The flower lay crushed beneath Shou Feng's fingers.
Its petals were soft. Fragile. Completely out of place in the dark forest.
Anna's flower.
For a moment, the world around him went silent.
Then—
Crack.
The ground beneath his feet split slightly as dark energy leaked out of him. His aura flickered, red and black twisting together like smoke and flame. His eyes burned crimson for a brief second before he forced them back to black.
"She was here," he said, voice low.
Kiyoshi felt a chill run down his spine.
Shou Feng did not hesitate anymore.
"Spread out," he ordered. "Seal the exits of the Dark Wood. No one leaves."
Kiyoshi nodded and moved instantly.
The forest responded to Shou Feng's presence. Trees trembled. Shadows shifted unnaturally. Even the air felt heavier, as if the land itself feared him.
He moved deeper into the woods, each step sharp and fast. His senses stretched far beyond sight and sound, searching for one presence only.
Anna.
Pain burned across Anna's skin wherever the black smoke touched her.
She gasped, stumbling back, her heart racing. The darkness moved like it was alive, tightening around her, cutting off her escape.
"W–What is this?" she whispered, fear slipping into her voice.
Renji stood a short distance away, calm and unmoving, his eyes cold as stone. "You shouldn't have wandered so far," he said lightly. "This forest doesn't forgive kindness."
Anna tried to move again, but the smoke followed, pressing closer. "You said you were Shou Feng's friend."
"I was," Renji replied. "Once."
Her breath trembled. "Then why—"
"Because you are his weakness."
The words struck deeper than the smoke.
Anna froze.
"You changed him," Renji continued, his voice smooth, almost amused. "And gods like Shou Feng cannot afford weaknesses."
She shook her head. "You're wrong. I didn't change anything."
Renji smiled faintly. "Then why is he searching for you right now?"
Her heart skipped.
"How do you—"
"Because I wanted him to," Renji said. "I wanted to see how far the god of destruction and darkness would fall.
The smoke tightened again, forcing a sharp cry from her lips.
Far away, Shou Feng stopped abruptly.
He felt it.
A sharp pull in his chest. Pain that did not belong to him.
His eyes turned red instantly.
"Found you," he muttered.
Dark power exploded around him as he moved, faster than the wind, faster than sound. The forest cracked and bent in his path, unable to resist him.
Kiyoshi felt the pressure from afar and swallowed hard.
This was no longer just a search.
This was wrath.
Anna's knees weakened, but she refused to fall
"Let me go," she said, forcing her voice to stay steady. "This doesn't concern me."
Renji stepped closer. "It concerns you more than anyone." His gaze sharpened. "Because once Shou Feng reaches here, the world will remember why they feared him."
The ground suddenly trembled.
The waterfall roared louder.
The black rocks shook violently.
Renji's smile faded.
Anna felt it too—an overwhelming presence, dark and furious, rushing toward them like a storm.
The smoke around her flickered, unstable.
Renji clicked his tongue softly. "So fast," he murmured.
Anna looked up, hope and fear colliding in her chest.
"Shou Feng…"
The shadows split apart.
The air screamed.
And the god of destruction arrived!.
The moment Shou Feng arrived, the forest screamed.
The ground split beneath his feet as dark power exploded outward, bending trees and crushing shadows under its weight. The waterfall behind Anna roared louder, mist tearing violently through the air as if even nature was trying to flee.
Anna staggered back, her breath caught in her chest.
He stood there.
Tall. Still. Terrifying.
Shou Feng's long black hair flowed freely down his back, lifted slightly by the violent aura surrounding him. Red and black energy twisted around his body like living flame, crackling with restrained destruction. His eyes—no longer black—burned a deep, glowing red.
Renji's smile vanished completely.
"So," Renji muttered, eyes narrowing. "You came."
Shou Feng did not answer.
His gaze was locked on Anna.
She stood trapped within fading black smoke, her face pale, her body tense, yet still upright. His eyes scanned her quickly—from her trembling hands to the faint marks left by the dark smoke touching her skin.
The air around him grew heavier.
The smoke restraining Anna shattered suddenly, ripped apart by invisible force. It dissolved into nothing, as if it had never existed.
Anna gasped as the pressure released her. She stumbled—
—and stopped just short of falling.
Shou Feng stood in front of her.
She had not seen him move.
"You're hurt," he said.
His voice was low. Calm. Too calm.
"I—I'm fine," Anna replied, though her voice shook. "He—he tricked me."
Shou Feng's eyes darkened further.
Slowly, he turned.
Renji felt it immediately—the shift in pressure, the sudden focus of pure, murderous intent.
"You used her," Shou Feng said quietly.
Renji straightened, forcing composure. "You sound angry."
"I am," Shou Feng replied.
The ground cracked beneath Renji's feet.
"You brought her here knowing I would come," Shou Feng continued. "You touched what belongs to me."
Anna's breath caught.
Renji laughed softly, though sweat formed at his temples. "Belongs to you?" he repeated. "How interesting. Is that what she is now?"
Shou Feng raised his hand.
The forest bowed.
Trees bent unnaturally, roots tearing free as invisible pressure crushed inward. Renji gritted his teeth, barely holding his ground.
"Careful," Renji said. "She's watching."
Shou Feng's hand froze.
Slowly, he lowered it.
Anna stared at him, heart racing. She had never seen this side of him—not fully. Not like this.
"Leave," Shou Feng said to her without turning. "Now."
Anna hesitated. "Shou Feng—"
"Go," he repeated, his voice sharp with command.
Renji smiled. "She won't."
Anna swallowed. "I'm not leaving."
Shou Feng turned his head slightly. "Anna."
"I won't," she said, forcing courage into her voice. "This started because of me."
For a brief moment, something unreadable crossed his face.
Then it vanished.
"Stay behind me," he said.
Renji's expression hardened. "You've changed."
Shou Feng finally faced him fully. "You forced my hand."
"You were a god once," Renji snapped. "Untouchable. Unmoved. Now look at you—restraining yourself for a human."
The air trembled violently.
"I warned you," Shou Feng said. "Do not speak her name again."
Renji laughed bitterly. "This is exactly why I did it. I wanted to see how far you would fall."
"You wanted my attention," Shou Feng replied. "You have it."
Renji raised his hands, dark energy gathering. "Then let's see whose darkness is stronger."
The forest exploded.
Dark forces clashed midair, shockwaves ripping through the clearing. Water from the waterfall scattered violently, mist turning sharp as the pressure collided.
Anna shielded her face, heart pounding.
Shou Feng moved like a shadow, appearing before Renji in an instant. Renji barely blocked in time, skidding backward across the wet stone.
"You were always slower," Shou Feng said coldly.
Renji snarled, summoning black chains of smoke that shot toward him. Shou Feng shattered them with a flick of his wrist.
"You taught me everything," Renji shouted. "And then you abandoned me!"
"I spared you," Shou Feng replied. "That was mercy."
"Mercy?" Renji laughed bitterly. "You destroyed everything else."
Shou Feng's eyes flared brighter red.
"And yet," he said, "you still chose the wrong path."
He lifted his hand again.
This time, the sky darkened.
Anna felt the pressure crush against her chest, forcing her to her knees. She struggled to breathe, fear gripping her heart—not for herself—
—but for him.
"Shou Feng!" she cried.
His hand trembled.
The power wavered.
Renji noticed.
"So even now," Renji sneered, "you hesitate."
Shou Feng lowered his hand abruptly. The pressure vanished.
The forest fell silent.
Anna stared at him in shock.
Renji's eyes widened. "You stopped."
Shou Feng turned slowly, his red eyes meeting Anna's brown ones.
She saw it then.
Control.
Restraint.
And something dangerously close to fear.
"I will not become a monster in her eyes," he said.
Renji stared at him. "You already are."
Shou Feng faced him again. "No."
In a blink, he appeared behind Renji.
A single strike sent Renji crashing into the black rocks near the waterfall. He struggled to stand, blood staining his sleeve.
Shou Feng stood over him, aura roaring.
"Leave this land," he said. "If I see you again, I will not stop."
Renji laughed weakly. "You've lost," he said. "Even if you kill me later—you've already fallen."
Shou Feng said nothing.
Renji vanished into shadow, retreating.
Silence returned.
Shou Feng's aura faded slowly. His eyes returned to black. The forest began to breathe again.
Anna stood shakily.
"Shou Feng…" she whispered.
He turned to her.
Up close, he looked exhausted.
"You shouldn't have been here," he said quietly.
"I know," she replied. "But… thank you."
He looked away. "This changes nothing."
She watched him for a moment. "You came for me."
He said nothing.
The waterfall roared behind them, endless and cold.
Anna touched the flower she had found earlier, still clenched in her hand.
She did not know what Shou Feng felt.
But she knew one thing.
The god of destruction had chosen restraint.
And that terrified him more than any enemy ever could.
End of Chapter