Whispers of Shikiban:The king walks among us-Chapter 66 --

"This bastard... again?" Reika thought, her brows twitching as she locked eyes with the smug figure before her.

Souta smirked like he owned the air they breathed. "Who told you to be our captain, huh?" Reika snapped, voice edged with disbelief.

"Kenjiku-sama," Souta replied, cool as frost. "He said all of you were beasts... X Rank, top tier—Ranks 1 through 5. I'm a Rank I Kageshiki. Naturally, he made me your captain."

Yeji tilted her head. "So this is our first meeting, huh?"

Souta gave a slow nod.

Daigo crossed his arms. "Where's the mission? We're not here for a tea party."

"Yeah," Souta said, glancing around. "It starts tonight. Your first mission as X Rank Kageshikis will take place... in the Red Light District."

Reika's eyes sharpened. "Red Light District?" She blinked. "What kind of mission starts in a dirty place like that? Are you out of your mind?"

Souta didn't flinch. "We got word that a Zai(10) was seen in a motel there. Gender unknown. Target confirmed. That's all we've got."

Yeji scoffed. "What the hell is a Shikiban doing there?"

Yeaga snorted. "Bro, they can't feel pleasure like humans. So they sneak around... trying to get it another way."

Reika's lips curled. "Zai(10)..." she murmured. "What's its ability?"

"Time distortion," Souta answered. "It can freeze time within a loop. If we enter the building carelessly... we'll fall straight into its trap."

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Yeaga grinned, the mischief dancing in his eyes. "Red Light District, huh? Sounds like fun to me."

Ishigo's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean by that?"

Yeaga just winked.

"Eh?" Ishigo blinked, clearly disturbed.

Reika ignored the back-and-forth. "When is this mission happening?"

"Tonight," Souta said with a devilish grin. "Welcome to Tenshiko. This is how it works—no safety nets. You die, you die. No one's coming to save you."

He turned to Reika, eyes cold. "Especially you. You're too weak, aren't you?"

Reika stared back, unblinking. A storm swirled silently behind her calm eyes. "If I were weak, I wouldn't have passed the Level Test."

"You passed, but barely. I would've cleared it in five seconds across all five levels," Souta taunted. "But you? You took seven days."

"I still passed," she said coldly, voice like sharpened ice. "That's what matters."

Souta's smirk deepened. "Then tonight... we'll see if you survive."

"I will survive," Reika replied, calm and absolute.

"Tch. Whatever. Don't expect me to save you."

"We don't need your help," she snapped back. "Just watch."

Souta's eyes scanned the group, pausing on each one, then landing back on her.

"Fine. Uniforms are ready. Meet me on the first floor."

Reika turned and walked past him, her aura suddenly spiking—dark, dense, and sharp like a blade in the fog. A faint pulse of black energy rippled off her skin, brushing against Souta like a cold breeze. He tensed. What... was that?

"That energy... It wasn't human," he thought. For a split second, his smirk faltered.

Yeaga, Ishigo, Daigo, and Yeji followed. Their presence was strong—undeniable. But Reika's... it was different. It felt ancient.

Suddenly, a voice echoed in his mind.

Kenjiku.

"Souta-san," the voice said, low and steady. "The new generation of Kageshikis are evolving fast. We've upgraded the level test to filter only the strongest into X Rank. Among them: Yeji Nagamoto, Reika Kagetsu, Daigo and Juma Yamamoto, Ishigo Nakano, and Yeaga Katsurzei."

"Reika Kagetsu?" Souta's mental voice questioned. "Top 2? I thought she was weak."

"You underestimated her. She unlocked Ryujin—the Purple Dragon."

Souta froze in thought.

Ryujin? That's... legendary. Only one other ever unlocked it, and there's barely any data left on him.

"Exactly," Kenjiku's voice echoed. "That's why her badge places her in the X-Rank."

"But... her technique is only Level III. Why would she—?"

"Because she's still new. Still growing. She can only use the technique for 30 minutes a day—but if she ever learns to master it fully... if she becomes its puppeteer... she could surpass even you."

Souta's internal laugh was sharp. "Surpass me? That's not happening."

"It's not easy... but it's possible. The Purple Dragon is unstable. If its wielder loses control, it can destroy anything—Shikiban or Kageshiki alike. It's more inhuman than the Shikiban King himself."

Back in the present, Souta clenched his jaw and stared at Reika's back as she walked away, black energy trailing like a silent shadow.

His smile returned, twisted with curiosity.

"What's your actual goal, Reika Kagetsu?"