The Final Clash
Ryuji lunged.
His blade, now pulsating with an eerie crimson glow, tore through the air like a storm.
Kenshiro's eyes widened ever so slightly—a flicker of genuine surprise. But it lasted only a moment. He met Ryuji's strike head-on.
CLANG!
The sheer force of their clash sent shockwaves through the ruins, cracking the ground beneath them. Ryuji's body felt weightless, yet unstoppable. His power, once untamed and consuming, was now something he could command—something that obeyed him.
Kenshiro grinned, excitement flashing in his silver eyes. "Finally."
Ryuji didn't respond. He had no words left—only battle.
Their blades became blurs, colliding over and over in an explosion of sparks and raw energy. Every strike Ryuji landed, Kenshiro countered. Every technique Kenshiro unleashed, Ryuji evaded by the skin of his teeth.
But then—
Ryuji vanished.
For the first time, Kenshiro's smirk faltered.
Behind him—Ryuji reappeared.
SLASH!
A clean cut ran across Kenshiro's shoulder, blood dripping onto the shattered stone beneath them.
The air turned heavy.
Kenshiro looked down at his wound, then back at Ryuji. His grin returned, wilder this time. "Good. You're learning."
But Ryuji didn't stop.
His power surged—fiercer, sharper. The storm within him was no longer a burden.
It was his weapon.
And he would use it to win.
Akari's Arrival
The ruins trembled as Akari raced forward. She could see them now—Ryuji and Kenshiro, locked in battle.
But something was wrong.
Ryuji's aura—it wasn't the same.
It was darker. More vicious. His movements weren't just skillful, they were ruthless.
Akari's chest tightened. "No…"
This wasn't Ryuji. Not the Ryuji she knew.
Kenshiro noticed her first. His silver eyes flickered with amusement as he barely blocked another one of Ryuji's relentless strikes. "Looks like your little knight has arrived."
Ryuji's head snapped toward her.
For a brief moment, she saw something in his eyes—recognition.
But then, it was gone.
Replaced by something else.
Something terrifying.
"Ryuji!" Akari shouted. "Stop!"
He didn't stop.
He couldn't.
The Breaking Point
Akari had no choice.
She gritted her teeth, raised her katana—and charged straight at Ryuji.
Their swords clashed. Akari vs. Ryuji.
The moment their blades connected, Akari's heart ached.
His strikes were too powerful, too cold. It was as if she was fighting a stranger. The Ryuji she loved was slipping away.
She refused to let that happen.
"Wake up, Ryuji!"
Her voice cracked as their swords clashed again. "You're not this! You're not a monster!"
Something flickered in Ryuji's expression. A hesitation. A second of weakness.
And in that moment, Akari moved.
She let go of her sword—and reached for him.
Her arms wrapped around him, holding him tightly.
The world fell silent.
"Come back," she whispered. "Please."
Ryuji's body tensed. His aura wavered. His breath hitched.
The storm inside him stilled.
For the first time, the rage that consumed him—faltered.
The Fall of Kenshiro
Kenshiro watched, his expression unreadable.
And then, he sighed.
"Disappointing."
In a blur, he **vanished—**reappearing behind Akari.
Ryuji's eyes snapped wide. "NO!"
Kenshiro's blade flashed—aiming straight for Akari's back.
Ryuji moved before he could think.
His power erupted—a final, blinding explosion of raw energy.
A shockwave burst from his body, the ground beneath him shattering into dust.
Kenshiro had no time to react.
Ryuji's fist—**imbued with every last ounce of his strength—**slammed into Kenshiro's chest.
BOOM!
Kenshiro's body was sent flying, crashing into the ruins. A thick cloud of debris exploded into the air.
For a moment, there was nothing but silence.
And then—
Kenshiro laughed.
Coughing up blood, he pushed himself onto his knees, his silver eyes still burning with excitement. "So… you chose them over power."
Ryuji's body trembled, his breathing ragged. "Power means nothing if I lose myself."
Kenshiro chuckled weakly. "Tch… Maybe next time, then."
And with that—he disappeared.
The End of a Beginning
Akari collapsed to the ground, exhausted. Ryuji knelt beside her, his hands shaking.
For the first time since this nightmare began, it was over.
He looked down at his hands. They were his again.
The storm inside him had quieted.
But it wasn't gone.
He had won this battle—but the war was far from over.
Ryuji clenched his fists.
Kenshiro was still out there. And whatever power had awoken inside him…
It was just the beginning.
End of Volume 1
🔥 Volume 2: "The Path of No Return" Coming Next!