Chapter Title: "The Ones Beneath"
The soft hum of a flickering light buzzed above, casting a dim glow over the metallic walls of the interrogation chamber. A single table stood at the center, its surface cold and unforgiving. Mujin stood tall, arms behind his back, gazing down at Rokky, who sat restrained and silent—his eyes vacant, yet oddly defiant.
With a tired sigh, Mujin turned away.
"Put him in detention until we figure out the next step," Mujin ordered, his voice low and resolute.
Two guards immediately stepped forward, hauling Rokky from his chair with a clang of chains. The metal cuffs binding his wrists and ankles rattled as he was dragged away. Mujin didn't spare him another glance.
Akebi, ever silent and observant, walked closely behind Mujin as they exited the room. But just before he disappeared into the shadows of the corridor, Mujin halted and turned halfway toward her.
"Make Rajesh and his partner comfortable. Give them a place to rest tonight. They've earned it," he said without emotion, before walking off into the quiet depth of the hall.
Akebi bowed her head slightly. "Understood."
Moments later, Rajesh and Jayesh were guided down a separate hallway. Akebi walked ahead of them, her footsteps echoing softly against the polished floor. She stopped in front of a modest apartment door and keyed in a security code. The door slid open with a soft hiss.
"This will be your room for the night," she said gently, offering a small, rare smile. "You're safe here."
The room was surprisingly warm. Clean, simple bedding. A single potted plant. Dim golden lighting that offered a soft sense of peace. Jayesh nodded his thanks and settled onto one of the mats. Rajesh, however, stood near the window, his hands behind his back.
He stared out into the moonlit sky, eyes troubled.
"Sakamoto…" he whispered under his breath. "How are you holding up my boy? We must find a way out for you?"
Alcatraz Prison – Block Z
DONG… DONG… DONG…
The ancient bell of Alcatraz rang with haunting clarity, each toll echoing through the rusted veins of the prison like a call from the underworld itself.
CLANK! CLANK! CLANK!
One by one, the reinforced doors of Blocks A through Z hissed and groaned open. Heavy chains unraveled like metallic serpents, and out stepped the condemned.
Hundreds of inmates moved in eerie silence, their feet shuffling in perfect unison. Chains bound their wrists and ankles, yet none resisted. It was dinner time. A ritual. A cycle.
And for the very first time, two doors at the end of Block Z slowly opened—releasing not mere prisoners, but something far more volatile.
From one stepped Sakamoto
From the other—Asger.
Tall, wild-eyed, and with an unmistakable grin, Asger turned toward him. Her silver hair flowed down her back like a frozen waterfall, her eyes gleaming with a madness that was more curious than cruel.
"Well, well," she purred. "Pretty boy… What'd you do to end up in this pit full of such beautiful monsters like us?"
Sakamoto paused before replying. His face unreadable.
"They say I killed Emperor Trever," he said with a wry smile. "They claim I caused a worldwide attack."
Asger gasped with delight, stepping closer. "Really? Really? Now that's an impressive résumé, boy. You're gonna be my best friend."
Sakamoto chuckled under his breath. "Definitely."
But just as her grin widened, it suddenly faltered. Her eyes narrowed with eerie precision.
"I can see it," she murmured. "The sadness you hide behind that smile, young fighter."
Before Sakamoto could respond, a food cart screeched along the rails, pushed by a silent, gray-eyed worker. The scent of cheap rice and salted meat filled the air as two bowls were handed to them.
Asger grabbed her plate and grinned. "I might look young, but I'm an old-ass lady in spirit," she said, winking, then turned and swaggered back into her room.
Sakamoto followed, his own bowl in hand. The doors behind them groaned shut with an ominous clang. Alone now in his prison cell, Sakamoto sat on the edge of his bunk and stared into the bowl. The rice steamed faintly. The meat was dull and overcooked. But what chilled him wasn't the food—it was the strange feeling creeping over him, A sensation, Asger… she had looked through him,Not just at him—but through him. As if she had seen every layer of guilt, every hidden scar, every ounce of his fractured soul, He swallowed hard and looked away.
Clink.
The sound of his spoon echoed lightly against the steel bowl as he began to eat.
Undetectable Location – Huey's Domain
A pale fog drifted across the black marble floor. The air was thick—dense with old shadows, and unseen voices.
Huey stood in silence, his shadow stretching long behind him. Before him was a single stone coffin, sealed tightly in thick silver chains, each one inscribed with celestial runes.
His eyes were still. Calculating.
"You gave a portion of your Shen to Draven…" Huey muttered softly, placing his hand gently on the coffin. "Yet you still hold an uncountable reservoir of it inside how amazing those hybrid Pet are."
A wicked smile crept onto his face. "I must build a stronger force from Alcatraz. I must take the hybrid on our side or slay him. Lord Arcade will return soon… and when he does, he must see an army."
Huey's voice dropped to a whisper.
"…an army for the war to come."
He lifted his hand and spread his palm wide.
"I've taken from you before," he murmured. "But I'll be needing you once again."
Suddenly, the coffin shuddered.
BOOM!
A burst of reddish Shen energy exploded from its seams, spiraling upward like smoke from a forgotten curse. It twirled through the air before spiraling into Huey's outstretched palm.
His eyes rolled back for a moment, then snapped forward.
SHRRRIP!
A glowing cross symbol seared into the skin of his palm—and another ignited across his forehead, pulsing red with otherworldly power.
Huey's grin widened, his teeth gleaming like fangs.
" Time to wake the others."
He said, and a smile dropped on his face as his took a step forward and vanished.