Fragile Trust

As the chapter begins, Reika hesitates, unsure whether to ask Sora for help. After witnessing his terrifying display of power, she feels a strange mix of fear and admiration. Her team is scattered, many of her comrades have fallen, and she feels she has little choice. Still, the weight of her request lingers as she glances at the aftermath of Sora's rampage—the destroyed creatures, the bodies of her fallen teammates.

Finally, she gathers the courage to speak. "We have evacuees... people out there who need help." Her voice is steady despite the turmoil within her. "I know what you did... I saw what you can do. But we need every capable person we can get. You... you could help us find them."

Sora stands silently, his gaze distant as if still processing what he's become. The rampage that overtook him feels like a blur—a chaotic frenzy that nearly consumed him. The thought of joining Reika to help find evacuees brings forth deep hesitation.

"I don't know if I can control it," he mutters, more to himself than to Reika. "What if it happens again? What if I… lose myself?"

Reika's eyes narrow as she watches him, understanding dawning in her mind. He's afraid—not of the creatures or the chaos outside, but of himself. The Sora who fought with unmatched power, the man who tore through waves of mutated beasts, now stood before her, vulnerable.

As if sensing his inner conflict, Roper approaches, her presence solid and reassuring. She nuzzles against Sora's leg, as if telling him he wouldn't face this alone. He isn't the only one fighting his battle—Roper's loyalty and strength would stand by him, even when he couldn't trust himself.

Sora looks down at Roper, his expression softening. He feels a flicker of reassurance, but the doubt remains. "I can't risk it," he finally says, looking back at Reika. "I don't want to hurt anyone... not again."

Reika's heart sinks a little, but she presses on. "I understand. But these people... they need help. And I know my team can't handle it alone. You saw what happened. Most of them... most of us didn't make it." She gestures to the bodies lying around, her fallen comrades who had stayed behind with her. "The others are out there evacuating civilians. I stayed to make sure no one else gets left behind."

Her voice cracks slightly, and she averts her gaze to the ground for a moment. "It's my job to help them. And right now, I need you."

Sora clenches his fists, his mind swirling with conflicting emotions. The guilt from his rampage weighs heavily on him, and the thought of what he might do if he loses control again gnaws at him. But he knows Reika's words are true—he's seen the state of the city, the monsters roaming freely, and the utter lack of safety. People needed help, and despite his fear of himself, he still has the power to make a difference.

"I…" Sora struggles with his decision, but as he looks at Reika's determined face, he feels the gravity of the situation press down on him. He can't run forever.

"If Roper can hold me back again... I'll help," he finally concedes. "But if I lose control... get out of my way."

Reika nods. "I will."

With that uneasy agreement, they set off together, Sora following her lead. As they traverse the debris-strewn streets, Reika's focus sharpens. She points out clues and trails left behind by evacuees, always keeping her eyes on the horizon for signs of danger. Sora remains quiet but vigilant, feeling the tension rise within him with every step. He can sense his own inner instability, the lingering chaos from the mutation still stirring, but he pushes it down, not wanting to let it overtake him again.

After what feels like hours of navigating the ruined streets, they come upon a half-collapsed building where they finally hear voices—small, desperate cries for help. Reika signals for everyone to stop, her eyes narrowing as she scans the area.

"There," she whispers, pointing to a gap in the wreckage where faint movements can be seen.

Sora's enhanced senses pick up more than the others; the quiet sobs of children, the anxious murmurs of adults trying to keep them calm. His heart tightens as he steps forward, hearing the evacuees huddled inside.

"Stay here," Sora says in a low voice. "I'll check it out first."

Before anyone can protest, he moves quickly toward the building. Reika watches him go, her face betraying a mix of apprehension and trust.

Inside, the scene is bleak. Several evacuees—about a dozen—are gathered in a dark corner of the collapsed structure. Their faces are streaked with dirt, their clothes torn. Among them are families, some elderly, and a few injured. A young woman cradles a child close to her chest, while a man sits on the ground with a makeshift bandage wrapped around his leg. The fear is palpable, and when they see Sora, the tension only rises.

One of the men, a middle-aged father holding his daughter, stands up defensively. "Who are you? Are you here to help?" His voice is hoarse but desperate, his eyes flickering between hope and suspicion.

Sora remains still, scanning the group. "Reika sent me. We're here to get you out."

The evacuees glance at each other, hesitant. They've heard promises of safety before, and not all of them were fulfilled.

An older man speaks up, his voice weak. "We've been waiting... days, maybe. We thought no one was coming."

Sora's jaw tightens, understanding their doubt. "It's not safe to stay here. The creatures… they'll find you eventually. We need to move now."

The mother holding her child looks up, her face pale with exhaustion. "We tried moving once already. Those things… they tore through our group. My husband…" She trails off, her voice choking with emotion.

Sora hesitates. He isn't good with words—he never has been—but the urgency pushes him forward. "You won't make it alone. My group will protect you."

As Sora motions for the evacuees to follow him, the man with the injured leg groans in pain. His wife crouches beside him, fear clouding her eyes. "He can't walk. The wound is infected."

Sora glances at the man's leg, recognizing that the infection has spread far. His instinct tells him the man won't last long if they don't act fast. But he's also aware that every second spent here increases the risk of an attack.

"We don't have time to waste. If we stay here, everyone dies," Sora says, trying to remain calm, though his voice carries a note of urgency.

One of the evacuees, a teenage boy who has been quietly watching from the corner, stands up and speaks, his voice steady but fearful. "Are we safe out there? Can you really protect us from them?"

Sora looks at him, knowing that 'safety' in this new world is a fragile concept. "I can't promise safety. But we have a better chance together than you do in here."

Reika and the rest of her team enter the building, catching up to Sora. Daichi immediately notices the injured man and sighs, looking to Reika for guidance. "We're moving too slow. If we stay here, those things will pick up our trail."

Reika scans the evacuees and then looks at the injured man, torn between wanting to save him and the urgency to move. "Can anyone carry him?" she asks, her tone firm, but her eyes reveal her inner conflict.

One of the younger men in the group speaks up. "I can help," he offers, though his voice betrays the exhaustion weighing him down.

"We can take turns," another evacuee says, stepping forward.

Sora watches the exchange in silence, but something inside him churns. He can sense the growing fear, not just in the evacuees, but in Reika's team. This mission, these people—each second spent trying to save them pulls them closer to the edge. The fragile balance of trust between him and the group hangs by a thread.

As they prepare to leave, Sora feels a familiar prickling sensation in his mind—his senses flaring. He freezes, straining to listen. The distant sound of claws scraping against pavement echoes through his heightened hearing. It's faint but unmistakable.

"Something's coming," he mutters, just loud enough for Reika to hear. Her eyes widen in response.

"We need to go. Now," she says, urgency flooding her voice.

Sora turns to the evacuees. "We need to move fast. Stick close to Reika's team. I'll cover the rear."

The evacuees nod, fear plain on their faces as they gather what little they have and follow Reika's orders. Sora and Roper stay behind, scanning the ruins for any sign of the approaching danger. The noise is getting louder.

As they move out, Kana, from Reika's team, approaches Sora, still wary of him but realizing they need his strength now more than ever. "We're counting on you not to lose it again."

Sora says nothing, but his jaw tightens. He knows what's at stake.

Moments later, they hear the distinct, sharp growls of the creatures approaching from behind. Sora's heart pounds in his chest as the shadows begin to loom closer, grotesque forms breaking through the debris.

"Keep moving!" he shouts, adrenaline surging through him. As he turns, Roper instinctively positions herself between him and the threat, growling fiercely at the shadows that approach.

The first creature lunges at them, a twisted mass of sinew and fur, and Sora feels his instincts kick in. He taps into the power coursing through him, preparing to unleash it against the monstrosity. But before he can act, a flash of light cuts through the darkness—Reika's team engages.

"Get the evacuees out!" Reika yells as she plunges into the fray, her team rallying behind her.

Sora stands frozen for a moment, then instinctively moves to support her, his muscles coiling with a raw, untamed energy. Roper charges alongside him, and together, they leap into the chaos.