《THE SHADOW OF SPIRIT》


 Chapter 1: the meeting

    The light rain fell on the city, sliding off the wooden rooftops and soaking the dusty ground.


    Wrapped in his dark cloak, Kaito walked at a slow pace. His lowered hood concealed most of his face, revealing only the faint reflection of his brown eyes.


    In front of him stood a bustling inn. A constant hum of voices and laughter spilled from within.


    (An inn, huh¡­ this should do.)


    Kaito pushed open the door and stepped inside.


    The warmth of the place embraced him immediately. The inn¡¯s interior was packed with people drinking, talking, and laughing loudly. The main hall was of moderate size, and at its far end stood the bar counter.


    Beside it, a wooden staircase led to the upper floor. The heavy scent of alcohol mixed with the aroma of food, creating a thick atmosphere.


    He approached the counter, ignoring the curious glances from a few patrons eyeing his solitary figure.


    "Hey, I¡¯d like a drink."


    His voice was flat, devoid of emotion.


    The bartender, a man in his fifties with a dirty apron and strong arms, raised an eyebrow at him.


    "You look a bit too young for a place like this, kid."


    ¡°¡­I just want some water.¡±


    The bartender remained silent for a moment before sighing. He poured a glass of water and placed it in front of him.


    Kaito lowered his hood, revealing his face. Messy black hair, dull brown eyes, and an expression far too somber for someone his age.


    The bartender observed him for a moment, noticing something.


    (This kid¡­ has a strange look for a seventeen-year-old.)


    Kaito pulled out two brish (a currency used in this world) and dropped them on the counter.


    "Here. Thanks."


    "See you around, kid."


    Kaito gave a slight nod and turned to leave.


    But something made him stop.


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    In the corner of the inn, a group of men was harassing a girl.


    "Leave me alone and get lost."


    Her voice was firm, but a hint of tension flickered in her eyes.


    One of the men, a burly guy with a scar on his cheek, grinned.


    "Come on, now. Dressing like that, you must be looking for attention, huh?"


    The others chuckled. One of them reached out and grabbed her wrist.


    Kaito felt a slight irritation rise within him. A mix of annoyance and¡­ disgust.


    The bartender stepped forward, his face tense.


    "Leave her alone and get out of my inn."


    The scarred man stared at him, then smirked.


    "And who do you think you are to be giving us orders, old man?"


    His fist shot forward, slamming into the bartender¡¯s stomach, making him double over.


    "Now, come with us, sweetheart."


    "Don¡¯t touch me!"


    The girl struggled to break free. The man tightened his grip.


    But something stopped his movement.


    A hand had clamped around his wrist.


    A strong, firm hand.


    The man spun around.


    Behind him, Kaito was staring at him with lifeless eyes¡ªcold as ice.


    "Let go of the girl."


    "And who the hell are you, brat? Looking for trouble?"


    Kaito didn¡¯t answer right away. His expression didn¡¯t change.


    "I won¡¯t repeat myself."


    The scarred thug burst into laughter.


    "Listen to this guy! You want me to show you your place, kid?"


    His fist shot forward.


    But it only struck air.


    Kaito moved swiftly, ducking under the attack. With a single movement, he leveraged the man¡¯s arm and slammed him to the ground.


    A sudden silence fell over the inn.


    The patrons watched in disbelief.


    The thug got up, his face twisted in rage.


    "You bastard¡­! Get him, boys!"


    The other two men nodded and lunged at Kaito.


    He sighed.


    In an instant, he moved. He jumped, using their backs as stepping stones, and landed behind them. With a few precise strikes, he sent them crashing to the floor.


    The three men, groaning in pain, struggled to stand.


    "You still want to continue?"


    Kaito¡¯s voice was low, cold.


    One of them clenched his teeth.


    "Let¡¯s get out of here."


    "Damn brat¡­ this isn¡¯t over! We¡¯ll kill you!"


    They staggered away.


    Silence fell over the inn once more.


    Kaito remained still for a moment, then decided to leave.


    "Wait!"


    A hand grabbed his wrist.


    He turned sharply.


    In front of him, the girl was staring at him. Long black hair with bangs that slightly covered her forehead, and deep violet eyes.


    "Please¡­ don¡¯t go."


    Kaito looked at her, confused.


    (What does she want from me?)


    "You helped us. Let us repay you."


    Kaito didn¡¯t seem interested. And yet¡­


    "Fine¡­ I¡¯ll stay for a while."


    He accepted reluctantly, not even sure why himself.


    A small smile formed on the girl¡¯s face.


    "Thank you."


    The bartender, equally grateful, offered Kaito food and lodging for as long as he stayed, giving him one of the inn¡¯s finest rooms.


    Kaito followed the girl up the stairs. The wooden floor creaked under their steps, while the chatter of the patrons faded below.


    "This will be your room while you¡¯re here. I hope you like it."


    The girl, whom the bartender had called Yume, stopped in front of a door, looking at him with a somewhat uncertain expression.


    Kaito observed her for a moment. She looked younger than he had expected.


    (She can¡¯t be older than eighteen.)


    Then he turned the doorknob and stepped inside.


    The room was simple but cozy: a bed, a nightstand, and a small television. Nothing fancy, but definitely better than some of the places he had slept in lately.


    "Do you like it? It¡¯s the best we have."


    Yume seemed nervous.


    "It¡¯ll do," Kaito replied, placing his cloak on the chair beside the bed. "Even a less luxurious one would have been fine."


    "We just wanted to show our gratitude."


    For a moment, silence filled the room. Then Yume took a step forward, lowering her gaze.


    "And¡­ I¡¯d like to know your name."


    She spoke with slight hesitation, as if unsure whether to ask.


    Kaito hesitated, then answered:


    "My name is Kaito."


    Yume smiled softly.


    "That¡¯s a nice name."


    "¡­Yume, right?"


    "Yes?"


    "I wanted to ask¡­ this town doesn¡¯t have any Spirit Holders, does it?"


    Yume looked surprised, then shook her head.


    "No. As you¡¯ve probably noticed, we¡¯re very poor here¡­ Unlike other cities, we don¡¯t have the funds to improve the roads or modernize the buildings. Because of that, Spirit Holders aren¡¯t interested in living here."


    Kaito noted that she said it without any anger or sadness.


    (It doesn¡¯t seem to bother her much¡­) he thought.


    "I see. I figured as much."


    He turned toward the bed and sat down, crossing his arms.


    "Well then, good night."


    Yume stared at him for a moment, as if she wanted to say something else, but in the end, she simply nodded.


    "Good night, Kaito."


    She closed the door and left

 Chapter 2 : shirogane

    Night was approaching, and inside an old abandoned warehouse, dimly lit by a few lamps, one of the thugs from the tavern was violently slammed onto the floor. His breathing was labored, his face twisted in pain.


    In front of him, a young man with white hair and dark green eyes stared at him with disdain. He wore a black jacket and pants, and his hands were covered with gloves adorned with metal spikes.


    "Please, Shirogane...!"


    The young man didn''t respond immediately. He slowly stepped closer, his gaze cold.


    "I told you to go get her," he said, his voice calm but menacing. "And what did you do? You let yourselves get beaten up by a kid?"


    One of the other men, still on the ground, tried to explain.


    "Boss, you have to understand! That guy was a monster! And besides¡­ we didn¡¯t know that girl was the one we were looking for!"


    Shirogane stared at him, then slowly nodded.


    "You''re right."


    A cold smile spread across his face. For a moment, the thug seemed to relax. But before he could say another word, Shirogane''s hand moved with terrifying speed, piercing through his chest.


    "Gah...!"


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    Blood splattered onto the floor. The man trembled for a moment before his body collapsed, lifeless. The other two remained frozen in terror.


    Shirogane slowly turned toward them.


    "If you don¡¯t want to meet the same fate, go to the tavern," his voice was icy. "Tell Yume that Shirogane wants to see her."


    He glanced down at the corpse.


    "And this time¡­ don¡¯t attract attention."


    ---


    The Next Morning at the Tavern


    The sun filtered through the window. Kaito¡¯s bed was empty.


    Yume climbed the stairs with a tray in hand and knocked lightly on the door.


    "May I come in?"


    No response. She slowly opened the door¡ªand froze.


    Kaito was in the middle of the room, doing push-ups.


    For a moment, Yume stood still, her eyes wide.


    "E-oh! Sorry, sorry!"


    She quickly turned around, her cheeks slightly flushed.


    Kaito stopped his workout and calmly put his shirt back on.


    "Don¡¯t worry about it. If anything, I should apologize."


    "N-no, it¡¯s fine! I brought you breakfast¡­ I hope you like it!"


    She placed the tray on the nightstand, avoiding looking at him directly.


    Kaito sat on the bed and took a slice of bread.


    "Thanks. Anyway¡­ how are you after what happened yesterday?"


    "I¡¯m fine. People like that don¡¯t worry me."


    Kaito watched her closely. (Too calm¡­ she''s hiding something.)


    After finishing breakfast, he went downstairs.


    The bartender looked nervous.


    "Are you feeling okay? You look a little pale."


    The bartender looked up, visibly worried.


    "Oh, hey Kaito¡­ I just found out the supply truck broke down. I¡¯m running low on stock."


    "I can go, if you show me the way."


    "Really?! I¡¯d really appreciate that! Yume, can you go with him?"


    Yume nodded.


    "Of course!"


    The two left the tavern and turned right. The street was quiet.


    Kaito noticed a group of children playing with a ball, while their mothers watched from afar. But he also noticed something else: the road was gradually becoming more isolated and empty.


    Suddenly, Yume turned to Kaito.


    "I know we¡¯ve only known each other for a short time... but I¡¯d like to know what led you to travel so much. I mean, you look like a traveler."


    Yume spoke hesitantly.


    Kaito stopped and turned toward her.


    "I have my reasons for traveling from city to city."


    Kaito¡¯s gaze was filled with anger and hatred, but it quickly returned to normal.


    "Rather¡­ how long did you plan to keep up this act? You¡¯re not taking me to the truck, are you?"


    At that moment, Yume¡¯s expression changed, twisting into a sinister smile.


    Behind them, the s


    ilhouette of a warehouse loomed.


    Atop the roof, a figure with white hair watched them.


    It was Shirogane.

 Chapter 3: THE BEGINNING

    "Yume, so he''s the guy I''ve heard about?" said Shirogane with an amused smile.


    She looked at him with the same amusement. "Yes, he is. Be careful, he doesn''t look very strong, but he is."


    Kaito, who had been listening, was assessing the situation, realizing it was escalating quickly. He looked at the figure on the roof and said, "Can someone tell me who¡ª" He couldn''t finish his sentence, as a hand suddenly rested on his shoulder. Shirogane had moved so fast that he had gone from the rooftop to Kaito¡¯s side in mere moments.


    "My name is Shirogane... remember it well." The moment these words were spoken, a swift and powerful punch sent Kaito flying, crashing through a tree twenty meters away from the warehouse. The impact was deafening, loud enough to send a flock of birds scattering into the sky.


    Yume was in disbelief at the sheer destructive force.


    "D-did you kill him?" she asked, but the young man, his arm still in an offensive position, laughed. "HAHAHAHAHAHA, what kind of question is that? You yourself said he was strong¡­ Look at him!"


    Yume turned toward where Kaito had been thrown. He was still standing, blades drawn and in a defensive stance. His head was slightly bloodied, his face obscured.


    (Here he comes,) Shirogane thought. In an instant, Kaito vanished and reappeared just inches away from him. Kaito attempted to strike with his dagger, but Shirogane dodged effortlessly. He tried again, closing in and launching another slash, this time grazing Shirogane¡¯s arm.


    Shirogane wasted no time and counterattacked with a flurry of blows. The two moved with incredible speed. Kaito barely managed to evade a kick by lowering himself at the last second. Taking advantage of his position, Shirogane lunged forward, landing a strike to Kaito¡¯s chest. Kaito quickly repositioned himself but was fully aware that his opponent was superior.


    The two locked eyes for a moment before Shirogane suddenly burst into laughter. "Hahahah, you¡¯re really something. You¡¯re interesting."


    Kaito looked at him with disdain. For a moment, his gaze flickered to Yume, but he knew he couldn¡¯t afford to be distracted.


    "Tell me something¡­ You''re a spirit wielder, aren¡¯t you?"


    Shirogane¡¯s response came swiftly. "Hahah, yes, I am. And so are you, right?"


    In this world, there existed beings known as spirits¡ªentities that waged war against humans a thousand years ago. Humanity ultimately prevailed, sealing these spirits within their own bodies. Generation after generation, these spirits were inherited, and in rare cases, new ones were born.


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    Kaito kept his tone serious, yet filled with rage. "You''re wrong. I don¡¯t have a spirit."


    "You¡¯re not a spirit wielder? Don¡¯t mess with me. There¡¯s no way you could have survived my first hit otherwise."


    Yume''s eyes widened. "That¡¯s impossible. Kaito doesn¡¯t have a spirit," she muttered, unable to believe that he had withstood Shirogane¡¯s attack.


    Meanwhile, Kaito charged at his opponent once more. His blades cut through the air, reflecting in Shirogane¡¯s eyes. He had figured it out: to defeat an opponent stronger than him, he had to take away his sight.


    But in an instant, Shirogane dodged the attack and delivered a powerful uppercut, sending Kaito crashing to the ground with a heavy thud. Blood dripped from his lips, but his chest still rose and fell¡ªhe was still breathing.


    "So, bastard... How are you still standing? A hit like that would have taken the head off anyone without a spirit," Shirogane said, frustrated by his opponent¡¯s endurance.


    "Maybe you''re just overestimating yourself," Kaito replied, his voice strained.


    Shirogane lost his composure. "DAMN YOU!!"


    From his shadow, two pale arms emerged, followed by a figure: round, red eyes, white skin, long black hair, a slender physique, and a pitch-black outfit. His spirit had manifested.


    The figure that emerged from the darkness scanned the surroundings before speaking. "Shirogane, why have you summoned me to such a place?" Her voice was delicate, yet eerie at the same time.


    "Don''t complain, Kuroyami. Just get ready¡ªwe need to kill that guy."


    Kaito had already gotten back to his feet, still holding his blades despite his battered body. "So she¡¯s your spirit, huh?" he asked, still in pain from the previous blow.


    "Yes. Feel honored¡ªyou¡¯ve angered me enough to make me summon her," Shirogane responded.


    Kuroyami joined the conversation. "I don¡¯t know what you did to my Shirogane, but if he wants you dead, I have no objections."


    Kaito took a deep breath and spoke the words that would reignite the battle. "Neither do I."


    An instant later, Shirogane, alongside Kuroyami, struck Kaito, sending him crashing against the warehouse wall. However, he had managed to soften the attack using his blades, taking minimal damage.


    "Alright, Kuroyami, let''s begin¡­ KAGE NO ITSUWARI!!!"


    Upon hearing these words, Kaito found himself unable to move. (My legs¡­ I can''t move them,) he thought as he watched his opponent and his spirit approach him.


    Kuroyami stood still while Shirogane began pummeling Kaito with a flurry of punches. Each blow rocked his body, yet he remained pinned in place, unable to be sent flying due to the shadow binding him. Kaito¡¯s blood splattered across the concrete, and the warehouse wall, weakened by the repeated impacts, crumbled to the ground.


    With his back against the wall, Kaito attempted to defend himself with his blades, but to no avail. "I can¡¯t¡­ He¡¯s too strong."


    The blows continued to rain down until Kaito realized that his only chance was to immobilize his opponent.


    "Alright¡­ if this is the only way¡­"


    With this thought, Kaito deliberately lowered his guard until Shirogane¡¯s fist pierced through the lower part of his abdomen.


    Shirogane, momentarily stunned, started laughing. "Hahahah, so you¡¯ve given up, huh?"


    Kaito, his body trembling, replied, "You¡¯re wrong¡­ It¡¯s just¡­ that now¡­ I have you¡­ right where I want you!!!"


    His blades began to glow a bright blue. "SPIRIT SLAYER!!!"


    A radiant slash of light struck Shirogane, lifting him off the ground and tearing through a portion of the warehouse roof before sending him crashing down.


    "Hah¡­ I hit him¡­ Ugh¡­ Huff¡­ His spirit too¡­ Puff¡­ That should do it," a flicker of hope ignited within Kaito, only to be extinguished as Shirogane¡¯s silhouette emerged from the dust cloud.


    "Dam¡­n¡­ you¡­ damn you¡­ DAMN YOOOOOU!!"


    Shirogane, consumed by rage, lunged at Kaito. His palm gripped Kaito¡¯s face and drove him toward a nearby grove. The two tore through the trees at high speed, uprooting twenty of them and leaving a crater in the ground.


    "Kuroyami¡­ Now¡­ KAGE NO ITSUWARI CAVALIER!"


    The spirit reappeared, and from Kaito¡¯s shadow, a knight formed entirely of darkness emerged.


    "Shit¡­" Kaito forced himself to stand with a jump, but a sharp pain made him scream.


    "AAHHHHHHHHH!"


    His right arm had fractured from the impact.


    "Very well, knight, hold him down." The shadowy knight obeyed Shirogane¡¯s command instantly.


    "Kuroyami, KAGE NO KEN!"


    From her own shadow, a sword materialized.


    Kaito struggled to regain control, but his vision was beginning to blur. There was little he could do.

 Chapter 4 : SHES A FOOL

    Shirogane approached Kaito with his sword.


    (It¡¯s over¡­ I¡¯m going to die¡­) he thought as his vision blurred.


    "That''s enough, Shirogane."


    Kaito heard Yume¡¯s voice say those words.


    "What do you mean by ''that¡¯s enough''?"


    For a moment, silence fell, then Yume replied:


    "If you killed him, you wouldn¡¯t be satisfied¡­ What you really want is for him to suffer for his lack of respect, am I wrong?"


    Shirogane reflected on the girl¡¯s words, then placed his weapon back into his shadow. A smile formed on his lips.


    "You¡¯re right. Kaito, I will spare you. Go on living with the knowledge that if I ever see you again, I will kill you."


    Kaito, now exhausted, watched as Shirogane summoned his spirit, and the knight vanished instantly.


    "Let¡¯s go, Yume. In two days, we leave for Shinkase."


    Yume lowered her gaze and nodded. Her face conveyed resignation and sadness.


    Kaito noticed. (Y-Yume¡­?)


    Right after that thought, he lost consciousness. Kaito had lost.


    While he was unconscious, Shirogane¡¯s words tormented him.


    "Kaito, I will spare you. Go on living with the knowledge that if I ever see you again, I will kill you."


    Those words, combined with Yume¡¯s expression, kept echoing in his mind.


    "SHIROGANEEEE!!"


    The scream erupted in the room as Kaito woke up abruptly, his breathing heavy and uneven. His chest burned.


    "You¡¯re finally awake, kid."


    A familiar voice reached him from the side of the bed. Still dazed, Kaito turned his head.


    "Old man¡­? What happened?"


    He looked around, eyes wide.


    "The inn? How did I get back here?"


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    "Calm down, I brought you here," the bartender replied with a tired smile.


    "I don¡¯t understand¡­ how did you know where I was?"


    The bartender raised an eyebrow.


    "Are you joking? The whole city saw that blue light tearing through the sky!"


    Kaito fell silent.


    (That attack¡­ was it really that powerful to attract everyone?)


    "The whole town gathered near the warehouse. The destruction was¡­ unbelievable. And that¡¯s where I found you. I couldn¡¯t believe my eyes."


    Then he added with a worried look:


    "Kaito, what happened? And where¡¯s Yume?"


    The boy hesitated, then told him everything. He spoke about his fight with Shirogane, Yume¡¯s double game, and even her expression.


    "Damn, so that¡¯s what she meant back then¡­"


    Kaito didn¡¯t understand.


    "What are you talking about?"


    The bartender shook his head.


    "Sorry¡­ you couldn¡¯t know. But maybe it¡¯s time you did. I¡¯ll tell you everything."


    He closed his eyes, letting a distant memory surface.


    It was a cold evening, and rain poured heavily over the city.


    The bartender had just closed the inn when, from his bedroom window, he saw a figure collapse onto the wet pavement. His heart skipped a beat.


    (Damn, something must have happened!) he thought, quickly grabbing an umbrella before rushing out into the night.


    As he got closer, he saw a young girl, her body covered in bruises and completely unconscious.


    "I can¡¯t leave her here."


    He picked her up and carried her into one of the inn¡¯s rooms. Her body was ice-cold, trembling violently, twisting in pain. He spent the entire night taking care of her, trying to ease her suffering.


    Only at dawn did the girl regain consciousness. She slowly opened her eyes, her pupils slightly dilated.


    "Miss, you¡¯re awake! How do you fe¡ª"


    A sudden punch struck him in the stomach. The bartender staggered back and fell to the ground, clutching his side with a groan.


    "Who the hell are you?! Where am I?!"


    The girl had shot up, her breath ragged, eyes filled with distrust.


    "Calm down, calm down! I don¡¯t want to hurt you."


    Yume looked around. Her breathing gradually steadied.


    "Are you alright? Last night, I saw you collapse, so I brought you to my inn," the bartender said, getting up from the floor.


    She observed him, then spoke.


    "Th¡­ thank you," she said, her voice carrying a hint of doubt.


    The bartender returned to the present, while Kaito, slightly shaken, tried to hide his unease.


    "And then what happened?" he asked.


    "Well, after that day, I decided to let her stay until she recovered."


    "So, if she¡¯s still here, does that mean she hasn¡¯t fully recovered?"


    The old man hesitated for a moment, then replied:


    "You¡¯re wrong. She wanted to stay¡­ She had nowhere else to go, so I decided to hire her."


    After those words, his mind drifted once again to another memory.


    It was early morning. Six months had passed since Yume¡¯s arrival at the inn. The soft sunlight filtered through the windows of the tavern.


    The owner walked downstairs and saw her at the counter, organizing the bottles.


    "Good morning, Yume."


    "Good morning, Mr. Hauromi," she replied with a smile.


    The two began arranging the room for the day¡¯s opening.


    Yume noticed the absence of a red wine bottle.


    "Mr. Hauromi, a bottle is missing," she said, pointing at the empty space.


    "You¡¯re right, I¡¯ll go get it."


    The old man opened the cellar and went down the stairs. It was dark inside, with tall shelves arranged by wine type.


    "There it is," he said when he spotted the missing bottle.


    He climbed the stepladder and reached out, but suddenly, his legs gave way. He fell to the ground, bringing several glass bottles down with him, shattering them on impact.


    The crash was so loud that Yume heard it from upstairs. She quickly ran down.


    "Mr. Hauromi, are you al¡ª"


    She stopped abruptly when she saw the bartender on the ground, a deep cut on his head.


    "Yume¡­ please¡­ call an ambulance," he said weakly.


    But without saying a word, she stepped closer.


    "Yume, what are you doing??"


    She didn¡¯t answer.


    Beside her, a small spirit appeared¡ªwith wings, antennae, a dress made of leaves, and large eyes.


    Suddenly, the wound disappeared.


    "Yume¡­ you¡¯re a spirit wielder!"


    The bartender returned to the present.


    Kaito was even more surprised than before.


    "So Yume is a spirit wielder too?"


    The old man looked at him and then answered:


    "Yes, she is. After that incident, we talked. At the time, I didn¡¯t want to make her relive the trauma, so I never asked what happened that night¡­ the night I found her."


    He paused, then continued in a grave tone.


    "But after what I saw, I couldn¡¯t ignore it anymore. Yume told me that night, she was running away from a man who would do anything to obtain her power."


    Kaito understood instantly.


    "She was talking about Shirogane."


    The bartender lowered his gaze, clenching his hands tightly over his pants.


    "I think so too¡­ She probably didn¡¯t want to involve me. And now¡­"


    Tears began to stream down his face.


    "Sorry, kid¡­ I need to step out for a bit."


    He got up from the stool and left the room.


    Kaito was left alone, lost in countless thoughts. But suddenly, one thing became clear.


    "She was forced by Shirogane to bring me to him¡­ She didn¡¯t want to kill me. That¡¯s why she saved me."


    Then he realized something else.


    "If Yume betrayed Shirogane by running away¡­ that means he might punish her now."


    Clenching his fists in anger, he muttered through gritted teeth:


    "Idiot¡­ you should have let me die¡­ You¡¯re such a fool!"

 Chapter 5: DONT WORRY

    Twenty minutes had passed since the innkeeper had left the room. Kaito, with difficulty, lifted himself up and sat at the foot of the bed. His body was still numb, and the arm in a cast tingled. Even his head throbbed painfully, but he still managed to stand up.


    "Everything hurts..."


    He moved slowly through the room, his steps uncertain. He reached the door and opened it cautiously.


    (The old man isn¡¯t here¡­ Where did he go?)


    He went down the stairs, holding onto the handrail, and arrived in the hall. The room was dimly lit: the curtains were closed, and the only light came from a faint lamp on the table. There, with an open bottle of whiskey in front of him, sat Mr. Hauromi. The glass, already filled, trembled between his fingers.


    Kaito approached.


    "Don¡¯t you think drinking that whole bottle alone will harm you?"


    The bartender didn¡¯t turn around.


    "Maybe¡­ but right now, I need it."


    Silence fell between them. After a few moments, Hauromi sighed and spoke again:


    "Listen, kid, do you want advice from an old man? Leave this place and forget everything that happened."


    Kaito didn¡¯t respond immediately. He sat at the table, right in front of him.


    "Where are my blades?" he asked in a serious tone.


    Hauromi glanced at him briefly, then took a sip and replied with a tired voice:


    "They¡¯re still near the warehouse. Why?"


    Kaito stood up slowly.


    "I¡¯m going out for a moment."


    The bartender stared at him, incredulous.


    "Are you insane? You can barely stand! You can find blades anywhere."


    Kaito stopped at the inn¡¯s entrance and, without turning completely, slightly turned his head.


    "Those blades¡­ are the only link to my past. They are irreplaceable."


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    He said nothing more. He opened the door and left.


    Hauromi remained still, his gaze lost in the void. Then he sighed and poured himself another glass of whiskey.


    "Kaito¡­ what the hell happened to you?"


    Kaito retraced the path he had followed with Yume to the destroyed warehouse. The pain throughout his body didn¡¯t subside, but he didn¡¯t care.


    Upon arriving at the place, he stopped for a moment, letting his mind relive the battle with Shirogane. His eyes fell on the large crater that had opened in the ground upon impact.


    He approached.


    There, inside, he saw his blades.


    With trembling hands, he knelt down and picked them up. The metal reflected his face.


    "Here they are¡­ I¡¯m glad."


    It was at that moment that a memory resurfaced in his mind.


    He saw a young man, barely in his twenties, with long gray hair, wearing a kimono, and with deep red eyes.


    "Kaito, stop. Do you understand that you can¡¯t act like this?"


    Kaito smiled, recalling that fragment of the past.


    (What would she do¡­ in this moment?)


    His gaze became melancholic. Another image took shape in his mind. Yume.


    He clenched his fingers around the blades, then turned and started walking back toward the inn.


    ---


    Hauromi was still sitting at the table. The bottle was now empty. He held the glass in his hand, his gaze fixed in the void.


    "Yume¡­ I can¡¯t do anything for her¡­ Damn it, damn it, DAMN IT!!"


    With a sudden movement, he threw the glass against the counter. The glass shattered into a thousand pieces, scattering across the floor. The bartender was breathing heavily, his hands clenched into fists.


    Memories of the days spent with the girl he now considered a daughter resurfaced in his mind.


    "Old man."


    Hauromi turned abruptly and saw Kaito standing at the entrance.


    The boy was staring at him.


    "Kaito..." Hauromi murmured, noticing a different expression in his gaze.


    Kaito approached, walking with determined steps.


    "You told me to forget everything and leave, right?" he asked, his voice firm.


    The bartender remained silent.


    "But I won¡¯t."


    Kaito stopped a few steps away from him and looked him in the eyes.


    "Before Shirogane and Yume left, he said that in two days, he would leave for Shinkase."


    Hauromi¡¯s eyes widened.


    "That means he¡¯s still in town. The only fast way to leave here is by train."


    The bartender immediately understood what Kaito was implying.


    "You want to go get Yume back? Are you crazy? Look at yourself! How do you think you¡¯ll manage in this condition?"


    Kaito didn¡¯t look away.


    "Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve already fought him, I know what to expect. And if I manage to find Yume on the train and she heals me¡­ I¡¯ll be able to fight again at full strength."


    Hauromi lowered his head. Tears began to silently fall down his face. When he spoke, his voice was broken, almost unrecognizable.


    "Kaito¡­ I realize it¡¯s selfish of me to ask you this..." he hesitated for a moment, then clenched his fists.


    "But please¡­ save Yume!"


    Kaito didn¡¯t respond. But he didn¡¯t need to.


    Hauromi saw his expression and understood that he would do it.


    The boy gripped his blades tightly.


    The battle wasn¡¯t over yet.


    ---


    TWO DAYS LATER


    In an old, decaying house on the outskirts, with broken windows, holes in the walls, and a large amount of mold, there was Shirogane.


    "Yume, wake up."


    The boy was sitting on a worn-out armchair, with the stuffing visible. In front of him, a small table and a fireplace no longer in use. To his right, a sofa where Yume was lying.


    The girl woke up instantly at his words.


    "Shirogane, is it time already?" she asked, going from lying down to sitting up.


    "Yes, the train will arrive soon, so let¡¯s not waste time."


    Shirogane got up from the armchair. Yume did the same, and the two left the doorless shack.


    They kept silent the entire way to the station.


    "Alright, we¡¯re here..." said Shirogane. Then he turned to her.


    "If you try to escape this time, I¡¯ll kill you."


    Yume looked at him.


    "I know that very well."


    She got on the train, while Shirogane handed the tickets to the conductor.


    The train was an old model, divided into various identical cabins. There were about twelve tables, each with two sofas. This pattern repeated for eleven more cabins.


    "Let¡¯s sit here."


    Shirogane sat down. Yume did the same.


    "Shirogane¡­ what do you want to do in Shinkase?"


    He looked out the window.


    "Haven¡¯t you figured it out?... Tsk¡­ Shinkase is a very advanced city, but it also has a dark side..."


    The girl instantly understood.


    "You mean human trafficking..."


    Shirogane smiled.


    "You guessed it."


    The train had been moving for three minutes when suddenly the alarm started blaring.


    "What¡¯s h


    appening?"


    Shirogane looked out the window. Yume did too.


    Then she saw him.


    There, on the tracks, with two blades in hand.


    Kaito had arrived.

 CHAPTER 6: DONT DIE

    Shirogane clearly saw Kaito¡¯s figure on the tracks. Yume noticed it too and was stunned.


    "I-I can''t believe it¡­" she whispered, her voice filled with hope.


    Shirogane, on the other hand, clenched his teeth in frustration. "That bastard¡­ I warned him."


    He stepped forward and gave a firm order: "Kuroyami, appear."


    From his shadow, the summoned spirit slowly emerged, taking position in front of him. "What is it?" she asked curiously.


    "I want to send a large number of knights onto the train¡¯s roof. Can we do that?"


    Kuroyami pondered for a moment. "In theory, yes. We can create knights using the passengers¡¯ shadows and transport them up instantly."


    A smirk appeared on Shirogane¡¯s face. "Perfect. Let¡¯s do it."


    Together with Kuroyami, he spoke firmly:


    "KAGE NO ITSUWARI¡­ KNIGHTS."


    A dark aura spread around him like a menacing mist. His eyes glowed an intense violet. An instant later, fragments of shadow began to seep from the passengers¡¯ cabins, silently drifting up to the train¡¯s roof. No one noticed a thing.


    Meanwhile, on top of the moving train, a lone figure stood tall. Kaito had made it onto the roof with a jump from the tracks.


    "Alright, I made it¡­ Now I just have to take down Shirogane¡­ and get Yume."


    His voice was firm, but there was a trace of unease. He cautiously stepped forward along the train¡¯s roof¡ªthen suddenly froze.


    A few meters ahead, a strange mass of shadow pulsed in the darkness. Then, without warning, it took shape.


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    Kaito¡¯s heart pounded.


    "Damn it¡­"


    Before his eyes, fifteen shadow knights materialized.


    Tightening his grip on his blades, Kaito readied himself. One of his swords was tightly strapped to his broken arm with bandages, allowing him to wield it despite the injury.


    "So this is how you want to play, Shirogane??? Fine¡­ I''ll take you all down!"


    The first knight lunged at him, heavy footsteps echoing on the roof. He drew his sword and aimed straight for Kaito¡¯s face.


    With a quick sidestep, Kaito barely avoided the attack, brushing against the edge of the roof. Then, pushing off the surface, he dashed forward. His blade slashed horizontally, striking the knight¡ªand in that instant, part of the knight¡¯s body was absorbed into the sword.


    For a moment, a smirk crossed Kaito¡¯s lips. But he had no time to celebrate¡ªanother knight intercepted his sword, knocking him back.


    The two faceless warriors charged without hesitation. Their blades clashed against Kaito¡¯s, sending sparks flying.


    (Alright, let¡¯s try this¡­)


    With that thought, Kaito used the force of their blows to leap behind them in a fluid, precise motion. But his enemies weren¡¯t slow: with a synchronized slash, they struck at him.


    At the last second, Kaito bent backward, narrowly dodging the attacks.


    The fight had only just begun.


    A moment later, he tried to counterattack but was stopped by three more knights. Two grabbed his arms, while the third seized his throat, preventing him from moving his head.


    One of the knights from earlier stepped forward and struck him brutally with his sword.


    "AAARGH!"


    Kaito screamed as pain shot through his body like freezing fire. Blood spilled from his wound, but despite everything, he forced himself back up, trembling, his chest torn open. His gaze, though filled with pain, still burned with determination.


    He was convinced he could win.


    He stared at the five enemies before him. When he saw three more knights charging at him with their weapons raised, he acted on instinct. He lunged forward, dodging just in time as their swords came crashing down.


    Seeing an opening, Kaito leaped and slashed diagonally, decapitating three knights in one swift motion.


    The remaining knights stood still, emotionless, watching him.


    His blades immediately absorbed the severed parts of his foes, as if their very existence had been erased.


    "Come on¡­ WHO¡¯S NEXT?!"


    At his provocation, the remaining thirteen knights charged.


    Kaito faced four of them, parrying their attacks with one blade while countering with the other. The battle raged across the train¡¯s rooftop, a relentless clash of steel.


    Two knights fell¡ªone stabbed in the shoulder, the other knocked off balance and sent crashing onto the train. The heavy thud alarmed the passengers below, who started to panic.


    Sensing two more knights approaching from behind, Kaito used the fallen enemies¡¯ bodies as a foothold to propel himself backward, slashing perpendicularly as he moved. However, only one of them went down.


    (No! He dodged it.)


    Still mid-air, Kaito saw his opponent¡¯s sword aimed straight at him.


    The thrust was powerful. The blade tore through his side, sending him flying into three more knights. But in that brief instant of impact, his hand had already acted¡ªhe had thrown his sword at his attacker.


    The knight who had wounded him suddenly collapsed.


    Gasping for breath, body covered in wounds, Kaito pushed himself up again.


    "Alright¡­ eight left."


    His breathing was ragged, but he knew he could still fight.


    Meanwhile, inside the cabin, Shirogane abruptly stood up, fists clenched. Kuroyami did the same, though she didn¡¯t seem nearly as annoyed as her master.


    "Where are you going?" Yume asked, visibly worried.


    Shirogane didn¡¯t turn around. "To take care of something."


    Saying nothing more, he walked away, his spirit following him.


    Yume immediately understood¡ªhe was going to kill Kaito.


    She clenched her fists and lowered her gaze.


    "Please, Kaito¡­ don¡¯t die because


    of me. Run¡­"