**Volume 2: Upper World**

  **Chapter 98: July 3rd**

  March 11th, 2:19 a.m. – Villains’ Base (Outer Perimeter)

  Jason stood over Leo’s body — dark blue aura still rolling off him like smoke, knife dripping red in his hand. She lay crumpled in the shallow water — fake Leo, Nobaka’s brain in her skull — chest open from the car impact, eyes blank. Jason’s breathing was heavy — not from effort, but from something else. Something raw.

  Ray stepped forward — calm, always calm — white hair catching the rift’s purple glow.

  “Calm down,” he said — voice low, even. “We need her.”

  Jason’s eyes flicked to Ray — dark blue fading slow — then back to the body. He exhaled sharp — like he was forcing air out of lungs that didn’t want it.

  “My bad,” he muttered — voice rough, almost embarrassed.

  Ray knelt beside Leo — placed one hand on her chest. Purple energy flowed — soft, steady — stitching the wound closed, knitting bone, flushing out the fake brain’s influence. Leo’s real eyes fluttered — yellow again — chest rising slow. She coughed once — water and blood — then sat up weak, clutching her side.

  Jason looked away — wiped the knife on his pants — sheathed it.

  Ray stood — looked at Jason for a long second.

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  “Keep it together,” Ray said quiet. “We’re close.”

  Jason nodded — once — then walked off into the dark.

  ---

  Switch — Rebuilt Academy Training Field

  March 11th, 3:07 a.m.

  Sky and Max were still going at it — shirts off, sweat shining under the string lights. Sky moved first — light blue aura flickering — 600 fps dash — fist snapping toward Max’s ribs. Max shadowed back — loyal shade blocking — then countered with a quick hook. Sky slipped it — elbow to Max’s jaw — Max staggered but grinned.

  “Again.”

  They went for another hour — punches, kicks, dodges — until both were breathing hard, muscles shaking. Sky finally stepped back — hands on knees — aura dimming.

  “Enough.”

  Max dropped to the grass — laughing tired.

  “You win, bro.”

  The others were scattered around the field — Frosty sitting on a bench wiping frost from her nails, Taka leaning against a post cleaning his sword, Aoi curled up half-asleep, Hiro stretching her arms with faint golden glow. Lola watched from the sidelines — quiet, arms around her knees.

  They all looked exhausted — but alive. Still here.

  Sky looked at them — his people — and felt the weight of tomorrow settle in his chest.

  ---

  July 3rd, 11:50 p.m. – Shinjuku Streets

  The academy had emptied out hours ago. All surviving students — the ones who could fight, the ones who couldn’t — were sent to Shinjuku. Cars, buses, trains — anything with wheels — picked up groups from the gates. Tracks were cleared, subways rerouted, streets blocked. 20,000 people funneled into the city like ants marching to a trap.

  Sky wore black pants and a purple shirt — simple, dark, easy to move in. Reaper slung across his back — cracked but humming faint void energy. Frosty had on a light gray hoodie and black leggings — ice nails already forming on her fingertips. Max wore a dark green jacket — shadows curling lazy around his boots. Hiro in white blouse and jeans — golden glow ready. Aoi in gray hoodie — spatial cracks flickering nervous. Taka in black long-sleeve — sword strapped tight. Lola in a dark coat — quiet, eyes sharp.

  They were in the middle of Shinjuku — near the station plaza — waiting. Sky had led them here — said it felt right. The streets were packed — people nervous, whispering, some crying. Fireworks were supposed to start at midnight — a distraction, maybe. Or a signal.

  Sky slipped into a small coffee shop on the corner — empty except for the owner hiding behind the counter. He ordered nothing — just stood by the window — watching the crowd. Max, Frosty, and the others waited outside — eyes scanning rooftops, alleys, every shadow.

  11:59 p.m.

  Sky stared at the clock on the wall — second hand ticking slow.

  A loud bang echoed — sharp, distant — like a firework gone wrong.

  Then another.

  Then screams.

  The chapter ended.

  To be continued…