Extermination order

Kaito sat in stunned silence, his body still aching despite the unnatural speed of his recovery. The soft crackling of the fire was the only sound between them as Rengoku leaned forward, arms resting on his knees. His eyes, though aged, held a sharpness that cut through the haze of Kaito's mind.

"Join the Extermination Order, Kaito."

The words hung in the air, heavier than the weight in Kaito's chest. His breath hitched as he processed them.

"Join the… what?"

Confusion flickered across his face. Rengoku saw it and let out a nervous chuckle, scratching the back of his head.

"I've been thinking about how to ask you for four days now, and that's the best I could come up with."

Kaito blinked. Something about that sentence didn't sit right. Four days?

He narrowed his eyes. "Old man, what the hell are you talking about? We met last night."

Rengoku tilted his head slightly before realization dawned on his face. "Ah… I see. You don't know."

He sighed, shifting his weight. "You've been unconscious for three days. You only woke up yesterday."

A cold, sinking feeling crawled through Kaito's stomach. His fingers twitched, instinctively clutching the rough fabric of his pants. Three days? Had he really been out that long? His mind raced back to the attack—Malakai's piercing gaze, the overwhelming presence of those creatures, his father's final stand—

His father.

The reality of it slammed into him again, like a blade twisting in his chest. His father had fought something stronger than the beast that knocked him out. And Kaito had just… blacked out.

"I couldn't do anything."

His teeth clenched as the pain of that truth settled in. Meanwhile, Rengoku watched him quietly, his gaze flicking over Kaito's body. He hummed thoughtfully.

"He's healing at a rapid rate. The most interesting part? He has no idea he's using Essence Energy to do it."

A low chuckle escaped Rengoku's lips, breaking the silence. Kaito snapped his attention back to him, irritation flaring in his tired eyes.

"What's so damn funny?"

Rengoku shook his head. "Nothing, kid. Just impressed."

Kaito frowned but let it go. His mind was too clouded with questions. He took a breath, grounding himself before speaking.

"What is the Extermination Order?" His voice was steady, despite the turmoil inside. "What were those… things that attacked us? And where do they come from?"

Rengoku leaned back, stretching slightly before exhaling. "Patience, kid. One question at a time. I'll tell you everything you need to know."

For a moment, he seemed to be searching for where to begin, scratching his head in thought. Then, he met Kaito's gaze.

"Let's start with the greatest threat to mankind—Eldritch Beasts."

Kaito swallowed hard. The memory of those monsters was still too fresh.

Rengoku continued. "These creatures don't belong to our realm. They came from a place where logic and life as we know it don't exist. When their world began to die, they invaded ours, seeking nourishment and a new home."

He paused, his expression darkening. "And they found something they liked. Us."

Kaito's fingers curled into fists.

"But they didn't come alone," Rengoku said, his voice low. "They were led by something… far worse."

A shiver ran down Kaito's spine before the name was even spoken.

"Umbra."

The name itself felt unnatural. Kaito's heartbeat quickened.

Rengoku's face was grim. "Umbra isn't just an Eldritch Beast. It is the first, the father of all horrors. It is said that when it moves, the stars themselves vanish, swallowed by its endless form. And worst of all… it is patient."

Kaito barely breathed. "What happened?"

Rengoku leaned forward. "Mankind was nearly wiped out. We stood no chance. Until… the Soothsayer intervened."

"The Soothsayer?"

Rengoku nodded. "A mysterious entity, bathed in pure Essence Energy. She wasn't a warrior, but she was the mother of humanity. She gave power to the few who remained—to fight back."

Kaito's mind reeled. A mother of humanity? Bestowing power? It sounded like a myth. And yet…

He was living proof that something beyond normal human limits existed.

Rengoku continued, "That's where the Extermination Order comes from. Those who were granted power pushed the beasts back, forced them into hiding, and sealed Umbra in the Realm of Chaos."

Kaito sat still, absorbing the weight of it all. The Extermination Order was humanity's last line of defense against these monsters.

But one thing still didn't add up.

"If the Order exists… why didn't they show up earlier?" His voice was sharp, demanding. "Why send just one old man?"

Rengoku sighed. It was the response of someone who had heard this question too many times.

His eyes darkened. "Most Exterminators don't live to my age, boy. If they do… they don't stay sane enough to continue."

Kaito froze.

"In this line of work, you don't retire," Rengoku said, voice flat. "You either die fighting, or the horrors you've seen break you."

For the first time, Kaito understood. This wasn't just some secret organization fighting monsters in the shadows.

This was a war—one that had been going on for centuries.

"Exterminators aren't made; they're born," Rengoku continued. "And even among those born with the potential, most don't make it past their first mission."

He gestured around them, as if showing Kaito the whole world. "You ask why we didn't arrive sooner? Imagine a single city, tasked with protecting the entire world. That's what it means to be an Exterminator."

Kaito's eyes widened.

"There are only 2 million of us," Rengoku finished. "In a world of 8 billion. Every day, we fight, knowing we're outnumbered. Every day, we do our best, knowing it will never be enough."

A heavy silence followed.

Kaito felt like he had been thrown into the deep end of an ocean he never knew existed. Everything he thought he knew about the world was crumbling before him.

His fingers trembled slightly. The weight of it all pressed on his shoulders.

And then, one final question escaped his lips. "If I join… will I find the truth?"

Rengoku met his gaze. His voice was calm, but his words carried a warning.

"You'll find the truth, Kaito."

A shadow passed through his eyes.

"But you may not like what you see."

Silence settled between them for a moment, the weight of Rengoku's words lingering in Kaito's mind. The truth about the Extermination Order, the Eldritch Beasts, and the terrifying scale of what he was up against—it was overwhelming. But as the information sank in, a new question emerged, one that had been gnawing at him since the night of the attack.

He looked up at Rengoku, his brows furrowed in curiosity.

"Old man... what about my parents?" Kaito asked, his voice quieter this time.

Rengoku exhaled softly, crossing his arms as he looked at the sky.

"Your father… Shinzo Tenshiro… was once an Elite Exterminator."

Kaito's eyes widened. He knew his father was strong, but Elite? That was the third-highest rank in the Order.

"Once upon a time, he was feared and respected. A warrior who carved his name into history." Rengoku's voice carried a trace of admiration.

Kaito clenched his fists, his mind flashing back to the last moments he saw his father alive, standing against Malakai.

"And my mother?"

For the first time, Rengoku hesitated.

"As for your mother…" he started, then stopped, rubbing the back of his head. "Well, that's something you'll find out eventually."

Kaito frowned. "What does that mean? Why can't you just tell me?"

Rengoku met his gaze with a knowing look. "Trust me, kid. There are things that are better learned when you're ready. Just know this—your parents loved you. No matter what you hear in the future, never forget that."

Kaito caught the strange weight in his words. "No matter what I hear?" he echoed, confused.

Before he could press further, something clicked in his mind. He had been talking to this old man for hours now, but he never actually knew who he was.

Kaito straightened up, narrowing his eyes. "Who are you, really?"

Rengoku simply smiled. The wind picked up slightly, rustling the trees as he finally answered.

"My name is Rengoku Itsuya." His voice was calm but carried a strange sense of finality. "And it's finally nice to meet you, Kaito."

Before Kaito could respond, a sudden chime echoed through the quiet air. Rengoku reached into his coat and pulled out a small, sleek communication device. His expression shifted as he read the incoming message.

For the first time, Kaito saw something change in Rengoku's face. The easygoing aura vanished in an instant, replaced by a sharp, calculating focus. His jaw tensed.

Something was wrong.

Then, as quickly as the shift happened, it was gone. Rengoku turned back to Kaito, his usual grin returning.

"Well, kid, looks like I have to go. Something urgent just came up."

Kaito blinked. "Huh? Just like that? You're leaving?"

Rengoku stood up and stretched, acting as if he wasn't just staring at a potentially dangerous message. "Yep. But don't worry, I'll be back in three weeks."

He turned, taking a few steps before stopping and looking over his shoulder. "And when I do, I'll be expecting an answer from you."

Kaito swallowed. Three weeks… that was all the time he had to decide.

But before he could even begin to process everything, Rengoku clapped his hands together.

"Ah, but before I go, I should at least leave you with something useful."

Kaito raised an eyebrow. "What?"

Rengoku grinned. "A way to survive. Just in case you come across another Eldritch Beast while I'm gone."

He motioned for Kaito to stand. "This technique is the foundation for everything an Exterminator does. It's the first step in mastering Essence Energy. We call it—Flow."