"Let the uprising begin!" the Inugami leader roared, stretching out his hand toward the Ame-no-Nuboko.

But before he could grasp it, a formidable ice wall ascended from the ground, blocking his path. His eyes followed the shimmering trail of ice back to Adam, who stood resolute on the side of the stage.

"You are not the only one who can harness the power of the full moon," Jaden declared, his stance firm and shoulders squared with determination. He began chanting, "Lux Nox, Mater Terrae, Corpus Umbrarum. Lux Nox, Mater Terrae, Corpus Umbrarum."

The boy's body morphed into a crystalline humanoid form, drawing in the moonlight that surrounded him. With a precise motion, he placed his palms together, gathering the celestial light into a huge multicolored sphere.

"Lux Nox, Mater Terrae, Corpus Umbrarum," he intoned once more, launching the sphere toward the Inugami leader.

The leader raised his hand in a futile attempt to deflect the blast, but the sphere dissolved into a shower of light that engulfed him. He examined himself, seemingly unharmed, a smirk forming on his face as his fangs glistened. "Is this supposed to be your big starlight magic spell? How pathetic. I don't even feel—"

Before he could finish his sentence, Adam's ice lances materialized behind him, piercing through the air and impaling the leader's body. The leader let out a grunt of pain, his smirk faltering.

"My magic isn't 'starlight magic,'" Jaden shot back, his voice laced with irritation. "It is heavenly body magic. The spell I just used is called Luminis Corporealitas. It is not meant to be offensive; it bridges the ethereal and physical realms, giving substance to intangible beings like you."

Adam grinned, his eyes glinting with satisfaction. "He evened the playing field for me. It's only fair, since you and your crew have been hitting me while I've barely managed to land a solid punch."

The leader's eyes narrowed with rage as he realized the true effect of Jaden's spell became evident. "You think you're smart? You think you can challenge me? I am God!"

Without missing a beat, Adam and Jaden exchanged a glance before springing into action. They charged at the colossal dog god, their movements synchronized and fast. The Inugami leader's tails whipped, releasing a torrent of black energy beams that blazed through the air with deadly accuracy. The beams streaked toward the pair with a menacing hum.

Jaden raised his hands, conjuring his magic rainbow orb to intercept one of the beams. The orb blocked the attack, but the force of the collision sent him skidding backward, the ground beneath him cracking under the shock. Despite his strained stance, he held his ground, summoning more power to reinforce his barrier.

Adam, agile and determined, darted left and right, avoiding the searing beams. He launched himself into the air, spinning like a drill as he charged toward the Inugami leader. Glacial energy began to build up in his palms, the air around him growing colder as the frost spread. With a powerful thrust, the Winter Wolf slammed his ice-infused palms down onto the leader. An enormous blast geyser erupted from his hands, unleashing a shockwave of freezing air and razor-sharp ice shards. The impact sent the god-like creature hurtling backward, forcing him off the stage. He bawled in fury as he collided with the ground, his majestic form sprawling amid a cloud of debris and shattered energy.

Adam landed gracefully on the stage, taking measured breaths as he readied himself for the next move. Suddenly, with a fearsome roar, the Inugami leader smashed through the stage, his fist ripping through the wooden floorboards like a battering ram. Reacting instinctively, Adam performed a backflip to dodge the destructive hit. But the leader's onslaught continued unabated. While Adam was still airborne, the Inugami leader spun, his tails slicing through the air in a blur of dark energy. They struck Adam with devastating force, sending him flying across the stage.

After momentarily dispatching Adam, the leader moved toward the Ame-no-Nuboko. Jaden, eyes wide with worry, dashed toward him, his footsteps pounding against the floor. He leaped into the air, twisting his body to deliver a kick aimed directly at the Inugami's face. However, the god-like creature raised his forearm to deflect the blow. The impact of Jaden's kick against the leader's forearm generated a visible sonic wave.

The Inugami leader's eyes gleamed with malevolent satisfaction as he effortlessly blocked Jaden's kick. The exorcist's face twisted with annoyance as he tumbled through the air, his feet finally finding purchase on the stage once more. He landed in a crouched position, his gaze fixed intently on the Inugami leader, who was now just a few steps away from the Ame-no-Nuboko.

In one motion, the silver-haired exorcist drew an expandable baton from beneath his red sweater sleeve. His face lit up as he flicked his wrist, causing the baton to expand with a hissing whisper. Its surface was engraved with black runes that pulsed with colorful arcane energy against the silver shaft.

The Inugami leader eyed him carefully. "You're clearly a powerful thaumaturge. What's your role in all this? Why are you trying to stop me?"

"I am not Adam Howl. I have no loyalty to the Federation whatsoever," Jaden replied. "But the world you envision—you don't want equality or to make things better. You just want to upend the hierarchy, so you will be on top."

"So, we will be on top," the leader said, emphasizing the point. "You and I—we're the same. Do you think the Cataclysm Federation treats mana users any better than mythological creatures like us? Just look at how they imprison witches, labeling their magical powers as dark and evil, while ultra-tellurians' abilities are seen as neutral, neither good nor bad. They get ranked and recognized. The Federation doesn't understand thaumaturges. Sooner or later, they'll come for you, too."

Jaden's grip tightened on the baton, his knuckles turning white. "I don't think this kind of bloody revolution is the answer. What about regular people? As imperfect as the Federation is, it is the best we have to maintain peace between ordinary humans and those with powers. It is our best system for managing the supernatural side of society and protecting regular folks. What will happen if the Federation falls?"

The Inugami leader's lips curled into a sneer. "Why should we concern ourselves with ordinary humans? They are weak, and as nature intended, they will always be at the bottom of the food chain. But we are not weak. The natural order grants us strength and power, which the Cataclysm Federation seeks to subdue. Their attempt to reshape the supernatural world has stripped us of our livelihood. When they discovered that some of us didn't fit their new vision, they raided our homes. Our way of life was beyond their understanding, sparking hatred and paranoia. They portrayed us as savages who must be eradicated in the name of civilization and the Federation. Are you seriously going to remain willfully oblivious to the suffering of those whose lives have been taken?"

Adam, standing a few feet away, struggled to maintain his composure. The Inugami leader's words resonated with a part of him he had tried to suppress. He felt a pang of empathy—or at least an unsettling understanding—for the Inugami's plight. The conflict within him was visible, though he tried to mask it with a stern expression.

Jaden's eyes remained glued on the Inugami leader, his expression unreadable as he listened to the leader's impassioned plea. The canine creature's fur bristled as he continued, his voice rising with fervor.

"Don't you see? The Cataclysm Federation has waged a campaign of forced assimilation, pushing us to betray our very nature. Join me, and together we can eliminate the Federation and all its remnants, including traitors like the Winter Wolf who have fallen prey to its corrupt ideals."

Jaden scowled. "Did you honestly believe that would win me over? A self-pitying, self-indulgent monologue and a feeble attempt to elicit sympathy from me?" He lunged forward, the baton humming with energy.

The Inugami leader snarled, dark energy flaring as he met Jaden's attack head-on. His claws screeched against the metal of the young exorcist's baton. With a swift motion, the leader reversed his strike into a mighty overhead cut, his claws clashing with the baton in a shower of sparks.

"You foolish little maggot!" the leader growled. "You know less than nothing. You stay safely cocooned in your self-righteous rage while other thaumaturges are hunted. In a world where the strong dominate, only the strongest survive. The Federation's rules and regulations are chains that bind us. We need to break free."

Jaden withdrew his weapon and bent backward, propelling his foot toward the Inugami leader's face. The god-like canine crossed his arms in defense, but the force of Jaden's kick was enough to drive him back, leaving deep marks in the ground as if he was being dragged. Before the leader could retaliate, Jaden swung his baton in a wide arc, projecting a surge of magical power that sent the Inugami sprawling to the ground.

"You know," Jaden began, his voice sharp and unyielding, "you can stop with your deranged babbling. All you've managed to prove so far is that you're a tyrant. Freedom at the cost of countless lives isn't freedom. It's tyranny." His gaze swiveled toward Adam, who was standing tenacious amidst the chaos. "You think I stay safely cocooned in my self-righteous rage? You've so totally missed the point. I am not self-righteous. Not at all. Not like somebody here."

Jaden's thoughts briefly wandered to Adam. The older man's smirk as he caught the jab was maddening. His perpetual chip-on-his-shoulder demeanor was as annoying as it was captivating. The way Adam carried himself—so certain, so rigid, so heroically self-assured—was unlike any other guy Jaden had met. His stubborn insistence on handling things alone only added to Jaden's irritation. Yet, beneath it all, Jaden couldn't deny a begrudging respect for Adam's heroism, even if it often felt like a glaring flaw.

"I am just selfish," Jaden continued, his voice thick with resolve. "Because my parents are ordinary people, and as overbearing as they are, I don't want to live in a world where they would be subjugated by the likes of you." The thought of his parents being maltreated, their lives upended by this monstrous being, fueled his rage.

With a jolt of speed that rivaled a fighter jet, Jaden lunged at the Inugami leader, his baton slicing through the air. The Inugami leader, sensing the incoming attack, transformed his halo into a blade and spun it, emitting a cutting beam of light. Jaden's eyes widened as he struggled to block the attack. The halo seemed almost sentient, fiercely battling with the exorcist.

"Jaden, be careful!" Adam shouted from the side. Then with a flick of his wrist, he conjured a flurry of ice scythes, directing them at the canine god.

In a flash, the Inugami leader vanished from the stage and appeared in the air above Adam. Adam, quick to react, deployed two columns of ice that spiraled around each other, forming a helix. The swirling ice slammed into the Inugami leader, propelling him violently toward the ground.

Meanwhile, Jaden's baton shattered under the inexorable assault of the halo blade. He threw the broken weapon aside and summoned his magical rainbow orbs, attempting to shoot down the fast-moving halo. But before he could get a clear shot, the halo flew directly at him with blinding speed. Jaden managed to block the attack with one of his rainbow orbs.

The Inugami leader promptly regained his footing. Soaring back into the air, he unleashed a barrage of black energy beams from his tails, their erratic paths creating a chaotic storm above. The beams rained down on the battlefield. Adam erected an ice shield to fend off the barrage, but the intensity of the onslaught was nearly insurmountable. Amidst the turmoil, Jaden was caught off guard, his focus split between the halo blade and the incoming attack. Unable to defend himself adequately, he was struck by a blast of black energy, hurling him through the air. As he tumbled, the halo blade reappeared and slashed across his abdomen.

"Jaden!" Adam screamed, his voice thick with concern. He attempted to rush toward Jaden, but the ceaseless bombardment continued to pummel the area, forcing him to stay on guard. A few more blasts struck Jaden, each one driving him further from the fray and leaving him vulnerable.

Desperate, Adam thrust his arms skyward, channeling his cryokinetic power. A flow of icy energy poured into the air, quickly spreading as frost crystallized the moisture into a barrier. An impenetrable dome of ice formed overhead, halting the constant volley of obsidian rays that had been wreaking havoc. The rays splintered against the icy shield, their dark power dissipating into the cold—for now, at least.

Inside the frozen sanctuary, Adam's focus shifted to Jaden, who lay crumpled and motionless on the ground. Adam's heart pounded in his chest as he ran to Jaden's side. The scene before him was a grim sight. The exorcist's body was battered and bruised. The halo blade had left a deep, bloody gash across his abdomen, the wound still oozing crimson. The black energy blasts had scorched his skin, leaving dark, angry burns and singed fabric. His breathing was shallow and uneven, his eyes closed, and his expression slack with unconsciousness.

Adam knelt beside him, his hands trembling as he reached out. "Jaden," he said, his voice cracking. "Dammit! This is why I didn't want anyone to get involved. Jaden, please wake up."

A storm of emotions churned within Adam—anger at the Inugami leader, guilt for failing to protect Jaden, and fear at the sight of the boy's injured form. Abruptly, a soft glow began to emanate from Jaden's body, a brilliant spectrum of rainbow light that gradually intensified. His eyes fluttered open, their brown irises replaced by a lifeless, silver luster.

In a mechanical, monotone voice, Jaden spoke, "Alert: Excessive blood loss identified. Lifeforce depletion critical. Automated activation of Justice-Activated Defender and Extraordinary Neutralizer initiated."

Adam looked confused and alarmed. "What's going on? What's happening? Jaden?"

"Due to severe damage sustained by Jaden, I have been activated," the robotic voice explained.

Adam's eyes widened in shock. "What? W-Who are you?"

"I am the Justice-Activated Defender and Extraordinary Neutralizer, or J.A.D.E.N."

"What the fuck is this? Jaden! Are you in there?"

"Primary consciousness is dormant. Justice-Activated Defender and Extraordinary Neutralizer will remain operational until threats are neutralized, and stability is restored."

Before Adam could ask more questions, the Inugami god shattered through the dome of ice with a ferocious burst of energy. The divine being flew toward the Ame-no-Nuboko.

"Fuck," Adam cursed under his breath, realizing he had no choice but to leave Jaden in this state. He hurled himself at the Inugami, trying to wrest the Ame-no-Nuboko from the creature's grasp.

Despite his strength, the Winter Wolf knew he was no match for the god in a tug-of-war. As he prepared to exhale a cryokinetic breath on the divine creature's hand, the Inugami leader's gigantic hand clamped around Adam's throat, lifting him off the ground. The pressure was suffocating, and Adam struggled to breathe. With an evil smirk, the Inugami's seven tails began to converge, dark energy radiating, poised to smite Adam.

In that moment of peril, Jaden's mechanical voice spoke, "Danger detected. Initiating data search. Inugami identified as full divine entity. Extraordinary Neutralizer engaged in decimating divine threat."

The silver-haired exorcist's form lifted gently off the stage, floating about 13 inches above the ground, his feet hovering in a ghostly display. His arm extended, and a staggering, rainbow-colored flare erupted from him, more potent than ever before. The Inugami leader tried to intercept the attack with the Ame-no-Nuboko, but the sheer force was so overwhelming that even the spear shuddered under its impact.

Adam, gasping for breath, saw his opportunity. He generated a current of frost that wrapped the Inugami's arm, forcing the divine being to release his grip as he recoiled in pain. The Inugami's attention shifted to Jaden, whom he now perceived as a more immediate threat. The spear in his grasp swung forebodingly toward the exorcist.

Seeing what was about to happen, Adam formed an icy slide beneath himself and propelled forward. His boot connected with the spear, sending it veering skyward. The resulting magical blast shot into the heavens, a blinding streak of light that pierced through the clouds like a comet. The sky ignited in an explosion, momentarily turning night into day. Far above, the blast made contact with a distant space station, its silhouette briefly illuminated before disintegrating in a spectacular flare of debris and fire. The heavens themselves seemed to tremble as fragments of the station scattered across the firmament, sparkling like falling stars.

Adam breathed out a sigh of relief, his heart thudding from the fervor of the scene. "That was close," he muttered. His muscles ached from the exertion, and he could still feel the cold remnants of his cryokinesis prickling at his fingertips.

Jaden continued, his voice scarily calm. "Analyzing celestial conditions. Current time: 12:44 AM. Full moon detected. Lunar position analyzed: Moon has passed its zenith." His eyes flickered as he processed the information. "Data search complete. Initiating Heaven's Scourge Protocol."

The Inugami leader glared at Jaden with a mixture of confusion and disdain. "What on earth are you rambling about?"

Jaden's emotionless voice declared, "Heaven's Scourge: A God-killing spell sequence activated."

The moonlight gathered in Jaden's outstretched hand, converging into a radiant focal point. Its brilliance grew more defined, as if the moon itself yielded to his command. The light coalesced into tiny, concentrated sparks, each shimmering with a faint, ethereal glow. Jaden's mechanical eyes focused on these luminous fragments. As they merged, they elongated and reshaped into a series of slender, feather-like forms, each edged with a deadly sharpness.

"Spell parameters adjusted. Target locked: Divine entity – Inugami." Jaden's voice resonated with an authoritative edge. "Heaven's Scourge, release."

The feathers streaked toward the Inugami leader, illuminating the battlefield with their trail. The Inugami leader could only watch as the projectiles homed in on him. The first feather struck with a blinding flash, slicing through the Inugami's black, void-like form. The jolt was followed by a cascade of silver feathers, each one piercing through his fur and causing streams of celestial energy to leak outward. The leader roared in agony, his once-majestic form writhing under the assault.

In an effort to shield himself, the Inugami leader lashed out with his tails. Each tail moved with divine precision, creating a barrier of mystical energy that impeded and disintegrated the rest of the coming feathers before they could fully reach him. Nonetheless, the attack took its toll, and the leader's defensive maneuvers became increasingly strained.

When the Inugami leader wasn't looking, Adam seized the moment, his hands slicing through the air as if commanding the ice beneath him to obey. Two massive blocks of ice shot up from the ground, slamming into the leader's hands and pinning them to his sides.

Jaden, still suspended above the ground, zipped through the space. He snatched the Ame-no-Nuboko from the leader's clutch in a flash and drove the spear's tip into the divine canine's side. The leader's howl of agony echoed through the night, the spear's edge searing through his flesh and burning his celestial essence with its mystical energy.

Jaden withdrew the spear with a decisive twist, and Adam observed as the once-glorious Ame-no-Nuboko began to lose its luster. The veins of white light that had rippled through the spear's shaft slowly dwindled and then blinked out of existence. The once-dynamic mosaic on the spearhead began to shift and lose its magical animation. The patterns of stones and metals that had previously brimmed with brightness and rearranged themselves in an ever-changing dance now stilled into a fixed design. In Jaden's hand, the Ame-no-Nuboko, emptied of its godly power, returned to its original form—polished wood and gleaming metal, still exquisitely crafted but devoid of the divine energy that had made it extraordinary.

The Inugami leader bellowed with fury and tore through the ice that bound his arms. Adam and Jaden sprang backward, narrowly evading the furious onslaught of the godlike beast. Adam's thoughts collided in a frenzy. The spear, though diminished in power, still held the potential for devastation if the Inugami managed to reclaim it.

"Threat level critical," Jaden said. "Analysis of vital signs indicates that with the current condition, approximately 27 minutes remain before life-supporting functions fail."

Time seemed to stretch and distort as Adam's eyes shifted between Jaden and the advancing Inugami. Exhaustion clung to Adam's limbs, his strength waning with each passing moment. Jaden's time was running perilously short, and without immediate action, Jaden would succumb to the dire fate. With each heartbeat, the risk of the spear returning to the Inugami and the Federation's destruction loomed large. Adam needed a plan—and he needed it now.

Taking a deep breath, Adam steeled himself. "The Iron Phalanx is gonna lose it on me for this," he muttered. "But we have to destroy the Ame-no-Nuboko."

Jaden's eyes registered the decision with a nod. "Affirmative. Tactical assessment supports destruction of the spear to prevent escalation."

Adam's heart pounded as he turned his attention to the rampaging Inugami. His divine power surged with every step. "I'm gonna try to slow down the Inugami. You cool with handling the spear?"

"Initiating protocol for spear destruction," Jaden replied. He released his grip on the Ame-no-Nuboko and telekinetically levitated it into the air. The spear floated fluidly, suspended a few feet above the stage.

Adam tightened his grip on the icy energy around his hands and prepared for the battle ahead. "Let's finish this!" he shouted, sending a flurry of ice lances toward the Inugami. The beast darted aside with supernatural agility, avoiding the icy projectiles. It retaliated by lunging at Adam and landing a vicious punch that shook Adam to his core.

Adam, driven by adrenaline, countered with a fist wrapped in glacial energy. The collision of their blows reverberated through the atmosphere. The two combatants remained locked in a brutal stalemate, their fists pressed together with immense force, neither yielding to the other.

"Analyzing structural integrity of the spear. Preparing for disintegration." Jaden extended his hand, chanting, "Luce stellarum!" A cascade of rainbow beams shot forth from his palm, each beam striking a different section of the spear. The beams penetrated the Ame-no-Nuboko's surface, causing it to quiver and emit a low, agonized hum. Cracks spread across the artifact as Jaden's power destabilized its magical properties.

Adam, sweat pouring down his face, stole a glance at Jaden while fending off the Inugami's relentless assault. The beast's eyes blazed with unrestrained rage as it spotted Jaden and the fragmenting spear. With a guttural cry of wrath, he lashed out with its tails, the whipping appendages pushing Adam away. Not willing to let the Inugami reach Jaden, Adam launched himself onto the beast's back, wrapping his arms around his neck in a chokehold.

The Inugami leader thundered in ire, his enormous claws reaching behind to grab Adam and wrench him off. With a powerful heave, he slammed the Winter Wolf into the ground. The impact drove the breath from Adam's lungs. As the Inugami's monstrous foot hovered threateningly above him, Adam managed to construct an icy shield just in time. The Inugami's foot came crashing down repeatedly, each stomp shaking the ground and compressing the shield until it shattered with a deafening crack. Angered by the delay, the beast's foot continued to pound mercilessly on Adam, each one draining the last of his strength. Exhausted and barely conscious, Adam struggled to defend himself.

The Inugami leader's claws gleamed as he pressed his foot down on Adam's chest. "You will die, you worthless traitor."

Adam, his body covered in blood and grime, forced a defiant smirk through the agony. "You're too late, asshole."

The Inugami leader's gaze shot toward the Ame-no-Nuboko, understanding the gravity of Adam's words. Vehemence ignited in the creature's eyes as he charged at the artifact. Jaden's magic had already taken its toll. Cracks spider-webbed across the surface of the spear's shaft, and the spearhead started to splinter. In a matter of seconds, the mighty artifact fell to the ground in pieces with a soft, metallic clatter, its divine power extinguished.

"Destruction of the spear complete," Jaden announced.

The Inugami leader's growl of anguish was a raspy sound that resonated through the old estate. His eyes fixated on the shattered fragments of the Ame-no-Nuboko. A defeated snarl escaped him as he sank to his knees beside the broken artifact, his colossal frame trembling with rage. Desperation written into every line of his furry face, the Inugami extended his hands, and a dark, revolving magic enveloped the fragments, pulling them together in a vortex of shadows. The pieces of the spear gathered into a swirling mass before vanishing into nothingness.

The Inugami leader's gaze shifted toward Jaden and Adam, his expression a grim mask of defeat and a warning. "I will return," the leader stated. "I will find a way to bring down the Cataclysm Federation, even if it is the last thing I do."

In a brisk motion, the Inugami leader disappeared from sight, only to reappear beneath the stage. Delivering a final, dramatic flourish, he raised his hands, and a deep shadow devoured his incapacitated pack members. The darkness consumed them one by one, erasing their presence as they vanished into the void.

Adam, bruised and barely able to stand, felt a wave of half-hearted relief wash over him. The knowledge that the leader had retreated was a small comfort, for Adam knew he no longer had the strength to continue fighting. His body ached with exhaustion, and the weight of the battle seemed to press down on him, leaving him feeling utterly spent. He looked over at Jaden, who remained suspended above the ground, his expression remained calm, but there was a subtle shift in his demeanor.

"Lifeforce restoration necessary. Divine threat neutralized. Mortal risk mitigated. J.A.D.E.N. engaging dormancy sequence." Jaden's silver eyes gradually shifted back to their natural brown, the intense glow fading as his mechanical voice softened. His feet lightly touched the ground, and for a brief moment, clarity returned to him—before his knees buckled. The toll of the battle, the wound from the halo blade, and the aftermath of the Inugami's power hit him all at once.

Adam, struggling to rise, forced himself to his feet and staggered toward Jaden. Every step sent pain through his muscles, but he managed to catch Jaden just before he collapsed. Pulling him close, Adam wrapped his arms protectively around the boy as they both dropped to the ground. He could feel Jaden's body trembling against his, the aftershocks of the battle still coursing through him.

"Jaden, stay with me," Adam urged, his voice filled with concern. He could see the cuts on Jaden's body, the deep gash left by the halo blade, and the burns from the Inugami's magical blasts. Blood seeped through the fabric of Jaden's red hoodie, and his skin was marked with the evidence of their harrowing fight.

Jaden's eyelids fluttered as he fought to stay conscious. "Adam... what happened?" His voice was faint, each breath more labored than the last. His eyes slowly closed again, his body surrendering to the exhaustion.

-----------

The hospital corridor felt like a narrow tunnel of clinical whiteness as Adam paced back and forth. The heavy wooden doors of the operating room loomed ahead, their silence amplifying the tension that crackled in the air. The sterile buzz of fluorescent lights seemed almost mocking in its insistence on normalcy amid the turmoil. The antiseptic smell of disinfectant permeated the space, mingling with the faint, caustic scent of sterilized metal from the operating theater. Every so often, the distant echo of hurried footsteps and the murmur of subdued conversations from nearby rooms added to the oppressive atmosphere.

Adam's thoughts were abruptly jolted by a soft, insistent vibration. He fumbled to retrieve the small, metallic disk from his jacket pocket. He had nearly forgotten about the device—the one he had stuffed in his pocket when the bellboy at his hotel had delivered it to his room. It seemed so insignificant then, but now it buzzed with an urgent presence.

He pressed the disk, and a hologram flickered into view, casting a ghostly light in the gloomy corridor. Chase Sherwood, the Chief of the Lightcrest Division of the Iron Phalanx, materialized with a grim look etched deeply into his features.

"Dude, Adam, what's the deal?" Chase's voice rumbled with frustration, like he was about to snap. "Why didn't you bust out the V-Blink when you lost the spear on the train? It was chillin' in your pocket the whole time. We gave it to you for situations exactly like this."

Adam's brow furrowed. "The V-Blink?"

"The device you're holding. I hooked you up with that when HQ got wind of some weird energy at the museum. If you'd fired it up, HQ could've tracked your location and sent help from the closest Iron Phalanx division." Chase's hologram leaned closer, his eyes narrowing. "Let me take a wild guess—you figured you could totally handle it solo and didn't want to fess up that you lost the Ame-no-Nuboko. Am I right?"

Adam looked away, his pride bristling against the admission of his failure. He was just the kind of person who struggled to admit he had screwed up, even if it was clear to everyone else.

"You really blew it this time," Chase continued. "The spear's destroyed, the Inugami pack bailed, and now we've got a civilian who's banged up in the hospital—"

The last comment hit Adam like a blow. The thought of Jaden being hurt twisted inside him, a painful reminder of the stakes. "Yeah, I fucked up, okay?" Adam cut Chase off, his voice rough with self-reproach. "You couldn't say anything worse to me than what I've already told myself."

Chase paused, his gaze softening for a moment. In all their years of friendship, he had never seen Adam admit his mistakes so openly. It was a rare glimpse into the vulnerability behind the stoic, confident facade.

As the Lightcrest Division Chief, Chase was accustomed to dealing with the fallout of mistakes, both big and small. But seeing his friend like this, stripped of his usual bravado, made him realize the weight of the situation. Maybe Chase hadn't fully grasped the stakes of transporting an artifact like the Ame-no-Nuboko, one that could potentially be turned into a divine weapon. Could he really blame Adam? After all, Adam had just faced a literal god. This was beyond the capabilities of any Iron Phalanx member, who, at the end of the day, were merely university students. The Spectral Defenders, the Federation's security forces, would have been far better equipped to handle the situation from the moment the spear was infused with divine power.

"Alright, I'll take care of the whole thing with Lightcrest. The Spectral Defenders have taken over the search for the Inugamis, and a division of the Iron Phalanx in Virginia is handling the cleanup at the old estate." Chase let out a long sigh, his tone mellow and laid-back now. "You're clear to head back to Veridian City."

The words stood there, practical and final. Yet, Adam's gaze lingered on the corridor of the hospital. Even though Chase's orders made sense, Adam felt an unspoken urge to stay and ensure Jaden was alright. He remained silent, wrestling with the desire to remain close to the only link he had to the chaos that had unfolded.

Just then, a middle-aged doctor appeared, his tired but kind expression breaking through Adam's introspection. The man approached with a clipboard, his demeanor both professional and comforting.

"Excuse me, are you Adam?" the doctor asked.

"Hey, Chase! I'll talk to you later." Adam pressed the V-Blink, cutting off the hologram before Chase could respond. He turned to face the doctor, a mix of apprehension and hope visible on his face. "Yeah, I'm Adam. How's Jaden?"

The doctor's face softened into a reassuring smile. "The operation was successful. Jaden is stable and recovering. He'll be in recovery for a while, but the immediate danger has passed."

Adam's shoulders loosened, relief pouring over him.

The doctor continued, his tone growing more detailed. "Jaden sustained severe injuries—a deep laceration from a blade and multiple burns on his body. The laceration was particularly dangerous, requiring immediate surgical intervention. The burns from the blasts added to his trauma, causing additional complications. I'm curious, though—what exactly happened to cause these burns?"

Adam hesitated for a moment, then responded, "There was an attack. The burns came from energy blasts. It was intense."

The doctor nodded, taking in the information. "Thank you for clarifying. We had to perform emergency surgery to address the internal injuries and stabilize him. Although Jaden is now out of immediate danger, his recovery will take time."

Adam took a deep breath, then asked, "Did you notice anything else odd about Jaden? During the fight, when he got hurt, something... different happened. There was this second presence, or consciousness, that showed up. Any idea what that could be?"

The doctor looked thoughtful, his brow furrowing slightly. "I haven't seen anything particularly unusual during the operation. It's possible that the trauma he experienced could have triggered an unusual psychological response. I'd suggest monitoring him closely for any further signs or symptoms. If you notice anything specific, let me know immediately."

Adam's mind remained a whirlwind of questions and unease. What was that "Justice-Activated Defender and Extraordinary Neutralizer" all about? Was it a split personality, or something entirely different? Why did that side of Jaden speak in a robotic tone? These questions swirled relentlessly in his thoughts as he shook his head, trying to clear his mind. "Can I go and see Jaden now?" he asked.

"Go ahead," the doctor replied, gesturing toward the hallway leading to Jaden's room.

Adam walked down the hallway, his footsteps reverberating off the walls. As he approached Jaden's room, a sense of anticipation and worry hung over him. He stopped at the door, drew a steadying breath, and then pushed it open.

The sight of Jaden lying on the hospital bed took Adam's breath away. Jaden's silver hair was splayed out across the pillow, looking drab and lifeless under the harsh hospital lights. His cheeks, which normally carried a healthy flush, were now pale and devoid of their usual color. His small, half-Asian figure seemed even more diminutive against the vast expanse of the hospital bed, surrounded by a network of tubes and monitors. The deep laceration on his side was carefully bandaged, and the burns from the magic blasts were covered with protective dressings.

As Adam approached the bedside, a tight knot formed in his chest, and his emotions surfaced with surprising force. He wanted to say the boy's name, but the words felt heavy and fragile, as if uttering them might shatter the brittle reality before him. Instead, he gently took Jaden's hand in his, feeling the limpness of his fingers against his own.

Seeing Jaden so vulnerable—so different from the fierce warrior Adam had witnessed in action—left him drowning in guilt and helplessness. Adam felt a stab of incredulity, the scene before him seeming like a cruel joke, and he couldn't shake the fear that Jaden might never wake up.

His eyes burned with unshed tears as he fought to keep his composure. Questions tumbled through his mind in a torrent of anguish: Why had this happened to Jaden? Why had he been unable to protect him? How could anyone in their right mind send such a delicate kid out to battle supernatural forces? Jaden didn't belong in the field; he belonged in a classroom, studying political science and living a life of normalcy, just like any other upper-class D.C. resident. Adam now understood why Jaden's parents were so protective of him—they must have felt the same pangs of dread and helplessness he did now.

Adam felt a gentle squeeze in his hand. Jaden's brown eyes were half-closed, struggling to stay open through the haze of medication. His gaze wandered through the air until it finally settled on Adam's face. His lips moved, but no words came out, only the steady rhythm of his breathing into the oxygen mask.

"You're awake," Adam said softly.

Jaden looked at him with drowsy eyes, a weak smile tugging at the corners of his lips before it faded away. "Yeah," he mouthed, barely audible.

"Are you okay? Do you need anything?"

Jaden's hand weakly reached for his oxygen mask, bumbling with it. "I'm really thirsty."

"Right, hold on." Adam quickly grabbed a plastic cup from the side table, filling it with water. He propped Jaden's head up slightly and carefully held the cup to his lips, helping him sip.

"Thank you," Jaden managed to whisper.

Adam tried to hide how wrecked he felt, rubbing his temple and staring at Jaden. "Man, you're such a dumbass. The Inugamis... the Ame-no-Nuboko... they were my mission. None of it had anything to do with you. You acted like it was all for your master's client, but it wasn't. You could've just looked the other way and pretended you didn't know anything. You could've left me be on the train and let me handle it." Adam's voice wavered, the pressure in his throat and jaw muscles showing. "Why did you throw yourself into this? You look like crap. I swear, I thought your heart stopped for a sec there."

Jaden offered a reassuring grin despite his injuries. "Don't be sad. I'm okay, see? I've been beaten up way worse by a skeleton spirit. This is nothing."

Adam shook his head in disbelief. "How can you just keep grinning like that after all the shit that went down?"

Jaden's eyes began to close again, his voice trailing off. "I don't know. I guess you remind me of a character from this medieval French epic I read—Roland. Chivalrous, rash, prideful, brave. You're just like him, and that is why I follow you into danger."

"You don't even know me."

Jaden murmured, his eyes shut, "That is weird, is it not? 'Cause I feel like I've been waiting for you my whole life..."