The air crackled with energy as Kaito stood amidst the aftermath, his chest heaving with exertion. Sweat trickled down his brow, his eyes wide.
A black flash, a distortion in space that occurs when cursed energy is applied within 0.000001 seconds of a physical hit. When a sorcerer achieves such a feat, their cursed energy turns black, and the destructive power of their strike is equal to a normal hit to the power of 2.5 with the added benefit of allowing the sorcerer to operate at 120% of their potential.
A smile curved Kaito's lips as he leaned back, stretching his arms wide and inhaling deeply. He reveled in the sensations around him—the flutter of bird wings overhead, the subtle shifts of earth beneath him as ants scurried in their colony nearby.
And then there was the unmistakable mist of cursed energy rising from Tetsuya's form. It was a sight that filled Kaito with satisfaction.
With a burst of laughter, Kaito couldn't contain his joy. It was within his grasp, the moment he had long awaited.
Tetsuya's half-closed eyes flickered toward Kaito, a bemused expression crossing his face. "You're enjoying this a bit too much," he remarked, a chuckle escaping his lips.
Kaito's gaze met Tetsuya's, his smile unwavering. He didn't need to reply; his expression spoke volumes.
Chikara groaned as he stumbled off the trail, heading towards the forest. He cursed quietly, examining his hand where the pendant had pierced it. Confusion clouded his expression.
Since that pendant had punctured his hand, he lost all control over his cursed energy flow. It left him feeling partially paralyzed and overwhelmed by a terrible sensation. Though it had subsided somewhat, he still moved with hesitation in his limbs. Yet, fortunately, cursed technique usage had become a possibility.
As Chikara trudged through the dense undergrowth of the forest, his thoughts raced faster than his weary legs could carry him. The mention of the Fujiwara Clan sent a chill down his spine. What issue did they have with his family? And why now?
His mind was a whirlwind of worry and fear. Was his father okay? Had he been hit by that strange pendant attack too?
Could he even win against whoever attacked them? The odds seemed stacked against him, and the thought made his stomach churn.
But he couldn't let fear paralyze him. Not now. He had to keep moving.
**CRASH!**
Tetsuya's groan reverberated through the forest, echoing his agony as he clawed his way up from the half-shattered tree stump he had just been thrown from. Pain pulsed through his side, and he struggled with each breath. With a determined grimace, he focused his cursed energy, attempting to mend the damage, but his efforts fell short.
Masato loomed over him, his leg driving into Tetsuya's gut with a force that stole the air from his lungs. Gasping for breath, Tetsuya pressed his palms against the ground, unleashing a burst of flames that propelled him backward.
Crashing to the ground with a heavy thud, Tetsuya struggled to rise, weariness etched on his face as he locked eyes with Hanari, who stood a few feet away from him. With a resigned sigh, he raised his hands, bracing himself for the relentless assault that followed.
Hanari danced around him with deadly precision, her hands moving like a conductor's baton as sharp strings sliced through the air, cutting into Tetsuya's flesh without mercy. Each movement was calculated, each cut deliberate, leaving Tetsuya gasping in pain.
In the corner of his eye, he caught sight of the boy from earlier.
**SLICE!**
Before he could react, his arms were severed in a swift motion, leaving him even more defenseless against his attackers. As he struggled to regain his footing, Kaito emerged from the shadows, delivering a powerful blow that sent Tetsuya hurtling forward.
With a grunt, Tetsuya slammed into the ground, his stumps throbbing with pain and irritation.
"Fuck this," he muttered through gritted teeth, his determination unwavering. "If I'm going out, I'm taking someone with me."
Summoning his resolve, he focused his cursed energy, his arms beginning to regenerate with an intense heat. Clenching his fists, he prepared to unleash his domain expansion.
"DOMAIN EXPANSI-"
His words were abruptly cut short as the pendant slammed into his shoulder, sending waves of paralyzing pain coursing through his body. Helpless and immobile, Tetsuya could only watch as the sorcerers closed in around him.
**CRUNCH**
The sound of crunching grass filled the air as Chikara sprinted through the forest, his heart pounding in his chest. His gaze fixed on his father's motionless figure, drawing him like a magnet.
But, suddenly, he was intercepted by Masato, who promptly delivered a crushing blow to his stomach. Chikara gasped for air, but was slammed into the ground and held down.
Tetsuya's eyes met Chikara's.
'I love you.'
"Stop!" Chikara's voice cracked as he screamed out.
Kaito gripped Tetsuya by the hair, yanking him up to meet his gaze. "You remember him, don't you?" Kaito's voice dripped with malice and hatred. "Did you give him any mercy at all? Anything at all?!"
Tetsuya spat in Kaito's face. "Hurry up and get this rehearsed speech over with," he growled. "Fuck you."
Anger flared up in Kaito's eyes as he threw Tetsuya to the ground, raining down blows onto him.
The boy stared at the scene. He closed his eyes, clearly disturbed. Hanari walked over to him, "Are you okay, Kyofu?"
The contrast between Hanari's soft voice and the savage sounds of the beating heightened Chikara's sense of disorientation. The world around him blurred as if submerged underwater, distorting the voices and movements around him.
"This isn't fair," Chikara muttered, his voice quivering with emotion. "Please, don't let him die. Please..."
**CRACK!**
With a final blow, Chikara's world had shattered.