Kaien stood once more on the edge of the city's ruins — a place the government maps marked as "uninhabited".
But Kaien saw the lights.
Faint, hidden fires burning in the wreckage. Signs of life where there should be none.
His earpiece crackled to life.
"Agent Kaien. The target is codenamed Ashborn. Former engineer. Sigil classified. Orders: kill or capture. No mercy."
Kaien tapped his comm once in response. No words.
The rain began to fall harder, washing the filth from the air as he moved toward the ruins.
The ruins of Old District 9 were silent except for the rain. Kaien moved like a shadow, boots silent on shattered glass and broken stone.
He spotted him — a gaunt man, face hidden by a hood, crouched near a small fire.
The man's hands were wrapped in bandages, glowing faintly red where the sigil burned beneath.
Ashborn.
Kaien drew closer, unseen. But before he could strike, Ashborn spoke — voice raw, tired.
"You're here to kill me, aren't you?"
Kaien froze, his hand inches from drawing his blade.
Ashborn didn't look up.
"I knew they'd send someone. I just hoped I'd have more time."
Kaien's voice was low, empty.
"You chose this. You ran."
Ashborn laughed bitterly.
"Ran? I built weapons for them. I saw what they did with them. The city they burned — Sector 9. My weapons burned it. And they told the world we did it. The sigil-bearers. The monsters. You think you're a hero, boy?"
Kaien's grip tightened. The Key of Power Sigil pulsed along his arm, black lines flaring in the dark.
"You're nothing but their blade. And when they're done cutting, they'll throw you away like the rest of us."
Ashborn finally looked up — eyes hollow, filled with regret and rage.
"Go ahead. Finish it. Or open your damn eyes."
Kaien hesitated — a heartbeat too long.
Ashborn's sigil flared — a burst of crimson flame.
Kaien reacted, hand flashing forward. His sigil's power lashed out, black energy wrapping the flame, devouring it.
Ashborn gasped as the fire died in his hands, the power draining from him into Kaien's mark.
Kaien stepped back, arm trembling slightly as the black sigil grew once more, its lines creeping higher on his skin.
Ashborn collapsed to his knees, powerless.
"You're just another ghost now... like me…"
Kaien's blade flicked out, ending it cleanly.
The rain washed away the blood, but not the words.
Kaien stood there long after Ashborn's body cooled, the stolen power burning inside him.
His comm crackled again.
"Mission complete?"
Kaien's voice was low, hollow.
"Target down. Sigil stripped."
"Return for debrief. We have new orders incoming."
Kaien turned from the ruin. But something inside him felt heavier now — a weight no mission could wash away.
And far above, lightning flashed — as if the city itself mourned the dead.