Baku and Kael stood facing each other in the depths of the old mountain forest.
The wind howled between the trees, carrying the scent of blood and damp earth. Neither of them spoke for a moment. Their eyes locked—one filled with confusion and wariness, the other burning with a hatred so deep it felt ancient.
Kael was the first to break the silence.
"I will kill you today," he said coldly, his voice trembling with suppressed rage. "For what you stole from me."
Baku frowned. His chest rose and fell as he tried to understand the accusation.
"Stole?" he asked. "What are you talking about?"
He barely finished the sentence.
Kael vanished.
There was no warning. No sound of footsteps. One moment Kael stood several meters away, and the next—impact.
Baku felt something slam into his chest with terrifying force. His body flew backward and crashed into a thick tree trunk, the bark exploding on impact. The pain tore through him like fire.
Baku coughed violently, blood spraying from his mouth. His eyes widened in shock.
So fast…
Before he could even stand, Kael was already there.
Kael grabbed Baku by the head and smashed his face into the ground.
Once.
Twice.
Again.
The earth cracked beneath the blows.
Baku growled, refusing to surrender. With a burst of strength, he wrapped his arms around Kael and slammed him into the ground repeatedly, the impact echoing through the forest.
Kael's body went limp.
Panting heavily, Baku staggered to his feet. He wiped blood from his lips and glanced back.
Kael lay motionless.
"…It's over," Baku muttered, turning away.
Then—
"Where do you think you're going?"
Baku froze.
Kael stood up slowly, his body unharmed, his eyes glowing with murderous intent.
"I said I would kill you today."
Baku clenched his fists. "Run while you still can," he said grimly. "Otherwise, I'll kill you."
Kael smiled.
In the next instant, he attacked again.
Baku barely managed to dodge, rolling to the side as Kael's strike shattered the ground where he had stood. Baku counterattacked—but Kael gave him no chance.
Kael seized Baku's arm.
Crack.
The sound echoed like a gunshot.
Baku bit down hard on his lip, suppressing his scream. Sweat poured down his face as pain consumed his senses.
Kael stepped back, watching him calmly.
"Have you ever felt the pain of losing someone you love?" Kael asked quietly.
Baku nodded, his broken arm trembling.
"Yes…"
Kael's eyes darkened.
"Then why did you do it?"
Baku looked up, confused. "Do what?"
Kael's voice shook. "Because of you… my little brother won't even look at me anymore."
Baku's breathing faltered. "Your brother… who?"
Kael stared at him.
"Beru."
The name struck Baku like lightning.
"…Beru?" he whispered.
Before he could say another word, Kael drove his sword forward.
The blade pierced Baku's chest.
Darkness swallowed him as his body collapsed.
Kael exhaled slowly. "The wall between us is destroyed now," he muttered. "Soon, Beru will return to my side."
Then—
Baku stood up.
Kael's eyes narrowed.
Baku's pupils had turned completely black.
A slow smile spread across Kael's face. "Ah… I almost forgot. You have the same eyes as me."
Baku roared and charged.
His attacks were wild, desperate, fueled by survival instinct. Fists flew, each carrying deadly intent—but Kael dodged every strike with ease.
Kael caught one of Baku's punches mid-air.
"Weak," Kael said calmly. "Let me show you what these eyes can really do."
His own eyes turned pitch black.
Kael slammed his fist into Baku's stomach.
The impact sent shockwaves through the forest. Baku vomited blood, but he remained standing, trembling.
Kael smiled.
"The weak will always remain weak—no matter what power they're given."
He grabbed Baku's other arm.
Crack.
Baku screamed this time.
Still, he refused to fall. Using his legs, he tried to attack, striking blindly.
Kael dodged effortlessly.
With a cold swing of his sword, Kael severed one of Baku's legs.
Baku collapsed, screaming in agony, blood pooling beneath him.
Kael stood over him, expression unreadable.
"I won't kill you," Kael said. "If you tell me something useful."
Baku gasped, his vision blurring. He couldn't die—not yet. Not before revenge.
"…I met Beru when we were young," he whispered. "There was another man… Nobu. Beru believes him to be his big brother."
Kael stiffened.
"Nobu is the son of the Misaki Clan."
Kael lowered his head slowly.
"That cursed clan…" he muttered. "They destroyed my entire family."
Without hesitation, Kael drove his sword into Baku's chest once more.
Baku's body went still.
"Never trust anyone so easily," Kael said coldly.
He turned and disappeared into the darkness.
Meanwhile — Hospital
Nobu sat silently beside Beru.
"The Misaki Clan wants to take you back tonight," Beru said quietly. "Your wife agreed."
Nobu's gaze darkened.
"I don't know why," he said slowly. "But I feel it…"
He clenched his fist.
"…Something terrible is about to happen."