On Top of the Food Chain

Kazuki, Rika, and Junpei stood on the hill, the lush green trees and grass around them swaying gently in the cool breeze. The sun was high, casting a warm glow over the landscape, while the distant town lay beneath them, serene and picturesque.

Kazuki sat cross-legged on the ground, his eyes closed in deep concentration, attempting to awaken his Aura. He looked like he was doing a yoga meditation, his face scrunched up in frustration as he struggled to feel any trace of power within him. A few days had passed, yet he still couldn't feel it within him.

Junpei, dressed in his usual dark attire, watched Kazuki's efforts with a stern expression. Rika, clad in a light colored tracksuit, leaned against a nearby tree, her eyes reflecting indifference as she gazed at the town below.

"Stop," Junpei said abruptly, breaking the silence. Kazuki opened his eyes, a mix of disappointment and determination evident in his gaze.

"If you're not able to awaken your Aura right now, let me give you a little rundown of how it works, it might give you some kind of enlightenment," Junpei continued. Kazuki stood up, his shoulders slumped slightly but his eyes fixed on Junpei, eager to learn.

"There are two ways in which Aura can be used, one is internal usage, which you are able to feel, and the other is manifestation," Junpei said with his hands in his pocket.

"There are three stages to mastering Aura manifestation," Junpei explained. "The first is actually manifesting it, like how Rika made her claws."

The image of Rika's cyan-colored Aura flashed in his mind, and with that frustration came. Looking at the wound on his palm, he felt even worse.

"The second stage," Junpei went on, "is creating stuff you can detach from your body, like carving out a needle you could throw. It takes a lot of concentration to pull off something like that."

Junpei lifted his hand, and a deep purple Aura coalesced into a karambit knife. He spun it with precision, the blade gleaming ominously in the sunlight. Kazuki's eyes followed the movement, a spark of determination igniting within him.

"And the third step," Junpei said, his voice lowering as the karambit faded away, "is creating Aura that is not rigid and can be flexible."

From Junpei's back, a long tail-like structure began to protrude, made entirely of the same devious purple Aura. It extended at least two meters, undulating like a living serpent. The tail's surface was smooth and sleek, yet the end was razor-sharp, glowing menacingly even in the sunlight.

Kazuki stared in astonishment as the shadow cast by the tail covered him completely. The contrast of the sun behind Junpei and the dark, ethereal Aura tail created a striking image, amplifying the sense of power..

Junpei's expression remained calm and focused. "This is the final stage. Creating Aura that is flexible, yet deadly."

Kazuki's heart pounded in his chest as he looked at Junpei's Aura tail, determination flooding his veins. He clenched his fists, feeling a faint, almost imperceptible pulse of energy within him. It wasn't much, but it was a start.

"These stages are just a framework I've created for you to understand," Junpei said, his voice steady. "For now, just focus on creating a horn."

Kazuki nodded, determination etched on his face as he closed his eyes and went back to visualizing the horn on his forehead.

Junpei walked over to where Rika was leaning against the tree, positioning himself so their conversation wouldn't reach Kazuki's ears. The breeze played with Rika's hair and the leaves around them, adding a touch of serenity to the moment.

"Why do you bring me with you?" Rika asked, a hint of annoyance in her voice. "It's so boring."

"No particular reason," Junpei replied, his tone casual. "I just want you to build a rapport with him." He took out the necklace tucked away inside his clothes, hidden from everyone.

"Why is that?" Rika inquired, her curiosity piqued.

"I believe he'll create huge waves in the near future," Junpei said, his gaze drifting to the chain necklace hanging around his neck. "And when that happens, having a connection with him will be invaluable."

***

Naito sat in the dimly lit bar, the same one where he had met his friends earlier. The atmosphere was lively, with laughter and music filling the air, yet a sense of unease lingered in Naito's mind. Beside him sat Subaru, who, even in a casual setting like this, exuded an air of elegance. Subaru sipped on a glass of wine, his demeanor calm and composed.

"A Ghoul that enticed you with her body, took you to a desolate place, and was going to attack you? It has to be that wench, Wienerliebhaberin," Subaru said, his tone laced with disdain.

"The Hotdog Lover," Naito muttered, recalling the name given to the infamous Ghoul. She had a chilling reputation for devouring average-looking men and leaving only their crotches at the scene, grotesquely detached from their bodies. Naito shuddered at the memory. "If I hadn't heard the faint sound Aura makes on materialization, I would be dead," he said, sweating profusely.

Subaru smiled, a knowing glint in his eye. "It seems that fate really wanted this to happen."

Naito frowned, confusion mixing with his lingering fear. "What do you mean?" he asked, looking at Subaru intently.

"I actually brought you to Osaka to be bait for that Ghoul," Subaru replied, his smile widening as he took another sip of his wine.

Naito's eyes widened in shock, and he felt a surge of anger. "What do you mean?" he exclaimed, his voice rising.

Subaru shrugged nonchalantly, still calm and composed. "I originally wanted to use you as bait, and then catch that Ghoul, you look just like her ideal type. Wienerliebhaberin has been a thorn in our side for too long. Amano was dispatched to deal with her, but I can't let him be the one to bring her down."

"I would've brought someone like Akemi instead, don't you think? I had to leave her back there to keep track of our lead to the Black Market." He continued.

Naito clenched his fists, his mind racing. "What are we going to do? And what do you mean I'm her ideal type," he asked, his voice trembling with a mix of anger and fear.

"Ghouls have been moving towards Kyoto, and I think we might Wienerliebhaberin there," Subaru said, his tone matter-of-fact. "A fight club of sorts has started gaining a lot of traction from both Ghouls and Awakened, I think it would be the perfect place to gain an upper hand against Amado."

"And that masked person, either they were not a Ghoul or were very strong. Maybe stronger than me. Your ability was even able to make the strongest Ghouls we have fought flinch a little, but being completely immune to it is a sign of being a human or being a very strong Ghoul. "

Naito stared at Subaru, a mixture of emotions swirling within him. He felt betrayed, yet there was a grudging respect for Subaru's calculated coldness. "What do you mean? If we fight that person, we will win, right?" he asked, trying to keep his voice steady.

"It'd be a little hard," Subaru said, his eyes gleaming with a cold determination. "But, we will win."