Nngh... You... disgusting monster...
Azael is bound tight to a chair, blood streaming down his right arm. The wound is fresh, inflicted moments ago by the thing he just called a monster.
The monster stares back at Azael with Kamui's face, yet his expression is hollow and cold, utterly unmoved by Azael's suffering.
I don't know... what kind of dark magic you used to make yourself look exactly like that dumbass...
But you can't even learn to cry or smile! You think you can replace Kamui? Dream on!
AAARGH—!
Before Azael can continue his tirade, "Kamui" receives another command to silence him. Without hesitation, the monster punches him in the stomach, making him cough up blood across the floor.
—Back off! Don't you dare hurt him, you monster!
Kamui charges in first, arriving just in time to see the monster strike Azael. Fury ignites in his chest, and he grabs his weapon without hesitation, rushing straight at the attacker.
CLANG—!
"Kamui" remains completely unfazed. Without even turning around, he simply picks up a weapon lying nearby and hurls it backward to counter Kamui's charge.
Kamui deflects the strike, but the sheer force of the impact drives him back several steps, keeping him from his target.
...
"Kamui" clearly has control over his weapon. The moment he raises his left arm, the weapon flies back from several meters away and lands perfectly in his palm.
Kamui curses under his breath before preparing for another strike.
But, unsettlingly, the dispassionate "Kamui" suddenly mirrors his every move, adopting the same stance in perfect symmetry.
Kamui cautiously strikes in various directions, but "Kamui" mirrors every move as expected, only adjusting when his attacks stray too close to a particular corner of the room.
Kamui's eyes lock onto that corner and spot an unfamiliar device under the dim light. Every time his weapon draws near it, "Kamui" instinctively steers clear.
You arrive shortly after, but you are forced to stay away from their fight. Observing from a safe distance, you try to provide whatever support you can for Kamui.
Leave it to me, [player name].
No matter how hard he tries to copy me, he's still just my Tail in the end. There's nothing to worry about.
—Haargh!!!
With that, Kamui charges forward decisively, but "Kamui" matches his every strike with identical speed and force. The two are locked in a stalemate.
WHAM—! WHAM—!
No matter how Kamui attacks, his opponent reads him like an open book, mirroring every move with flawless precision. The battle falls into a delicate equilibrium, perfectly balanced yet utterly deadlocked.
If you love copying me so much, then try this!
Frowning, Kamui tightens his grip on his sword and charges once more. This time, he abandons any flourish, pouring everything into sheer brute force.
You're nothing but a hollow shell! You think you can match my real strength?! Bring it on!
The deadlock finally breaks. Kamui's strength gradually overpowers his opponent, forcing him into a slow retreat. Victory is within reach if Kamui can just keep this up.
...Target, obstruction... Requesting... commands...
Receiving command... Acknowledged. Adjusting tactical parameters...
Target identified... Inversion program... initiating. Calibration sequence... Activated!
—?!
The moment "Kamui" finishes his eerie monologue, a storm of chaos floods Kamui's mind, as if millions of needles are piercing through his body and tearing him apart before binding him in threads and controlling him.
He feels his strength drained from his body in an instant. The storm tries to reduce him into a broken puppet, and while Kamui attempts to resist, it's still a losing battle.
My strength, my vision... Dammit, why is this happening again—?!
The searing pain and chaos are signs that he is about to lose control. Just like before, Kamui's vision distorts into a surreal kaleidoscope before collapsing into hallucinations where reality and illusion blur together.
Calibration in progress. Data optimal... Target affected... Obstruction cleared...
Continue... attack!
BAM! The enemy strikes while Kamui is still confused.
He staggers backward, his condition keeping him from countering any attack. All he can do is lean against his weapon, desperately trying to recover.
Enemy...? [player name]...? No... I can't trust my eyes right now...
If this is another hallucination... if I attack the wrong person again—ugh?!
You realize Kamui is losing control again and call upon your power once more. A formless thread spills forth to connect with the hunter who can no longer tell friend from foe, attempting to calm his mind like before.
To your surprise, the crushing pressure and chaos bearing down on Kamui floods back through the thread, spreading to you as well. Both of you plunge into agony together.
[player name]... Stop... Pull your power back...
The pressure I'm feeling is flowing through our connection—Ugh!! It'll hurt you too!!
Seeing your unwavering resolve, Kamui finds himself in a dilemma. Prolonging this any further puts you both at serious risk, but if...
He doesn't hesitate for long before making his move, however reluctant. There is no good option, but he will not gamble with your life. If someone has to take the risk, it'll be him.
[player name]... Listen. This chaos is coming from the Tail lashing back at his host. As long as he exists, there's no way to stop it.
But there's a way. I've been looking at how this castle is built, and it's nearly identical to the old Gecko Tail base, so...
If I'm right, that device in the corner behind you... that's what's keeping the Forbidden Chains up and binding all the Tails to their hosts!
If you destroy the Forbidden Chains, we can break free! Hurry!
You look where Kamui pointed and find a mysterious device sitting in the dim corner. While it is somewhat hidden, you find it weird that something this important is left out like this.
Your instincts warn against acting rashly, but with the backlash worsening for both Kamui and you by the second, there is no choice but to take the chance.
Time is running out. You raise your gun and aim at the device.
BANG—! BANG—! BANG—!
Bullets strike the device in the shadows, each deafening shot pounding in sync with your throbbing temples. Something gnaws at the edge of your mind—
Something's amiss. Something's off. Whatever it is, it could cost you everything.
Bzz—BZZZZT—
The device sputters out within seconds and grinds to a halt. At the same time, every trace of the backlash vanishes from your body.
But you don't feel any relief, as you could clearly feel the invisible thread linking you to Kamui snap the moment the device went down.
But it should only have severed the backlash, and—
At the same time, the Tails you left behind in the other room come rushing in.
Leading the pack are those three familiar figures, their movements still strained as they mutter the same plea over and over.
Your mind instinctively races to search through all your past deductions for any gap, overlooked detail, or anything that might explain what just went wrong.
—Hey! [player name]! You've got a missing "Tail", so let's go track it down together!
If you, or this so-called client of yours, are actually the mastermind behind all this...
Of course not! He's a victim too!
And what about you? Why are you so set on investigating this? Don't tell me it's out of some sense of justice of a Hunter.
[player name] never mentioned it to me, so probably not... but I agree we should focus on the facts first. What was this experiment trying to create?
They're trying to create weapons by modifying humans. I can't say for sure what the methods were... Could be some kind of secret technology, or maybe even dark magic from the legends...
Kamui... obeys orders. Stopping... immediately.
Next step... unable to think on my own. Please give me your orders... master.
Kamui must... obey and execute... all of master's commands.
Hey, wait—you're [player name], right? What're you standing around for? Come on in! It's not like this is your first visit.
We've got all your stuff and Kamui's things stored away. Everything's fine. A quick dusting and it'll be good as new.
If that was your choice back then, I figured I shouldn't bring it up even after we met again... I owed you that much. To leave you be.
That's why I said none of that matters anymore.
As long as Marlis and the Gecko Tail can't threaten you anymore, and everyone is safe... that's all I need.
...Target, obstruction... Requesting... commands...
Receiving command... Acknowledged. Adjusting tactical parameters...
Target identified... Inversion program... initiating. Calibration sequence... Activated!
Keep going... move forward... get to the end...
Go... hurry... go now...
They head straight for Kamui. Only now does it all click for you: those three were never trying to help you.
Go... hurry...
Run, Kamui... please...
Kamui is at the center of the Gecko Tail project.
Kamui and you already knew each other.
Kamui knows all of these Tails.
Kamui has a Forbidden Chain connecting him to you—the kind that only exists between a Gecko Tail and his host.
Kamui has always been your Gecko Tail.
Kamui... No, I should use your real designation now. My dear [SU-0]... good boy. You've finally done something right for once.
With her scheme complete, Marlis reveals herself, taking in the scene with satisfaction, as everything has unfolded exactly as she intended.
I knew you'd throw yourself away without a second thought to save Gray Raven. That's what the Gecko Tail is really for, after all, isn't it?
But you were always such a disobedient child, defying me... your creator, the mother of all the Tails. Without Gray Raven's protection, the Mist corrupted you long ago.
A corrupted Tail will always be discarded by its host. You're no longer the perfect weapon we created you to be. And so—
As your Mother, I judge that... since the Forbidden Chain between you and Gray Raven severed—
The one formerly known as [SU-0] is now classified as a Severed Tail and a Broken Tail. For the rest of your days, you are condemned to...
Solitude.
