Turning to address his fellow agents, Kagaro continued, "Agent 43 - Yone Ken, Agent 52 - Shimin Jaienta, and Agent 67 - Jenna Ornard. I command you to engage in battle against the type A Jenemes before us."

With Jenna standing beside him, Kagaro's words hung in the air, setting the stage for a confrontation with the formidable adversaries.

***

CHAPTER EIGHT
EMERGENCE

Shimin's gaze flicked briefly toward Jenna before she planted herself firmly on the breaking rooftop of the under-construction building. With resolve in her heart, she summoned her loyal companion, Moichi. As all the stars stood beside their owners, Kagaro signaled their involvement with a swift gesture of his hand, marking the beginning of their coordinated attack.

Despite their embarrassment and shame, Hibiki and Satar followed every command of their respective owners, their previous conflict momentarily forgotten in the face of the greater threat before them.

With determination etched on their faces, the agents and their stars prepared for what was to be held before them.

***

"You told me you don't remember the name of your star? But you called it Hibiki right? Isn't that the name?" Shimin had asked Jenna before the star training had begun.

"Yeah. I don't know his name. Hibiki is the name given to him. In the star world there is no star called Hibiki and he hasn't mentioned his real name even to me yet..."

***

Hibiki soared through the sky, swiftly reaching Jenna and whisking her away from the danger of the collapsing building. Meanwhile, another explosion rocked the area, sending unguarded agents flying through the air.

As the dust settled, the invaders remained aloft in the sky, their sinister smiles casting an eerie aura over the scene. Kagaro's voice cut through the tension, his words laced with determination and resolve. "If you are an A type Jeneme, I'm sure you are very strong. But you definitely can't win against spirits."

"I am Liza," one of them began in a feminine voice, her words sending shivers down Kagaro's spine. The ability of these Jenemes to speak in human voices was unsettling, especially considering their monstrous forms. "And these are Yuzu and Hito."

As Liza spoke, Kagaro couldn't help but feel a sense of dread creeping over him. Jenemes typically lost their ability to act rationally in their monstrous forms, yet here stood three who seemed fully in control of their faculties. It was a clear indication of the danger they posed.

Liza raised herself higher into the sky, her cloak billowing behind her, revealing black boots beneath. Shimin's gaze shifted to the flying gear around Liza's waist, a device she recognized with a sinking feeling.

With a simple gesture of her hand, Liza exerted an immense pressure, sending Hibiki hurtling away, crashing into the forest beyond. Jenna watched in horror as Kagaro fell to the ground nearby, his body limp and unmoving.

The sight of her comrades incapacitated filled Jenna with a surge of fear and determination. With trembling hands, she reached out to her own star.

Yuzu's ability to manipulate the air left Shimin gasping for breath, her throat constricted as if squeezed in a vise. Desperately, she clawed at her neck, struggling to draw in even a single breath.

Moichi, Shimin's faithful star, transformed into a machine gun and advanced towards Yuzu. With a trembling hand, Shimin grasped the weapon and pulled the trigger, unleashing a barrage of bullets towards their foe. Despite the onslaught, Yuzu remained seemingly unharmed, his smirk mocking their efforts.

Meanwhile, Yone locked eyes with Hito, a sense of determination burning within him. Though Hito's gaze was hidden, Yone could feel the smugness emanating from him. With a flick of his wrist, Hito sent a powerful blast of wind towards Yone, knocking him off balance and causing a sharp pain to shoot through his injured leg.

Satar, sensing Yone's distress, transformed into Kronos' sickle, the only weapon Yone had mastered. Despite his injury, Yone held onto the sickle tightly.

With a surge of determination, Yone propelled himself forward, his legs bearing the weight of his injured body as he closed the distance to Hito in a matter of moments. Swinging his sickle with precision, Yone aimed for his opponent's face, but Hito was quick to dodge, twirling out of harm's way.

Undeterred, Yone pursued Hito relentlessly, his movements fluid and determined. As the intense battle raged on, Anisole, sensing Kagaro's distress, swooped down towards his injured owner. With a command from Kagaro, Anisole transformed into a sky whip, a formidable weapon in their arsenal.

Kagaro, now armed with the sky whip, rose to his feet and leaped into action, hurtling through the air towards Yuzu, who posed a grave threat to Shimin. With determination burning in his eyes, Kagaro prepared to confront their foe head-on, ready to protect his comrades at any cost.

***

Yone lay sprawled amidst the rubble, his body battered and broken, yet his gaze remained sharp as he surveyed the scene before him. His injured eye throbbed with pain, a stark reminder of the brutal battle they had endured.

His attention shifted to Shimin and Kagaro, who sat slumped against each other, their once-strong bodies now ravaged by wounds. Nearby, Jenna lay curled up, her fingers mangled and bruised, unable to muster the strength to defend herself.

As Liza approached Jenna, Yone felt a surge of anger and helplessness wash over him. He clenched his fists, unable to intervene as Liza seized Jenna's shoulder badge, a symbol of her connection to her star.

"This was a waste of time, seriously," Liza remarked, crouching in front of Jenna. "Your organization takes pride in you star bearers, isn't it?"

Jenna, her voice barely a whisper, tried to push herself back, but her defeated body refused to cooperate.

Jenna's fingers tightened around Liza's ankle, her determination driving her to reclaim her badge even in the face of adversity. Despite Liza's attempts to shake her off, Jenna held on stubbornly, refusing to let go. Yone watched with growing anger as Liza mocked Jenna's efforts, his frustration boiling over at the sight of her humiliation.

"HEY! WHAT'S YOUR DEAL? WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS!" Yone's voice thundered, his clenched fist striking the ground beside him, the plaster on his injured arm crumbling under the force of his anger.

Liza's indifference only fueled Yuzu's disdain for their plight as he approached Yone, his contemptuous gaze fixed on the injured agent. With a smirk, Yuzu seated himself in front of Yone, relishing in the opportunity to further belittle their adversaries.

"You all are pathetic," Yuzu taunted, his words dripping with mockery. "You think you can defeat our kind because you have some dead people supporting you?"

Kagaro's response was swift and resolute, his voice cutting through the tension in the air. As he stood up, brushing off his cloak and assisting Shimin to her feet, he refused to tolerate Yuzu's insolence any longer.

"Alright, now that's crossing the line," Kagaro declared firmly, his gaze unwavering as he confronted their adversaries. Yuzu sneered in response, but Kagaro's defiance only served to further fuel his contempt. With deliberate malice, Yuzu pressed down on Yone's already wounded arm, eliciting a cry of agony from the injured agent.

Kagaro's swift retaliation sent Yuzu crashing to the ground, his figure pinned beneath Kagaro's feet as he loomed over him with a mixture of satisfaction and revenge in his voice.

"How does it feel now that you're the one in pain?" Kagaro's words rang out with a fervor as he addressed their assailant, his gaze unwavering as he confronted the source of their torment.

Yuzu struggled to rise, but Kagaro's next move was just as decisive. With a call to Anisole, Kagaro shattered the rubble pinning Yone, allowing him to rise to his knees.

"I don't know what you guys are, or what you're after, but bad-mouthing our spirits, especially Satar, will cost you dearly," Kagaro warned, his tone firm and resolute.

"And we're never alone," Yone added, a defiant smile playing on his lips as he stood beside Kagaro.

The sudden appearance of Satar and Hibiki added to the tension, their formidable presence amplifying the resolve of the JEO agents. With a glance from Hibiki, the air rippled around them, sending their adversaries flying with ease.

As the battle unfolded, Satar approached Yone, concern evident in her demeanor. His response was filled with disbelief at the magnitude of the situation unfolding before them.

Hibiki's relentless onslaught sent their foes crashing back to the rooftop, where they were left to ponder the events that had transpired. Amidst the chaos, Satar delivered a sobering truth, revealing the consequences of underestimating their adversaries.

"The more you fight a star, the stronger we become," Satar explained, her words a warning to their vanquished foes. "If you defeat us, we'll only come back stronger."

With a final laugh, the assailants disappeared in a cloud of smoke, leaving behind a bewildered group of JEO agents to contemplate the identity and motives of their enigmatic adversaries.

"Exactly who were they?" Yone's question hung in the air, unanswered and lingering like a shadow over their shattered rooftop battlefield.