The lights went black. The director said, "We don't have much time. We need to come up with a strategy to get the hostages out without anyone getting hurt."
Mike nodded. "Hurry—I'm ready."
The director explained, "We'll do a live broadcast with you. You'll announce that you are the Crimson Knight and surrender once the hostages are out. If that doesn't work, we'll proceed differently."
Mike nodded and positioned himself in front of the camera as they started.
He looked directly into it. "This is the Crimson Knight. I am in front of Harvard College and will surrender under one condition. This is a message to the kidnappers: I will surrender if you release the students, including the princess."
Then he drew his sword. "If you seek revenge, go ahead and try. This sword has pierced your triad brothers. I am not afraid to punish criminals like you."
The broadcast ended.
Mike stood beside the director. Other men looked at them. A slightly younger agent approached. "Sir, there's a response on Channel 2."
China White appeared on the screen. "We won't stop at you. Even if the hostages are out, who will prevent you from attacking us? We will release everyone else and keep the princess here. Don't think you can decide the outcome—if you don't come in, the princess will bleed."
One by one, all the students were released and taken to safety.
Mike readied himself. "No looking back—I'm going in. I will defeat all 300 of them."
The director said, "We have a secondary plan. Once you're inside, press this button—but only after the princess is safe. We will follow as reinforcements. We outnumber them, and you are as strong as this powerful Triad assassin—if not stronger."
Mike took the button, said nothing, and nodded. He entered the hall. There, he saw only China White next to Princess Emilia and Sir English. A man stood beside them, ensuring they stayed still.
Mike immediately demanded, "Where are all your people?"
Then he realized he had been tricked. China White laughed. "Do you think there are only 300 of us? Many more are hiding outside. The 300 are attacking the officers to ensure our escape once you die."
She drew a knife. "This is the end."
Mike drew his Kusanagi sword and struck at her, but she dodged and parried his blade with the knife. Not wasting a second, Mike kicked her to buy time. Before the man next to them could react, Mike shot him in the head—he never saw it coming because Mike had angled the strike perfectly.
Sir English, bound and gagged, awoke. He saw the Crimson Knight fighting China White alone. Just as he tried to free himself, Mike threw him the Kusanagi sword.
"Free yourself and the princess! Use my sword to fight your way out. Armies are outside!" Mike shouted.
English grabbed the sword, cut off his gag, and freed the princess. He held her tightly and looked at the Crimson Knight, a sense of guilt washing over him. "I promised my student I wouldn't die… but I must help this man."
The princess urged, "We must help him. Alone, he won't win."
English didn't hesitate. "GO! The Queen personally authorized me to use all means to save you! Take her out, Master English!"
Sweat dripped from his temple. "I WILL HELP YOU. JUST WAIT!"
Emilia, shocked, whispered, "It's Mike… he saved me before, and now again. ENGLISH, I COMMAND YOU—LET ME HELP HIM!"
English smiled faintly. "I've always resisted saying this—I trained Mike to overcome anyone alone."
He held the princess with one arm and the Kusanagi sword in the other. "Strange… this is a good sword. After this fight, I'll borrow it," he thought.
He ran forward. "I refuse your command—the first and last time!"
The princess cried out, "ENGLISH, LET ME GO! I MUST HELP HIM!"
Mike faced a fierce battle. His Haki warned him of a sniper targeting him. Fighting while avoiding being shot turned his advantage into a challenge.
He thought: I must surpass myself. I've trained for this technique—it's not perfect, but good enough.
He raised his sword overhead, breathing rhythmically, and focused."Sun Breathing: First Form, Enbu."
He stepped forward, delivering a downward, vertical arc. China White was overwhelmed, but Deadshot seized the moment, firing three bullets. Mike dodged, but one grazed his shoulder. His supersoldier body could still move, though only one hand was usable.
He saw China White, barely injured—just a small scar. The bullet carried neurotoxin, and it was only a matter of time. Smiling, he drew his katana with his left hand. "You're the first to push me past my limits."
Mike fought for another half hour. His supersoldier body endured, but the toxin was taking its toll. Deadshot fired two more shots, compounding the poison. Just as his body weakened, Mike felt a spiritual energy harden him.
His eyes widened. Seems I awaken Haki in situations like this… I'll embrace it.
English entered alone, face serious, without glasses. He saw his bleeding student fighting. He held the Kusanagi sword in one hand and charged China White.
"You have committed the greatest sin in this land. You threatened the royal family. Your official sentence is death!"
He glanced at Mike. "You've grown stronger since before."
Mike, gasping, replied, "There's a sniper above. He's hiding."
English nodded. "We'll deal with her first. Cover my back completely."
Mike asked, "What about the princess?"
"She's safe. Focus on these two," English said.
English fought China White, letting her make the first moves to counterattack. Mike intercepted every shot from Deadshot, cutting bullets in two. Using his Sharingan, he searched for Deadshot but the sniper was on another building.
When Deadshot reloaded, Mike saw an opening. He moved, time slowed, breathing intensified, and struck from behind.
China White lunged at English, stabbing him in the abdomen with a knife. Simultaneously, Mike stabbed her in the shoulder. She gasped, "You think you can kill me? You are wrong."
She triggered an explosive on the roof. Mike, weakened by the toxin, fell to his knees. He thought: It's over… at least everyone is safe.
At that moment, English grabbed Mike and carried him through the collapsing roof. China White escaped, and Deadshot was neutralized—they appeared dead.
Mike, exhausted, used Haki to break through debris, carrying English. His mask cracked near his eye, but he continued.
He paused briefly, placing English down. Mike looked into his eyes, unaware of a large screw in his master's heart.
English, smiling faintly, said, "I'm glad you survived. You were the first to matter to me without duty."
He coughed blood. Michael wept. "Please don't speak. I'll save you… just don't die… not again. Don't leave me, Master, I need you."
English, proud, whispered, "This is the first time I've felt this… I think parents call it love. I never could love a woman for a child, but I must thank you, Michael. You are a good knight—better than I ever was. I am proud to be your teacher."
Tears fell from Mike's mask, his eyes blood-red. "But you promised! You swore you wouldn't die!"
English smiled. "From one knight to another… forgive me, my student. Live on. I have one small request—let me see my student's face before I die."
Mike, who never cried as a child, finally released his tears. He removed his mask.
English, seeing the eyes, was astonished. These eyes… the English family has waited for you for generations. Our ancestors awaited your arrival.
English wept, touching Mike's face. "Michael, I am glad you are the one to bring peace to the world. As a member of the English family, I die with honor for our protector."
Mike was shocked; his usually stoic master had tears in his eyes. Slowly, English's eyes closed. Michael called out, but it was too late. Minutes passed, and Mike's grief hardened his face into stoicism, resembling his master.
He lifted him, placing the Kusanagi sword in his belt. Carrying English through the building, his mask slightly broken revealing his blue eyes, Mike emerged. Agents saw the aftermath. Most Triad members were dead; the rest had fled.
The director said, "The operation was successful thanks to you. We owe you…"
Mike gently laid English down. "Bury him properly. He is a hero—a greater one than I am."
Reporters photographed him. Headline: "CRIMSON KNIGHT COULD NOT SAVE SOMEONE FOR THE FIRST TIME!"
Night fell. Mike vanished into the shadows, as did the Crimson Knight. After this battle, he would remain unseen for a long time.
End of Volume 2 – Change of Fate
Volume 3 – Preview
Michael Silver glared at her. "I will not allow this. You'll have to step over my corpse."
Dinah Prince stared back, resolute. "If this is the price, I am willing to pay it."
She drew God Killer, he drew Kusanagi, and their swords clashed.