"The youthful, embracing sea, decorated with waves..." "The water's edge hides the peaceful corpses of the dead." "The meld of souls that fashions itself into a Koromo... triggers the whistling of the winter winds." "Asuka Chapter Three" "Look here." "So frigid." "You've changed your tune since you agreed to this." "That's not true." "C'mon, let's chat." "Chat?" "About what?" "What we were talking about earlier — the Red Army hunting people." "I've already told you all I know." "It's not like I've seen it happen." "I don't know the details." "You really don't know anything else?" "Have you heard those rumors about vampires?" "Vampires?" "Like Count Dracula?" "Yeah, something like that." "I've heard there have been some prowling around the city lately." "You reckon the Great Disaster caused that too?" "I'm guessing so." "I hear they've got pointy fangs as well." "They find hot chicks and jump them like this!" "That's gonna take you into overtime rates." "Come again soon." "Did you get anything useful, Rai?" "Nothing solid." "Just rumors." "What's all this about vampires anyway?" "Makes me laugh." "Why don't you stop whoring yourself out then?" "I'm not suited to getting information the respectable way." "What about you?" "Have you found anyone who's good in a fight yet?" "Not yet." "I've worn my shoes down to their soles looking, and some nasty characters have started watching me." "You poor bastard." "That means I win our little bet." "Hold on there." "I've still got time." "You want to sleep with me that badly?" "Guess so." "Where are you off to?" "Looking for customers." "Meet me at Sakafune at nine, okay?" "I'll be waiting." "I say that, but I still have no clue where to start, huh?" "Hey, Bro, you looking for some fun?" "What name does this metropolis go by?" "What?" "What name do you give to this country?" "Come again?" "That guy ain't right in the head." "Hey there, what are you doing up there?" "What is this place?" "Huh?" "This is Asuka." "Asuka..." "Yamato?" "That weapon of his looks dangerous." "H-Hey now!" "Wait a second!" "Excuse me." "Where are you from?" "Are you looking for someone?" "My sword." "That kid just fleeced you." "You're best off forgetting about it." "You won't see it again." "Hey old man, I've got a question for you." "Oh, Mr. Karuta." "Are there any trades going on in these parts?" "Yeah, there are." "Today and tomorrow, there's one in Ashikari." "Are the Yukigumi organizing it?" "No, the Kazegumi." "Really?" "Thanks very much." "Oh, Mr. Karuta!" "Hi, Miss Izumi." "As always, you look great today." "What's the rush, Karuta?" "You playing around again?" "Just on a job." "Roll up!" "Give it here." "Looks cheap." "There it is—" "Hey, what do you want?" "!" "What are you doing?" "!" "You got some nerve!" "You cocksucker!" "You're asking for it..." "Wait!" "Wait!" "Mr. Karuta!" "I'll take care of this." "Let me buy this sword off you." "If that's how it is, please just take it for free." "Oh, really?" "Such kindness." "Come on, let's go." "I proffer my apologies to you." "What for?" "This is mine now." "If you want it back, you'd better follow me." "I'm heading for a shop called Sakafune." "So, Kuro, where are you from?" "Even after boozing, you don't speak much." "Over there..." "Huh?" "That's a painting by Tonba." "He's one of our bosses." "He's always sketching." "That's a scene from the Great Disaster." "The Great Disaster?" "When the stars fell to Earth for seven days straight." "Why don't I just start from the beginning?" "Twenty-four years ago, there was an asteroid heading towards the Earth." "Every country sent their nukes up to destroy it, but... they didn't make it in time. {I think this may be mistimed}" "During the chaos, some countries also fired missiles at other countries instead of the asteroid." "Nation after nation fell under the attack, leading to the destruction of all the world powers." "Even so, up until that point, a seventh of the world's population had survived." "But what came next for these survivors, and for every living creature on the planet..." "Well, it was another eye-opener." "It was a nuclear winter." "The nuclear winter lasted for over a year." "It took two and a half years for a weak sun to bring us daylight again." "During this period, the populace of Japan reduced to a sliver of what it had once been." "By that time, television and radio transmissions had ceased, so how could anyone be aware of the full extent of the world's plight?" "No human, without substantial exertion, should have been able to acquire such knowledge." "Do you not agree?" "What say you, Kuro?" "You're telling me it was the Red Emperor?" "!" "Yes." "What does this mean?" "Why have they come here?" "!" "I'm guessing it's to do with their people hunting." "I'm heading over there now." "Take the weapons to Sakafune—" "Rai!" "Rai!" "Get those lights turned off this instant!" "Go to the painting." "Go and hide behind the painting." "You don't mean..." "Yes." "It's the Red Army." "Take this." "Thanks." "Karuta, can you hear me?" "Rai, are you all right?" "The Red Army's helicopters are heading your way." "How many are we facing?" "Give me a second." "There's a six man scout team coming towards you." "They're about fifteen meters from the entrance." "You've got thirty seconds!" "Got it." "Come now, you too." "Kuro!" "That was a close one." "Still, you've got some muscle there." "If there comes a time when you have convalesced from your wounds, we shall meet again." "What's he up to?" "Next Chapter" "The Haniwa Next Chapter" "The Haniwa"