“It heard you while you are upstairs.” The corpse’s mouth stayed open after the words left it.
No breath.
No throat movement.
Just sound.
Everyone froze.
Sato kept the MP5 aimed at its head.
Shizuka’s axe stayed low but ready.
Amamiya’s flashlight shook once, then steadied.
Yuki did not joke.
That made the basement feel colder.
Ren stared at the kneeling corpse.
The system filled his vision.
— RESPONSE PATTERN ACTIVE — — DO NOT ANSWER — — DO NOT ANSWER — — DO NOT ANSWER — The corpse’s head tilted.
Slow.
Wrong.
“It heard you upstairs.” Same words.
Same pause.
Same dead mouth.
Sato whispered, “Who heard us?” Ren caught her wrist before she turned toward it.
“Do not answer.” Sato looked at him.
The corpse’s mouth moved again.
“Who heard us?” Sato went still.
The corpse had repeated her question.
Not answered it.
Repeated it.
The system opened.
— VERBAL MIRRORING DETECTED — — RESPONSE TRAP: LIKELY — — ANCHOR MODULE SEEKING ACTIVE VOICE LINK — — RECOMMENDATION: SILENCE — Ren lowered his voice.
“Do not ask it anything.” Sato nodded once.
The kneeling corpse tapped the floor.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
The corpse against the far wall twitched.
The one beside the metal cabinet dragged one finger across the concrete.
Amamiya whispered, “Please tell me they are not talking to each other.” The system did.
— ANCHOR RESONANCE BETWEEN SUBJECTS: ACTIVE — — COMMUNICATION CLASSIFICATION: UNKNOWN — — HOSTILITY: RISING — The corpse beside the cabinet pushed one palm against the floor.
Its elbow bent.
Bones cracked.
It began to rise.
Sato’s finger tightened on the trigger.
Ren said, “Wait.” Her eyes cut to him.
“It is standing.” “No heartbeat.
It is not alive.” “That makes shooting easier.” “Noisy.” Sato held.
The corpse rose halfway.
Its head hung loose.
The white wristband on its arm flickered with a faint blue line.
Then its mouth opened.
“Basement?” It used Shizuka’s voice.
Shizuka’s face went still.
Ren felt the air change beside him.
Not fear.
Violation.
The system opened.
— VOICE SAMPLE REPLAY DETECTED — — SOURCE: RECENT AUDIO CAPTURE — — PURPOSE: RESPONSE EXTRACTION — — RECOMMENDATION: SILENCE — The corpse spoke again.
“Moving?” Ren’s hand tightened on the dagger.
It had taken their words.
The ones from upstairs.
Yuki whispered, “That thing has bad taste.
It picked up boring lines.” The standing corpse turned toward her.
Yuki froze.
Its mouth opened.
“Bad taste.” Yuki’s smile vanished.
Ren moved before anyone spoke again.
Crowbar in his left hand.
Dagger in his right.
The skill knowledge flashes in his mind.
Edge.Grip.Angle.Do not overreach.
The corpse attempted to lunged at Ren, giving him the chance to smash the crowbar into its knee.
The knee joint immediately folded sideways.
No scream, No pain, But it kept reaching.
Shizuka moved beside him and drove the axe into its shoulder, pinning it down.
Ren used his dagger cut through the white wristband.
Rubber.
Wire.
Something wet underneath.
The blue light died.
The corpse dropped like strings had been cut.
The system opened.
— ANCHOR LINK SEVERED — — HOSTILE EXTENSION DISABLED — — CLASSIFICATION: ANCHOR-PUPPETED CORPSE — — XCHANGE CREDIT CONDITION: MET — — CREDIT GAINED: +8 — Not a creature or a human anymore in the way that mattered.
A body moved by the other side.
That counted as a kill.
Sato saw the corpse drop.
Then looked at Ren’s dagger.
“You aimed for the band.” “Band controls it.” “How did you know?” “Because it lit up.” Sato did not believe him.
Shizuka moved slightly closer to Ren.
The far wall corpse moved.
Sato turned and fired once.
Suppressed.
The shot hit the wristband.
Not clean.
It sparked.
The corpse jerked, then crawled faster.
Sato cursed.
“Small target.” Ren said, “Break the limb first.” Shizuka moved before Sato answered.
The corpse crawled on elbows, head dragging, mouth opening and closing.
“Later.” It used Shizuka’s voice again.
“Later.” Sato fired into the shoulder.
The impact slowed it.
Shizuka stepped in and brought the axe down on the forearm.
Bone cracked.
Ren slid to the side and cut the wristband.
The corpse dropped.
— ANCHOR LINK SEVERED — — SUBJECT MOTION STOPPED — — HOSTILE EXTENSION DISABLED — — CLASSIFICATION: ANCHOR-PUPPETED CORPSE — — XCHANGE CREDIT CONDITION: MET — — CREDIT GAINED: +8 — — XCHANGE CREDIT BALANCE: 35 — Amamiya exhaled too loudly.
“Great, now we get to clean up nightmares.” Ren looked at him.
Amamiya blinked.
“What?” “Nothing.” He had said exactly what Ren was thinking.
The kneeling corpse still faced the broken module.
It had not moved.
Its finger tapped the floor.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Then its mouth opened.
“I am watching.” Ren froze.
Shizuka looked at him.
That was not from upstairs.
That was not from anyone in the room.
The system flickered.
— PHRASE MATCH DETECTED — — SOURCE: SYSTEM OUTPUT — — AUDIO SAMPLE IMPOSSIBLE — — ERROR — — ERROR — — ERROR — The corpse’s head turned toward Ren.
Its eyes were clouded.
Dry.
Empty.
Still, Ren felt seen.
The system opened again.
— IT COPIED ME — The line stayed.
No correction.
Ren’s pulse rose.
The corpse spoke with no breath.
“I am watching.” Then, in Ren’s own voice.
“Do not answer.” Yuki whispered, “I hate that more.” Amamiya nodded.
“Same.” Sato looked at Ren.
“It used your voice.” Ren did not answer.
The corpse’s finger tapped.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
The module pulsed brighter.
Every phone in the basement lit at once.
Ren’s.
Sato’s.
Dead phones near the shelves.
A cracked tablet under a chair.
All screens flashed white.
Then black.
Then white.
The system opened.
— DAMAGED ANCHOR MODULE OUTPUT RISING — — CORPSE MOTION LINK: PRIMARY SUBJECT — — TARGET: REN KURONO — — RESPONSE EXTRACTION: ACTIVE — — RECOMMENDATION: DISABLE MODULE — The kneeling corpse lunged.
Fast.
Too fast this time.
Sato fired.
The bullet hit its chest.
No effect.
Shizuka caught its arm with the axe handle and drove it sideways.
Ren stepped in, aiming for the wristband.
The corpse twisted and using its other hand grabbed his jacket.
Cold fingers and strong.
It opened its mouth.
Ren felt the pressure before sound came out.
Like something pushing against his ears from inside his skull.
The system screamed in his vision.
— DO NOT ANSWER — — DO NOT ANSWER — — DO NOT ANSWER — The corpse spoke in Shizuka’s voice.
“Ren?” His body almost answered.
Shizuka responded with her axe instead.She slammed the blade into the corpse’s elbow.
Sato moved in from the other side and pinned its wrist against the floor with her boot.
“Band.” Ren cut.
The dagger sliced through the wristband.
Blue light flared.
Then died.
The corpse dropped.
The module screamed.
Not sound.
Signal.
The lights flickered.
The dead phones went black.
The basement became still.
The system opened.
— PRIMARY LINK SEVERED — — CORPSE MOTION: STOPPED — — DAMAGED ANCHOR MODULE: ACTIVE — — LOCAL CACHE: PRESENT — — STORAGE VALUE: HIGH — — DISASSEMBLY VALUE: HIGH — Ren looked at his XChange.
— XCHANGE AVAILABLE — — CREDIT BALANCE: 51 — — AVAILABLE [ITEM] — — [ITEM] BASIC MEDICAL PACK: 12 CREDITS — — [ITEM] SIGNAL FOIL WRAP: 8 CREDITS — — [ITEM] EMERGENCY POTION: 50 CREDITS — — AVAILABLE [SKILL] — — [SKILL] SILENT STEP: 30 CREDITS — — [SKILL] BLUNT WEAPON [ONE HAND]: 15 CREDITS — — AVAILABLE [SYSTEM] — — [SYSTEM] SPATIAL WAREHOUSE: LOCKED — — [SYSTEM] DISASSEMBLY: LOCKED — Storage first.Dissassembly later.
The module stayed on the floor.
Ren hated leaving it.
He hated touching it more.
He crouched, wrapped it in a towel, and shoved it into his bag.
The bag pulled hard on his shoulder.
Too much.
Too many things now.
Ammo.
Medical supplies.
Tools.
Black case parts.
Food.
Rope.
The system opened.
— CARRY LOAD: INEFFICIENT — — SUPPLY LOSS RISK: HIGH — — COMBAT MOBILITY REDUCED — — NEW [SYSTEM] UNLOCK CONDITION APPROACHING — Ren stood.
Sato watched him.
“Why did you take it?” “For evidence.” Sato held his stare.
Then nodded once.
A crash came from the ground floor upstairs.
Yuki’s head snapped toward the stairs.
“Main Entrance.” Amamiya looked up.
“Please say it’s just the wind.” Sato raised the MP5.
“Wind does not break doors.” The system opened.
— HOSTILE PRESENCE DETECTED — — ENTRY POINT: MAIN ENTRANCE– — COUNT: 4 — — SPECIES: CANINE MUTATION — — ATTRACTED BY: MODULE SIGNAL DISCHARGE — — ROUTE: GROUND FLOOR TO STAIRS — — TIME TO CONTACT: 00:29 — Ren tightened his grip on the crowbar.
“Creatures.” Sato understood.
Survival.
They ran up to the ground floor.
The lobby had changed.
The cardboard over the main entrance glass had been torn inward.
One mutated dog forced itself through the gap, shoulders scraping glass.
Another crawled over the reception desk.
A third sniffed near the stairwell.
A fourth stayed outside, pacing.
Long legs.
Wet fur.
Ribs sharp.
Eyes wrong.
Sato fired first.
Suppressed bursts cracked through the lobby.
The first dog’s head snapped sideways, but it kept moving.
She adjusted lower and fired into the neck.
It dropped.
— CREATURE EXTERMINATION DETECTED — — DISTANCE FROM REN: 9 M — — CREDIT RANGE: VALID — — CREDIT GAINED: +6 — — XCHANGE CREDIT BALANCE: 33 — The second dog launched over the reception desk.
Shizuka met it before it reached Sato.
Axe low.
Step in.
Impact through shoulder.
The blade stuck.
The dog twisted.
Ren moved with the dagger.
Close.
Short.
He drove the blade behind the jaw, enough to turn its head.
Shizuka ripped the axe free and struck again.
The dog collapsed.
— CREATURE EXTERMINATION DETECTED — — DISTANCE FROM REN: 4 M — — CREDIT RANGE: VALID — — CREDIT GAINED: +6 — — XCHANGE CREDIT BALANCE: 39 — The third dog ran for the stairs.
Toward the second floor.
Toward the weak couple.
Ren moved in range with the dog and stepped into its path.
The dog lunged.
Ren dropped low and hit its front leg with the crowbar.
Bone cracked.
The dog fell forward, jaws snapping inches from his shoulder.
Shizuka shouted his name.
Sato fired once.
The bullet took the dog through the eye.
It dropped against Ren’s boot.
The system opened.
— CREATURE EXTERMINATION DETECTED — — DISTANCE FROM REN: 1 M — — CREDIT RANGE: VALID — — CREDIT GAINED: +6 — — XCHANGE CREDIT BALANCE: 69 — For one second, no one moved.
Then the woman from the second floor cried from behind her door.
“Please help.” Sato looked up.
Ren looked at the dead dog blocking the stair.
“Tell them to stay inside.” Sato’s expression shifted.
“Ren.” “What?” “You protected them.” “It was going upstairs.” “To them.” “No,I stopped it before it got to them.” Sato walked over and grabbed the back of his jacket.
Ren barely had time to turn before she pulled him into her.
His face hit something soft and warm.
Her arms locked around his shoulders.
“Good work,” Sato said.
Ren froze.
Shizuka’s aura changed.
The lobby felt colder than the basement.
Yuki took one step back.
Amamiya took two.
Sato looked over Ren’s head.
“What?” Shizuka smiled and asked coldly.
“What are you doing?” Sato’s mouth curved.
“Stop looking like you are about to kill me.” Yuki whispered, “Wow.
Scary girlfriend.” Shizuka looked at her.
“I’m still not scary enough for her.” Ren pulled back, ears hot, surrounded with blood and carcass of dead dogs.
“All I did was to kill that dog.” Sato released him.
“You protected them.” Ren looked away.
No credits for being hugged.
Only problems.
The system opened.
— PARTY TRUST UPDATE — — SATO: INCREASED — — SHIZUKA: POSSESSIVE RESPONSE ELEVATED — — YUKI: AMUSEMENT HIGH — Ren closed the system before it got worse.
The fourth dog outside stopped pacing.
Then it turned its head away from them.
Not retreating, something else attracted its attention.
A clicking sound came from the street.
Ren looked through the broken entrance.
Two evolved ants moved across the road.
The dog snarled.
The ants clicked back.
The system opened.
— INTERSPECIES CONFLICT DETECTED — — CREATURE GROUP A: CANINE MUTATION — — CREATURE GROUP B: EVOLVED ANT — — RECOMMENDATION: OBSERVE — — ENGAGE AFTER DOMINANT SIDE WEAKENS — Ren raised one hand.
“Wait.” Sato looked at him.
“They are killing each other.” “Thats why we wait.” Shizuka understood first.
“We kill whatever survives.” Ren nodded.
“We will save bullets” Yuki smiled.
“You are colder than I thought.” Ren looked through the broken glass.
“I am adapting.” The dog charged.
One ant caught it by the side and dragged it down.
The second ant bit through its neck.
The dog went still.
The system opened.
— CREATURE EXTERMINATION DETECTED — — DISTANCE FROM REN: 14 M — — CREDIT RANGE: VALID — — CREDIT GAINED: +8 — — XCHANGE CREDIT BALANCE: 77 — The ants were injured from the fight and had one cracked leg.
The others brought its abdomen close to the ground, protecting it.
The system opened.
— DOMINANT SIDE: EVOLVED ANT — — REMAINING HOSTILES: 2 — — INJURY STATUS: MODERATE — — CREDIT VALUE: HIGH — — RECOMMENDATION: CONTROLLED ATTACK — Sato loaded the 9mm AP magazine into the MP5.
“Joints?” Ren nodded.
“Joints and underside.” Sato did not ask how he knew.
She fired a short burst.
The first ant’s front joint cracked.
Shizuka moved through the broken doorway and struck the injured leg with the axe.
Ren followed, crowbar low.
He slammed the crowbar under the jaws and lifted.
Not to throw, just to expose the underside.
Sato fired into the opening.
The ant convulsed and dropped.
— CREATURE EXTERMINATION DETECTED — — DISTANCE FROM REN: 6 M — — CREDIT RANGE: VALID — — CREDIT GAINED: +18 — — XCHANGE CREDIT BALANCE: 95 — The second ant climbed over the dead dog.
Yuki moved from the side and kicked a loose signboard under its legs, forcing it to lose its balance.
“Now.” Shizuka struck.
Ren drove the dagger into the soft line under the jaw and twisted away before it clamped down.
Sato fired once.
The ant dropped.
— CREATURE EXTERMINATION DETECTED — — DISTANCE FROM REN: 5 M — — CREDIT RANGE: VALID — — CREDIT GAINED: +18 — — XCHANGE CREDIT BALANCE: 113 — Yuki looked at Ren.
“You are watching me again?” “You threw your knife to distract the dog and created an opening.” Her face lit up.
“Oh.” Yuki blushed.
“You were looking at me.” Ren looked away.
“I was looking at your contribution.” “That still counts.” “No.” Yuki smiled wider.
“Four.” Shizuka’s aura darkened.
Ren looked tired.
“That does not count.” “It does now.” Sato checked the street.
“More incoming.” From the north, more gunfire cracked but not at them.
The system opened.
— SHIRAKAWA PMC DETECTED — — COUNT: 6 — — OBJECTIVE: SIGNAL SOURCE INVESTIGATION — — MODULE DISCHARGE TRACE: DETECTED — — CREATURE ENGAGEMENT: ACTIVE — — RECOMMENDATION: AVOID HUMAN CONTACT – Shirakawa.
Ren looked past the broken main entrance.
Shirakawa men had taken cover near two vehicles.
Three mutated dogs attacked them from the side street.
Two ants came from the canal.
The Shirakawa men had not seen Ren’s group yet.
Ren’s rule was simple.
If not noticed, sneak.
If noticed and outnumbered, withdraw.
If they could overpower safely, loot.
Right now, Shirakawa was busy.
The creatures were the money.
“We are pulling back,” Ren said.
Sato frowned.
“We leave?” “We get near the rear alley.
Stay hidden.
Let them fight.” Yuki grinned.
“Vulture route.” “Quiet route.” They moved through the service corridor toward the back.
The second floor door opened.
A woman looked out, face white.
“What is happening?” Sato stopped.
“Stay inside.” “There are these things outside.” “Yes, so stay inside.” The woman looked at Ren.
Then at the blood on the floor.
The old man coughed behind her.
Ren looked at the map.
If they stayed, Shirakawa might find them.
Living people give options.
Dead people give problems.
“Sato.” She looked at him.
“Get them moving if they can walk.” Sato’s face changed.
“You sure?” “No.
But it is dangerous if we leave them here.” Yuki smiled softly.
“Sure.” Ren pointed at her.
“No comments.” “One kiss point.” “Not now.” “Five.” Sato went up the stairs.
Shizuka stayed beside Ren.
“We are bringing more people?” “We help what we can.” The rear door opened into the alley.
Four dogs circled there.
Not mutated as badly as the others, but still wrong.
Wet fur.
Long legs.
Mouths too wide.
One had a torn ant leg stuck between its teeth.
The system opened.
— CREATURE PACK DETECTED — — COUNT: 4 — — INJURY STATUS: LIGHT — — CREDIT VALUE: MODERATE — — REAR EXIT BLOCKED — Ren sighed.
“Give us a break.” Sato returned behind them with the woman and the old man.
The old man could barely stand, one arm over Sato’s shoulder.
Sato saw the dogs.
“Ah dammit.” Yuki slipped to the side wall.
“I can distract.” “No,” Shizuka said.
Yuki smiled.
“Doesn’t count unless Ren says it.” Ren looked at her.
“No.” Her smile widened.
“Nine.” Shizuka’s aura darkened.
Yuki raised both hands.
“Later.” The dogs attacked.
Amamiya fired first.
His shot hit one in the shoulder.
It stumbled but kept coming.
Sato fired past him, two controlled shots into the neck.
It dropped.
— CREATURE EXTERMINATION DETECTED — — DISTANCE FROM REN: 11 M — — CREDIT RANGE: VALID — — CREDIT GAINED: +8 — — XCHANGE CREDIT BALANCE: 121 — Two dogs rushed Ren and Shizuka.
Ren caught the first with the crowbar across the jaw.
Shizuka stepped in and buried the axe into its side.
The second went low.
Yuki threw her utility knife with deadly accuracy and hit the dog in its eye causing it to flinch.
Ren drove the dagger into the neck gap.
Sato finished it with one suppressed shot.
— CREATURE EXTERMINATION DETECTED — — DISTANCE FROM REN: 3 M — — CREDIT RANGE: VALID — — CREDIT GAINED: +8 — — XCHANGE CREDIT BALANCE: 129 — — CREATURE EXTERMINATION DETECTED — — DISTANCE FROM REN: 2 M — — CREDIT RANGE: VALID — — CREDIT GAINED: +8 — — XCHANGE CREDIT BALANCE: 137 — The last dog turned to run.
Shizuka went after it.
Fast.
Angry.
The axe was too slow to keep up.
Ren saw it.
So did the system.
— PARTY MEMBER: SHIZUKA — — [SKILL] KENDO: 5/5 — — [SKILL] BLADED WEAPON [TWO HAND]: 4/5 — — CURRENT WEAPON: FIRE AXE — — WEAPON COMPATIBILITY: MODERATE — — RECOMMENDED ITEM AVAILABLE — The XChange flickered.
— AVAILABLE [ITEM] — — [ITEM] KATANA: 90 CREDITS — — USER COMPATIBILITY: SHIZUKA HIGH — — UPGRADE SLOTS: 3 — — CURRENT SLOT STATUS: EMPTY — — WARNING: PHYSICAL ITEM PURCHASE REQUIRES CONCEALED RETRIEVAL — Ren stared at the listing for half a second.
Not now.
Not in the middle of the alley.
If he pulled a katana out here, even Amamiya would stop pretending.
The listing faded, but Ren remembered it.
The last dog reached the alley mouth.
Shizuka adjusted her grip on the axe.
It was not the weapon she needed.
But it was the weapon she had.
She stepped in anyway.
One hard swing.
The axe bit into the dog’s shoulder and pinned it down while Sato fired once into its head.
The dog dropped.
— CREATURE EXTERMINATION DETECTED — — DISTANCE FROM REN: 8 M — — CREDIT RANGE: VALID — — CREDIT GAINED: +8 — — XCHANGE CREDIT BALANCE: 145 — Shizuka pulled the axe free.
Her face did not change, but Ren saw it.
Too slow.
Too heavy.
Wrong weapon.
He said nothing.
Not yet.
Yuki looked at Ren.
“You saw something.” “No.” She smiled.
“That is Seven.” Ren looked tired.
“You counted wrong.” “I am counting perfectly.” Shizuka turned her head.
Yuki raised both hands.
“Not spending them now.” Sato helped the woman and old man through the rear exit.
The old man looked at the dead dogs and almost fell.
“Don’t look,” Sato said.
He looked anyway.
People always did.
The street ahead opened near the canal.
Shirakawa gunfire still cracked from in front of them.
Then a heavier burst came from farther down.
Not MP5.
Rifle.
The system opened.
— CREATURE EXTERMINATION DETECTED — — DISTANCE FROM REN: 82 M — — CREDIT RANGE: VALID — — CREDIT GAINED: +12 — — XCHANGE CREDIT BALANCE: 157 — A Shirakawa rifle team killed one of the ants near the street.
Then another ant hit them from the flank.
Ren moved closer to the alley corner.
Not into the fight.
Within range.
Shizuka saw it.
“You are farming again.” “We are close enough.” Sato heard him this time but said nothing.
She was watching.
Yuki watched too.
Her eyes were too sharp.
The fight outside grew worse.
Three ants attacked the Shirakawa vehicles.
Dogs hit from the other side.
The creatures began killing each other around the humans.
The system opened.
— MULTI-SIDE CONFLICT DETECTED — — CREATURE PRESENCE: HIGH — — HUMAN ENGAGEMENT: SHIRAKAWA PMC — — RECOMMENDATION: REMAIN CONCEALED — — CREDIT RANGE: VALID — A dog died under ant mandibles.
The system opened.
— CREATURE EXTERMINATION DETECTED — — DISTANCE FROM REN: 74 M — — CREDIT RANGE: VALID — — CREDIT GAINED: +8 — — XCHANGE CREDIT BALANCE: 165 — Then a Shirakawa man killed the ant with rifle fire into the underside.
— CREATURE EXTERMINATION DETECTED — — DISTANCE FROM REN: 76 M — — CREDIT RANGE: VALID — — CREDIT GAINED: +18 — — XCHANGE CREDIT BALANCE: 183 — Another ant died under combined fire.
— CREATURE EXTERMINATION DETECTED — — DISTANCE FROM REN: 79 M — — CREDIT RANGE: VALID — — CREDIT GAINED: +18 — — XCHANGE CREDIT BALANCE: 201 — Then a larger dog leapt onto a Shirakawa soldier and dragged him down.
The contractor screamed.
No credit for the human.
The dog looked injured after.
Ren pointed.
“That one.” Sato followed his aim.
“I can hit it.” “Do it.” Sato fired.
Two suppressed bursts.
The dog dropped.
— CREATURE EXTERMINATION DETECTED — — DISTANCE FROM REN: 48 M — — CREDIT RANGE: VALID — — CREDIT GAINED: +12 — — XCHANGE CREDIT BALANCE: 213 — The Shirakawa men turned toward the direction of the gun shot.
Ren pulled back.
“Let’s go, now.” They moved before the others saw them clearly.
Sato guided the old couple into a side passage near the canal.
The woman clutched the old man and shook so hard her teeth clicked.
Sato looked at Ren.
“They slow us.” “True.” “Still?” Ren looked back at the fight.
Then at the woman.
“You know the area well ?” The woman nodded too fast.
“There is a laundry tunnel.
Behind the bathhouse.
It exits near the canal bridge.” Ren looked at Sato.
Sato’s expression shifted and nodded.
The woman pointed with a shaking hand.
“Through there.” The path took them behind a bathhouse, past bins, through a narrow covered passage.
The old couple stopped to catch their breath at the far end.
Behind them, Shirakawa shouted.
“They went through there.” Yuki looked at Ren.
“I know.” “Withdrawal.” Sato nodded.
“Tactical withdrawal.” A dog crashed through the bins behind them.
Then another.
Then an ant climbed over the bathhouse wall and slammed into the first dog.
Ren raised one hand.
“Wait.” The dog and ant tore into each other.
The second dog circled.
Shizuka held the axe low.
Sato covered with MP5.
Yuki held the utility knife.
Amamiya aimed his handgun and looked like he hated every second.
The ant killed the first dog.
— CREATURE EXTERMINATION DETECTED — — DISTANCE FROM REN: 7 M — — CREDIT RANGE: VALID — — CREDIT GAINED: +8 — — XCHANGE CREDIT BALANCE: 221 — The second dog bit the ant’s rear leg and tore it apart.
The ant turned and crushed the dog under its body.
— CREATURE EXTERMINATION DETECTED — — DISTANCE FROM REN: 6 M — — CREDIT RANGE: VALID — — CREDIT GAINED: +8 — — XCHANGE CREDIT BALANCE: 229 — Both were injured.
Ren moved.
“Now.” Shizuka struck first.
The axe smashed into the damaged joint.
It worked.
But it was ugly.
Too much weight.
Too much pull.
Sato fired into the opening.
The ant dropped.
— CREATURE EXTERMINATION DETECTED — — DISTANCE FROM REN: 7 M — — CREDIT RANGE: VALID — — CREDIT GAINED: +18 — — XCHANGE CREDIT BALANCE: 247 — The injured dog tried to crawl away.
Amamiya fired once.
Missed.
Yuki kicked the dog’s broken leg out from under it.
“Again, uncle.” Amamiya fired again.
This time it hit the head.
The dog dropped.
— CREATURE EXTERMINATION DETECTED — — DISTANCE FROM REN: 6 M — — CREDIT RANGE: VALID — — CREDIT GAINED: +8 — — XCHANGE CREDIT BALANCE: 255 — Amamiya stared at the dog.
“I contributed.” Yuki nodded.
“After you missed.” “I hate your support.” Shirakawa shouted again.
Closer.
Sato pushed the old couple forward.
The canal bridge waited ahead.
A dead Shirakawa PMC lay near the corner.
Armor cracked.
Rifle beside him.
Sato stopped.
Her face changed.
She crouched and checked the rifle.
Working.
Suppressed.
Low magazine.
She took it.
The system opened in Ren’s vision.
— EQUIPMENT ACQUIRED — — USER: SATO — — [ITEM] SUPPRESSED RIFLE — — AMMUNITION: 5.56MM — — CONDITION: USABLE — — EFFECTIVENESS AGAINST MUTATED ANT: HIGH — Sato checked the dead PMC’s belt and found two pistol magazines and a small suppressor.
Her hand paused.
“Handgun suppressor.” She fitted it to her handgun, then tucked the pistol away.
Now she had the MP5, the rifle, and a quiet sidearm.
Yuki looked at her.
“You are getting scarier.” Sato stood.
“I started scary.” The canal bridge shook.
Not from below.
From the road.
An evolved ant climbed over the railing, dragging half its body, a survivor from another fight.
Behind it, two smaller mutated dogs followed, both injured.
Creature against creature again.
Ren looked at the old couple.
They were behind Shizuka now.
Protected enough.
He looked at Sato.
“Kill survivors.” Sato raised the rifle.
The first shot hit the ant near the base of the jaw.
The 5.56 round punched through with a wet crack.
Regular 5.56 worked fine when the shot was good.
The ant staggered.
Shizuka struck the damaged leg with the axe.
Ren hit the underside with the crowbar.
Sato fired again.
The ant dropped.
— CREATURE EXTERMINATION DETECTED — — DISTANCE FROM REN: 10 M — — CREDIT RANGE: VALID — — CREDIT GAINED: +22 — — XCHANGE CREDIT BALANCE: 277 — The two dogs tried to flee.
Yuki stepped into their path like a reaper.
“Wrong way.” She threw the utility knife at one.
It missed the eye but hit the shoulder.
Enough.
Shizuka finished that one with the axe.
Sato shot the other.
— CREATURE EXTERMINATION DETECTED — — DISTANCE FROM REN: 9 M — — CREDIT RANGE: VALID — — CREDIT GAINED: +8 — — XCHANGE CREDIT BALANCE: 285 — — CREATURE EXTERMINATION DETECTED — — DISTANCE FROM REN: 12 M — — CREDIT RANGE: VALID — — CREDIT GAINED: +8 — — XCHANGE CREDIT BALANCE: 293 — The woman began crying.
Quietly.
Sato looked at her.
“Can you move?” The woman nodded.
“Then move.” They crossed the bridge.
Behind them, Shirakawa reached the bathhouse side.
Ren saw black armor through the smoke.
They had not spotted us yet.
A Shirakawa man fired at something near the street.
— CREATURE EXTERMINATION DETECTED — — DISTANCE FROM REN: 91 M — — CREDIT RANGE: VALID — — CREDIT GAINED: +18 — — XCHANGE CREDIT BALANCE: 311 – Another ant died.
Ren kept walking.
Slow enough to stay in range.
Fast enough to leave.
Shizuka and Sato watched him without commenting anything.
Yuki smiled like she knew a song no one else heard.
Another burst of rifle fire.
Another creature shrieked.
— CREATURE EXTERMINATION DETECTED — — DISTANCE FROM REN: 96 M — — CREDIT RANGE: VALID — — CREDIT GAINED: +18 — — XCHANGE CREDIT BALANCE: 329 — The XChange opened without Ren asking.
— CARRY LOAD: INEFFICIENT — — SUPPLY LOSS RISK: HIGH — — COMBAT MOBILITY REDUCED — — STORED EQUIPMENT BURDEN: CRITICAL — — NEW [SYSTEM] AVAILABLE — — [SYSTEM] SPATIAL WAREHOUSE: 120 CREDITS — Ren stopped for one step.
Shizuka stopped with him.
“What?” “Storage.” “What kind?” “Big.” The system opened wider.
— [SYSTEM] SPATIAL WAREHOUSE — — COST: 120 CREDITS — — STORAGE SPACE: 640 SQ FT — — APPROXIMATE SIZE: TWO SHIPPING CONTAINERS — — ANCHOR ITEM REQUIRED: BAG — — OWNER LOCK: REN KURONO — — LIVING OBJECT STORAGE: PROHIBITED — — WEIGHT TRANSFER: NULL — Ren looked at his bag.
Too small.
Too heavy.
Too important now.
He put his hand inside before confirming.
To anyone watching, he was only checking his supplies.
A thought triggered the purchase.
— PURCHASE CONFIRMED — — SYSTEM PURCHASED: SPATIAL WAREHOUSE — — COST: -120 — — CREDIT BALANCE: 209 — The inside of the bag changed.
Not visually.
Not to anyone else.
Ren felt it through his hand.
The bottom disappeared.
The weight vanished.
Space opened where no space should exist.
Wide.
Dark.
Ordered.
Waiting.
The bag on his shoulder became light.
Ren breathed once.
The system opened.
— SPATIAL WAREHOUSE LINKED — — ANCHOR ITEM: REN’S BAG — — STORAGE CAPACITY: 640 SQ FT — — CURRENT LOAD: 4% — — ACCESS: REN KURONO — — ADMIN LOCK: ACTIVE — Shizuka watched his face.
“Good?” “Very.” Yuki leaned close.
“What did you find in there?” Ren looked at her.
“No.” Yuki blinked.
Then smiled.
She stepped close, grabbed his sleeve, and kissed the corner of his mouth before Shizuka could move.
Quick.
Soft.
Gone.
Ren froze.
Shizuka’s aura turned heavy.
Sato stopped walking.
Amamiya stepped behind the old man, using him as cover.
Yuki stepped back and counted on her fingers.
“Six kiss points left.” Ren stared.
Yuki smiled.
“I spent one.” Shizuka’s hand tightened around the axe.
Sato looked at Yuki, then at Ren, then at Shizuka.
“This is the worst time.” Yuki’s eyes stayed bright.
“Best time.
We are alive.” Shizuka smiled without warmth.
“For now.” Yuki raised both hands.
“No refunds.” The old man whispered, “Are they always like this?” Amamiya sighed.
“I met them yesterday, and somehow yes.” A rifle shot cracked behind them.
Too close.
Sato pushed the old man down.
“Contact.” A Shirakawa man had spotted their movement near the canal bridge.
Not all of them.
One.
Maybe two.
Ren looked at the map.
Humans.
Outnumbered if they stayed.
But not if the creatures reached them first.
The system opened.
— HUMAN CONTACT: PARTIAL — — SHIRAKAWA PMC: 2 VISIBLE — — ADDITIONAL HOSTILES: UNKNOWN — — CREATURE MOVEMENT: APPROACHING FROM NORTH — — RECOMMENDATION: COMBAT WITHDRAWAL — Ren pointed down the canal path.
“Withdraw.” Sato fired two suppressed rifle shots toward the visible PMC, not to kill.
To slow them down.
Shizuka guided the woman while Amamiya supported the old man.
Yuki moved ahead, scouting the path.
Ren stayed near the rear with Sato.
A mutated dog burst from behind a parked truck and attacked the Shirakawa men.
Good.
They fired.
The dog died.
— CREATURE EXTERMINATION DETECTED — — DISTANCE FROM REN: 88 M — — CREDIT RANGE: VALID — — CREDIT GAINED: +10 — — XCHANGE CREDIT BALANCE: 219 — Another ant came over the truck roof.
The Shirakawa men shouted.
Ren kept moving.
No need to fight humans.
Let the world settle them.
The ant died under rifle fire just before Ren left range.
— CREATURE EXTERMINATION DETECTED — — DISTANCE FROM REN: 99 M — — CREDIT RANGE: VALID — — CREDIT GAINED: +18 — — XCHANGE CREDIT BALANCE: 237 — Then the range broke.
The canal path bent into a covered pedestrian tunnel under the next road.
Yuki reached it first and looked inside.
“Clear.” Sato checked anyway.
Then nodded.
The woman bowed so deeply she almost fell.
“Thank you.” Ren looked away.
“Keep moving until you find a safe place.” Sato gave them one bottle of water and a roll of tape from the bag.
Ren nodded at her.
Sato smiled faintly.
The woman and old man left through a side path Yuki pointed out.
Then they were gone.
Just one less problem in the same direction.
The group stood under the tunnel roof, breathing hard.
Ren opened the warehouse inside his bag and placed the damaged anchor module, extra ammo, rope, tools, drinks, and supplies inside.
The bag swallowed everything.
No weight.
No bulge.
Amamiya saw part of it.
His face changed.
Yuki saw more.
Her eyes shone.
Sato saw enough.
She said nothing.
Not because she missed it.
Because she was watching.
Shizuka stood close to Ren.
Very close.
The system opened.
— SPATIAL WAREHOUSE LOAD UPDATED — — CURRENT LOAD: 9% — — DAMAGED ANCHOR MODULE: STORED — — EXTRA AMMUNITION: STORED — — SUPPLIES: STORED — — NEW [SYSTEM] UNLOCK CONDITION UPDATED — — [SYSTEM] DISASSEMBLY: AVAILABLE AFTER SAFE WINDOW — Ren exhaled.
Storage first.
Break down later.
A distant knock came from the road behind them.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
The unknown third signal had not left.
The system opened.
— UNKNOWN THIRD SIGNAL: TRACKING — — SIGNAL SUPPRESSION: PARTIAL — — ROUTE WINDOW: TEMPORARY — Then another line appeared.
— I CAN CARRY THEM — It vanished.
— CORRECTION — — SPATIAL WAREHOUSE CAPACITY AVAILABLE — Ren looked at his bag.
The bag looked normal.
Yuki leaned closer, softer now.
“You are amazing.” Ren looked at her.
“No.” She smiled.
“Careful.
That adds one.” Shizuka stepped between them.
Yuki checked her fingers.
“Seven again.” Ren closed his eyes once.
Amamiya muttered, “The kiss economy recovered faster than society.” Sato lifted the rifle and looked down the tunnel.
“Move.” Ren opened his eyes.
The tunnel ahead was dark.
The bag was light.
The katana listing stayed in the back of his mind.
Shizuka still had the axe.
For now.
Sato had a rifle.
Yuki was smiling too much.
And something below the road still knew how to knock.
Chapter 21 ~ End