CHAPTER 19: PLAYING TAG

Earlier, they tried using their phones to call for backup, but it wasn’t that easy. All connections were already cut off, making it impossible to contact anyone outside the ward.

Sora looked at the group, her expression serious. She understood how dangerous their situation was. How their next move could either save them or get them in grave danger. Facing the enemy head on wasn’t an option, especially when they knew so little about their leader.

"Here’s the plan," Sora began. "We don’t know much about that robed man, but I’m certain he’s the leader. From what we’ve seen, his Drive Ability lets him mess with our minds, forcing us to relive our worst fears through nightmares. As for the other three, they’re the Smileys’ so called ’Saints.’ And yeah, they’re insanely strong. That’s why our top priority is escape."

"But how are we even supposed to escape?" Seth asked. "The whole place is crawling with their members. And I’m sure they’ve already found our vehicle. After that encounter, their leader probably ordered a full scale search just to find us."

"That’s true," Sora replied. "Right now, our only option is to follow where these sewers lead. With the signals down, we don’t have many options. Miko’s drone will go up from time to time to scan the surface, but for now we head south. Based on the ward’s layout, that’s our best shot at getting out."

Everyone nodded in agreement. After checking their gear and steadying themselves mentally, the group moved forward heading south through the darkness that awaited them.

They moved through the dark, damp sewers in tight formation with everyone on high alert.

Before turning any corner, Miko would send out his drone to scout ahead, and Kaela would confirm if no traps were set in place using her petals. From time to time, Miko would also send the drone up to the surface and check for any possible exit points with little to no guards.

But they weren’t that lucky. The Smileys were just as cautious and alert as they were making the ward heavily guarded in every corner. As if trapping them inside the sewers.

While they moved, Ren’s eyes occasionally drifted toward Kaela. Something about her felt off. She was quieter than usual, a bit more distant. He figured it might’ve just been fatigue, or maybe, something was weighing heavily on her mind.. So he walked a little closer and approached her.

"Yo," Ren said, his tone light. "You okay?"

Kaela gave a small nod, but her eyes told a different story, she was clearly clouded and uneasy.

"Did I really lose control out there?" she asked quietly. "My Drive Core Release, I don’t even remember how it happened. I didn’t know I could even do that. Do you think I’m gonna explode? Like that guy we saw earlier?"

Ren gave a thoughtful pause before answering. "Well, there’s two things I’m sure of."

He raised a hand, counting on his fingers. "One, you did lose control. But even then, even without being conscious, you protected me and Sora. That’s no small thing."

Kaela looked at him, eyes wide with surprise.

"And two," Ren continued, pointing at her, "you’re not laughing hysterically right now, so nope. You’re not gonna explode."

His tone was playful, but the reassurance in his voice was comforting. Kaela blinked a few times before nodding and letting out a shy smile.

"Y-y-you’re right... T-thanks, Ren."

Ren smiled. "There it is. You’re back to stuttering again. Guess you’re back to normal."

Kaela let out a soft laugh, her smile now genuine.

From a few steps ahead, Sora glanced back, watching the exchange. She couldn’t help but smile to herself.

He’s really starting to fit in with this group more than I expected. Sora thought.

Only an hour went by, but to them, it felt like a day already.

It wasn’t like the walking itself was the problem, they were used to physical strain after all. But the constant tension, the pressure of being hunted, It was starting to wear on their minds. Especially for Miko and Kaela.

Sora noticed it, but she didn’t say anything at first. But the farther they go, the more she sees it clearly in their eyes, their shoulders, and their pace. So she made the call.

"Let’s stop here for a bit," she said.

She knew time was precious. Every minute mattered in situations like this. But dragging the team forward while their minds were crumbling at the edge might work against them later on.

Just as the tension in their bodies started to ease and they allowed themselves a moment of rest, a twisted, sinister laugh echoed throughout the sewers.

All of them immediately snapped back to being alert with their weapons ready.

The laughter bounced off the walls, distorted, almost impossible to track immediately.

"Where is it coming from?" Ren muttered, his hand gripping the hilt of his katana.

"I’m not sure either..." Sora replied.

The laughter continued, lingering just long enough to crawl under their skin.

Then.....

BOOM!

A violent explosion tore through the ceiling above them. Concrete and steel burst apart as a figure dropped down through the smoke and debris.

It was Gray. His massive hammer swung down as he landed, aiming to crush them all together.

But just in time, they barely managed to dodge as the ceiling came crashing down with him. But it wasn’t just an attack, it was a trap. A plan to separate the group.

A landslide of broken rubble crashed down between Ren and the rest of the squad, cutting him off completely.

"Guys! Are you alright? I’ll break through and get to you!" Ren shouted, stepping back and charging lightning into his sword and feet.

But a voice cut through the air, cold and sharp as a blade.

"Oi, oi, oi. Don’t ignore me now. You’ve already done that enough back at the cathedral."

A gust of wind swept through the narrow sewer tunnel.

Ren’s eyes widened.

That voice. That presence. That suffocating pressure in the air. In an instant, he knew who it was. He turned around to face it, drawing his katana without hesitation and pointing it forward.

There stood Zeishuro as his blue hair fluttered with the wind coiled around him like a predator waiting to strike.

"I see you’re not wearing a mask this time," Ren said as lightning crackled faintly around him. "I’d love to entertain you, but I don’t have time to waste on someone like you!"

"How rude," Zeishuro chuckled, his voice clearly amused. "And here I went out of my way to ask Father to let us have this little dance."

"Father?"

Zeishuro gave a smile. "Well, Father prefers to keep his identity hidden from outsiders, but since you’re not getting out of here alive, I suppose it doesn’t matter anymore."

He smiled once more before continuing.

"The robed man you met earlier, he is the Father of the Smileys. Our leader, Grin."

Ren’s eyes narrowed. "So he is the leader, huh? Thanks for the intel. I’ll make good use of it."

"You won’t get the chance."

In an instant, Zeishuro vanished from his spot, then reappeared, already lunging forward with his machete aimed straight for Ren’s throat.

Ren twisted his body, narrowly dodging the machete as he bent backward nearly ninety degrees. In an instant, he countered spinning on his heel and swept his leg low as lightning surged through his foot forcing Zeishuro to jump backwards.

"Now that’s more like it!" Zeishuro said, eyes gleaming with excitement.

—---------------------

On the other side of the collapsed rubble, Sora, Kaela, Seth, and Miko found themselves face to face with Gray, Kuro, and Grin.

They moved without hesitation. Seth and Miko took up the rear, while Sora and Kaela stood protectively at the front. Worry for Ren lingered in the air, but they couldn’t afford to be distracted. They knew that the threat in front of them could easily overwhelm them.

"How did you find us? And aren’t you missing a member?" Sora asked cautiously, her eyes narrowing.

"HAHAHA! Oh, Zeishuro? Don’t worry. He’s just having a little fun with your lightning boy," Grin replied with a smirk.

Tch! So Ren’s stuck with that lunatic. Sora thought.

"How did you track us down?" Sora repeated.

"No one enters or leaves this ward without my eyes on them," Grin said, grinning wider than before. "Didn’t you notice that little ambush earlier? We’ve been watching you since you arrived in our turf. Just thought it’d be more fun to play tag first!"

Then, his eyes landed on Kaela, and he casually pointed at her.

"As for now, well, let’s just say I left a little something on your pink-haired friend over there. Slipped in a bit of my drive energy. Didn’t expect it to mess with her head so well that it actually helped her trigger an uncontrolled core release. Quite the surprise! HAHAHA!"

Kaela’s eyes widened. She quickly glanced at her shoulder and there it was. A small black orb of drive energy embedded near her right collarbone. So tiny and faint that anyone would’ve missed it.

"Stay ready!" Sora whispered sharply, her voice low and tense. "They might charge at us any second. If you see a chance to escape... take it. Leave me behind."

But the others didn’t even flinch.

"Do you really think we’ll leave you?" Seth replied with a sigh. "Let’s just face them together."

Miko and Kaela gave small nods. They stood firm at her side, eyes locked on the enemy ahead.

"I’m serious!" Sora replied.

"So are we," Seth said, already taking aim. "Don’t think we’ll lose. We’ll make it out of this, all of us."

In one swift motion, he fired a green, serpent-like bullet of energy that slithered through the air with frightening speed. Grin tilted his head slightly and the bullet missed him, only to curve mid-flight and slam into Kuro. With a flick of his wrist, Kuro caught it with his glowing chains, deflecting the strike with a loud metallic clang.

Seth clicked his tongue. "Guess they won’t go down that easily, Vice-Captain."

Sora smirked. "Figures. Then let’s do this!"

Gray lunged forward, his massive hammer crackling with Drive Core energy as he charged straight for the group. But before he could land the blow, Kaela was already ahead of him.

"Petal Wall!"

A large pink barrier bloomed to life between them, but the moment Gray’s hammer struck, it was enough to stop the attack but it shattered into fragments like glass. Kaela staggered back, stunned.

"W-What?" she muttered in disbelief.

The others were just as shocked. No one had ever broken through her Petal Wall in a single strike. No one except their captain.

Without wasting another second, Sora dashed in. She threw one of her daggers toward Gray, then spun gracefully to dodge the glowing chains that Kuro had unleashed to bind her. As one of the chains snaked upward, Sora stepped on it, launching herself into the air like a springboard. She threw her second dagger midair, but it missed Gray’s chest by a hair. As she landed, both daggers returned to her hands.

Tch. Pretty nimble for a guy built like a tank. she thought.

"Sora! Behind you!" Seth’s voice rang out.

He fired a bullet toward Kuro, but Gray quickly dashed, blocking the shot with his hammer and covering Kuro’s blind spot.

The chains crept up from behind Sora. It was swift, silent, and glowing. Kuro’s bindings wrapped around her before she could react.

"Sora!" Seth shouted as he ran toward her. He needed someone to help him but Kaela was still locked in battle with Gray, and couldn’t assist.

In the chaos, no one noticed Grin sneaking up behind Miko.

With a swift and precise strike to the side of Miko’s neck, Grin knocked him out cold as he collapsed to the ground, completely unconscious.

"Miko!" Seth yelled, firing another shot, but it was too late. Grin and Kuro were already making their move, dragging both Miko and Sora with them.

"Gray, play with them a little longer!" Grin yelled as he turned. "Meet us once you’re done. HAHAHAHA!"

Seth sprinted forward, trying to catch up, but before he could get far, Gray leapt, leaving Kaela momentarily behind.

The hammer came crashing down as Seth narrowly dodged, rolling to the side.

By the time he looked up, Grin and Kuro were gone.

"Tch! Ren’s separated and now they’ve taken Sora and Miko?!"

"Calm down, Seth," Kaela said, her voice firm and steady. "We need to focus. If we lose here, we won’t be able to save anyone. We can’t afford to lose."

Seth blinked in surprise.

She was different. The usual timidness in her tone had vanished as her eyes burned with resolve. She wasn’t trembling anymore.

He glanced down at the black handkerchief wrapped around his left wrist and clenched his fist.

"You’re right," he said, nodding. "Let’s do this together, Kaela."

They turned to face Gray, who stared back behind his smiling mask as massive hammer rested on his shoulder, ready for round two.