"This is war!" said a man as he arrived at the luxurious house that served as the headquarters of the Splintered Sun Group. His name was Kido, and he wore a suit like a mafia boss.
He was the supreme leader of the group, always operating from the shadows while Recha and Rana were assigned to handle their field operations.
But now, with the threat posed by Yamile and Zhao, Kido was forced to step in personally. He planned to devise a strategy to permanently eliminate the siblings.
Kido did not come alone. He was accompanied by two bald, muscular men who acted as his bodyguards—ready to serve and fight to the death if their master was threatened.
"Forgive me, sir. Let Rana and me take care of the siblings. Just give us the mission!" Recha said as she approached Kido.
Kido looked at Recha with a blank stare, twirling his mustache. "What do you think?" he asked one of his guards.
"It's better if we help too. The more power we use, the faster this job gets done," the man replied.
"You're right," Kido said with a satisfied grin. "Gather our troops. This will be a war."
His subordinates, including Rana and Recha, immediately carried out the order. Despite their irritation at not being able to confront Yamile and Zhao alone, they obeyed the orders.
The Splintered Sun Group now mobilized all its forces. Around 20 people, mostly women, gathered at the headquarters, their laughter eerie and distinctive.
The atmosphere at the base became loud and chaotic. Their laughter itself turned into a weapon—anyone nearby would be in agony.
The effect even extended to Kido and his guards. To greet them, Kido and his bodyguards had to wear earplugs. "Their laughter is horrendous!" he muttered angrily.
"Hihihihihi!" Their laughs echoed throughout the compound.
"I have an important mission for you!" Kido shouted.
But his voice was drowned out by the laughter and chatter of his troops. His words were entirely ignored.
Frustration surged within Kido. His face turned red with anger. He raised his hand and unleashed a burst of fire.
Instantly, the room was filled with intense light and heat. His troops turned their eyes toward the flames and finally went silent.
"Do not laugh in my presence!" Kido roared. He was so furious that he was gasping for breath. To calm down, he took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.
"I have an important mission for you!" he repeated.
Kido then walked over to a whiteboard with two photos pinned to it—pictures of Yamile and Zhao.
"You must kill these two. They're strong, so don't underestimate them. Understand?" Kido shouted.
"Yes, sir!" His subordinates responded in unison.
---
A city that was once peaceful had now turned grim. After sunset, hardly anyone ventured outside. People were afraid, as cases of nighttime suicides were rising, most of them taking place in public facilities.
Yamile and Zhao wanted to restore the city to how it used to be. That's why they began spying on the base of the Splintered Sun Group.
Zhao was now leading the operation, no longer trusting Yamile. She obeyed him, aware that her last independent action nearly resulted in her death.
They observed from a building one kilometer away from the criminal group's base, stationed on the top floor. Zhao kept his sniper aimed, eyes locked on enemy movement.
"Things are getting worse. They're gathering around 20 people. I have a terrible feeling—they might already have demonic powers," he said.
Yamile listened carefully. Zhao turned to her with a serious look.
"What should we do? They're spreading out across the city. Zhao, slightly panicked, said it looks like they are hunting us.
Yamile didn't answer immediately. Her eyes scanned the distance, observing the faint glow of the enemy headquarters in the twilight. She tried to clear her mind and analyze the situation.
"If we stay still, they'll hunt us to the ends of the earth," Yamile said quietly. "But if we strike now, we'll be facing an army with powers we don't yet understand. We need time and a strategy."
"What if we lure them to one spot? You act as bait, and I'll back you up from behind. My beloved rifle can kill them instantly," Zhao suggested, trying to convince her.
It was a tough request. Yamile turned to him, her expression stern. "You want me to die? There are 20 of them, and I'd be alone."
"You've got me! I'll support you from behind. Don't underestimate my shooting skills," Zhao replied.
Yamile sighed. She knew Zhao wasn't just boasting. He was a proven marksman in countless battles. But the enemies they faced now were no ordinary people. These were demons whose laughter alone could shatter eardrums. And their leader, Kido, was a terrifying figure capable of burning down a building with a mere wave of his hand.
"Zhao, we're not just facing strong enemies. Their laughter can crush your spirit. I've felt it before—my body went numb, like I had no control, just from hearing them," Yamile said seriously.
"It's extremely risky," she added.
Suddenly, Niroki's voice echoed in Yamile's mind. "Why are you such a coward? Kalanak are low-level demons—they're easy to defeat. With my power, you can destroy them."
Yamile was startled. She didn't know how to respond to yet another taunt from Niroki.
"What's wrong?" Zhao asked, noticing her changed expression. "Is Niroki bothering you again?"
At first, Niroki was only speaking, but this time he took over Yamile's body. Her left eye turned green, and her trident suddenly appeared in her hand.
"Zhao! Kalanaks are low-level demons. With my power, Yamile can defeat them easily. I'll assist her in the battle," Niroki declared.
Zhao was intrigued. That meant Niroki wanted to help fight the Kalanak. But what was in it for a demon like him?
"Why do you want to help us?" Zhao asked quietly.
Niroki looked a bit confused by the question. He suddenly closed his eyes, clenched both fists over his chest, then opened them slowly.
"Because I care about children. He said gently, "I can't stand seeing teens like Biacca and Marten driven to suicide."
"I must take revenge—brutally—so they regret it in this world and the next," he added.
"I may be a demon, but in my code of battle, harming children and weak teens is forbidden," said Niroki, his spirit blazing.