The Night Of Awakening II

The rain fell hard over Neo-Tokyo, turning the neon streets into rivers of red and blue light.

It was almost midnight when Kian Arashi stepped out of the convenience store, stretching his arms and balancing a bag of instant noodles.

“Man… I’m starving,” he muttered. “If I don’t eat now, Mira will steal everything again.”

Thunder rolled in the sky. A single drop of cold rain hit the back of his neck.

Then another.

And another.

Kian shivered and pulled up his jacket. Weird… the weather wasn’t supposed to change.

He took two steps forward—

—and the world went silent.

Completely silent.

The sound of rain vanished. Even the neon signs stopped buzzing.

Kian froze.

His breath turned sharp.

An invisible pressure squeezed his chest.

“W-What… what is this feeling…?”

From the dark alley ahead, a metallic ripple sliced the silence.

A shadow separated itself from the darkness — a tall figure in a black tactical coat, face hidden beneath a chrome mask.

“Target confirmed,” a robotic voice said. “Subject: Kian Arashi.”

Kian’s blood ran cold.

“M-Me? You’ve got the wrong person—”

Before he could finish, the masked man rushed forward with inhuman speed.

A blade made of red energy extended from his wrist.

Kian barely dodged, stumbling backward as the ground split open where he had stood.

“WHAT THE—?”

The masked man didn’t reply. He raised his hand.

Four more figures dropped from the rooftops, each wearing the same chrome mask.

Red lines glowed across their bodies like molten cracks.

“KAGE operatives,” the leader announced. “Commence capture.”

“Capture? For WHAT?!” Kian shouted, panic rising in his chest.

The ground shook as they moved.

One operative vaulted forward, swinging a glowing blade toward Kian’s neck.

Kian lifted his arms on instinct—

—and the world slowed.

He didn’t understand why.

He only felt heat building inside his chest… spreading through his veins like fire.

Something is happening… inside me…

The blade struck.

Kian screamed—

But the scream wasn’t from pain.

A shockwave of red energy blasted out of his body, sending the operative flying into a wall.

The other masked agents staggered back.

Kian stared at his hands.

They were glowing.

Bright crimson lines crawled under his skin, pulsing like a heartbeat.

“What… what is THIS?!” he gasped.

His vision blurred, but he saw everything more clearly than ever.

He could hear the operatives’ breathing.

He could sense their movements.

His muscles felt light, powerful—alive.

One operative recovered and lunged.

Kian moved without thinking.

His fist collided with the attacker’s chest—

BOOOOM!

The man flew across the street like a ragdoll, crashing through a neon sign.

Kian stumbled backward in shock.

“I—I didn’t mean to do that!”

The leader tilted his head.

“…Awakening detected.”

He raised two fingers to his mask.

“All units, increase threat level. Subject is unstable. Neutralize if necessary.”

The operatives spread into formation.

Kian felt fear flood him again—but something else swelled beneath it.

A voice.

A whisper inside his mind.

“Wake up.”

His left arm ignited with blinding red light.

A strange symbol burned into his skin —a circle of fangs surrounding an eye.

Kian screamed and fell to his knees.

“It burns—!! I don’t understand—!!”

The operatives charged.

But a bullet whizzed through the air.

BANG!

One operative dropped instantly.

A woman’s voice echoed through the storm.

“Step away from him!”

Kian looked up through the rain.

A silver-haired woman in glasses stood on top of a car, holding a sleek handgun. Her white coat fluttered in the wind.

“Amara… Yuki—who…?” Kian whispered, barely conscious.

She leapt down and landed beside him.

“You can awaken in the middle of the street? Seriously? Didn’t anyone teach you restraint?”

Kian blinked. “W-Who are you…?”

“No time. You’re going to die if you stay here.”

She grabbed his collar. “Move!”

The leader of the operatives stepped forward.

“Dr. Yukishiro. Hand over the subject.”

“Over my dead body,” she replied coolly.

“Accepted.”

The operatives surged toward them.

Amara shoved Kian toward the alley. “Run! Don’t try to fight again—you can’t control your power!”

Another blade sliced the air behind them.

Kian felt heat explode inside his chest again—but Amara pulled him aside, firing perfect shots that forced the masked men back.

She grabbed Kian’s hand tightly.

“Do. Not. Look back.”

And together, they ran into the stormy darkness.

As Kian stumbled beside her, his arm still glowing painfully, one question pulsed in his mind:

What… am I?