The mask hit the ground—tap.
Gasps echoed through the arena.
But Nobu reacted instantly. His hand shot up, pulling the cloth across his face and snatching the mask before anyone could get a clear look.
To the crowd, it was just a slip.
To Beru…
It was torture.
He had seen enough.
His heart kept screaming:
"That has to be Nobu…"
But he didn't move.
Not yet.
Not until he was sure.
Final Round — Father vs. Son
Ten more battles passed.
The final names appeared in the sky-like hologram above:
KAI
vs
KAITO MISAKI
Beru's heart dropped.
Nobu turned still.
Kaito… his firstborn son.
The boy he left behind.
The boy who now hated the man named Nobu.
Kaito stepped into the arena proudly—Misaki Clan attire, a katana symbol on his back, eyes full of determination.
He glared at "Kai" with a chilling confidence.
"You hurt my younger brother.
I will crush you."
Nobu wanted to speak.
To say I'm sorry.
To say I'm your father.
But before his lips moved—
A burning agony exploded through his veins.
His eyes turned completely white.
His fingers twitched like a puppet on strings.
The curse awakened.
A demonic voice echoed inside his skull:
"You cannot protect them.
You only destroy.
That is what you are."
Nobu shook, trying to resist, but he felt his body slipping away.
He whispered—broken:
"No… not my son… please…"
But the curse only laughed.
The Battle
"BEGIN!"
Kai—no—the curse—moved first.
A punch hammered into Kaito's stomach before he even blinked.
BOOM!
Kaito's body bent over, air exploding out of his lungs.
Then—
CRACK!
A fist slammed into his face, sending him tumbling across the arena.
Nobu screamed inside his own body:
"STOP! STOP! PLEASE!!"
But his limbs never listened.
The crowd watched in horror.
Even Beru stood frozen—unable to interfere.
Kai grabbed Kaito by the hair and kneed him harshly—
BAM
BAM
BAM
Bone snapped.
Kaito's arm twisted unnaturally, blood spilling onto the arena floor.
Nobu's mind shattered while the curse roared:
"This is who you are.
A curse.
A monster."
The referee rushed in, throwing his arms wide.
"STOP THE MATCH!!"
A gong rang violently—
WINNER — KAI!!
But no cheers followed.
Only fear.
Broken Victory
Nobu stood over his son's shaking body.
His hands dripped with his own child's blood.
His eyes returned to normal…
And he realized everything.
Kaito looked up at him with pain… and hatred.
"Why… why won't you just… die…"
Nobu's heart tore apart.
He turned away, fists trembling, teeth grinding to stop the scream inside him.
He couldn't stay.
Not near his sons.
Not near his wife.
Not near anyone he loved.
The curse would never allow happiness.
Dragged Back into Darkness
As the arena emptied, Nobu slipped into the night.
Black-robed figures emerged from the shadows—the same ones who owned his life.
They wrapped chains of curse around him.
No words spoken.
No comfort offered.
Only the cold path back to the underground.
Nobu didn't resist.
He didn't look back.
He simply whispered…
"I'm sorry… my sons…"
And the darkness consumed him once again.