The three figures in black suits and sunglasses walked past Taro and Hana without sparing them a second glance. Their footsteps echoed against the pavement as they approached the beast's smoldering remains. The creature's massive, grotesque body began to crumble, turning to ash in the breeze.
Hana and Taro sat frozen, still trembling from the chaos that had unfolded.
"Did… did that thing just…?" Taro whispered, unable to finish his sentence.
"Yeah," Hana muttered, her voice shaky. "It turned into ashes."
One of the figures finally turned to them, lowering his futuristic blaster. "Are you guys okay? Is anyone hurt?"
"Okay?" Hana snapped, still catching her breath. "Who the hell are you guys?"
The man straightened, stepping into the dim light. He pulled off his sunglasses, revealing sharp, piercing eyes that seemed to glow faintly under the streetlight. Hana froze for a moment, her frustration briefly replaced by something else entirely.
"Sorry for not introducing ourselves," the man said calmly, his voice smooth yet authoritative. "We're from the Exo-Phantom Division. We handle… situations like this." He gestured toward the ashes that had once been the three-headed beast.
"Situations?" Hana repeated, narrowing her eyes. "So, what, you guys are some kind of secret organization?"
"Are you dumb?" Taro blurted out, still clutching his knees. "Of course they're a secret! You don't see this kind of thing on a daily basis!"
The man smirked faintly and walked up to them, his imposing figure suddenly seeming less threatening. He extended a hand toward Hana. "My name is Yoshiro."
Hana hesitated before shaking his hand. "I'm Hana."
"And I'm Taro!" Taro added, puffing up his chest like a kid meeting his hero.
Yoshiro crossed his arms, studying them with a strange mixture of curiosity and caution. "Well, Hana, Taro… it's not common for regular humans to see spirits or other entities from beyond this world. Most humans can only sense them—an unexplained chill, a sudden feeling of dread, or a shift in the air. But seeing them? Interacting with them? That's a rare change."
Hana frowned. "Change? What kind of change?"
"Not sure yet," Yoshiro replied, his eyes narrowing slightly. "But it's definitely not normal."
"So, what do you guys do, exactly?" Hana asked, crossing her arms.
"Ah, yes," Yoshiro began, his tone shifting into something more formal. "The Exo-Phantom Division is an independent organization that protects humanity from otherworldly threats. That includes spirits, ghosts, interdimensional creatures, and even extraterrestrial beings. We neutralize and destabilize anything that crosses into our reality and poses a danger to humans."
"You kill them?" Hana asked, tilting her head.
"Only if necessary," Yoshiro replied, his tone cool and professional. "Some are peaceful, but others, like the one you encountered tonight…" He gestured toward the ashes. "They're predatory. We exist to stop them before they cause mass destruction—or worse."
Taro's eyes lit up like a kid in a candy store. "You guys must be so cool! I mean, futuristic suits, insane weapons, fighting monsters—how do I sign up?!"
Yoshiro raised an eyebrow at him, then looked back at Hana. "And what about you? What do you think?"
Hana shrugged, trying to keep her voice steady. "I think it sounds like a nightmare."
Before Yoshiro could respond, one of his teammates approached, a tall woman with short, silver hair and an imposing stance. "Yoshiro, we've got a problem," she said, her voice sharp.
"What kind of problem?" he asked, his calm demeanor shifting into something more serious.
The woman glanced at Hana and Taro, then back at Yoshiro. "They need to come with us. Now."
Hana tensed. "Come with you? Why?!"
Yoshiro hesitated, then sighed. "It's not safe for you here anymore."
"Not safe?" Taro echoed. "What are you talking about? That thing's dead! You vaporized it!"
The third figure, a hulking man with a grim expression, spoke up for the first time. "That wasn't the only one. There's more coming."
"More?" Hana's voice wavered.
"Spiritual entities don't work alone," Yoshiro explained. "When one crosses over, it often acts as a beacon, drawing others to its location. The fact that you two can see them makes you a target."
As if on cue, the air around them grew heavy, the temperature plummeting. A low, guttural growl echoed in the distance, followed by another. Then another.
"Oh, no," Taro whispered, clutching Hana's arm. "Tell me that's just the wind."
Hana's eyes darted toward the shadows. Shapes began to emerge, their glowing eyes cutting through the darkness. Dozens of them.
Yoshiro's hand moved to his weapon. "Stay behind us."
The creatures roared in unison, their monstrous forms charging forward.
"RUN!" Yoshiro barked.