---
Return to the Safehouse
The streets of Kurokawa City were unusually quiet.
Akira, Hiroshi, and Daisuke moved through the city's back alleys, keeping their heads down. Their bodies ached from the brutal fight against Ryo "Bloodhound" Asakura.
And yet, none of them spoke.
Because they had failed.
Ryo had gotten away. Worse, he had been rescued.
And they all knew what that meant.
The Phantom Syndicate wasn't just watching them.
They were actively moving.
By the time they reached their safehouse—an abandoned warehouse near the city's industrial district—Akira could feel the weight in his chest growing heavier.
Kenji was gone.
And soon, their enemy would strike again.
---
Inside the Safehouse
The atmosphere inside was tense.
Mei Takeda sat cross-legged on a crate, sharpening a combat knife with slow, deliberate strokes. Shoji Nakamura leaned against the wall near the window, his arms crossed, his expression unreadable. Nao Mizushima sat on a steel drum, idly flipping a coin between her fingers.
But Akira's gaze immediately went to Renji Arata.
Their strategist. The one person who could make sense of this mess.
Renji was seated at the table in the center of the room, studying a map of the city, lines and symbols drawn across it. His usual confident smirk was gone.
The first thing he said when they walked in was:
"Tell me everything."
They did.
By the time they finished, the air in the room felt thick.
Shoji was the first to speak. "So. Minh personally stepped in to save Ryo."
Mei exhaled through her nose, setting her knife down. "That's bad."
Nao flicked her coin into the air. "More than bad," she muttered. "It means they aren't waiting for us to come to them anymore."
Hiroshi let out a bitter chuckle. "Yeah. We noticed."
Renji leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. His fingers interlocked, his sharp eyes scanning the map. "Minh doesn't make moves without a reason." He tapped a specific point on the map—the central district of Kurokawa City.
"Whatever they're planning," he said, "it's happening here."
---
Analyzing the Situation
Akira sat down across from Renji. "Let's break this down logically."
Renji nodded. "Agreed. First, the facts."
1. The Phantom Syndicate has been watching them closely.
If Minh knew exactly when to intervene, that meant they had spies or some other method of tracking them.
Which means nowhere is truly safe.
2. The Syndicate is accelerating their plans.
Minh's involvement meant things were changing.
They no longer had the luxury of time.
3. The Syndicate still wants them alive— for now.
If Minh had really wanted them dead, he could have done it already.
That meant the enemy had another goal.
Shoji narrowed his eyes. "So the question is—why?"
Mei tapped her knife against her knee. "What if it's a trap?"
Daisuke raised an eyebrow. "A trap?"
She nodded. "Think about it. If they wanted us dead, they wouldn't need to play games. But if they want us somewhere specific, they'll make sure we end up there."
Nao caught her coin, smirking slightly. "Classic strategy."
Akira exhaled. "Then that means they're setting the stage for something."
Renji nodded. "Exactly." He looked back at the map, his voice steady. "And if we don't figure out what it is before it happens, we're already dead."
---
The Rising Storm
Meanwhile—
Deep beneath Kurokawa City, in the Phantom Syndicate's hidden stronghold, Minh sat in a dimly lit room.
Before him stood the Inner Circle.
The most dangerous members of the Phantom Syndicate.
Shinobu Kuroda, the Architect.
Ayaka Fujiwara, the Warhead.
Takashi "Void" Nakamura, the Hollow Specter.
Reika Hoshino, the Marionette.
And at the center of them all—Cetz.
The Phantom King.
Minh exhaled slowly. "The Bloodhound failed."
No one reacted.
They had already expected it.
Minh rested his chin on his interlocked fingers. "But his fight with Akira's group confirmed something important." His violet eyes glowed softly.
"They're evolving."
Cetz smirked slightly. "And that's exactly what we wanted, isn't it?"
Minh nodded. "Yes. Because now—they're ready."
Shinobu raised an eyebrow. "Ready for what?"
Minh's fingers tapped against the table. "For the final stage."
Silence.
Then—Cetz chuckled, his violet eyes gleaming. "Well then."
He turned toward the door. "I suppose it's time we let them know."
---
Declaration of War
Back at the Safehouse—
The television suddenly flickered on.
The room froze.
Static.
Then—
A voice.
Smooth. Calculated.
Familiar.
"Good evening."
Akira's stomach dropped.
The screen cleared—
Revealing a single figure standing in a dark room, bathed in eerie purple light.
Cetz.
The Phantom King smiled.
"It's been entertaining watching you all struggle," he said, his voice dripping with amusement. "Truly. But playtime is over."
Akira's fingers curled into fists.
Cetz's violet eyes gleamed.
"The Phantom Syndicate has been generous so far," he continued. "We've given you time to grow. Time to train. Time to play the little heroes."
His smile disappeared.
"But that time is up."
The air felt colder.
Then—Cetz leaned forward slightly, his voice soft, but razor-sharp.
"We're coming for you now."
The screen cut to black.
Silence.
No one spoke for several seconds.
Shoji finally exhaled. "So. It's happening."
Daisuke let out a slow breath. "Damn. No pressure or anything."
Akira closed his eyes for a moment.
Then—he grinned.
"Good."
He opened his eyes, fire burning within them.
"Let them come."
Because this time—
They were ready.
---