The polished crescent moon hung high in the starry night sky, its faint and serene light gently illuminating the slumbering city, casting a soft glow that pierced the darkness with a subtle shimmer.
In this tranquil night, a young girl seemed to lean lightly against the curve of the moon, as if she had become one with the night. Her hair swayed with the night breeze, the hem of her dress fluttered softly, like a dreamlike spirit sculpted from moonlight.
"This should be the place," she whispered softly, her gaze sweeping across the night, the breeze brushing her clothes, causing a delicate shiver.
She held the creed in one hand, while the other gently cupped her chin, pondering for a moment.
"Zack, can I really do this...?" She furrowed her brow slightly, her voice tinged with uncertainty, her quiet murmur drifting into the silent dark.
Clouds silently swept across the night sky, brushing past her figure. And when the moonlight shone once more, she had vanished without a trace.
Yozawacho, 7:00 PM, Tuesday
A young man in a white school uniform raced down the street, shouting for help. Behind him, three green goblins, covered in sores and oozing pus, followed closely, their footsteps quickening as they pursued him relentlessly.
With a loud crash, the man was suddenly tripped, falling hard to the ground. The goblins closed in, and just as everything seemed about to end, a flash of steel cut through the air. In an instant, the three goblins collapsed to the ground, silent and lifeless.
Then, a girl in a white shirt and a red checkered skirt school uniform appeared, almost like a shadow. She held a slender katana in her hand, its blade reflecting a faint glimmer of light. The red "blade" embroidered on her sleeve fluttered in the wind, adding a sharp, dangerous aura to her presence.
"Takahashi Isamu, you idiot!" Her voice shattered the air, laced with anger and frustration. Her eyes blazed with disappointment as she scolded him, her tone heavy with anxiety. "What were you thinking? Why didn't you draw your sword!?"
"Ah... is that you, Hoshizawa Norika?" Isamu slowly stood up, rubbing the back of his head and offering an awkward smile, his voice tinged with a hint of embarrassment.
The girl before him was none other than his classmate—Hoshizawa Norika, 17 years old, with dark purple hair tied up in a high ponytail.
"Sigh—how do you expect to join the Yagari-tai with your half-baked skills...?" Norika covered her forehead, shaking her head lightly, her tone a mix of exasperation and playful mockery.
"Ha ha... I'm trying my best," Isamu replied casually, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Just hurry up and head home," Norika's tone shifted to a more serious one, a note of urgency creeping in. "I've already contacted the Yagari-tai to handle the bodies."
"Got it!" Isamu nodded with a grin and turned to head in the direction of his home.
Norika remained standing in place, her gaze fixed on the fallen goblin corpses. Her brows furrowed slightly, a trace of unease in her voice: "Strange... goblins appearing in the city center..."
Moments later, several Yagari-tai members swiftly arrived at the scene.
"Lieutenant Hoshizawa!" one of them saluted Norika, his tone serious. "We heard there were reports of monsters here..." He began, but his words faltered as his gaze landed on the goblin corpses. His eyes widened in shock, his voice trembling, "The size of these... these must be at least Itsuki Rank monsters!"
"Not just Itsuki Rank," another member observed, his tone grim as he scanned the scene. "Don't forget, it's been over ten years since any Shuku rank or higher monsters appeared in the city. Let alone these kinds of creatures... This is definitely abnormal."
(To distinguish the strength of monsters, they are classified into five ranks: Harae, Shuku, Itsuki, Maga, and Kami, from the weakest to the strongest...)
Norika crossed her arms, nodding thoughtfully. She was about to give an order when suddenly, her body stiffened, her expression changing drastically.
"This Reiki—!?" She whipped her head toward the distance, a flash of terror flickering in her eyes.
In the next instant, a deafening "Boom!" shook the ground!
From the shadows in the distance, a massive red goblin leapt into view, nearly seventeen meters tall! Its body was covered in putrid sores, the stench overwhelming, and disgusting, oozing pus from its exposed skin. But the most revolting sight of all was the obscene, swinging appendage between its legs, making anyone who saw it want to recoil in disgust.
"Disgusting... but this can already be classified as a Maga rank monster!" Norika gritted her teeth, her fingers already brushing the hilt of her knife, preparing to engage. But just then, her gaze shifted to the weapon in the giant goblin's hands—
A power pole, violently ripped from the ground!
The massive goblin gripped the metal pole tightly, its muscles bulging and veins popping. It let out a low, guttural roar, its murky eyes gleaming with an unsettling light as it stared intensely at Norika and her team, as if eyeing its prey.
"Protect Lieutenant Hoshizawa!"
With a single command, the Yagari-tai members charged forward without hesitation, drawing their blades, their edges gleaming with cold light as they took up battle stances, ready to face the towering creature.
However—
"No! You need to retreat!" Norika's voice was filled with unprecedented urgency. Her instincts screamed at her—this monster... it was beyond their ability to fight!
(A Maga rank monster... this is far beyond our capabilities... What's worse, we haven't fought any Shuku rank or higher monsters in over ten years. We have no experience in battles at this level... What should I do? What should I do!?)
Her mind raced, trying to come up with a solution. But in the few seconds of hesitation—
"VROOM—!"
With the sound of a violent wind slicing through the air, the power pole swept toward them, stirring up a fierce gust of wind!
"BOOM!!!"
The deafening sound of metal smashing against the ground reverberated down the entire street, a cloud of dust and debris swirling into the air. When the scene finally cleared, all Norika could see was—
The fallen bodies.
One. Two. Three…
Every Yagari-tai member had been sent flying, not even given the chance to react. Blood quickly spread across the ground, staining the night with a crimson hue.
"Ah... everyone..."
Norika's pupils suddenly contracted, her heart feeling as though it had been gripped tightly by an invisible hand. In an instant, her mind went blank.
—She hadn't even seen how the monster had struck.
(This... this is something no human can handle...!)
Her breath quickened, cold sweat dripping down her forehead. The goblin, meanwhile, slowly turned its gaze toward her, its grotesque grin locking onto her—
She was next.
Norika pulled out her katana, her hands trembling as she pointed it toward the goblin, the katana quivering slightly.
(No... I... I don't want to die yet...)
Fear gripped her heart, her legs nearly losing all strength. Cold sweat dripped from her forehead, falling onto the ground.
The massive goblin looked down at her, inspecting her from head to toe, its twisted grin widening.
It released the power pole, the heavy metal pole crashing to the ground with a deep thud, but it didn't continue its attack. Instead, it slowly raised its thick arm, reaching toward Norika—
"…!"
Her pupils suddenly contracted, her breath coming in sharp gasps. It felt as though invisible chains were binding her, freezing her in place, unable to move.
(This is it...)
Just as the goblin's hand was about to make contact with her—
"VROOM—!"
A sudden tremor rippled through the air, followed by a streak of silver-white light descending from the sky—
A radiance as pure as moonlight, sacred yet carrying an enigmatic chill.
"GRRRAAH!!"
The goblin let out a terrified growl, stumbling backward before it could even react, its massive frame forced back several steps by the impact.
Norika stood frozen.
What appeared before her—
Was a silver-white fox.
Its entire body was covered in sleek, silken fur that shimmered like woven silver threads under the faint glow of the night. It stood in front of Norika, its tail swaying gently, and within its silver eyes gleamed a serene and commanding presence—something otherworldly, beyond human comprehension.
At its feet, a delicate silver barrier slowly cracked apart, dissolving into countless glimmering fragments, like stardust scattering across the night.
Norika whispered in disbelief—
"A... fox...?"
Slowly, the silver fox began to radiate a blinding white light, its form shifting and reshaping in a mesmerizing flow, as if moonlight itself were taking human shape.
What emerged was an ethereal beauty—
Her ashen-gold bangs lightly brushed against her forehead, framing exquisitely sculpted features that left no room for flaw. Her cascading hair, long and silky with a natural wavy luster, danced gently in the breeze, exuding an aura of unearthly nobility.
Her figure was nothing short of divine, almost unreal in its perfection. A voluptuous bust that defied logic, accentuated by a pristine white dress that hugged every curve of her body. The lace cutouts traced along her silhouette, emphasizing every delicate detail with breathtaking precision. Her slender waist and impossibly well-proportioned hips formed an enchanting contrast—voluptuous yet elegantly poised, as if she embodied the pinnacle of feminine allure itself.
Norika couldn't help but whisper, "Beautiful..."
The enigmatic girl before her cast an indifferent glance in her direction, then effortlessly drew an ornate wand, raising it before her face. Arcane energy pulsed through its delicate frame, emitting a faint, eerie glow.
"Dark clouds, descend and bring forth merciless thunder! Rend the heavens, open the furnace of hell, and incinerate all sin! First flame, raging flame, utter annihilation! Lightning and fire entwine—may all return to nothingness! —— Aether #37, Pyrebolt!"
With the final syllable of her incantation, she swung her wand sharply through the air. A massive sphere of interwoven crimson fire and crackling blue lightning burst forth, hurtling toward the colossal goblin.
"BOOM—!!"
The fireball struck dead center, instantly engulfing the monster in an eruption of arcane flames and searing bolts of lightning. The unleashed force tore through the very air, distorting the surroundings in a storm of raw destruction. In mere moments, the once-massive goblin was reduced to cinders, its existence erased without a trace—leaving behind only smoldering embers and a cloud of rising ash.
Norika's mind reeled in utter disbelief. A deafening hum filled her head as an overwhelming pressure bore down on her. She wanted to speak, to ask something—anything—but her lips only trembled, unable to form words.
"What…?" Her vision blurred, the world tilting around her.
The next moment, her legs gave out beneath her, and before she could comprehend what was happening—
Darkness consumed her. She collapsed.
In the depths of darkness, a familiar voice echoed through her consciousness.
"Don't worry, I'll protect you."
It was the voice she knew best—the one that always made her feel safe. Her father's voice.
"Father…" she whispered, her small hands clutching tightly onto the hem of his coat.
"I promise, I'll defeat that monster." His voice was steady, filled with unwavering confidence and warmth.
"Okay! I love you, Father!" The little girl beamed, her eyes sparkling with innocent joy.
But then—
"No! No! Don't go… Please, don't go! Father!"
The child's voice shifted, her once-bright tone replaced by a desperate cry—no longer that of a child, but of a young girl pleading in anguish.
The darkness swallowed the sound, fading into silence.
Norika's eyes fluttered open. Her vision remained hazy, her forehead damp with cold sweat. She reached up, brushing her cheek with her fingers, only to realize a single tear had silently fallen.
Slowly, she pushed herself up into a sitting position. Her limbs felt weak, her body still sluggish. She rubbed her sore eyes before scanning her surroundings—only then realizing where she was.
"The school infirmary…?" she murmured, her voice tinged with exhaustion.
Just then, a gentle knock sounded at the door before it creaked open. A young man, dressed in a Bladestrike Squad uniform, poked his head inside. His voice carried a note of relief and excitement.
"Hey! Lieutenant Hoshizawa! You're awake?"
Norika turned to look at him, momentarily dazed before recognizing his face.
"Ikeda…"
She took a slow, deep breath, trying to gather her thoughts. "I'm feeling better. Did you… save me?"
Ikeda quickly waved his hands, shaking his head with a nervous chuckle. "No, no! You saved us! I can't believe how strong you are, Lieutenant Hoshizawa! You actually took down a Maga rank monster!"
"…Me?" Norika blinked, her pupils trembling slightly as a wave of confusion washed over her. She hesitated before shaking her head, her voice laced with uncertainty.
"No… That wasn't me."
(Could it be… they didn't see her? That silver fox girl?)
She barely had time to process the thought before snapping her head up, her voice urgent.
"What about the others!?"
Ikeda, seeing her genuine concern, offered a reassuring smile. "They were hurt pretty badly… but luckily, nothing life-threatening. A few days of rest and they'll be fine."
Norika exhaled slowly, her tense shoulders relaxing slightly. She swung her legs over the side of the bed, testing her strength as she stood up.
"Wait—Lieutenant, shouldn't you rest a little longer?" Ikeda asked, his tone filled with concern.
"I'm not injured." Her voice was firm as she adjusted her uniform. "And class is about to start."
With that, she stepped out of the infirmary. A breeze drifted past, yet an inexplicable chill crept up her spine.
(This feeling… this unease… it's the same as that night, twelve years ago. The night my father left.)