The Weight of Decisions

The silence in Shenlog's office was heavy, broken only by the faint hum of the holographic map still glowing on his desk. Shenlog leaned back in his chair, letting out a deep sigh as he carefully placed the phone down. His sharp eyes lingered on the blinking red dot on the map, the coordinates of Blackstone etched into his memory. The weight of what lay ahead bore heavily on his shoulders.

The sound of the door creaking open pulled his attention. Jingwei, his youngest son, entered with a calm demeanor, his Sentinel uniform impeccably maintained. His presence was quiet yet confident.

"Father," Jingwei said, bowing his head slightly, "you called?"

Shenlog gestured toward the chair across from his desk, his expression unreadable. "Sit."

Father and Son

Jingwei stepped forward, the clink of his boots against the tiled floor echoing in the otherwise silent room. He pulled out the chair and sat, his posture straight and respectful. Shenlog leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk, his hands clasped as he studied his son.

"I wanted to talk to you about the mission tomorrow," Shenlog began, his voice low and serious. "You'll be coming with us."

Jingwei blinked but nodded without hesitation. "Understood."

Shenlog's gaze narrowed slightly, scrutinizing his son's reaction. "This isn't just another patrol, Jingwei. Blackstone is a fortress—a stronghold of the Shadow Council. It's ruled by Nicklaus, the Legion Commander himself. This mission won't just test your strength; it will test your resolve. Are you prepared for that?"

"Yes, Father," Jingwei replied firmly, his tone unwavering. "I won't fail."

Jingwei stood, ready to leave, but Shenlog's voice stopped him. "Wait."

Shenlog's stern face tightened as Jingwei prepared to leave his office. Before his son could exit, Shenlog's voice, laced with both authority and frustration, broke the silence.

"Jingwei," he said sharply, "I've heard no word of Drake."

Jingwei paused, his back still turned, but his shoulders stiffened. He knew where this conversation was going.

Shenlog continued, his tone hard and unforgiving. "He's the only one in the Dōbutsuji family who failed to harness our abilities. Our lineage, our name—it's tied to the animal kingdom. Our mastery of animal spirits, our physical transformations, our bond with nature itself—that's what defines us. It's what makes us strong."

Jingwei turned slightly, his voice measured. "Drake… is different. He's special in his own way."

"Special?" Shenlog scoffed, leaning back in his chair. "He's foolish. The Dōbutsuji legacy is one of power and respect. He's done nothing but tarnish it."

Jingwei didn't respond, knowing that arguing would only fuel Shenlog's anger. Instead, he gave a respectful nod. "Good night, Father."

As Jingwei exited, Shenlog muttered under his breath, "Stupid." He turned back to his desk, his eyes lingering on the glowing map of Blackstone. His focus returned to the mission ahead, though the lingering shadow of family disappointment clouded his thoughts.

In a dimly lit bulker tucked deep within the Free World, Jin sat at a small wooden table, nibbling on an apple. The room was modest, cluttered with scrolls, books, and artifacts of unknown origins. Jin's thoughts were restless, his mind replaying fragments of his vision of Rex.

A soft whoosh of displaced air startled him as Seiji materialized out of thin air, standing behind him with a playful grin. Jin nearly choked on his bite of apple, coughing as he turned to face his teacher.

"Can you stop doing that?" Jin exclaimed, clutching his chest. "One day, you're going to give me a heart attack!"

Seiji laughed, his easygoing demeanor as infuriating as ever. "You'd survive it, Jin. You're tougher than you look."

Jin shook his head, exasperated. "What do you want?"

Seiji's smile faded slightly as he pulled out a chair and sat across from Jin, his expression turning serious. "I wanted to talk about your vision. The one of Rex."

Jin stiffened, his grip tightening on the apple in his hand. "What about it?"

Seiji leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand. "You mentioned fragments—pieces that didn't make sense. Tell me, was there anything in that vision that stood out? Anything that might give us a clue?"

Jin frowned, his gaze distant as he tried to recall. "It's hard to explain. The visions were… scattered. Like broken glass. But there was one thing. A word. Black. I saw the word black, but I couldn't make out the rest."

Seiji's eyes lit up with understanding. "Blackstone."

Jin's head snapped up. "What?"

Seiji smiled faintly. "Blackstone City. That's where we're going tomorrow. And if your vision is right, it might be where Rex is."

The weight of Seiji's words hit Jin like a tidal wave. A mixture of hope and dread washed over him. "So… there's a chance I can save him?"

Seiji nodded. "That's the plan. But it won't be easy. Blackstone isn't just another city—it's a fortress ruled by the Shadow Council. This mission will test you, Jin, in ways you can't imagine."

Jin's heart raced with anticipation, but a shadow of doubt crept into his mind. "What if… what if I fail? What if I'm not strong enough?"

Seiji reached across the table, placing a reassuring hand on Jin's shoulder. "You've come this far, haven't you? Trust in your training. Trust in yourself. And remember—you're not alone in this."

Jin nodded, his resolve strengthening. "I'll do whatever it takes to save Rex."

"Good," Seiji said, standing and stretching lazily. "Get some rest. We leave early tomorrow."

Jin watched as Seiji disappeared into another room, his mind buzzing with thoughts of the mission ahead. His fists clenched as he whispered to himself, "I'll save you, Rex. No matter what."

The chapter ends with a view of Shenlog standing in his office, staring out at the moonlit city. In the distance, the faint hum of preparation echoed through the Free World. In another part of the city, Jin sat in silence, staring at the apple in his hand, his determination solidifying with each passing moment.

The stage was set. Tomorrow, they would enter Blackstone.