Chapter 12 — Arrival in Korea

The sea wind was colder here. By dawn, their ship had reached the battered coast of Korea. The port of Busan—once a thriving city—was now a fortress of barricades, rusted shipping containers, and checkpoints bristling with armed soldiers.

Kohaku stood at the bow, visor glowing faintly as the shoreline drew closer. Agnes reported calmly.
“Docking successful. Civilian presence minimal. Most of the population… gone.”

Rika exhaled slowly, her violet eyes narrowing as she saw the remnants of destruction. Charred skyscrapers leaned like broken bones. The faint echoes of distant explosions rolled across the horizon.

Eva met them at the dock, already in discussion with local officers. Her golden eyes were sharp, but her tone carried the weight of exhaustion.
“Welcome to Korea. Or what’s left of it.”

Inside the fortress walls, survivors went about their lives—tired faces, worn uniforms, eyes that had seen too much. Children peeked out from shelters, clutching scraps of bread. Soldiers marched in silence, their steps heavy with defeat.

One officer approached Kohaku, saluting stiffly. “Commander Revenant. Headquarters requests your presence at once. The Liberation Council is preparing a strategy meeting.”

Kohaku gave only a nod. His voice rumbled through the mask. “…I’ll attend.”

Rika and Agnes were excused from the summons. While Kohaku and Eva walked toward headquarters, the two remained behind, the weight of the coming battle pressing on them.

Agnes began recalibrating her upgraded sensors in a training yard, her synthetic hair glowing faintly as she shifted into combat mode. Rika sparred nearby, her katana slicing through air with fierce precision.

“You’re pushing harder than usual,” Agnes observed, parrying a practice strike with mechanical efficiency.

Rika’s brow furrowed. “I have to. If what Eva said is true… this Type-5 isn’t like anything we’ve faced. If I can’t keep up, I’ll only drag him down.”

Agnes paused, tilting her head. “You speak of Kohaku often.”

Rika flushed slightly, turning away. “…It’s not like that. I just… don’t want to be useless.”

Agnes said nothing more, simply raising her practice blade again. “Then let us continue.”

Meanwhile, at the Liberation Headquarters, Kohaku entered a dim war room lined with maps and glowing monitors. Dozens of commanders from across Asia sat in tense silence, the atmosphere thick with dread.

At the far end, the regional commander stood, voice grave.
“The Type-5 Soul Beast has taken Seoul. Entire battalions erased. Even our strongest weapons failed to bring it down.”

The room fell silent.

Eva folded her arms, golden eyes glancing at Kohaku. “And now… we plan. Because if we don’t, Korea falls completely. And then the world follows.”

Kohaku said nothing. His crimson visor reflected the maps of a ruined Korea.

For now, there was no battle. Only waiting. Only the weight of what was coming.

That night, in their quarters, the three sat quietly. Rika tended her sword in silence, Agnes ran diagnostic scans, and Kohaku stared out the window at the ruined city.

The people here lived under constant fear. And soon, they would be the ones to face it head-on.

The Beast was waiting.