Chapter 2- Rising Fears

On my way to the Clan Headquarters, I couldn't stop thinking about that giant Oscuro. How could it be so huge? I'd never seen one like that before. I need to get some answers from the president.

Clan? Oh right.

The clans were created by the Vorixas a long time ago to fight the Oscuros as a team. Facing those monsters alone was tough, so we formed groups, each with its own way of battling. Some clans rely on raw power, some on strategy, and others on speed. My clan, the Hyakuren, is all about balance. We combine strategies and discipline, with techniques passed down for generations to take on even the toughest Oscuros. Being part of the Hyakuren comes with a lot of responsibility, but right now, all I could think about was how any of us were supposed to deal with a giant Oscuro like the one I'd just fought.

The headquarters stood tall ahead of me, glowing faintly with magic. I walked up to the gate and placed my hand on a glowing stone. It felt warm as it scanned me, and after a moment, the gate creaked open, letting me in.

As soon as I stepped inside, Shizuka-san came rushing over. Her eyes went wide when she saw my injuries. "Takumi-kun! You're hurt! What do I do? What do I do?" she cried, waving her hands around like she was about to lose it.

I let out a tired sigh. "You're the healer, Shizuka-san. Don't ask me."

She stopped, staring at me like I'd just reminded her of the most obvious thing ever. "Oh! Right! I'm the healer!" she said, smacking her forehead. She quickly pulled out her magic and had me sit down. Glowing symbols appeared around her hands, and as she worked, the pain started to fade, replaced by a warm, soothing feeling. "You scared me, Takumi-kun," she mumbled, still a little shaky but focused now.

Miss Shizuka Kawase wasn't exactly what you'd expect from a healer. Sure, she was 28, an adult by all means, but she acted like a child half the time. Always cheerful, always bubbly, and her cute face had this way of lighting up any room. She had long, blonde hair that shimmered like gold in the sunlight, and it always seemed to bounce around her shoulders with every move. If you didn't know her, you'd think she was just another happy-go-lucky person.

Then there was her specialty—if you could even call it that. Shizuka-san's... well, let's just say her chest was a bit hard to ignore. No one in the clan could miss it, and she seemed completely unaware of how much attention it grabbed. It was like her own unique way of standing out.

But beyond that, Shizuka-san was all heart. She was the kind of person who would drop everything to help, even if her clumsy nature made things more complicated. Sometimes, I wondered how someone like her ended up in a role that required so much focus. But, then again, that was Shizuka-san for you—always surprising.

As Shizuka-san worked, she glanced up at me, concern in her eyes. "Takumi-kun, what happened? How did you get hurt?"

I winced slightly as she moved her hands. "An Oscuro. A huge one... it attacked the school." I paused, my mind racing. "Where's the president?"

"I think he should be in his office, but—"

"I need to see him now," I interrupted, not giving her a chance to finish.

Once the healing was done, I stood up quickly, not wasting any time. I couldn't afford to wait around. I needed answers, and fast.

I rushed to the president's office and found Kaito-san, the assistant, sitting at the desk.

"Where's the president?"

Kaito-san glanced up. "He's out gathering info."

"When will he be back?"

Kaito-san shrugged. "I don't know. Could be hours, could be days."

"Damn it."

Kaito-san looked up. "What's the matter, Takumi? You look like you've been through something."

Before I could say anything, Shizuka-san entered, still looking a bit flustered. I quickly explained.

"An Oscuro attacked the school," I said. "It was huge. I barely made it out. Something's off about this whole situation."

Kaito-san nodded, like he already knew. "Yeah, we've been hearing about these giant Oscuros popping up around the city. Seems like it could be connected."

I frowned. "You know about them?"

"Yeah," Kaito-san replied, leaning back in his chair. "And it could be the work of the mysterious man the president's looking for."

I raised an eyebrow. "You think he's controlling them?"

Kaito-san shrugged. "Could be, but we need more info to be sure."

"So, what more do you know about this man?"

Kaito-san looked at me seriously. "We don't know much, but we've been calling him Crimson. He's been seen at the same places where these giant Oscuros showed up. He seems like a human, but he's way stronger. Some people even think he might not be human."

I blinked, shocked. "Not human? What makes you say that?"

Kaito-san shrugged. "It's hard to explain. His power, the way he moves—it's just... unnatural. It's like he's more than just a man or even a Vorixa."

Kaito-san leaned back in his chair. "This all started earlier today. A man, wearing a black mask and a red cape, showed up at the Tetsuō Clan—the one that specializes in defense powers. He was completely mysterious, didn't say a word, just appeared out of nowhere. He wore a black dress, and the mask... it covered his whole face, except for two glowing red slits where his eyes should be."

"A man like that just walked into their headquarters?"

"Yeah, and he single-handedly wiped out every member of the Tetsuō Clan. No one stood a chance. After that, he released several huge Oscuros into the city. It forced all the clans to take action, but it's been chaos since then."

I could feel the weight of what he was saying. "Do we know anything about his motives?"

Kaito-san nodded. "We've gathered some information from Ichirō-san, the president of the Raigekijin Clan. He's been investigating this man, but so far, there's been no solid lead on who he really is or what he wants."

Kaito-san sighed, his tone serious. "After Crimson attacked your school, he moved on to the city cinema house. Luckily, the president and a few members of our clan were already there. So, we were able to keep the casualties low."

I nodded, relieved to hear that. "The Oscuros weren't much of a threat?"

Kaito-san shook his head. "Not really, as long as you have a good team. We took care of them quickly. The real issue was Crimson. The president decided to go after him, but instead of fighting back, Crimson just... ran. It's like he didn't even care about the fight. The president's been chasing him ever since."

My stomach tightened. "Have you heard from him since?"

Kaito-san's expression darkened. "No. He told us he'd found a hideout of sorts, but after that, no contact. It's been hours. I'm worried."

Shizuka-san's eyes widened. "We can't just sit here! We should go look for the president!" She spoke, clearly anxious.

I nodded, agreeing with her. "Yeah, we should. He's out there alone."

But Kaito-san shook his head. "It's not that simple. The president specifically ordered us to stay here and protect the headquarters. He didn't want anyone chasing after him, especially with the city in chaos." He looked at both of us, his voice firm. "We need to follow his orders and stay put."

I wanted to go help the president, but I knew the situation here was just as critical. The president was a good man—a man who had always been there for us, always willing to help anyone in need. I respected him more than anyone, and the whole clan looked up to him. Everyone wanted to be like him.

But still, I couldn't just sit here while he was out there, possibly in danger. I made up my mind. No matter what, I was going after him.

Before I could even say anything, Kaito-san's sharp gaze locked onto me. "I know what you're thinking," he said, his voice calm but firm. "And it's not happening. The president gave us clear orders. We stay here, no matter what."

I crossed my arms, feeling frustrated. "Oh, great. How did you know? Are you a mind reader or something?" I asked.

Kaito-san just smirked, not bothering to answer.

Shizuka-san blinked, looking between us. "Hmm? What's not happening? Hmm? What are you two talking about?" She tilted her head, clearly lost in the conversation.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "Nothing," I muttered, rolling my eyes. "Just... you know, the usual. My brilliant plans being shut down before they even start."

Shizuka-san giggled. "Well, looks like you'll have to find another way to impress the president," she said with a playful grin.

I shot Kaito-san a glare. "Yeah, thanks for that, Kaito-san."

"Let's have faith in the president. He's strong, and he knows what he's doing."

I nodded. "Yeah, I know," I muttered, trying to shake off the worry. I knew Kaito-san was right. The president was one of the strongest, and if anyone could handle this, it was him. Still, the uncertainty gnawed at me.

The screen in front of Kaito-san flickered, and the president's face appeared. He looked worse than I expected—blood was coming from his mouth, dripping down his chin, and his face was bruised in places. His expression was strained, and he looked like he'd been through a lot.

Everyone's eyes went wide with concern, the tension in the room suddenly growing thicker.

I stepped forward. "What happened, President? Are you okay?"

The president took a shaky breath, his voice a bit rough. "I'm okay. Do not worry about me." His words cracked slightly, but he quickly steadied himself. "But listen carefully to what I have to say…"

We all leaned in, paying full attention, as he spoke.

Just as the president was about to speak, the atmosphere shifted. The room suddenly felt darker, and a strange, heavy pressure filled the air, like something unseen was weighing down on us. It was unsettling.

The screen started to glitch. The president's voice cut out, and I couldn't make out anything he was saying.

Then, as quickly as it had started, everything returned to normal. But when the image cleared, it wasn't the president's face we saw anymore. It was Crimson. His mask stared back at us, calm and cold, his presence almost suffocating through the screen.

I stared at the screen, my fists clenching. "Hey! Who...no. What are you? Why are you doing this? Where's the president?"

Saito-san, still watching the screen closely, muttered, "I don't think he can hear us."

I looked around in confusion, but then the realization hit me. One by one, the screens in the room flickered, all showing the same distorted image—Crimson, his mask staring down at us. The same thing was happening on every TV in the city, like he'd taken control of them all.

Crimson's voice suddenly boomed through the speakers. It was unsettling and distorted.

"My dear Earthlings," his voice echoed. "The name's Crimson, as given by you all. I won't take much of your time. I shall now explain my goal."

"As of now, I have eliminated every clan president. My sincerest apologies for that." He paused, a tone of mock regret seeping into his words. "But, do not fret. Tonight, when the blood moon rises, I shall release even more Oscuros. It will be quite the spectacle, don't you think? A great host of these creatures descending upon your world at once. Your very lives, your hopes, your futures—utterly doomed." He sighed, as if genuinely remorseful. "I must express my deepest condolences for the inevitable fate that awaits you all."

Crimson's distorted voice echoed again, the eerie calmness in his words sending a chill through the room. "I know this will be difficult for all of you, but such is the way of the world. Power is never given without consequence. So, I suggest you prepare yourselves... because when the blood moon rises, it will be too late to stop what's coming."

With that, the screen went black, leaving the room in complete silence. The weight of his words hung in the air, pressing down on us like a storm on the horizon.

"The president is—" Shizuka-san shakingly said. "I don't believe this," I said, cutting through her voice. "I can't accept that the president is gone. Just a moment ago, we were talking to him. How can he be dead?"

I ran my hand through my hair, frustration boiling up. "How could one man kill all the presidents? Aren't they supposed to be the strongest? If they couldn't stop him, what chance do we have?"

I turned to Kaito-san. "What will we do now? What are we supposed to do?"

Kaito-san's voice was firm, cutting through my panic. "Calm down. Panicking won't help. We need to think. Our priority is protecting the citizens."

My heart was racing, and my hands were shaking. Crimson's words hit me harder than I expected. All the clan presidents are dead? I couldn't wrap my head around it. And then, he mentioned the blood moon—tonight. More Oscuros? It felt like everything was falling apart, and I was just standing there, useless.

I looked at Kaito-san. He was still calm, but I could see the tension in his eyes. He was usually the one to keep us all grounded, but even he was shaken by this. Shizuka-san looked like she was about to collapse. She was pale, eyes wide, hands clenched together like she was trying to hold herself together. She was scared, and I couldn't blame her.

What now? I thought. How do we stop this?

I wanted to do something—anything—but I knew it wasn't that simple. It was too big, too overwhelming. But I couldn't just sit here. We can't let this happen. I won't let it.