The Heart of Zero

The sound of the hidden door locking echoed through the narrow passage. Yahageshii kicked at the now-immovable door, gritting his teeth as he muttered under his breath, "Damn it, this place has an auto-lock?"

Ryuosho leaned against the cold wall, catching his breath before managing to say, "Told you we shouldn't have come in here. If I knew you were this reckless…" He trailed off as the lights on the walls dimmed, and a damp chill began to creep through the air.

"Shut it!" Yahageshii snapped, feeling the wall for a hidden mechanism. But the passage seemed sealed, leaving only the growing sound of approaching footsteps to remind them of their predicament.

Ryuosho swallowed hard, lowering his voice further. "They're getting closer… If we get caught, we might not even leave corpses behind."

For once, Yahageshii couldn't argue. He pressed his ear to the ground, detecting a faint draft beneath the floor. "There's… wait a second!" He crouched and began prying at a crack with the tool he had brought.

As Yahageshii worked, Ryuosho's gaze wandered to the walls. His eyes widened as he spotted faded patterns. "Hey, Yahageshii, take a look at this. These aren't just ordinary walls."

Yahageshii paused and leaned closer. Under the dim light, an intricate mural came into view. At its center stood a figure draped in tattered black robes, surrounded by a swirling aura of black and crimson. The chaotic energy seemed almost alive, warping the space around it like blood boiling under a raging fire. Even as a mere painting, the figure exuded a crushing presence, like a war god descending upon the mortal world.

Ryuosho shuddered and instinctively stepped back. "Why does it feel like… it's watching us? Who is this guy?"

Yahageshii frowned, his eyes scanning the mural's base, where ancient script was etched deep into the wall. Though much of it was worn away, a few words were still legible:

"The War God—KuroAka."

"KuroAka?" Yahageshii murmured. "Who is that?"

Ryuosho shook his head, unable to tear his gaze from the mural. "This doesn't look like mere decoration. It feels… ancient. Could this figure have actually existed?"

Before Yahageshii could respond, the dim lights flickered. For a brief moment, it seemed as if the figure in the mural moved, its gaze shifting toward them. Yahageshii clenched his fists. "Enough staring. This place is bad news. Let's figure out a way out of here."

As the two scrambled, a black mist began to gather at the far end of the passage, silent and insidious, creeping toward the sealed door. From the shadows, a humanoid silhouette emerged, its movements smooth and deliberate.

"Don't move," a low, commanding voice cut through the silence, echoing directly into Yahageshii's mind. He froze, turning to see the mist coalesce into a tall figure with piercing eyes like cold stars.

"Is that… Rayl?" Yahageshii recognized the figure, his voice tinged with surprise and unease.

"And me." Another voice came from deeper in the shadows as Shingin's form materialized. His figure seemed to merge seamlessly with the surrounding darkness, an unsettling and spectral presence.

"Shingin-senpai, Rayl-senpai, what are you—" Ryuosho began, but Rayl silenced him with a sharp glare.

"No talking. Just stay quiet and against the wall," Rayl ordered. The black mist he commanded slithered into the door's crevices, accompanied by a faint, corrosive hiss. After a tense moment, the lock clicked open. At the same time, Shingin melted into the shadows, intercepting the approaching footsteps with silent precision.

"I'll handle the footsteps. You take care of the door," Shingin whispered. Rayl nodded, directing the mist to dissolve the remaining barriers.

"Go," Rayl barked once the door gave way, his voice cold and urgent.

Without hesitation, Yahageshii and Ryuosho bolted out of the passage. Yahageshii couldn't help glancing back. He caught a glimpse of Shingin blending into the shadows, his presence consuming every trace of sound, while Rayl's mist receded like a tide, erasing all evidence of their intrusion. The entire operation was so silent and precise it was as if no one had ever been there.

Outside, the two gasped for air. Rayl turned to Yahageshii, his expression stern and disapproving. "You two can waste your lives however you want, but don't drag others down with you."

Ryuosho lowered his head, avoiding the scolding, while Yahageshii muttered, "Thanks…"

"Don't thank us," Shingin said, his tone carrying an edge. "Pray you weren't noticed this time. Next time, we won't be there to save you."

Rayl added coldly, "Leave this place and don't come back." With that, the two vanished into the night, their forms dissipating like shadows in the wind.

Yahageshii stared after them, then muttered, "This place… and that mural of KuroAka. What does it all mean?"

Ryuosho frowned, his unease evident. "It's got to be part of some conspiracy. The Monitors are up to something big."

The two exchanged a tense glance, both aware that their questions would only lead them deeper into a world of secrets and danger.