Grimreach didn't feel like a normal place even during the day, the sky hung low and gray like it was pressing down on everything, the air thick and heavy as if every breath had weight to it, and the market was loud but not lively, voices clashing instead of blending, footsteps echoing too sharply, people watching each other more than the goods in front of them. Kairo stood still for a moment in the middle of it all, his shoulders tense, eyes scanning the narrow streets packed with stalls and strangers, while beside him Tyouro casually finished the last bite of the onigiri he had just stolen, brushing crumbs off his fingers like nothing happened. Kairo's jaw tightened. "You really did that," he muttered under his breath, trying not to draw attention, but it was already too late, because behind them a voice cut through the noise, sharp and cold.
"Hey. You two."
The sound alone made Kairo's spine stiffen. He slowly turned his head and saw three warriors pushing through the crowd, their presence immediately shifting the atmosphere around them, people stepping aside without a word, their armor dark and worn but their eyes sharp, trained, dangerous. One of them pointed directly at Tyouro. "You took food without paying." No shouting, no anger, just certainty. Tyouro blinked once, then grinned like it was a joke. "Oh that? I thought it was free." Kairo felt his stomach drop. Why is he like this… The warriors didn't laugh. The one in front stepped closer, his boots heavy against the cracked ground. "Nothing here is free."
For a second, everything slowed. Kairo's thoughts raced. We shouldn't fight here… this place is wrong… something's off… but Tyouro stretched his arms like he was about to start a game. "Relax, we can just pay later, right?" The warrior's expression didn't change. "You're coming with us." That was the moment it snapped.
Tyouro moved first.
Heat flared around his body in an instant, not exploding but building fast, like pressure trapped under skin, the air around him distorting as his temperature rose, and before the warriors could fully react, he dashed forward, his speed enhanced by the fire pulsing through him, fist swinging toward the closest one, but the moment his punch should have landed, the warrior tilted his head just slightly and caught his arm mid-strike. The impact still sent a shock through the air, dust lifting from the ground, but it didn't do what Tyouro expected. His eyes widened for just a second. "Oh…" The warrior tightened his grip.
Kairo didn't hesitate anymore. He stepped in, grabbing Tyouro's shoulder and pulling him back while throwing a quick strike toward the warrior's side, not strong, but enough to create space. "We're not trying to fight!" he said, but his voice didn't carry the weight he wanted. The other two warriors had already moved, cutting off their sides, their positioning too clean, too practiced, like they'd done this a hundred times. This is bad…
Back in the plaza, far from the noise, Kimimaru slowed his steps, something in his chest tightening, not pain, but a signal, a shift he couldn't ignore. His eyes moved slightly to the side. "They've started something," he said quietly. Ishika's presence within him stirred, her voice low and calm inside his mind. Not just something… they're surrounded. Kimimaru didn't waste time. His grip on the Zweihander tightened as he changed direction, his pace increasing, not rushing blindly but moving with purpose, calculating distance, timing, and the fastest route through Grimreach's twisted layout.
In the small village, Yura landed lightly on a branch, her gaze still sharp as she scanned the area again, the description repeating in her mind, dark blue eyes, black cloak, the Chõko Throne symbol, but then, she paused. A faint disturbance, barely noticeable, but enough. Her eyes narrowed. "Kairo…" she whispered, before pushing off the branch, her body cutting through the air as she changed direction instantly, moving faster, more direct now, no hesitation.
Back in the market, the situation had already escalated. Tyouro broke free from the warrior's grip with a burst of heat, twisting his body and forcing distance between them, his aura flaring brighter this time, uncontrolled compared to earlier, the ground beneath his feet darkening from the temperature. "Alright, now I'm kinda annoyed," he said, his grin fading slightly. Kairo stepped in front of him, one hand out. "Stop. This isn't Reikosha. We don't know how strong they are." The warriors didn't respond, but their stance shifted, more serious now, their energy rising subtly, not flashy, but heavy.
One of them moved.
Kairo barely saw it. A sudden force struck his side, not a punch, not a kick, just pressure, like the air itself slammed into him, sending him sliding across the ground, his back scraping against the rough surface before he caught himself. His breath hitched. What was that…? He pushed himself up quickly, eyes wide, heart pounding.
Tyouro reacted instantly, charging again, flames bursting stronger around him as he aimed straight for the same warrior, but this time the other two moved as well, their coordination tight, one stepping in to block, the other already preparing another invisible strike. The moment Tyouro's fist connected, the air exploded with heat and force, but it wasn't enough, the warrior held his ground, and the second impact hit Tyouro from the side, sending him crashing into a nearby stall, wood breaking apart as fruits scattered across the ground.
"TYOURO!" Kairo shouted, rushing forward again, but he stopped halfway, his body freezing for just a split second as he felt it, that pressure again, heavier this time, like something watching, judging, waiting.
Grimreach wasn't just a place.
It was alive in its own way.
And right now
It was watching them lose.