"How long are you going to hide Behind that door?" the man in the straw hat asked.
The man stepped forward from behind the door, revealing a figure too elegant for a place like this, too calm to be just anyone. His long black hair caught the light as he moved, and even though a dark blindfold covered his eyes, he could see everything anyway.
His robe clung to his meticulous body, soft and flowing like something out of a dream. The blindfold didn't just cover his eyes—it felt like it was holding back something old and powerful.
"So, what does the special guest want today?" he spoke calmly.
"Pour me the most luxurious delicacy you have."
The bartender ran his hand along the shelf filled with bottles and pulled out an eerie-looking one. He placed a glass on the reception table and began pouring the bloody red wine slowly. Every drop shimmered with a glow, as if it were alive.
"I made it a hundred years ago—extracted from the soul of a powerful man, one corrupt beyond redemption."
The man picked up the glass, tilting it. "Did you feel the tremors?" he asked, then took a sip. "Marvelous," he said.
"I also felt the Kagaki earlier," the bartender replied. "It seems Eclipsera has woken up," he chuckled.
"Why don't you show these people what's behind that blindfold?"
The bartender stood silently. A small smile crept across his features.
"Don't these people suspect their lovely bartender, the one cunning beyond comparison?" the man said, sipping the last drop.
Silence.
Then a cheerful voice cut through, "May I also order that delicious-looking drink?"
The bartender shifted his smiling gaze to the man sitting beside the one in the straw hat. "My, my, looks like today is a special day."
"Looks like the eyesore is here too," the man in the straw hat spoke, his voice cold and distant. "You go by the name Handyman now, right?"
The bartender squinted his eyes behind the blindfold—he knew this was a bad situation.
None of them spoke, but slowly the air itself grew heavy. Sparks of yellow and silver Kagaki hissed through the air, clashing with the fibers of reality. People felt a crushing weight upon their bodies—some fell to their knees, coughing blood, others dropped unconscious.
The bartender raised his voice. "Stop, both of you."
Red-colored sparks entangled his body. Even the two men felt the pressure—but unlike their Kagaki, his was calm and perfectly controlled.
The man with the straw hat sighed. "I still can't compare to your Kagaki, Sir Lawdeus."
Lawdeus smiled. "You both are years too early for that."
"Haha, says the famous bartender," Handyman said with a laugh.
The man in the straw hat stood and slowly walked toward the door. As he opened it, a voice followed from behind.
"Stay away from the Eleventh. I just came to warn you," Handyman said, dead serious.
"I don't have anything to do with him," the man replied, stepping outside. He looked up at the sky. "Looks like the First is on the move," he muttered, then walked away from the pub.
Kuro and his companions moved through the crowd in the Upper Ring. The streets were bursting with people as the sun dipped beyond the shores. Yet, the group felt lonely and isolated. They walked like puppets, lost in thought.
Strangely enough, Eclipsera had turned into a small bracelet curled around Artoria's wrist.
Kuro suddenly bumped into someone. The man turned quickly, bowing slightly. He pulled his straw hat lower to hide his face completely.
"I am very sorry," he said softly.
"It's okay."
The man straightened and turned. His long silver hair followed behind him like a ribbon. "You may continue your journey," he said—and in a whisper so low only Kuro could hear— "Eleventh," then walked away.
Kuro narrowed his eyes, but Arthur intercepted him.
"What happened? Let's go—we don't have time."
"Yeah, sure."
They walked the opposite direction, slipping into an alleyway toward their hideout.
At the Hideout—
Dian sat in a corner; his face hidden in his knees. Erik paced, desperation in every step.
"It's been six hours. Where are boss and the others?" he muttered under his breath.
Suddenly, a strong gust of wind howled. The lantern lighting the room trembled. Erik looked up, eyes narrowing.
Another gust followed—then came the sound of wings, like a giant bird landing. A faint footstep echoed.
Their attention snapped to the entrance. Erik swallowed hard and grabbed Dian's hand, pulling him to the back of the room.
"Where do you think you're going?" a cold, deep voice followed. The air grew heavy. Cracks appeared in the walls. An unseen force crushed them to the ground.
Just a flicker of Kagaki—but it overwhelmed them completely.
Erik spat blood. He shoved Dian into a corner and tried to crawl forward.
WHACK!
A kick slammed him against the wall. Blood flew from his mouth.
"Tell me—where is the Eleventh?"
Erik trembled; his clothes soaked in crimson. "Don't know who that is," he gasped.
The mysterious figure walked toward Dian.
Erik blocked him. "You can't touch him. He's innocent!"
"You're very brave… brave enough to be foolish."
The figure drew a long, white sword. The blade gleamed in the lantern light, etched with ancient symbols.
"Answer me—what do you know about the Eleventh?"
The Kagaki grew stronger. Erik's insides felt like they were being crushed. He vomited again, choking on blood.
Strangely, Dian wasn't affected.
The man opened his ethereal white wings, casting a long shadow over them. "Do you know about the Eleventh?"
"I told you, I don't—"
SLICE!
The sword cut through clean. Blood splattered across Dian's face. He froze. He could feel the warmth of it, could taste it.
His vision blurred.
The man walked through the blood, his steps slow and deliberate. He loomed over Dian like a monster.
He knelt, reaching out a hand.
"I am Koga. I will not harm you. Join me, and I'll give you an easy life."