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Chapter 7 - Chapter 6.0: "Tongues of Ashes"

Scene 1 - The Organization Store: Escape from the Darkness (Night After the Battle)

A small fire burns in the center of a dilapidated concrete room, surrounded by three shadows:

Dream sitting on a broken piece of iron, John leaning against the wall smoking, and Tifa standing far away, her back turned, her hands bloodied, her eyes still half-glow.

John (quietly, blowing out smoke):

> "It's not safe out there... Demons don't calm down easily."

Dream (looking at Tifa):

> "We don't want another fight... We just want to know: What's your story?"

Tifa (in a tired voice, heading toward the door):

> That's none of your business. Leave me alone."

John tries to follow her, but she pushes the door open.

John (calling):

> "Where are you going?!"

Dream (getting up and standing in front of her):

> "If you have a problem, tell us... we'll help you."

Tifa pauses for a moment... looking at him nervously. Her eyes are trembling.

Tifa (in a choked voice):

> "I'm looking for my father... that's all."

John looks at her in surprise, then says in a cold tone:

John:

> "Why don't you go to the police?"

Tifa turns to him, her eyes blazing for a moment, then speaks sharply:

Tifa:

> "The police?! They say ridiculous things... My father injected himself with demon blood! He's turned himself into a monster... I'm the only one who can stop him and kill him."

A moment of silence.

Dream (looking at the ground, then raising his eyes confidently):

> "You're not the only one who bears scars from his past. If you want, we'll stand with you."

John (raising his eyebrows in a sarcastic tone):

> "Wait... and the organization? Who else would work in it?"

Tifa (blinking in surprise):

> "An organization? What organization?"

John (smiling):

> "The Demon Slayer Organization... Dream and I built it from the rubble."

Dream (looking at her):

> "If you want to join... the door is open." Just try to tone down your brutality a little.

Tifa laughs sarcastically, lowers her eyes, and whispers:

Tifa:

> "Don't worry... I won't live after killing my father."

Dream (calmly walking toward her):

> "No... you won't die. Because you're not alone in this."

A moment of silence ensued, as Tifa's eyes trembled, but she turned and turned away.

Tifa (coldly):

> "My name is Tifa... and if you're going to help me, don't mistake me for a friend."

John (laughing and clapping):

> "Officially... I welcome you to the strangest organization in the world."

End of Scene

Next Scene: Hidden Detour - "Test of Trust"

Next Scene - "Eyes in the Shadows"

Location: Inside the base (after-hours - late at night)

Tifa sits alone in a corner, cleaning her weapon, thinking about Dream's words.

John is asleep, but Dream is standing at a sign with a map of demon locations.

Tifa (suddenly looking at him):

> "Why do you want to help me? You don't even know me."

Dream (without turning around):

> "I don't need to know everything... I know how you feel, that's enough."

Tifa (after a moment of silence):

> "...You are so strange"

Dream (responding with a faint smile):

> "And you're no less."

While they were talking... suddenly, a simple alert from the security cameras indicated the presence of a demon outside.

John (twitching in alarm):

> "Damn it... someone's entered our territory."

Suddenly, from one of the secret tunnels beneath the base, a strange creature emerged. It wasn't an ordinary demon—it was an artificial demon, a hybrid between a machine and a demon, sent by an unknown organization whose purpose we

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