ZERO SHIFT

Kyle sat alone in his office, the dim glow of his laptop illuminating his face as he mulled over recent events. The reports from Lily, combined with the unsettling patterns he'd noticed, painted a grim picture. The death of Devil King Ragnar had shifted the balance of power, leaving a void that every rogue entity seemed desperate to fill. Kyle's fingers tapped thoughtfully against his desk as he picked up the phone, dialing for Maya.

Moments later, Maya entered the room, still clad in her uniform, looking as sharp and composed as ever. She closed the door behind her and stepped forward. "You called, Kyle ?"

Kyle, still lost in thought, glanced up. "Were the men disposed of properly?" he asked, his voice steady.

Maya nodded. "Yes, Kyle. Everything was handled as per protocol."

Kyle sighed, leaning back in his chair. "It just doesn't add up. With Ragnar's death, the balance of power has been in chaos. This era… it's the worst I've seen. The new Devil King, even Ragnar's own brother, hasn't been able to fill that void. And now, instead of brute force, these rogues are getting more strategic… they're stealing souls."

Maya's eyes darkened as she folded her arms. "It's a blank point, Kyle . Different factions are scrambling for power, trying to seize that empty throne. And the rogue devils they're being smarter, more calculated. They're buying souls like it's currency, trading them for power and influence. Every soul they steal adds to their strength, and it's making our job a living nightmare."

Kyle nodded grimly. "It's as if they've turned this into a market, bargaining power for souls. And with every soul they take, the devil forces grow stronger, which only makes it harder for us to counter their influence."

As the two of them continued discussing the dire situation, a sudden knock on the door broke their focus. Kyle and Maya turned to see Bento standing there, a serious expression on his face.

"Good evening, Commander Kyle, Vice Commander Maya," Bento greeted them formally. "We've received reports of more possessed individuals causing chaos robbing, attacking civilians."

Maya looked to Kyle, waiting for his response. "Are we sending out the younger rangers?" she asked.

Kyle sighed, a weary look crossing his face. "No," he said finally, rubbing his temple. "Dispatch the B-rank rangers. Their orders are to eliminate the possessed ones and destroy the bodies. No exceptions."

Bento looked taken aback, hesitating. "Sir, aren't we going to interrogate them? There might be information we could gather…"

Kyle's gaze hardened. "For the past two months, we've captured over a hundred of these possessed individuals. And every single one of them has died before revealing anything useful. Their minds, their bodies—they're all bound by some kind of fatal contract. There's no point in wasting time."

Bento nodded reluctantly. "Understood, Commander. I'll relay the orders."

As Bento left to carry out his instructions, Maya remained, her expression thoughtful. She regarded Kyle with a mixture of curiosity and concern. "So, what's our next step?" she asked quietly, breaking the silence.

Kyle leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk as he closed his laptop. "Right now, we focus on keeping our team sharp and on the move. Every entity out there is playing a different game, and we're short on intel. But I'm not about to send our rookies into a trap we can't see."

Maya nodded, understanding the weight of his decisions. "Good night, Kyle ," she said, offering him a respectful nod before leaving the office.

Kyle watched her go, his mind already turning over the challenges that lay ahead. He knew this battle was far from over, and with each soul lost, the stakes grew even higher.