Chapter 155: White Cloak of Demand

The sun had not risen. A silver mist clung to the earth like breath from a slumbering giant. Within the Raiden Edge compound, the air was still — save for the soft beeping within Riku Hayashi's body as his internal AI whispered an update into his mind.

[Internal AI Diagnostics]: 96% complete. Essence contamination subsiding. Warning: Rest is still required. Physical strain will delay recovery.

Riku stirred faintly in his sleep. A bead of sweat rolled down his temple, caught by a gentle hand.

Yumi Aoyama, kneeling at his bedside, looked exhausted. Her dark eyes had heavy shadows beneath them, and her long hair was loosely tied back. Still, she smiled every time she touched Riku's forehead and felt the fever drop ever so slightly.

"You're getting better…" she whispered, voice cracking from tiredness. Her fingers brushed the Hayashi-crest necklace that matched the one resting on his chest."Just a little longer, Riku. I've got you."

Suddenly—

BOOM.

A deep shockwave echoed from the eastern mountain pass. The entire compound trembled. Dust fell from overhead beams. Alarms lit the halls of Raiden Edge in red essence-flare.

The main hall of the compound erupted into movement. Essence warriors poured out in formation. Takumi, Renji, and Reina rushed to the courtyard, followed by other guild members and Hayashi Clan defenders.

As the mist cleared and lightning flashed in the sky again — a figure emerged.

He stood tall atop a floating boulder drifting ten feet above the earth. His long, flowing white cloak rippled like a spectral banner in the wind. His face was obscured by a silver-lined mask, and thin black gloves adorned his hands.

A golden pendant resembling a broken sun hung around his neck. His presence alone warped the atmosphere — the clouds above twisting unnaturally, as if space itself bowed to him.

"Who the hell is that…?" Renji muttered, readying his essence darts.

Takumi's eyes narrowed. "He's powerful. Higher than S-Rank… maybe beyond that."

One of the guards stepped forward. "State your identity and business!"

The man raised one hand slowly. "I am called Kavros Isen."

The name sent a strange chill across the air. No known records. No bounty tag. Unknown… and terrifying.

"I have not come to kill anyone… at least, not yet," Kavros said calmly, his voice cool and articulate. "All I want is Riku Hayashi. And… five million dollars."

Everyone in the courtyard froze.

"You'll get neither, bastard!" shouted one of the senior Hayashi guards, stepping forward and channeling his lightning essence into his arms. "We protect our own."

Kavros sighed. "Then I suppose..." he raised his right hand — and in an instant, the eastern watchtower exploded in a burst of pale red light, disintegrating the entire structure and three essence warriors within."...I will have to convince you."

He smiled behind the mask."Essence is such a fickle thing. Let's see who else I need to kill… before you give me what I want."

Back in the medical wing, Riku twitched slightly in his sleep, the necklace between him and Yumi faintly glowing.

But he still didn't wake up.

Yumi looked up, sensing the shift in energy from afar.

"Something's wrong…" she whispered, standing up slowly and walking to the window, her eyes flashing with determination."I'll protect you until you're ready, Riku. I swear it."

Outside, Kavros Isen floated forward, the sky darkening behind him as Raiden Edge prepared for its next storm.