Deals, Daggers, Dread

In a Highly Secured Governmental Facility – Tokyo

The silence in the Prime Minister’s conference room wasn’t just quiet, it was oppressive. The room seemed frozen in time, sterile, suffocating. The only noise came from the steady tick of a vintage wall clock and the subtle hum of overhead fluorescents. Glasses of untouched beer stood like forgotten relics on the polished mahogany table, next to wrinkled documents and confidential folders still sealed.

Hado stood at the massive glass window, hands neatly folded behind his back, sharp in his black and navy uniform. The Tokyo skyline stretched beneath him, distant, glittering, oblivious. He stared as if memorizing it, as if trying to protect it with his eyes alone.

"You need to understand..." Hado began, his voice calm but charged with a current of restrained urgency, "this isn't about politics anymore. This is about survival."

The Prime Minister let out a heavy breath and reclined in his seat, his fingers tapping against the leather armrest. "Spare me the grand speeches. We both know how this ends. Power... always finds new hands to grip. If not the government, then the guilds. You're idealistic, Hado…but are they?"

Hado turned, the glint of light bouncing off his glasses. "We’ve been fighting spirits for roughly forty-six years now. If the guilds truly wanted to overthrow this nation... they’d have done it already. Instead, they bleed for it daily."

"You speak of noble sacrifice," the Prime Minister said, voice low and cynical. "But you and I both know that behind every guild banner is a ledger, and behind every hero, a price tag."

Hado slowly stepped toward the table, his heels echoing in the solemn room. "You used to justify inaction by saying spirits weren’t a problem for ordinary people, they just believe supernatural deaths happen. That changed. We created grant-enhanced lenses. Now everyone sees. The veil is gone. No more ignorance to hide behind."

He paused, watching the Prime Minister's reaction, nothing yet.

"You said the military couldn’t fight spirits. So we developed grant-infused weaponry. Goggles, armor. Phantom Order gave us the tools. Still... not enough."

"You think tools solve panic?" the Prime Minister barked. "This is Japan, Hado! A nation already on edge from natural disasters and aging problems, and now you want to drop this spirit apocalypse into their laps? Telling them the end of the world is closer than they think?"

Hado's voice dropped, deep and grim. “I’d rather have them scared and alive... than ignorant and dead. Everything started from here, yet we're the only nation who hasn't told the citizens about the coming calamity. If we had done this earlier it wouldn't have been a problem.”

A heavy silence blanketed the room. The Prime Minister’s jaw tightened.

"We confirmed an Avatar infiltrated one of our guilds weeks ago. The Shibuya incident nearly reduced a district to ashes," Hado pressed, pulling a file from his briefcase and sliding it across the table. “We’re running out of time. We need autonomy. Real control.”

The Prime Minister skimmed the file, expression unreadable.

“Yes we’re fourth globally in spirit keeper count, yet we can’t act without running the gauntlet of bureaucratic nonsense," Hado said, voice edged with frustration now. "We might not have Primes like the U.S or China and some other countries, thinking we should have something up our sleeve too. But then what do we have? Restrictions. Paperwork. Regret.”

The Prime Minister rubbed his temples. “You don’t understand the chaos this could unleash.”

"No,” Hado leaned forward, voice low but unyielding, “I understand it perfectly. I’ve seen children torn to pieces by spirits no one else could see. I’ve watched entire guild branches collapse. We’re bleeding and you’re arguing over where to place the bandage.”

The Prime Minister looked up, tired eyes locking with Hado’s. “And what if I give you this authority you’re asking for? What if I hand you the sword... and it turns against us?”

“It won’t,” Hado said firmly. “Because we don’t intend to swing it in secret. Everything will be documented. Gradual. Tracked. Monitored.”

"And the Avatars? The ones you’ve... detained," the Prime Minister asked. “What then? They're wild cards. Walking disasters.”

“We attempt calm dialogue. Try to understand. And give all effort in trying to convince them.” Hado exhaled. “They might reject us. We’ll still try.”

“That’s what scares me,” the Prime Minister muttered. “So many variables... and you bet everything on ‘effort’?”

“Then let the blame fall on me,” Hado said, eyes burning. “Stamp my name on every failure. I won’t run from it.”

The Prime Minister leaned forward. “And what happens if they go berserk? If one Avatar turns a city into rubble?”

Silence.

“You really going to keep gambling lives for your idealism?”

More silence. Then Hado looked up.

“You misunderstand. I’m not gambling. I’m preparing for a battle we already lost. I’m just trying to give us one last swing before the bell.”

The Prime Minister studied him, then... leaned back with a slow smirk.

"You’ve always been a cold one, haven't you?" he said. “That’s why I trust you. You never had anything to lose.”

Hado’s voice was quiet. "I've seen many fall and leave a lot behind…but in my case, A lot fell and left me behind. But I still stand. Because the people who remain need someone to stand up for them.”

The Prime Minister nodded slowly, almost solemnly.

“…Very well. The papers will be signed. I’ll drop them in.”

He reached for a pen, but paused, giving Hado a sharp look.

“Seems you got me on a good mood today… One last thing.”

Hado tilted his head. “Go ahead.”

“Okutama. I told you to let that spirit infestation run its course. It was nearly clear. We were this close to securing that land for the corporate hub.”

Hado’s mind reeled. You wanted people to die just to buy cheaper land…? And then you speak about care for the masses.

Aloud, he replied, carefully neutral. “We received reports that an unknown man cleared the spirits. No ID. No face. Just accounts.”

“Lies. Cover story,” the Prime Minister hissed. “They're protecting someone. Find out who it was. If no one talks, break them.”

“That’s harassment.”

“Not harassment,” the Prime Minister said coldly. “It’s called interrogation when done in a suit.”

Hado clenched his fists. “And when the people begin fearing the uniforms meant to protect them, what then?”

The Prime Minister took a slow sip from his glass. “Those who go against the rules are ones that deserve dread. Whether Bad…or good.”

Takami’s Home – Midday

At the Ryusei residence, the mood was casual, on the surface.

Tomoe sat cross-legged on the couch, sketchpad in her lap, pencil dancing with rhythm. Yosuke slouched beside her, fingers smashing away at his console, shouting victory slogans to no one in particular.

"Tomoe, Yosuke, lunch is ready!" their mother, Akane, called.

They shuffled to the table. Akane placed bowls of curry and rice in front of them.

She glanced toward the empty chair.

“So... Takami won’t be home for lunch again?”

“Oh, right,” Yosuke said with a shrug, mouth full. “Said he’ll be back tomorrow. Some guild thing.”

"Manners," Tomoe scolded, swatting his arm as she dropped her book on the table.

Yosuke mimicked her before returning to his food.

Akane frowned and pulled out her phone. Dialed. Waited.

“No signal. Phone’s off.”

Yosuke’s eyes didn’t leave his plate. “Tried too. Same.”

Akane set her phone down, staring at her food without touching it.

“He's gonna be okay right?,” Tomoe said softly.

Akane nodded, voice barely above a whisper. “I hope so honey.” , then she mutterd to herself "Please be okay, Takami"

Dark Valley – Evening

The sky bled red. Crimson clouds churned above, casting the valley in a nightmarish light. Trees bent unnaturally. Jagged rocks jutted from the earth like teeth.

Takami clung to a high branch, drenched in sweat, cloak torn. His body trembled.

“Six hours...” he muttered. “Felt like three days…”

He raised his hand and retrieved a healing potion, then drank.

⟨HP Restored⟩

Breathing eased.

“Hunger’s the real enemy,” he muttered. “Potions don’t fix a growling stomach.”

Rustling.

Below, a black-cloaked spirit slithered between shadows. Its form was full of smoke and malice.

Takami narrowed his eyes. As soon as the spirit looked up,

BOOM.

He dove, encased in swirling Grant energy. Like a comet, he crashed down. Blade drawn. He split the creature in a flash of steel and vanished before its corpse hit the ground.

⟨Extraction Complete...⟩

⟨Healing Potion Acquired⟩

⟨Time Left: 18h 22m 13s⟩

No time to breathe. More spirits closed in. A dozen. Maybe more.

Takami cracked his neck.

He vanished, reappeared behind them. Slice. Dash. Slash. The spirits shattered one by one, frozen in time just long enough to be cleaved apart.

The system spammed:
⟨Extraction Complete...⟩
⟨Extraction Complete...⟩
⟨Extraction Complete...⟩

⟨Drive Skill: Lv. 3⟩

His eyes gleamed. “This new skill I obtained makes things easier…”

He activated Astral Forge, the remnant grant twisted in his hands.

A dagger materialized. Sleek. Silver.

⟨Claw | Class: D⟩

He frowned. “This again? And it's still a D class. So it’s tied to the enemy's strength and not the amount of grant, huh?”

He dismissed his slayer blade, then Astral forged again. Claw formed again. Twin daggers now.

A new wave of spirits charged from afar.

⟨New wave detected—⟩

⟨Detected 10 Low-class spirits⟩

⟨Detected 21 High-class spirits⟩

Takami spun them in his palms.

“Alright,” he whispered.

A C-rank spirit lead the charge, towering, armored in obsidian, eyes glowing like coals.

Takami smiled coldly.

“I was getting bored already.”

He charged.

JSS Board HQ – Late Night

Rain tapped against the glass like distant gunfire. Hado sat alone in his office, coat draped over his chair, tie loosened.

He stared at the monitor. Dozens of reports. Spiritual fractures. Guild fatalities.

He pulled out a photo from his desk drawer.

A woman.

A child.

Gone now.

He exhaled.

The rain picked up.

But he wasn’t praying.

He was planning. He picked up his phone and made a call:

Jin: Hello, good evening sir. Did he…?

Hado: Yes he did.

Jin: The announcement is happening soon I believe.

Hado: Tomorrow.

Jin: So Japan will finally be in the chaos the government was running from for a while. The earlier the better, right choice sir…but this comes with a price tag right?

Hado sighs and rubs his temples: We need to go back to the Avatar project. We're loosing time.

Jin: I thought we dropped that a year ago?

Hado: We need as much attack power as we need the defensive, this is a risky gamble but I hope it goes well.

Jin: Let me guess? He's planning to cut funding if it goes wrong.

Hado: Yes…anyways, contact Mizuno and tell him to prepare for the second phase of the project.

Jin: Will do.

Click

Hado cut the call and dropped his phone on the table. "If only we had a miracle or something."

Mount Fuji - Phantom order R&D department base

Mizuno was on the phone, walking into the R&D lab. "Funny how I was just coming to check on them Jin. Understood." He cut the call.

Mizuno stepped closer to a door and after a face scan it opened, revealing a containment room dimly lit, with two large glass tanks filled with a glowing suspension fluid. Inside each, an avatar floated unconscious, wires and spirit seals wrapped around them, keeping their Grant energy completely neutralized.

"Let the second phase begin." Mizuno smiled .

NOTE: Thanks for coming this far with me on reading Avatar Awakening, your support is really appreciated. But I'm sorry to say that unfortunately Avatar Awakening would be going on a 20 days hiatus, counting from tomorrow due to some adjustments and stockpile rescheduling. I hope you understand that I try to give the best I can.

I hope to return stronger and better with more chapters for you to enjoy reading. This journey was only possible with your support, I hope you are patient enough to standby and bear with me. Thank you.

On the other hand, adjustments would be made to current chapters within the period, stay tuned and updated guys.

~Ritto7