The tension in the safehouse was palpable as Mousa paced back and forth, Miss Akane was seen making a call. The others watched her, their expressions a mix of curiosity and unease. After a few moments, she stopped pacing and spoke into the phone.
"Jin, I need your help. It's urgent. Can you come to the safehouse?"
After a brief exchange, she hung up, exhaling deeply. She then turned to the group. "He's on his way. If anyone can find Satoshi, it's Jin."
"Jin?" Kazuya asked, tilting his head. "Who's that?"
Mousa leaned against the table, crossing his arms. "An old friend. He's an Outcast but his abilities are... unique. He can detect energy signatures from miles away. If Satoshi is anywhere nearby, Jin will find him."
Not long after, there was a knock at the door. Mousa opened it to reveal a tall man with sharp features and a calm demeanor. His piercing green eyes seemed to radiate confidence, and his black trench coat swayed slightly as he stepped inside.
"Hello...." Jin greeted, his voice smooth and composed. "It's been a while."
"Too long," Mousa replied, clasping his friend's hand firmly. "Thanks for coming."
They quickly briefed Jin on the situation, explaining the attack on the shelter and their need to find Satoshi. Jin listened intently, nodding occasionally. When they finished, he closed his eyes and stood still, his breathing steady. A faint, almost imperceptible glow surrounded him as he activated his ability.
The group watched in silence as Jin's expression shifted from calm to focused. Moments later, his eyes snapped open.
"I've got him," Jin announced, pointing to the map spread out on the table. His finger landed on a location in the outskirts of the city. "He's holed up in an old factory."
Mousa's fists clenched. "That's all I need to know." He grabbed his axe from where it rested against the wall and headed for the door.
"Wait!" Jun called, stepping in front of him. "You can't just go alone, Mousa. This isn't something you can handle by yourself."
"Yeah," Toma chimed in, his voice rising. "We're a team. If you're going, we're going with you."
Mousa stopped, his gaze hard. "No. This is my fight."
"It's not just your fight!" Jun snapped back. "He destroyed our home. We all have a reason to fight him."
"You don't get it!" Mousa shouted, his voice echoing through the room. His eyes burned with anger and frustration. "I was the one who took all of you guys in. Including our fallen comrades. I promised to protect everyone. But I failed. This is my responsibility, my burden. And if you get in the way, you'll just make things worse."
The room fell silent, the weight of Mousa's words hanging heavily in the air. The others exchanged uncertain glances, their resolve shaken.
Jin finally spoke, his tone measured. "Mousa, I understand where you're coming from. But you need to think this through. If you go in there with nothing but anger, you'll lose. Let them help you."
Mousa's shoulders tensed, but he didn't respond. After a moment, he turned toward the door, his expression unreadable. "Stay here. That's an order."
Without another word, he walked out, leaving the others in stunned silence.
-----------
Mousa parked the van a short distance from the old warehouse. The structure was decrepit, with broken windows and a faint flicker of light visible through the cracks in its walls. He stepped out, gripping his axe tightly as he approached the building, each step echoing in the eerie silence.
Pushing the heavy doors open, Mousa's eyes immediately fell on a familiar figure slumped in the center of the room—Aiko. She looked battered, with cuts and bruises marring her skin. Her disheveled hair clung to her face, and her breathing was shallow.
"Aiko!" Mousa called out, rushing toward her. He knelt beside her, gripping her shoulders gently. "What happened? Are you alright? Who did this to you?"
For a moment, Aiko looked up at him with tear-filled eyes, her lips trembling. Then, as if a mask fell away, her expression twisted into a sinister smirk. "Oh, Mousa," she purred, her voice dripping with mockery. "You really are predictable, aren't you?"
Mousa's eyes widened in shock as she let out a wicked, echoing laugh. He instinctively jerked away, narrowly dodging a sudden strike from a golden spear that shot toward him from the shadows. It grazed his arm, tearing through his sleeve.
Agent Satoshi emerged from the darkness, his movements calm and composed. Aiko stood, brushing the dirt off her clothes as if she hadn't just feigned helplessness.
"You really thought was apart of your shit?" Aiko sneered, her voice full of venom. "It was so easy to fool you and your pathetic little team."
Mousa's expression hardened, the initial shock giving way to cold determination. "You think this is news to me?" he said, his voice steady, almost amused. "I knew from the start you were a lying whore. You're not as clever as you think, Aiko."
Aiko's confident smirk faltered for a brief moment before she regained her composure, her laughter echoing once again. "Oh, is that so? Then why are you here all alone, falling right into our trap?"
"I came here because I wanted to settle things with your boss."
Satoshi stepped forward, clapping slowly. "Impressive deduction, Mousa. You've saved me the trouble of explaining. But knowing doesn't change a thing. You'll still die here."
Mousa's eyes narrowed. "You're Satoshi... One of the High Ranking Senior Agents of the Temporal Order. I've heard stories about you. A ruthless dog who'll do anything to enforce your twisted laws..."
Satoshi chuckled, his golden spears floating ominously around him. "Laws are the foundation of order, Mousa. People like you, harboring dangerous Outcasts, are nothing but chaos. It's my duty to eradicate that chaos, no matter the cost."
Mousa took a step forward, his gaze fierce. "Spare me the lectures. You've hurt innocent people, and for that, you're going to pay.."
He then tookthe axe from his back, the axe glowed in the dim light as he assumed his combat stance. "No holding back," he muttered to himself. "Not against someone like him."
Satoshi smirked. " Show me what you've got, you Muppet. Let's see if the so-called protector can live up to his reputation.... Wait a minute... Nevermind, He already failed to protect his people." he says with a sinister laugh.
Mousa snapped. Those words struck a nerve, igniting a surge of fury. Without a second thought, he launched himself at Agent Satoshi, his anger driving every step...