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The days following Akio's mother's funeral were a blur of grief and emptiness. Akio had lost the one person who had always been there for him, and the pain was unbearable. To distract himself from the overwhelming sadness, Akio threw himself into running and managing The Metal Dragon, the pub he had built from scratch. The daily routine provided a temporary escape, a way to avoid thinking about his mother's absence.
One night, as Akio was closing up The Metal Dragon, he heard a faint whisper, a voice that sounded eerily familiar. At first, he dismissed it as his imagination playing tricks on him. But as he continued to wipe off the bar and put up the chairs, the voice grew louder, calling his name.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWS17axJXo
Curiosity and a tinge of fear compelled Akio to investigate. He walked toward the front door and opened it, peering out onto the empty street. There was no one in sight, and the night seemed as ordinary as ever. The streetlights flickered, and the chorus of tree frogs filled the air. Akio shrugged off the strange occurrence and closed and locked the door, returning to his cleaning duties.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8YNNe6fFu
But then, he heard it again. His mother's voice, was clear and unmistakable, telling him that she was not dead. Akio's heart raced, and a chill ran down his spine. Could it be his mother's spirit trying to reach out to him?
Unable to ignore the voice any longer, Akio unlocked the door and cautiously stepped out onto the street. "Hello? Is anyone out here?" he called out, his voice filled with a mix of hope and apprehension.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SFYEkE3gX
To his surprise, the voice responded, confirming that it was indeed his mother. Akio's eyes widened, and he desperately searched for any sign of her presence. "Mom, are you here?" he asked, his voice trembling.Yes, Akio, I'm here," the voice replied.
Akio's heart leaped with joy, and he turned around, expecting to see his mother standing behind him. But instead, he came face to face with a horrifying sight. The figure before him resembled his mother, but its face transformed into a grotesque mask, filled with razor-sharp teeth and menacing claws. The creature let out a blood-curdling scream, freezing Akio in fear.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7EYO7Bmux3
Just as Akio thought his world was about to crumble, a figure emerged from the shadows. The mysterious figure moved with lightning speed, tearing the demonic creature known as Shikushiko into pieces. The remnants of the creature turned into black smoke and dissipated into thin air.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2gZh83vfBa
Akio stood there, his body still pressed against the wall of The Metal Dragon, unable to comprehend what had just happened. He stared at the cloaked figure, who pulled down his mask, revealing himself to be Hiro.A mix of shock and relief washed over Akio as he stammered, "I thought you were dead."181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRhNw7GRvs
Hiro replied calmly, "I was," and proceeded to recount what had transpired after the explosion, explaining his miraculous survival and the events that led him to this moment.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifgZfw4Q6f
Akio could hardly find the words to express his gratitude or his amazement at Hiro's unexpected appearance. He simply stood there, his heart filled with a newfound sense of hope, knowing that he was not alone in this battle against the supernatural forces that threatened his life and The Metal Dragon.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1AhRK4LKb
