My breath was steady.
The sword didn't tremble in my hand—it pulsed in rhythm with my heartbeat.
My opponent circled me like a serpent.
He was stronger than me—
but I wouldn't back down.
Faster.
Stronger.
More balanced.
I had trained for this for years.
I couldn't step back.
We weren't going to lose anyone here.
Then everything slowed.
A burn in my eyes—
Flame Eyes: Level 4.
The fire spilled beyond my iris.
I could feel blood surging through my veins.
My steps sharpened—
the dust in the air moved in slow, clear waves.
"Now," I told myself.
"This time… I won't miss."
I dodged a feint.
Struck back.
Takumi cursed from afar—
his voice telling me
to be careful.
Who would've guessed?
He'd be the first one down.
Fate has a cruel sense of humor.
Pain throbbed through my arms.
Still—
I didn't stop.
Whatever the side effects…
Step by step, I closed the gap.
And then—
the sounds of clashing metal vanished.
One line.
One cut.
My sword pierced his chest.
His eyes froze—
that twisted grin shattered into disbelief.
He collapsed, sliding off my blade.
And I…
I did it.
Takumi was safe.
I had finally…
hit the mark.
But just as I exhaled,
a hot sting licked below my ribs.
Small.
Harmless...
I thought.
Yet the red on my fingers was too dark to ignore.
"When?"
That was all I could think.
I tried to move—my knees gave way.
Stone turned to sand beneath me.
Blood trickled even from the hilt of my sword.
He must've thrown a dagger—
in his last breath, a final bite.
By the time I noticed…
it was too late.
I wanted to turn.
I wanted to see.
I wanted to hear—
Footsteps.
Close.
Familiar.
Uneven.
"Watari!"
That was Takumi.
Then Naoki.
Arata's cursing.
Aoi's scream.
And then—
Sensei.
I was ready to close my eyes.
But Sensei knelt before me.
Pressed their hand against my wound— ignoring the blood on my fingers.
His face—
like cracked armor.
Trembling.
Silent.
His eyes...
For the first time...
He looked afraid.
We locked eyes.
His lips moved.
"Watari…"
Low.
Heavy.
He had never said my name like that.
I smiled weakly.
He noticed I was still holding my sword.
Even as my fingers forgot how.
He placed his hand on the hilt.
Lowered it, gently.
His voice cracked—
"Why?"
I whispered like wind through broken glass:
"Sensei...
I finally…
hit the target."
He leaned in.
Hands shaking.
But his words were clear:
"Yes… you did."
"For once...
I was stronger..
than...
you," I muttered.
He staggered.
"You... were."
His voice was barely holding on.
He asked again:
"Watari… why?
Why didn't you stay behind?"
The words barely came out.
He swallowed.
I could barely breathe.
"Sensei…
I'm sorry…
It wasn't because of that.
I hid something from you.
Please…
forgive me…"
And as my eyes closed,
the last face I saw…
was Kana's.
I turned my head slightly.
"Don't...
blame... yourself.
Protect... the...twins
for... me"
My breath dissolved into the wind.
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The last chapters of Volume One coming in next few hours.
Stay alert.