ZERO SHIFT

Maya walked briskly down the hallway, her footsteps echoing against the cold, metallic floor. She could already hear Kyle's voice from the distance, unmistakably laughing and gossiping like a teenager. Maya sighed, shaking her head. "Why am I stuck with a child in a man's body as my commander?" she muttered under her breath, rolling her eyes as she approached them.

In her hand, she carried a heavy briefcase, its weight a reminder of the power it held. Inside was a 12-gate hexagonal seal—one of the most powerful and ancient sealing mechanisms in existence. It was their only hope of locking away Josuke's uncontrollable devil power until he could master it.

As she reached Kyle and Josuke, Kyle greeted her with his usual grin, oblivious to her frustration. "Maya! You're just in time. I was just telling Josy boy here that he's officially a part of Unit Zero now."

Maya sighed again, side-eyeing Kyle's casual demeanor, and turned her attention to Josuke. "So, what's the current condition?" she asked, her tone all business.

Kyle leaned back in his chair, his grin widening. "Well, good news. Our newest recruit is still alive, and he even agreed to stick around. Not bad for a day's work, huh?"

Maya raised an eyebrow but didn't comment. She focused on the task ahead. Unlocking the case, she approached the prison door, which creaked open with a heavy groan. Josuke, lying on the bed, was still recovering from the intense shock of his decision. When he saw Maya approach, a slow grin crept onto his face as his thoughts wandered. She's hot. Commander Kyle is so lucky…

But his thoughts quickly shifted as Maya stood over him, her gaze unwavering. Without a word, she pulled out a brush and knelt by his side, her movements methodical and precise. Josuke tensed slightly as she began to paint intricate symbols and patterns on his bare chest, creating a divine circle.

Then, with a deep breath, Maya opened the briefcase. Inside was the 12-gate hexagonal seal—a complex and glowing artifact. With swift, practiced hands, she placed it onto the divine circle she had drawn, locking the seal onto Josuke's chest.

Instantly, Josuke's body convulsed in pain. He screamed, his voice raw as the seal began to implant itself into his very being. His body reacted violently, parts of him changing before their eyes. His hands shifted into monstrous claws,and the black mark returned, crawling up his skin. One of his eyes turned a deep, crimson red, and a single fang jutted out from his mouth.

Maya didn't flinch as she continued to hold the seal in place. The process was agonizing, but necessary.

Josuke thrashed, his screams filling the room, but as the moments passed, the divine power of the seal began to take hold. Slowly, the transformation reversed, his claws retracting, the horn disappearing, and the black mark fading. His breathing was labored as the seal finally settled into place, now permanently engraved into his chest. The hexagonal seal shimmered faintly before becoming dormant.

Maya stood up, wiping her brow. "The seal is in place," she said, her voice steady. "It will lock his devil power away, at least until he can learn to control it. No more rampaging… for now."

Josuke's body fell limp as he passed out from the sheer exhaustion and pain. Kyle, leaning casually against the wall, gave a low whistle. "Well, that was dramatic. But hey, now we don't have to worry about him blowing up the city again."

Maya gave him a tired look. "Let's hope he learns fast."

With the immediate crisis handled, the two officers left the room, heading back to their quarters. The weight of what had just transpired lingered in the air, as they knew this was only the beginning of Josuke's journey.