Shadow Bug

Jason: [WHITE: STRIKING VOLTAGE]

Giles: [BLACK: ARTISTIC ANIMATION]

Giles quickly sketched a brick wall to shield himself from Jason's lightning strike. However, Jason shattered the wall and struck Giles, sending him flying back. The damage, though, was dampened as Giles activated his Harmonic Mantle Essence.

Jason: (thinking) He's using Harmonic Mantle Essence to weaken my attacks every time. (aloud, to Giles) How long are you going to keep this up?

Giles: Shut up! (thinking) Even with Harmonic Mantle Essence, his attacks still leave considerable damage.

Jason: Wanna call it quits? I'm supposed to take you in.

Giles: HMPH!! Like I'd let you.

Jason: (laughs) You don't have to let me. I can force you, and there won't be any Harmonic Mantle left to save you.

Giles: (thinking) He's pushed me far enough to use my trump card. (aloud) Well, since you've forced my hand, no more holding back.

Jason: (surprised) "Holding back?" What does he mean?

Giles: [PERFECT MANIFESTATION: ART—] (His phone suddenly rings.)

Giles pauses to answer, and Jason overhears the words "It's done" from the other end of the line.

Jason: What was that about??

Giles:(sighs) Guess we'll finish this another time. I've got to go.

Jason: You think I'd let you run?

Giles opens his book, and the same winged shadow monster that had brought them appears. He hops onto its back as it prepares to ascend. But Jason charges up, cloaking himself in lightning, and dashes toward them.

Giles counters by summoning a flowing river from his book, which pushes Jason back and disrupts his lightning. Laughing, he flies away with the shadow monster.

Meanwhile, Marlo and Dylan are locked in a fierce, hand-to-hand battle. Giles and the shadow monster suddenly appear, and Dylan understands it's time to go. Giles draws a rope, which Dylan grabs onto as it passes by.

Dylan: (to Marlo) Bye bye.

Marlo: HOLD IT!!!! (He immediately chases them.)

Marlo leaps up, climbing trees to reach them, but as he gets close, Dylan unleashes a barrage of ice slashes, the same ones he had absorbed from Marlo earlier. The attack catches Marlo off guard, allowing the shadow monster to carry them safely away.

Giles surveys the area and notices that both Annie and Veto have been captured by Haruto.

Dylan: Shouldn't we go back and rescue them?

Giles: Too risky. I can tell that the stitches guy will take us out in one fell swoop so I suggest we retreat.

Dylan: But won't they go ahead and reveal our plans?

Giles: True, but Zero already planned for this incase anyone got captured. You're the new guy so there's a lot you don't know.

Dylan: That's true.

Giles: Then let's get outta here.

Jason soon joins Marlo, watching the shadow monster disappear into the sky. Jason then helps Takimo and the others return to the academy, where Lisa and Koichi had already dealt with the remaining shadow monsters.

Within the hour, Marlo and Jason eliminate the last of the shadow monsters on the examination grounds. The injured students are taken to the academy's hospital.

By afternoon, things have calmed down.

Veto and Karla (along with Annie's soul) were arrested and brought to the HFA headquarters for interrogation.

News spreads across the country that the Hunter Force Academy was attacked by none other than the terrorist group, the Kaimi Daja. Gabriel, however, refuses to comment when a large crowd of journalists arrives at headquarters in the afternoon.

Meanwhile, Jason is assigned to interrogate the two Kaimi Daja members captured during the attack.

First, Jason questions Veto, who stubbornly remains silent. He then moves on to Karla, who has regained control over her body.

Jason: Hey there, Karla.

Karla: (downcast) I'm sorry Mr Jason. I'm really sorry that I betrayed you. I didn't want to. It was.....

Jason: Silva and Tendo already explained everything. Your sister's soul is inside you. You didn't harm Kazemaru or Terry—that was her. But the fact remains, Karla, that you and your sister were part of a terrorist group that infiltrated the HFA. I can't protect you from the consequences.

Karla: I know. I'm ready to face the consequences of my actions. And I'll answer any questions you have about the Kaimi Daja because, as of today, I'm no longer one of them.

Jason: (surprised) You're making this easier than I expected. Alright, my first question: why did the Kaimi Daja choose to attack today? What was their objective?

Karla: The entire attack was a distraction.

Jason: (thinking) I knew something was off about this. (aloud) A distraction from what?

Karla: Well… (Suddenly, a Level 3 Hunter bursts into the room.)

Jason: What is it? I'm in the middle of an interrogation.

Level 3 Hunter: I'm sorry sir, but we just got a call from RigSville sir. There's been an incident.

Jason: Incident?

Level 3 Hunter: Yes sir. It's about Mr Joshua sir.

Jason recalled his conversation with Joshua the previous day, remembering that Joshua had gone to Rigsville for a requested mission.

Jason: What happened with Joshua?

Level 3 Hunter: Sir, Mr Joshua is...…