Under the cold light of the full moon, two warriors stood facing each other.
The battlefield had already turned into a graveyard. Bodies of fallen soldiers lay scattered across the blood-soaked ground, their armor glinting faintly under the pale moonlight. The few soldiers who were still alive stood far away, barely daring to breathe.
None of them moved.
None of them spoke.
They could feel it.
The pressure.
The suffocating aura that radiated from the two figures standing in the center of the battlefield.
One of the soldiers swallowed nervously, his hands trembling as he gripped his spear.
Monsters…
That was the only word that came to his mind.
The two men facing each other did not look like humans anymore.
For a long moment, neither warrior moved.
Then, suddenly—
Kaizo spoke.
"Well," he said casually, his voice breaking the silence like a blade cutting through cloth. "I suppose I should introduce myself."
His lips slowly stretched into that disturbing smile again.
The one that revealed his cracked, blood-stained teeth.
"After all…" he continued softly, tilting his head slightly. "You deserve to know the name of the man who is going to kill you."
His eyes gleamed like a predator that had already cornered its prey.
"And the one who will erase the last blood of your family."
He chuckled.
"My name is Kaizo Tharok."
He lifted his curved blade slightly, the steel reflecting the moonlight.
"I am from the Tharok Clan."
Then his smile widened even more.
"And I am the third son of King Leon."
Rai's eyes changed instantly.
The moment he heard that name, something cold passed through his chest.
Kaizo noticed it immediately.
"Oh?" he laughed.
His eyes shone with amusement.
"So you do recognize the name."
He leaned forward slightly, his grin widening like a madman.
"Yes… the same Leon who slaughtered your entire bloodline."
Rai's fingers tightened around the handle of his katana.
For a brief moment—
Pure rage flashed across his eyes.
But it disappeared just as quickly.
Rai slowly exhaled.
Don't lose control.
Anger would only make him sloppy.
And against someone like this…
That would mean death.
Across from him, Kaizo tilted his head slightly, studying him with interest.
Then he grinned.
"Well then."
His voice dropped into a whisper.
"Let's begin."
⸻
The next moment—
Kaizo disappeared.
No warning.
No hesitation.
His body exploded forward with terrifying speed.
Like a hunting cheetah.
The curved blade screamed through the air as it slashed toward Rai's neck.
CLANG!
Steel met steel.
Rai's katana rose at the last possible moment, blocking the strike.
The force of the collision sent a shock through the ground beneath them.
Kaizo didn't stop.
His second strike came immediately.
Then a third.
Then a fourth.
His curved blade danced through the air like a wild storm.
Slash!
Clang!
Slash!
Clang!
The attacks came from every direction—high, low, left, right.
Fast.
Wild.
Brutal.
Yet Rai remained calm.
His katana moved smoothly with perfect precision, intercepting every single strike.
Steel clashed against steel again and again as sparks exploded between the two warriors.
The watching soldiers could barely follow the movements.
To them, the fight looked like two shadows colliding under the moonlight.
Kaizo's attacks became faster.
More aggressive.
More savage.
Yet Rai's blade moved like flowing water.
Effortless.
Controlled.
Elegant.
No matter how many times Kaizo attacked—
He couldn't touch him.
After dozens of exchanges, Kaizo suddenly jumped back.
For the first time since the fight began—
His smile disappeared.
He stared at Rai silently.
Then slowly nodded.
"I see."
His voice carried genuine interest now.
"You're different from those Min clan fools."
Rai's eyes narrowed slightly.
Kaizo twirled his curved blade casually.
"You truly have the talent of your blood."
For a brief moment, Rai froze.
Min clan…
His mind flashed to Haru and Rin.
Kaizo noticed the reaction instantly.
His lips slowly curled again.
"Oh?"
He chuckled darkly.
"You're worried about them?"
His eyes gleamed with cruel amusement.
"They might already be dead by now."
His monstrous smile returned.
Inside Rai's mind, a storm of thoughts flashed.
They only met me a few weeks ago…
Whether they live or die…
That shouldn't matter.
Yet something in his chest tightened.
Rai slowly pushed the thought away.
Focus.
He raised his katana again.
His stance became calm.
Still.
Silent.
Kaizo's grin widened again.
"Good."
The next moment—
He charged again.
Even faster this time.
His blade cut through the air like lightning.
But Rai didn't move in panic.
CLANG!
He blocked the strike again.
But this time—
Rai countered.
His katana flashed like silver lightning.
SLASH!
Kaizo's shoulder split open.
Blood sprayed into the moonlight.
But something was wrong.
Kaizo didn't retreat.
He didn't even flinch.
He simply stood there.
Still smiling.
Rai's eyes narrowed.
His blade moved again.
SLASH!
Another wound opened across Kaizo's chest.
Still—
Kaizo didn't move.
Rai attacked again.
SLASH!
SLASH!
Blood splattered across the battlefield.
Yet Kaizo remained standing.
Then suddenly—
Kaizo attacked.
His curved blade shot forward like a viper.
Rai reacted instantly.
His katana flashed with deadly power.
SLASH!
This time the strike was powerful enough to send Kaizo flying.
Kaizo's body crashed against the ground several meters away.
Dust rose into the air.
For a moment—
Silence returned to the battlefield.
Then—
Kaizo began laughing.
A low, twisted laugh.
He slowly pushed himself up from the ground.
Blood poured from the many wounds across his body.
His eagle crown had fallen onto the ground beside him.
Yet he was still smiling.
Still laughing.
Rai watched him carefully.
Something felt wrong.
Then Rai noticed something.
Kaizo's blade.
There was blood on it.
Rai's eyes shifted.
Slowly—
He looked down at his own arm.
A thin cut had appeared across his skin.
Blood trickled slowly down his hand.
Rai's eyes widened slightly.
When…?
Kaizo picked up his second curved blade from the ground.
Then he raised the one covered in Rai's blood.
His grin widened as he slowly licked the blood from the steel.
His eyes gleamed with madness.
"Ah…"
His voice was filled with excitement.
"Now…"
His smile became monstrous.
"The real fight begins."
⸻
To Be Continued…