Ryosuke didn't need to be told twice. He leapt into the car.
Mechamaru slid in next to him without a word, while Ito took the driver's seat up front. With a low hum, the vehicle purred to life and smoothly merged onto the road.
"So, what's this anomaly all about?" Ryosuke asked, leaning casually against the backseat, his tone betraying more curiosity than concern.
Ito kept her eyes firmly on the road.
"We've detected cursed energy disturbances in the western industrial zone," she explained. "Nothing solid yet, but the fluctuations are significant enough to warrant immediate investigation. Your mission is simple: locate the source, assess the threat level, and report back."
Ryosuke let out a low whistle, leaning forward with his elbows resting on his knees.
"Disturbances, huh? That's code for something dangerous, isn't it?"
"Is there a professional team assigned to oversee this operation?" Mechamaru asked, his voice sharp and precise.
Ito sighed, breaking the brief silence.
"We're stretched thin right now. You're on your own. However, if things spiral out of control, you have explicit authorization to retreat. Don't be reckless heroes."
Ryosuke burst out laughing.
"Retreat? Yeah, right. You might as well pretend we'd listen to advice like that. This is just a test run, isn't it?"
Ito shot him a cold glance through the rearview mirror, her icy eyes locking onto his for a fleeting moment before she turned her attention back to the road without a word.
The car glided through the city, the bustling streets soon giving way to desolate avenues lined with abandoned industrial buildings. Blackened walls, crumbled facades, and colorful graffiti told stories of neglect and decay.
Eventually, the car rolled to a stop in front of a sprawling, derelict industrial complex. A towering, rusted gate stood before them, its bars twisted and gnarled. Beyond it lay a graveyard of ruined warehouses, shattered chimneys, and crumbling structures bathed in a grim, gray light.
Ito killed the engine and stepped out. With a quick motion, she smoothed her tailored suit and turned to face the two students as they exited the car.
"Before you start," she said, her gaze sharp, "can either of you summon a veil?"
Ryosuke raised an eyebrow, a sly grin creeping across his face.
With a dramatic snap of his fingers, a ripple of black energy surged outward from him, spreading like liquid ink. In an instant, it engulfed the entire area, wrapping the factory grounds in an impenetrable curtain of darkness that extended far beyond the dilapidated buildings.
Ito's brows lifted ever so slightly in a rare moment of visible surprise. She quickly masked her reaction, her voice returning to its neutral tone.
"That'll do." Adjusting her glasses, she gestured towards the car. "I'll wait here."
Mechamaru was already staring at the factory.
Ryosuke adjusted his scarf, his grin widening. "Alright, let's do this."
The two stepped toward the rusted gate. Ryosuke nudged it with his foot, and it groaned open with a sinister creak. The factory loomed before them in heavy silence, its shattered windows staring back like hollow eyes.
"So, Mechamaru," Ryosuke said, tapping his metallic companion's shoulder, "who's leading this dynamic duo?"
Without a word, Mechamaru stepped forward, his movements deliberate and mechanical. Behind him, Ryosuke sighed dramatically, though the amused smirk on his face gave him away. Adjusting his scarf again, he muttered, "Guess that makes me the leader, then."
As they ventured deeper into the abandoned factory, the air grew thick and oppressive. This wasn't ordinary air. It was something else—something even a novice would feel crawling under their skin.
Mechamaru, leading the way, came to an abrupt halt. His rigid shoulders squared as he slowly turned his head, as if scanning the unseen energy swirling around them.
"This place…" His voice was a low, mechanical hum. "It reeks of cursed energy."
Behind him, Ryosuke strolled casually, hands buried in his pockets, his scarf trailing lightly in the stale air. He raised an eyebrow.
"Then where are all the curses?" he asked, his tone lighthearted.
Mechamaru turned to face him, his gaze sharp. "The marks on the walls and floor… This looks like a battlefield."
Ryosuke squinted, his eyes tracing the jagged cracks and dents along the factory walls. Sure enough, the damage seemed unnatural, as though inflicted by something far beyond human strength. Shards of metal and broken glass littered the ground, remnants of a violent clash.
Mechamaru pointed to a massive footprint embedded in the concrete. "There was a fight here. That's obvious."
Ryosuke let out a long, exaggerated sigh, rolling his eyes. "Great. So we're just gonna waste our day searching every corner of this dump until we find something?"
Mechamaru crossed his metallic arms. "If you have a better—"
But before he could finish, Mechamaru froze. His sensors seemed to lock onto something, detecting a massive anomaly. His arms lowered slightly, and he stood still, his gaze fixed on Ryosuke.
Then it hit.
A colossal wave of cursed energy erupted from Ryosuke, surging outward like a black tide. The air itself bent under the weight of the raw, oppressive power. The factory walls shuddered, groaning under the strain, and loose debris scattered across the ground like leaves caught in a storm.
The entire display lasted no more than three seconds, but its intensity left a mark. As the energy dissipated as quickly as it had come, the factory fell silent once more, as though nothing had happened.
Ryosuke stood there, hands still in his pockets, a satisfied grin playing on his lips. "Well, well," he said casually. "Looks like this place isn't as empty as we thought."
Mechamaru remained frozen, his systems seemingly struggling to process what had just occurred.
Amused, Ryosuke sauntered past him, giving his metal shoulder a light tap. "What's the matter? Gonna stand there playing statue all day? Come on, you had to know I was strong."
Mechamaru finally managed to move, turning his head toward Ryosuke, though words still eluded him.
Ryosuke continued walking, heading toward a partially collapsed building. He adjusted his scarf again, his fingers brushing over it absentmindedly before glancing over his shoulder.
"Let's go," he called out with a smirk. "Time to say hello to the landlord."
TO BE CONTINUED!
Next Chapter: First Mission (2)