Silver stumbled into the office, dragging two unconscious figures behind him, clearly exhausted. "Oh, Ouiji! Thank goodness you're here. Can you handle these two? I was hunting a beast on my solo mission when some demon hunters ambushed me. But guess what? I learned a new trick with Mana Resonance—though I'll wait to show you later."
Ouiji, always calm, rushed over and patted Silver on the head. "You did great, little brother."
Watching the interaction, Keiko felt a twinge of jealousy. "We need to start packing, Leon. You're coming too, now that you're part of the family."
Ouiji grinned mischievously and rushed over to ruffle Keiko's hair. "Aww, are you jealous?"
Keiko pushed Ouiji's hand away, grumbling, but couldn't help the small smile creeping on his face. Fin and Oshime stood off to the side, watching the exchange. They're so precious, they both thought simultaneously. Keiko noticed them staring and, catching the vibe, burst into laughter, followed by the others.
Not long after, the group found themselves traveling in a carriage through unfamiliar terrain. The world around them seemed to change with every passing moment. Once familiar green trees turned purple, and the sky shifted to a deep, unnatural red. Creatures that were once cute, like white rabbits, became menacing, now with red horns and sharp claws.
"We're here!" Ouiji shouted, cutting through the eerie silence as the carriage halted.
Leon Silver looked out, his eyes wide with awe at the transformation. "This place… it's incredible."
As they stepped out of the carriage, Keiko turned to Silver. "Just a heads-up—there are two other siblings you'll be meeting."
Before Silver could fully comprehend Keiko's words, the scene around him shifted. He was now seated at a large table in a grand hall. Across from him sat three older men, their stern faces examining him. To his right were a boy and a girl who immediately locked their eyes on him, their glares cold and menacing. Ouiji and Keiko sat to his left.
What just happened? Silver thought, trying to steady his breath.
The boy, Yuki, sneered first. "Ouiji, why did you bring this weakling into the family? Keiko… are you dating this boy? Because if you are, I will end him, family or not."
Keiko tensed up, sweat dripping down his face as Yuki's gaze bore into Silver's. The girl, Kale, smirked, her eyes turning crimson. "My poor, fragile brother shouldn't have to carry this dead weight. He doesn't even have an ability—I can sense it."
Ouiji quickly cut in, giving Yuki and Kale a stern look. "Be nice, okay? Silver's part of the family now."
Keiko cleared his throat, trying to break the tension. "Leon, these two are Yuki and Kale Kuriguri. And those three over there—" he gestured to the older men, "—are Jake, Lee, and my grandfather, Kuro Kuriguri. He was sealed during an attack a long time ago. If he hadn't been, my father would still be alive."
Before Keiko could say more, Kuro spoke, his voice commanding the room. "My beloved grandson, let me speak with the boy."
Kuro's gentle tone quickly shifted, his face hardening into something far more serious. Keiko swallowed nervously, a sweat drop running down his face.
"Your name is Silver, right?" Kuro asked, his eyes narrowing dangerously. "You'll have to prove your worth if you want to remain."
In an instant, the scene shifted again. Silver now stood before Kuro in a dark, ominous space. Kuro's eyes had changed, the pupils now inverted and glowing red, and the whites of his eyes were pitch-black. His smile was sinister.
"Don't die on me, sunny," Kuro said with a wicked grin, clearly enjoying the thought of testing Silver's strength.