The fight continued.
But nothing changed.
Raikaro couldn't land a single hit.
Kaizo moved through every attack like he had already seen it before it even happened. Each step, each swing, each shift of Raikaro's body—
All of it was useless.
Kaizo read everything.
Rai stepped forward again, forcing his body to move despite the pain. He swung his katana in a sharp diagonal cut aimed at Kaizo's neck.
Kaizo tilted his head slightly.
Missed.
Rai immediately followed with a low sweep, aiming for his legs—
Kaizo stepped back.
Then Rai turned his body and thrust forward, fast and precise—
Blocked.
Kaizo's blade met his effortlessly, redirecting it to the side.
In the next instant—
A counterattack.
A clean slash across Rai's ribs.
Blood spilled.
Rai staggered but didn't fall. He tightened his grip and rushed again, changing his rhythm. He stepped in close, attempting a fast combination—one, two, three strikes in quick succession.
Kaizo didn't even move much.
A slight shift.
A small turn.
A lazy deflection.
Every attack was avoided.
Then—
Another cut.
This time across Rai's shoulder.
Rai's breathing grew heavier.
His movements slowed.
Still—he didn't stop.
He jumped back slightly, then pushed forward again, aiming for Kaizo's blind side—
But Kaizo turned before the attack even landed.
Another hit.
A deep cut opened across Rai's arm.
Blood dripped steadily onto the ground.
His stamina was dropping.
Fast.
Kaizo let out a quiet laugh.
"I expected more from you… RA boy."
His voice carried disappointment.
"What a waste of time…"
He slowly spun one of his blades in his hand, watching the blood slide along its edge.
"I was wondering… why my father sent me for you."
His smile twisted.
"You're nothing but a disgrace."
Rai's eyes narrowed, but his body didn't respond the way he wanted.
Kaizo continued, stepping closer.
"All that reputation… all that talk about your skill…"
He stopped just a few steps away.
"And this is it?"
Silence.
Rain hadn't started yet—but the air felt heavy.
Kaizo sighed.
"Let's end this."
The next moment—
He moved.
Faster than before.
His body disappeared from Rai's sight for a split second—
Then reappeared directly in front of him.
Both blades came down in a powerful crossing strike.
Rai tried to react.
Too late.
The attack landed.
A massive impact slammed into his body, tearing through his guard. The force alone was enough to break his stance completely.
Blood burst out.
Rai's body was thrown backward.
He crashed into the ground, sliding across the dirt before stopping several meters away.
Silence fell.
Kaizo stood still.
Unmoving.
Like the fight was already over.
Rai lay on the ground, his katana a short distance away from his hand. Blood spread beneath him, slowly staining the earth.
His chest rose weakly.
His body didn't respond.
From a distance, the lone soldier watching swallowed hard.
"…There's no way he survives that…"
His voice was barely a whisper.
Rai didn't move.
But—
His eyes were still open.
Unfocused at first.
Then slowly—
Something shifted.
⸻
Six years ago
A quiet forest.
In the middle of it, a small open ground surrounded by wooden houses. A place where swordsmen trained.
People stood around, watching.
At the center—
A duel.
A young Raikaro stood facing an old man.
The man looked to be in his seventies. Long white hair flowed down his back, matching his beard. His posture was relaxed, but his presence was overwhelming.
They moved.
Rai attacked first.
Fast.
Sharp.
A direct strike aimed at the old man's shoulder—
Blocked.
Another attack—
Deflected.
Rai increased his speed, delivering multiple strikes in quick succession.
Left.
Right.
Upward cut.
All stopped.
The old man moved minimally, his blade intercepting each attack with ease.
Then—
A small counter.
A simple strike.
Rai couldn't react.
He fell.
The ground hit hard.
But he stood up again.
And attacked.
Again.
And again.
Each time—
The same result.
Finally—
One last strike from the old man.
Rai's katana flew from his hand.
His body dropped completely.
Defeated.
The old man walked toward him slowly and extended his hand.
Rai hesitated for a moment—
Then took it.
He stood up.
⸻
Later—
By a quiet riverside.
Rai sat alone, staring at the flowing water.
The old man approached and sat beside him.
Silence.
Then Rai spoke.
"…Am I enough to defeat them?"
The old man didn't answer immediately.
He looked at the river.
Then at Rai.
"Kid… you are more than enough."
Rai looked up.
"You're more skilled than most swordsmen in this world."
Rai's grip tightened slightly.
"…Then why do I always lose to you?"
The old man laughed softly.
"Because you're thinking wrong."
Rai frowned.
The old man continued:
"A fight isn't always skill against skill."
He tapped Rai's forehead lightly.
"Sometimes… it's mind against mind."
Rai stayed silent.
"Before defeating your opponent…"
The old man paused.
"…you need to understand them."
Rai looked at him.
"…What should I do?"
The old man smiled.
"Nothing."
Rai blinked.
"One day… you'll face someone."
His eyes sharpened slightly.
"And in that moment… you'll understand."
⸻
Present
A loud thunder echoed across Yunara.
The sky cracked open.
Rain began to fall.
Drops hit the ground… then turned into a steady downpour.
Water ran over blood.
Over bodies.
Over everything.
Kaizo looked down at Rai.
"What a weak ending," he said.
"I'll finish this now."
He took a step forward.
But before he could move—
Rai's hand reached out.
He grabbed his katana.
Slowly.
Using it for support—
He stood up.
His body trembled.
His clothes, already torn, hung loosely—revealing his blood-covered body under the rain.
Water washed over his wounds.
But his eyes—
Were clear.
Focused.
He lifted his blade.
Pointing it toward Kaizo.
Kaizo's smile returned.
"You still have strength…?"
He laughed slightly, showing his broken tooth.
"Good."
He moved again.
Fast.
Their blades clashed once more—
Clang!
The sound echoed under the rain.
Kaizo attacked first.
Rai reacted—
But this time—
Something changed.
Rai moved.
Not faster—
But differently.
He swung his blade.
Kaizo read it instantly and moved to block—
But—
Rai stopped midway.
A sudden shift.
His blade changed direction.
A second attack—
From a different angle.
Kaizo's eyes widened slightly.
He hadn't predicted that.
He stepped back—
But not enough.
The blade cut across his side.
Blood appeared.
Kaizo landed a few steps away.
Silence.
Rain continued to fall.
He looked down at the wound.
Then back at Rai.
For the first time—
His expression changed.
Rai stood still.
His breathing was still heavy.
His body still broken.
But his eyes—
Were different now.
Focused.
Calm.
Determined.
"Not you…" Rai said slowly.
"I'm the one who's going to finish this."
⸻
To be continued…