The battlefield had gone quiet.
The bodies of Sun Tyrant soldiers covered the ground around them. Blood soaked the stones, turning the once-dusty street into a dark red mirror beneath the moonlight.
Rin lay on the ground, breathing heavily.
Her body refused to move.
Every muscle screamed in pain.
Her katana had slipped from her fingers.
Across from her, Haru struggled to remain standing. Blood flowed from several wounds across his arms and shoulder. One deep cut along his side continued dripping steadily onto the ground.
But he forced himself up.
His legs trembled.
Still… he stood.
Rin looked at him with disbelief.
"What are you doing?" she said weakly.
Haru took a slow step forward.
His knives were still in his hands.
"You stay there," he said quietly.
"I'll handle him."
Rin's eyes widened.
Then her expression twisted with disbelief.
"You fool," she whispered.
"You can't take him."
Haru didn't even look back at her.
"Shut up."
Across the battlefield, Kaizo watched them with amusement.
The broken fang in his smile gleamed under the moonlight.
"What touching loyalty," he said mockingly.
His blade lifted lazily.
"But it changes nothing."
Kaizo stepped forward.
"I'm going to finish you now."
The air seemed to tighten around them.
Haru raised his knives.
Even though he knew the truth.
I can't beat him.
But he couldn't let Rin die here.
His body leaned forward—
Then suddenly—
THUD.
A heavy sound echoed behind Kaizo.
A knee striking the ground.
Everyone turned.
A voice spoke calmly from the shadows.
"Lord… you should stop this now."
Kaizo's smile disappeared.
He slowly turned his head.
"Commander…"
His voice carried annoyance.
"Who called you here?"
The man stepped into the moonlight.
He wore the traditional uniform of the Sun Tyrants, but there were subtle differences—his armor carried deeper markings, and his cloak bore the symbol of a commander.
Without hesitation, he lowered himself onto one knee.
"King Leon sent me," he said respectfully.
"To assist you, Lord Kaizo."
Kaizo's eyes narrowed.
"I didn't ask for help."
"I know, my lord."
The commander kept his head lowered.
"But His Majesty gave the order."
Kaizo clicked his tongue.
Annoyance clearly visible on his face.
"You don't need to fight these small fries," the commander continued calmly.
"You should focus on the RA member."
Haru's eyes sharpened slightly at those words.
RA member…?
"The king believes he may escape if not pursued immediately," the commander said.
"I will deal with these two."
"You should hunt him."
For a moment, Kaizo stood silently.
Clearly irritated.
But slowly…
He sheathed his second blade.
Then the first.
He turned his head toward Haru and Rin one last time.
A strange smile spread across his face again.
Almost disappointed.
He began walking away.
"Kill them," he said casually to the commander.
"Brutally."
His footsteps faded into the darkness.
And within seconds—
Kaizo vanished.
Haru released a slow breath.
The pressure that had been crushing his chest finally lifted slightly.
"That monster is gone…" he muttered.
But his relief didn't last long.
The commander was still kneeling.
Silent.
Then suddenly—
He raised his head.
His eyes met Haru's.
Cold.
Calm.
And dangerous.
⸻
Meanwhile…
Not far from the battlefield.
The clash of steel echoed through another street.
Several Sun Tyrant soldiers surrounded a lone figure.
Rai.
The moonlight glimmered across his katana as another soldier rushed toward him.
The man swung his blade downward with full force.
Rai moved slightly.
Just one step.
The soldier's attack missed.
Rai's katana flashed.
A clean horizontal strike.
The soldier froze for a moment.
Then collapsed.
Another soldier attacked from behind.
Rai turned his body smoothly.
Their blades clashed.
Sparks flew.
The soldier tried pushing forward with brute strength.
But Rai's movement was precise.
Calm.
He redirected the blade and stepped inside the soldier's guard.
One quick thrust.
The katana pierced straight through the man's chest.
The soldier dropped instantly.
Two more rushed him together.
Rai inhaled slowly.
Then moved.
His katana cut upward.
The first soldier's weapon was knocked aside.
Before the man could react—
Rai spun.
His blade carved through the second soldier's neck.
Blood sprayed across the street.
The first soldier panicked.
He turned to run.
But Rai stepped forward calmly.
His katana rose again.
Moments later—
Only one soldier remained alive.
The man trembled violently.
His sword shaking in his hands.
Rai walked toward him slowly.
Silent.
Unstoppable.
The soldier fell backward in fear.
"P-please—!"
Rai lifted his katana.
Then—
A sudden sound cut through the air.
WHRRRR.
Something spun toward him rapidly.
Instinct screamed.
Rai twisted his body sideways.
A curved blade sliced through the air past his shoulder.
Still—
It grazed his arm.
A thin line of blood appeared.
The blade struck the wall behind him and embedded itself deep into the stone.
Rai's eyes narrowed.
He turned slowly.
From the darkness of the alley…
A figure stepped forward.
Bare chest.
Tiger-skin mantle.
War paint across his body.
And that disturbing smile.
Kaizo.
His voice echoed softly through the night.
"So… I finally meet you."
His eyes gleamed with excitement.
"Ghost."
The word hung heavily between them.
For the first time—
Rai and Kaizo stood face to face.
Their eyes locked.
Neither moved.
But something invisible passed between them.
An understanding.
A challenge.
A storm waiting to explode.
Kaizo's psychotic smile widened.
The moonlight reflected in his broken fang.
The real battle…
Was about to begin.
⸻
To Be Continued…