The mission began at dawn.
No preparation.
No delay.
Only a direction.
"He moves constantly," Kagen said.
"We track him. We don't chase blindly."
Raizen walked beside him.
"…And when we find him?"
Kagen's answer was simple.
"We survive."
Tracking Hollow
The trail was faint.
Almost invisible.
No blood.
No destruction.
Only small signs.
Broken branches.
Disturbed ground.
Intentional.
"He's not hiding," Raizen said.
"No," Kagen replied.
"He's guiding."
Entering His Territory
By night—
They reached a narrow valley.
Closed on both sides.
No easy escape.
Raizen stopped.
"…This is a trap."
Kagen nodded.
"Yes."
A voice echoed.
"You made it."
Hollow Appears
From the darkness—
He stepped forward.
Same calm expression.
Same empty presence.
"…Faster than I expected."
Raizen stepped forward.
"This ends here."
Hollow tilted his head slightly.
"…You still think this is about ending something."
Immediate Clash
No more words.
Raizen moved first.
"Shadow Breathing—"
"Second Form— Night Step."
He vanished.
Appeared behind—
Struck.
Blocked.
Effortlessly.
Hollow countered instantly.
A direct strike—
Raizen barely avoided it.
The ground behind him shattered.
"…He's faster than before."
Two-on-One
Kagen entered.
Precise.
Deadly.
His blade met Hollow's.
CLANG.
For the first time—
Hollow's movement stopped.
"…So you're serious now."
Battle of Skill
Both sides moved.
No wasted motion.
Every strike—
Calculated.
Raizen adapted.
Changed rhythm.
Mixed patterns.
But Hollow—
Stayed ahead.
Pressure Increases
Raizen attacked again.
"Third Form— Black Crescent."
A strong strike.
Hollow stepped inside the attack.
Too close.
Too fast.
A hit landed.
Raizen was thrown back.
He crashed hard.
Kagen vs Hollow
Kagen didn't stop.
His speed increased.
His strikes—
Sharper.
Deadlier.
For a moment—
They matched.
Then—
Hollow broke through.
A clean hit.
Kagen stepped back.
Blood.
Shift in Power
Raizen stood up.
"…He injured Kagen."
That changed everything.
His breathing slowed.
Focus sharpened.
The darkness responded.
Controlled Power
"Shadow Breathing—"
This time—
No instability.
No hesitation.
"Fourth Form— Shadow Execution."
Raizen moved.
Fast.
Clean.
Direct.
Hollow blocked—
But slid back slightly.
For the first time—
He was pushed.
Acknowledgment
Hollow looked at Raizen.
"…You've improved."
A pause.
"But you still don't understand."
The Difference
Hollow moved again.
Faster than before.
Raizen tried to react—
But couldn't.
A strike landed.
Direct.
He dropped to one knee.
"…Why…"
Hollow stood in front of him.
"…Because you're still holding back."
Truth in Combat
Raizen looked up.
"…I'm not."
Hollow's eyes sharpened slightly.
"…Yes, you are."
A pause.
"You're afraid of your own power."
Silence.
Raizen didn't answer.
Because it was true.
End of Battle
Kagen stepped forward again.
"…That's enough."
Hollow stepped back.
No resistance.
"…For today."
Raizen's eyes widened.
"…You're leaving?"
Hollow turned away.
"…You're not ready yet."
Final Words
He stopped for a moment.
"…Next time—"
A slight glance back.
"…don't hesitate."
Final Scene
He disappeared.
Gone.
Raizen remained still.
His breathing uneven.
His mind louder than ever.
"…I'm holding back."
Kagen stood beside him.
"…Yes."
A pause.
"And that's why you'll lose."
Ending Line
The greatest weakness—
Is the power you refuse to use.