Whispers and murmurs of citizens and knights echo through an alleyway where Ren, Kao, and Sion stand. As the buzz of flies annoys their ears, their eyes lock onto the purple-bloodied corpse of a certain tentacled alien, his tentacles and spider-like legs mangled and twisted with his organs spilling out from his abdomen like vomit that is filled to the brim with green beads of beans.

Though earthlings might not find the sight as disturbing as his own kind would, the putrid smell still lingers as a reminder that death is the same for all kinds of races.

As both his coworkers sniffle and pinch their nose, Ren folds his ears back and closes his eyes, murmuring with a bitter tone, "Poor guy..."

The sky is now yellow with no clouds. As the petrifying wind blows the putrid smell, its sunlight shines onto the corpse of Vaj as if to pick his soul up to heaven.

"Rest well, Vaj," Ren clenches his hands together as he brings them to his lips.

Eyeing him with open, curious eyes, Kao asks Ren, "Hey, you know this alien?"

Releasing his hands, Ren grabs his waist as he tilts his head, "Yeah, I met him when I first came here... A nice guy, really. Sad to see him like this..."

"Do you know anyone who would do this to him? It could be significant to the case," Sion butts in with a cold tone. As he waits for his answer, he kneels beside the corpse, squinting his eyes at it.

"Hmm... I don't know... But someone said that he's a college professor. I don't know if that's gonna be helpful information though..." He pauses as he grabs his chin, "And they said that he's rich too. So maybe some kind of robbery that went too far?"

"And who is this... 'Someone'?" Sion adds.

"Just a cashier in a convenience store that he happens to be a regular in."

After he hums to Ren's remarks, Sion's chitinous fingers move to slightly adjust the alien's mangles of tentacles, revealing behind them a big claw mark on his abdomen, perhaps the cause of his opened stomach.

Wiping his fingers on his collar, Sion glances at the alien's head that is his bundle of tentacles. He moves to adjust them once again, sharpening his eyes when he sees a big chunk of the corpse's neck is gone as if torn away.

"Well, I assume this is a predation case. These claw marks, in combination with a bite-looking wound. Whatever the killer is, they seem to have mauled the victim to death. But this bite wound... I don't know what could've caused it. We need someone who's expert at predation cases to confirm it."

"Oh I know some stuff about that! Let me see!" Kao joins, kneeling beside him

"Eh? Don't bite wounds from animalias look all the same?" Ren questions.

"They have slight differences actually. For example, a wound from a werewolf bite might have two or more deeper stabs due to how their teeth are shaped. A wound from my kind, the merpeople, will have perfectly symmetrical cuts cuz of our shark-like teeth. And also-"

"Kao. Shut up and do your job," Sion cuts.

"Eheh... Sorry."

Ren purses his lips as he squints his eyes, "Ugh... I don't think I can deal with that kind of stuff. Too squeamish."

"Well, In that case, you should check if there's any witnesses or security cameras around here," Sion suggests.

Opening his eyes, Ren steps toward the entrance of the narrow alleyway where the other knights of different branches question the people and vice versa.

"Hey what happened?"

"Did someone get killed?"

"Are there dead bodies in there?"

As people question the knights and to each other, Ren scans the crowd with his aura sight. Maybe if he sees someone with a particularly tense aura, he could try to question them. But, the auras of the citizens; humans, aliens, and even some other kitsunes are all either flowing like a calm pond or spiking rigidly. Just your two average responses to another's death.

And alas, he falls deep into his thoughts... His judgemental thoughts precisely.

...

...

No one's suspicious... Shit. Where are you mister killer...

...

Hmm... That centaur there looks pretty tense. But, she's carrying three babies on her back... Should I question her? Nah, that would just cause her trouble. No way a mother could be a killer anyways.

"...Hey!"

What about... That emo-looking human girl... Wait, is she taking selfies of herself with the corpse in frame?? Man... that's low...

"Tch... Hey!"

Ooh... That panther guy looks fairly amused. What is he smirking about? Maybe I should-

"HEY!"

A familiar electro-synced voice blows away Ren's focus.

"You dumb fox! Can you hear me!?"

Flinching back with widened eyes, Ren glances to the voice to see a certain alien cashier crossing his arms right in front of him as his bald, chitinous head reflects the sunlight onto his mite-like eyes.

"A-Ah... It's you, forgive me, I was thinking about something," Ren chuckles to himself as he brushes the back of his neck, "So uh... Yeah! What is it?"

"Jeez, I didn't expect you to be a Knight. Seriously, out of all people, they picked the most happy-go-lucky guy?"

Well, technically, they never picked me. So...

"So anyways, behind you is the corpse of that loaded college professor from yesterdays right?"

Ren nods his head, "Yep, sadly."

"Yeah well, just last night, he visited the store again. Bought some couple of instant noodles and vitamin packs. Then he left without anything as much as a small talk."

At that, Ren perks his ears, "On what hour exactly did you see him. And did he seem different than usual?"

"Hmm, around eleven or twelve o'clock-ish. Basically around midnight. And yeah, he usually lingers around to chat some high class philosophical shit to my ears. But last night, he seemed..."

"Tense."

Both of them stay silent for a moment, before Ren adds, "Well, did you see where he was heading?"

"How the hell am I supposed to know!? I'm a cashier, not some physic mind reader!"

"Woah... Calm your pants, jeez."

"Sorry. It's just... I'll miss his long ass ramblings... Even though we never actually know each other's names. You should never underestimate the bond between a cashier and his regular customers, you know?"

Ren mumbles his lips for a bit before saying, "W-Well... How's your fiance? Your wedding is in a few days right? Atleast that'll-"

"She left me."

"..."

"Oh..."

"Bitch left me for an old, billionaire oil tycoon. Tch... Should've known she's a gold digger."

"W-Well. On the bright side. Your testimony's gonna be extremely helpful to this case! So cheer up!"

"..."

He walks away without another word.

Sssss... Oof...

"Found any incriminating evidence yet?"

"Gah!" Ren slightly jumps to the voice of certain doppelganger, turning around to see her eyeing him with her empty gaze, "Chief! Don't just appear so suddenly like that!"

"But I was standing behind you the whole time," She tilts her head.

"That's even worse..." He mumbles, "but well, about the evidence. I've discovered that the victim, Vaj the staryophagi was killed perhaps in between-"

"Eleven to twelve o'clock?"

"Oh right. You were standing behind me the whole time. Wait, why did you ask me in the first place!?"

"Just to play around with you. Heh."

"Chief! Take a look at this!" Kao's voice echoes from within the alleyway.

Her head rotates behind like an owl before her body turns in the same manner, then she walks towards the sharkman with Ren following her footsteps.

"Here, we found this," Sion hands the Chief a bloodied string of grey hair.

She pinches its tip, lifting it up, letting it sway with the wind as she observes it, "Hmm... Did you discover any pheromonal or strange bio-signatures with your sensing capabilities? Sion?"

"Yes..." He answers.

"Then what is it? Do you recognize what this might belong to?"

"..."

"A werewolf."

"Huh... I see... So perhaps a predation case then," She puts the strain of hair into a zip lock bag. Then turning around with her gloved hands on the back of her waist.

"Werewolf huh..." Ren murmurs to himself.

"Correct. They are lineages of humans cursed by the moon to turn to savages when all its lights cast the earth. Though no cure has been found for their conditions. A way to dampen it momentarily is present in the form of anti-moonlight pills. Perhaps this particular werewolf went loose because they forgot to get their prescripted pills. A silly mistake like that as you see. Could end the lives of others. It is such a pity," She glances at Ren, then to the alien's corpse.

"I've discussed many times with the overseers to eradicate them off of The Central City. Or at the very least, build an area accustomed just for them. And now, look at what they caused. Reminder, this is not the first time this has happened."

Sion and Kao both glances away from her words, while Ren glares at her, gritting his teeth, "Who... Who gave you the right to say that?"

She snaps her gaze to his glare, tilting her head, "The overseers did. Also, millions of other scared citizens that doesn't want to lose their loved ones."

"Tch... But it's not their fault that they're born that way!"

"Exactly. Why cause others harm when there's an easy solution?"

At that, Ren bites his lower lips, gulping before he lowers his gaze and ears.

"Anyways. Continuing on with the case," She says, pulling out her phone, "Now, scrolling through this area's citizen database, I've discovered there's a registered werewolf living here. She doesn't have any family members nearby. And her contact is... unreachable? Huh, peculiar..." She taps to her ancient, nokia flip phone for a few moments.

"Ah, a friend texted me that she was recently seen coming to an incubus club named 'Eden-Club' just south from here. Apparently she's a VIP there. So you three could ask the staff there for more information. And after detaining her, bring her to me, then I'll get the rest of the job done. Easy, yes?"

"And if you're still unable to find her after midnight. I'll cut your salary for the next three months."

Without anymore words. The Chief let herself be blown away like a pair of stray underwear by a random breeze of air, out of the alleyway to who knows where.

"..."

"D-Does that means we have to physically go to that club?"

"Yes."

"Shit."

-----

As hip-hop music blares throughout the building, red light feebly dims its interior, metal signs plastered with neon red letters forming the name 'Eden' is pinned onto the brick walls of this infamous Incubus club's entrance lobby. Where the trio of Knights are forced against their will by their Chief to find this werewolf woman.

As the choking smell of cigarette fills the air, silhouettes of both men and women dancing could be seen casted through the club's blurry glass door.

Leaning against the wall beside the door is a buff man in a white suit crossing his arms while staring into the blackness of his shades. He seems to be uninterested by his new costumers. And luckily enough, if that's the case, perhaps they could borrow those shades for a moment? Judging from the man's emotionless, pursed lips, he seems to have... Seen things...

"God... Let's just quickly find that werewolf and get the hell out of here..." Sion grumbles as him and his partners stands in front of the glass door. All too trembly to actually enters.

"Positive thinking! M-maybe it won't be that bad! Uh... Just... Deep breath... And let's just YOLO this motherfucker," Kao says, gripping his fists in determination. Though both Ren and Sion raises an eyebrow by the ancient terms he just spoke.

"Huh?"

"Let's just go," And with a quick push from the merman. They all steps forward into the door.

"W-W-Wait!" Sion stops right as the man in the white suit is about to open the door.

"Look. Whatever you do. Do not. Get charmed. Okay? We have a job to do. The quicker it is, the better," Sion says with bold eyes as both of his partners nods.

Now... Consent is such a blurry line in the world of incubi and succubi. Anything could happen. Perhaps that's why the three are so... cautious.

But realistically, perhaps, they won't really mind... Only If this is a Succubus club. Not an Incubus club.

And well, don't the world just love to test out their courage.

Ah yes, the loud hip-hop music couldn't be louder. As the black marble flooring reflects the red lights that continuously dims off and on, Ren cough and looks to his surroundings with squinted eyes as the smell of alcohol and sweat enter his nose while the club's laughters and whispers overwhelm his ears.

The sight is just like every other strip club. Full of sweats, full of exposed skins, and full of sins. This is a sex demon's feeding ground after all. An equivalent to a restaurant to them.

And right off the bat after they step in. Approach a trio of incubi with a grin too malicious to even describe. All wearing black leather outfits so tight they might as well be choking torture devices. Sways of their demonic tails with heart-shaped tips rub against the Knights, together with offerings of alcoholic beverages, and also, perhaps worse, offerings of their company.

"Champagne? Rum? Vodka? Or perhaps... You want this magical white cocktail of mine?" One says, blonde, fair skinned and blue eyed.

Thank you. But now I feel like vomiting

"Mr Knight~ have you come to arrest me? I'll gladly comply~" One with curly red hair, tanned skin and a pair of big, plum lips says.

Æugh

"Come play with me foxy~ Y'know, I'm a little bit off a... furry myself," The last one, pale and black haired, wearing a pair of cat ears winks.

Oh god, here it comes

And his mental pukes couldn't get any worse.

"Get the hell away from us man-whore!" Sion yells, displaying his scorpion tail.

"Ouh~ feisty... I like it," They all say in unison.

"Uhk-" A wave of sharp shivers travel through every chitin of his body while his face go blank as if struck by lightning.

"Um... We'll be going now... Heheh... Also, where's your manager? There's something the Knights have to discuss, or else there's might be a slight chance that this place's gonna get shut down," Ren laughs the incubi's advances off as he grabs Sion's shoulders. His eyes darting away at the last part of his sentence.

The one with the cat ears palm his forehead while the others raises an eyebrow, "Haah... Mr. H? Well, I believe he's currently... Servicing a customer. But you can wait in front of his office. Just follow along the wall to your right and you'll see it," He says, reducing his seductive tone to a more normal one.

"I see, thank you," Ren says with a shaky smile, supporting the still shocked Sion on his shoulder before he turns to his right.

"Wait, why did he turns to a normal dude to just you! Man, I'm jealous..." Kao says to Ren, following behind him.

"Tch, Isn't it obvious? They're playing a character. That's why," Sion awakens, throwing himself off of Ren's shoulder.

"Oh... Well, now all that is left is to just walk to the manager's office right? See? Positive thinking!"

And the sharkman couldn't be more wrong than that.

As they walk along the wall, trying not to look at the dances that are being performed on their left. Another group of demons approach, though the three ignore them with shaky eyes, brows and lips, up until they eventually leave.

But another comes, And another, and then another, And then another...

It's an endless tunnel of hell.

"Look at what my [redacted] can do!"

"Oh master~ come [redacted] and [redacted] [redacted] with me~"

"Goshujin-sama~"

"Daddy~"

"Mâitre"

"Sharky~"

"Honey~"

"Boy~"

AN:(I spare you the details cuz i don't want this book to be r-18)

AAAAA AAAAA AAAAA AAAAA AAAAA AAAAAAAAAA AAAAA AAAAA AAAAA AAAAA AAAAA AAAAA AAAAA AAAAA AAAAA AAAAA AAAAA

"I give up. You two go find that wolf. I'll wait outside," Kao snaps. His tone sharp and cold.

"Oi! You can't just call it quit! It's only've been five minutes!" Sion retorts, only to get no answer as Kao walks back towards the entrance with his hands on his pockets.

"Kao! If you do this! Then I'll tell the Chief! She'll drain your entire bank account!"

"Don't care. Fuck this."

And off the merman goes, exiting the club without any second thought.

"Huh... I don't blame him honestly..." Ren sighs.

Sion responds with a frustrated click of his tongue, frowning as he looks around the club.

"Hey... Should we split up or something? Where the hell is this office anyways? We've been walking in a straight line the whole time..." Ren suggests.

"No! You don't ever split up in situation like this!" Sion yells to his ear.

Ah right. That's how people die in horror movies right?

Once again, The fox and the scorpion are stuck together. Either they like it or not.

But this time, Sion seems to act... differently to Ren. He seems... nicer. To an extent.

Ren could only wonder why is that. He did feel a hint of familiarity with this particular scorpion. A deja vu sort of feeling. Perhaps, they've met one another before, somewhere at one point in their lives.

Maybe he should ask him about it.

"Hey Sion..." Ren starts.

"What?"

"Why did you... Uh... Treat me that way... When we first met?"

His six turquoise eyes slightly widen. Only to slump sharply again.

"Huh? Why does that matter? Just focus on the case. Talk to me only if you find something," Sion roughly answers.

"..."

Haah

"I'll look around for a bit."

Ren steps away from him as he looks around the club. He takes a short re-route to his left, to where the main bar area is located. With lots of sofas and pool tables, this part of the club seems more chill in terms of... Aggregation. Sure, there's some people passed out on the floor and on the couch, and even on the pool tables, but that's the best case scenario in a club like this anyways.

Though when he walks by the bartable, he feels a sudden grip on his shoulder. A strong one at that.

Please no... Please, no more...

"You are..."

"My neighbor... Yea?"

Eh?

"Oh yeah! It's you!" A purple haired, pale skinned Incubus greets with a smile. Unlike the other of his kind who wears more risque clothing, he wears a casual outfit consisting of a red and black flannel and a brown trouser.

Ah... So that's why there's always strange noises coming from the unit next door...

"So what are you doing here dear neighbor? Didn't expect you to swing this way," He leans to the bartable with a glass of wine beside him.

"Ah! No no no! I'm here to look for someone! And speaking off... Do you work here? If so then maybe you could-"

"No I don't work here. Not anymore at least. I'm just here for the drinks.. And also, to look for a new girlfriend."

Ah... He's a land crocodile. Got it.

Ren pushed his thoughts aside, wanting to milk out some informations out of him further.

"Well, do you know this werewolf woman? Her name is Angelina Veliz, She's been a VIP for a few months here. Surely, you must've known her right?"

Ren hands him her picture. A pretty and pale, grey haired woman with hazel eyes.

"Hmm... Ms Lina? I think I saw her exiting the building just now... What are you looking her for any-"

Ren's seat spins. Its user nowhere in sight.

"Sigh... Everyone leaves. Welp, I'm used to it anyways."

Huffing as he speeds his way from one part of the club to another, Ren only sees the usual sight of peak sentient beings- all lost within their own trances caused by the incubi. Though the sight leaves no sign of his partner whatsoever.

Ignoring the incubi's constant calls and teases, he steps towards the club's hall of private stalls, some open and some closed. He checks each of the open ones, skimming through the seemingly endless stalls. Though to no eventual result.

Tch... God damnit Sion! Where the hell are you!?

Reaching his boiling point, Ren chooses to pick the low-end road. That is to open the closed stalls.

That is what he intended to do at least. Up until he luckily sees a scorpion stinger swaying out then pulling itself into a stall.

With silent steps he approaches that stall. And when he arrives in front of it, its door suddenly opens, smacking his face, before something grabs his arm, pulling him into it.

Falling face-flat onto the floor. The first thing he sees when he opens his eyes is Sion sitting on the stall's sofa. Accompanied by another figure, glowing and pulsating bioluminescent purple light beside him.

Pulsating her bell in a rhythmic manner, sitting beside the grunting Sion is the same jellyfish woman they met at that alleyway, tilting up her chin as she looks at Ren.

Her face features only a thin vertical yellow slit while her skin is translucent blue like that of earth's jellyfish. Her bell together with her long elegant dress pulsate dim purple glow within this cramped stall. But instead of the moon-like beauty they suppose to ornate. They only add to her aura of malicious intents.

One of her neon blue stinging tentacle glows and wraps loosely around Sion's neck like a normal party necklace. But thankfully, it still floats untouched from the scorpion's chitin. Though her stare alone is threatening to wrap it closer and closer as if she's holding him at gun point.

Ren grunts as he pushes himself up. Only to be pinned down by two pairs of hands belonging to the jellyfish woman's bodyguards.

"Ukh!" Ren struggles as she giggles at the sight.

"Now, now. You two naughty cops might be asking why I'm here right now. That is a reasonable thought of course... But what is not reasonable... Is the fact that perhaps, one of you... Took something of mine... Correct?" She says with her otherwordly voice echoing within this small stall, "And what is that something you ask? Hmm... I'll Ask this little insect right here... And he better return it to its owner. Or else, she might as well kill his fox friend too."

At that, Ren glares at her as he grits his teeth

"You think you can get away from threatening the Knights? Lady, I don't know what's possessing you bu-"

"No no! Quiet time. Ssh~" She mocks, wrapping her tentacles even closer to Sion's neck, but not quite touching him yet.

Ren begins to channel his electricity onto his arms, causing her bodyguards to release their grip, but as soon as he rises up, another of her tentacle jolts towards Ren's neck, almost touching him.

"And before you think of fighting back. My nematocysts would spread deadly toxin faster than even your lightning could," Though she has no real mouth. He couldn't help but to imagine a mocking smirk on her alien face as she tilts her head.

"Like it or not. You are in my club now." She coaxes.

"Tch... What the hell do you want!?"

"Heheh, not much. I just want your little bug friend here... To return something he has stolen from me," She leans her head closer to Sion's neck, "Now, are you gonna obey? hmm?"

He grits his teeth as he looks upon the floor.

As the glowing neon tentacle threatens to burn his neck, he curses before slamming to the table what seems to be a button of some sorts. It is round in shape and black in color like a pen holder but with a button on the middle instead of a hollow space.

She releases her tentacles from Sion's neck, grabbing the object as she stands up from her seat with regal elegance and grace.

"Good boy. Now, excuse this kind forgiving lady. For now, she'll forgive you. And if she ever cross path with you again. Then, perhaps, she won't be so forgiving."

"Now, let's just hope this is our last meet-"

A wedding music suddenly cuts off her sentence. After a few awkward coughs, one of her bodyguard offers her a ringing phone.

"Excuse me."

"..."

"Hi honey~ How's the hotel? Is it good?"

"..."

"Ah, you saw that giant fox? Well, make sure to take lots of pictures cuz this is the only time were visiting there~ and don't worry! Mama already stole your toy back from those mean cops!"

"..."

"Yes, I'll get you a Z-station for your birthday you don't have to keep reminding me every five seconds, mama will remember yeah~?"

"..."

"Uhuh... Yeah! Mama will join the vacation after work okay~? Actually, I don't know when this 'after work' is... But I'll definitely be there before weekend. So see you soon! Love ya!"

And the phonecall ends. Her motherly and gentle tone surprising both Sion and Ren who had expect the call to be some sort of shady business that she would answer in her own alien language.

Who would expect an intergalactic drug dealer to be a caring mom anyways?

"Now, where was I... Ah yes! See you never little cops," The jellyfish woman then pulses away from the stall, followed by her two bodyguards.

The two Knights both stay silent. Ren's eyes agape. While Sion's stay bitter.

"What the- what in the hell was that!?Did you really stole her kid's toy!? What for!?"

Hearing Ren's fair questions, Sion shushes him out as he gets up from his seat before stepping out of the stall without any words.

Ren follows immediately with thousands of questions still swirling within his skull. All waiting for an answer.

"Hey! Sion!" Ren yells.

"..."

"Tch... Hey!"

"..."

The cycle of yelling and ignoring continues up until the two walk out of the building to a dark and empty, quiet street. Passing a certain sharkman sitting on the sidewalk.

"Hey... You guys found that werewolf yet?" Kao says, standing up to his feet as he yawns.

"No we haven't," Ren bluntly answers. While Sion sticks his eyes onto the concrete.

"You two cool? We need to find that wolf or it's bye bye for our paycheck," Says the guy that calls it quit the first five minutes.

Both Sion and Ren ignores his words as they continues to walk forward silently. Only with each other's frown and glare.

Tch... This god damned scorpion always making things hard for him... And why? Ren might never know.

Maybe it's because he's embarrassed? Maybe it's because he's mad that he had let that alien go yet again? Or maybe... One reason that Ren doesn't want to list; is it because because he's working with a Kitsune?

But well, either he likes it or not. He's supposed to be working with him. The Chief's the one that assigned them together for God's sake.

So Ren reaches for his shoulder, stopping his track.

"Why... Is it that hard to answer one question!?"

Sion once again stays silent. Though a few seconds later, he let out a chuckle, a broken one as he facepalms himself, then brushing his brown locks back in a slow, yet unruly motion.

The other two watch in utter confusion, one more confused than the others.

"It's easy for you to say..." Sion says, cutting off his broken chuckles, "But you would never understand..."

He inserts one hand onto his pocket as he let the other flails without energy on his side.

"Sion..." Ren whispers.

Just on time, as Kao still stares in confusion. A howl of a wolf echoes across the night, sounding so near yet so faint.

With no words and warning, Sion run pass the two of them back to the opposite direction. Him being so fast that even the fox himself got little to no time to react.

"Eh!? Sion!?" Kao screams.

"Ren-"

With a breeze of the street's dust. Ren tails Sion. Sprinting with the same speed as the latter.

"STOP LEAVING ME FOR GOD'S SAKE!!" Kao clenches his fists onto the side of his head, then he runs, trying his best to match their speed.

Ren keeps on sprinting, following Sion's surprisingly agile and nimble, cockroach-like mobility. Both passing by the strip club, and into an abandoned, empty part of the city just a few roads ahead.

Left and right, he goes on and on. Through the maze like parts of the dark and dirty abandoned complex where tall, empty and dark buildings stand. This is where the lowlifes of the city dwells, deep within the dark crumbles of the buildings, where warm orange light could be seen with no electricity and no internet. Well at least, this is the one of the ways of living in this city rent free with no traffic.

Feeling the dusty air brushing his white locks, Ren takes some deep breath as his run slows down. Giving into his energy's needs, he leans his hands on his knees as he catch more of his air.

But, this won't stop him from tracking down the scorpion.

With one more deep breath. He closes his eyes before unraveling them to reveal his aura vision.

His magic scours his vision through the outlines of now aquarium-like buildings, letting him see the lives of the city's lowlifes. Either sleeping, eating or jacking off. The last part doesn't distract him from a bright turquoise silhouette crouching behind a dumpster can. Just a distance away from it, blips another five silhouettes, all golden in color. Three of them are dimming as they lie on the ground. While the rest two stay bright, one backing down as the other approaches in a hasty manner. They are all positioned thinly, perhaps in some sort of an alleyway.

God, why is it always alleyways.

As he deactivate his vision, he takes more deep breath before he continues his steps. Taking few more twist and turns, passing the dirty lives of those more poor than him, he finally arrives as a single street lamp shines above him, sliding his shoes for him to stop in at the entrance of the fated alleyway.

And his eyes widen at the sight.

Sion is there, held a few feet up in the air by a big and tall werewolf. His stinger is barely reaching his captor, only flailing helplessly towards the beast.

Three other werewolves lies unconscious and bloody behind them. While a grey haired and hazel eyed woman with fresh bites and scratches littering her whole body lies on her bum. Her eyes are wide open as slowly she moves back deeper into the alleyway, further from the werewolf.

The werewolf's drools drip down to the concrete as he grits his teeth and growls, "I've never tasted a scorpion before... And you smell delicious..." His large snout sniffs Sion's neck, then down to his stomach, before smiling his savage, bloodied teeth, "Heheh... Thanks for the meal..."

He opens his mouth, revealing rows of razor sharp teeth. But as he agape them closer to Sion's face, a blue flash suddenly flies to the back of his head. His eyes catches onto it, but his body does not.

As Ren peeks behind the werewolf with glowing blue eyes, a sparkling charges of lightning gathers around his fist while its crackles echo within the alleyway.

"!!!" A sudden and strong punch follows, hitting the top of the werewolf's head, sending his feet onto the ground.

"AKH!" He wails, releasing his grip.

Inches before Sion touch the ground, Ren catches him in a princess carry, rolling then landing to a stable kneel on the alleyway's entrance.

"Sion! You okay!?"

As he answers with a few rough coughs, he releases himself from the fox's hold. Feebly standing up with the help of his stinger.

In the opposite, the werewolf growls with agape eyes. As he sniffles and stumbles back and forth, his claw run themselves into the side of his head, up until his own fur is coated with his own blood.

"Never... I'll never... I'll never let you take my Angel... NEVER!" He growls, surrounded by an aura full of bloodlust as his build becomes more muscular, seconds by seconds.

"What the hell's happening here..." Ren mumbles. As he and Sion takes some cautious steps back.

"I don't know. But that woman is in danger..." Sion takes a good look at the sight. Gathered in the alleyway are four werewolves, three beaten and unconscious while one is seething with rage. Behind them is the same woman that the Chief told them to pursue, now with bites and scratch marks and tattered clothing.

It could only meant two things. Both equally worse.

"I think... The three unconscious werewolves were trying to... Eat. Or..." He pauses, "have their way with her..."

"This guy could be her boyfriend or something. Maybe he went like this trying to protect her. But even then... There is no moon tonight... So how?" Sion looks up to the sky, seeing only the everblue, clear night.

Ren sighs to himself as he raises his ears, "I don't know... But, saving her is the most important thing right now..."

As his pupils become thin predatory slits, two additional tails grow large behind him. With sparks of lightning swirling around him, he is once again, ready for battle.

"Sion, don't come close okay?" Ren looks to him, smiling with eyes full of determination.

"Just count on me."

-----

Lightning sparks and crashes across one another as bolts of blues thunder rages inbetween the dirty walls of the narrow alleyway.

Ren once again charges himself with his magic. He bounces in between the alleyway's walls while sending out flurries of petal-shaped electricity to non other than the growling wolf who's still truly unharmed by his attacks.

"Hmm? Is this really what you Knights can give? Heh... Hahahah... Weak... Heheh... WEAK!" The wolf growls, shaking off the sharp, razor-like electric petals embedded to his skin.

Ren etches his tongue as he continues to commence his barrage of attacks. Again and again.

"Second form," He claps his palms together as he lingers upside down mid air.

"Buds," When he releases his palms, a crackle of electricity echoes within the alleyway's walls as three fox head-shaped thunder extend and aim themselves from his hands towards the wolf.

The latter tries to fend them off with his arms, but the electric foxes quickly clench their jaws onto him, slightly pushing him back on impact.

"Hahah... What is this? It fuckin' tickles..." He coaxes, licking his lips.

With a single, yet powerful bite to all three of the foxes' 'necks'. The wolf causes its caster to flinch forward as he swings his head back.

Ren grits his teeth, unable to release his spell from his palms. The wolf, realizing that, swings his head once again, this time with a more powerful force.

"Shit!" Ren flies towards the wolf.

"!!!" A punch soars through Ren's stomach. Causing a loud thud on impact.

"Ukh!" He spits out some blood and agape his eyes, the momentum sending him back flying towards the alleyway's entrance.

Seeing him land onto the concrete, the werewolf grins as he inspect his fist, "Hah... Weak..." He turns around to glare at the cowering woman with lustful eyes before approaching her, "Now... my Angel... come... home..."

"N-No! Please! I-I don't want to! Please! Just leave me alone!"

"No no no... My sweet Angel... You can't run from-"

"!!!"

"Agghhhh!"

A gunshot blares in the small alleyway, causing the beast to screech in pain. As he huffs, he holds his shoulder to ease his flooding wound. Gritting his teeth, he looks back and sees Sion aiming a smoking glock at him.

"Y-You... It fucking hurts!!"

Sion remains undeterred by the beast's growls. With a quick nod, he signals the woman to run pass the pained wolf and out of the alleyway. Which she immediately complies to.

"You son of a bitch... I'll kill you... I'LL KILL ALL OF YOU!!"

Ignoring anything else. The werewolf digs all four of his claws onto the concrete as he howls. With glowing golden eyes, he grits his teeth and as he growl for the last time, he stampedes with all four towards Sion.

"!!!"

"!!!"

"!!!"

One shots, three shots, five shots. As blood splatters from the werewolf's fur. It's still not enough to stop his rampage. Even when he aims at his skull. Even when the bullets he's firing are silver bullets. It causes no flinch to the beast.

As the ground's shake trembles his footing, Sion's rounds of bullets end as the werewolf pounces at him with his jaws agape.

As if the world slows down. Sion Lync laments his peril. With blank, empty eyes, he accepts his fate. Sighing his last moment. Though he feels no fear, only this strange combined emotions of regret and relief.

It's my time... Isn't it?

He himself doesn't even know why he ran away from his group alone. He could've called some backup with a single push of a button... But... He didn't. Why? Is it his pride? Is it the bounty check he'll get? Is it just because of a childish spite?

Maybe he deserves this. It's his fault that Ren got dragged along with him in the first place, right?

But as the werewolf's jaw moves closer and closer. That goddamned fox bumps him out of the way, replacing his spot.

Ren!? What are you-

Hopelessness. It pollutes the air within the alleyway, choking anyone who dares to breath it as the werewolf inches closer, ready to gulp his prey in one, nasty bite.

That is, until a vivid purple butterfly fluttered right next to the fox.

One clean and faint whistle of a blade slashes through the air, silencing the werewolf's howls and growls.

The beast stumbles mid-path, losing balance and landing right in front of Ren who's now lying on his back, the beast's momentum slightly sliding him forward until his snout touches the tip of Ren's leather shoe.

Then the butterfly by Ren's side fluttered towards the action.

From the darkness of the night, A flurry of purple butterflies gather above the fallen werewolf. They form a cascade-like display of swarming movement, gathering and swirling themselves until they form a faint silhouette of a thin, feminine figure.

From the swirling mass of purple, a masked woman in all black outfit gracefully lands onto the motionless beast. Her skin is pale and her hair is black and messy. Holding a bloody thin dagger, she stares at the menagerie coldly with glowing and sharp purple eyes.

And before anyone could say a word, sudden torrents of water blades fly towards the woman. On impact, her body scatters to purple butterflies before they reforms back as if she was hit by nothing.

"REN! SION!" Yells a certain merman, lunging at the woman from the entrance of the alley with a trident of pure condensed water in hand. Ready to tear apart the opposition.

But as soon as Kao slashes his trident, the woman scatters into a swarm of butterflies. Fluttering away to the rooftop of the abandoned buildings.

"You two alright?!" Kao says after he lands. Helping Ren gets his footing back.

Though right after he stands, Ren uses the last bit of his energy to imbue himself with lightning once more. Without a word, he ricochets between the walls, following the woman.

"REN!" Kao is ready to follow him. Only to be stopped by Sion's hands.

"Don't. Just... Let him.."

-----

Reaching the rooftop, Ren grunts. Pained by his stomach, he stumbles down to the concrete floor. But it's no cause for him to give up. He quickly rises up, looking around the abandoned district of the city.

Aza! Where are you!?

"!!!"

The howl of the frigid wind takes his ears by surprise. He turns behind to see that same woman standing on an electric pole. Her black hair flows with the wind as the crescent moon glows brightly behind her. With the lively parts of the city decorating the background like stars, she stares her glowing eyes at him.

"Aza... Is that... You?"

At his shaky words, she closes her eyes.

As silence becomes the only witness, the two eyes each other. One with a hopeful yet, desperate eyes. The other being simply emotionless.

A jolt of nostalgia strikes his intense, beating heart when her irises meet coldly with his. Yet, that nostalgia is pained together with sadness and grief. After all those years... She's finally here, right there in front of him. He wants to dash forward and hug her. But with her frigid stare, he could only stay frozen in place.

After what feels like an eternity. Her body begins to dissolve. Beginning to vanish into thin air.

"Wait!" He yells as he runs towards her.

As if devoured by the sea, she disappears into the dark depths of the night. No signs of her could be seen. Not even her aura.

Hitting the roof's fence too hard, he falls back, holding his stomach. As he feels the cold, rough concrete slamming his right cheek, he hiss, feeling his eyelids getting heavier as his vision begins to dims.

Aza...

With one last call to her name, his vision fades to black.