Kira's muscles tensed, instincts screaming at him to move. But before he could react—
Fang's eyes snapped open.
A flicker of confusion passed over his face, the last thing he remembered being the agony of infection. Now, he felt nothing but strength. Power. His spiritual energy surged, an explosion of renewed vitality coursing through his veins. There was no time to dwell on it. His sharp eyes took in the scene in an instant, and his energy ignited like wildfire.
Without hesitation, Fang moved.
In a single fluid motion, he willed his energy into shape materialized into sharp, glowing edges around his hands. blades of raw, glowing force. The air crackled as his power reached its peak, and in the blink of an eye, he vanished.
A gust of displaced air. A streak of light.
And then—a flash of steel.
Before the Abyssal Kin could react, Fang reappeared in front of it. His energy-forged blade carved through the creature's wrist in a seamless arc.
A wet, sickening slice.
The severed hand, still clenched around Ronan's hair, tumbled to the ground, its fingers twitching as if unwilling to accept death.
Blood—dark, unnatural, almost alive—splattered against the floor.
The creature let out a shriek that was not of this world. A sound of pure, unfiltered hatred.
With Ronan free, the creature let out a furious, ear-piercing scream. Its form flickered, tendrils of darkness writhing as it melted back into the shadows, vanishing from sight.
Kira rushed to Ronan's side, gripping his shoulder. "Are you okay?" His voice was laced with concern.
Ronan, still catching his breath, nodded. "I'm fine… thanks to you two." He hesitated, his expression turning grim. "But there's something you need to know—Master Wang… he captured me when I was trying to escape."
Fang's brow furrowed. "Escape?"
Ronan swallowed hard. "When I realized something was wrong, I tried to get back to our school and warn Grand Master Chen about the Abyssal Kin. But before I could reach him, Master Wang stopped me. At first, I thought he was trying to help, but then… he knocked me out. When I woke up, I was already in the Abyssal Kin's grasp." His fists clenched. "He delivered me to them."
Fang's jaw tightened, his fists clenching at his sides. "I feared as much… but I didn't want to believe it." His eyes darkened. "Master Wang is a personal friend of Grand Master Chen. If this is true… it's a betrayal far worse than I imagined."
Silence hung between them, heavy with uncertainty.
Then, their attention shifted to Kira, who stood
amidst the unconscious bodies of Sara, Kai, and
two other students. However, while three of
them were merely unconscious, the fourth was
a gruesome sight-his body torn apart, as if by
a savage beast. Blood pooled beneath him,
deep claw marks raking across his chest. Fang
and Ronan exchanged uneasy glances. No one
had seen what happened, but the brutality of
the kill sent a chill through them.
"What happened?" Ronan asked, his eyes wide with amazement.
Kira met their gazes calmly, his expression unreadable. "They attacked me, so I defended myself," he said simply.
Ronan stared at him in disbelief, struggling to process what he had just heard. But Fang's sharp eyes swept over the scene—the unconscious bodies of Kai, Sara, and the other student, and then the torn-apart corpse of the fourth. Deep claw marks ran through the body, a sight that sent a chill down his spine.
His mind raced. The Abyssal Kin used possession to turn people into their pawns. Fang had barely managed to defeat Kai, yet Kira had taken on all four possessed fighters without a scratch. And now, a student lay shredded as if a beast had done it—yet there was no sign of such a creature.
A dangerous thought crept into Fang's mind. What if Kira had been turned too?
He quickly shook the suspicion away. Now wasn't the time for doubts. They needed to report everything to Grand Master Chen. If something was wrong with Kira, they would deal with it then.
Without another word, Fang bent down and lifted Kai's unconscious body. Ronan hoisted Sara, while Kira took the last student.
With their burdens in hand, the three of them sprinted toward the surface, their minds weighed down by unanswered questions—and the battles still to come.
As they made their way back to the school, Fang, still wary of what might await them, pulled out a small, intricately designed tool from his belt—a communication device he had reserved for emergencies. He activated it with a few swift motions, sending a detailed message to Grand Master Chen. The message outlined nearly everything: the possession of Kai, Sara, and the others by the Abyssal Kin, their fierce battle underground, and, most troubling of all, Master Wang's betrayal. He hesitated before adding one final note:
"We may not make it back. Be prepared."
Yet, to his surprise, their return journey was eerily uneventful. The usually bustling streets were abandoned, the air thick with a strange, oppressive silence. Faint traces of ash and blood stained the cobblestone roads, but there were no signs of a struggle, no bodies, no survivors.
Ronan shuddered. "It's too quiet."
Kira's sharp gaze swept the empty windows above them. "It's not just quiet. It's wrong."
The shadows stretched unnaturally across the buildings, flickering even without wind. Something had happened here, but there was no way to tell what.
Tension eased only when the academy gates came into view, the towering walls standing firm against the soft glow of early morning light. Outside, waiting for them, was Grand Master Chen, his long robes shifting in the breeze. A small group of elite guards flanked him, their expressions unreadable.
The moment Chen spotted them, his stern face softened—just slightly—with relief.
The guards moved swiftly, taking the unconscious bodies of Kai, Sara, and the last student with practiced efficiency. Kira watched as they were carried away, disappearing into the academy halls. He felt no attachment to them, yet the image of the one ripped apart body flashed in his mind. A reminder.
Grand Master Chen stepped forward, his piercing eyes scanning each of them, lingering on their worn faces. "You've done well," he said, his voice calm yet commanding. "More than I could have expected."
Then, his gaze settled on Fang.
"Come with me," he ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument. "We need to discuss this in detail."
Fang nodded, but before leaving, he glanced back at Kira and Ronan. "Get some rest," he instructed, his voice firm but edged with fatigue. "We'll need all our strength soon."
As Fang followed Grand Master Chen into the academy, Kira and Ronan finally allowed the exhaustion to settle in.
Ronan exhaled, rubbing his sore wrists. "You think we'll actually get to rest?"
Kira smirked faintly but said nothing. His thoughts were elsewhere—on his growing power, on the wolf, on the battles ahead. He knew the truth.
Rest was only temporary.
The real fight was still coming
Kira's heart still pounded with lingering adrenaline as he stepped into his room, shutting the door behind him. The battle's echoes thrummed in his mind, but a deeper hunger burned within him—answers. He took a deep breath, steadying himself, then focused.
A faint shimmer surrounded him, the air bending as his energy shifted. In an instant, the familiar scent of aged stone and incense filled his senses, replacing the crisp night air of the academy. The ancient temple stood silent around him, the wind whispering through its towering pillars.
Johan was already waiting. He stood at the temple's center, arms crossed, his dark eyes gleaming with both wisdom and pride. A warm, knowing smile touched his lips.
"Welcome back, Kira," he greeted, his voice carrying the weight of generations.
Kira nodded, his mind still spinning from the night's events. He stepped forward, his fists clenching at his sides. "Father, the Abyssal Kin... there's something different about them. Stronger. More dangerous. What am I really up against?"
Johan's smile faded, his expression turning grave. His gaze drifted toward the temple's walls, as if recalling a distant battle. "The Abyssal Kin are a plague, Kira. A crawling corruption that seeps into the blood, twisting flesh and will into their puppets. Individually, they are not the strongest demons, but their infection spreads like wildfire. Even kings and warlords have fallen to their grasp."
Kira's brows furrowed. "Can they infect me?"
"No, my son. You, a true Warrior, are beyond their reach."
Johan stepped closer, resting a firm hand on Kira's shoulder. His gaze held unwavering certainty, the weight of countless battles behind his words.
"Our kind was forged for battle, Kira. The blood of a true Warrior is more than just strong—it is absolute. No curse, no corruption, no sorcery can take hold of us. Lesser magic shatters against our will. Enchantments break like brittle glass upon our skin. And the Abyssal Kin's infection?" He shook his head. "It is powerless against what runs through your veins. Their darkness cannot stain what was forged in true power."
Relief washed over Kira, but another surge of energy stirred within him. His thoughts drifted to the last time he faced Gara, the warrior who had pushed him to his limits. He lifted his gaze to his father, excitement glinting in his eyes.
"What about Gara? I want to fight him again."
Johan chuckled, shaking his head with quiet amusement. "Ah, Gara… even among legends, his name was spoken in reverence." He turned slightly, as if picturing the mighty warrior before him. "His strength defied reason. Weapons shattered against his skin, and entire battlefields trembled when he stepped forward. He was the storm before the war—the unbreakable force that crushed armies."
His voice took on a hint of nostalgia. "They say he could lift what ten of the strongest warriors together could not. His muscles were like iron, able to snap swords with a mere flex. He fought in countless wars, his name striking fear into his enemies and admiration into those who followed him."
Kira's heart pounded with anticipation. This was exactly what he needed—another battle, another test of his strength. He had grown, evolved. But was it enough?
He met his father's gaze with renewed determination. "Then I want to face him now."
Johan's smile returned, but this time, there was a knowing glint in his eyes. "Very well, my son. Let's see if you're ready."
Kira's eyes widened in awe, his father's stories fueling the fire of his determination. He could barely contain his excitement as he sprinted toward the towering statue of Gara, the massive stone warrior looming over the temple grounds like an eternal guardian. His heart pounded with anticipation.
Without hesitation, he called out, "Gara! I'm ready to face you again!"
For a moment, nothing happened. Then—the air around the statue pulsed with unseen energy, a deep tremor shaking the ground beneath Kira's feet. Jagged cracks formed along the stone surface, glowing faintly with an ancient power. Slowly, the massive figure of Gara began to move, dust cascading from his colossal frame as his form came to life once more.
As the stone shell broke away, Gara's immense size began to shrink. His towering, mountain-like figure condensed, the rough stone exterior smoothing into flesh. What remained was no longer a colossal statue but a living warrior—still towering, still powerful, but now a man of staggering height and overwhelming muscle. His presence was no less imposing, the sheer weight of his energy pressing against the air like an invisible force.
Gara's eyes, burning with the same fierce light as before, locked onto Kira. A slow, knowing grin spread across his rugged face.
"Back for more, are you?" His deep, thunderous voice rumbled through the temple. "Are you ready for another beating?"
Kira exhaled sharply, his excitement sharpening into pure focus. He shifted into a new fighting stance—a perfect blend of everything he had learned so far. Gone was the hesitation of their last battle. This time, his every movement was measured, deliberate, his muscles coiled like a predator waiting to strike.
"I'm ready." His voice was steady, unwavering.
For a brief moment, there was silence. Then, as if the very air itself held its breath, the two warriors locked eyes. The tension was palpable, thick with the promise of an impending clash. Kira could feel it in his bones—the difference from before. His spiritual energy no longer raged uncontrolled but flowed through him like a second heartbeat, refined and potent. His stance was no longer that of a mere martial artist, but something more. Something primal. Something powerful.
Gara's keen gaze swept over him, taking in the changes. A flicker of approval gleamed in his fiery eyes.
And then—without warning—they moved.
Gara struck first. His colossal fist cut through the air, a hammer blow capable of shattering mountains. But this time, Kira did not retreat. He met the attack head-on, his body bracing as he channeled his spiritual energy to augment his strength. The impact sent shockwaves rippling outward, cracking the temple floor beneath them.
Kira gritted his teeth, his arms burning from the sheer force of the clash—but he held firm.
With a sharp breath, he twisted, using the momentum to deflect Gara's next strike before launching his own counterattack. A flurry of sharp, precise strikes followed—each one faster, stronger, more controlled than before. Unlike their last battle, where he had relied on pure speed to evade, now he fought with the weight of his spiritual energy behind every move.
Gara's grin widened. "Good!" he bellowed, his laughter booming like rolling thunder. "Let's see how far you've truly come!"
With that, he lunged again, his immense power colliding against Kira's newfound mastery in an earth-shaking battle that would test the limits of kira improvements.