Deep in the forest—
Saito walked alone.
No soldiers.
No friends.
No one beside him.
Only the sound of his footsteps crunching against leaves.
The deeper he went, the darker the forest became.
His hand never left the sword at his side.
And around him—
yellow auris flowed quietly.
Like a living thing.
Branches swayed overhead.
The wind whispered through the trees.
But Saito ignored everything.
His mind was focused on only one person.
Rin.
Step.
Step.
Step.
Then suddenly—
he stopped.
Something hung from a nearby tree.
A torn red banner.
Its cloth moved gently in the wind.
Saito walked closer.
His eyes narrowed.
The symbol of Hollow Gang was painted across it.
Fresh.
Recently placed.
A trail.
A clue.
Saito stared at it for a moment.
Then a small smile appeared.
Not a happy smile.
A dangerous one.
"...Found you."
Without hesitation, he continued forward.
Following the direction the banner pointed.
A few minutes later—
he found another one.
Then another.
And another.
Each red banner hung deeper inside the forest.
Almost as if someone wanted him to find them.
Almost as if someone was leading him somewhere.
Saito didn't care.
Whether it was a trap or not.
He kept walking.
Following the trail of red deeper into the woods.
Toward whatever waited at the end.
After several more minutes of following the banners—
the forest suddenly opened up.
Saito stopped.
In front of him stood a large house hidden deep within the woods.
It was more like a fortress than a home.
Red flags fluttered proudly above it.
Each one carried the symbol of a red scythe.
The Hollow Gang.
Saito's eyes narrowed.
"...So this is it."
He continued walking toward the entrance.
Two gangsters standing guard immediately noticed him.
One grinned.
"Oh."
"Blue Scarf Saito."
The other laughed.
"There you are."
"We've been waiting for you."
Saito didn't answer.
He simply stared at them.
The air suddenly felt heavier.
The two men blinked.
Then their breathing became difficult.
"W-What..."
"My chest..."
They stumbled backward.
Their legs gave out.
THUD.
THUD.
Both collapsed unconscious before they could even draw their weapons.
Saito continued walking.
Without even looking at them.
Step.
Step.
Step.
He reached the entrance.
Then—
BOOM!
A massive hammer crashed down toward him.
The ground exploded.
Saito reacted instantly.
CLANG!
His sword intercepted the attack.
The impact shook the area.
Dust flew everywhere.
Standing before him was a massive man.
Matt.
His hammer pressed against Saito's blade.
Matt grinned from ear to ear.
"Hehehe."
"Blue Scarf."
Saito's eyes remained cold.
Matt's grin widened.
"Boss's plan was successful."
The words made Saito pause.
For the first time—
Matt saw a reaction.
And that only made him laugh harder.
The giant tightened his grip on the hammer.
"Welcome to Hollow Gang territory."
Before Saito could respond—
BAM!
A powerful punch slammed into his side.
"Ugh!"
Saito was thrown several steps away.
He slid across the dirt before forcing himself back to his feet.
His eyes immediately locked onto the attacker.
Selena.
She rolled her shoulders and smirked.
"Tough."
Matt stepped forward beside her.
The giant rested his hammer on his shoulder.
Now both officers stood in front of Saito.
Ready.
Waiting.
Matt laughed.
"Looks like this is where you say goodbye to your people."
Saito tightened his grip on his sword.
The yellow auris around him flickered.
Then—
"Stop."
The single word froze the battlefield.
Matt immediately stiffened.
Selena's smile vanished.
Both turned around.
A figure slowly walked out from the mansion.
Rin.
The scythe rested across his shoulder.
His eyes moved between his officers.
Then narrowed.
"If either of you accidentally kill him..."
A dangerous smile appeared.
"I'll tear your flesh apart myself."
Matt instantly stepped back.
"...Yes, boss."
Selena raised her hands.
"Relax."
The two moved aside.
Leaving only Saito and Rin facing each other.
Rin walked forward.
Step.
Step.
Step.
Until he stood only a few meters away.
Then he smiled.
"Saito."
"You came back."
The voice that answered him was ice cold.
"...Rin."
For the first time—
there was no excitement in Saito's voice.
No jokes.
No confidence.
Only anger.
Only grief.
Rin's grin widened.
He could feel it.
The hatred.
The pain.
The rage.
And he loved every second of it.
"This..."
He spun the scythe once.
"...is going to be an awesome fight."
The yellow auris around Saito surged.
The air between them trembled.
And deep in the forest—
the battle both of them had been waiting for was about to begin.
Saito didn't wait another second.
He exploded forward.
The ground cracked beneath his feet.
CLANG!
His sword crashed against Rin's scythe.
The impact sent a shockwave through the clearing.
Rin grinned.
"There it is!"
Saito's eyes remained cold.
No words.
No hesitation.
Only attack.
He immediately jumped back and raised his hand.
"Wind Knives."
Dozens of compressed blades of wind shot toward Rin.
SHHHK! SHHHK! SHHHK!
The attacks came from multiple directions.
Fast.
Sharp.
Deadly.
But Rin's smile never faded.
His instincts screamed.
His body moved almost automatically.
CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!
The scythe spun around him like a shield.
Every wind blade was intercepted.
Some shattered against the blade.
Others barely missed him.
When the last one passed—
Rin laughed.
"Heh."
"Not a smart move."
Then he vanished.
Saito's eyes widened.
Fast.
Too fast.
Rin appeared directly in front of him.
The scythe swung.
WHOOSH!
The blade sliced through the air.
Only inches from Saito's neck.
Saito twisted away at the last possible moment.
The edge grazed his cheek.
A thin line of blood appeared.
Rin's grin widened.
"There you go."
"Fight back."
Saito immediately counterattacked.
His sword flashed toward Rin's chest.
But the scythe blocked it.
Steel collided again.
The clearing shook from the force.
Nearby—
Matt folded his arms.
Selena whistled.
"Not bad."
Matt grinned.
"No wonder boss wanted him alive."
Meanwhile—
neither Saito nor Rin paid attention to them.
For both men—
the world had narrowed to a single opponent standing directly in front of them.
CLANG!
Rin blocked Saito's sword again.
The impact echoed through the clearing.
For a moment, the two stood locked together.
Then Rin sighed.
"...Too boring."
Before Saito could react—
BAM!
Rin's foot slammed into his stomach.
The force was monstrous.
"GH—!"
Saito was launched backward.
He crashed through a wooden fence and slammed into the wall of the hideout.
CRASH!
Dust exploded into the air.
Pieces of wood scattered across the ground.
For several seconds—
Saito didn't move.
Rin slowly lowered his scythe.
Disappointment crossed his face.
"I thought you were a fine warrior."
He began walking forward.
Step.
Step.
Step.
"But apparently..."
"...I was wrong."
Saito coughed.
Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth.
His sword trembled as he tried to push himself up.
Rin stopped a few feet away.
The scythe rested across his shoulder.
"Time to die."
The clearing became silent.
Even Matt and Selena watched quietly.
Rin smiled.
"You should be lucky."
His voice was almost cheerful.
"You'll die at the hands of Death himself."
He pointed the scythe toward Saito.
"Your story will be told across the world."
"The boy who challenged Death."
Saito struggled to stand.
His knees shook.
His body screamed in pain.
Yet he still forced himself upward.
Rin watched him with amusement.
Then chuckled.
"Shush."
"It's okay."
"It won't hurt."
The blade slowly rose.
Ready to strike.
And still—
Saito refused to stay down.
Rin raised his scythe.
The blade began descending toward Saito.
Then—
he stopped.
The entire clearing suddenly shook.
A powerful pressure erupted from Saito's body.
BOOM!
Dust exploded outward.
The ground cracked beneath his feet.
Rin immediately jumped back.
His grin widened.
"Yes..."
"I knew it."
Saito slowly stood up.
Yellow auris poured from his body like a raging storm.
The light swallowed the area around him.
His sword became coated in golden energy.
The air itself seemed to tremble.
Then Saito opened his eyes.
No longer blue.
Now they glowed bright yellow.
At their center—
a spear and wing symbol shined faintly.
Matt felt a chill run down his spine.
"...Boss."
Selena unconsciously stepped backward.
"What is that?"
Neither of them had ever felt pressure like this before.
The yellow auris continued spreading.
Trees bent from the force.
The grass flattened.
Even the Hollow Gang members nearby struggled to breathe.
Only Rin remained smiling.
His excitement was obvious.
"There you are."
"The real you."
He spun his scythe once.
Then his own auris erupted.
BOOM!
Red auris exploded around him.
Wild.
Violent.
Like flowing blood.
The pressure of the two powers collided in the center of the clearing.
The ground between them shattered.
Rin lowered his stance.
A predator preparing to strike.
"Let's begin..."
His eyes locked onto Saito.
"...Blue Scarf."
Then he lunged.
The red auris trailing behind him like a crimson comet.
Meanwhile—
Saito didn't move.
He simply watched Rin approach.
His yellow eyes glowing silently.