Shadow Bug

The focus then shifted to Group Two. The observation room was filled with anticipation as everyone expected to see the next phase of their battle exams. But when they turned their attention to the battlefield, the atmosphere shifted to one of shock and disbelief.

Kazemaru was on the ground, clutching his bleeding left shoulder, pain evident in his expression. The second-year student they were supposed to be fighting—Terry Hacksou—was lying face down, a sword impaled in his chest. And there, standing over Kazemaru with a second, blood-soaked sword in her hand, was Karla. Her expression was cold and unrecognizable.

Kazemaru: (holding his shoulder in agony) Hey, Karla!! What are you doing? KARLA!!??

But Karla remained silent, her focus solely on him, the darkness of her intent clear. Just as the sword came down—

*****************************

A Few Minutes Earlier

Kazemaru and Karla had been engaged in their battle with Terry, the second-year student they were meant to fight. Terry Hacksou, known for his exceptional hand-to-hand combat skills, had been a force to be reckoned with. Unlike the other second-years who wielded various techniques, Terry lacked a Lighter Technique. Instead, he had honed his physical combat abilities to perfection. Within his class, he was undefeated, a fact that made him a nightmare for Kazemaru and Karla.

Despite their best efforts, Kazemaru and Karla were overwhelmed.

Terry: (smirking) Come on, you guys. You've got to do better than that if you want to pass this exam.

Kazemaru: (his face contorting comically) OH COME ON, MAN! WE'RE LITERALLY DOING OUR BEST HERE!!

Karla: (grumbling to herself) He's so loud.

Terry: If that's your best, I can assure you, you're not going to pass this exam.

Kazemaru: (wide-eyed) HUH????!!!!

Terry rushed toward them again, his fists flying. He was too fast, too strong. Every punch and kick seemed to leave Kazemaru and Karla defenseless. The pair attempted to counter, but Terry simply dodged and outclassed them at every turn.

Kazemaru and Karla were forced to retreat and regroup, trying to form a strategy to overcome Terry's relentless assault.

Kazemaru: Damn it! How are we gonna beat him?

Karla: We can't. Based on what I heard, he's the best in hand-to-hand combat among the second-years.

Kazemaru: (cartoonish face) Then why the hell are we fighting someone like that???

Karla: (shrugs)

Kazemaru: (sighing) At this rate, we're going to fail.

Karla: We don't necessarily have to beat him. We just have to show we're adaptable and improving.

Kazemaru: (cartoonish face) UGH!!!! I CAN'T fail here!

Karla: And you won't, because even though it looks bad, my Lighter technique can still help us.

Kazemaru: Huh??? It can?

Karla: Yes. Just follow my lead…

After a brief moment, Kazemaru stepped forward to engage Terry alone. Karla was nowhere to be seen.

Terry: (to himself) By himself? Brave move.

Kazemaru: (resigned) Believe me, I don't want to do this either.

Kazemaru threw himself into the fight, though it was clear that he was overpowered. Terry's attacks came fast and brutal, and Kazemaru struggled to keep up. He was close to giving up, but then memories of his mother and little brother flashed through his mind.

He had promised Jason that he would do his best in this exam. He couldn't let them down.

He kept moving, distracting Terry, buying time for Karla's plan to unfold.

But then....

Without warning, just as Terry was about to land another heavy blow on Kazemaru, a sword pierced through Terry's chest, blood spilling from his mouth. He staggered, collapsing onto the ground. Kazemaru, caught too close to Terry, took the brunt of the force to his left shoulder.

Kazemaru: (holding his shoulder) HUH??? What the hell just happe—

He looked up in confusion, his breath catching in his throat as Karla appeared from nowhere.

Her expression was cold—utterly devoid of the warmth Kazemaru had come to know. It was as if the person standing before him was a stranger.

Suddenly, another sword appeared in Karla's hand. Without hesitation, she raised it, intent on finishing what she had started.

Karla's lighter technique is called the "Invisibility Technique". Basically she can turn herself and anything or anyone she has direct contact with invisible. Karla had been carrying two swords the entire time but no one saw it because her technique hides the swords at all time which makes it seem like the swords come out of nowhere. And while she's invisible, she becomes completely undetectable to anyone and it makes it easy to attack someone. A technique crafted for assasination.

Karla: (in a chilling, emotionless tone) Oh... I missed his heart. Maybe I'm losing my touch since I haven't held a sword in so long. But I won't make that mistake with you.

Kazemaru: What are you talking about? Why did you do this?!

Karla's face twisted with indifference as she slowly lowered her sword. Her voice dropped to a cold, detached whisper.

Karla: Karla?? Oh that's right. She never told any of you. (clears her throat) I'm not Karla. She's gone to sleep so I'm the one taking the wheel now. I'm her big sister....ANNIE.

Kazemaru blinked, unable to process what he was hearing.

Kazemaru: Annie? What... what are you talking about?

Annie: (impatient) We're two souls in one body. Karla's been lying to you all. She didn't join the HFA to fight shadows. She came here as a spy. WE'RE BOTH MEMBERS OF THE KAIMI DAJA.

In that moment all the memories the first years had made in the last two months flashed in his mind.

Kazemaru: (his mind racing) There's no way that's true.

Annie: There's no way I'm gonna explain it to you anyways. You're about to die.

Kazemaru: (a flash of his mother and little brother in his mind) No… I can't die here. I CAN'T!.

In a moment of desperation, Kazemaru summoned his ability to create a glass barrier that deflected the sword strike just in time. He then scooped Terry's bloodied form into his arms, summoning another barrier around both of them in the shape of a sphere. The barrier began rolling, propelling them away from the battlefield at top speed.

Annie: (sighing) He got away. No matter.

She smiled wickedly, looking up into the sky.

Suddenly, a massive shadow monster with wings swooped down, landing beside Annie. From its back, Veto, Giles, and Dylan—a new member of the Kaimi Daja, and a Lighter—dropped to the ground.

Giles: (grinning) Excellent work, kid. Too bad they got away before you could finish them off.

Annie: (annoyed) I'm not a kid!! I'm 27!!!

Giles: (laughing) Oh, seems you've switched again, huh? Don't worry, I'll take care of them. We'll proceed with the plan as usual.

Annie: (bored) Yeah, sure.

Giles: (grinning wider) Let's start the chaos, shall we?

Veto: ALRIGHT!!

Dylan: (exhales deeply) Let's do this.

Giles pulled out a small book from his jacket and began drawing rapidly. As the pen touched the page, shadow monsters emerged from the book, swarming into the battle zone.

The Kaimi Daja were ready. With the chaos now unfolding, the Hunter Force Academy had become the epicenter of a brutal assault.

In the depths of Karla's consciousness, she screamed out, furious with what Annie had just done.

Karla: (frantic) You promised me! You promised you wouldn't hurt anyone!

Annie: Promises can be broken, Karla. Did you really think you could make friends after all that's happened? I've told you before—you only have one friend, and it's me."

Karla: (pleading) But…

Annie: But nothing. If you keep trying to make friends, I'll keep killing them. Got it?

Karla remained silent, her voice gone.

Annie: (smiling wickedly) That's better.

Annie and Karla were sisters, bound together by the tragedy of their parents' death. In the aftermath, Annie took on the responsibility of caring for her younger sister, determined to ensure their survival. As a means to support them, Annie became an assassin, accepting dangerous contracts and using the money to keep them both alive. She became skilled at her work, but it was a dangerous life—one that would eventually lead her to a trap set by the Hunters.

On a fateful mission, Annie was targeted and ambushed by the Hunters, who had laid a cunning trap just for her. Despite her efforts to fight back, she was grievously injured—her right arm was severed, her left eye was lost, two fingers on her left hand were shattered, and the left side of her face was destroyed. She would have bled to death if not for a chance encounter with Jokita, a member of the Kaimi Daja. Jokita, seeing the extent of her wounds, told her the brutal truth: he couldn't save her body, but there was still a way to save her soul.

Using his powers, Jokita transferred Annie's soul into the body of her sister, Karla. From that day forward, Annie coexisted within Karla, able to take control of her body whenever she chose. Though Annie was indebted to Jokita for saving her life, it came at a great cost. Unable to accept her new fate, she decided to join the Kaimi Daja, vowing to repay Jokita for the second chance at life he had given her.

And now, the Kaimi Daja have begun their assault on the Hunter Force Academy. The battle for survival was only beginning.