The forest was unnaturally quiet.
Raizen stood still.
Kagen's words echoed in his mind.
"Next time, you won't be fighting me."
The air shifted.
"…He's here," Raizen said.
Kagen didn't respond.
But his stance changed.
Serious.
Arrival
A figure stepped out from the trees.
No rush.
No hesitation.
Calm.
Raizen's eyes locked onto him.
A young man.
Normal appearance.
But something was wrong.
No presence.
No aura.
Nothing.
"…I can't feel him," Raizen said.
Kagen spoke quietly.
"That's because there's nothing to feel."
The Opponent
The man stopped a few steps away.
"…So this is the one."
His eyes moved across Raizen.
"…Incomplete."
Raizen stepped forward.
"…Who are you?"
A pause.
"…A hunter."
Silence.
Kagen's grip tightened.
"…No."
A brief moment.
"…You were one."
Tension
The man smiled faintly.
"Titles don't matter."
He looked at Raizen again.
"I'm here to see how far you've come."
Raizen drew his blade.
"…Then come."
First Clash
The man moved.
No warning.
No sound.
He appeared in front of Raizen.
Too fast.
Raizen barely blocked.
CLANG.
The impact was strange.
No force.
But overwhelming.
Raizen was pushed back.
"…What is this…"
Something Is Wrong
Raizen attacked.
Clean strike.
Direct hit.
The blade cut—
But—
No blood.
No reaction.
Nothing.
The man looked at the blade calmly.
"…You noticed."
Raizen stepped back.
"…You don't bleed."
The Truth
Kagen spoke.
"He doesn't have a normal body."
The man tilted his head.
"…Close."
A pause.
"I gave it up."
Raizen's eyes narrowed.
"…You're not human."
"…And not a demon either."
Fight Escalates
The man moved again.
Faster.
Cleaner.
Raizen activated his breathing.
"Shadow Breathing—"
"Second Form— Night Step."
He vanished.
Reappeared—
Striking.
The man blocked.
Effortlessly.
"…Predictable."
Pressure Builds
Every move Raizen made—
Was countered.
Every strike—
Stopped.
Even his shadow techniques—
Read.
"…He knows my movements."
Kagen watched silently.
"…He's analyzing you."
Breaking Pattern
Raizen stopped.
Lowered his stance.
Changed his rhythm.
Breathing slowed.
Unpredictable.
He moved again.
Different.
This time—
The man paused.
For a split second.
An opening.
Raizen struck.
"Third Form— Black Crescent."
A clean hit.
The man stepped back.
For the first time—
Distance was created.
Acknowledgment
"…Better."
The man looked at him carefully.
"You're learning."
Raizen didn't relax.
"…You still haven't attacked seriously."
A pause.
"…Correct."
True Speed
The air changed.
The man disappeared.
Completely.
Raizen's instincts screamed.
Behind.
Too late.
A strike landed.
Direct.
Raizen was sent flying.
He crashed into the ground.
Dust filled the air.
End of Fight
Kagen stepped forward.
"…Enough."
Silence.
The man stopped.
He looked at Raizen.
"…You survived."
A pause.
"That's enough for now."
Final Words
He turned away.
"…Next time…"
A brief glance back.
"…I won't hold back."
Final Scene
Raizen stood up slowly.
Breathing heavy.
But his eyes—
Focused.
"…He's stronger than anything so far."
Kagen looked ahead.
"…Yes."
A pause.
"And he's not even your enemy yet."
Ending Line
The most dangerous battles—
Are the ones that haven't begun yet.