**Volume 2: Upper World**

  **Chapter 94: Just Starting**

  February 10th, 6:22 p.m. – Vein Clan House (Courtyard Ruins)

  Jason walked out of the courtyard slow — sandals dragging through broken glass and dirt, white socks now dark red with blood. The sun was low, painting everything orange and long-shadowed. He found a cracked stone bench near the edge of the property — sat down heavy, elbows on knees, staring at nothing.

  His mind drifted back five years.

  He and Leo were on a rooftop in some forgotten city — night sky clear, wind cold. Leo had two lives left — her bat wings were smaller then, still attached, still black and leathery. They were holding hands, fingers locked tight. Jason was laughing about something dumb — probably a fight they’d just won.

  Then the ledge cracked under his foot.

  He tripped — stumbled forward — Leo fell.

  Jason lunged — caught her hand at the last second. She dangled over the edge, wings useless, yellow eyes wide but calm.

  “I got you,” Jason said — voice tight, knuckles white.

  Leo looked up at him — smiled small, sad.

  “It’s okay. I’ll be reborn. Same age. Just different memories. Different body.”

  Jason’s grip tightened.

  “That’s why I can’t. I love you.”

  Leo’s smile softened.

  “It’s okay.”

  Jason’s hand shook.

  He let go.

  She fell — silent — wings folding around her like a shroud. Hit the ground far below — gone.

  Jason stood on the roof for hours after — staring down — didn’t cry. Just stared.

  Present day.

  This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

  Leo walked up — no wings now (off forever, stumps scarred and sealed). Normal body — lean, scarred, yellow eyes still sharp. She sat next to him on the bench — close enough their shoulders touched.

  “You okay?” she asked — voice quiet.

  Jason looked at her — really looked — then back at the sunset.

  “Yeah. Just thinking about things.”

  ---

  One month later

  March 10th, 6:15 p.m. – Rebuilt Academy (New Park)

  Sky walked slow through the finished park — last metal bar just welded into place that afternoon. Grass was new, benches repainted, lights strung across trees. 20,000 survivors had turned it into something alive again — kids running, people sitting, laughing, breathing.

  He stood under a tree — hands in pockets — watching Frosty spike a water bottle with frost for a little girl. Max was nearby — shadows making tiny soccer balls for kids to kick. Hiro was healing a scraped knee on a boy. Aoi sat on a bench — spatial cracks flickering soft, like she was practicing tiny portals for fun. Taka leaned against a post — sword across his back — watching everything.

  They all looked… normal. For once.

  Sky exhaled — small smile tugging at his mouth.

  They showered first — hot water washing away the day’s dust and sweat. Sky put on a clean black hoodie and gray pants — simple, comfortable. Max wore a dark green jacket, Frosty a light blue sweater, Hiro a white blouse, Aoi a gray hoodie like Sky’s, Taka a black long-sleeve. They looked like regular teenagers for the first time in months.

  They went to a small rebuilt diner near the academy gates — dim lights, booths still smelling like fresh paint. Ordered everything — ramen, sushi, burgers, fries, ice cream. Sky paid the bill — 3,000,000￥ — pulled cash from his bag like it was nothing.

  They ate — talked — laughed a little.

  Sky and Max sat across from each other — plates half-empty.

  Max leaned forward — voice low.

  “When this is all over… what do we do?”

  Sky looked at him — really looked.

  Max kept going.

  “It isn’t too late. We could go around the world. Go to high school somewhere normal — not here — with you guys. Play soccer. I wanna be a pro soccer player. Travel. See places that aren’t burning.”

  Sky stared at his food — chopsticks paused.

  “Hmm.”

  He wondered — would this end by just killing them? Ray, Jane, Jason, Leo, all of them? Or would it end with him dying first? He didn’t know anymore.

  His phone buzzed — unknown number. He excused himself — walked to the bathroom — answered.

  A voice — female, familiar but distant — like he’d heard it in passing years ago.

  “Who’s this?”

  The voice didn’t answer right away.

  “Doesn’t matter.”

  Sky’s grip tightened.

  More demons and devils — and even cursed humans — were coming. S+-SS+ rank, looked human, spoke any language based on the opponent’s. Over 300 million. All sizes — 0.5 to 7 feet. Hiding, eating people, blending in groups of 3–5, some in abandoned places, some in schools or malls fitting in like nothing happened.

  Sky stared at the cracked bathroom mirror.

  “Huh.”

  “12 a.m.”

  Sky looked at his phone — 9 p.m.

  He hung up — walked back to the table — sat down quiet.

  They finished eating — paid — walked back to the dorm in silence.

  Inside — they planned.

  They knew Ray and the others were looking for them — the main ones left. Sky, Frosty, Max, Hiro, Aoi, Taka. They were the targets.

  They mapped routes, escape points, weak spots in the academy barriers. Frosty said she’d freeze whole streets if needed. Max said shadows could scout. Hiro said she’d heal on the move. Aoi said portals for quick getaways. Taka said he’d hold the line.

  Sky just listened — nodded — said they’d fight when it came.

  11:53 p.m.

  Cut to the villains’ base — hidden rift pocket.

  Ray stood in the center — white hair glowing faint purple. Jane leaned against a wall — core scar pulsing slow. Leo sat sharpening claws — no wings, just scars. Reiji paced — crimson energy flickering. Jason lounged on a couch — sandals off, white socks dirty, grin lazy. Jaylee played with threads. Andrew and Luka watched silent.

  All of them — Ray, Jane, Leo, Jason, Reiji, Jaylee, Andrew, Luka.

  Fireworks exploded outside — midnight.

  Leo raised her hand — rift tore open wide.

  Demons poured out — black-red, claws, teeth, eyes glowing. Devils followed — winged, horned, fire dripping from mouths. Cursed humans — S+-SS+ rank, looked normal but moved wrong — spoke every language at once, switching mid-sentence based on who they faced.

  Over 300 million — small ones 0.5 feet scurrying like rats, big ones 7 feet tall smashing cars. They scattered — hiding in schools, malls, abandoned buildings, blending in groups of 3–5. Some ate people in alleys. Some waited in shadows.

  Two hours later — some still killing, some hiding, some fitting in like nothing happened.

  Jason lay on his bed in the base — hands behind head — staring at the ceiling.

  He smiled slow.

  “This is just starting.”

  The chapter ended.

  To be continued…