Chapter 3: Kage's Hunt Begins

The rain hadn’t stopped since the night Kian awakened.

Dark clouds hung low over Neo-Tokyo, and the city felt heavier than usual—like it was holding its breath.

Kian sat on the edge of Amara’s small apartment rooftop, staring at the glowing scarlet rune carved into his forearm. At times it pulsed softly, like a living heartbeat.

He hated it.

It felt like a chain he didn’t ask for.

Amara stood behind him, her lab coat fluttering in the wind.

She was speaking softly into her earpiece, voice tense.

“–Yes. Subject X-01 has awakened. No, he isn’t stable yet. And KAGE has already deployed hunters.”

Kian sighed.

“I can hear you, you know.”

Amara stopped, exhaled, and sat beside him.

“You should. Your hearing is enhanced now.” She crossed her arms. “But that’s not the point. KAGE knows where you are. They’re coming.”

Kian tensed.

“Because of this—thing on my arm?”

Amara shook her head.

“Because of what you are.”

Before he could ask, she handed him a small silver device. It hummed softly.

“A tracker disruptor,” she explained. “Your body emits a unique energy signature. This will help mask it.”

Kian frowned.

“So they’re after me like some kind of animal.”

“Not an animal,” Amara corrected. “A weapon.”

---

Across the city…

Inside a towering obsidian skyscraper, KAGE’s command center buzzed with activity.

A hologram of Kian’s face flickered above a circular table.

“Subject X-01 confirmed awakened,” an operative reported. “Energy output surpasses predicted levels.”

A man in a black combat coat stepped forward—eyes cold, expression unreadable.

Leon Kurosawa.

The most perfected Awakened Weapon ever created.

“Let me handle it,” Leon said calmly.

The commander hesitated. “Kurosawa… X-01 is unstable. He may trigger a city-level event if provoked.”

Leon’s lips curved into the faintest smile.

“Then I’ll make sure he doesn’t have the chance.”

The room fell silent as the Hunters prepared to deploy.

---

Back at the apartment…

Amara pulled a map up on her tablet.

“KAGE’s hunters work fast,” she said. “They’ll sweep the district in minutes. You and I need to move.”

Kian hesitated.

“Amara… why are you helping me? I barely know you.”

She froze for a moment, then looked away.

“…Because I was part of the team that created you.”

His heart dropped.

“You what?”

“I didn’t agree with the project,” she said quickly. “I was young then. I didn’t understand what they were doing to you. When I found out they planned to weaponize you—experiment on you—I escaped with the research notes.”

Kian stared at her, fists trembling.

“So everything that’s happening… everything I am… is because of KAGE?”

“Yes.”

Her voice cracked slightly.

“And I’m trying to fix the mistake.”

The tension between them was heavy, almost suffocating.

But then—

BZZZZT—

CRACK—

The rooftop lights flickered violently.

Amara’s eyes widened.

“No… they’re here.”

From the surrounding buildings, black-armored figures emerged—KAGE operatives with glowing visors tracking Kian’s energy signature.

“Kian!” Amara shouted. “Don’t use too much power! You’re not stable yet!”

But the rune on his arm began to burn bright. Instinct surged through his veins.

A KAGE sniper fired.

Kian didn’t think—his body moved on its own.

He leapt into the air, spinning, the bullet slicing past his cheek.

A shockwave erupted beneath him, cracking the rooftop.

Amara shielded her face from the blast.

“Kian, stop! You’ll overload—!”

But Kian wasn’t listening.

His heartbeat synced with the rune’s pulsing light.

One of the operatives aimed at Amara.

Kian’s vision blurred red.

“No…”

His voice was low, trembling, furious.

“You’re not taking her.”

He slammed his palm into the ground—

A crimson shockwave blasted outward, throwing the operatives across the rooftops like ragdolls.

Amara stared in disbelief.

“That output… it’s already this high…?”

Kian staggered, grabbing his head as energy crackled around him uncontrollably.

“What’s… happening to me?”

Then—

A shadow descended from above.

Landing silently.

Effortlessly.

Leon.

He looked at Kian with cold, unreadable eyes.

“So. You finally woke up, brother.”

Kian’s breath stopped.

“Brother…?”

Amara gasped.

“Kurosawa—already?!”

Leon stepped forward.

“You’re coming with me. KAGE needs you alive.”

Kian clenched his fists.

“I’m not going anywhere with you.”

Leon sighed.

“…Then I’ll break you until you comply.”

He vanished.

Reappeared behind Kian in less than a heartbeat.

A devastating blow struck Kian’s stomach—

BOOM.

Kian crashed into the rooftop wall, the impact shaking the entire building.

Leon lowered his hand calmly.

“You’re not ready to fight me.”

Kian coughed, trying to stand, vision fading.

Amara ran toward him.

“Kian—stay with me!”

Leon’s eyes glowed faintly blue as he raised his hand.

“I’ll return him to base. Move aside, Dr. Yukishiro.”

Amara stepped in front of Kian, trembling.

“No.”

Leon paused. “…You’ll die.”

“I don’t care.”

For a moment, the wind was the only sound between them.

Then Leon lowered his hand slowly.

“I’ll spare you. This time.”

He turned away as KAGE operatives regrouped behind him.

“X-01 is unstable. He’ll destroy himself at this rate. Capture can wait.”

Leon leapt from the building, disappearing into the fog.

The hunters retreated with him.

Leaving Kian and Amara alone on the shattered rooftop.

Kian struggled to breathe.

“Amara… I… couldn’t do anything…”

She helped him sit up, supporting his weight.

“It’s okay,” she whispered. “You survived him. That’s enough for now.”

But Kian’s eyes were filled with something new—

Not fear.

Determination.

“I’ll get stronger,” he said through clenched teeth. “I’ll control this power. And then… I’ll stop him.”

Amara nodded slowly.

“Then we train. Starting now. Before they come back.”