A Clumsy Lie
—Beep! Beep! Beep! The guild's emergency alarms blared deafeningly.
"Strong ghost story energy detected in Yongsan-gu!"
"It's been quiet for a while, and now this all of a sudden…!"
"Connecting to the nearest monitoring station!"
An inexplicable phenomenon unfolding on the screen. A dark crimson energy was spreading through the city like waves.
"This is weird. It's broad daylight, but it's gradually getting darker!"
"Manipulating the weather…? Is that even possible?"
"With ghost stories that cause earthquakes or blizzards, nothing should be surprising."
Leon, staring at the screen, began issuing rapid orders.
"What's the situation inside the Netherworld right now?"
"In one word… pure hell."
"Of all times, this happens when our main forces are dispatched overseas."
Cracks were forming everywhere in the darkening interior, and black mist billowing out was engulfing the citizens. The black mist started at their fingertips, then spread to arms and legs, and finally to their faces.
"…It looks just like it's devouring them."
"Black spots are spreading across people's bodies due to the ghost story phenomenon!"
"Black spots?"
"Yes, citizens touched by the black ripples are turning completely black one by one… and vanishing!"
The agents struggled to grasp the bizarre situation.
"The ghost story energy is spreading across the entire city."
At that moment, the particularly pale faces of the Japanese guild agents.
"This is… no way…"
Something that should never happen again was unfolding right here, right now. As they hesitated to speak, Leon stared at the screen and quietly opened his mouth.
"More importantly, this phenomenon… it feels familiar, doesn't it?"
"Leon, are you talking about 'Eclipse'?"
"I figured you Japanese agents would recognize it immediately. Was I wrong?"
"No… this is definitely the same phenomenon as Eclipse. Which means—"
"Ren, that bastard's finally gone and done it."
Leon shot to his feet and broadcasted to all channels.
"All combat personnel, deploy to the site."
"Leon, you're saying we charge straight into that hellhole?"
"We can't fear hell. Protecting people from ghost stories—that's why we exist."
"Leon…"
"And that damn guy is surely in there. We have to go drag him out."
"…We'll prepare immediately and deploy."
The entire guild's combat agents and even awakened administrative staff entered full alert, preparing for any contingency.
"We have to stop what that madman's done."
When the deployed guild and headquarters agents arrived at the Netherworld's boundary, a single man stood there alone. A chilling figure with glowing red eyes and blood dripping from his hand.
The leader of Japan's Kagutsuchi Guild, and the mastermind behind this incident.
"Ren!"
"Ah… yeah. I figured you'd come too."
"Are you insane? Do you even know what you've done?!"
The trustworthy Ren, who had shared life-and-death missions with them, crumbling like this in an instant. The Japanese guild members couldn't help but tremble with betrayal.
"Have you finally lost it? Did you really have to go this far?!"
"Finally…? No, no… that's not it."
His red eyes held only a hollow madness.
"From the moment I stabbed her with my own hand, I'd already been going mad."
"That wasn't your fault. You were completely manipulated by Eclipse—"
Ren drew the sword impaled in his hand and pointed it at his comrades. Faint black smoke rose from the blade.
"If anything, you should be grateful to me… Now you can finally meet Phantom."
His mad voice sent chills down even his listeners' spines.
"…He's completely lost it."
"As of now, Takahashi Ren is designated an enemy. Subdue him immediately."
All agents entered combat stance in unison.
"Everyone, surround the target."
But Ren showed no agitation at his comrades turning hostile.
"It's already too late… The annular eclipse is about to begin."
At that moment, a eerie voice echoed through the darkened space.
"Eclipse's second phase…"
"Leon, be extra careful. We didn't fully experience the second phase either."
"Wait, something's in the sky!"
At the center of the dark crimson sky, the figure of a woman with a pale face and long black hair appeared.
"That's… Tsuki…?"
"She was definitely pierced through the chest by Ren back then. How is she alive?"
The agents who had experienced Eclipse recognized her instantly. The being a foolish man had plunged everything into despair just to see again.
"How utterly foolish… humans are."
"…?!"
A murky voice echoed. Her silver eyes gazed down at them coldly, devoid of emotion.
"Ruining everything over a trivial emotion. Pathetic, isn't it?"
Her utterly emotionless tone. Her ice-cold gaze.
"Tsuki… you…?"
"Ren! We told you, Tsuki's just a ghost story! You've been tricked!"
"The price for starting the ritual will be the death of every human in this city."
As Tsuki raised her hand, a blood-red moon rippled into existence behind her. It writhed like a serpent devouring the sun.
"Everyone, battle stations."
"We have to kill her now. Phase three is still coming."
"If it reaches total eclipse, it'll be irreversible!"
"Ren, it's not too late. Join us!"
The guild members readied their weapons to attack Tsuki.
"……."
But even in this hair-trigger moment, Ren just stared silently at Tsuki. Was he shocked by her changed appearance?
"You idiot… to the very end…!"
"Focus on the ghost story, not him right now."
"You don't think she'll just stand there waiting, do you?"
—Whoosh.
The moment Tsuki snapped her fingers, space began to warp hazily.
"Wha…? Where are we?"
"Where are you guys?!"
Under Eclipse's power, space itself distorted, trapping the agents in hallucinations.
"What can you do in a world without light?"
The surroundings filled with dark shadows, Tsuki's silhouette flickering in and out.
"Damn it, stay together! If we scatter, we're done!"
But by the time they regained their senses, Tsuki was already targeting one agent's throat.
"If you don't stop me, you'll all die?"
The instant Tsuki reached quietly for his neck.
—Boom!
A ferocious roar erupted, shaking the air around them.
"Guh… wh-what is this…?!"
"Everyone, snap out of it. Focus your minds—we can resist to some extent."
Leon, enveloped in golden energy, steadied the guild members.
"Using sound… to invade my domain?"
"Don't mistake me for some ordinary awakener."
Leon Hardison. As the representative of a renowned American guild, his strength was on another level.
"Tsuki… or should I call you Eclipse."
"Impressive, you…"
"Don't think humans will break that easily."
—Rumble.
Leon unleashed his ability to its maximum and charged straight at Tsuki.
"I'll handle the ghost story. Check for injured and secure the perimeter."
"Understood."
Something's off…
Even as he exchanged blows with Tsuki, Leon felt a persistent sensation: incongruity.
She's not as strong as the reports on Eclipse suggested.
Eclipse forcibly induced an eclipse to dominate the surrounding area completely. He had thought even he would be in danger if it dragged on against such power.
We're evenly matched… no, I'm actually gaining the upper hand.
"Hya…!"
"Your side's open, ghost story."
—Bam!
Tsuki was visibly being pushed back.
I need to confirm this.
Instead of pressing the fallen Tsuki, Leon created distance.
"Why… are you… not coming?"
"Ghost story… no, Tsuki. Why are you hiding your power?"
"…!!"
"You thought I wouldn't notice?"
The guild agents doubted their ears. The ghost story wasn't using its full power?
"Leon, what do you mean?"
"Exactly what I said. Tsuki isn't using her ghost story power properly right now."
"Nonsense… You're just strong—"
"Ren, you seem to have known from the start. Going to keep silent?"
Ren, who had been silently observing Tsuki, finally spoke at Leon's question.
"Tsuki… stop it now. I know everything."
"…I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Tsuki…"
"I'm a ghost story. Leave me be, and I'll drag this whole city into death. What are you humans doing with a being like that in front of you?"
Tsuki assumed an attack stance, exuding dark crimson energy. Ren drew his sword and pointed it at her.
"You've finally realized it, Ren. That I'm the ghost story who'll lead you all to death."
"I, Takahashi Ren, ask you: Are the words of the being before me true or false?"
"St-stop… Ren…!"
The sword trembled at Ren's words for a moment, then gave its answer in the air.
[FALSE]
"Wait, false?"
"Tsuki's lying right now?"
The guild members were thrown into confusion by the sudden turn.
Tsuki, who had been radiating ghost story energy and threatening them moments ago, was faking it?
"Ren's ability has been tested countless times in Japan without a single error."
"We know that too. So does that mean…?"
"Tsuki provoked us from the start to make us attack her."
Leon calmed his golden energy slightly and laid out the truth.
"I thought it was strange. Not a single one of us is injured."
"Th-that's…!"
"This isn't my business anymore. Ren, you handle it."
Tap.
Leon placed a hand on Ren's shoulder once, then stepped back from Tsuki and Ren.
"Tsuki… enough with the clumsy acting."
"D-don't come closer!"
"Tsuki…"
"You still don't get it, Ren? I lied about loving you to summon Eclipse again!"
[FALSE]
"There's no way I'd love a guy like you? Ugh, thinking back still makes me want to puke. Your eyes, your voice, your whole existence!"
[FALSE]
Tsuki desperately tried to hurt him, but Ren's sword kept revealing the truth in her words.
"Tsuki, you believe that if you die, everything ends."
"…!"
"That's why you decided from the start to act, so we could kill you without guilt."
"N-no…! I, I'm…!"
"But you overlooked something."
Ren set his sword on the ground and approached her unarmed.
"You still suck at lying, Tsuki. Just like always."
Tsuki tried to spit another sharp retort, but.
Drip—
"Ah…?"
A clear droplet trailed down her cheek.
"N-no… this can't be… You're the ghost story that'll kill them all…"
Tsuki kept denying it, but her eyes could no longer lie.
"Why… won't you fall for it… Ren…?"
Her voice, soaked in sorrow.
"If I stay alive… I'll hurt everyone… Maybe make them all suffer…"
The true heart of a woman who wanted to save them all, even at the cost of herself, poured out.
"So please… kill me… While I still have a human heart…"
Ren's sword gave its final answer to Tsuki's heartbreaking plea.
[TRUE]