Hotaru's Plan

In the dimly lit apartment, Hotaru stood in front of Kazuki, her eyes cold and distant, reflecting something far beyond what they once were. The lifeless aura surrounding her was unnerving, but her voice remained steady and calm—almost too calm.

"Kazuki, listen carefully," she began. "You've already seen what this place can do to people. Eidolon is collapsing under its own weight, and things are only going to get worse."

Kazuki clenched his fists, his gaze unwavering. "What do you want me to do? What's this plan of yours?"

Hotaru crossed her arms, her expression darkening slightly. "You're not ready to fight the Savior—not yet. But you have something that no one else does. The power of Chaos... and a destiny that ties you to the Zodiac Beasts."

Kazuki blinked in confusion. "Zodiac Beasts?"

Hotaru nodded. "The beasts are ancient guardians—remnants of the Primis of Chaos' power. Each one represents a different Zodiac sign. If you defeat them, you'll absorb their true abilities and grow stronger. Right now, your power is just a replica—a fraction of what it could be."

Kazuki furrowed his brows. "And what happens after I defeat them all?"

Hotaru's voice lowered. "Once you have all twelve, you'll be able to challenge the forces that control Eidolon. Only then will you have a chance to survive what's coming... and protect this world."

There was a pause before Kazuki narrowed his eyes. "But what about you? You've been saying you want to go back to the real world ever since you got here. Why are you staying? Why are you doing this?"

Hotaru hesitated for a moment, then smiled faintly—a rare, fleeting glimpse of the old Hotaru. "Because... I have a reason to be here now. I was given this power for a reason. And besides, someone has to make sure you don't get yourself killed."

Kazuki's chest tightened at her words, the weight of the situation finally settling in. "Hotaru..."

She turned away, her eyes glowing faintly as she gazed out the window. "I don't have much time left. I need to seal myself to contain this energy. If I lose control, things will get messy."

Kazuki frowned. "Seal yourself? What does that mean?"

"Don't worry about it," Hotaru said, brushing off the question. "Just focus on the Zodiac Beasts for now. You'll know what to do when the time comes."

As she turned to leave, she glanced over her shoulder. "Stay alive, Kazuki. Eidolon needs you more than you realize."

And with that, she vanished into the night, leaving Kazuki standing in stunned silence.