Chapter 7

Inside the shrine, darkness pressed in from every corner.

The only light came from their phones and the small torch clipped to Arata’s tactical vest. Shadows stretched across the wooden walls, shifting with every breath.

No one spoke for several minutes.

Riku lay on his back staring at the ceiling panels.

Takeru sat upright against a wooden pillar, hands clasped tightly together.

Mina and Haruka sat close, whispering under their breath.

Arata sat against the far wall.

Shotgun resting across his lap.

Glock secured at his hip.

Combat knife strapped to his thigh.

Still.

Listening.

Then—

Footsteps.

Outside.

Slow.

Measured.

Not dragging.

Riku shot upright. “What was that?”

Mina’s voice trembled. “A zombie?”

“Could be,” Riku whispered.

Arata shook his head once.

“No. It’s controlled.”

The footsteps stopped just beyond the shrine entrance.

Haruka tightened her grip around Mina. “Then what do we do?”

Arata stood.

He drew the knife from his thigh and moved toward the door.

He opened it just enough to scan outside.

Moonlight washed over the stone courtyard.

A soldier stood near the steps.

Black tactical uniform.

Unfamiliar insignia.

He wasn’t searching.

He was waiting.

Arata shifted his foot deliberately on loose gravel.

The sound was small.

Intentional.

The soldier’s head snapped toward it.

Arata slipped back inside.

“Are you insane?” Riku hissed. “What if he shoots?”

“Quiet,” Arata said calmly.

The door creaked open.

The soldier stepped inside, rifle raised slightly as his eyes adjusted to the dark.

He saw Takeru first.

Then Riku.

Then the girls.

Before he could react—

Arata moved.

Two steps.

A sharp twist of the rifle.

The weapon slammed into the wall and fell.

Arata drove him into a pillar and pressed the blade against his throat.

“Who are you?” Arata asked.

The soldier smiled.

“You know who I am.”

Arata struck the side of his neck with precise force.

The man collapsed.

They tied him tightly to one of the shrine’s support poles.

When he woke, tension filled the room.

Riku paced.

Takeru stood in front of him, trying to look composed.

Mina avoided looking at the captive.

Haruka watched Arata carefully.

The soldier blinked once, assessing the room.

Then his eyes settled on Arata.

“Well,” he said lightly. “Didn’t think you were the type to protect civilians, Thirteen.”

The name froze the air.

Riku turned sharply. “How does he know your code name?”

Takeru stepped forward. “Who are you?”

The soldier ignored him.

His focus remained on Arata.

“He’s offshore black ops,” Arata said evenly. “Early phase enhancement.”

Riku frowned. “Enhancement?”

“First deployment batch,” Arata continued. “Not fully stabilized.”

The soldier smirked.

“Still acting like you’re above Phase One,” he said.

Riku looked confused. “Phase One?”

“The trial group,” the soldier replied calmly. “We were deployed before refinement.”

Mina swallowed. “Refinement for what?”

Silence.

The soldier tilted his head slightly.

“You escaped before evaluation,” he said to Arata. “Didn’t you?”

Takeru blinked. “Evaluation?”

“Final calibration,” the soldier continued. “Neural stabilization.”

Arata’s expression didn’t change.

“I don’t need stabilization,” he said flatly.

The soldier’s smile lingered.

“You’ll see.”

Arata stepped closer.

“Did you go rogue,” he asked, “or were you sent?”

A pause.

“Does it matter?” the soldier replied.

“Yes.”

Another pause.

“Maybe I was sent,” he said calmly. “Maybe I just wanted to confirm you were still alive.”

Silence settled heavily over the shrine.

Arata studied him for several seconds.

Then stepped back.

He wasn’t staying to debate programs and phases.

They needed supplies.

Morning light filtered through the shrine doors.

Arata was already standing.

“We’re moving.”

Riku looked tired. “Where?”

“Supplies,” Arata answered. “Food. Water. Medical. We don’t have enough.”

Takeru glanced at the tied soldier. “What about him?”

“We leave him,” Arata said.

“But we can’t just—”

“Then stay with him.”

No hesitation.

The soldier chuckled softly.

“Still efficient,” he muttered.

Riku hesitated only a second before grabbing his axe.

Mina followed Haruka.

Takeru lingered the longest.

Then he turned and followed the others.

Arata stepped out first.

The morning air was cold.

Osaka stretched ahead of them — silent, ruined, waiting.

Behind them, inside the shrine, the soldier watched the doorway long after they disappeared.

He tested the rope once.

Then leaned his head back against the pillar.

Outside the shrine grounds—

Far beyond the broken streets—

Another presence moved through the city.

Unseen.

Patient.

And closing in.