The Unseen Price

Screams echoed across the shattered schoolyard.

The monster, soaked in blood, stood tall amidst the lifeless bodies of fallen students. Its massive blades dripped red, its red eyes glowing with unquenchable rage.

Near the field's edge, just in front of the building, the girl stood frozen. Her feet were glued to the ground. She wanted to run—she needed to—but her legs wouldn't listen.

Then—

A quiet groan.

Kaito's eyes fluttered open. Blurred vision greeted him: broken glass, twisted bodies, and thick puddles of blood. The stench hit him instantly.

He turned to the side and vomited.

Gasping, he wiped his mouth—and then saw her.

The monster stood just meters from the girl.

Kaito's heart pounded. He tried to rise—his arms trembled, legs buckled. He collapsed again.

"Stay down, Kaito!" Mr. Hayashi shouted, rushing to his side. "You're not ready to move!"

Haruto knelt beside him. "It's okay! The teachers will handle this. Just rest for now!"

But Kaito couldn't rest. His blurred vision cleared, just enough to see the monster raise one of its massive blades.

It swung with lethal force.

BOOM.

A shockwave of wind blasted across the field.

But when the smoke cleared—she wasn't dead.

A glowing green shield shimmered around her like a fragile bubble. Cracks spread across its surface. Everyone—teachers, students—watched in stunned silence.

The monster growled and struck again.

CLANG!

Again. And again.

CRACK—CRACK—CRACK!

The shield was breaking.

Gasps filled the air. The girl trembled inside the flickering dome, her wide eyes locked with Kaito's.

He felt something explode in his chest.

"No..."

Kaito pushed himself to his feet.

"Kaito, STOP!" Haruto shouted, but he was already running.

"Kaito!" Mr. Hayashi reached for him, too late.

The green shield split with a high-pitched screech.

Shatter.

The girl stared in horror. She couldn't move.

Kaito's eyes widened. He wasn't going to make it in time.

He sprinted faster, throwing out his arm in desperation. "YUNAAAA!!"

She reached out too, tears falling from her eyes. "Kaito—!"

The sword struck.

A burst of light. A spray of blood.

Kaito tackled her out of the way—but not fast enough.

They tumbled across the dirt. Blood smeared the ground. The girl rolled once, twice—and stopped.

Kaito skidded to a halt. His body screamed in pain. Blood ran from a deep slash across his side.

He knelt, gasping, staring at her motionless form.

One tear escaped his eye.

"Yuna..."

He screamed, throat raw and broken. "YUNAAAAA!"

The monster growled, stepping forward.

Then—

A second magic circle appeared in the sky. Intricate runes spun like gears. A shadow descended slowly into the light.

A man—not much taller than Kaito—landed silently between him and the beast. His face was hidden, his presence unnerving.

The monster paused.

The figure spoke calmly. "That's enough. Your time here is over."

A ripple of magic surged. A glowing circle appeared beneath both of them.

The monster's fury turned to confusion... then fear.

He stepped back, eyes wide. His swords dropped from his hands, clanging onto the stone.

He stared at Kaito—not with rage now, but disbelief.

"You... You're a G...n."

And with that, the two vanished.

Leaving behind silence, blood... and more questions than answers.

End of Chapter