Mil stood motionless beneath the flickering lights, blood running down the borrowed guard uniform.
Inside his mind, one thought kept repeating.
James was a sad person. He was traumatized by everything that had happened to his family. He wanted revenge.
And I will do it for him.
His grip tightened around Yoru no Kiba.
This masked guy is the number one of Organization X. If I defeat him, then it's over. We win. There will be no need to rescue anyone.
His eyes slowly lifted toward the masked man.
If I take control of this castle, everyone will be safe.
A pause.
I'm sorry, my friends.
I will fight for the better of everyone.
I'm abandoning the mission.
The storm outside suddenly grew louder.
BOOOOM!
Lightning flashed through the shattered windows, illuminating the two figures standing opposite each other.
The masked man tilted his head.
"What are you thinking?"
Mil's expression hardened.
"Nothing."
Silence.
Only the sound of rain against the castle walls remained.
The masked man slowly gripped his blade.
Mil did the same.
For several seconds, neither moved.
They simply stared at each other.
Then the masked man spoke.
"Are you not gonna charge at me?"
Mil opened his mouth—
SHING!
The masked man vanished.
Mil's eyes widened.
CLANG!
Yoru no Kiba met the masked man's blade.
The impact sent a shockwave through the corridor.
BOOM!
Cracks raced across the walls.
Dust fell from the ceiling.
Neither of them moved.
Their blades remained locked together.
Mil pushed forward.
The masked man pushed back.
CRACK!
The floor beneath them shattered.
Mil suddenly twisted his body and drove a kick toward the masked man's chest.
The masked man dodged by inches.
Mil's foot smashed into the wall behind him.
KRAAASH!
The masked man immediately countered.
His palm struck Mil's chest.
BOOM!
Mil was launched backward.
He crashed through the wall and fell into the enormous main hall below.
CRASH!
Dust filled the air.
Mil slowly lifted his head.
Above him, the masked man stood at the broken edge of the upper floor.
"You left me no option, James."
He jumped.
Mil barely had time to react.
The masked man's hand grabbed him by the neck and drove him downward.
Mil's boots scraped across the floor.
He swung Yoru no Kiba toward the man's torso.
The masked man twisted his body.
The blade missed.
His hand caught Yoru no Kiba.
He squeezed.
The metal began to tremble.
Mil's eyes widened.
The masked man's palm started bleeding from the pressure.
But he didn't let go.
Mil suddenly disappeared into the darkness.
I learned Kenjutsu.
But nothing I've learned is working against him.
I have to try my best.
The shadows behind the masked man suddenly moved.
Mil emerged from them.
His arm wrapped around the masked man's neck.
"Got you."
SLASH!
Yoru no Kiba pierced into the masked man's torso.
For one second—
Silence.
Mil thought he had won.
Then—
BOOM!
The masked man kicked the sword away.
He broke free from the choke and grabbed Mil's arm.
Using Mil's own momentum against him, he twisted his body.
THUD!
Mil was thrown using Aikido, his body crashing into the floor with such force that the stone beneath him shattered.
Dust erupted across the hall.
Mil lay still for a moment.
The masked man stood over him.
"James…"
Mil slowly pushed himself back onto his feet.
The masked man's voice became colder.
"You were given a chance."
Mil wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.
The storm rumbled outside.
He tightened his grip around Yoru no Kiba.
"But you chose not to use it well."
Mil raised his blade.
His eyes burned with determination.
"My blade…"
He stepped forward.
"…will not give up…"
Another flash of lightning illuminated the hall.
"…until your blood lies on it."
The masked man's eyes narrowed behind the mask.
And for the first time—
he stopped smiling.