Raizen opened his eyes to silence.
A different kind of silence.
Not the calm of sleep—
But the weight of something unknown.
He sat up slowly.
His body felt lighter.
But inside—
Something had changed.
"You're awake."
The swordsman stood near the entrance.
Watching him.
Raizen looked at his hands.
"…What happened to me?"
The swordsman didn't answer immediately.
"You tell me."
Raizen clenched his fist.
A faint trace of darkness flickered—
Then disappeared.
"I lost control."
"Wrong."
Raizen looked up.
"You gained power," the swordsman said.
"And nearly let it consume you."
Silence.
Raizen's expression hardened.
"…That power saved me."
The swordsman stepped closer.
"And it will kill you."
Those words lingered.
The Mark
"Show me your arm."
Raizen hesitated.
Then pulled back his sleeve.
Nothing.
"No mark…" he muttered.
"It appears only when your life is at risk," the swordsman said.
"A forced awakening."
Raizen's eyes narrowed.
"…What is it?"
The swordsman looked directly at him.
"Something that should not exist."
A pause.
"Shadow Breathing is not a natural style."
Raizen felt it again.
That unease.
"It doesn't come from humans."
The words hit.
"…Then where does it come from?"
Silence.
"…Demons."
Conflict Within
Raizen stood up immediately.
"That's not possible."
"You used it."
"I'm not a demon."
"Not fully."
The air grew heavy.
Raizen's heartbeat rose.
"…What are you saying?"
The swordsman's voice remained calm.
"You were spared for a reason."
Memories flashed again—
The Crimson King.
His words.
His smile.
"I'll come back for you…"
Raizen's fists trembled.
"…No."
"You feel it, don't you?"
Raizen didn't answer.
Because he did.
That darkness.
That power.
It didn't feel foreign.
It felt…
Like it belonged to him.
A Choice
"You have two paths," the swordsman said.
Raizen looked up.
"Control it."
"Or be consumed by it."
Silence filled the space between them.
Raizen's voice was quiet.
"…And if I fail?"
The answer came without hesitation.
"I'll kill you myself."
No emotion.
No hesitation.
Only truth.
Training Evolves
That day—
Training changed.
"Again."
Raizen swung his blade.
Faster.
Sharper.
"Too unstable."
The swordsman deflected it easily.
"Control your breathing."
Raizen inhaled.
Slow.
Deep.
The shadow flickered again—
But this time—
It didn't explode.
It stayed.
Small.
Controlled.
"Good."
For the first time—
Approval.
Raizen pushed forward.
Strike.
Block.
Step.
Again.
Hours passed.
Sweat.
Pain.
Focus.
The darkness returned again and again—
But each time—
He held it longer.
Final Scene
As the sun began to set—
Raizen stood still.
Eyes closed.
Breathing steady.
The shadow formed again.
Around his blade.
But this time—
It didn't feel wild.
It felt… quiet.
Obedient.
Raizen opened his eyes.
"I can control it."
The swordsman watched closely.
"Not yet."
A pause.
"But you've taken the first step."
Ending Line
Power is not what you gain—
It is what you learn to control.