Chapter 62: The Rogue in Black

The wind howled over the western ridge of Shinzai, carrying the heavy scent of sulfur and ash.

A swirling pulse of corrupted energy cracked through the forest. Trees splintered. The ground shook. Birds scattered into the sky in panic.

From the warped light, five monstrous beasts emerged—humanoid in shape but grotesque in form. Twisted bone protruded from their shoulders, and eyes glowed a sickly yellow, dripping with corrupted Will. Their claws pulsed with black flame, mouths breathing venom into the air.

Maiya Kurai, crimson ribbon tied firm, stood at the ready. Beside her, Ayato Kurai, his violet aura already humming to life, narrowed his eyes.

"Those things…" Ayato muttered. "They're not normal Will-beasts."

Maiya nodded. "They're targeting the city. We don't have time to wait."

In a blink, Ayato launched himself forward.

One of the beasts lunged, jaws wide. Ayato spun low, his Will flaring around his fists like coiling lightning. He struck hard—a three-hit combo to the chest, then a final blast that sent the beast crashing through three trees.

It twitched once. Then went still.

"One down," he breathed.

Another roared behind him—but it never reached him.

A black streak blurred between the trees, too fast to follow.

Then chaos.

Three of the beasts were launched backward in a single flash of motion, smashing into the ground with a shockwave that cracked the earth.

A figure landed between Maiya and Ayato—a young man dressed in a black trench coat, joggers tucked into dark boots, his face shadowed beneath messy dark red hair. A long bandage ran diagonally under his left eye, over his cheek.

His aura was cold. Controlled. Heavy with battle experience.

But what stunned them most wasn't how he looked.

It was what he just did.

The three beasts twitched, struggling to rise—until the figure dashed forward, movements almost silent, and took each of them down with surgical precision:

A spinning heel kick that shattered one beast's spine.

A hand to the ground—crimson Will surged like a spike through the second's chest.

And the third? He pointed two fingers forward, whispered something under his breath, and a thin lance of red energy blasted clean through its head.

Dead. All three. Gone in seconds.

Maiya was frozen.

Ayato stood in disbelief. "Who… is that?"

The last beast turned, snarling, charging toward Maiya.

She summoned her Will—ready to counter—but the stranger was already there.

He appeared in front of the beast mid-charge, ducked under its swing, and punched upward, his crimson aura bursting as the strike ripped the beast off the ground, sending it sky-high.

As the beast arced helplessly in the air, the stranger looked up.

And smirked.

"Next time, send something worth my time."

A single crimson slash of energy followed—and the beast split in half before it even hit the ground.

Silence.

Ayato's mouth hung open. "That was… a 3rd Wielder?"

Maiya didn't answer.

They watched as the man turned his back to them, trench coat fluttering in the breeze, and walked calmly toward the forest.

"Wait!" Ayato called out. "Who are you?!"

But the figure didn't stop. He simply said—without turning around:

"You don't need to know my name… not yet."

And with a quiet flicker of red light—he was gone.

They stood still, stunned.

Maiya whispered, "Whoever that was… he's not just strong. He's dangerous."

Ayato nodded slowly, "No way that was just a 3rd Wielder…"

Neither of them had any idea…

It was Jinsei.

And he was back.

But only the beginning of his return had been written.