"Where am I?" In an infinite black void, Ashiro finds himself levitating in it as he tried to figure out where he is. 'Am I dead?' He eventually thought with a panicked look on his face, but he didn't take long before he got convinced that he isn't.
Suddenly, a faint ripple disturbed the stillness. Ashiro turned, his eyes catching a dim, pulsating glow in the distance. As he focused on it, the light grew stronger, revealing a lifeform hovering in the void. His heart skipped a beat.
It resembled his transformed state—the slimy purple skin, the tendrils that seemed to writhe with a will of their own, and the dark void where a face should be. But this entity was different. It radiated an aura of raw chaos and malice, its form shifting and twisting unnaturally as if it couldn't maintain a single shape.
"What… is that?" Ashiro muttered, his voice echoing strangely in the void.
Compelled by equal parts curiosity and dread, he drifted closer to the lifeform, his steps weightless yet hesitant. The closer he got, the more oppressive its presence became, pressing against his mind like a heavy fog. He could feel its energy, familiar yet utterly alien, resonating deep within him.
Suddenly, the entity turned to face him—if it could be said to have a face. The void where its head should have been stared directly at him, and for a fleeting moment, Ashiro felt as if it was peering into the very depths of his soul.
Then, it screeched.
Crrrr!!!!
The sound was unlike anything he had ever heard, a piercing, distorted cacophony that tore through the void and into his mind. Ashiro cried out, clutching his head as an unbearable, stinging pain erupted within him. The screech reverberated through his entire being, a sound that wasn't heard but felt, as if his very essence was being unraveled.
"Stop!" Ashiro screamed, his voice breaking as he struggled against the overwhelming agony. His vision blurred, the void around him spiraling into chaotic fragments. The lifeform's screeching grew louder, more intense, as its tendrils began to extend toward him, writhing like serpents.
Ashiro's knees buckled, and he collapsed, trembling as the oppressive sound threatened to consume him entirely. Just as he felt his consciousness slipping away, the void around him began to crackle with energy, and a faint, distant voice called his name—a voice that felt oddly familiar and comforting, cutting through the chaos like a beacon in the dark.
"Ashiro..."
"Ashiro....."
"Ashiro!!"
"Huh?" Ashiro's eyes fluttered open, his vision blurry and unfocused. The first thing he felt was the hard surface of the mini bus floor beneath him, jostling slightly as the vehicle moved. His head throbbed, and a faint ringing echoed in his ears. Slowly, he propped himself up on his elbows, taking in his surroundings.
He noticed Hanabi, Kyoto, Suguru, and Ino crouched around him, their expressions tense and wary. As his vision cleared, he realized they were all staring at him intently, their gazes filled with a mix of relief and exhaustion.
"What... happened?" Ashiro croaked, his voice hoarse and dry. "Why are you all staring at me?"
For a moment, none of them answered. Then, almost in unison, they all let out long, audible sighs of relief. Hanabi was the first to speak, her usually sharp demeanor softened. "Thank the heavens… you're finally awake," she said, her voice tinged with genuine concern.
"You had us scared for a moment there," Kyoto added, scratching the back of his head awkwardly. "We weren't sure if you'd wake up at all."
Suguru nodded in agreement, his crossbow resting against his lap. "Whatever happened back there… it was intense. You passed out after that… thing," he said hesitantly, as if unsure how to describe it.
Ino, usually the most energetic of the group, gave a small smile and crossed her arms. "You're tougher than you look, I'll give you that. Welcome back to the land of the living."
Ashiro blinked, his mind still piecing together fragmented memories of the void, the tendrils, and the chaotic transformation. "How did I—?"
Hanabi cut him off gently, placing a hand on his shoulder. "There'll be time to talk about it later. For now, just rest. We've got a long road ahead."
Ashiro slumped back against the floor, his body still heavy with exhaustion, but their words of relief and concern gave him a strange sense of comfort. Whatever had happened, at least he wasn't alone.
As the mini bus rumbled along the uneven road, Lady Naga's voice broke the tense silence. "We're here," she announced, her tone a mixture of exhaustion and relief. Her sharp eyes scanned the horizon as she slowed the bus to a crawl. "Welcome to Yokohama."
At her words, the tension in the air seemed to lift slightly. Kyoto leaned back in his seat, exhaling loudly. "Finally," he muttered. "Feels like we've been on edge for days."
Hanabi nodded, stretching her arms above her head. "We made it. Let's just hope the base is intact and secure."
Suguru, sitting by the window, allowed himself a small smile as he watched the city's outline come into view. "Can't believe we actually survived all that," he said. "Feels like we can finally catch a break."
But amidst the growing sense of relief, Ino remained silent, her brows furrowed in thought. She leaned forward slightly, peering out the window at the desolate city ahead. Unlike Tokyo, Yokohama seemed darker, the skyline jagged and unnatural, as if the buildings themselves had been warped by some unknown force. Tendrils of black mist coiled lazily above the ground, and faint whispers seemed to echo through the air.
Her unease grew, and she couldn't hold back her thoughts any longer. "You guys are acting like this place is a safe haven," she said, her voice tinged with disbelief. "But… this is Yokohama. It's worse than Tokyo. It's far worse."
The group's relaxed demeanor froze at her words. Kyoto frowned, leaning forward. "What do you mean, worse?"
Ino crossed her arms, her expression grim. "I've heard stories. Yokohama is practically alive. The city distorts reality. It plays tricks on your mind, twists your perception, and…" She hesitated, glancing out the window again, her voice dropping. "The Kaijus here aren't like the ones you've fought. They're… different."
"Oh you mean just the basics? You don't have to worry about that, we got it all worked out already" Hanabi commented with a confident smile on her face while he mates affirmed to what she said. But Ino became more confused as she asked, "How?"
At this moment, Kaguya who has been keeping shut all this while suddenly spoke up. "That's because we have Shikaku holding up our base for us."