The night in Tildaroot Village bled crimson beneath a fractured moon.
Once known for its glowing petal-fields, the place now lay hollow flowers turned to ash, water turned to murk.
And in the middle of that ruin, Kaen Suro stood alone.
His breathing was ragged, every inhale pulling in dust and regret.
Flames flickered unevenly across his skin not from control, but from pain.
Across from him, a figure stepped out from the haze.
Wild yellow hair, ragged cloak of black hide, a body mapped with scars each one glowing faintly with Shinrei corruption.
His grin was feral. His presence, predatory.
"Name's Bakuza."
The sound of his voice made the air crackle, heavy, sharp, filled with the weight of old blood.
Kaen spat on the ground, staggering slightly.
"You… you came out of nowhere. Who the hell are you?"
Bakuza tilted his head.
"You must be the curse brat… the one my master mentioned."
