Shiro couldn't shake off the uneasy feeling that had settled deep in his gut. The strange aura his father had emitted the previous night lingered in his mind, and it gnawed at him, keeping him on edge. Despite the warnings from Kageboshi, Shiro tried his best to focus on his training, determined to strengthen himself. He couldn't afford to let his suspicions about his father get in the way of that.
But there was something else gnawing at him. A sense of danger that seemed to hang in the air, lurking just beyond his awareness.
Shiro (thinking): Focus, Shiro. Training comes first. But what was that last night? Something's off about Dad, and I can't shake it. I need to find out more, but not right now. Not when I'm so far behind...
He swung through the motions again, this time with more force, trying to keep his thoughts on the task at hand. But his unease never fully faded.
Meanwhile, Kenzo had been tracking something far darker. After the rogue devil had slipped away into the night, Kenzo wasted no time. He had sensed the creature's bloodlust, its twisted hunger that led it down a destructive path. Devils like this weren't just dangerous—they were unpredictable and ruthless. If he didn't stop this one, it could kill again.
The rogue devil had been a human once, but now he was something else—possessed by a malevolent force, a devil that had twisted his mind into something psychotic. This devil wasn't a mindless beast, but a freak, using his human body to carry out his twisted desires. It was dangerous, and Kenzo wasn't about to let him harm any more innocents.
Kenzo (thinking): I can feel it... He's nearby. I can't let him slip away again. He's dangerous, but more than that—he's reckless. If I don't stop him now, the consequences will be ugly.
Back in Shiro's neighborhood, the weight of danger grew heavier. The air seemed thicker, the world around him quieter, as if holding its breath. Kageboshi had warned him again—something was coming, something far more dangerous than the usual threats Shiro had faced.
Kageboshi: "Shiro, I can feel it. That bloodlust... it's too strong. Someone is out there, and they're not messing around."
Shiro's heart skipped a beat. He paused, trying to sense it for himself.
Shiro: "What's going on?"
Kageboshi: "I don't know yet, but don't get caught off guard. Trust your instincts, kid."
Shiro didn't have time to second-guess himself. He moved forward, cautious but determined to figure out what was going on. The air felt thick with an unsettling pressure, a presence that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.
Then, he saw it.
A figure standing in the shadows of an alleyway, hunched over, its face hidden beneath a mess of tangled hair. There was something unnatural about the way it moved. Shiro could sense the intensity of its malice even from this distance. This wasn't just some devil; this was something different. Its aura was twisted, like a person who had been broken by something far worse than pain.
The figure turned, revealing a wild look in its eyes—eyes that were filled with madness, not a shred of sanity left in them.
Shiro (thinking): What the hell... What is that thing?
The figure's head snapped in his direction, its eyes gleaming with a crazed, terrifying intensity. There was no attempt to hide, no fear—just a feral, unhinged grin that sent chills down Shiro's spine.
Rogue Devil (grinning wildly): "Well, well... what do we have here? Another fresh soul to play with?"
Shiro's heart pounded. The rogue devil wasn't like the others he'd faced. There was no monstrous form, no visible horns or fangs. Instead, it was a human body twisted and corrupted, eyes glinting with malice, its movements erratic, like a puppet controlled by something far worse than a mere devil.
Shiro (thinking): This isn't like the others… It's insane. It's not even like a normal devil—it's just a person… twisted beyond recognition.
Without warning, the devil lunged forward, moving faster than Shiro could react. It wasn't even an attack—it was just an insane, blind rush, like an animal desperate for violence.
Shiro barely managed to dodge to the side, his breath quickening. The rogue devil's laughter rang through the air, maniacal and haunting.
Rogue Devil (laughing hysterically): "You think you can escape me? You think you can get away?"
Shiro's mind raced as he backed up, trying to put distance between himself and the rogue. But the creature was relentless, moving with unnerving speed and ferocity, slashing out with its fists in wild, unpredictable movements.
Shiro's heart pounded in his chest, his thoughts blurring with panic. This wasn't a battle he was prepared for. There was no clear way to fight something like this, something that was so far gone it had become a living nightmare.
Shiro (thinking): I can't fight him head-on. Not like this. I need to get away, think, anything...
But before he could make his move, the rogue devil rushed forward again, this time grabbing Shiro by the collar and lifting him off the ground with surprising strength. Shiro struggled, but the devil's grip was like iron, its eyes burning with an insane intensity.
Rogue Devil (breathing heavily): "I can feel it... Your fear. It's delicious. It's all I need."
Shiro's body tensed in fear. The devil's twisted grin was too much to bear. This wasn't just a fight—it was a nightmare. He wasn't going to survive this unless he did something, anything to break free.
Just as the rogue devil raised his hand to strike, there was a loud crash, and a powerful presence filled the air, cutting through the madness like a blade.
Kenzo: "That's enough."
The rogue devil froze, its eyes darting toward the new presence. Kenzo stood in the alley, his towering figure exuding a powerful aura, one that immediately dwarfed the rogue devil's energy. The wild-eyed creature flinched, its grip loosening around Shiro as it turned to face Kenzo. Fear was evident in its eyes now.
Rogue Devil (trembling): "You… You're not him… you can't be him!"
Kenzo's presence alone was enough to make the rogue devil recoil, its body visibly shaking with terror. The creature had felt fear before, but nothing like this. This wasn't the same feeling it had when it attacked Shiro. It was different—more primal, more real.
Kenzo took a step forward, and the rogue devil took several steps back, its breath coming in quick, frantic gasps.
Kenzo (coldly): "You're done here."
Shiro, still shaken but free from the rogue devil's grasp, took a step back, watching as Kenzo's overwhelming presence seemed to freeze the creature in place. It was like watching an animal cornered by a predator far beyond its strength.
The rogue devil's eyes widened, its whole body trembling now, utterly terrified. It tried to flee, but its legs were unsteady, its frantic movements nothing more than a desperate attempt to escape the overwhelming fear.
Rogue Devil (panicked): "No... no! I can't die now... I'm not ready!"
Kenzo's presence alone was enough to paralyze the creature with fear. In the blink of an eye, it turned and ran, disappearing into the shadows, leaving nothing behind but its terrified whimpers.
Kenzo (to Shiro): "You alright, kid?"
Shiro, still shaken, nodded, though his voice was unsteady.
Shiro: "Yeah... I think so. That thing... it wasn't like the others."
Kenzo's eyes were hard, unreadable as he looked at the spot where the rogue devil had fled.
Kenzo: "No. It wasn't. You're lucky I was here. That thing wasn't just a devil—it was something worse. But next time, kid, don't think you can take on something like that alone."
Shiro swallowed hard, still processing the fear that had gripped him moments ago.
Shiro: "I won't... I'll be ready next time."
Kenzo gave a small nod, though his expression softened just a bit.
Kenzo: "Good. But don't forget, you're not invincible. Not yet."
Shiro stood tall, the weight of Kenzo's words settling on his shoulders. He still had a lot to learn.