Chapter 26: The First Strike

The rain had eased up by the time they reached the old scrapyard Sai had mentioned.

Rusted cars piled like corpses, broken machinery scattered around, and a giant warehouse squatting in the center like a beast waiting to swallow anyone foolish enough to step inside.

"Is this... a weapon stash or a horror movie set?" Mira whispered, clutching her jacket tighter.

"A little of both," Sai said, leading the way.

The group followed, stepping carefully over broken glass and puddles that reeked of oil. Tora's tablet beeped softly as he ran scans for any security systems.

"Cameras are fried. No alarms detected. This place is deader than my love life."

"Your love life was never alive." Ryuuji grinned.

Tora kicked his shin.

Inside the warehouse, it was pitch dark until Sai flicked on a single hanging bulb. Its weak light revealed a treasure trove of chaos — weapons, gadgets, explosives, and a vending machine somehow filled entirely with expired energy drinks.

"Welcome to the Armory of Poor Life Choices," Sai announced dryly.

Kuro immediately leapt onto a crate labeled "FRAGILE" and knocked it over. The lid popped open, revealing… flamethrowers.

"I call dibs!" Kuro's eyes sparkled.

"No flamethrowers for you, furball," Hotaru said, grabbing the nearest katana. Its blade gleamed even in the dim light.

Jin calmly inspected a set of throwing knives, testing their weight with practiced ease. Mira, to everyone's surprise, pulled out a sniper rifle nearly twice her size.

"...Where did you learn to use that?" Hotaru asked.

Mira gave a mysterious smile. "You don't know everything about me, Hotaru."

Tora strapped on a backpack stuffed with smoke bombs, tasers, and enough duct tape to kidnap an entire army. Ryuuji? He found nunchucks — because of course he did.

"What's the plan?" Sai asked, lighting a cigarette with a grenade-shaped lighter.

Hotaru stepped forward, katana resting on her shoulder. "We hit Kurogane's temporary base — the one they relocated to after the last explosion. We cause chaos, destroy their supplies, and most importantly — we send a message."

"And what's the message?" Mira asked.

Hotaru's smile was sharp as glass. "We're not prey. We're the predators now."

---

The night sky was still damp with leftover rain, but the air was electric as they approached the Kurogane hideout — a sleek office building disguised as a shipping company.

"Typical," Ryuuji whispered. "Villains love hiding behind boring businesses."

Tora hacked the door within seconds. "Easy. They barely tried."

Inside, the halls were eerily quiet. Too quiet.

"Trap?" Mira whispered.

"Probably," Sai said. "Let's spring it."

They spread out, moving like shadows through the corridors. Kuro scouted ahead, tail flicking as his sharp ears caught every sound. The first group of guards didn't even see it coming.

Hotaru's blade flashed. Sai's fists cracked skulls like walnuts. Jin's knives flew like silver streaks, cutting down anyone who raised a gun.

"Intruders!" someone shouted.

And just like that — all hell broke loose.

Ryuuji vaulted over a desk, nunchucks swinging wildly, accidentally knocking out a guard and shattering a vending machine.

"Oops."

"Focus!" Hotaru yelled, parrying a sword strike so hard it sparked.

Mira found her perch in a ventilation shaft, sniper locked and loaded. Every time a guard tried to flank the team, her silencer coughed, and they dropped like puppets with cut strings.

Sai faced off against a heavily armored brute, dodging punches that cracked the floor. "Who fed this guy bricks for breakfast?"

Tora — standing safely behind a desk — shouted, "Use the taser gloves I gave you!"

Sai slapped both gloves on and grabbed the brute's face. Zap.

The brute twitched, smoked, and collapsed.

"Nice work, nerd," Sai grunted.

The fight was fast, brutal, and chaotic — just the way they liked it. By the time the last guard hit the ground, alarms were blaring, smoke was filling the hallways, and the floor was littered with broken weapons and bodies.

"Message delivered." Hotaru sheathed her sword.

But just as they turned to leave, a voice crackled over the loudspeakers.

"Congratulations, Hotaru. You made it this far. But do you really think this is over?"

Everyone froze.

"That voice…" Hotaru's hands clenched into fists.

It was Rin — her old mentor turned enemy, the one who betrayed her to Kurogane.

"Shall we play one last game, my dear student?" Rin's laughter echoed through the building.

And just like that, the walls exploded.

"Run!" Sai shouted.

They bolted out the nearest window, glass shattering around them as flames swallowed the building behind them. They landed hard in a dumpster, coughing and covered in trash.

"I hate this job." Tora wheezed.

Hotaru stared back at the flames, her heart pounding.

This wasn't over.

This was just the beginning.

To be continued.