It was 2 a.m.
An unnatural silence lay heavy over the Kiroku Clan territory.
The air itself felt uneasy—too calm, as if the night were holding its breath.
At the entrance of the clan head's residence, two guards stood alert, swords resting in their hands. Though disciplined, they quietly spoke to pass the time.
"…I'm telling you, things have been feeling strange lately," one of them said, his voice low.
The other guard was about to respond when his expression suddenly hardened. His eyes narrowed as he stared into the darkness ahead.
"Wait," he said.
"…Someone's coming."
A shadow emerged at the far end of the path, moving slowly toward them.
The first guard stepped forward and raised his voice sharply.
"Stop right there! Identify yourself!"
The figure did not stop.
In the very next instant—
Zap.
The distance vanished.
The stranger appeared right in front of the guard, moving at lightning speed. He barely touched the man's chest with his fingers.
A violent surge of electricity exploded through the guard's body.
His scream didn't even finish.
His body burned from the inside out and collapsed lifelessly onto the ground.
The second guard's eyes widened in horror.
"Bastard!"
Rage consumed him. He charged forward, raising his sword high above his head.
He swung—
But his target was gone.
"What—?"
A chill crawled down his spine.
He felt it.
Someone was behind him.
As he turned—
The man stood there calmly, his hand raised, fingers shaped like a gun.
Bang.
A bolt of lightning fired point-blank.
The guard's body was engulfed in blinding light and burned to ash.
Moments later, multiple guards rushed toward the entrance, weapons drawn.
They stopped in their tracks.
The stranger stood alone among the corpses, completely unharmed.
"Who are you?" one of them demanded.
The man's lips curved into a faint smile.
"My name is Volt."
The Next Morning
Charlie arrived at Master Nijin's house for training.
The moment he stepped inside, he sensed something was wrong.
Someone else was there.
A man stood in front of Nijin, speaking in a low, urgent voice. Both of them looked unusually serious—far more than usual.
Suddenly, the visitor noticed Charlie.
His gaze lingered on him for a brief moment before he turned back to Nijin.
"I'll wait at the door," the man said.
He left.
Charlie looked at Nijin.
"Did something happen?"
Nijin's expression remained heavy.
"Today's training is cancelled."
Charlie frowned.
"Why?"
Nijin started walking away, then stopped.
"If you want," he said quietly,
"you can come with us."
Kiroku Clan – The Aftermath
Charlie followed Nijin and the man back to the Kiroku Clan.
The moment he saw the place—
He froze.
Bodies.
Guards lay scattered everywhere. Burned. Broken. Destroyed beyond recognition.
The smell of smoke still hung in the air.
Charlie swallowed hard.
"What… what is this?"
"Someone attacked this place last night," Nijin said calmly.
Charlie clenched his fists.
"Who could be this ruthless?"
They approached the clan head.
A man sat there despite the devastation around him, his posture calm and composed.
"Denjiro," Nijin said.
"What happened here?"
Denjiro shook his head slowly.
"I don't know. I returned this morning."
Then his eyes sharpened.
"But I do know what he was after."
Nijin's expression darkened.
Denjiro gestured toward an injured guard being treated nearby.
"He survived. Ask him."
Nijin walked over and knelt beside the guard.
"Don't strain yourself," Nijin said gently.
"Can you tell me who did this?"
The guard's body trembled as fear resurfaced in his eyes.
"He… he was a demon," he whispered.
"He used lightning."
"…Lightning?" Nijin repeated.
The guard swallowed.
"He called himself Volt."
The guards stood before Volt, weapons raised, their stances tight and disciplined.
"Why are you here?" one of them shouted, tightening his grip on his sword.
"What do you want?"
Volt stopped a few steps away. His expression remained calm—almost bored.
"What I want is inside," he said evenly.
"Let me pass, and none of you will get hurt."
A moment of silence followed. Then another guard stepped forward.
"And if we refuse?"
Volt slowly lifted his gaze. The faint hum of electricity echoed in the air as his eyes turned cold.
"Then you'll end up like those two."
The tension snapped.
A guard drew his sword in one swift motion, the blade gleaming under the moonlight.
"We are the pride of the Kiroku Clan," he declared.
"Don't underestimate us."
Volt let out a quiet sigh, as if disappointed.
"You're digging your own graves."
The guard roared back, veins bulging with rage.
"We'll be digging yours!"
They attacked together.
Steel clashed as the guards surrounded Volt from all sides, blades slicing through the air. Their coordination was flawless—each strike aimed to trap him with no escape.
But Volt moved.
He vanished from one spot and reappeared in another, his body slipping between attacks like lightning itself. A guard's shoulder brushed against him for a split second—
A violent electric surge exploded outward.
The guard screamed as electricity tore through his body, collapsing in a smoking heap.
Another tried to grab Volt from behind.
The moment his fingers touched Volt's coat, his body convulsed violently, sparks bursting from his armor as he crashed to the ground, lifeless.
"Don't touch him!" someone shouted in panic.
Only swords could reach him.
One guard gritted his teeth and lunged forward, slashing straight at Volt's neck.
Volt crossed his hands.
A crackling shield of pure lightning formed in front of him.
The blade struck.
A deafening explosion ripped through the courtyard, sending a shockwave across the ground. The guard was hurled backward, crashing into a stone pillar. Volt slid back several steps, his boots carving lines into the earth.
Smoke filled the air.
Volt straightened slowly, electricity dancing along his arms.
Then he laughed.
"I'm impressed," he said, his voice filled with genuine amusement.
"You weren't exaggerating."
The ground beneath him began to crack.
Lightning surged violently around his body as he started to rise into the air, his silhouette glowing against the night sky.
"I didn't want to use this," he continued calmly.
"But you forced me."
The remaining guards stared up at him, fear finally breaking through their resolve.
"Now—die together."
Volt raised his hand.
A massive lightning discharge erupted from his body, splitting the night apart with a thunderous roar. The courtyard was swallowed by blinding white light.
Screams echoed—then were silenced.
When the light faded, the guards lay scattered across the ground, their bodies burned and lifeless, the smell of smoke heavy in the air.
Volt descended slowly.
Without a second glance, he walked over their bodies and stepped into the residence.
Inside, the silence was absolute.
At the far end of the hall, a sealed vault stood embedded in the wall, ancient symbols glowing faintly across its surface.
Volt placed his palm against it and unleashed his power.
Lightning exploded outward.
The vault didn't move.
He tried again—harder.
Nothing.
"Tch," Volt muttered, irritation flashing across his face.
"All this effort for nothing."
He turned away, his coat flickering with fading sparks.
"I'll need a key."
And in the next instant, he vanished.
Nijin and Charlie walked home in silence.
The night felt heavier than usual.
Charlie finally spoke.
"Master… what exactly is inside that vault?"
Nijin didn't slow down.
"I can't tell you."
Charlie let out a tired breath.
"…Again? You always say that."
Nijin stopped for a moment, then continued walking without looking back.
"There are things you're not ready to know yet."
Suddenly—
Slash.
A sharp sound tore through the air.
Blood burst from Nijin's chest as his body staggered forward.
"Nijin!" Charlie shouted, rushing to catch him.
A shadow landed softly atop the nearby wall.
Lightning crackled faintly around him.
Volt stood there, looking down at them.
"Legendary Swordsman Kyoren Nijin," Volt said, his voice calm yet mocking.
"So this is how you fall."
Nijin steadied himself, blood dripping onto the ground.
"I didn't expect you to collapse from a single strike," Volt continued.
"I guess even legends grow old."
Charlie turned toward him, fury burning in his eyes.
"You did this…!"
Volt ignored him and focused on Nijin.
"I didn't come here to kill you," Volt said.
"I need you."
Nijin glared back.
"For what?"
"You're the only one capable of opening that vault," Volt replied.
"Cooperate, and no one else gets hurt."
Nijin spat blood.
"Never."
Volt sighed.
"That's unfortunate."
He spread his arms slightly.
"Then innocent people will suffer for your stubborn pride."
At that, Volt's gaze shifted to Charlie.
Charlie stepped forward, placing himself in front of Nijin.
"You've gone far enough," Charlie said, his voice steady despite the fear in his chest.
Volt raised an eyebrow, amused.
"Gone far enough?" he repeated with a smirk.
"I haven't even started yet."
In the blink of an eye—
Charlie moved.
A full-powered punch, driven by pure rage and resolve.
The shockwave alone cracked the ground.
Volt was sent flying, crashing violently into the wall behind him.
Dust and debris filled the air.
"Charlie!" Nijin shouted.
"Get away from him! You're not ready to face someone like that!"
Charlie didn't turn back.
"I won't run anymore," he said firmly.
"If I don't fight now, nothing will ever change."
The dust settled.
Volt slowly stood up, lightning flickering around his body, a dangerous smile forming on his lips." You guy's are really unbelievable"
Charlie stood before him—
Unshaken.
Unafraid.