Chereads / Phantom Syndrome / Chapter 4 - CHAPTER 3: Crimson King Ronen

Chapter 4 - CHAPTER 3: Crimson King Ronen

The scene transitions to the interior of the dark building. Shiro steps into a decrepit hallway, its walls stained and peeling with age, the air thick with the scent of mildew and decay. The flickering light from a single, exposed bulb casts eerie shadows across the floor, highlighting the years of neglect that have consumed this place.

Shiro moves through the hallway with a calculated, deliberate pace. His eyes scan his surroundings, sharp and vigilant, ensuring nothing is amiss. The floor creaks under his feet, but he remains unfazed, his expression calm and focused.

Suddenly, a noise echoes from the shadows—a scuttling sound, quick and sharp. Before he can react, a dog-sized rat, its fur matted and its eyes gleaming with hunger, rushes out from the darkness, baring its yellowed teeth as it lunges at him.

Without a hint of hesitation, Shiro sidesteps the creature and delivers a swift, powerful kick. The rat is sent flying, slamming into a rusted cabinet with a sickening thud. The impact is enough to make the cabinet rattle, its contents clattering within.

Shiro watches as the rat falls to the floor, its body convulsing in pain, its limbs twitching uncontrollably. His expression shifts from calm to something more sinister, a menacing smile creeping across his face. A dark aura begins to radiate from him, almost tangible in the air around him. His eyes, once a subtle glow, now blaze with an intense, bright light.

He approaches the writhing creature, his gaze locked onto it with an unnerving intensity. The rat's frantic movements slow, its body stiffening under his gaze, until it finally stops moving altogether. The once vicious creature lies still, lifeless on the cold, grimy floor.

Shiro's smile widens slightly, satisfied with the outcome. The dark aura around him fades, and his eyes return to their usual, more controlled glow. He spares the dead rat one last glance before turning his attention back to his path.

Without another word or sign of emotion, Shiro continues down the hallway, the darkness ahead swallowing him as he delves deeper into the building, the air growing colder and the shadows longer with each step he takes.

Shiro steps out of the narrow, decrepit hallway and into a vast open area, the dilapidated structure of the building evident in the gaping hole in the roof above. Through the jagged opening, the full moon hangs in the night sky, casting an ethereal glow over the room. The pale light illuminates the dust particles in the air, creating an eerie, almost otherworldly atmosphere.

Shiro's gaze travels upward, catching sight of a silhouette sitting at the top of a crumbling staircase. The figure is partially obscured by shadows, but the outline is unmistakable. Without hesitation, Shiro calls out, his voice echoing in the vast space.

"Ronen, what the hell do you want?"

The silhouette doesn't move at first, but a slow, sinister smile spreads across its face, visible even from a distance. Then, with a sudden burst of speed, the figure leaps from the platform. The sound of crashing debris fills the air as he lands on the ground below, dust and rubble swirling around him.

As the dust begins to clear, the figure's full appearance is revealed. Standing before Shiro is Ronen—a man with a muscular yet compact build, his presence radiating a sense of raw power. His crimson hair catches the moonlight, making it appear as though it's aflame. His eyes, a deep, blood-red, gleam with malice and intent. In his hand, he wields a pitch-black sword, its blade seemingly absorbing the light around it, giving it an ominous, almost unnatural appearance.

Ronen tilts his head slightly, his smile widening into something more menacing as he locks eyes with Shiro. "Nothing much," he says in a voice that drips with dark amusement. "Just your head."

The tension in the room thickens, the air charged with anticipation. Shiro's expression remains unreadable, but there's a flicker of something dangerous in his eyes as he prepares for the confrontation that's about to unfold.

Their eyes meet in the silence, a deadly calm settling over the area. The air between them thickens with tension, as if the very atmosphere is holding its breath. Ronen's smile widens, a twisted excitement flashing in his crimson eyes. Shiro, sensing the seriousness of the situation, narrows his gaze, his expression hardening.

Without warning, the ground beneath Ronen's feet cracks as he dashes forward with lightning speed, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake. The force of his movement shatters the floor beneath him, sending debris flying in every direction. In an instant, Ronen is upon Shiro, his black sword slicing through the air with deadly intent.

Shiro reacts just in time, narrowly dodging the blade as it whistles past him. But Ronen is relentless. He dashes forward again, his speed seemingly increasing with every step, and slashes at Shiro once more. Shiro evades the attack again, his movements precise and calculated, leaving Ronen frustrated.

Irritated, Ronen's expression darkens. Не shifts his stance, lifting one foot off the ground, his sword aimed directly at Shiro. With a powerful step, he blasts himself forward, closing the distance between them in an instant. This time, he manages to leave a single scratch on Shiro's cheek- a faint line of blood marking the spot.

Shiro, though slightly wounded, remains composed. Ronen, however, is seething with rage. "How the hell are you dodging?" he shouts, his voice filled with frustration.

Shiro's response is a menacing smile, his eyes glinting with an ominous light. "This fight is meaningless," he says calmly, his tone dripping with disdain. "You'll only end up getting killed."

Ronen's fury intensifies, his patience worn thin. With a roar of anger, he charges at Shiro, unleashing a furious barrage of slashes. Each swing of his sword is wild and desperate, but Shiro continues to evade every attack with ease, his movements almost effortless.

As Ronen's assault becomes more erratic, Shiro begins to count down in a low, deliberate voice.

"Five," he says as Ronen's blade swings inches from his face.

"Four," as Ronen's sword cuts through the air, missing its target.

"Three," as Ronen, now enraged, throws a punch that lands on nothing but empty space.

"Two," as Ronen, growing increasingly desperate, starts swinging his sword with reckless abandon.

Shiro suddenly stops moving, his expression unchanged, and says in a cold, final tone, "One."

Ronen's momentum falters. His heart pounds in his chest, and a wave of fear crashes over him as Shiro's eyes glow a brilliant blue. The glow is overpowering, and in that moment, Ronen's body betrays him. His legs give out, and he collapses to his knees, the sword slipping from his grasp. His mind races, trying to comprehend what just happened, but his body is frozen, his heart thundering in his ears.

Shiro steps forward, his presence looming over Ronen like a shadow. He looks down at him with a sadistic yet serious expression. "I can kill you right now," Shiro says, his voice low and threatening. "But I won't. I want you to remember that the only reason you're alive is because I let you live. And trust me, if we ever meet again," Shiro leans closer, his voice dripping with menace, "it will be your last."

With those final, chilling words, Shiro turns and walks away, leaving Ronen kneeling on the cold, broken ground. The weight of Shiro's power and the realization of his own defeat crushes Ronen, and as the sound of Shiro's footsteps fades into the distance, Ronen's vision darkens. He passes out, the last thing he hears being the echo of Shiro's words reverberating in his mind.

Here's how the scene could play out:

---

A few minutes later, Shiro steps out of the decrepit building, his demeanor calm and composed. The moonlight casts a soft glow over the street, highlighting the cut on his cheek. Hank is waiting by the car, ever the attentive and loyal butler. As Shiro approaches, Hank's sharp eyes immediately catch sight of the small wound.

Without hesitation, Hank asks, "How did it go, sir?" His tone is respectful, but there's an undercurrent of concern.

Shiro pauses for a moment, then looks at Hank with a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, Hank," he says, his voice light yet firm. "I dealt with it."

Hank, sensing that Shiro doesn't wish to elaborate, simply nods, accepting the answer without further inquiry. He knows better than to pry into Shiro's affairs, trusting in his master's abilities.

With that, the two of them get into the car. Hank starts the engine, and as the vehicle pulls away from the rundown building, the city lights reflect off the sleek surface of the car. Inside, Shiro leans back, his expression unreadable as they drive off into the night, leaving the dark encounter behind.