The battlefield beneath the old bridge in Japan was a storm of chaos and screeching terror. The Tyanaks swarmed like a plague, their distorted forms scaling walls and leaping from rooftops. Civilians ran in every direction—some clutching children, others foolishly recording the chaos on their phones.

  At the center of the fray, the General swung his machete with precision, hacking through the snarling creatures. His torn shirt revealed a bloody gash on his arm, but his voice was strong and commanding. “Hold your line!” he shouted to the soldiers, his words cutting through the chaos like a blade.

  Akiko darted beside him, her crisp soldier’s uniform dusted with dirt as her staff struck down two advancing clones. Her movements were sharp and efficient, her eyes constantly scanning the area for threats. “General,” she called, her voice firm but respectful. “You’re hurt. Let me cover you.”

  “I’m fine,” the General replied gruffly, swinging his machete to cut down another creature.

  “With all due respect, sir,” Akiko pressed, stepping forward to block an attack aimed at him, “you’re not fine. If you go down, morale goes with you. Let me handle the front.”

  The General hesitated for a moment before nodding. “All right, Akiko. But don’t do anything reckless.”

  “Yes, sir,” she replied, her staff spinning as she knocked back another Tyanak.

  The General’s breath grew heavy as he fended off another charging Tyanak, his movements precise but beginning to slow. Akiko and Marcos flanked him, their combined efforts holding the line against the relentless swarm.

  “Akiko, focus on the ones in front!” the General ordered, slashing through a clone that had darted too close.

  “Yes, sir,” Akiko replied, her tone sharp but composed. Her staff spun as she blocked an attack aimed at the General’s side, then countered with a decisive blow that sent the creature crumpling to the ground.

  Marcos remained silent, his Arnis sticks a blur of movement as he struck down two more Tyanaks attempting to break through their defensive line.

  “Marcos, on your left!” Akiko called, spotting another clone.

  Marcos moved swiftly; his strike was precise as he dispatched the creature. He gave a brief nod to Akiko, who nodded back in acknowledgment.

  Before they could catch their breath, the screeches of the Tyanaks grew louder. More creatures poured out from beneath the bridge, their twisted forms crawling over the sides of buildings and closing in.

  Then, a brilliant light sliced through the chaos, followed by an eruption of fire that scattered the advancing swarm.

  “Finally,” Akiko muttered under her breath as the reinforcements arrived.

  Lei led the charge, her radiant blade Venya glowing as she carved through a line of clones. “We’re here!” she shouted. “Diwata, cover the wounded! Dominic, hold the perimeter!”

  Dominic planted his staff into the ground, summoning a wall of fire to block the Tyanaks scaling the nearby buildings. “Perimeter’s locked!” he called out, glancing at Buwan. “You’re up, Buwan!”

  Buwan, grinning as she twirled her crescent blade, scanned the battlefield. Her eyes landed on Akiko, and her grin widened. “Hey, Temperance! Need some help?”

  Akiko froze mid-strike, turning toward the voice. Her eyes widened in shock. “Buwan?!”

  Buwan leapt gracefully onto a nearby car, her blade flashing as she dispatched two clones with ease. She looked down at Akiko, smirking. “Been a while, hasn’t it? Where’ve you been hiding?”

  Akiko lowered her staff slightly, still processing. “Where have I been? Where have you been?” Her voice held a mix of disbelief and frustration.

  Buwan laughed, hopping down from the car. “Oh, you know. Here, there, everywhere. You didn’t miss me too much, did you?”

  Akiko exhaled sharply, shaking her head as a small smile crept onto her face. “You’re unbelievable.”

  Dominic, standing nearby, raised an eyebrow at the exchange. “So… you two know each other?”

  Akiko glanced at him, her composure returning. “Millennia,” she said simply. “Buwan’s been causing trouble for longer than you’ve been alive.”

  “And you’ve been keeping me balanced the whole time,” Buwan quipped, her playful tone laced with genuine fondness.

  Diwata approached quietly, her wand glowing as she healed the soldiers nearest to her. Her shy smile appeared as she nodded at Akiko. “It’s good to see you again.”

  Akiko’s expression softened as she turned to Diwata. “You too, Diwata. Thanks for covering us.”

  Diwata’s blush deepened, but she didn’t respond, focusing instead on channeling her healing energy.

  Buwan, darting between rooftops, called down playfully. “Akiko, you’re looking a little stiff! Did that uniform of yours come with a stick up your—”

  “Don’t finish that sentence,” Akiko shot back, smirking as she blocked another Tyanak’s claws. “I’m trying to keep you alive, and this is the thanks I get?”

  “Oh, come on,” Buwan teased, launching herself off a ledge and slicing through two Tyanaks mid-air. “You know you missed me. It’s been, what, a few centuries?”

  Akiko deflected a blow with her staff, her grin widening. “Missed you? Sure. I especially missed the part where you never shut up.”

  Dominic, overhearing, chuckled despite the chaos. “Sounds like you two are getting along.”

  “Oh, don’t ask,” Akiko said, smirking as she landed a precise strike. “Which is probably why I’ve got more patience than you, kid.”

  The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  “Careful,” Buwan said with a laugh. “Patience is how you start acting like Diwata.”

  Diwata blushed slightly but didn’t break her focus, striking down a wave of clones with another radiant blast. “I’d take that as a compliment if you weren’t being Buwan,” she murmured.

  Akiko chuckled, her eyes flicking to Diwata. “Ignore her. You’re doing great.”

  A deep, guttural roar silenced the battlefield as the Alpha Tyanak emerged from beneath the bridge. Its massive, hulking form dwarfed the lesser clones, and its glowing red eyes locked onto Akiko and the General.

  The Tyanaks screeched louder, their distorted laughter echoing through the battlefield as they poured out in endless waves. Civilians fled further into the city, and the soldiers struggled to hold their lines.

  “Let’s push them back!” Lei shouted, her blade Venya blazing with radiant light as she cut down two clones with a single swing. “Akiko, take the General and Marcos to the left flank. We’ll clear the rest!”

  Akiko nodded sharply, her composure returning. “Understood. Marcos, stay close to the General!”

  Marcos responded with a quick nod, his Arnis sticks moving in perfect rhythm as he struck down a charging Tyanak.

  “Diwata,” Akiko called, glancing at the healer. “We’ll need another wave soon!”

  Diwata swung her glowing wand, releasing a powerful shockwave of light that spread across the battlefield. The injured soldiers gasped as their wounds healed, and several clones were reduced to ashes in the blast.

  “Done,” Diwata said softly, her voice calm despite the strain.

  Buwan darted between the shadows, her crescent blade gleaming as it cut through the creatures with ease. “This is too easy,” she teased, vaulting onto a nearby ledge to get a better vantage point. “Hey, Akiko, are these things really the best they’ve got?”

  Akiko rolled her eyes, spinning her staff to deflect a claw aimed at her side. “If you’ve got time to talk, you’ve got time to fight, Buwan!”

  Buwan laughed, leaping off the ledge and slicing through three Tyanaks mid-air. “Don’t worry. I’m doing both.”

  Dominic slammed his staff into the ground, summoning a ring of fire that blocked a group of advancing clones. “Arden!” he called, pointing to the Alpha Tyanak emerging from the shadows. “You see that?”

  Arden stood near the edge of the bridge; his fists clenched as he dodged a leaping clone. “Yeah. It’s bigger than the others.”

  “It’s not just bigger,” Akiko said, stepping forward as the Alpha came into view. “It’s leading them. That thing’s controlling the clones.”

  The Alpha Tyanak crawled out from beneath the bridge, its hulking form towering over the rest. Its blood-red eyes glowed with malice, and its massive claws scraped against the pavement, sending sparks flying.

  The lesser Tyanaks scattered, creating a wide circle around their leader. The Alpha let out a guttural roar, and the ground trembled beneath its weight.

  “Great,” Buwan muttered, flipping her blade into a ready stance. “Here comes the big boss.”

  “Stay sharp!” Lei called, stepping forward with Venya glowing brightly. “We’ll take this thing down together!”

  The Alpha moved with terrifying speed, lunging toward Akiko and the General.

  “Sir, move!” Akiko shouted, pushing the General out of harm’s way and barely dodging the creature’s claws herself.

  The General stumbled but quickly regained his footing, his machete at the ready. “Akiko, don’t do anything stupid!”

  “I’ve got this,” she replied, her staff spinning as she struck at the Alpha’s leg, forcing it to retreat momentarily.

  Lei and Arden moved in next, Lei’s blade slashing through the clones attempting to protect the Alpha. “Dominic, keep the fire coming!” she shouted.

  Dominic raised his staff, summoning a column of fire that scorched a path through the clones. “Done! Go for it!”

  Diwata, standing at the center of the battlefield, swung her wand in another graceful arc. A radiant wave washed over the team, healing their minor injuries and bolstering their strength. “You have an opening. Take it!”

  Marcos darted toward the Alpha, his movements silent and precise. His Arnis sticks struck the creature’s legs in rapid succession, forcing it to stumble.

  “Marcos, pull back!” Akiko called, stepping in to block a counterattack from the Alpha.

  “Buwan!” Lei shouted. “Hit it from above!”

  Buwan smirked, already leaping onto a nearby ledge. Her crescent blade glowed with silver light as she launched herself toward the Alpha. “Let’s see how you like this!” she shouted, slashing across the creature’s back.

  The Alpha roared in pain, swiping at Buwan, but she flipped out of its reach with ease.

  “Diwata!” Dominic called, hurling a fireball at the Alpha to distract it. “One more blast!”

  Diwata raised her wand high, releasing a massive shockwave that left the Alpha exposed.

  Arden moved in close, delivering a powerful kick to the Alpha’s side that sent it staggering. “Lei! Now!”

  Lei charged forward, Venya blazing with radiant energy. With a fierce cry, she drove her blade into the Alpha’s chest, the light engulfing the creature completely.

  The Alpha let out one final, piercing screech before dissolving into shadow. The remaining clones disintegrated moments later, their connection to the Alpha severed.

  The battlefield fell silent, the only sounds remaining were the heavy breathing of the team and the distant murmurs of the civilians who had stayed behind to watch.

  Akiko turned to the General, her gaze sweeping over him for injuries. “Are you hurt, sir?”

  The General sheathed his machete, shaking his head. “I’ll live. Good work, Akiko.”

  “Thank you, sir,” Akiko replied, her posture straightening.

  Leigh hurriedly ran to the General’s location. “Lolo, are you okay?”

  “Good job, Leigh!” the General said with pride, patting her head.

  Akiko turned her attention to the fading sigils left behind by the Alpha, kneeling to examine them. “These sigils aren’t random,” she said, her voice thoughtful. “They’re deliberate. The Dark Arcana is testing us.”

  Buwan leaned on her blade, smirking. “Here we go. Temperance is back in her element.”

  Akiko glanced at her, a playful grin tugging at her lips. “You know me, Buwan. Someone’s gotta keep you in line.”

  “Not in a million years,” Buwan replied, laughing.

  Diwata, standing quietly nearby, gave Akiko a soft smile. “It’s good to fight alongside you again,” she said.

  Akiko’s expression softened. “You too, Diwata. Let’s make sure it stays that way.”

  “Everyone, back up!” Arden barked suddenly, his voice cutting through the moment.

  Before anyone could react further, Arden’s eyes widened, his fists clenching as he stared into the darkness. Without a word, he sprinted forward, his movements so sudden and fluid that it left the others momentarily frozen in place.

  “Arden! Wait!” Lei called out, but he didn’t stop.

  With a primal roar, Arden propelled himself into the air, his glowing fist crackling with energy as he unleashed a devastating punch. The shockwave tore through the battlefield, scattering debris and shredding the encroaching shadows.

  The team shielded their faces from the gust, trying to make sense of what had just happened.

  As the dust and shadows dissipated, a figure staggered out from the darkness, clutching his face. His lean, almost skeletal frame seemed to blend into the shadows, and his face was obscured by a tattered hood. Yet, the faint, sinister smirk on his lips was unmistakable.

  “That was quite a greeting there,” the man said, his voice low and amused. Slowly, he pulled back his hood, revealing hollow eyes and a noose scar wrapped around his neck.

  Akiko’s eyes widened in recognition. “The Hanged Man…”

  The Hanged Man straightened up, brushing off his tattered cloak. “Man, you’ve got a temper,” he said, chuckling softly as he looked at Arden. “Though I have to admit, I like your style.”

  Arden shook his hand slightly, a faint wisp of energy still trailing off his knuckles. “You were watching us the whole time,” he said, his voice calm but laced with irritation. “Man, you’re getting into my nerves.”

  The Hanged Man grinned wider, his eerie calmness unsettling the group. “Well, I’ve got to admit, you’ve all been quite entertaining. But…” He trailed off, his hollow eyes locking onto Akiko. “You’re not ready. Not yet.”

  Before anyone could react, the shadows around the Hanged Man coiled tightly, swallowing him whole. His sinister laughter echoed briefly, then faded into silence, leaving the battlefield eerily still.

  Akiko exhaled sharply, lowering her staff. “That was no ordinary encounter,” she said, her voice steady despite the tension in the air. “We need to regroup and figure out what this means.”

  Lei stepped forward, Venya still glowing faintly. “He wasn’t here to fight. He was here to send a message.”

  Arden glanced at his fist, a faint smirk playing on his lips as he turned to the others. “Next time, I’ll make sure he doesn’t get to leave.”