The rhythmic ticking of the clock echoed in the dim room. As the hour hand edged towards twelve, Akihiko’s anxiety tightened its grip around his chest, holding his breath hostage. The room was quiet, even Kentaro's usually audible breathing seemed to vanish.100Please respect copyright.PENANAwZqd5xMcZL
The boxer looked at the analog clock. Now there were only 15 seconds left until midnight.100Please respect copyright.PENANA6gJimoOLPI
Here it comes. He swallowed, preparing for what was about to begin.100Please respect copyright.PENANASgeEHvxbdP
The seconds ticked away; the three clock hands lined up perfectly.100Please respect copyright.PENANAM46SHKPDd2
And then it happened.100Please respect copyright.PENANAvwpICcHNk9
Everything in the room seemed to halt, plunging it into an eerie, uncanny stillness. The buildings outside took on a sickly green tint, casting unfamiliar shadows on the streets below. The moon, once a reassuring celestial presence, now radiated an unsettling greenish glow as well, as did the stars that framed it. The city of Iwatodai had transformed into an otherworldly landscape.
Akihiko, wide-eyed, gazed around the room.100Please respect copyright.PENANACSk8y4kEJ0
Kentaro! Where Kentaro once lay, an odd coffin-like structure stood in its place, the form of his mentor hidden within.
Distressed, Akihiko reached out, touching the surface of the coffin. It was cold, unyielding, and emitted a faint hum, as if something was trapped inside, trying to break free.100Please respect copyright.PENANA9zROZwYF8v
It's going to be fine, thought the young fighter, who was familiar with that bizarre aspect of the already strange phenomenon. All but one person he knew were turned into those coffins during it, and were usually protected from any threat as a result. As long as those 'yokai' are not around, that is…100Please respect copyright.PENANAtq5zuxWJvf
Eager to make sure of his safety, Akihiko took a look out the room's window. He could see a few other coffins lining the streets, each one identical and lifeless as the one of his coach.
And something else…
No! 100Please respect copyright.PENANAVsQJyGdRAR
Intermingled with the stillness were creatures that defied the natural world. They drifted eerily, wearing grotesque mask-like faces, their forms contorted and dancing in the sickly glow of the street lamps. The nightmare he truly feared was unfolding before his eyes.100Please respect copyright.PENANAgoycYs5bya
The yokai… Nothing has changed, Akihiko looked down, gritting his teeth. The foolish hope that this time everything would be different was shattering. But why? Why do they only seem to appear here of all places?!
Everything was engulfed in a silence that unnerved him. It wasn’t the comforting kind that comes after a storm or a long day, but rather one filled with anticipation, as if the very air was waiting for something terrible to happen.100Please respect copyright.PENANAQ0x5Q8jDt9
His fears were realized when a scraping sound broke the silence. He looked up.100Please respect copyright.PENANALDhGvmOl3m
WHOA! He had a great startle as his eyes met a sinister mask, only inches away from the glass pane. The creature was trying to get in, its fingers elongating and transforming into sharp talons as it opened the window. Finally, the monster got into the room, with its features fixed on the young boxer. 100Please respect copyright.PENANAJ4pX1Nq4mi
Adrenaline coursing through his veins, Akihiko made a snap decision. It was clear to him that neither the room nor the inn were safe anymore.
He bolted for the door of the room, sparing one last look at Kentaro's coffin-like form. 100Please respect copyright.PENANA5dHJX7Zyvc
I’ll come back for you, Kentaro-sensei. He’d need to find a way to ensure the survival of his foster father, but first, he needed to escape from that “yokai” and lured it away from him. He trusted that the strange properties of the coffin would be enough to shield the coach in the meantime. Hang on!100Please respect copyright.PENANAhOq8xnzerl
The inn's hallway felt like a death row as Akihiko sprinted through it. He could feel the presence of the malevolent entity behind him, its relentless chase amplifying his terror. Its ragged breaths whispered to his ears; the cold emanating from them touched his skin.100Please respect copyright.PENANAuAOEtyO28y
In his panic, he descended to the lobby and stumbled upon the main exit of the inn. Wasting no time, he slammed open the doors and was immediately greeted by the hue of Iwatodai. He found himself in an alien city.
Akihiko gasped as he surveyed his surroundings. He was outside, in the midst of the chaos, with no idea where to go or how to fend off the impending threats. A deep sense of uncertainty loomed. The very streets he grew up on years ago felt unfamiliar and hostile as ever.100Please respect copyright.PENANA5w49JYKVdD
I think I’ve lost it. I can’t sense it anymore… He took a deep breath, enjoying that brief moment of respite. The nightmare might have awakened once more, but he wasn’t the same defenseless boy from his past.100Please respect copyright.PENANAMkeTOnflDO
With one last glance to the now distant inn, Akihiko set off into the foreboding streets. His footsteps echoed ominously in the oppressive atmosphere, each step resonating like a heartbeat in the emptiness of the world around him. Iwatodai, which had always been a lively dance of modernity and tradition, now seemed like a ghost town under the eerie green glow of that cursed hue. Every shadow that stretched out before him seemed alive, pulsating with dark intent, ready to morph into his deepest fears.100Please respect copyright.PENANAoXh4beP77R
Stay calmand focus.You'll get through this, Akihiko thought, trying to shake off the haunting feeling that gnawed at his core. The memories of his orphanage years surged back in his mind. Just like the old times, with Shinji.100Please respect copyright.PENANAKCi11dfciV
As he ventured deeper into the labyrinth of streets, a peculiar sight made him pause for a moment and lift his gaze to the horizon, where a small port island connected to the city lay.100Please respect copyright.PENANAuuIQlWHJbg
There, a colossal tower reached for the heavens, partially eclipsing the moon. Its vastness dwarfed everything else in Iwatodai, and yet, it was almost ethereal—like a demonic mirage. Its surface was a mosaic of distorted angles and eerie protrusions, reflecting the sickly green hue that bathed everything. The building seemed to pulse with a life of its own, beckoning and repelling all at once. Akihiko remembered seeing it during his past experiences, and even now, its surreal beauty was still perplexing.100Please respect copyright.PENANAs7LPGyDIsC
That tower... What is it? Why does it always appear in Tatsumi Port Island?, he asked himself those questions he was unable to answer.100Please respect copyright.PENANAzEwMtewTCL
He turned around.100Please respect copyright.PENANA6J5GeJ9xln
Uh? Something else got his attention in the vicinity.100Please respect copyright.PENANAtRihGw4t6x
Small flying objects, reminiscent of drones, gracefully soared above. Their metallic bodies glinted under the green moonlight, contrasting the bleak backdrop. On the streets, small and compact land vehicles moved with deliberate intent, their sleek designs reflecting the world around. Besides him and the shadowy entities, they seemed the only other thing to be “alive” during the supernatural event.100Please respect copyright.PENANAU0mvFCzF5m
Suddenly, a drone swooped down, its sharp movements breaking Akihiko's trance. It pursued one of those monsters he feared, launching a series of ethereal projectiles. Upon impact, the creature dissolved into a wisp of dark mist, a silent scream echoing its departure.100Please respect copyright.PENANA646fgoycjL
What on Earthare these machines? And how... how are they fighting the yokai? Akihiko wondered, a mix of awe and uncertainty clouding his mind. They weren’t around here to help usback then for sure.100Please respect copyright.PENANAfvJLaUXddL
He remembered when it was just him and his best friend: Shinjiro, back to back, defending themselves against the horrors. They didn't have fancy technology; only their wits and their bond. That bond had seen them through countless nights, but Shinjiro wasn’t there now.100Please respect copyright.PENANANYS7KQeuy9
Lost in the spectacle and his memories, he failed to sense the looming danger.
Yokai, taking advantage of his diverted attention, slowly formed a circle around him. Their chilling cries, distorted and haunting, sent shivers down Akihiko's spine. Their mask-like faces seemed to mock him, a terrifying dance of anticipation.100Please respect copyright.PENANAEVB8EFmaSx
Damn it! he internally cried out, panic threatening to grip him once more. This was the first time he had to face them all alone. Think! What would Shinji do?100Please respect copyright.PENANAjME2DH2T21
Before he could react, an unlikely hero roared into the scene. A self-driving vehicle, resembling a white motorcycle with smooth, aerodynamic curves, burst forth. A small turret on it, gleaming under the ghastly hue, dispatched precise and bright projectiles. The creatures, caught off guard, were reduced to mere smoky wisps within moments.100Please respect copyright.PENANAFFK66IY22Z
Heart pounding, Akihiko approached the vehicle. Its surface was cool to the touch, and it radiated an almost calming presence amidst the disorder.
A motorcycle? he pondered, the weight of the unexpected rescue pressing on him. Does… it drive itself?100Please respect copyright.PENANA7PTx8650du
Out of curiosity, his fingers brushed the machine's smooth surface, half-expecting some sort of reaction. But it just stood there, a beacon of hope, its true nature a mystery that begged to be solved.100Please respect copyright.PENANAwFFyc9rCG2
"Stay close to me until further notice. Do not do anything reckless," a feminine but firm voice came from the motorcycle, cold and elegant like its design.100Please respect copyright.PENANAf9Cvv2yINg
The aspiring boxer nearly fell in surprise.100Please respect copyright.PENANAfnz8Hjw7pf
It speaks! 100Please respect copyright.PENANAjoUetr7esV
"The 'Shadows' seem to be drawn to your essence,” the motorcycle explained. “They won't stop harassing you until the Dark Hour is over."
'Shadows'... 'Dark Hour'?
Akihiko tried to steady his nerves. With this unexpected ally, the nightmare seemed a little less suffocating. Yet, the origins and intent of this mechanical savior loomed large in his mind, adding to the enigma of what it referred to as the “Dark Hour”.100Please respect copyright.PENANA7gnO9Rqxc3