Although most of them managed to find solid ground after hearing the chief's response and escaping the sea of depression Thomas's words had plunged them into, the vice-captain wasn't so fortunate.

He remained silent, the chief's words doing little to ease the thoughts that had begun taking root in his mind. Instead, Thomas's question had struck a nerve.

For the first time, he was forced to consider the possibility that he was just as useless as the ordinary members and senior scouts around him. He couldn't sense the demons in the city. He couldn't sense the darkness spreading through the atmosphere.

At first, he had assumed the demons were simply...