The group walked slowly into the village. The air was silent, too silent. The buildings around them stood still like statues, shadows stretching across the ground. Yamato led the way, his eyes sharp, scanning everything. They were searching for Ichiha, but they all knew something didn't feel right.
Yamato turned slightly. "Stay sharp. We keep moving."
The group moved deeper into the village, entering a large, old building. Inside, the halls twisted like a maze. Walls were tall and made of dark stone, and the dim light barely helped them see. Footsteps echoed behind them.
"Guys!" a voice shouted.
Everyone turned. Ichiha ran toward them, breathing heavily.
"I escaped! I barely made it out," he said, bending over and panting. "But I don't think our plan will work. He knows."
Everyone stared in shock.
"You escaped?" Yamato asked, eyes narrowing. His fingers slowly moved toward his sword. "How?"
"I had to fight my way through... I don't even know how I got out," Ichiha said, looking around. "But something's wrong."
They kept walking, deeper into the maze. Yamato couldn't shake the feeling in his chest. Something was off. Too easy. Too quiet.
Yamato sensed the danger, his mouth opening slightly to speak—but before he could say anything, Ichiha shouted, "It's a trap! Watch out!"
Before Yamato could react, the floor beneath them shook. Walls shifted, separating everyone. A wall rose between Yamato and Lumei. Another blocked off Sora and Chella. Ozaki was pulled away by a moving platform beneath him.
"Ozaki!" Yamato shouted.
But it was too late.
---
Ozaki stood alone in a large, circular stone arena. The walls were covered in glowing red symbols. In the center stood someone familiar.
It was Nent.
But something was off. Nent's posture, his aura, the way his eyes glowed—none of it was natural.
Then, Nent spoke. But the voice wasn't his. It was deeper, darker. Familiar.
Kaku.
"Ozaki, here you are. I'm sure you don't expect those children to come and save you," the voice mocked.
Ozaki's eyes narrowed, his grip on his weapon tightening.
Kaku laughed through Nent. "Remember when I told you I'd come back for you? I wasn't lying. And now... I'm getting back the pieces of myself."
There was a pause.
"You didn't know, did you? When you sealed me, I broke myself into pieces—on purpose. So the seal wouldn't hold forever. I scattered across the world. And now... I'm returning."
Ozaki took a step back, shocked. His eyes widened as the memory flooded back.
Ozaki vs Kaku – Flashback
A long time ago, under a sky filled with fire and lightning, Ozaki stood at the edge of a broken battlefield. Mountains had already fallen. Forest burned. The wind carried screams.
Kaku was stronger than anyone Ozaki had ever fought. His body pulsed with corrupted energy. His eyes glowed with madness. Every step he took crushed the ground beneath him.
Ozaki exhaled. He closed his eyes briefly, calming his mind. Then, he opened them and drew his twin blades.
Kaku cracked his neck. "Still calm, even now? You're a fool."
He charged.
The ground exploded beneath his feet. Ozaki raised his blades just in time. CLANG! Sparks flew as their weapons clashed. Kaku's fist followed, but Ozaki ducked under it, slid past, and slashed at his back.
Kaku growled, spinning with a kick. Ozaki blocked it with his forearms, sliding back across the cracked ground. Dust flew into the air.
"You're fast," Kaku admitted, wiping blood from his lip. "But I'm stronger."
Ozaki didn't answer. He shot forward, blades whirling. He struck with precision—a cut to the side, a stab at the shoulder, a spin and slash to the ribs.
Kaku blocked some, took others, and retaliated with brute force. Each punch shook the earth. One landed, sending Ozaki flying into a mountain.
BOOM!
Rocks fell. Dust rose. Ozaki stood again, blood running down his face.
Kaku flew at him, crashing through the mountain. They fought midair, blades against fists, energy against skill. Thunder cracked as they moved faster than sound.
Kaku raised his hand. A massive spear of dark energy formed above him. It was taller than the mountain they had just destroyed.
He threw it.
Ozaki screamed and leapt, spinning. He swung both blades with full power.
CRASH!
The spear shattered, but the shockwave knocked Ozaki to the ground. He rolled, groaning, then forced himself up.
His blades were cracked. His hands trembled.
"Still alive?" Kaku said, floating down. "Then let me end this."
He charged again. But this time, Ozaki stood firm.
He closed his eyes, took one breath, and prepared to fight with the last of his strength.
The two clashed again in the sky, their battle shaking the very skies. Mountains split. Rivers boiled. The energy from each hit shattered clouds above.
Ozaki used every ounce of his skill, reading Kaku's movements, dodging at the last second, parrying death with a flick of his wrist. Blood ran down his arms, but his eyes burned with fire.
Kaku roared and punched the earth, sending a massive shockwave through the country. Cities trembled miles away.
Ozaki planted his blades in the ground and screamed.
---
Back in the present, Ozaki stood frozen. The memory hit him like a wave. His fists trembled.
Kaku, through Nent, laughed again. "I told you I'd return. And now... I'm almost whole. You thought the seal would hold me? I broke myself into pieces before you finished it."
Ozaki clenched his jaw. His face darkened. His scars burned.
"Then I'll stop you again," he whispered. "No matter how many times you come back."
His stance shifted. His blades gleamed again. The battle wasn't over.
It was just beginning.