Scarlet Tears- Primal

The moon shone faintly through the sterile windows of the underground lab, its glow a cold witness to the fear that clung to Seraphine's soul.

She moved silently, mopping the floor where Ingress had nearly choked the life out of her. Each sweep of the mop whispered a single desperate prayer: Even if Kazimir is exactly what Ingress says... please, let him kill that monster. No matter what it costs.

Behind her, the hiss of containment tubes signaled a dark beginning. Tojo and Xavier—former allies, now resurrected puppets—opened their eyes. Hollow. Controlled. Weapons.

Ingress stood at the center of it all, arms folded, his silhouette crowned by the lab's cold lights. Power surged through him, his smirk spreading like a shadow.

Invisible drones zipped through hidden air ducts—preparation for a global broadcast. His show. His declaration.

Daylight would be his curtain rise.

Ingress (murmuring):"Count your final hours, Kazimir. This will be your last run."

"You were a fool to trust humans. And Riah... maybe I'll take her after I kill you. Turn her into a vampire. Make her cry for you. And then forget you, like all women eventually do."

"I'll be the strongest. The new anchor of humanity. Brace yourself, boy… I'm going to enjoy killing you."

Elsewhere... in the Prismic Gathering Mansion

"PFFFFFT!"

Flour exploded in Kazimir's face as he turned the hallway corner. His hair, black with faint blue tips, became a powdered mess. His sharp expression didn't even flinch.

Laughter echoed around him.

He blinked slowly, recognizing the chaos.

"Riah… Gendai… Jessie… Neve," he muttered.

They were gone before he could react, vanishing into the shadows of the mansion.

Kazimir walked calmly to a faucet, rinsing the flour from his face.

Meanwhile, three voices whispered from a nearby room.

Tyrone (grumbling):"Why are we playing hide and seek like we're ten years old?"

Kamaki (whispering):"You think we had a choice? You never beat the girls when they plan together."

Raijin (smirking):"This ain't even regular hide-and-seek. We're hiding from a guy who doesn't even need his eyes."

Kamaki (confused):"What do you mean by that?"

Raijin:"He used to fight with a blindfold. Took out A-rank beasts like it was nothing. I lost to him like that."

Kamaki (gaping):"That's... kind of badass—oh wait! Shh! He's close. Play dead!"

Kazimir opened the next room. Energy was masked well—but not enough.

He looked under the bed and locked eyes with Felicia.

Kazimir:"Found you."

Felicia (groaning):"Man, how?!"

Kazimir (smirking):"Horror game tactic. Always check under the bed."

As she reluctantly followed him, Kazimir circled back and swiftly spotted Tyrone behind a door, Kamaki latched to the ceiling like a spider, and Raijin lying stiff in a closet.

Raijin (defeated):"The Fed got us."

Tyrone:"Remind me to never rob a bank with you three."

Kazimir:"Kamaki, why the ceiling?"

Kamaki (shrugging):"Panic."

They searched for twenty more minutes before heading to the basement.

Dark. Silent. Flashlights flickered across old stone walls.

Kazimir paused.

A whisper.

Neve:"Girls! Now! Before he finds us!"

"PFFFFT!" Another cloud of flour struck him.

Kazimir (deadpan):"Is this hide-and-seek or hunt the warlord?"

He raised a hand.

Kazimir:"World Clock."

Time slowed to a crawl. Everyone froze. Only their voices moved.

Tyrone:"Well damn. That sucks."

Raijin:"Personally? I'd crash out."

Kamaki:"On god, I'd do it too. Ain't no way—"

Neve (pouting):"YOU CHEATER! YOU STOPPED TIME!"

Riah:"BAD KAZIMIR!"

Gendai:"VERY bad!"

Jessie:"I'LL BEAT YOUR ASS FOR CHEATING!"

Raijin (to Tyrone):"He's about to get jumped. I'm crying."

Tyrone:"I'm not saving him. I value my life."

Kamaki:"I can regenerate. I'll take one for the team."

Raijin:"Respect."

Kazimir raised his hands and ended World Clock.

Kazimir:"Okay, okay! I got floured twice. I'm calling it fair."

Riah (marching up):"Nuh uh."

Kazimir:"What do you mean 'nuh uh'? That's totally fair."

Neve crossed her arms beside Riah. Jessie and Gendai joined, forming a semicircle of doom.

All of them stood barely a meter away, heads tilted up to glare.

Kazimir:"...Am I about to get jumped?"

Raijin (choking back emotion):"Bro's lucky. I wish that was me."

Tyrone:"Dude's out here fighting gods and losing to girlfriends and sister."

Kamaki:"We wouldn't survive a second."

Riah reached up and pinched his cheek hard.

Kazimir (breaking character):"Ow—okay, okay!"

Neve:"The tough guy's gone! He's human after all!"

Jessie:"Execute him!"

Riah (smirking):"Since you cheated, we win. That means… you cook tonight."

Kazimir:"At this hour?!"

Riah (pushing him):"Into the kitchen, pretty boy."

Kazimir (groaning):"Guess it's time to unleash my Gordon Ramsay arc."

Riah:"You better not disappoint."

Tyrone:"Yo, don't we have maids? We making Kazimir cook?!"

Raijin:"He already lost."

Kamaki:"Even legends can't dodge girl power."

Felicia:"Rare Kazimir L. Deserved."

Suddenly, Lihanna appeared from outside.

Jessie:"Where were you?!"

Lihanna (flatly):"In a tree."

Everyone stared.

Jessie:"Get your ass in the kitchen too. Outside's off-limits."

Lihanna:"Ughh. Fine."

Soon, everyone was gathered around the mansion's long dinner table—laughing, bickering, sharing stories like children clinging to joy before a storm.

In the kitchen, Kazimir and Lihanna prepared dishes side by side.

Tomorrow, the war would come again.

But tonight… they were just people.

And that was enough.