The Portal Breaks

The air around the settlement grew heavier as Jin and Seiji walked through its outskirts. The shimmering energy spikes pulsed faintly in the distance, their rhythm almost hypnotic. The sky above was dull and gray, and the occasional gust of wind carried with it the faint scent of scorched earth. Despite the ominous atmosphere, the settlement was bustling with life. Sentinels moved in disciplined formations, and workers reinforced barricades near the perimeter, their faces etched with quiet determination.

Seiji, his hands resting casually behind his head, glanced over at Jin. "You know," he began, his tone light, "these spikes have a way of messing with your head. Makes people uneasy, jittery. You feeling it yet?"

Jin remained silent, his sharp gaze fixed ahead. The tension in his posture was subtle but noticeable.

Seiji smirked. "That's what I thought."

As they approached the perimeter where the spikes shimmered, a commanding Sentinel stepped forward to greet them. Urashima, a tall, broad-shouldered man with a stern expression, inclined his head toward Seiji. His armor, polished and precise, bore the insignia of a seasoned officer.

"Seiji," Urashima said, his voice firm but respectful. "What brings you here?"

"Taking a walk," Seiji replied, his grin widening. "And making sure our friend here gets a front-row seat to the weirdest show in town."

Urashima gave Jin a brief nod of acknowledgment before turning his attention back to Seiji. "The spikes have been growing more unstable. We've been monitoring them closely, but nothing significant—"

Before he could finish, a sharp crack split the air, cutting through the settlement like a thunderclap. The shimmering spikes pulsed violently, their glow intensifying. The ground beneath them trembled as a jagged bolt of lightning struck the largest spike, tearing through it with a deafening roar.

The energy rippled outward, warping the air and distorting the space around it. In an instant, the spikes coalesced into a single massive vortex, its swirling energy forming a towering portal. The wind howled, pulling at their clothes and kicking up dust as the portal stabilized, its surface glowing with an otherworldly light.

Jin instinctively drew his sword, his stance shifting. Seiji, however, remained still, his smile fading as his eyes narrowed.

From within the portal, a small figure began to emerge. Its outline was barely visible at first, but as it stepped closer, its form became unmistakable. Agent 66, clad in flowing red robes and an oversized, parasol-like hat adorned with watchful eye symbols, strode forward with an eerie grace. The faint smile on his pale mask was unsettling, and his hollow black eye sockets seemed to pierce through the very air.

"Who is that?" Jin asked, his voice steady but laced with tension.

"Trouble," Seiji muttered.

As Agent 66 stepped fully through the portal, two Sentinel guards moved to intercept him. Their weapons were drawn, their movements swift and precise.

"Halt!" one of them barked. "You are not authorized to—"

Before he could finish, both Sentinels were erased from existence. Their bodies disintegrated in an instant, vanishing without a trace as if they had never been there. The only sound was the faint hum of the portal behind Agent 66.

Jin's grip on his sword tightened, and his gaze sharpened. Seiji's demeanor, however, remained oddly calm, though the edge of his usual smirk had vanished.

Agent 66 tilted his head, his voice soft but chilling. "Finally," he said, his tone lilting and erratic. "The portal has broken. What a delightful day this will be."

Seiji stepped forward, his hands slipping into his pockets as he approached the figure. "Urashima," he called over his shoulder, his tone suddenly serious. "Get back to Shenlog. Tell him exactly what you've seen here and the gravity of the situation. Go now."

Without hesitation, Urashima nodded and vanished in a blur of motion, leaving a gust of wind in his wake.

Seiji continued his slow approach toward Agent 66, his movements unhurried, his gaze locked on the intruder. "Welcome to our world," he said, his voice light but carrying an unmistakable undertone of authority. "But if you've got any sense, you'll turn around and step back through that portal."

Agent 66 tilted his head again, the faint smile on his mask seeming to widen.

Seiji's own grin returned, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Because, as you can probably tell, I'm not in the mood for this today."

The air between them grew still, the tension thick enough to cut. Agent 66 remained silent, his unnerving gaze fixed on Seiji, as if weighing his options—or simply enjoying the moment.