Ryu and Ken ran hard through the narrow back streets. Rain still poured down, making the ground slippery, behind them, the Special Grade curse smashed through walls and trash bins, its heavy footsteps shaking the ground like thunder.
Every step sent fresh pain through Ryu's shoulder and leg, blood mixed with rainwater on his clothes. The fragment stayed tight in his left hand, its blue glow pulsing steadily.
Ken glanced back once, breathing hard. "Don't slow down, the academy gate is just ahead."
They turned a sharp corner, ahead, a tall metal gate appeared under a single flickering streetlight. A simple sign above it read: **Power Academy – Authorized Personnel Only**. Two guards in dark coats stood outside, hands already raised with cursed energy glowing around their palms.
Ken shouted as they got closer, "Special Grade incoming! Open the gate!"
The guards reacted fast, one slammed his hand on a panel, the heavy gate began to slide open with a loud metallic groan.
Ryu and Ken slipped through just as the curse rounded the corner. Its massive body filled the street behind them, the guards stepped forward together, creating a wall of blue energy that pushed the curse back a few steps.
The gate slammed shut.
For a moment, everything went quiet except for the rain and their heavy breathing.
Ken leaned against the gate, coughing, more blood came up. "That bought us a little time. The barrier here is strong, but it won't hold forever against a Special Grade."
Ryu stood still, staring at the fragment in his hand. The blue light had grown softer, but he could still feel it inside him like cold threads wrapping around his thoughts.
A calm voice spoke from the shadows near the gate.
"You brought trouble with you, Ken."
Sensei Ren stepped into the light, he was tall and quiet, with sharp eyes that seemed to see everything at once, his coat was dry despite the rain, as if the water refused to touch him, he looked at Ryu first, then at the fragment.
Ken straightened up, wincing. "The kid found or rather, I gave him a cursed object during the fight. It's connected to something old, he started copying techniques almost instantly."
Sensei Ren walked closer, he stopped in front of Ryu and held out his hand. "Let me see it."
Ryu hesitated, his gripped harder around the fragment, part of him wanted to hand it over. Another part the new, quieter part, didn't want to let go.
After a long second, he placed the fragment in Sensei Ren's palm.
The moment it left his hand, Ryu felt empty, the blue energy under his skin faded, the calm voice in his head went silent.
Sensei Ren examined the fragment carefully, turning it slowly. "This is no ordinary cursed object. It carries the echo of Kiro Jin, the perfect replicator. Legends say he could copy any technique after seeing it once, if this fragment bonded with you…" He looked directly at Ryu. "You're already changing."
Ryu wiped rain and blood from his face, his voice came out flat. "I don't feel different, just tired."
Ken gave a weak laugh. "That's how it starts, you felt nothing when you should have been screaming back there."
Sensei Ren handed the fragment back to Ryu. "Keep it for now, we'll study it properly inside but understand this every time you use its power, you pay a price, memories,emotions, pieces of who you are."
Ryu stared at the object, it felt lighter now, but still warm. "What happens if I keep using it?"
"You become useful," Sensei Ren said simply. "Or you stop being human, the choice is rarely yours once the vessel process begins."
A loud crash echoed from outside the gate, the curse was still trying to break through the barrier. The guards shouted as they reinforced the energy wall.
Sensei Ren turned toward the gate. "Ken, get to the infirmary, you're bleeding too much. I'll handle the curse with the senior students."
Ken nodded, but he looked at Ryu one more time. "Kid… what's your name?"
"Ryu."
"Ryu," Ken repeated. "Don't trust the quiet in your head. It lies." He limped away toward a large building across the courtyard.
Sensei Ren placed a hand on Ryu's shoulder the uninjured one. "Come with me. You need stitches, food, and answers, in that order."
Ryu followed him across the wet courtyard. The academy grounds looked old but solid stone paths, training fields on the sides, and several buildings with lights still on despite the late hour.
As they walked, Ryu noticed a girl training alone under a covered area. She had short dark hair and moved with strong, confident strikes. Red energy glowed around her fists every time she punched the air. She stopped when she saw them, eyes narrowing at Ryu's bloody appearance.
Sensei Ren didn't slow down. "That's Ryei Sakara. One of our stronger first-years. You'll meet her properly tomorrow."
Ryu glanced back at the girl, she was already watching him with open curiosity.
They entered the main building, Sensei Ren led him into a small room with a bed and basic medical supplies.
"Sit," Sensei Ren said, he started cleaning the deep cut on Ryu's calf. "Tell me exactly what happened from the moment you touched the fragment."
Ryu sat on the edge of the bed, the pain from the stitches was sharp, he spoke quietly, describing the chase, the smaller curse, the blue chains, and the voice.
Sensei Ren listened without interrupting, when Ryu finished, the older man nodded slowly.
"Echo Replication, yhat's what you're tapping into, rare, dangerous and it always comes with a cost."
Another crash sounded from outside, the barrier was still holding, but barely.
Ryu looked toward the window. "What if the curse breaks in?"
"Then we fight," Sensei Ren said calmly. "And you will decide how much of yourself you're willing to lose to win."
Ryu stared at the fragment, which now rested on a small table beside the bed. It looked harmless under the room's yellow light but he could still hear the faint whisper in the back of his mind.
*Soon.*
He closed his eyes for the first time that night, a small crack of real fear appeared inside his chest.
He wasn't sure if the fear was his own… or something the fragment had left behind.
**End of Chapter 4**