Mutagen

Day 333 - 6:01 PM - Hanakoganei, Kodaira, Ruins of Tokyo

Around fifteen went and passed since Ren came to.

The tide of the [Infected] in the streets had yet to subside. Ren was still far from top shape. And lastly, the sun was going down.

Considering the danger of the situation, the three women decided to stay put and wait, even though that decision had put them in dismay.

There was no need to ask and confirm. The worry and nervousness were clear on the faces of the three women.

As long as the three of them stayed put and tried their best not to get any unwanted attention from the [Infected] outside, they should be fine.

"Lead1 to Lead2. Lead1 to Lead2. Tadashi, do you read?"

Using her communicator, Ren tried to contact the members that stayed behind. She had been trying to contact them for the past fifteen ten minutes, hoping that it would connect once Tadashi and the rest managed to catch up. Unfortunately, no connection had been established, no matter how much Ren tried. The best she could get was static noise which did not mean anything either.

Sighing, Ren turned to Keiko and Mako. While Ren was sitting on the dirty bed to recover her strength, Keiko was on guard by the nearly broken door, and Mako was guarding the window. Their vigilance was clear. With how dilapidated this room was, a single regular [Infected] could definitely bust down the door without problems.

"Can you two still move around?"

Ren asked the two.

"I'm okay," Keiko immediately answered. "I'm not too sensitive against sound and mental attacks, and I'm the toughest among us. My ears bled a little, but not enough to hinder me."

"How about you, Mako?"

Ren asked Mako, who seemed a little out of it.

"I'm fine, too."

Mako meekly answered.

"You don't look okay to me," Keiko interjected. "Looks like the siren affected you more than you thought."

"Don't worry. I can shake it off just fine."

Mako tried to assure the two. However, they did not seem too convinced.

Unfortunately, there was not much choice.

"We'll move out once it's completely dark."

Ren said, to which the two nodded.

Ninjas were warriors in the shadows. The night's darkness was their playground.

***

Dusk came and passed. The darkness of the night enveloped the surroundings. And within the ruins of Kodaira, three silhouettes could be seen jumping and running from place to place.

The three were none other than Ren, Mako, and Keiko. After having some rest, they decided to leave the safety of that secluded room and run back to where the Black Lotus Group was ambushed by the [Siren of Death].

There was no doubt that they had lost communication with Tadashi in the rest. No matter how Ren tried, there was no response from their communicator. And considering the time that elapsed, the worst could be hypothesized since Tadashi and the remaining members of the Black Lotus Group had yet to catch up to the three.

Since Ren only knew of what happened before she fell unconscious, she did not know what the scene was afterward. But as Keiko described the situation when she and Mako left to prioritize Ren's safety, Ren felt more and more perturbed. If not for the fact that Ren could barely stand when she woke up, she would have run back immediately.

The situation was clear. It was not optimal. Even if Tadashi and the others tried to escape, casualties would be very likely. And the worst situation would be a wipeout.

Although the Black Lotus Group were ninjas with strength and abilities far beyond ordinary humans, that meant nothing in the face of the [Infected]. Even Tadashi might be able to fight a [Boss Level Infected] toe to toe, but winning was completely another topic. One mistake could still cost him his life. And with two, maybe three, [Boss Level Infected] around, Tadashi might not make it either.

However, there was no way Ren would just go and accept that conclusion. If she had to accept the situation, Ren must first see it with her own eyes.

The three traversed the dark ruined streets with Mako in the lead. While everyone in the Black Lotus Group was trained similarly, Mako's expertise was in reconnaissance and information gathering. Considering her expertise, it was not surprising that she remembered the exact direction they had to traverse.

As for Keiko, she was more of a combat ninja. And while Keiko was carrying the unconscious Ren earlier, she had less time to focus on the surroundings while avoiding the [Infected].

The three women moved quickly. It was far from their top speed. However, it was still faster than your regular athlete.

But as the three reached what seemed to be a ruin of an elementary school...

CLANG! BAM!

Keiko was attacked by something. She managed to defend it with her metal gauntlets, but the impact threw her off the ruined building they were jumping on. Keiko then unceremoniously landed at what seemed to be the school ground, making Ren and Mako follow her in absolute vigilance.

"Keiko, you okay?"

Ren asked as she checked on Keiko.

"I'm fine," Keiko shook her painful arm and raised her eyes to where she was attacked. "But..."

There, a silhouette of a man could be seen while holding a metal baseball bat. And when the man stepped out of the shadow, allowing the moonlight to fall unto him...

"Ishii..."

Ren voiced out as she recognized the man with a delinquent look.

The man titled [The Deliquent]. Ikuta Ishii, the left-hand man of Ren's oldest brother. And despite his looks, he was, in fact, within the order of ninjas serving the Mitsui Clan. However, different from the orphans of Black Lotus, Ishii came from a secret vassal family under the Mitsui Clan.

"It's been a while, Ojou-sama," Ishii greeted Ren, putting his heavy bat over his right shoulder. "I guess I don't have to explain why I, no, we are here, right?"

And as Ishii said those words, five more silhouettes of people appeared from the surrounding buildings.

As the moonlight illuminated the silhouettes, the three women could only frown. All of them were familiar figures from the Reclaimed City. However, among them here, there were two prominent figures.

The first one was the vice-leader of the Blood Lion Troupe and Mane's lover, Asami.

As for the other, it was someone that should not appear with this bunch. The traitor of humanity, Shin. If this guy was working with these people here, it meant that these familiar people were already in cahoots with the Demons.

And sadly enough, to Ren's dismay, her family, the Mitsui Clan, was among the traitors.

"Ishii..." Ren mustered her courage. "I understand that the clan finally decided to get rid of me... But why are you people cooperating with Demons?"

"Let me answer that."

A different but familiar voice responded to Ren's question. A man came out of the ruins and walked in front of the three women. And seeing the man, Ren's eyes dilated.

"Keiji-onii-sama... No... Keiji... Why are you here?"

Ren voiced out.

The man standing in front of Ren was none other than her oldest brother, Mitsui Keiji. Even though Ishii was here, Ren did not expect her brother to be present here as well.

"I figured I might as well see you one last time," Keiji responded. "As for your question, everyone here, except for Shin, is under the command of our clan. And since the clan decided to take a different path to the future, everyone here could only follow the orders."

Ren finally understood.

The Blood Lion Troupe and its associates, the rivalry between the troupe and the Black Lotus, and many other things that hindered her...

All of it was orchestrated by her own family.

And a different path? It was most likely the greed of the current head and elders of the Mitsui Clan. The Mitusi Clan was one of the most powerful families existing in Japan. However, it never actually had the reign beneath the surface. Something that the family had always wanted.

In order to acquire the future and authority the family wanted the most, they decided to cooperate with the Demons.

"Do you really think the Demons will help the family reach the top?" Ren asked her brother. "Demons cannot be trusted!"

"Hmmph..." At this time, Shin chimed in. "So as humans, woman. Look. A family willing to wash their hands with the blood of their descendants just to fulfill their greed. So trustworthy, isn't it?"

"Tch."

Keiji could not help but click his tongue. After all, Shin just blatantly ridiculed his family. However, that was the most he could do. After all, Shin was working with the clan, not under the clan.

Most importantly, the most powerful being here was no other than the traitor of humankind, Shin.

As for Ren, she could not refute what Shin had just said. Demons might not be trustworthy, but so as humans.

At this time, Ren also realized. If they were waiting for her here, then it meant one thing.

"Are you also the ones responsible for the [Boss Level Infected] outside their territories?"

Ren asked, her eyes panning to the people surrounding her.

"We were," Asami replied. "It's a pain in the ass to devise such a trap. Good thing it worked splendidly. Your poor members might be dead by now in the middle of all those [Infected]. Ugh. I can't imagine myself standing in the middle of that."

Hearing those words, Ren and Keiko felt the swirl of their emotions. They wanted to refute it, but considering these people were the ones who caused everything, the chances of survival were extremely nil.

"Let's get this to the point," Keiji spoke. "The [Clan Seal] that grandfather handed to you. You have it, right? Hand it over. At least, I can give you a peaceful farewell if you do."

"So, in the end, it's about this damn thing, huh."

Ren said, showing a gold stamp on her hand. A golden stamp inlaid with gems, to be precise.

And putting the stamp back in her pocket, Ren drew her sword.

"Take it if you can."

Ren readied for the final fight of her life.

"I see..." Keiji shook his head. "That's your choice."

Keiji then raised his hand and pulled it down as he took a step back.

It was the signal for a final struggle of the remaining members of the Black Lotus against the most powerful humans under the Mitsui Clan.

BAM!

Ishii came at Ren first with his baseball bat. And as Ren dodged the attack, it hit the cemented ground, causing a one-meter-wide crater. Ishii's aesthetic was not just for show. And his weapon, it was no ordinary baseball bat either. It was more than just a titanium bat in terms of sturdiness and weight.

Asami also joined the fray. On her hand was a barbed whip which she was able to control flawlessly. Her target was Mako.

As for Keiko, she was immediately besieged by the two well-known martial artists of the Reclaimed City.

Shin stood back, not joining the battle. He was here to cooperate with other things. He was not interested in joining a family feud.

Still, even without Keiji and Shin, the battle was still five against three. And worst, the three were not in their top condition due to the events earlier.

The three women were putting up a good fight despite being outnumbered. However, it seemed that the chance of them surviving was none.

"Ren-sama," Keiko whispered as she retreated beside Ren. "You should run away. Leave this to us."

"But..."

Ren was reluctant to agree.

"Ren-sama. Don't let the sacrifice of Tadashi and the others go to waste. Your safety is the most important thing to us."

BAM!

The two were separated as they evaded another barrage of attacks from their enemies. But before they could stand back to back once again, Ren decided with a sigh.

"No. I won't leave you two here." Ren said with resolution. "If everyone is gone, I'll face my death here with you two."

Keiko saw Ren's face and knew that she would not change her mind. Accepting the decision of their princess, Keiko nodded as she prepared everything she could muster in this fight.

But as Keiko was about to unleash her strongest attack at the enemy she was facing...

"Agh... Why..."

Ren's voice made Keiko freeze and look back.

"I'm sorry."

Those words were heard as Mako pulled her dagger out of Ren's chest.