chapter 5:

As the group made their way through the empty streets of Tokyo, Geno couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that had settled in the pit of his stomach. It was too quiet, too still. He had been to this area before and knew it to be bustling with activity, even during the quietest hours of the night.

"Something's not right," he said to the group, his voice low.

"You're just being paranoid," one of his companions, a young woman named Akane, said with a dismissive wave of her hand.

But Geno knew better. He had survived this long in the harsh world that had been left in the wake of the big war by always trusting his instincts. And right now, his instincts were screaming at him to turn back.

Suddenly, they heard a noise coming from the end of the street. It was a low growl that quickly turned into a chorus of snarls.

"What the hell is that?" another member of the group, a grizzled old man named Ryu, muttered, reaching for his weapon.

Before anyone could react, a group of feral dogs appeared from around the corner, their eyes glowing in the dim light.

The group backed away slowly, weapons at the ready, as the dogs closed in. Geno felt a cold sweat break out on his forehead. He had faced danger before, but this felt different. This was something primal, something that spoke to the very core of his being.

Just as he was about to give the signal to attack, a figure appeared out of nowhere and lunged at the dogs with a ferocity that took Geno's breath away. The figure moved with lightning speed, taking out the dogs one by one with a series of expertly placed blows.

As the last dog fell to the ground, the figure turned to face them. It was a woman, dressed in ragged clothing that spoke of a hard life. Her hair was wild and unkempt, but her eyes were clear and steady.

"Who are you?" Geno asked, unable to keep the awe out of his voice.

The woman simply smiled and said, "I'm Rei. And I'm here to help."