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EPISODE 13 — Run, Vessel of Fear
The alarms shrieked through the Divine Enforcer Facility like dying sirens.
Red lights flashed.
Barrier walls unfolded.
Spiritual locks snapped into place.
Renji sprinted through the corridor, shadow mist rippling off him in waves that bent the light around his body. His heart pounded so hard he could barely hear himself think.
Behind him, the God of Fear whispered with exhilaration:
"Yes… run. Tear apart whatever stands in your way."
"Shut up," Renji hissed, breath ragged. "I'm not killing anyone."
"A pity."
A squad of armored Enforcers turned the corner ahead, blades glowing with scripture.
"There! Vessel 07—stop!"
Renji didn't stop.
The mist around him condensed—
not into claws or monsters—
but into a wall of dark pressure that blasted outward like a shockwave.
BOOOOM.
The Enforcers were flung into the wall, their armor sparking.
Renji didn't even look back.
He kept running.
---
AYA'S POV — Ventilation Shafts
Aya crawled through the narrow metal tunnels, heart pounding in her throat. Sparks from the facility's alarms rained behind her as spiritual barriers activated.
"Shōren," she whispered through the comm-talisman, "he's out! He actually broke free!"
Shōren's voice replied, calm and breezy:
"Good. But don't celebrate yet. Judgement's unit will mobilize the Seraph Guards any second now."
Aya froze.
"The… Seraph Guards?"
She could hear Shōren smirk even through static.
"Yeah. Divine Facility's strongest puppets. They don't think, they don't hesitate, and they definitely don't feel bad about slicing intruders in half."
"…Why are you so calm?"
"Because I'm not the one crawling through vents above their heads."
Aya cursed under her breath and quickened her pace.
---
RENJI — Main Hall of Purification
Renji burst into an enormous chamber filled with floating platforms, suspended bridges, and massive golden pillars. His footsteps echoed as he skidded to a stop.
The mist curled protectively around him.
The God of Fear whispered:
"They're coming."
Renji's breath hitched.
Because he could hear them.
Click.
Click.
Click.
Footsteps.
Perfect.
Synchronized.
Inhuman.
The Seraph Guards marched into the hall—
tall constructs shaped like angels made of stone and scripture, with wings of blazing light and emotionless masks.
The lead Seraph raised its spear.
The golden feathers on its wings sharpened into blades.
"VESSEL. HALT."
Renji stumbled backward.
"I—I don't want to fight—"
They lunged.
Renji threw up his arms—
instinctively—
And the shadow mist erupted into a protective dome that shattered the first spear strike like glass.
The Seraphs closed in.
Renji's pulse roared in his ears.
"I don't want to kill them—!"
"Then be killed," the God of Fear snarled.
"Choose one."
Renji grit his teeth—and pushed both arms forward.
The mist burst outward—
Not lethal.
Not monstrous.
But as a giant illusionary tremor of fear.
The Seraphs froze, their light flickering, their constructs glitching as the emotion they did not understand flooded them.
It gave Renji one second.
He took it.
He ran.
---
AYA — Breaking In
Aya kicked open the ventilation grate and tumbled into a maintenance hallway.
"Renji!! You better still be alive!"
Shōren's voice crackled:
"Kid's alive. He's headed for the central purification hall. But hurry—Judgement is on the move."
"Judgement…?" She clenched her fists. "Are they coming to capture him?"
A pause.
Then Shōren said something unexpected:
"…No. They're coming to stop the hunters."
Aya blinked. "Huh??"
"You heard me," Shōren sighed. "Judgement has… issues. Personal ones. I'll explain later—MOVE!"
Aya sprinted.
---
JUDGEMENT — Hidden Motive
Deep in another chamber of the facility, the Vessel of Judgement stood before a glowing monitor of spiritual threads, watching Renji run.
Their silver eyes reflected shadow and fear.
A masked Enforcer approached.
"Sir, Vessel 07 is heading toward Gate C. Shall we deploy more Seraphs?"
Judgement didn't answer immediately.
Their gaze softened in a way that would have shocked the entire Enforcer order.
"…Cancel all lethal units," they said quietly. "Do not harm him."
The Enforcer stiffened. "But sir—"
"That is an order."
The Enforcer left.
Judgement placed a hand on the glowing screen.
A whisper escaped their lips:
"…Fear and Judgement were once siblings. Before the fall. Before the gods were divided."
Their voice trembled with something — longing? Memory? Regret?
"Renji," they murmured, "you are his vessel. But you… remind me of myself."
They closed their eyes.
"I won't let them kill you."
Then they vanished in a burst of white light.
---
RENJI — End of the Hall
Renji reached the final bridge leading to Gate C, lungs burning, legs shaking, chains of shadow forming instinctively around his arms.
The exit door was ahead.
Freedom.
"Aya… please be there…"
He took one more step—
And the temperature dropped.
White feathers of light drifted in front of him.
Judgement appeared.
Blocking the only exit.
Renji almost tripped from shock. "You—!? You're here to finish it?"
Judgement shook their head slowly.
"No," they said softly. "I'm here… to help you escape."
Renji stared, speechless.
Judgement looked almost human.
"I cannot defy the order forever," they whispered, stepping closer. "But I can delay them. And I can guide you out."
"Why…?" Renji choked. "Why help me?"
Judgement lowered their gaze.
"Because I know what it feels like to be a cage… and a prisoner at the same time."
Before Renji could respond—
A voice screamed from behind him:
"RENJI!!!"
He turned—
Aya leaped onto the bridge, panting, talismans glowing, eyes fierce.
Judgement tensed.
Aya's eyes widened in panic.
"Renji—GET AWAY FROM THEM!"
"No—Aya—wait— they're not—"
But the moment Aya stepped onto the bridge—
A blinding beam of golden light shot from above.
A Seraph Commander had locked onto them, ignoring Judgement's previous orders.
Renji shouted.
Aya raised a talisman.
Judgement stretched out their hand.
All three reacted at once—
The beam struck—
shattering the bridge—
And all three plunged into the abyss below.
To Be Continued.....
Look out for chapter 14.