning state, I've also noticed things around him.

Remnants of battle and destruction on the floor and ceiling. A blackout curtain that closes the window. Concrete fragments still remain on the edges of the perforated loose walls.

And he can see that furniture like sofas, tables, and shelves were the living space of "Purgatory."

Part of the view is hidden behind the pillars. Minato moved carefully and changed his mind.

Akio had fallen there.

"……"

Minato snuck under Akio, hiding in the shadows.

He hugged her body from behind, but she wasn't breathing and he wasn't ready to move. From the amount of bleeding around her and the huge wounds that pierced her while burning her heart, he was sure that she had died instantly.

A long saber rolls beside him. Akio's favorite sword, "Shiden".

It is not an offensive or defensive attitude. It is a situation that makes him imagine how she was suddenly beaten and killed with one blow.

There were no scratches on her face, and the wide-eyed expression remained as it was.

A slight expression of surprise.

Even if she was attacked by an enemy, she would have reflexively avoided him and blown him head off with a flash of "Shiden". That was the reason why she was selected as a member of the "Saw Traction Unit", and her qualities.

What surprised Akio? What kind of enemy could she not respond to?

Minato surveyed the surroundings while being aware of Akio's point of view.

Half-eaten pizza on the low table. A gaming machine is hooked up to a big screen television near the wall and a controller is lying around.

Do black clothes play games?

When he thought that...

"Uncle, what are you doing?"

He hears a voice from behind.

Minato looked back. A knife that slides from his sleeve into the palm of his hand pierces the enemy's heart the next moment. That was the moment.

But…

Minato's hand stopped when he saw the black clothes behind him.

It was a fatal delay in reaction.

In front of Minato was a young man, not a boy, but he was under 20 years old.

The sleeves of a black suit that he is not used to wearing are rolled up.

In fact, a poor intelligent student than a member of a violent organization.

It reminded him of his twin sons waiting at home.

The other day when their high school uniforms were tried on, they both appeared to be wearing uniforms.

"Is it too big?" Says Minato.

"They'll be big soon.", Akio replied.

Then, Minato understood.

"Akio, you too... you saw this kid."

"Ha, what is that, idiot?!"

The boy's fist was covered in red flames along with his forearms.

An extraordinarily strong fist pierced Minato's chest. He couldn't allow him to speak.

In a short time before he collapses to the ground, his eyes are quickly defeated and his vision closes to darkness.

A child's voice was heard from above the fallen Minato.

"Hey, this is two stars."

Then another boy, probably the same age, called.

"He was about to die now. Satsuki, it was dangerous too."

"I don't feel like I'm going to lose to him."

"He thought you were a boy and was not careful."

"I am not a child."

++++++++++

"Minato!"

From somewhere far away, Zenjo's voice is heard.

"Wait, Zenjo."

The commander stopped Zenjo.

"Zenjo, now, focus on Soma."

Is this a member of Kagutsu?

"If you defeat Soma, you can do anything else."

The voice is far away. It's like saying something of a swordsman.

This may be a scene he need to stop.

The "Saw Traction Unit" is dangerous equipment that tends to run out of control.

Above all, because the commander is also interesting and inspiring.

The group is also constantly fighting.

"Habari!"

Something suddenly became noisy.

"This sign... he's the one."

Commander.

"Wow, it's finally here."

Soma looks.

A wave of sound. The opening voice of "Purgatory" that shakes the space.

"Come on, ours."

The boy's excited voice.

++++++++++

"Oh, I can't hear it anymore. Something vibrates on the ground... don't distract me."

What the hell was he talking about?

He wondered if that boy was saying, "I'm not a boy."

What happens? If he thinks he have grown up, he is still a child. That age is very difficult.

"Akio, what do you think?"

"Stupid, do you really want to deal with kids?"

"Oh, not at all. Exactly correct."

"You are a kind person. And always make the right decisions."

"There is no mistake in the important things in front of you, the things you must protect and order."

"Today and in the future."

"Where will you go next?"

"As always, I'll jump as I want."

"Of course, I am with you."

Zenjo, Akio, Azuma, Bado, Chidjiiwa, Daiba.

The cooperation of the six masters easily cuts through the dense formation of "Purgatory".

A six-man training unit called "Saw Traction Unit" by its Lord, "Blue King" Habari Jin, the movement is unique, different from traditional combat techniques and modern urgent operations.

They have their own specialties in each hand and have different speeds, ranges, and advance powers. While running at full speed. A group of dry blue blades is turned into a four-dimensional excavator and dismantled through a large group of talented fighters. After the six swordsmen stormed past, a heartbeat later, the black-robed strangers splattered, splashing heat and burning blood.

"What are they?"

Shiotsu coughed while avoiding the hot blood splatters.

A six-member chainsaw, which is also a pioneer.

One, two or three people for each sword strike. His appearance of stroking the monster "Purgatory" and going through it reminded him of another monster that hunts and bites the monster.

"What are they?"

Shiotsu asked again.

The word was also directed at the members of the “Purgatory” clan, who continued to blatantly defy the violence of the opponent.

Men dressed in black who burn and heat the entire body's blood with the ability to "red" and literally gain an explosive spine and destructive power. Of course, such use of different abilities touches and destroys their own bodies first and foremost. Many of them will take enormous damage in their environment and die in a single battle. A human bomb in a black robe who simply rushes to destroy the moment without saving his own life. It is a destructive and unconventional variant, both mentally and physically.

Both enemies and allies are monsters. There was no possibility for ordinary people to enter the battlefield.

Shiotsu gave instructions to the next rushing forces. It is a cleaning of the remains of the red monster that was spoiled by the blue monster.

Shiotsu and the followers stabbed the end of each of the dying black robes that fell to the ground and leaned against the wall. Some were able to save their lives, but at the same time, they still have the power to suddenly kill opposing members. For those who don't have normal human sensitivities, this was also basically dealt with mechanically.

Perhaps the current scene is one of the most horrible little battles ever fought on land. However, if "Purgatory" is left unattended, it will cause much more damage in the future. This is a necessary public act. As a member of a security organization, Shiotsu understood that point.

But at the same time, in light of the common sense of modern human life and ethics, his life on this battlefield is too light.

"Huh!"

From the other side of the door that opened, he hears Akio's laugh. She does not belong to Shiotsu's common sense, and she seems to think of this situation as a game.

It's not just Akio. The "Red King" and the "Blue King", "Purgatory" and "Scepter 4", many of the people here think of this battle as some kind of game. If he do not get caught up in the weight of life and the heavy burden of society and move lightly like a sports competition, he will become entangled and die.

Something was moving at Shiotsu's feet. The mortally wounded black robes of "Purgatory" were wringing out their last power and concentrating their abilities on their fists. When the fist was about to be hit by Shiotsu's leg, Shiotsu's sword flashed, and when he slashed his fist, he pierced the eyebrows of the black clothing with his returning sword.

The bright red fist bounced several times, leaving a scorched mark on the ground, eventually turning into a black mass and burning.

When Shiotsu sighed, he accompanied his subordinates and followed the group of six members.

++++++++++

A "Scepter 4" command vehicle is parked on the street in front of the "Purgatory" grounds.

The "Blue King" Habari Jin is in the passenger seat with several rear commanders. The appearance of leaning his elbows on the door and closing his eyes is like taking a nap, but his brain is spinning at high speed.

Various noises are heard from outside the vehicle. Status reports exchanged through communication devices. Noise due to radio interference. The tremors caused by explosions and collapses transmitted from their feet. All that information is collected to keep track of the situation.

The smile on his mouth shows that things are going according to Habari's plan. The sword of the "Red King" was quickly and surely approaching the throat of the "Red King". Kagutsu may or may not know the situation.

Even if he is in the middle of a war or disaster, he is a man who will fall asleep without raising his eyebrows.

Noises, tremors, screams, do not trigger Kagutsu's actions. The "Red King" continues to sleep in silence.

The "silent blade", which spreads sparks and roars, does not give the "Red King" time to wake up.

"That would be a beautiful ending."

Minato raised his face from the control table at the words that Habari suddenly leaked out.

"That is beautiful"?"

"Eh? Ah. I was thinking about the "Saw Traction Unit"."

"I see, members Zenjo and Akio..."

Minato was also witnessing a mock group training the other day. He can imagine the situation at the scene. The light of the blue sword and the sparks woven by the six masters, and the blood and explosion of the prey. High speed group sword dance, it was a spectacle that could certainly be evaluated with some kind of aesthetic sense.

"Beautiful...?"

He thought he didn't have that kind of sensitivity to talk about how life explodes from the perspective of "beauty."

Habari said in response to the confusion mixed with Minato's tone...

"To reach an overwhelming existence like Kagutsu's, you have to have some kind of 'beauty', no power, no reason... It seems like that to me."

Habari said that with a slight silence.

"Don't you think so, Minato?"

"No... I'm not in a position to say anything."

"I don't care. I want to hear your opinion."

"If that's the case..."

Minato said with a preface.

"I don't know anything about the existence of the 'King' and the discipline to follow, but the closest thing to 'beauty' you say is you, the 'King of Blue'... I think so."

"In other words, not that chainsaw."

Habari struck the handle of the sword placed next to the seat.

"I should use this sword to face Kagutsu, that's what it is."

"No, until then."

“It is a very plausible opinion. Traditionally, the flight from royal authority has been suppressed by the direct action of another royal authority. It can be said that it is a thought."

"Eh... if so, why...?"

“Kagutsu is different from other kings. It is a non-standard monster that seeks destruction and violence. If I or any other royal authority were in front of him, that would be what he wanted. The clash of the two kings' abilities will bring an unprecedented amount of destruction to earth."

"Blast of royal power...?"

"Exactly."

Habari looked up at the sky beaming in response to Minato telling him to do so voluntarily.

“The power of two opposing "kings". The different skill fields of "red" and "blue" speed up, inflate and collide with each other. It would be a beautiful sight."

What exactly do you see in the eyes of the "Blue King"?

"Blast of royal power". A runaway and destructive phenomenon of a force field of extraordinary capacity predicted by Weissmann's theory. Minato lost his words to the "Blue King" who speaks of the ruin that the "Seven Kings" and their helpers are trying with all their might, except Kagutsu.

"But it is a beauty that should not be on earth."

Habari looked down at the "Purgatory" battlefield and the "Saw Traction Unit." Minato was relieved for some reason that his line of sight returned from heaven to earth.

"The highest potential for forbidden beauty is reaped with the next best beauty. That is the meaning of our chainsaw."

When he came to the conclusion of that, there was a slight tilt in Habari's profile.

He felt something was wrong with the noise outside the vehicle or the communication that he heard leaking.

"Commander…?"

"It's bad. Something unexpected is happening."

"Habari!"

As expected. Above Minato's head, Zenjo's voice came over the phone line.

"Can you hear! Can you hear me, Habari? Akio is dead!"

++++++++++

The situation was extremely confusing.

Immediately after Zenjo announced Akio's death, the counterattack from the members of "Purgatory" began. The hordes of demons that had been ripped apart and crushed by the "Saw Traction Unit" reappeared inexhaustibly from here and there in the facility, dividing "Scepter 4" and sifting through each one. Some have been injured.

"What is the situation? Zenjo! This is the command vehicle! Habari!"

The command vehicle operator barely answered Shiotsu's question.

“Saw drive unit. The report is that it is no longer available. The commander has just headed to recovery."

"What... idiot, stop!"

Before the words were finished, there was a person running through Shiotsu.

The "Blue King" Jin Habari.

"Shiotsu!"

Without looking back and slowing down, Habari said.

"Assemble the group. Leave in five minutes!"

After a moment of victory, Shiotsu nodded and yelled in a loud voice that echoed around him.

"Scepter 4, get together!"

However, the situation is now inferior. At the edge of the corridor and in one corner of the room, there are several abandoned and isolated members.

First, gather the people in the center of the room and then collect the isolated people. However, not all members are on time.

When Shiotsu thought that, several silver lights streaked through the space.

Multiple throwing knives from Shiotsu, who followed Habari with his gaze, and were thrown from behind.

It was the work of Hayatoshi Minato, who ran in succession.

Like Habari, Minato moved his arm left and right without slowing down and threw three knives at once. Although rarely used in everyday life, Minato puts a series of small throwing knives similar to medical scalpels in the sleeves and pockets of his uniform as a convenient weapon, in addition to being equipped with his official sword.

Each knife followed a different curved path and hit the body of those in black as if it had been inhaled. The power of each is not high, but it creates a rift in the black clothes movement to help cornered members, and surely creates an opportunity to escape.

In the blink of an eye, a dozen knives were thrown, and Minato took a deep breath and jerked his arms forward.

Until then, the knives that had been thrown one after another, this time, were thrown six at a time, rushing forward like a torrent of light, stepping forward as they dodged Habari's back from side to side. Beyond that, he pierced the key points of the three black clothes guarding the door at the same time.

All three of them were only a part of the black outfit on the spot, but that was enough.

Habari draws his sword and slashes the three with a returning sword, and rushes into the dark room without gambling.

"Minato!"

Shiotsu called out to Minato, who ran over to the side.

"Protect the 'Blue King'."

Minato nodded briefly, chased after Habari, and leapt into the darkness.

++++++++++

Just a few minutes ago...

"Akio is dead!"

When he heard the words, Hayatoshi Minato became a self-defeating body for a few moments.

"Akio...?"

As a couple in a fighting organization, he was prepared to say goodbye in this way one day. However, when they told him it was "today", he was surprised.

Meanwhile, his lord, the "Blue King" Habari, jumped out of the vehicle and quickly used the sword at his waist.

"Minato."

"Oh, commander...?"

"Ask here. I have to remove the rest of the "Saw Traction Unit" and the forces that run."

Coming to himself with that word, Minato also jumped out of the vehicle.

"I'll accompany you too!"

It was an intuitive action.

On today's site, there are some items that exceed the expectations of "Blue King" Habari Jin. Something that took the life of Akio, who was creating a rift in cooperation with Zenjo.

He, Hayatoshi Minato, was said to be a foreign molecule in the "Scepter 4" organization. "Why is a decent person like you in such a small and stretched world?"

The answer is: "I came with Akio as a bonus." In contrast to Akio, who was a person who should enter "Scepter 4" in terms of personality and ability, Hayatoshi Minato originally had the qualities to lead a life as a general citizen.

The reason he entered "Scepter 4" is because he is with Akio. There is no doubt about it.

In response to Minato, Habari said, "It's an unexpected change." While maintaining common sense, he highly evaluated Minato's willingness to adapt to the air of an abnormal group without hesitation, often asking Minato for his opinion as a pseudo "big picture".

Minato offered to accompany him to the center of enemy territory.

Habari instantly caught Minato's will and nodded.

"Okay, let's go."

And now…

Minato ran after the "Blue King" and entered the devil's lair.

What does a mere human eye, a "king" or a demon see there?

What caused the death of his wife, Akio?

When the eyes get used to the darkness of the prison, Minato's eyes will find her.

The main forces were on the brink of destruction.

The "Scepter 4" Mobile Task Force, which was urgently dispatched to deal with a person with superpowers, was overwhelmed by the enemy, causing a large number of casualties, forcing the defense.

A personnel transport vehicle rushing to receive a site report is equipped with a late-arrival booster unit, along with "Scepter 4" deputy director Shiotsu Gen.

"How many people are there, Shiotsu?"

Gouki Zenjo, one of the reinforcements, asked from the back seat to the front passenger seat.

Shiotsu replied briefly while receiving the status report from the communication device.

"One person. Hiragi."

"It is not a matter of counting. He is a tough opponent."

Zenjo entrusted his weight to the handle of a Strain control saber. The registered name is "Hekireki”. The specially made blade is long, thick and heavy. It is a substitute that cannot be handled without extraordinary physique and sound power.

"…Interesting."

Zenjo laughs like a beast sharpening his fangs.

"It's not boring."

A member sitting next to him snorted. He is small as a child, but there is no point in drawing on the scale of writing. It is an irreverent attitude.

"You're going to clean up by yourself. Would you like to go?"

A small hand struck the head of his saber. The name of the saber was "Shiden", a special product made from the same material as Zenjo's "Hekireki".

++++++++++

The arrival site had become a mountain of lame tiles.

Three five-story buildings in a downtown area have been completely burned down, one of which has completely collapsed. Additionally, firefighting activities have not been conducted against flames that spread to surrounding buildings. You cannot approach the scene. For a single man who is on the scene.

A man in a black suit sits on a rugged black rock shore against a thick black smoke background.

Eyes bright as a bonfire, he looks around.

"Purgatory" Executive Officer Hiragi Toma.

The red clan, "Purgatory", that even lower-class clan members are comparable in destructive power to other clan executives. Hiragi is the executive, and the current rank is number 3 after the "Red King" and his lieutenant.

He was one of the strongest infidels on earth, except for the "Seven Kings", who had non-standard powers.

His power is individual and equal to a group of combat units. Even if it is "Scepter 4", which is an expert group in different battles, he is not an opponent that can be easily suppressed.

In fact, Hiragi's girth had already been painted with multiple deaths.

The number of ordinary people involved in the structure that quickly collapsed in flames is unknown. Most of them are burned bodies whose identity is difficult to identify.

Some of the bodies that fell around could be identified from the unburned clothing. The guards, general police officers, firefighters who responded to the scene, and the two bodies lying to the left and right of Hiragi were members of "Scepter 4".

Three on the "right" and three on the "left". An unsheathed saber stands out from each back.

A Strain control saber stolen from deceased members pierces the bodies and is deeply nailed to the ground.

The death of the civilian population to be protected and the death of the companions of "Scepter 4" were expected when they arrived. However, what they actually see is a horrible scene that exceeded their expectations.

"…Regrettable."

The moment Shiotsu coughed after seeing the state of the scene.

The reinforcement unit was replacing the injured members. There were some who leapt out of the formation like arrows.

"Scepter 4", Gouki Zenjo, Head of the Mobile Operations Division.

There was anger in his eyes, a smile on his mouth, and the expression of a ferocious beast. The extraordinary blue light flashed on his saber and the muscles of his entire body, turning the body into a meteorite running across the ground.

Zenjo approached Hiragi at a speed that far surpassed ordinary people and nullified the common sense of Strain people. Kick the ground in a low position and use a long saber in the back. The fiery villain and black robes are ready to be cut as he goes.

Hiragi was waiting for him. The moment to burn the lost life. One of the few men in "Scepter 4" that is unimaginable.

"Come on, Zenjo... Demon Zenjo!"

When Hiragi got up and shouted his name, the flame went out from the upper half of the body, burning the suit from the inside. Shoulders, chest, arms and back. A Japanese carving tattoo that was carved on the body when Hiragi became a member of the "Red King" clan and belonged to an antisocial organization. All of them have become wide area burners and put out high temperature and high pressure flames.

Hiragi, who became a human torch, grabbed the sabers caught in the left and right bodies at random. One on the right and one on the left. If he holds both swords with both hands, he will put more effort into the hand holding the handle.

The flames that inhabited the body traveled through the left and right arms and towards the blade of the saber. The condensed power of red talent burns the saber blade, which is the medium of talent, to make it glow red and then more incandescent.

In the end, he waves the saber and throw it away. Right and left. The two blades that have become high heat arrows of light reach Zenjo's body as if sucked.

Zenjo avoided a sword with a slight movement, and struck another unavoidable with his own sword.

But…

The difference between the blade that was thrown in full force and the blade that swayed while running, and the difference in posture, was the difference in power.

He lightly defeated the incandescent blade, and Zenjo's blade shook. The swing of the blade became a swing of posture, and Zenjo's momentum was slightly dull.

Hiragi has already pulled out the next two swords from the left and right bodies and is holding them. It is slightly faster for Hiragi to hit the incandescent blade than Zenjo to reposition.

"I have you, Zenjo!"

At the moment when he stalks...

A small shadow like a child emerged from the shadow of the handsome giant. It appeared in front of Hiragi's eyes, to jump over Zenjo's head. As he twists his entire body hard, use a long blue lightsaber.

"Scepter 4" Mobile Task Force, Akio Minato.

"No!"

In the end, the remaining left blade slammed shut.

Zenjo's sword, which fell into the middle, stopped it.

Thus, for a moment, the situation changed...

A flash of sword spins in midair blowing Hiragi's neck.

Aki fell to the ground, leaving the momentum of haste and lateral rotation, and rolled.

A tall parabola was drawn, and the Hiragi's neck fell a few meters away.

Akio stood up as Zenjo approached his neck and lifted him up. The long Shiden encased in the rear sheath and hitting the hips ending looks like an armed boy. Although she is such a small soldier, the young girl in front of Zenjo, tense and with her arms crossed, she is tough and arrogant.

"It was dangerous, Zenjo. If you weren't there, I would have died."

"No, it was dangerous."

Zenjo, who was inspecting Hiragi's neck, looked up.

"Without me, you would have two parts."

"That is the same as you."

"No, no. Hiragi is a strong enemy, but if you give me a hand, I win. I was the one in danger."

"Don't say regret."

"Right."

He does not resign before Zenjo. In fact, when it comes to combat and fencing, the declaration of good faith is always accurate and there is no exaggeration or fantasy.

But Akio is also bad. Looking back, it seems unsatisfactory.

"What's wrong, Brother Gen?"

"He is the "Deputy Chief", Shiotsu."

Shiotsu, who ran from behind, stopped in front of Akio.

"The "Brother Gen" on the scene."

Ignoring the astringent face, Akio continues speaking.

"That neck is my credit, right?"

Shiotsu replied, deepening the wrinkles between his eyebrows.

"Instead of credit, they're both punitive. Don't be arrogant."

"No, it is bad."

Akio pointed to the tip of Zenjo this time.

"This guy suddenly jumped, so I went into the next one."

"Is no different."

Zenjo argues.

"He just jumped off me. I helped him."

"Both of us. They both have behavioral problems. We will eliminate them later. Return to the transport vehicle."

"But brother Gen."

Extinction and rescue work has begun around the site of the fire. In addition, the work of containment of the remains.

Akio said, looking around at the terrible situation and pointing at the neck held by Zenjo.

"Hiragi from 'Purgatory'. It was really dangerous. If I hadn't acted immediately, there would have been more people killed."

Zenjo nodded with a serious look.

"That's right, Brother Gen."

"Stop calling me "Brother Gen". I have no reason to be called that way.”

Shiotsu said to Zenjo.

"And don't walk around with his neck. Put it in the bag."

"Hm? Ah.”

"Wait in the vehicle!"

To briefly tell the two of them, Shiotsu escaped to instruct on-site personnel and related organizations.

Zenjo and Akio stayed behind. Standing next to each other, they looks like an adult and a child wearing the same saber. Not "like father and son". Two children, a giant and a short young woman.

After a few seconds, Akio said to Zenjo.

"Zenjo. Did you intend to take it to Commander Habari?"

"Hmm? ...Oh, yes. That may be true."

"So you're going to have the commander praise you? You're like a dog."

"Hey, I'm not a dog."

"You're a dog. You are a stupid dog.”

Leaving Zenjo with his neck in his right hand, Akio started to walk towards the transport vehicle.

++++++++++

"It's a dog. It looks like it was a vivid trick."

Two hours later, “Scepter 4” Headquarters, the Principal's office.

When he saw Shiotsu's face at the report, the "Blue King", Habari Jin said with a bitter smile.

"After all, it was the right answer to have partnered with Zenjo."

"Which is the right answer."

Shiotsu does not try to hide the astringent face.

“It is like having two Zenjos. If you don't tighten the reins anymore, eventually you will have a fatal accident.”

"The situation is already deadly."

With a smile on the edge of his mouth, Habari said.

"As far as I know, today's deceased and missing people are estimated to have more than fifty names."

"Six of them are members of my "Scepter 4" Mobile Task Force. If I had tried to control Hiragi with normal tactics, the damage would have multiplied.”

"So is..."

Shiotsu frowned. The wrinkles between the eyebrows get a little deeper.

"Zenjo is correct."

"People with powers are treated by people with powers. That is the importance of the existence of" Scepter 4 "as a security organization. If the Strain is out of the standard, non-standard personnel need to be reapplied."

"Then it is a matter of luck. We are not in a good position to bet while betting on the security organization. This time we were lucky, but if we repeat this many times, it will eventually become serious. It will cause a collapse."

"It is my role as the 'King of Order' to find an opportunity in chaos... but Shiotsu. You are right. I want to reduce the frequency of tremors."

"What does that mean?"

Habari often makes such innocent speeches, but Shiotsu decides to listen honestly each time. Also for this man, it may be necessary to have some kind of reins, he has that thought.

Breathe softly and look out the window, Habari said.

"The reason the fugitive Hiragi Toma appears to be an overreaction to the general questions of police work. It is not the reason. Just like the smell of sake the other day, the wind blew up a bomb on the road and that's it.”

Got distracted? No, that is not the case. Shiotsu responds without breaking his solid stance.

"Oh, there's no reason for their sabotage. We need to be more vigilant about it."

“This is the same as saying nothing. But from a public point of view, we can only say it.”

Habari continues speaking, shaking his feet.

"No matter how vigilant you are, it may not be enough. It is not just Hiragi. They, the members of the red clan, are a swarm of live bombs. This situation continues and the tragedy repeats until a clan called "Purgatory" is dismantled and all its members are under proper control.”

"Hm, that is... but it would not be possible to crush "Purgatory". It is that man who is on top of them."

"The "Red King" Kagutsu Genji."

Perhaps to his dismay, when Habari spoke his name, he felt that the temperature in the room had slightly increased.

As usual, Habari keeps his face cold, cuts out words, and listens to Shiotsu's expression.

But Shiotsu said, feeling the sweat on his forehead.

"What do you mean, Habari?"

"Today's case is considered an important touchstone. We will discuss the new formation and operation of combat units and their effects."

"Stop saying things that you carry with you. Say it clearly."

Even in Shiotsu, the answer has already come out. However, he cannot be convinced until it is clearly said from the mouth of the Blue King himself.

With wrinkles between his eyebrows, Shiotsu looked at the Lord.

"That's…"

Habari smiled radiantly, with a cold look from his murderous gaze.

"That is, there is a rule to kill Kagutsu."

The head of "Purgatory" is in prison.

As long as it is isolated from society inside the ship, its existence is allowed.

But perhaps he will escape from prison at will and spread destruction over the world.

If he cannot be chained, he will have to die on the spot.

Before the next leak and destruction.

++++++++++

The "Undertakers" is a sign that refers to the Red Clan "Purgatory". Wearing black suits reminiscent of mourning clothes, the members of "Scepter 4" call them "Undertakers" and "Return from the Funeral" to members of the Red Clan.

In addition, in the same firm, what is called "prison" is the territory of "Purgatory", "Ruins of the Kaume Detention Section in Toyosawa District". Originally, it was a secondary penal institution under the jurisdiction of the Tokyo Detention Center, but lost its function as a public facility due to the attack and occupation of the "Red King" Kagutsu Genji, later it was approved as a territory by "Tokijikuin".

It should be said that the "Red King", who is not connected to any prison, was "imprisoned" by himself. Anyway, the "prison" is now home to "Purgatory".

And the "Red King" and his subordinates are "imprisoned" at will.

If you escape the territory protected by extraterritorial law and show up in the metropolitan area of ​​the city, you will fall in love with the extraordinary ability of fire. In that way, not only does he often kill and injure innocent citizens, but in the latest Beta-Class case, the Hiragi Incident, the escape of the clan's executive, Hiragi Toma, has completely turned a section of downtown the city on charred soil.

"Purgatory" was a spark that hovered across the map, and if left unattended, it would burn forever. The normal police cannot cope with the super physical destructive power they wield, and from the position of the leader of the "Covenant of Seven Kings", the response of "Tokijikuin" led by the "Golden King", usually comes late. In that situation, it was the responsibility of "Blue King" Habari Jin and his subordinate clan "Scepter 4", to quickly arrive on the scene and crush the fire from his black robes.

As an extension of that responsibility, Habari finally decided to invade the territory of "Purgatory" and kill the "Red King".

As long as the existence of the "Seven Kings" is beyond the law of a country, it is not an act that follows legal legitimacy.

So is it some kind of private fight? That is different.

Limited royal power war. The fight, which is fought by the will of the "King", is a "public" act against all people beyond the nation.

The "Blue King" Habari Jin, thinks so.

The "Golden King" Daikaku Kokujoji admits it, and other kings also tolerate and wait.

But what about the "Red King"?

First of all, there is no room or need to ask for his position.

The violent "King" is a fiery beast that burns the city and kills people just by being present. It is a disaster for everyone who has a life. For the sake of humanity, it must be exterminated as quickly as possible.

Habari Jin thinks so.

He doesn't think about it, he doesn't talk about it, he just looks inside the ship.

++++++++++

"Final confirmation."

Shiotsu called the members from the back seat in a personnel transport vehicle heading to the prison.

"The purpose is the boss, the 'Red King', but be sure to neutralize every clan member you come across. Think of unnecessary hoof bets as endangering the entire 'Scepter 4'."

"Don't worry, brother Gen."

Akio screamed.

"You can cut it from the edge you see. It's easy."

There was a low laugh among the members. There cannot be a human in this vehicle who can win in a cutting battle. If there was such a person in the past, they would definitely be dead.

The voice of "Blue King" Habari Jin, from the communication device, inspires the members.

“We, “Scepter 4”, carry out the duties of being an individual swordsman, controlling the sword with a sword. There is no cloudiness in our haste for the cause!"

"Hurry up!"

A transport vehicle went through the main door of the detention branch, overturned the body and opened the rear door. Seven members jump out of the vehicle and run to the prison building at the same time.

First of all, Goki Zenjo and Akio Minato came out first. Zenjo leans over and glides across the ground, and Akio rushes to compete, jumping step by step.

Behind are four men.

One is equipped with two sabers. And the other has a spear. The remaining two have a dagger.

The names are Azuma Sohei, Bado Ryoichiro, Chidjiiwa Gaku, Daiba Sadamitsu. All of them, who carry extraordinary light on their bodies and run at speeds that surpass ordinary people, are first-rate players who go beyond the level of simple extraordinary combat personnel.

Finally, Shiotsu followed them in form to chase the six. Maintaining the position behind so that everyone's behavior is in view.

Hearing the sound of the door smashing, more than a dozen men jumped out of the prison. "Undertakers" in black suits, the lower members of the "Purgatory" clan.

Of the "Undertakers" who still could not understand the situation, Zenjo and Akio cut off the first two heads that flew to the left and right.

"It's the Blues!"

"Kill them!"

It should be said that those in black clothes regained their posture before the two severed bodies fell to the ground. Some are bare-handed and others carry weapons such as knives and tonfas, each with a red flame of genius in their fists and specialties.

Furthermore, when they formed a dense formation to protect their backs, a battle group was formed surrounded by a huge flame. Even if it is Zenjo or Akio, it is difficult to cut this flame.

However, at that moment, a man stood out from the “Scepter 4” racing field. Tall beyond good, broad shoulders, long limbs. It's the spearman, Bado.

"Ha!"

Bado put his feet on the ground and pushed forward as he turned the iron spear. From both arms to the handle of the spear and to the tip of the ear, a radiant blue light of different skill spiraled and emitted in a swirl like a thin twister.

The blue light twister pierced through the defense of the flame, brought out the side of the black clothes in front and broke the formation of them while involving several people around.

Then there was a person who ran down Bado's side and jumped into collapsed space. It's Azuma, two-sword style.

His body is well trained, but the height is average. Swallowed in a flock of black clothes in the blink of an eye.

"Otsu!"

Azuma took a breath with the sabers dangling from his left and right hips, crossing his arms. The extraordinary light condensed on the blade shone in the air, and the left and right black clothes were cut at the same time. Azuma also manipulated the two sabers with sometimes symmetrical and sometimes asymmetrical orbits, rotating his entire body in a complex way. Two lines of blue blade light flashing around Azuma. The black robes that brushed against the trail of death's light are surprised one after another like a puppet whose thread of life is cut.

"This guy…!"

A group of intimidating black robes surround Azuma. From behind, there was a man who jumped with a sign of anger.

"Blue Clothes!"

"Purgatory", Executive, Jingo Iwamon.

A big and thick body that seems to burst the black suit on the inside. The right half of the face is a trace of an old burn and the original face has crumbled to the point of being confused.

He doesn't have a gun. The rock-shaped fist itself is a weapon. When he put the power into his fist, Iwamon's right half immediately burned out. The black jacket burns, revealing the body engulfed in flames. Only the right side of the midline is surrounded by burning flames, as if the face, chest, and arms are separated by a line.

When Iwamon stiffened like a beast, he ran towards Azuma.

A giant body engulfed in flames closes in to cover the view, and a rock-shaped fist turns into a volcanic bullet and fires a shot into Azuma's chest.

Azuma swung his twin blades and slammed them into Iwamon's fist. Two swords and a fist collide violently.

The blade of the blue genie would have easily broken, even if it was a real volcanic bullet.

However, the fist of the different skill received the blade of the different skill and further repelled Azuma's entire body.

Neither his fist nor his sword broke, but the black clothes that surrounded him ate the collision of the two forces, the red and the blue. Several people who were unable to defend the sentry wall collapsed and agonized from the impact of hitting the internal organs.

One of them, with a fiery fist, grabbed the chest of black clothing next to him. When he lifts a man of average physique to the extent that his legs floated with one arm and put more effort into it, the flames on his right arm burned softly. The extraordinary flame swirled throughout the body in the blink of an eye, and the black robes screamed and fluttered violently. The pain from the heat of the flame that burns the whole body, is a reaction due to the physiological contraction of the muscle.

Iwamon threw a burning black body at Azuma, who was getting ready as he leaped back. The man who flies while burning is one size larger than Azuma only in terms of physique. Frantic fire Tatsuma, screaming in pain, a huge reef of fire. He approached with the smell of burning hair and grease and exploded in front of him.

Chidjiiwa pushed the dagger with both hands. It is not meant to attack. With the point down, hold the handle with his right hand, place his left hand on the blade, and show the dagger forward.

The flaming human body that flew there exploded in front of the dagger. However, the bodily fluid that was supposed to fall onto Chidjiiwa's body was scattered in all directions at the site, as if it had been hit by an invisible wall.

Rather than putting the power of a different skill on the sword, it is a fighting technique of a different skill that develops as a "shield", but Chidjiiwa specialized his technique at that point. The dagger held in the opposite hand is nothing more than a means of controlling different abilities. The non-material shield formed by the high-density force field is Chidjiiwa's weapon.

Defense specialization. His qualities, which can be called "shield soldier" of different abilities, are more effective when collaborating with the same person than when fighting alone.

And conversely, there are also owners who specialize in attacks.

"Shu...!"

With a strong exhale, a slender, youthful body leapt from the shadow of the giant Chidjiiwa. It only takes two steps to close the distance of about 1 meter to Iwamon. Stepping on god speed, even if there is no gap between the flying tools. No, he was a flying tool himself. That is why he is called "Daiba, the arrow thrower" with the accumulation of classes.

The specialty is a small dagger of the same type as Chidjiiwa's. He also developed his fighting skills without using a sword. It is a combat technique that specializes in assassination, focuses on the limbs and tip of the dagger, and specializes in approaching and piercing. The technique of betting, "If you get within three steps, I'll win.", but on the other hand, there was a difficulty defending the side, and he was not good at fighting. On the actual battlefield, he compensates for his weaknesses by cooperating with the Chidjiiwa shield.

Daiba has now taken the first and third steps and has taken a leap towards Iwamon. It is a movement that jumps to the head and stabs the dagger that he holds in the opposite hand.

"Uh!"

iwamon struck the front of his face with his burning right hand. Daiba leaned back and avoided his hand, but got caught in midair as he lost his posture with his other hand. On Iwamon's left side, he grabbed him by the ankle.

Iwamon can crush Daiba's ankle as it is. He can also hit him against the ground.

Iwamon grabbed Daiba with his right hand. Inject the power of red abilities and ignite the entire body from within. The most reliable means of execution.

A thick and fiery finger grabbed Daiba's neck, at that moment...

Akio, who jumped from the side, struck his reddened wrist with a saber.

However, the sword was flipped without blowing Iwamon's wrist. Like Azuma's twin swords, Akio's sword was protected by a powerful flame.

But... the next moment, Iwamon's head flew off.

On Akio's other side, Zenjo stepped forward from the left side and brandished his saber. The cut on the left side, which was not covered by the flames, slid into Iwamon's neck surprisingly easily and pierced through.

When Iwamon's neck flew into the air and he hit the ground, Akio began to blame Zenjo for not giving her credit.

Less than a minute has passed since the rush of the transport vehicle.

All six members, including Zenjo, rushed towards the "Purgatory" executives, who would normally cause enormous damage at the end of victory, even if they were surrounded by multiple combat units. It means that he was killed at the best time.

The rest of the black clothes have lost their executives and are upset. It is not a decent battle, but an immediate surrender. Shiotsu thought, instructing the next troops to suppress and stop them.

Is it the same as the last case?

The other day, the outbreak of Hiragi Toma, a "Purgatory" executive, and the suppression of "Scepter 4." At that moment, Zenjo and Akio entered without waiting for instructions, and in the blink of an eye, Hiragi's head fell.

Shiotsu thought that Zenjo was a rebel with a deficiency in operational behavior, but the idea of ​​"Blue King" Habari was different.

First of all, thoughtful combat personnel like Zenjo were, in a sense, a natural enemy of outsiders. Any ability, in principle, is a force that is activated by the consciousness of the person and cannot deal with the attack before the recognition and judgment of the person.

But at the same time, its power is limited.

For example, it is almost impossible to succeed in a surprise attack on a person who has power and destiny beyond the realm of human beings, such as the "Seven Kings".

Habari's idea mocks that law.

That is, the concentrated entry of non-standard combat personnel like Zenjo. Continuous high-speed attack by thoughtful cooperation. By repeatedly hitting the "deadly" target in rapid succession, the target's fate is cut off and the gap in consciousness is opened.

Immediately after the Hiragi incident, Habari told his assistant, Shiotsu.

"Let's call it the beginning of the end, that's my 'main assassin' sword."

And now, the fast-spinning saw blade easily dropped the neck of the "Purgatory" executive.

Now there is no one to guard the prison door, and the entrance to the prison is wide open like when the black clothes came out.

Behind him, there is a hot humming signal.

Countless black robes, a few executives, and a rumbling foundry-like signal from the "Red King" Kagutsu Genji.

Akio looked back, bringing the saber to the body.

"Let's go quickly."

"Oh."

Shiotsu replied.

“The battle continues. Move on."