Grey: Monsters

"That old man! Who does he think he is?! I swear, I'll—"

"Enough, Masaiko. There's nothing you can do. You're weak, man," Kazushi scoffed, poking fun at his height rather than his strength. His expression turned serious as he continued. "Besides, Furahashi is right. But something needs to be done. We need someone out there, or we'll have no clue what's going on."

"That's exactly my point! Progress requires sacrifice. Nothing is ever achieved without it. Sacrifices are necessary—"

"What do you think, Soyo?" Kazushi interrupted Masaiko, glancing at her.

Soyo, her head bowed, stared at the metallic floor of the meeting room. Furahashi's words echoed in her mind.

"I think Furahashi is right. We're Rangers. It's our duty to protect lives, but sacrifices are inevitable—"

"Exactly—"

"But not civilians!" Soyo shot Masaiko a piercing glare. "If there's going to be a sacrifice," she paused, her voice tense, "it should be one of the Captains."

"That's why I'm going." Furahashi barged into the room, Mayu following behind. "I'll be the one."

***

A few minutes earlier, at Furahashi's house...

Furahashi sat alone in Seiko's room, gently stroking her hair as she slept. In his other hand, he held a portrait of his wife—long dark hair, a radiant smile framed by soft, dimpled cheeks, just like Seiko's.

A bitter smile twisted his lips. A thousand thoughts raced through his mind, all leading him toward one heavy decision.

He placed the picture beside Seiko and quietly left the room.

Mayu waited for him outside. Furahashi sat down across from her, his hands clasped, his gaze lowered. His voice trembled.

"Mayu… Seiko has grown fond of you..."

Mayu narrowed her eyes, sensing where this conversation was headed. "I'm sorry, Captain, but I decline whatever offer you're about to make."

Furahashi lifted his head. "You haven't even heard me out."

"I already know. You plan to sacrifice yourself, don't you?"

"Sacrifices are necessary—"

"Does it have to be you? I'm worried about you—"

"I don't remember making you my wife." Furahashi's voice boomed.

"I…" Mayu tried to respond but faltered.

"I've made my decision," Furahashi declared, standing to leave.

"Then I'm coming with you."

"No! I told you to stay here and take care of Seiko—"

"I don't recall becoming your wife or Seiko's mother," Mayu shot back, her eyes locked on his. Both held the same goal, yet stood on opposing paths.

"As your Captain, I order you to stay behind."

Mayu ripped off her badge and dropped it on the table. "You're not my Captain anymore."

Furahashi muttered under his breath, "Women are scary." Then louder, "Fine! Do as you please."

***

At the underground circuit room...

A tunnel connected the circuit room to the lab base on land. All the captains had gathered to see Furahashi and Mayu off, except Masaiko. It felt like a farewell, everyone aware of what this mission entailed.

"So, that's everything. You press this button, and the EMP grenade blast off," the engineer explained.

"Blast?" Furahashi asked, alarmed.

"Don't worry, it's sound-based. It'll disrupt the neural systems of any Nephilim nearby, giving you time to get through them and climb the tunnel." He handed Furahashi the EMP and a repair kit.

"Hmm, easier than I thought," Furahashi chuckled dryly.

"One more thing," the engineer added. "We believe nothing is impossible, so your chances aren't entirely zero. Come back safely."

"Yeah, yeah. I don't plan on dying." Furahashi brushed him off and approached Soyo. She stood quietly, her expression sullen.

"Hey," he said softly.

"H-Hey," Soyo responded, her voice shaky.

"I'm sorry for putting you on the spot earlier. You were under pressure—"

"No, you were right to ask. I was wrong not to answer."

"Hate to ask, but could you look after Seiko for me? I know you two don't always get along, but she'll understand one day…And tell her I didn't steal the candy."

"You tell her yourself. You said you don't plan on dying, right? So make sure you come back."

"Roger that."

"So, this is goodbye…" Soyo's voice cracked, her eyes reddening.

"Come on, don't talk like I'm not coming back."

"Sorry, my bad."

Furahashi pulled her into a tight hug. "You can cry now, crybaby."

"Shut up! I smoked before coming here, idiot."

"You say that, but my clothes are getting wet."

"Shut up."

After Soyo composed herself, Furahashi approached Kazushi. The towering man seemed unbothered by Furahashi's approach.

"I'm sorry, man," Kazushi admitted.

"Apology not accepted."

Kazushi blinked in surprise. "Wait, what? I just grabbed your hand—"

"Treat me to a drink when I get back. Then I might consider."

"Man… alright. It's a deal."

With a sigh, Furahashi turned to Mayu, signaling her with a nod. They turned facing the two captains and the engineer, their right hand some millimetres away from the forehead, they salute

"For honor, for glory…and for motherland"

Furahashi turned facing Soyo

"Tell that racist he will never beat me"

Together, Furahashi and Mayu entered the tunnel.

***

The tunnel was dark, damp, and reeked like a sewer. In reality, it was an escape route. Furahashi and Mayu had been walking for twenty minutes, with only a small flashlight lighting the way.

"How far does this tunnel go, Mr. Furahashi?" Mayu asked.

"I don't know, but it's long. Very long."

"The smell in here is—"

Suddenly, Furahashi clamped his hand over her mouth. "Shh." He switched off the flashlight and pointed ahead.

It took Mayu's eyes a moment to adjust to the darkness, but when they did, she saw them—a group of Grade D and E Nephilims, wandering aimlessly like zombies.

Furahashi pulled out the EMP grenade. He pressed the button and tossed it toward them. The grenade hissed like a balloon deflating, and the Nephilims began to screech, collapsing as the device worked its magic.

"This is our chance, Mayu. Let's—Mayu?" Furahashi turned to see her kneeling, clutching her head.

"S-Sorry, Mr. Furahashi, the smell... it's too much."

Without hesitation, Furahashi scooped her into his arms and dashed past the fallen Nephilims. He ran until they reached the dead-end of the tunnel, where a metal ladder led up to the circuit room.

He set Mayu down gently, then followed her up into the room.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Furahashi."

"Don't worry. I know how it feels to be overwhelmed by a smell. I had a friend back at the barracks who'd get dizzy from certain odors, but he eventually got used to it. You'll be fine."

After a brief scan of the room, Furahashi approached the white circuit box, opened it, and found a cut wire.

His eyes squints in suspicion

"This wasn't an accident… someone did this deliberately."

"This wasn't an accident; it was purposely done by someone"

Furahashi said as he opened the repair kit.

"Well then, we'll guide you on how to repair it,"

"Cut the rubber to expose the copper wire. Use the pliers to join both ends of the copper wire tightly."

"Hmm! Cut, expose, join, and… I'm done. Check if it worked."

The man stayed silent, which made Furahashi nervous. "Hey, did I get it—"

"Captain Furahashi… you did it. The sensors are back."

Furahashi dropped all the equipment, collapsed onto the floor, and sighed, a smile spreading across his face. "Hahaha, I did it!"

"Yes, Captain, now time to—"

"Hmm? Hey, Control? I can't hear you," he said, as the headphones crackled with interference. Furahashi didn't care. The mission was done. It was time to leave.

He stood up and walked over to Mayu, who sat cross-legged on the ground. "It's complete," he said with a smile.

"In the end, I couldn't be of any help to you," Mayu said, her head bowed.

"Don't worry about it. We should get going. The grenade's effect might still be active."

"Yes," Mayu agreed, and the two descended the stairs back into the stinking tunnel.

"You should stay behind me. I'll protect you," Furahashi said.

"No, I need to do something too."

"Nn… I haven't told you what they used to call me in the military…" Furahashi flexed his muscles, the definition visible even through his suit. "Hey! Come get me!" he shouted, drawing the attention of the Nephilim. They came at him one by one, and one by one they died.

Furahashi punched and kicked at the Nephilim, wearing himself down. His fist tearing due to the hardened skin of the Nephilims, as time passed he approached his limit

Exhausted, he pulled back his hand and punched another, but it didn't fall. He dropped to his knees and kept punching it until its head burst, spraying meat and dark blue blood.

Too engrossed in the fight, he didn't notice the Nephilim creeping up from behind. Mayu sliced it down with her blade.

They stared at each other.

"I told you to stay behind me."

"I don't take orders from you anymore."

"Tsk, women," Furahashi muttered as he stood, sweeping his gaze over the area. No more Nephilim in sight. "We did it. We survived."

"Yes, Mr. Furahashi."

"Let's head back."

As they were about to move, a tear in space opened in front of them, wide enough to take in three people at once. Inside was a vast expanse of space.

"What the hell is this?" Furahashi's eyes widened as two figures emerged—one human and the other a Nephilim, the same one Ryuma had fought, with tubes protruding from its head and back.

"Hmm? A human is still alive? I thought you said by th time the signal comes any human in the tunnel will be dead?," The Nephilim asked.

"That was the information I received, Master Nero," the man bowed his head.

Furahashi took two steps back, instinctively clenching his fists, his eyes locked on the larger Nephilim, Nero.

"Mayu, contact Control, tell them—"

He stopped mid-sentence as a stream of blood dripped from the corner of his mouth. He looked down at his stomach and saw a long blade piercing through his back. He turned his head and saw Mayu holding the blade. His eyes widened in shock. He stepped back, taking a better look at her. Tears welled in her eyes. Furahashi couldn't understand what was happening. He coughed blood and collapsed to his knees, his breath shallow, his vision dimming.

Mayu knelt in front of him, their eyes meeting—his, confused; hers, sorrowful.

Furahashi coughed up a mouthful of blood again, using his blood stained fingers to write the kanji for 'Genuine' before his head fell into Mayu's lap. His breath stopped. His eyes closed. His warmth faded. He was dead.

"What's going on here? Are those tears, Anix?" Nero asked.

But Mayu, as we know her, said nothing, her tears falling silently.

The man spoke up

"Perhaps living among humans has made her soft. What do I do with the body? Should it be used as one of the test subjects—"

"Wait, please wait, Master Nero. As ordered, I have prepared everything you need. It's not here, but I'll take you to where I've stored it. For the success of my mission, I beg you to grant me custody of this human."

"And why is that? What do you intend to do?"

"I… I want to return him to his people."

"Hmm… Have you, by chance, developed any emotional attachment to him?"

Mayu jolted and moved her gaze back to Furahashi

"I'd be lying if I said I haven't. But my feelings won't stop me from serving you, Master Nero."

"Very well. Return the human to his kind and make sure you report back to me. Don't keep me waiting."

The space tore open again, and both Nero and the man disappeared, leaving Mayu and Furahashi behind.

"I never wanted this…" Mayu sobbed. "I tried to stop you… the trigger was the… repair. I'm so sorry."

***

That same day, before sunrise, news spread. Captain Furahashi Kisaki, the first captain to die in action since the creation of the Ranger Force, was gone. For those aware of the mission and the risks involved, the news wasn't a shock. But for those in the dark, it felt like a bucket of cold water had been poured over them. Families and friends wept for the fallen hero. What troubled them more was that two individuals had been sent on the mission, but only one body had been recovered—the other was missing.

At Shibuya Training Hall, all Squad Seven members were engaged in fitness exercises, punching bags, and stretching.

A man walked into the hall, a cell phone in hand. He approached Leonard.

"Captain Leonard, this is for you."

Covered in sweat and wearing a tight singlet that revealed his muscular physique, Leonard took the phone and walked to the edge of the hall. After a few minutes on the call, he handed the phone back, his expression grim. His eyes were fixed on the ground as he approached the punching bag.

"Damn that Asian," he muttered under his breath.

Furahashi's death became known across Japan and neighboring countries. It was clear that the situation in Hokkaido was spiraling out of control. If left unchecked, it would lead to even more catastrophic consequences.

As chaos unfolded above, darker schemes brewed below. Things beyond human comprehension, things humans had yet to fathom. A new age was dawning—not the age of humans, but the age of something else, a race not yet discovered.