Chereads / ZERO SHIFT / Chapter 50 - CHAPTER 50: Shadow in the light

Chapter 50 - CHAPTER 50: Shadow in the light

Kyle and the others arrived at Unit Zero's base with an air of urgency. The weight of the recent events clung to them, evident in their tired expressions. Hinata and Arthur were immediately rushed to the medical unit, their injuries severe enough to demand immediate attention. Ace and Lily followed closely, their concern evident as they watched over their friends. The atmosphere in the base was thick with unease, the events of the mission raising more questions than answers. Kyle lingered for a moment, watching Josuke out of the corner of his eye. Even now, Josuke remained in his devil form a form that commanded attention with its chaotic aura and striking appearance. His long white-and-red hair cascaded down his back, and the black claw-like markings that adorned his body pulsed faintly with energy. Kyle finally spoke, his tone sharp but measured. "Josuke, aren't you going to change back? Looking like that, the other Rangers might mistake you for an actual devil and try to kill you." Josuke's shoulders slumped slightly as he avoided Kyle's gaze. "Well… you see, I don't exactly know how to transform back," he admitted, frustration lacing his words. Kyle blinked, his expression blank. "Tell me you're joking." Josuke raised his hands in exasperation. "I wish I was. It's not like I'm doing this on purpose!" Kyle sighed, rubbing his temple as if trying to ward off a headache. "This is just great. Well, there's not much I can do about that. Head to Maya. Maybe she can help you figure it out."

Josuke nodded reluctantly. "Okay, sir," he said before turning and heading toward the medical unit where Hinata and Arthur were being treated. Kyle, meanwhile, took a detour to his division's testing unit. He handed over the shard from the shattered devil core to the technicians, his instructions clear and precise. "Analyze this thoroughly. Report anything unusual directly to me." The technicians saluted and got to work, taking the shard to their specialized equipment. Satisfied, Kyle left and returned to his office, where he began filing his report on the mission. Yet as he worked, his mind drifted back to Josuke's earlier words. The idea of Gene having two cores was unsettling, to say the least. Devils didn't have two cores; it wasn't just uncommon it was impossible. A devil's core was the very essence of their being. For one to have two would defy every law of devil biology Kyle had ever studied. And then there was Hans. The man's sudden appearance, coupled with Josuke's instant awakening into his devil form, felt too coincidental to be random. It was as though someone had orchestrated the entire sequence of events. Kyle was deep in thought when Maya entered his office, her confident stride and knowing smirk betraying her amusement at catching him off guard. "What could you possibly be thinking about so hard, Kyle?" she teased, leaning against the doorframe. Kyle looked up, snapping out of his thoughts. "It's nothing," he replied quickly, though the furrow in his brow remained. Maya raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. "Were you able to help Josuke with his… situation?"

She smirked as she continued. "Turns out, he didn't need my help after all. He reverted to his normal form on his own after a bit. I guess it just took time." Kyle exhaled, relieved. "That's good to hear."Maya stepped closer, crossing her arms. "You're thinking about Hans and that two-core devil thing Josuke mentioned, aren't you?"

Kyle stood up, pacing slightly. "I can't hide anything from you, can I? It's strange, Maya. No devil has ever been recorded to have more than one core. Especially not one on Gene's level. And Hans… He's an anomaly. The timing, the way Josuke awakened his devil form—it's like it was planned." Maya nodded, her tone serious. "Yeah, I've been thinking the same thing. But for now, we can't do much except keep an eye on things. Let's not jump to conclusions until we have more information." Kyle stopped pacing and sighed. "You're right. For now, we'll leave it alone." As Maya turned to leave, she paused. "Oh, before I forget, I asked Josuke about his Fullbringer. He said something… unusual. He told me he met someone while he was frozen in that block of ice. Someone who called himself Chaos. Josuke said this Chaos looked exactly like him." Kyle froze, his expression darkening. "Chaos, huh? That's… something we need to watch closely. If Chaos is connected to Josuke's power, it could spell serious trouble. We've never dealt with anything like this before."

Maya nodded solemnly. "For now, let's focus on what's in front of us. The Blue Star Festival is coming up, and we need to make sure everything is ready. We can deal with Hans, Chaos, and this two-core mystery later."

Kyle allowed himself a faint, rare smile. "You're right. One thing at a time