Jensu woke up in a room inside the Organization. He opened his eyes to see Thalin standing before him.
"Oh… so you're finally awake."
Jensu looked at him, trying to greet him, but then noticed his hands were bound to the bed with heavy chains, wrapped in talismans covered in strange symbols.
"What is this, Master?"
"Well… I'll ask you a question first. Answer me honestly."
Jensu stared at Thalin in confusion. Thalin stepped closer… For a moment, Jensu thought he was imagining it, but he felt as if he could see Thalin's eyes beneath the shadow of his hood—sharp from the intensity of his gaze.
Thalin asked,
"Tell me… who is speaking to me right now? Jensu… or Kaizen?"
Jensu's eyes widened.
"What? It's me, Master—Jensu. I swear."
Thalin studied him carefully, then suddenly laughed.
"Oh, alright, alright. I believe you! Hahaha."
Jensu looked at him and thought, What a truly strange person…
Thalin continued,
"So, Jensu… do you remember anything that happened yesterday?"
"…Yes. I remember."
Flash—
He remembered Nairobi lying dead.
He remembered the battle.
He remembered Kaizen.
"Master… what happened to Nairobi's body?"
"We retrieved it from the battlefield. The funeral will be held three days from now."
"…I see. Thank you, Master."
Jensu lowered his gaze to his bound hands, holding back his tears.
"Tell me, Jensu… what happened there?"
Jensu began recounting the battle and how the Yami had tortured him.
"I lost consciousness after that… but I fought someone inside my own mind. I don't know what it was… but somehow, I managed to stop him."
Thalin's expression sharpened.
"Stop him? How did you stop him?"
"We made a contract… and after that, I was able to return to my body."
"…So you sealed him?"
"Yes. That's what happened, Master."
Thalin looked at him seriously.
"Do you realize that when I arrived, you were about to kill three of our strongest disciples?"
Jensu froze.
"What?! But I lost consciousness before anyone arrived!"
Thalin replied,
"If I hadn't stopped you, you would have killed them. Or rather… I stopped him."
Jensu's thoughts trembled.
Just how strong is Master… to stop that monster?
"But… how could he control my body after I lost consciousness?"
Thalin answered calmly,
"I believe your skill's contract granted permission to both of you. You sealed him… but as long as you are unconscious, control belongs to him."
Jensu felt a chill.
"…Then what does that mean?"
"It means no more sleep. No more losing consciousness. Otherwise, Kaizen will take over your body until you wake again."
Jensu clenched his fists tightly.
Thalin added,
"This is still just a theory. We need to confirm it. Don't worry… even if it's true, as long as I'm here, you may sleep or lose consciousness without fearing Kaizen's actions, my disciple."
Jensu looked at him gratefully.
"Thank you, Master… but how will we test it?"
"Prepare yourself. Meet me at the base's training field. We'll test it there."
"Understood, Master."
Thalin stood and left the room. The moment he closed the door behind him—
Several users were waiting outside, ready to attack if necessary.
An old man stepped forward.
"Well, Thalin? What happened?"
"His condition is stable. He formed a contract with Kaizen."
Shock spread across their faces.
"A contract?! With Kaizen?! How is that possible?"
"I don't know how… but he did it."
The old man's voice trembled.
"You're telling me that weak child formed a contract with the Yami King—Bloody Kaizen—the one who led the war against the users?"
"Yes. I don't know how… but he did."
The old man's expression darkened.
"Shouldn't we execute him before Kaizen regains his full power?"
Thalin's voice turned firm.
"No. We won't. Even if we tried, we couldn't. If we kill Jensu, we open the path for Kaizen to fully claim his body. Even if we destroy the body… Kaizen could restore it."
A heavy silence fell.
"…So Jensu is Kaizen's prison?"
"Yes," Thalin replied. "And we must train him until we can separate them."
His eyes hardened.
"And when that time comes… I will be the one who kills Kaizen."