Chapter 97: Masquerade Night
Ash fell from the sky like snow.
Not white, not pure but grey.
The kind of ash created by things that had already burned away everything they once were.
The outskirts of Ash-En Town appeared through the thickening haze, a forgotten settlement buried beneath years of destruction and silence.
The sky above the town carried a permanent grey tint, as if the sun itself had given up trying to reach the streets below.
The air felt heavy, tired, and almost alive.
The convoy slowed as it approached the town's border.
Vrrrrrrrmmm...
Inside the vehicle, everyone became quieter.
Even Brandon, who usually filled every silence with a joke, stared through the window with a more serious expression.
There was something wrong about this place.
Not dangerous in the obvious way, not like a battlefield, not like an enemy waiting with a weapon drawn.
Something about Ash-En-Town felt hidden. Like the entire town was pretending to be harmless.
Daito looked ahead, eyes narrowed slightly.
Then he raised one hand.
"Stop here."
Immediately, the convoy came to a halt.
SCREEEECH...
The engines slowly died down.
Vrrrr...
Daito stepped outside.
The others followed.
Ash drifted around them, landing softly against their shoulders and weapons.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Step...
Then Avenor stepped forward.
Her expression remained calm, but her focus sharpened.
"Give me a second."
Mardale crossed his arms while watching her closely. Unlike the others, he wasn't looking at the town.
He was watching Avenor. Curiosity filled his eyes. Avenor closed hers.
Slowly, her fingers began moving.
Not randomly but precisely.
Like she was pulling invisible strings floating through the air. The atmosphere around her shifted. A strange energy spread outward.
Fwoooooosh...
Then, The convoy began to change. The metal surface shimmered. The wheels blurred. The reflection of the vehicles distorted.
At first, it looked like heat rising from the ground.
Then...the impossible happened.
The vehicles began disappearing.
Not instantly like teleportation.
They faded slowly piece by piece as if the world itself was forgetting they existed.
Shhhhhhhk...
The armored walls became transparent. The tires vanished. The engine sounds disappeared.
Within seconds...The entire convoy was gone.
Nothing remained, only empty space.
Mardale's eyes widened slightly.
"...What the..."
He stepped forward.
His hand reached toward where the vehicle had been. His fingers passed through empty air. Then his expression changed.
"...It's still there."
Avenor opened her eyes.
"Just hidden."
For a moment, Mardale remained silent.
Then a small laugh escaped him.
"Hm."
He looked back at her.
"First time I've seen Yakisa's power this close."
A faint smirk appeared.
"Not bad."
Avenor raised an eyebrow.
"Not bad?"
Wei-Wan chuckled quietly.
"That's basically a compliment from him."
Mardale looked away.
"Don't exaggerate."
Champagne grinned.
"You literally just praised someone."
Mardale ignored him.
Daito stepped forward, bringing everyone's attention back.
"Where is she?"
The question was directed toward Mardale.
The former Sphinter looked toward the town.
Scratch.....
Then scratched the back of his head.
"If I had to guess..."
A pause.
"Somewhere loud."
Everyone stared.
"Crowded."
Another pause.
"Probably enjoying herself."
Champagne blinked.
"That's your information?"
Mardale shrugged.
"It's a hunch."
Daito narrowed his eyes.
"How accurate?"
Mardale reached into his coat, and from inside, he pulled out a folded piece of paper.
"I've been tracking patterns for weeks."
He handed it to Daito.
"Everything points here."
Daito unfolded the paper.
At first glance...it looked completely ordinary.
A colorful advertisement.
Almost cheerful and out of place.
His eyes moved across the words.
MASQUERADE NIGHT
ASH-EN CIRCUS
Aerin leaned closer.
"...A circus?"
She looked confused.
"In Ash-En-Town?"
Brandon gave a small grin.
"That's suspicious."
Wei-Wan nodded.
"Exactly."
His eyes scanned the pamphlet.
"A crowded event."
"Masked people."
"Perfect place to hide."
Wasabi immediately pulled out her device.
Beep. Beep.
"I'll start searching."
Her fingers moved quickly across the screen.
"I'll gather everything available."
Wei-Wan stepped beside her.
"Appearance."
"Voice."
"Known habits."
"Anything that can identify her."
Fah-jin adjusted her weapon.
"And her Savage Power."
Daito folded the pamphlet.
His decision was already made.
"We're going."
Everyone looked at him as he turned toward Aerin.
"Prepare disguises."
For a second, Aerin stared.
Then...A wide smile appeared.
Finally.
"Now that's what I'm talking about."
* * *
Minutes later...
Fwoo...
The group had transformed.
Not physically but enough.
Their usual battle-worn appearances had disappeared beneath elegant clothing and carefully designed masks.
Colors changed. Fabric shifted. Weapons were concealed. Identities hidden.
They no longer looked like warriors searching for a dangerous Rebel.
They looked like ordinary guests attending a celebration.
Fwoo.....
Aerin stepped in front of Daito and adjusted his mask.
A sleek design simple and minimal.
But somehow it made his expression even harder to read.
"Don't lose it."
Daito looked at her.
"I won't."
She smiled slightly.
"You'd better not."
Nearby, Mardale had also changed his appearance.
Dark clothing, a refined mask. His usual presence was muted, but his eyes remained sharp.
"When we find her..."
He looked toward Daito and his tone became serious.
"Let me handle it."
Immediately, Champagne laughed.
A loud, genuine laugh.
"Hahaha..."
Everyone looked at him.
"Oh, that's a terrible idea."
Mardale slowly turned.
"...Excuse me?"
Champagne crossed his arms.
"You."
He pointed at him.
"Talking first?"
A grin appeared.
"We'll be fighting within five seconds."
Mardale's expression darkened.
"Says the man who was called a hero back in Manswill."
The smile vanished from Champagne's face.
The air changed.
"...Watch your mouth."
Mardale stepped closer.
"Or what?"
The tension rose instantly.
BOOOOM...
It wasn't an explosion, just pressure.
Two powerful personalities colliding.
Before it could escalate—
GRAB.
Brandon grabbed Champagne by the shoulder and pulled him back.
"Not here."
Zachia stepped between them.
His eyes were sharp.
"Focus."
The silence that followed was heavy.
Then Daito spoke.
"He's right."
Everyone turned toward him.
"If this is who we think it is..."
He looked toward the glowing lights of the circus in the distance.
"We don't rush."
A pause.
"We don't fight unless we have to."
His eyes shifted toward Mardale.
"You talk first."
Mardale nodded.
Champagne sighed.
"Man..."
He adjusted his mask.
"This better not blow up in our faces."
Aerin smiled.
"It definitely will."
* * *
The lights of Ash-En Circus appeared through the darkness.
Bright.
Colorful.
Alive.
A complete contradiction to the dead town surrounding it.
Music drifted through the air.
♪♪♪
Laughter echoed and voices filled the streets. People moved beneath decorated lights wearing extravagant masks.
A place full of celebration and secrets.
Daito stood at the entrance. His mask covered his face. His eyes remained focused.
Somewhere inside... Nyx of the Hollow Gate was waiting.
The team moved forward.
One step.....
Then another.
As they crossed beneath the entrance arch...the world changed.
They were no longer hunters, no longer warriors, and no longer heroes.
Tonight...they were guests.
And somewhere within the endless crowd...
The person they came to find was watching.
Waiting.
Smiling.
The Masquerade of Ash-En-Town had begun.
to be continued...