Chapter 61: The Final Gathering!

The next day, as the

golden light of dawn filtered through the towering skyline of Neo-Shinkoku,

the team began to stir from their rest. The mansion was alive with the quiet

hum of preparation, each member getting ready for the impending mission.

Senjuro, still groggy from

the previous night's discussions, grabbed his Urban Nexus Comm-Link and

dialed a familiar number.

"Zyren, we have a

mission here. I need you to bring Kyra, Akira, Akio, Hiroshi, Mirae, Taro, and

Kaito. Take the train to Neo-Shinkoku—it's the fastest way to get to the

mission site."

On the other end of the

line, Zyren Higer, responded immediately.

"Understood. I'll

inform the others, and we'll head out as soon as possible. Expect us shortly."

The call ended, and as

Senjuro set his comm down, Syvian entered the room, stretching his

arms as he noticed Senjuro's serious expression.

"Who were you

talking to?" Syvian asked, rubbing his eyes.

"Zyren. He's

bringing the rest of our team to help us protect Sylvia."

Syvian nodded in approval.

"Good. We'll need all the help we can get."

Just then, Kyrin entered,

adjusting the black and crimson tactical jacket he had draped over his

shoulders.

"Did you tell

Zyren about the mission yet?" he asked.

Senjuro shook his head.

"Not yet. I'll brief them once they arrive. For now, we need to make

sure we have transport ready."

From across the

room, Kairen leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, his

signature smirk playing across his lips.

"Take my G-Cruiser

and pick them up," he said casually.

Rin, who had just walked

in, raised an eyebrow. "Which class?"

Kairen's smirk widened.

"Celestial Class."

Senjuro's eyes gleamed

with excitement. "A Celestial-Class G-Cruiser? I'll take it for a ride

then."

Kairen chuckled. "Keep

it with you until the mission is over. Your driving skills impressed me, and

besides, you'll need it."

At that moment, Blaze

appeared in the hallway, rubbing his stomach. "Enough about cars

and missions—can we eat now? I'm starving."

Syvian laughed. "Yeah,

let's go. We need our energy for what's coming."

With that, the group

headed toward the mansion's grand dining hall.

After a hearty

breakfast, Senjuro retrieved the Celestial-Class G-Cruiser from the

mansion's underground garage. The sleek, black and gold vehicle,

built for speed and durability, purred to life as he settled into the driver's

seat. Rin, Blaze, and Syvian hopped in, and with a low hum,

the cruiser surged forward, gliding effortlessly through the bustling streets

of Neo-Shinkoku.

The towering neo-futuristic

skyline loomed above them, holographic billboards flashing

mission reports, bounty listings, and corporate ads, while below, the

underworld of the city operated in its usual secrecy.

As they neared Neo-Shinkoku

Central Station, Senjuro opened a communication channel.

"Zyren, we're

arriving. Where are you guys?"

A moment later, Zyren's

voice came through.

"We just stepped

off the train. Meet us at Terminal 4."

They pulled up to the

terminal, where Zyren and the others stood waiting, dressed in their

respective stealth and combat attire, ready for whatever lay

ahead. Kyra, Akira, Akio, Hiroshi, Mirae, Taro, and Kaito—each an

elite warrior in their own right—looked prepared for battle.

As they all loaded into

the G-Cruiser, Akio glanced at the dashboard, his eyes widening.

"Celestial-Class,

huh? Kairen must really trust you."

Senjuro smirked. "More

like he just likes my driving."

With everyone aboard, they

sped back toward the Kurogiri Mansion, ready to receive their

mission briefing and prepare for the challenges ahead. The streets of

Neo-Shinkoku blurred past, and as the skyline loomed once more, they all knew—this

mission was going to be unlike any they had ever faced before.

As the Celestial-Class

G-Cruiser raced through

the neon-lit streets of Neo-Shinkoku,

the team inside remained engaged in serious discussion. The towering

skyscrapers, adorned with holographic projections and intricate cybernetic

designs, cast a futuristic glow over the city as they sped toward their

destination—the Kurogiri

Clan Mansion.

Sitting in the passenger seat, Zyren asked,

"Alright, someone fill me in—what exactly

is this mission about?"

From the back seat, Kyrin, adjusting the

hilt of his ninja knife strapped to his side, responded,

"You know about the Kurogiri Clan, right?"

Zyren scoffed. "Of course, who doesn't?

They're one of the most formidable ninja clans in Neo-Shinkoku. What about

them?"

Kyrin's expression darkened. "The Dragon

Descendant Festival is happening in a few days, and Sylvia Kurogiri has been

chosen as the Dragon's Descendant. Our mission is to protect her—from Lord Z."

At the mention of Lord Z, Zyren's eyes

narrowed. "That bastard? Why does he want Sylvia?"

Rin, sitting comfortably with one arm on the

window, answered, "Sylvia is the only one who can access and ignite the

Dragon Lantern. Once lit, the lantern produces an infinite amount of pure

energy—an energy source so powerful that it could change the balance of power

in the world."

Kyra, who had been quietly listening, sighed. "He's

losing it, isn't he? The more power he gets, the more he craves."

From the far back of the cruiser, Blaze smirked and leaned his head against the seat.

"Not our problem. We've got Kairen, and let's be honest—most of the

time, he'll take care of the enemies while we just sit back and enjoy the ride."

The mention of Kairen

Drazun made Akira, a combat

specialist, sit up straight. "Wait, wait—Kairen Drazun? No way! The

Kairen Drazun is part of our team?"

Rin chuckled. "You better believe it.

Guess what? He joined up just yesterday."

From the middle row, Mirae smirked and nudged Akira. "Well,

that's great news for you. I thought you were a huge fan of his."

Before Akira could respond, Senjuro, who had been focused

on driving, suddenly remembered something and turned slightly toward Akio.

"Hey, Akio, how'd you know this was

Kairen's car?"

Akio, a tech expert and vehicle enthusiast, grinned and pointed

at the dashboard. "See that emblem? That's the symbol of the Leondrazu

Clan. This is a custom-built G-Cruiser, specifically designed for Kairen."

Rin raised an eyebrow. "And how exactly do

you know all this?"

Akio chuckled. "I read about it in a

magazine featuring custom vehicles from elite warriors. This car was listed as

a 'Celestial-Class Exclusive'—top-tier in every category."

As the conversation continued, the G-Cruiser sped across a

high-rise bridge, offering a stunning view of the massive, interconnected

districts of Neo-Shinkoku. The city was a fusion of ancient tradition

and advanced technology, where samurai

and assassins roamed alongside cyber-enhanced warriors, and shrines stood

alongside towering megastructures.

Within a few minutes, the vehicle smoothly pulled up

at the massive entrance of the Kurogiri Mansion. The grand structure

stood as a testament to the clan's legacy, with its towering black and gold pagoda-style

architecture, reinforced with futuristic security systems and energy barriers.

As the team stepped out of the cruiser, they knew—the

real battle was just beginning.

As the Celestial-Class

G-Cruiser rolled to a smooth stop at the gates of the Kurogiri

Mansion, the team stepped out, their eyes scanning the grand structure

before them. The towering estate, adorned with a mix of traditional

Japanese architecture and futuristic enhancements, stood as a beacon of

power and legacy. The golden insignia of the Kurogiri Clan shimmered

under the neon lights, while energy barriers hummed faintly in the background,

providing top-tier security.

Standing in front of the

entrance was a man with sharp golden eyes, a long black coat with red

and gold embroidery, and an aura of authority that demanded respect—this

was Raizen Kurogiri, the head of the Kurogiri Clan and the father

of Syvian Kurogiri.

Senjuro stepped forward

and introduced him. "Guys, this is Raizen Kurogiri, my mentor, Syvian's

father, and the leader of the Kurogiri Clan."

The team bowed

respectfully and greeted him.

Raizen nodded, his eyes

scanning each of them before speaking. "I appreciate all of you for coming

here to assist us in protecting our clan. Your presence means more than you

know."

Zyren stepped forward and

met Raizen's gaze with confidence. "It's an honor to fight by your side,

Lord Raizen. We won't let you down."

Raizen gave a small smile

of approval. "I don't doubt that. Now, come inside. We have much to discuss."

As they entered the grand

hall, a familiar voice called out to them.

"Oh hey, guys!"

The team turned to see Kairen

Drazun, dressed casually yet still exuding an undeniable presence of power.

His golden-blonde hair was slightly tousled, and his storm-colored eyes

carried an effortless confidence.

Akira stepped forward in

awe. "Kairen Drazun… it's truly an honor to meet you."

Kairen let out a small

laugh and waved a dismissive hand. "Bruh, chill. We're teammates now—just

call me Kairen. No need for the formal stuff."

Akira grinned and nodded.

"Got it! Kairen."

Zyren smirked and crossed

his arms. "Long time no see, Kairen."

Kairen turned his

attention to him, his expression shifting into a grin. "Same here, Zyren.

You've gotten stronger, haven't you?"

Kyrin raised an eyebrow,

looking between the two. "Wait—you two know each other?"

Zyren chuckled. "Yeah.

Kairen and I were part of the same Shade Recruits Hub back in the day. We

trained together, competed against each other, and even sparred more times than

I can count."

Kairen nodded. "And

trust me, he was one hell of a rival back then. But I gotta say—there's one

thing he's been dying to ask me."

Zyren smirked. "You

already know. That technique—did you master it?"

Kairen's expression turned

playful yet intense. "Oh, it's not just a technique anymore. It's one of my Nine

Styles, and I can't wait to show you what it can really do."

Kyrin's curiosity piqued.

"Nine Styles? What's that?"

Kairen smirked. "You'll

find out soon enough."

Syvian rolled his eyes. "Can

you two stop being dramatic?"

The group shared a laugh

as they headed toward the mansion's backyard, where a traditional

yet high-tech training ground awaited them. This would be their first moment to

breathe before their next battle—but deep down, they all knew...

This was just the calm

before the storm.