The Bait for life

Scene: The Weight of the Truth

Inside the ancient chamber, the mirror lies cracked. Everyone sits silently — the images of Black Kai's slaughter still burning in their minds.

Marine (shaking):

"So he's real… and he's hunting Aether Cores. He'll come for me too, won't he?"

Kazuya (quietly):

"Yes. He's already looking."

Megum (fists clenched):

"He was your friend… and now he's—"

Kazuya (firmly):

"He's no longer who he was."

The group falls into a heavy silence.

Marine lowers her head. Isaka's systems hum low, her eyes dimmed.

But no one notices — Luci is missing from the room.

---

Scene: Guilt-Filled Realization

Later that night, Kazuya and Megum stand outside, discussing defenses.

Megum:

"We'll need more traps. He's coming."

Kazuya (distantly):

"I failed once. I won't fail again."

Suddenly—

Marine (rushing out):

"Where's Luci?"

They all pause.

Isaka (scanning):

"She hasn't been seen since the mirror broke. Her last energy signal was… near the village gate."

A long silence. Then—

Kazuya (cold, voice cracking):

"No… no, no, no—"

Isaka (eyes flashing red):

"She's gone. Abducted. Her signature vanished through a shadow gate."

---

Scene: Hokori's Message

Moments later, a black sphere drops from the sky in front of them. It hovers, pulsing. Then… a projection of Hokori's face appears — cold, cruel, and smiling.

Hokori:

"Tell the little Core... I have her toy soldier."

Luci is shown, bound in dark chains, bruised but conscious.

Hokori (smirking):

"She fought well. I wonder how long she'll last…"

Everyone stares in horror. Marine covers her mouth, tears welling.

Hokori (leaning closer into the image):

"Trade her life… for the girl."

A beat. His voice darkens.

> "Bring Marine to the Edge of the Rift by the next blood moon.

Or Luci dies… slowly."

The sphere vanishes in a burst of ash.

---

Scene: Devastation

Marine (breaking):

"This is my fault. It's always me—"

Megum (grabbing her shoulders):

"No. You didn't do this. He did."

Kazuya (jaw clenched):

"Hokori's playing a sick game… and Luci's the bait."

Isaka:

"Do we… hand Marine over?"

Everyone turns to look at her. Silence.

Marine (after a long pause):

"If it's to save Luci… I'll go."

Kazuya (instantly):

"No. We'll find another way. I lost too much already. I won't lose you too."

Scene: The Rift Prison – Luci's Last Stand

The Rift was a realm of silence — broken only by the distant screams of lost souls.

Luci sat chained in a pit of shadows, blood dried on her lip, eyes bruised but defiant. Black tendrils swirled around her, whispering her name in forgotten tongues.

She had lost count of time. Her gun was gone. Her strength was fading. But not her fire.

Suddenly — a pulse. Something shifted in the air.

The chains hummed with heat. Shadows recoiled.

And then… he arrived.

A giant figure, cloaked in steam and flame, stepped from a tear in space. His presence crushed the silence. Every shadow bowed to him like terrified ghosts.

Black Kai.

His eyes burned crimson. His chest glowed with red sigils of the fallen Aether Cores. The ground cracked beneath his footsteps.

Luci looked up — refusing to show fear.

Luci:

"So you're the monster everyone's afraid of…"

Kai didn't answer. He just stared.

Then, quietly, he walked forward. With a wave of his hand, the chains shattered into glowing dust.

Luci fell forward but caught herself, panting.

Luci (weakly):

"Came to finish the job?"

Kai (calmly):

"No."

She blinked.

Kai:

"I didn't take you."

Luci:

"What—?"

Kai:

"Hokori did. I don't take hostages. I end wars."

A pause. The Rift around them pulsed like a heartbeat.

Kai (stepping closer):

"You don't belong here. He used you to bait the girl."

Luci (fiercely):

"Her name is Marine."

Kai (a whisper):

"I know."

He turned. Opened another rift — this one glowing gold and red.

Kai:

"I'm taking you back."

Luci (wary):

"And then what? You kill everyone I love?"

He didn't look at her.

Kai:

"If they stay out of my path… they live."

---

Scene: Airoma-- Kai Returns

It was dusk. The village was tense — guards posted at every corner. Marine sat with Kazuya, Megum, and Isaka, eyes filled with dread.

Suddenly — the sky tore open.

A massive rift exploded above the forest.

Everyone rose. Weapons drawn.

Out of the swirling flames stepped Black Kai… carrying Luci in his arms.

Her eyes were open. Alive.

He descended slowly, landing at the village edge like a god returning from battle.

Kazuya (roaring):

"Get away from her!!"

He charged, blade drawn, golden light burning through his veins.

Megum summoned his metal arm, Isaka activated her shields, Marine stood frozen in disbelief.

But Kai didn't move.

He gently placed Luci on the ground — her body glowing slightly with Rift residue.

Kazuya (furious):

"Why save her?! What game is this?!"

Black Kai (calmly):

"It's not a game. I didn't come here to fight."

Isaka (ready to strike):

"You slaughtered Aether Cores like animals—!"

Kai:

"They stood in my way."

Marine (quietly, almost trembling):

"Why… why are you helping me?"

He turned his head, just enough to meet her eyes.

Black Kai (low voice):

"I'm not helping you."

Everyone flinched.

Black Kai:

"I just don't like his methods."

He nodded toward the horizon — toward Hokori.

Luci groaned and sat up, holding her head.

Luci (whispering):

"He saved me…"

Kazuya (angrily):

"You should've stayed dead, Kai."

That was the first time Marine heard his name from Kazuya's lips. Her heart skipped a beat.

But Kai didn't react.

He stepped back toward the Rift.

Before entering, he paused.

His voice echoed across the village — low, powerful, and final.

> "If anyone stands between me and the remaining Aether Cores — they die."

"But I don't kill without reason."

Kai (to Marine, one last glance):

"Your time hasn't come… yet."

And then he vanished.

The Rift closed.

Silence.

---

Scene: Aftermath

Marine (softly):

"He saved her. Why would he do that?"

Kazuya (gritting his teeth):

"He's trying to confuse us. Twist our hearts. It's what darkness does."

Isaka (thinking):

"Or maybe… a part of him is still trying to protect something."

Megum:

"Who is he, really?"

Kazuya:

"He was once the strongest among us. A hero. A protector."

He looked up at the sky — where the rift had vanished.

Kazuya:

"But now… he's something else."

---

Marine, standing alone now, looked down at Luci's pendant still glowing faintly with Rift energy.

She closed her fist around it and whispered:

> "Then I'll become strong enough… to stop them both."