ZERO SHIFT

The night was unnervingly quiet as Shiro made his way through the woods, headed for the abandoned clinic. The cool air settled over the town of Soryu, but something felt off—a tension in the air that made Shiro's instincts flare. As he ventured deeper, the distant sound of a child's cries reached his ears, faint but unmistakable.

His heart quickened, and he moved faster through the trees until the source of the noise came into view: a small clearing where a group of rogue Rangers and false priests had gathered, their faces twisted with cruel intent. They surrounded a young girl, no more than ten years old, her eyes wide with terror as she cried out, bound and helpless. The men were chanting dark incantations, preparing her for some twisted ritual.

Without hesitation, Shiro charged into the clearing, surprising the men as he knocked two of them to the ground with swift, calculated strikes. His years of experience as a Ranger served him well, even in his old age. The girl clung to him tightly as he pulled her free from her bindings, positioning himself between her and the attackers.

"Get behind me," Shiro ordered, his voice steady despite the danger surrounding them. The girl whimpered but obeyed, clutching his robe as he faced the men.

The first of the rogue Rangers lunged at him, a dagger gleaming in his hand. Shiro deflected the blow with ease, countering with a sharp elbow to the man's ribs that sent him staggering. Another priest swung a staff, but Shiro ducked under it, landing a solid punch to the man's jaw, sending him to the ground.

Though Shiro was far past his prime, his skills were still sharp. For a time, he held the attackers at bay, keeping the girl safe behind him. But their numbers were too great, and as more of the rogues pressed in, Shiro found himself overwhelmed, struggling to defend both himself and the child.

Josuke's Arrival

Meanwhile, Josuke was making his way back from the clinic, the pendant in his pocket feeling heavier than ever. He moved silently through the streets, his mind wandering as it often did when he visited his mother's clinic. But something in the air pulled him from his thoughts—a disturbance. He heard the clash of metal and the familiar, gruff voice of Shiro in the distance.

Without a second thought, Josuke sprinted toward the sound, his heart pounding in his chest. As he reached the clearing, he saw the old man surrounded by the group of men, struggling to fend them off as they closed in on him. A flash of panic surged through Josuke, but it was quickly replaced by something else—rage.

"Shiro!" Josuke shouted, his voice hoarse.

The men barely had time to react as Josuke charged into the fray, his fists flying. He landed a punch on one of the rogue Rangers, knocking him down, but more of them swarmed in, and Josuke quickly found himself outmatched. They were stronger, more experienced, and soon, Josuke was overpowered, just like Shiro.

One of the men grabbed Josuke from behind, twisting his arms painfully as another rogue drew a long, curved knife. The man grinned wickedly, raising the blade, aiming it straight at Josuke's chest.

"Hold still, boy," the man sneered, the knife gleaming in the moonlight.

Shiro's Sacrifice

Just as the knife descended, Shiro's voice cut through the chaos. "Josuke!"

With a burst of energy, Shiro lunged forward, pushing Josuke out of the way. The knife plunged deep into Shiro's side, a sickening sound filling the clearing as the old man staggered backward, clutching the wound. Blood poured from between his fingers, and his breath came in ragged gasps as he collapsed to his knees.

"No!" Josuke screamed, his heart shattering as he watched Shiro fall to the ground, his life slipping away with each shallow breath.

The rogue Rangers and priests seized the opportunity, dragging the crying girl back to the ritual circle. But Josuke was frozen, his body trembling as he crawled toward Shiro, his hands shaking as he tried to stop the bleeding.

"Stay with me… don't go…" Josuke whispered, his voice breaking as he pressed his hands against the wound, but it was no use. Shiro was slipping away.

Shiro's eyes fluttered open for a moment, his gaze finding Josuke. "Live… Josuke…" he whispered, his voice barely a breath. "Live… for your future…"

And then, with one final, shuddering breath, Shiro was gone.

The Awakening

Something inside Josuke broke. A deep, primal scream ripped from his throat as he cradled Shiro's lifeless body, his hands soaked with the old man's blood. The pendant around Josuke's neck glowed faintly, but the crack in its surface deepened, its protective seal weakening with each pulse of Josuke's fury.

His heart pounded, his vision blurred as a dark, searing energy surged through his body, overwhelming his senses. His teeth elongated into sharp fangs, his nails twisted into claws, and the black marks that had long been hidden beneath his skin began to spread. His once-human eyes were now blackened, his pupils glowing a deep, fiery red.

The pendant, meant to keep his demonic power at bay, shattered with a sharp crack. The force of the release sent shockwaves through the air, and in that moment, Josuke was no longer himself. The dark power, inherited from his father, raged within him, uncontrollable and destructive.

The rogue Rangers and false priests stopped, their eyes wide with horror as they watched the transformation. Josuke's once-human form was now a monstrous figure, towering above them, his muscles bulging with unnatural strength. His claws flexed, ready to tear through flesh, and his glowing red eyes burned with a hunger for vengeance.

The Rampage Begins

With a guttural roar, Josuke charged at the men, his speed and strength far beyond what any human could hope to match. His claws slashed through the first man's chest, ripping through bone and muscle as though they were paper. Blood sprayed across the clearing as the man crumpled to the ground, his body lifeless before it even hit the dirt.

The others tried to fight back, but it was useless. Josuke was a force of nature, driven by pure, unrelenting rage. He tore through the rogue Rangers with ease, his claws cutting them down one by one. The ground beneath him was slick with blood, but Josuke didn't stop. He couldn't. The power coursing through him was too much, too overwhelming.

The false priests raised their hands, chanting desperately to complete the ritual, but Josuke silenced them with a single, devastating blow, his claws tearing through their throats in one fluid motion. The girl, still bound and terrified, screamed as the men around her were slaughtered, but Josuke's mind was too far gone to hear her.

Out of Control

Josuke stood in the center of the carnage, his chest heaving, his body trembling with the overwhelming power coursing through his veins. The black marks that covered his skin pulsed with dark energy, and his once-human mind was lost in the flood of demonic fury. The pendant that had kept his power sealed was now nothing but shattered fragments on the ground.

He looked down at his hands, slick with blood, his claws still sharp and ready for more. His vision was blurred with red, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he struggled to regain control. But it was no use. The power had taken over.

Josuke let out another guttural roar, his body trembling with the force of the energy that threatened to tear him apart. The forest around him seemed to tremble, the trees swaying as if bowing to his overwhelming power. The ground beneath him cracked, splintering under the weight of his rage.

And as the night wore on, Josuke's rampage continued, unstoppable, uncontrollable—a force of destruction unleashed upon the world.