To Kill The Dead

The wind howled over the gutted remains of the old train station where the group had taken shelter. Rusted girders stretched toward the smoke-choked sky, and the last rays of sun bathed everything in a dusty gold.

Kanata stood alone at the edge of a broken platform, staring across the skyline.

There it was.

Shinjuku Base. Towering steel walls. Barricades lined with mounted guns. Guard patrols in all-black armor moved like clockwork. From this distance, it looked perfect — untouched by the decay surrounding it.

But perfection didn’t exist anymore.

Behind him, voices rose in argument.

"I say we head north," Godou-sensei said, arms crossed. "There’s a Safe Sky outpost rumored beyond the mountains. Real survivors. Real defense. Not this twisted puppet base."

"And leave Kanata’s sister behind?" Serizawa snapped. "We’re not doing that."

"You think she’s even alive?" Godou asked sharply. "Do you know what they do inside those walls?"

Kanami flinched. "We can’t know unless we go."

Takiya’s voice cut through, calm but resolute. "Then we gather intel. Move smart. Rushing in helps no one."