Chapter 7: The Night the Monsters Returned

Night fell, and unlike usual, Kamito—who was searching for jobs online—felt uneasy. Restless. Something dark pulsed at the edge of his senses.

“Kamito, you look very nervous. Is it because you still haven’t found a job?” his mother asked.

“No… but for some reason, I feel like something bad is going to happen.” Kamito answered.

And he was right.

A thunderous explosion boomed from the direction of Shibuya.
A loud shockwave rumbled through the city.

Meanwhile, a Special Task Force had already been deployed.

A woman with long black-red hair tied in a ponytail, and red eyes, stepped into the scene wearing black tactical armor.

She was Sera Amanai—Commander of T.U.A.D.F (Tactical Unit Advance Division Force).

Her troops quickly set up barricades as civilians were evacuated.

“Area 1 secured!”
“Area 2 secured!”
The reports echoed one after another.

“Commander Amanai, we’ve found an anomaly near the alley, though we’re not certain yet.”

“Check it immediately. We cannot relax—not even for a second. Or the Ground Wave incident from the past will repeat itself.”

“Yes, ma’am!”

Her unit moved into the alley—and what they found made their blood run cold.

The Ground Wave had reached 100% Phase Activation.
Monsters were about to emerge.

A beast burst from the ground—

Kuragami Burrower.
A massive earth-creature resembling a giant rat covered in black rock.

“Damn it! Open fire! Fire! FIRE!”

“AAAARGH—!”

“Bravo Team, report! Report your status!”

Silence.

“Damn it… all units, prepare for combat! We’ve lost Bravo Team!”

Commander Amanai gritted her teeth and ordered Shoot to Kill.

Suddenly, hordes of small shadowy creatures appeared—

Gloom Goblins.
Thin, hollow-eyed goblins born from low-tier Etheric Fractures.

They rushed at the TAD units. Bullets of magical energy cut them down, but one goblin survived—only for Amanai to step forward.

“I’ll handle this.”

She drew her pistol and shot the goblin in the head with perfect precision.

Then another variant appeared—attacking fleeing civilians.

Dirge Goblins.
Goblins infused with Abyss Essence, bulkier and ash-grey.

The TAD soldiers fired relentlessly, killing them—but the numbers grew overwhelming.
Fear spread among survivors. Memories of the disaster ten years earlier resurfaced.

Then, a deeper roar shook the city.

A giant silhouette stepped out of the Rift.

Stonehide Ogre.
A colossal ogre with skin as hard as dried earth.

TAD immediately fired a rocket.

Shoot.
BOOM—!

The ogre exploded into pieces.

But another variant emerged—

Granitebreaker Ogre.
Its punches could crack the habitat of a Rift.

The battlefield spiraled into chaos.
Monsters of all kinds overwhelmed the city.

And then the worst nightmare came.

Volcanic Boar – “Firebelly Tusker.”
The magma-coated hell-beast that once burned Tokyo.

Dozens of them appeared.

Commander Amanai’s pupils shrank.

“Damn it… why now…?”
“Will the tragedy from ten years ago happen again…?”

— — —

Meanwhile, Kamito stared at the TV—rage boiling in his chest.

The creature that killed his father… had returned.

“Kamito, where are you going? Don’t tell me you’re going there!” his mother shouted.

Shion looked terrified.

But Kamito clenched his fists.

“I won’t stand still this time. I won’t let anyone suffer the same fate as me!”

His mother smiled sadly.

“Then come back safely. We’ll be waiting.”

Kamito smiled in return.

“Ark, did you hear that?”

“Of course!”

“Then it’s time to act.”

“Okay—It’s Showtime!”

Kamito burst upstairs and changed into his battle gear:

A dark gray outfit

A long sleeveless mantle, dark brown/black, layered like armor

Heavy dark-brown gloves, especially reinforced on the right

Multiple straps wrapping around his forearms

Dark brown belt

Practical dark reddish-brown pants

Heavy boots

Long dramatic straps flowing behind his coat

He grabbed Ark and sheathed it behind him.

From the second floor, he leapt out toward Shibuya.

“This time… I won’t let the tragedy from ten years ago happen again.”

His resolve sharpened like the blade on his back.

— — —

Meanwhile, Masahiro Yuki gave an instruction to Natsume Airi.

“Airi, go assist Kamito-kun.”

“Eeeh, why must I help him?”

“I believe he will need support. And… I want you to collect Ground Wave Fragments as well.”

Airi instantly grew serious.

“If that’s your command, I will gladly assist Kamito Ryuga!”

With that, the hunt—and the night of monsters—had begun.