Chapter 46: The Outbreak
Night had wrapped itself around Gregor Naught like a quiet predator.
The streets were empty.
Fwoosh....
The wind soft.
Everything… still.
Inside his residence Cassian stood in front of an open fridge.
In pajamas his hair slightly messy.
A half-eaten fruit in one hand.
"…Man…"
He muttered.
"…this one's not even ripe…"
BANG!
The door behind him burst open.
Shinsei stepped in both sharp and urgent.
Eyes locked.
"…Cassian."
He didn't even turn.
"…If this is about paperwork—"
"…Gregor's Peak was attacked."
Cassian slowly closed the fridge.
"…Oh?"
He turned finally giving attention.
Outside—
VRRMM!
A vehicle waited.Engine running.Lights cutting through the night.
Step....
Step....
Cassian walked to the door.
Barefoot and still chewing.
He stepped outside, looked at the car and at the officers inside.
"…So?"
The Captain of the Police Force, Falcatore Needia, leaned slightly out the open door.
Face serious, tension written all over him.
"…We need your help."
Cassian blinked once.
"…Do you?"
Falcatore clenched his jaw.
"…If we want to catch them."
A pause.
Cassian tilted his head slightly.
"…Which ones escaped?"
Shinsei stepped forward.
Tablet in hand, and her voice steady.
"…Five inmates."
She swiped the screen.
"…First—"
[Nihon Kraven
A demolition specialist.
Former military engineer turned rogue.
Expert in structural collapse and explosive routing.
Capable of bringing down fortified buildings with minimal resources.]
"…Second—"
[Mae-No Qi
Psychological manipulator.
No known Savage power.
But classified as extremely dangerous due to high-level persuasion, deception, and emotional exploitation.]
"…Third—"
[Brutus Kain
Close-combat monster.
Savage-level physical strength without confirmed activation.
Has killed multiple enhanced operatives with bare hands.]
"…Fourth—"
[Eli Sorien
Stealth specialist.
Former assassin.
Unknown Savage capability.
Specializes in infiltration, silent kills, and evasion.]
Shinsei paused.
"…And the fifth…"
Her eyes lifted.
"…Monday Valhalla."
The air shifted.
Even the Captain felt it, Cassian didn't react immediately.
He just…looked at them.
"Then..."
"…That's it?"
Shinsei frowned slightly.
"…That's it?"
Cassian sighed, rubbing his temple.
"…Do the math."
A pause.
"…It's obvious."
He turned away, walking back toward his door.
"…This is Daito."
Captain Needia blinked.
"…What?"
Cassian stopped at the doorway.
Didn't turn back.
"…And his friends."
Shinsei's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…You think they planned this?
Cassian chuckled softly.
"…Think?"
He glanced over his shoulder.
"…The one who broke into that prison…"
A pause.
"…was her."
Shinsei understood instantly.
"…Aerin…"
Cassian nodded once.
"…She's the only one unaccounted for."
He leaned against the doorframe, calm and unbothered.
"…Meaning this whole thing…"
"…is theirs."
The Captain stepped out of the car, the frustration clear.
"…Then we need to act now—!"
"…No."
Cassian cut him off instantly.
"…You don't move."
"…You don't chase."
"…You don't panic."
His voice dropped cold almost certain.
"…You contact every border."
"…Alert them."
"…Then you wait."
The Captain stared at him confused.
"…Wait for what?"
Cassian smiled not wide nor loud, just enough.
"…Tomorrow."
He stepped inside.
"…They're coming."
Shinsei's eyes followed him.
"…You're sure?"
Cassian's voice echoed from inside.
"…Please…"
A pause.
"…If I was them…"
"…I wouldn't run."
Then—
Fwoo....
"…I'd pull up a storm."
The door closed.
* * *
Outside—
Fwoosh....
The night felt heavier.
Shinsei stood still for a moment, still processing.
Then quietly....
"…Prepare the city."
The Captain nodded.
Orders were given, signals sent, borders alerted, but deep down, everyone felt it.
Tomorrow, wasn't going to be normal.
It was going to break something.
And at the center of it, two names.
Daito and Monday Valhalla.
The city slept.
But above it, war was already in motion.
On the rooftops of Gregor Naught—
SWOOSH!
A shadow moved.
Fast and unpredictable.
STEP!
DASH!
LEAP!
Monday Valhalla tore across the skyline like a streak of lightning given human form.
His legs carried him roof to roof, gap to gap without hesitation.
And on his shoulders balanced effortlessly....
FWOOSH!
Aerin.
Wind rushing past her face, hair flowing behind her.
Eyes locked forward.
"…Faster."
She whispered.
Monday smirked slightly.
"…You're already lucky I'm carrying you."
He pushed off harder—
SWOOSH!
Clearing a massive gap between buildings.
CRASH!
They landed, rolled, and kept moving.
Below them—
Zwiing...
Zwiing.....
Sirens echoed faintly in the distance.
FLASH!
Searchlights scanned the streets.
But up here, they were ghosts.
After several minutes, they slowed, then stopped.
An abandoned structure stood ahead, cracked walls, broken windows, half-collapsed interior.
The South Side.
Quiet, forgotten, and too perfect.
CRASH!
They dropped inside through a broken opening.
PFFFT!
Dust rose as their feet hit the ground.
Silence swallowed them.
Monday stepped forward slowly, scanning and deeply listening.
"…We're good."
Fwoo...
Aerin hopped down from his shoulders.
Landing lightly.
She reached into her pocket, pulling out a small set of keys.
CHING–CHANG!
The faint metallic clink echoed in the empty space.
Monday's eyes shifted downward, to the shackles wrapped tightly from his waist up.
Binding his arms and restricting his power.
Step...
Aerin stepped closer.
"…I'll unlock you."
A pause.
"…But only if you promise something."
Monday didn't respond.
"…You help me free the others."
The silence was heavy.
He looked at her, really looked this time.
She was small, determined, and unshaken.
Then—
CRACKLE!
Electricity sparked violently from his legs, blue arcs snapping outward.
FFTLH!
Aerin flinched, her legs jolting slightly from the shock.
But she didn't step back, look away, or break.
Her eyes stayed locked on his, unmoving and unyielding.
"…I'm not asking twice."
TRRRTLE!
Another surge of electricity, stronger, and more aggressive.
HUMMM!
The air hummed.
But still, She didn't move, waver or fear him.
And that, Made Monday pause.
"…Heh…"
The electricity faded slowly.
"…You're insane."
A beat.
Then—
THUD!
He dropped to one knee.
"…Fine."
Aerin stepped forward immediately.
Fwoosh....
Keys turning—
SHWING!
Locks clicking—
CHING!
One by one, the shackles were released.
CLANK!
They fell to the ground, heavy but useless.
Monday exhaled deeply.
"Huff...."
Rolling his shoulders–
SNAP–SNAP!
Stretching his arms—
Crack.....
His hair fell slightly over his eyes as he moved freely again.
"…Damn…"
He cracked his neck.
Crack.....
Flexed his fingers.
"…Feels good."
Bzzz....
Small sparks danced across his skin, controlled and alive.
He stood up fully, looking down at her.
"…You're pretty crazy…"
A slight smirk formed.
"…for a bunny."
Aerin crossed her arms slightly.
Unamused.
"…Focus."
Monday chuckled.
"…Relax."
He turned–
Fwoosh....
Stretching again.
"…My gear's back at Iron Bastion anyway."
A glance over his shoulder.
"…So yeah…"
"…I'll help you."
A pause.
"…Temporarily."
Aerin nodded.
Satisfied.
"…That's enough."
She turned—
Step....
Step.....
Walking toward the broken opening.
The faint glow of early dawn just beginning to touch the horizon.
"…We move at sunrise."
Monday stepped beside her, looking out over the quiet city.
Bzztl...
A small spark flickered at his fingertips.
"…Heh…"
"…Guess things are about to get loud."
Behind them,the abandoned building creaked softly.
Ahead–
Fwoosh.....
Gregor Naught waited.
Unaware that by sunrise, everything would change.
to be continued...