Inside a dimly lit room, reminiscent of a mortuary, the atmosphere felt heavy and sterile. Bright fluorescent lights flickered above, casting a cold glow over the stainless steel table in the center. Kenji's body lay there, covered with a simple white sheet.
Ryu and Yuki entered, both now 20 years old. Ryu stood tall at 6'3", dressed in a fitted black jacket over a dark shirt and cargo pants. In his hands, he held a katana named Kage, its hilt were wrapped in deep blue cloth with silver patterns. The blade was known for its ability to absorb the energy of those it defeated, enhancing the wielder's strength and speed in battle.
Yuki, at 5'9", wore a sleek black leather jacket over a fitted top and jeans, her hands casually tucked into her pockets. She took a seat on a nearby stool, her gaze fixed on Kenji as Ryu stepped closer to the table. The both of them were now Senior exorcists under the Tenshi no Yōkai organization.
"He isn't dead, but the elders must be trying hard to get rid of him," Ryu said, examining Kenji's still form.
"They would do anything. Have you forgotten how useless and scared they can be? Luckily, he isn't dead."
"It's been a while since we met Gojin. I heard he's grown stronger. He even went toe-to-toe with Kurozai." She said with a proud grin.
A smile crept onto Ryu's face. "As expected," he muttered, pride evident in his voice.
Just then, a man walked in, wearing a headset that covered his ears. He ignored Ryu and Yuki, moving straight to Kenji's body. With a focused expression, he placed his hand above Kenji, checking for the faintest pulse of his soul.
"I can't feel his soul due to Kurozai. But I'm sure that if Kurozai agrees to regenerate Kenji's heart, he would be back to life."
....
Inside a pitch-black room with a single throne at the end, blood was pooling around it endlessly with multiple broken chains. Kurozai was seated on it, grinning widely while watching Kenji.
Kenji lay on the dark ground, whittling a lullaby that echoed through the emptiness.
"Hush, little baby, don't you cry,
The night will keep you safe nearby.
The moon will watch with its gentle light,
While shadows dance in the still of night.Close your eyes and drift away,
Dream of fields where spirits play.
The wind will sing a soft refrain,
As stars whisper secrets of joy and pain."
Kurozai sneered. "Continue the lovely lullaby, brat," He stood up from the throne with his hands behind his back. "The only way I'm going to bring you back to life is if you agree to make a pact with me."
Kenji grinned defiantly at Kurozai. "Nah, if I defeat you, you'll grant me access to tap into your Ki or, instead, grant me superhuman skills and bring me back to life. But if I lose, you get the pact, and I will let you take over my body for thirty minutes anytime you want, but just don't try to hurt anyone, and you must bring me back to life."
Kenji stood up from the cold ground, ready to face Kurozai.
Kurozai's grin widened as he stared at Kenji with intense curiosity. "Okay…" In an instant, Kenji's body shredded into pieces without Kurozai lifting a hand.
"Fool!! You'll forget everything about the pact. Now what's next…?" Kurozai thought, heading back to his throne and flicking his hands dismissively.
....
Yuki was about to ask a question when she paused, her eyes widening in disbelief. Before her, Kenji's heart began to regenerate, slowly forming a new heart from a purple energy. As the heart took shape, the surrounding tissue mended, sealing the gaping wound in his chest.
The sight was both miraculous and eerie, as the flesh knitted together seamlessly, leaving no trace of the violent disintegration.
"He is back to life, so we're done here. Let's go, Ryu. We have a site to clear; we'll be visiting next week again," Yuki said, turning toward the exit.
Ryu nodded, following her outside. They seemed to now understand each other now - maturity.
The man who had been observing stared at Kenji as he rose from the stainless steel plate, a silent expression on his face. "Hehehe, did I miss anything?"
"Get back to the others. Once every three days, come to meet me for a question session," the man said, exiting the room and putting his headphones back on.
"But I don't know who you are and where your office is!?" Kenji shouted, confusion etched on his face.
"Whatever. Now I have to go meet with both of them and show them that I'm alive and well," he muttered to himself.
He jumped off the plate, found his new uniform placed on another table, and quickly changed into it, then he ran outside instantly, a smile spreading across his face, thinking they would be so happy to see him.
***
Running through the academy compound, Kenji spotted Gojin and Sakura heading outside. He quickly called out to them, "You told me that he wouldn't die, but now I hate that fact!"
Sakura whispered to Gojin, turning around to see Kenji running toward them with excitement. As he got closer, Gojin asked, "What deal did you make with Kurozai for him to bring you back to life? He wouldn't do that without wanting something in return."
Kenji shrugged, confusion crossing his face. He didn't remember anything about the pact he had made with Kurozai, making Gojin suspect even more about what that devil was planning.
Sakura frustration kept boiling as she began cursing at Kenji. "Why the heck are you always in a life-and-death situation? What's your problem?! Are you always under the influence whenever you're in a battle!? You could have just stayed dead since it seems like that's where you belong!"
Gojin took a moment to calm her down, reassuring her that everything would be fine. He then told them to head to the next site without him. This time, the organization had confirmed it was safe for them to go—especially for Kenji and Sakura. Gojin could easiky handle anything that came his way.
As the two of them proceeded out of the academy, Gojin instantly opened up the system tab.
[Exp: 98,000/200,000]
[Host unlocked a new technique three days ago!]
"Yeah, keep that for later. When the heck am I going to reach 200,000 Exp? Should I just head to an abandoned building and bring it to ground level while taking down a bunch of Grade 3 radiant souls? I could ask for those specifically," Gojin contemplated.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host has just unlocked a mission]
[Details: Cause absolute destruction and exorcise five Grade 1 radiant souls.]
[Reward: 20,000 Exp (20×)]
[Host will be able to level up upon completion of the new mission.]
"Now we're talking," he said, a grin forming on his face. "I wonder what's inside the book tab. Maybe accessing it will give me insight into what's coming next."