We didn't stop running until we reached the rooftop of an abandoned building, the city sprawling beneath us like a maze of shadows and secrets. My legs felt like lead, my chest heaving as I struggled to catch my breath. Touka leaned against the rusted railing, her eyes fixed on the streets below, still tense and alert.
"Who the hell were they?" I whispered, wiping the sweat from my forehead.
Touka didn't respond immediately, her jaw clenched and her fingers white-knuckled around the metal. "I don't know," she finally said, her voice low and tight. "But they weren't just hunters. The way they moved... it's like they knew exactly how to counter us."
I glanced down at my arm, where the cut from the smaller figure still stung despite the hastily wrapped bandage. "They had training. Maybe... CCG?"
She shook her head. "No. CCG doesn't move like that. They don't wear masks and coordinate like that either. This was something else. Something... worse."
A heavy silence settled between us, and I couldn't help but notice how Touka's hands trembled ever so slightly. She was scared—no, furious. I wasn't sure which emotion dominated, but I knew one thing: I didn't want to see her like this—shaken, uncertain.
I moved closer, resting a hand on her shoulder. "Hey... we're okay. We made it out."
Her gaze softened, and she let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. "You're right. But next time, don't be so reckless. You almost got yourself killed back there."
I chuckled weakly. "I wasn't about to let them hurt you. That's all that mattered."
She gave me a sidelong glance, and for a moment, something flickered in her eyes—something fragile, almost vulnerable. Then she rolled her eyes and nudged my shoulder. "Idiot."
Before I could respond, a familiar notification appeared.
[New Quest: Unmask the Hidden Threat. Objective: Gather intelligence about the masked hunters. Reward: Enhanced Combat Awareness.]
I swallowed down the frustration. These damned quests always popped up at the worst times. But if they were guiding me toward the truth about these hunters, I couldn't just ignore it.
Touka noticed my distracted look and raised an eyebrow. "What now?"
"Just... more stuff to figure out," I muttered, brushing it off. "We need to be smarter about this. Charging in without knowing what we're up against could get us both killed."
She nodded reluctantly. "We'll ask Yoshimura. He might know something—or at least have an idea of who would target ghouls like that."
The thought gave me a small spark of hope. Yoshimura had seen more than anyone else in Anteiku. If anyone could make sense of this threat, it was him.
We moved cautiously through the winding streets, keeping to the shadows and avoiding open spaces. The sun dipped lower, painting the sky in hues of crimson and amber. My mind raced with possibilities, but none of them settled. Who were those hunters? Why did they seem so intent on wiping out ghouls?
When we finally reached Anteiku, it was quiet—too quiet. I pushed the door open carefully, and Yoshimura glanced up from behind the counter, his eyes sharp with concern.
"You're hurt," he noted immediately, his gaze shifting between the two of us.
"It's nothing serious," I replied, trying to downplay the situation.
Touka wasn't as subtle. "We got ambushed. Two masked figures—skilled, precise. They weren't like the usual hunters."
Yoshimura's expression darkened, and he gestured for us to sit. "Masked hunters... It's been a long time since I've heard of such a thing."
"What do you mean?" I pressed.
He sighed. "There was a time when rogue factions of ghouls and humans banded together to eradicate 'impure' ghouls—those who didn't fit their vision of strength and purity. They were ruthless, fanatical. We thought they'd been wiped out years ago."
Touka's eyes widened. "You're saying they're back?"
"It seems so," Yoshimura replied, his tone grave. "If they've returned, it means they're after more than just territory—they're after extermination."
A knot formed in my stomach. Extermination. This wasn't just a threat—it was a declaration of war.
"We need to prepare," I said firmly. "If they're really back, they won't stop at just one or two ghouls."
Yoshimura nodded slowly. "Agreed. We'll strengthen our defenses and gather as much information as possible. In the meantime, stay vigilant. They're likely to strike again."
I exchanged a glance with Touka, determination hardening my resolve. We had survived the first attack, but it was only the beginning. The storm was coming, and if we didn't act soon, Anteiku—and everyone we cared about—could be caught in its deadly path.