Chapter 9:
The Revenant: Neo Nexus War
The rain poured heavily over New Tokyo, drenching the glowing city in silver.
Lightning cracked across the clouds, thunder rolling through the towering skyscrapers.
But within the city’s eastern district — amidst the chaos of storm and neon — stood a modern cathedral, its stained glass glowing faintly under the dim light.
Inside, a woman knelt before the altar.
Her violet hair shimmered softly in the candlelight, her gentle amethyst eyes closed in solemn prayer.
“Nexus-sama…” she whispered, her voice trembling between faith and fear.
“Grant me your guidance. Tell me — what must we do to face the storm that is coming?”
The thunder outside silenced for a moment.
Then, a warm light filled the chapel — a radiant blue glow descending from the air above the altar.
From within the light came a soft, celestial voice.
“Child of Nexus, you and your kind must stand together.
Follow His command. The heavens have sent one among you — a guide who will lead your world to its deliverance.”
Raphael lowered her head, her voice filled with awe.
“Nexus-sama… who is this guide? Tell me their name, so we may serve them faithfully.”
A pause — then the voice replied gently, almost wistfully.
“I cannot reveal their name. But know this — he has already arrived. He walks among you, unseen yet vigilant.
When the time comes, you will know him.”
The light slowly faded, leaving behind a lingering warmth.
Raphael opened her eyes and whispered, “Thank you… Nexus-sama.”
As the blue glow vanished completely, she exhaled softly, her hands trembling.
When she rose to tidy the altar, a faint creak echoed behind her.
She turned — and saw him.
A tall man stepped out from the shadows near the church doors, water dripping from his coat.
His black hair was disheveled, his golden eyes glinting in the flickering light.
Raphael smiled faintly.
“I knew you’d come.”
The man tilted his head slightly, his voice low.
“Did my presence frighten you?”
“Frighten me?” Raphael chuckled softly. “Why would I fear the man who once saved my life?”
The man stepped closer into the light — revealing the unmistakable cracked white mask in his hand.
Kohaku.
The Revenant himself.
He smirked faintly beneath the dim glow.
“You haven’t changed at all, Raphael.”
She shook her head, her gentle smile unwavering.
“And you haven’t changed either, Kohaku-san. Still the same silent shadow I met five years ago.”
The sky over Old Tokyo bled black that night.
Rain fell like ink, searing the ground it touched.
People screamed in the distance as Soul Beast Eaters erupted from the ground, tearing through the city.
Inside a collapsing orphanage, a young girl with long purple hair huddled with a group of frightened children.
Her name — Amane Yukishiro.
The girl who would one day be known as Raphael.
While chaos reigned outside, Amane clutched a weathered prayer book to her chest.
“Stay calm, everyone. Don’t stop praying.
The light of Nexus will hear us.”
The children followed her voice, their hands clasped tightly, even as the sound of destruction grew nearer.
Their prayer echoed through the storm:
“By the blessing of [Nexus], cleanse the tainted,
and raise the pure anew.”
A faint, soft light began to spread through the orphanage.
It danced like dust in the air — gentle, sacred.
The corrupted darkness surrounding them dissolved slowly, replaced by warmth and peace.
“It worked, Amane!” cried one of the younger girls. “You did it! You really did it!”
Amane blushed faintly. “It wasn’t me… It was Nexus who—”
But her words froze in her throat.
The ceiling above shattered with a deafening crash.
Through it descended new horrors — ghastly, twisted forms wearing the bodies of the nuns who had once cared for them.
Their hollow eyes glowed red as they hissed, dragging blades of bone behind them.
“Run!” Amane shouted, pushing the children toward the back exit.
One of them grabbed her arm. “What about you, Amane!?”
“I’ll hold them off! Now go!”
She stood alone, trembling — clutching a wooden toy sword she’d once used to play knight with the others.
Her hands shook… but she raised it anyway.
“Divine Holy Sword!”
The wooden blade blazed with white fire.
When she swung it, a wave of radiant energy burst forth, purifying the nearest Soul Beast.
Its monstrous form disintegrated into light — its tormented soul freed.
Amane fell to her knees, exhausted but relieved.
“It’s over…”
But then — she heard it.
A low growl behind her.
She turned.
Another Soul Beast — massive, hulking, and armed with rusted blades — loomed over her.
Before she could react—
DOOR! DOOR! DOOOR!
Gunfire thundered through the ruins.
The creature’s head exploded in black mist, its body collapsing beside her.
Smoke filled the room.
A silhouette stepped through it — tall, cloaked, wearing a white mask with crimson eyes that glowed faintly in the dark.
The Revenant.
Amane froze in fear. “Y-you’re the Revenant? The killer of monsters… and men alike?”
He didn’t answer.
He simply reloaded his pistol and began firing again — every shot ending another Soul Beast that dared to approach.
He showed no hesitation.
No pity.
Not even toward the smaller beasts — some that looked almost human.
Amane’s voice trembled.
“Why… why do you kill them all? Even the ones that look like us?”
He turned to her, his tone cold, but not cruel.
“Because they’re not human anymore. If you pity them… they’ll kill you next.”
And as if to prove his point — one of the “childlike” beasts lunged at Amane with a kitchen knife.
Before it could reach her — DOOR!
Kohaku shot it through the head.
Silence.
Only the rain outside remained.
Amane stared at him, unable to speak.
Then — he reached out his gloved hand.
“If you want to live… come with me.”
Amane hesitated, then took his hand.
His grip was firm, steady — a silent promise of protection.
He carried her through the burning orphanage, shielding her from the rain as they reached the group of surviving children.
When the kids saw him, they gasped — in awe, not fear.
“It’s him… the Revenant!”
They cheered and cried at once.
Their savior stood before them — the man of legend, the shadow of mercy and death.
And for the first time, Kohaku removed his mask, revealing a young man with dark, messy hair and glowing golden eyes.
Amane — tears in her eyes — whispered softly,
“Kohaku… you saved us.”
Back in the present, inside the quiet church, Raphael smiled faintly at him.
“You haven’t changed at all, have you?” she said softly.
Kohaku looked away, his golden eyes distant.
“Neither have you. You’re still the same girl who prayed when the world was ending.”
She stepped closer, the candlelight reflecting in her eyes.
“And you’re still the man who came out of nowhere and saved us all.”
He gave a low, almost tired laugh. “You talk like I’m a hero. I’m not.”
“Maybe not to the world,” she replied gently, “but you are to me.”
For a brief moment, silence filled the church — broken only by the soft patter of rain on the windows.
Two souls, bound by memory and fate, standing once again on the edge of another approaching storm.
Outside, lightning struck the horizon — a white flash illuminating New Tokyo’s skyline.
And in that light, Kohaku’s shadow stretched across the altar like a specter of destiny itself.
The storm was coming.
And both of them knew — this peace wouldn’t last much longer.
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