Raikaro's breathing grew heavier.
Each inhale felt sharp, dragging through his chest like a blade. The cut he had taken wasn't shallow—he could feel the warmth of blood spreading across his side, slowly soaking into his clothes.
In front of him, Kaizo stood still.
Smiling.
That same wide, unnatural smile.
Drops of blood slid slowly from the edge of his blades, falling one by one onto the ground. The sound was faint—but in the silence between them, it felt loud.
"What happened, samurai?" Kaizo said, his voice low, amused. "Is this all you've got?"
He tilted his head slightly, the smile growing.
"With just one cut… you're already down?"
Raikaro said nothing.
His grip tightened around his katana.
His body felt heavier than before. His muscles were slower to respond. But his eyes—still sharp—remained fixed on Kaizo.
…Focus.
Slowly, he raised his blade again.
Ready.
Kaizo's smile widened.
"Good," he muttered.
"But this…"
He leaned forward slightly.
"…is only the beginning of your death."
The next instant—
He vanished.
Raikaro's eyes widened slightly as Kaizo appeared in front of him in a blur of motion.
Clang!
Their blades collided again.
The impact sent a sharp vibration through Raikaro's arm. He twisted his wrist, trying to redirect the strike and counter—but Kaizo was already moving.
Too fast.
Raikaro stepped in, delivering a precise cut toward Kaizo's shoulder—
Dodged.
A follow-up strike—
Missed.
Kaizo slipped past it effortlessly, his body moving with unnatural smoothness.
Then—
A flash.
A sharp pain tore across Raikaro's arm.
Blood spilled.
He stepped back immediately, adjusting his stance, trying to read the movement.
Again…
He attacked once more—faster this time.
A feint to the left—
Then a direct thrust—
Nothing.
Kaizo shifted just enough to avoid it.
Another strike came from Raikaro, angled toward the side—
Blocked.
Kaizo's blade met it casually, deflecting it with ease.
Then he countered.
A quick slash across Raikaro's shoulder—
Another across his side—
Then a third, shallow but precise, cutting across his chest.
Raikaro staggered back.
Blood flowed steadily now, dripping onto the ground beneath him.
His breathing became heavier.
Unstable.
Why…?
Why can't I touch him…?
His mind tried to catch up with what was happening, but every time he moved, Kaizo was already ahead.
Like he knew.
Like he was waiting.
Raikaro tightened his grip again and rushed forward.
This time, he changed his rhythm completely—faster, sharper, unpredictable.
A low strike—
A sudden upward cut—
A step-in slash—
All missed.
Kaizo moved through them like it was nothing.
No wasted motion.
No hesitation.
Just… perfect avoidance.
Then—
Another hit.
Raikaro didn't even see it coming.
A deep cut opened across his side, and his body froze for a split second.
Pain followed immediately.
He stepped back again, barely holding his stance now.
Blood continued to fall.
Too much.
His vision flickered slightly.
What… is happening…?
His chest rose and fell unevenly.
I can't even land one proper hit…
Another step back.
This time slower.
His body was reaching its limit.
Kaizo stopped moving.
For the first time, he didn't attack.
Instead, he lowered his blades slightly… and crouched down into a squat, looking at the blood dripping from them.
"Ra…" he said softly, almost like he was tasting the word. "Blood on my blade…"
He tilted his head, watching it fall.
"What a feeling…"
A low laugh escaped him.
Then he looked up at Raikaro.
That same smile—bigger now.
"You're skilled," Kaizo continued. "I'll give you that."
His voice carried a strange excitement.
"Clearly better than most."
He paused.
Then his expression shifted slightly.
"But there's a problem, samurai."
Raikaro's eyes narrowed slightly.
Kaizo stood up slowly.
"My blood… and your blood…"
He lifted one of his blades, staring at the red coating along its edge.
"…they're not the same."
His smile widened again.
"Mine is superior."
The words were said with absolute confidence.
No doubt.
No hesitation.
Raikaro's thoughts froze for a moment.
…Blood?
Kaizo took a step forward.
"And do you know what that means?"
Another step.
"I can smell you."
Raikaro's eyes sharpened.
Kaizo pointed the tip of his blade toward him.
"Every movement… every shift… every attack you're about to make…"
His voice dropped slightly.
"I can predict it."
Silence fell for a second.
The truth hit.
Raikaro's grip tightened.
…So that's it…
After I started bleeding…
He's been reading everything…
Kaizo's smile didn't fade.
"Now you understand."
He straightened fully.
"Today…"
Another step forward.
"…is the end of you."
His body leaned forward slightly.
Then—
He moved again.
Like a flash.
Raikaro's eyes widened.
What do I do…?
⸻
To be continued…