After Haruki nodded in agreement, the early days of training were harsh but steady. Kiara wasn't easy on them. She didn't let a single mistake from Z slide, yet she no longer treated Haruki as a burden. Slowly, something began to shift.

One night, in an abandoned suburban district, a man was walking home late.

As he passed the forest's edge, he noticed a strange flicker of darkness — like smoke, like fire, like a torn ripple in space.

Before he could step back, the thing lunged out and swallowed him whole.

At STORAGE HQ, the alarms blared: A Kaiju had appeared. Jet black. Misshapen. Like a creature from the darkest corner of the universe. It didn't roar. Didn't scream. It simply advanced like a giant tank. Each step left blotches of scorched gray, trees toppled, hills flattened.

Haruki was dispatched. Kiara followed silently. When they arrived, the Kaiju was already standing in the ruins. Its body pulsed with strange waves.

Z spoke softly:

"Haruki... this energy doesn't match any known signature."

Kiara stared at the creature. Her eyes glinted with a flicker of rage.

Haruki tilted his head:

"You... know this thing?"

Kiara gritted her teeth, voice low:

"It carries his darkness. I have to destroy it."

But before she could transform, the Kaiju dissolved into thin air — vanishing without a trace, leaving only scorch marks and the scent of ash.

That night, on the way back from STORAGE, Haruki spotted a man crouched in a dark alley.

He stepped forward, but Z spoke:

"Wait, Haruki. He has the same frequency as that Kaiju. If Kiara's right, we can't lower our guard."

Haruki nodded, hand on his sidearm, alert.

"Hey! Are you alright?"

The man turned. Tearful eyes. A trembling voice:

"Please... help me... I just want to go home to my family..."

And then — darkness burst from his body, wrapped around him — and vanished into the air.

Haruki froze in place.

"...What... just happened?"

A few days later, the Kaiju reappeared.

Z and Haruki transformed. The shadowy creature was aggressive, but not strong enough to intimidate them.

"Haruki, it's tough," Z said, half-joking.

"But compared to the beatings Kiara's given us? This is a warm-up."

They prepared their finishing move.

But then—

"Help me... please..."

A voice, faint as mist, echoed out.

Z and Haruki halted.

"You heard that too, right?" Haruki whispered.

"I did. It's coming from... the Kaiju itself."

While they stood frozen in confusion, a burst of heat surged from behind.

Ultrawoman Ifrit had arrived — sword blazing, eyes cold with fury.

"Move," she said.

Haruki and Z stepped between her and the Kaiju.

"Wait, Kiara. Please — hear me out," Haruki called.

"I won't repeat myself. Move."

Her voice dropped — sharp and unyielding.

"Haruki... she's serious this time." Z whispered.

"But there's someone inside that thing. You heard it too," Haruki said, voice barely steady, swallowing hard.

One swing from her blazing wings sent Z flying — their link severed. Haruki was flung back, crashing into rubble, dazed and breathless.

But once again... the Kaiju vanished.

Ifrit stood motionless, gripping her sword tight.

That night, inside STORAGE, Kiara confronted Haruki.

"Why ?" she demanded.

Haruki told her everything — the man, his desperate plea, the helpless eyes.

Kiara scoffed:

"So what? He bears the Arbiter's darkness. If he lives, it spreads. Do you understand the consequences?"

Haruki paused for a beat, then quietly replied:

"I understand. But... we can save him. Humans don't reincarnate.

That's why every life... is precious."

Kiara stared at him. For a long time.

Then turned away without looking back, leaving a frosty warning:

"If you stand in my way again...

I'll incinerate the monster — and you along with it."

Haruki stood silent.

But just as she reached the door, he said — barely audible:

"...But... he still has a family waiting for him."

Kiara froze.

"...Family..." she muttered. Then without another word, she walked away.

Kiara exited the hallway of STORAGE. Her figure disappeared behind the slowly sliding steel door.

But instead of walking forward, she stopped — beside a dark corner, unseen by anyone.

Leaning back against the cold wall, her whole body quivered —

As if something was caught in her chest, trying to break free.

Her hands gripped her coat tightly. Eyes closed.

In memory — a space bathed in golden warmth.

The scent of old wood. The murmur of wind outside the porch.

A soft melody hummed by a woman's voice.

A hand gently stroked young Kiara's hair. She lay in her mother's lap — her long hair falling across Kiara's cheek, carrying the scent of sunlight and peace.

"Family is the place where, even when you've lost everything... someone's still waiting for you."

"No matter how weak you are, how many mistakes you've made, or how many times you fall... I'll always wait for you to come home."

The little girl just nodded silently.

Wide-eyed, filled with innocence she had long since lost.

The eyes of the grown Kiara lingered on that memory.

Shaken. Unsteady.

And then, a pair of arms wrapped around her from behind, warm and tender.

Her mother's voice, clearer than ever, whispered:

"Kiara... you are the warmest, kindest soul I have ever known.

Don't let hatred steal that beauty away from you."

Kiara jolted awake, eyes flying open as she whipped around.

"...Mother..." Her voice broke, raw and trembling.

But before her — not her mother.

Only the cold, lifeless steel wall.

The dim hallway lights of STORAGE fell across her face.

Her eyes shut tight. One trembling hand pressed to the wall, shoulders shaking.

And in a voice no one else could hear, she breathed:

"...Of course... they're gone."

A ghost of a sound drifted through the stillness —like the trace of her mother's lullaby, dissolving into the silence.

Kiara drew in a long breath. Forced her body upright.

Her face stilled — calm, cold, composed.

And then she walked on.

Her shadow slipped away into the far corner of the corridor.

The next morning, the Kaiju reappeared — this time in the heart of the city.

Z and Haruki transformed and took their positions. But this time... their eyes were not those of destroyers.

They were the eyes of those who wished to save.

Z struggled. They didn't strike back — only held the Kaiju at bay.

Desperately trying to separate the man from the monster.

Z hesitated mid-fight:

"Haruki... it's no good. It's moving toward the residential zone.

If we hesitate any longer, the casualties will be catastrophic.

I'm sorry, but I have to end this."

Haruki bit his lip. Clenched his fists. He knew Z was right.

"...I understand."

Z began charging. His arm raised. Energy condensing into a sharp, precise beam.

Haruki closed his eyes.

"Please forgive us."

----

🎵"Don't leave yet, the dream of countless yesterdays...

That song from long ago, still echoes now.

And the wind carries memories lost to time..." 🎵

A voice. Gentle. Warm. Full of feeling.

Z halted. Looked up.

On the rooftop — Kiara stood. No armor. No sword.

Her hair danced in the breeze.

Her voice floated through the cold air — like the world, long frozen, had just remembered it had a heart.

And deep within that heart, her mother's song — echoing from ages past — seemed to return, intertwining with her own voice... becoming a melody both tender and overflowing with love.

🎶"Storms may scream, the winds may howl,

Still we walk with burning hearts and faith held high.

Where dreams remain, and ancient vows still whisper —

A promise returns, through space and time, to here." 🎶

Her voice... wasn't loud. But it reached deep into their hearts.

And within the Kaiju, it seemed to shatter something — the malice, the pain — leaving it frozen still.

🎵"Time may pass, but the promise remains.

The song... still lingers.

And dreams... will never fade." 🎵

Haruki whispered:

"Z... I feel warm inside."

"Yeah... me too. That voice..."

The Kaiju began to tremble. A section of its head cracked open — a glowing gem was revealed. Inside... the man himself.

"Now's our chance!" Haruki shouted.

Z fired a stream of energy, pulling the man out —

Dark tendrils fought back, but after a tense struggle, the man was freed.

Deprived of a host, the Kaiju went berserk. Energy flared, darkness burst outward.

No hesitation — Z and Haruki launched their finisher.

Erasing the creature completely.

"We did it, Z!" Haruki cheered with relief.

"Yeah. You, me... and Kiara."

On the rooftop, Kiara still stood.

The light gently touched her eyes.

She watched the battlefield fall silent —

And saw Haruki helping the man to his feet.

She exhaled — a breath no one heard.

But it sounded like a burden being lifted from her chest.

She straightened her posture. Hands behind her back.

Not to seem strong —

But to hide the trembling in her fingers.

No one saw.

No one knew.

----

The man's identity was confirmed by STORAGE. His family arrived. A little girl ran into her father's arms. No one said a word. Only broken sobs filled the air.

Kiara stood behind the glass.

Watching them — three people clinging to each other like they never wanted to let go again.

She said nothing.

But her chest... ached for what she had long lost.

Haruki approached.

"That song... where did you learn it?"

Kiara didn't look at him. Her voice was low:

"An old melody... my mother's voice used to carry it.

Whenever I heard it... it calmed my heart."

She paused, then added softly:

"I wanted to try singing it in your language...

To see if it could reach his soul...

Before I had to end him."

She turned to leave.

But then — paused.

Didn't look back.

"Hey..."

"Thank you...For holding me back."