MORE LIGHT ON THE ICEBERG MASSACRE

As things begin to heat up in the dark hollows of the tunnel, Mario runs at top speed, quickly catching up with Mari, who is staring at Mark in confusion.

Mario: What's going on here?

Mark drops the corpse he was carrying, smiling as he slowly walks backward, attempting to escape.

Mark: Oh, nothing to see here. Just a casual, friendly citizen moving a corpse. I'm part of the City Clean-up Crew (CCC), so, you know, it's kind of my job.

Mari: You just called me a hunter. No CCC member would know that. Besides, there's no such thing as the 'CCC.' You're coming with me.

Mark: Why do you assume I'm obliged to fulfill your request? The audacity. I'll teach you how to properly address a—

Before Mark can finish, a demon appears, stepping between him and Mari. Mario watches from behind him.

Mari: Was wondering when you'd show up.

Mark: B, what are you—

B raises an arm, signaling Mark to stop talking.

B: We can't afford to let them know your attribute. Take the body and leave now.

Mark: I'm not running away from two kids like a coward.

B looks at Mark, his expression unreadable.

B: Don't lose sight of the goal. The blue-haired one is especially strong. Taking him on now would be detrimental to our mission.

B smirks at Mark, who nods reluctantly and begins to run.

Mario: What the hell is this? Why is a demon protecting a human? You're supposed to be feeding on him!

B: Hunters… always assuming they understand everything, when in truth, they know next to nothing.

Mari: If you're going to talk, then do it. I can wait.

Mario: Well, I can't.

B: I never thought I'd see a hunter ready to learn the mysteries hidden behind our conflict. Unfortunately, I can't tell you. I do hope you find the answers you seek in eternal rest.

Mario: Let me handle this guy. You're the faster one—go after the human.

Mari: I can't leave you to fight him alone.

Mario: Tch! Are you gonna be a mum right now, or are you gonna go?

Mari: Classic you—using my own words against me. Don't die in your first real battle.

Mario: If I finish here before you catch that guy, you owe me a duel.

Mari: Sounds like a deal.

Mari zooms off. B makes a move to follow, but Mario intercepts him with a slash. B dodges, jumping back.

Mario: If I ranked up every time someone dodged my attack, I'd be a Captain by now.

B: You're handicapped and slow. I could easily bypass you.

Mario: Who the hell are you calling slow?!

Mario charges at B, swinging rapidly. B dodges each strike with ease.

B: Impressive movement. You're just using standard techniques, yet you're actually making this fun. Too bad I have to end it quickly.

B suddenly moves behind Mario and delivers a precise chop to his shoulder, bringing him to his knees.

B: This ends now.

B places a hand on Mario's mask. The tunnel darkens unnaturally, making B's blue eyes stand out, glowing brighter than before.

Mario: You're just mocking me, aren't you?

With a swift motion, Mario slashes B's arm clean off. It hits the ground with a thud.

B: You managed to sever an arm. Big deal. It'll regenerate any second now—

B glances at his severed limb—then freezes.

B: …What?

Panic flickers across his face.

B: What's happening? You little brat—what did you do?!

His shock turns to irritation. Snarling, he kicks Mario to the ground before turning and zooming off to find Mark.

Mario: Get back here! We're not done!

He pushes himself up and begins to give chase, but B is already gone.

Meanwhile…

Mari catches up to Mark outside the tunnel. He's standing in a wrecked building in the main town, surrounded by piles of corpses. He carelessly drops the body he had been carrying onto the heap.

Mark: You really won't stop following me, will you?

Mari: You have a lot to explain, and you're coming with me. No matter what.

Mark: And what if I don't?

Mari: Hmm, I never really considered that possibility. Let's just say… it's not a choice.

Electricity crackles around him as he becomes clad in lightning.

Mark: So quick to resolve things with violence. Is that what they teach at hunter school?

Mari: Quit playing with me.

He raises a hand, preparing to throw a bolt at him.

Mark: We both know you won't do that. It'll draw too much attention.

Mari: See if I care. You're the one with a recognizable face.

Mark: …Well played.

He exhales, shrugging.

Mark: Fine. You want an explanation? I'll give you one. I highly doubt you'll understand, though. Where do I even begin?

Mari: How about what a human is doing with a rarity?

Mark's expression shifts slightly, as if in recognition.

Mark: Rarity…? Wow. I can't believe it. It's really you.

Mari: The hell are you talking about? Spill it. I'm running low on time and patience, and when that happens… someone literally gets fried.

Mark: B and I are partners—sort of. As for the bodies behind me? We didn't kill them. They all died from tragic events. I'm just in charge of transporting them.

Mari: Transporting them for what? Elaborate.

Mark: You hunters claim to kill my comrades because they kill and feed on humans. But what if they didn't? What if they lived off the bodies of rejects? Castaways? Just… corpses that no one wants?

Mari: Then… they wouldn't be doing anything wrong by feeding, and we wouldn't have to hunt them down. And there would be…

Mark: Peace.

Mari processes his words for a moment, then clenches his fists.

Mari: I don't get why you call rarities your 'comrades,' but you still have to pay for feeding on an entire town!

Mark: Who in the world gave you that idea?

Mark groans, rubbing a hand down his face in exasperation.

He mutters under his breath.

Mark: Hunters… Always assuming they know everything.

Mark exhales, before continuing his submission.

Mark: You really are clueless, aren't you? The Iceberg Massacre wasn't about the locals! It was a gang war that lasted for days. Sure, in order to win, strength is required. So maybe some famished lads helped themselves to a meal or two. Every victim—every hunter and mundane who was killed—just got caught in the crossfire.

But now… now, thanks to the alliance we formed that night, there'll be no such events from now on. We—Ocean Eyes—are on the verge of establishing true peace! You folks are the ones fanning the flames of war with your actions and self-righteous statements.

You understand, don't you? Hunters are bloodthirsty. It's no longer about predation on humans—it's about satisfying their thirst for blood. I know you understand. I can see beneath that mask.

You want peace, don't you?

Join us. Ocean Eyes isn't a group of "demons"—it's an alliance for everyone who believes in peace.

Mark stretches his hand out to Mari.

Mark: Come on, take my hand.

Mari stares at Mark's hand for a while. He slowly reaches out and shakes it—but then fastens his grip.

Mari: Sorry, pal, but I need to take you into custody now.

Mark's spirit, once uplifted, suddenly turns cold and sad.

Mark: How I wished you'd understand.

Mari's head suddenly throbs with unbearable pain. He falls to his knees, clutching his head, his lightning cladding disappearing.

Mari: What… what are you doing to me? Is this your attribute? It's so… hurtful!

Mari groans in agony as a little human girl steps out from the darkness.

Mia: Uncle, is he a hunter?

Mark: Yup. They came here… for some reason.

Mia: I was listening. He seems bad.

Mark: Well, he was rude to me, occasionally. Will you help Uncle punish him? He needs to learn how to respect his elders.

Mia: Okey.

Mari's migraines intensify. He collapses to the ground as Mia looms over him.

Mia: Don't be rude to your elders. It's bad.

(Mari's thoughts: This little girl… she's the one doing this? My head hurts so bad that I can't even move…)

Mark: How the tables have turned. I could just take off your mask and kill you now, but… where's the fun in that?

B arrives at the scene, his arm still not regenerated.

Mark: Glad you made it.

(Mari's thoughts: He's back. Does that mean… Mario…?)

Mark and B whisper to each other.

Mark: You don't look so good. Just grow back your arm already.

B: I would have if I could. We need to leave.

Mario arrives, sweating profusely, breathing heavily.

Mario: What happened to you?!

Mario clutches his blade.

Mark: You couldn't take care of one kid?

Mia: Is he a bad boy too, Uncle? Should I teach him manners too?

Mari: (yells in pain) Get out of here! You can't take them on!

The air becomes tense. Everyone falls silent. Then, suddenly—

B: (yelling) You need to get out of here, now! You two need to g—

Before he can finish, his head is off his shoulders.

Mark and Mia are gone.

Mario: Hey, hey, hey! What just happened here?!

Mari's migraine subsides, and he manages to rise to his feet. A tall young man's shadow is cast on the wall as the sun begins to rise. The man steps into the light, wearing a red volto mask with a terrifying depiction of a face with short horns. Mari's breath catches in his throat.

Sinister.

Sinister: Well, well, well. I'm on my way back from a slaughter, and look what I find. Toro's protégé, in a restricted area, breaking a direct order.

Mari stammers, trembling as he manages to speak.

Mari: Cap… Captain… Sinister?