Part I: The Black Aura and Secret Revenge

"Hey, can you hear me?"

Mazuki slowly opened his heavy eyes. "What happened to me...? My head is splitting."

"You did it, Mazuki," Hao replied. "You made a life contract with your Vayen spirit."

"What? Really? But how?"

"Honestly, I don't know. I doubted you could defeat it. How did you do it?"

"How did I win...?" Mazuki recalled his contract with Vesper and the brutal slaughter of the samurai. Keeping his shiver hidden, he lied calmly, "It wasn't as strong as it looked. I just used logic—intellect wins battles."

Hao was skeptical but dropped the topic. "Go rest, Mazuki. You're exhausted. I'll update you if anything happens."

As Mazuki left, Hao sensed a pitch-black, menacing aura trailing behind him. This doesn't look good at all... Hao thought.

Inside his bedroom, Mazuki lay down, staring at the ceiling with a dark smirk. He possessed a potentially catastrophic power now, but he didn't care.

"Taking revenge for my family just got easier," he whispered.

Part II: The Mansion Party and the Ravens' Quarrel

At a grand mansion in the city center, prominent businessmen, officials, and Takeda Raizen arrived alongside Apex commanders. Nearby, the Raven squad monitored the area from their van.

"Listen up," Gin warned over comms. "Zero room for error. One mistake ends us."

"Understood, boss!"

"Sasha, status report?" Gin asked.

"Uh, boss... Sasha is busy," Nero cut in.

Inside the van, Sasha and Sofia were arguing fiercely.

"Stop clinging to Mazuki!" Sasha barked.

"Why do you care? Mazuki will be my husband!" Sofia countered.

"Husband?! What nonsense!"

"If Mazuki minded, he'd say so. Are you jealous?" Sofia teased.

Sasha flushed crimson. "J-Jealous?! He's just a teammate!"

"Girls!" Gin's stern voice boomed through their earpieces. "We're not here for your lovers' quarrel. Stay focused!"

"Sorry, boss..." they muttered.

Nero chuckled. "Boss, Sasha's face was redder than the Apex flag!"

Sasha instantly smashed her serving tray onto Nero's head. He dropped, raising a painful thumbs-up. The head waiter approached them. "No slacking! Get to the main hall, guests are arriving!"

"Right away, chief," Nero grunted.

"Everyone in position?" Gin checked.

"Ready," Sofia, Sasha, and Nero confirmed.

"Good. Ren, let's head inside," Gin said.

Part III: Infiltration and the Mind-Reading Commander

Gin and Ren stepped out of their limousine. A guard stopped them at the entrance. "Names, please?"

"Katari Gin."

The guard checked the list. "Ah, Katari Gin. Welcome, sir."

Inside, Ren whispered, "Father, how did you get us on the list so fast?"

"An old friend owed me a favor."

Gin scanned the hall through his micro-camera glasses, memorizing guards and cameras. 20 cameras, 45-degree angles, zero blind spots. 34 guards total: 15 in hall, 2 at door, 6 in corridor.

Ren added, "7 in courtyard, 2 at east and west gates."

"Only six in the corridor? Sounds weak," Shon noted via comms.

"Don't lower your guard," Gin warned. "Our only objective is kidnapping Raizen."

Part IV: Takeda Raizen's Arrival and the Grand Declaration

The host, Kotomaru, stepped to the podium. "Welcome, friends! We are here to celebrate my grandson's 5th birthday. Please welcome him!"

Applause filled the hall until the doors slammed open. Apex soldiers lined up as Takeda Raizen entered, flanked by 4th Team Captain Hoshino Aki and 7th Team Captain Tiran.

Kotomaru invited Raizen up. Raizen presented gifts, then his tone turned dark. "Friends, you've heard of the Kiro events. The Raven terrorist organization treacherously attacked our captains. Intel says they plan to attack Mera next. But I am here to bring those traitors to justice!"

Sasha gritted her teeth over comms. "I'm going to wring his neck!"

"Calm down," Gin ordered. "Focus on the mission."

The crowd cheered in support of Raizen as birthday cake was served and music resumed.

Part V: The Warehouse Ambush and Mind-Reading Power

Kotomaru introduced Gin to Raizen.

"Ah, Katari Gin, owner of the iron factories. A pleasure," Raizen smiled, then turned to Ren. "And you?"

Ren squeezed Raizen's hand with intense hatred. "Ren. Katari Ren."

"A bit tense, aren't we?" Raizen noted.

Gin interjected, "Just typical youth, annoyed I dragged him here."

Raizen whispered to Gin, "I'm bored too. Want to do something fun? Follow me."

They left in an Apex vehicle. Ren secretly texted the team: "Mansion plan canceled. Follow us."

The vehicle pulled up to a hidden Apex weapons storehouse in the forest. The rest of the Ravens trailed covertly, while Tiran and Aki waited outside.

Inside the warehouse, captured citizens of Kiro hung bound from the ceiling. Ren froze in shock. "What is this?!"

"Entertainment," Raizen smirked.

Ren heard a weak voice—his school friend, Tamaki. "Ren... save me..."

"Tamaki?!" Ren gasped. "You sick dog, release him!"

"His family couldn't pay their debt," Raizen sneered. "I took him as collateral."

Gin offered, "I'll pay their debt in full, Raizen. Release him."

"Money can't buy the thrill of beating Kirolus, Gin. You used to beat them in your youth too, remember?"

Ren turned to his father, shattered. "Father... is that true?!"

"Ren, not now," Gin pressed.

Raizen poured two whiskeys, subtly reaching for his gun. "You said you came for an 'important matter', Gin. What matter?"

"You invited us," Gin replied calmly.

"True... but I'm suspicious. And I eliminate the source of my doubts!" Raizen drew his weapon.

"Ren, look out!" Gin yelled.

Part VI: The Warehouse Battle and the Great Escape

Gunfire echoed. Apex guards tried breaking the warehouse doors. Ren texted: "Plan blown! Raizen knows everything, we're trapped inside!"

The Ravens donned masks and ambushed the guards outside. Tiran summoned massive earth snakes against Nero, but Shon crushed them with his bare hands and shattered the ground back at Tiran. Eleni clashed mid-air with Aki, whose scythe emanated death wails as she transformed into a grim reaper form.

Inside, Raizen pinned down Gin and Ren.

"Father, why aren't we using our Vayen?" Ren asked.

"It would collapse the building on the hostages!"

"Correct," Raizen's voice echoed. "Because I don't just hear you—I read your minds! I've known who you were since the party!"

"Damn it!" Gin cursed. "Ren, think about NOTHING! Move with your eyes closed!"

Raizen sensed the void in Ren's thoughts and located his hiding spot. Cornering Ren, Raizen aimed his gun. "Your journey ends here, kid."

Before he could pull the trigger, Gin appeared behind Raizen, pressing a gun to his temple. "Surprise."

BANG! Gin shot Raizen in the head, dropping him lifeless.

"Nice play, Father," Ren exhaled.

"Let's go!"

They shattered the roof, leaping out. The squad had cleared the guards, leaving only Aki. Gin sprinted past her so fast time seemed to stop, seamlessly attaching a high-voltage device to her neck. He triggered it, shocking Aki unconscious.

"Vehicle, now! Move!" Gin shouted, and the Ravens sped away into the night.

Back inside the bloodied warehouse, a mysterious figure carrying a long katana stepped out of the shadows toward Raizen's bleeding body.

Raizen gasped his final breath, "Who... are you...?"

The man answered coldly:

"The man who is going to save you."

[END OF CHAPTER 15]