“I’m home, Yozora, Yoake.” The former forest guardian uttered and sat down next to his siblings’ makeshift graves. He sat there in silence, resting his arm on his knee. “... Sorry for not visiting sooner. I think it’s been about… a hundred years?” He smiled and chuckled sadly at his attempt on light-hearted banter. 

He looked far into the distance, where an unfamiliar sight greeted him: a towering metropolis now stood where his home once was.“So much has changed now, huh? I’m glad that this part of the forest is untouched, but…” The wanderer curled his knees towards his chest, hugging them tightly. He looked down on the ground, feeling conflicted. What would have happened if he’d returned to this place any later? Would this area be…

After a brief respite, Yoru slowly got up, leaving behind many of his thoughts to the wind. He glanced back at the towering tree behind him. “Well, I still have to try and figure out where she lies.” He jested with a look of melancholy on his face. He sighed, and stood there in silence for another moment. “...I miss you both.”

The wanderer began walking down the road as he entered the vast, unfamiliar city. Mechanical whirrs and hums echoed from the outskirts, mingling with the city’s vivid sometimes blinding lights. The former guardian approached the city gate and stopped in his tracks. An ancient-looking arch stood there, marking the boundary between the past of Yamira Forest and its present. The pillars of the arch emitted a soft hum as their lights glowed. With a determined yet hesitant expression, Yoru took a deep breath and stepped into the foreign city he had once called home. 

Without its guardian to protect it, Yamira Forest’s soil eventually became home to a hub that merged innate magic with advanced technology. Kapolia… The wanderer thought of the city’s name as he recalled it from the entrance. What greeted the former guardian were various buildings, each differing in height. Some were small shops, while others towered over Yoru. On the sidewalks, he noticed some familiar trees, which initially brought him some relief—only for disappointment to follow when he realized they were now being used as natural lights and energy batteries. 

He felt uncomfortable. This is too…  hectic. 

Yoru searched for the routes he often took during his many visits. He aimlessly traversed the area, and began to question whether his close friend had even been given a proper burial.  If only she was here… Yoru would rarely go alone when he was outside Yamira Forest. He would only roam the familiar areas of the city back then, unless it was with Jasmin.

Even though she had caused him strife and conflict, he felt that he could trust her. Over the years, he had come to admire her technological efforts and would visit her often, if she didn’t visit the forest first. She would often take him to suspicious areas for work-related purposes or guide him to her favorite places, often to cafés. If Yoru was Yamira Forest’s guide to her, she was the city’s to him. He wouldn’t feel right if he didn’t visit her final resting place.

Before he could snap out of his nostalgic thoughts, the hustle and bustle of the city suddenly fell to silence. He felt a gentle breeze blowing on his skin. Yoru looked around and saw no one. All of a sudden, he was in a straight alleyway. Dim lights surrounded the area. Trash littered across the dirty floor, and faint sounds filled the air as noise. Did he ever take a wrong turn? Was he too deep in thought to notice? 

Yoru felt no signs of life—no stray insects or rodents scurried through the dirty alley. He shook the strange feeling off and continued to walk down the dark alleyway. He kept walking, but it seemed like the path had no end. 

Something’s wrong. Yoru thought, stopping in his tracks. He looked back, staring deep into the poorly lit alleyway. 

His suspicions were confirmed as a set of red eyes appeared from the shadows, and a dark figure lunged at the hooded man. Without hesitation, a glowing green arrow flew toward the attacker, leaving a puff of smoke behind as the creature collapsed in death. 

More sets of red eyes emerged from the darkness. Figures resembling small creatures with long noses and long ears rushed toward Yoru.

Phantoms? I thought there weren’t any left! Yoru thought, summoning arrows to defend himself from the shadow creatures. The wanderer leaped to his side, dodging the swings of the creatures’ weapons. He summoned more arrows and aligned them in a circular formation. Twisting his hands, he made the arrows spin rapidly before sending them flying toward the creatures. The spinning blades of arrows cut through their bodies, killing them instantly. 

No. These aren’t Soil Dwellers. 

Yoru felt the wind pick up from behind him and quickly gestured with his fingers. He teleported to a nearby wall, where some of his previous arrows were lodged in. He focused his gaze on his new attacker, taking in its abnormal traits. The creature was demonic in nature, with sharp talons on its legs and fingers, horns on its head, and fleshy wings. And that is certainly not a Severed Terror.

As more of its kind flocked towards it, other creatures of a brutish nature trudged toward him, adorned in armor and wielding giant swords in their hands. Behind the hoard were three giant beings—one with two heads—and multiple entities that resembled boars. Yoru was surrounded with nowhere to run. Whatever they are, I need to fight.

Yoru quickly summoned another arrow and sent it flying toward the head of a demonic shadow, and teleporting to the arrow’s location. He kicked that demon to the ground, spiking it toward the horde of monsters below. He decapitated the last flying creature with one of the summoned swords in his hands before shifting his gaze toward the giants. He threw one of the swords, which pierced into one of the giant’s heads. 

Yoru continued the attack by teleporting himself to the giant and pushing the sword deeper using his foot. He then planted both his feet onto the giant’s head and pushed himself into a backflip. Yoru landed successfully as he saw multiple shadow entities being crushed by the giant’s corpse. 

The boars, brutes, and more of the small creatures rushed toward the lone wanderer. He summoned more of his spinning arrow blades to cut the creatures down. Most of the monsters in that group were cleared, but some shadow entities slipped past his attacks. The remaining brutes charged to slash Yoru down, only to be parried by another summoned sword. He pushed the brutes away and began slashing and stabbing the crowd of monsters. 

The more shadows Yoru took down, the more seemed to be coming for him. The two-headed giant’s stomps were getting louder and louder with each passing moment. A distant screech echoed from the sky as a dragon-like shadow creature descended to face the wanderer.

Yoru sighed. This is getting ridiculous. He shot an arrow between a brute’s eyes and used the same arrow to teleport far away from the horde. He raised his arm, his hand forming to mimic the shape of a gun. A low, mechanical whirr could be heard as Yoru’s hair and eyes shifted a glowing green hue, matching his summoned weapons. Yoru gritted his teeth as the horde drew closer. Energy built around his fingertips, forming an orb of green light. After a while, he released the energy. The orb transformed into a massive arrow resembling an owl, which blitzed through every attacker in its path.. 

The arrow sped through the alleyway until it stopped in its tracks. In the next instant, it shattered against an invisible barrier with a loud crack. Yoru quickly raised an arm to shield himself as the giant arrow dissipated.

The wanderer sighed as his hair returned back to its natural color. Lowering his arm, he dusted himself off and surveyed his surroundings, remaining on guard for another ambush. He was no longer standing at a dimly-lit alleyway; but instead in a dark and decrepit warehouse. Yoru put his hand on his chin, trying to retrace his steps. 

What was that all about? The hooded wanderer recalled the battle moments ago. Those were unfamiliar beasts, yet they resembled Phantoms. Just what happened while I was gone…? 

Yoru scanned for an exit, but none were visible as the eyes could see. As he turned toward the nearest wall, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed from behind him.

Yoru summoned an arrow and sent it flying toward the source of the sound. The arrow abruptly stopped in mid-air, dissipating into little, glowing orbs. The faint light illuminated a silhouette in the dark. 

“Woah, let’s calm down here!” A playful, unfamiliar voice broke the silence. 

The former guardian summoned another round of arrows, all pointing at the stranger. He remained silent, glaring daggers at the shadowy figure, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. 

A snap from the stranger’s fingers echoed, and an orb of light appeared, illuminating the area.

In front of Yoru Kwagou stood a tall, bespectacled man. His black hair was tied into a ponytail, with a strip of his bangs dyed a striking yellow. He adorned himself in a black coat, and a black scarf draped over it. Excess sparks of energy cast a soft, yellow glow around his hands, which were raised in a sign of peace. The stranger had a friendly smirk, yet his yellow eyes had a cunning look plastered on them.

Yoru raised his hand to the black-clad man, pointing both his fingers and arrows at the suspicious-looking person. “Talk.”

The black-clad man chuckled. “Oh, but that’s why I’m here in the first place.” The man started walking slowly toward Yoru. 

Without warning, Yoru sent all of his arrows flying toward the stranger when he took the first step. Every arrow hit the target, yet they phased harmlessly through the man in the coat. The man disappeared into smoke as his chuckles echoed throughout the warehouse. Yoru frantically looked around, only to find himself accompanied by the small, glowing orb of light. 

Suddenly, Yoru froze as he felt an arm sling around his shoulders. Slowly, he turned his head to the right and saw the man’s sly expression right beside him. 

“Hey now, there’s no need for senseless violence.” The man drew his face closer, the smirk on his face growing ever so wider. “Let’s get to know each other, shall we, boy?”