Nobu and Beru stepped through the shattered gates of the Misaki Clan.
What awaited them inside…
Was something neither of them had ever imagined.
Bodies lay across the courtyard.
Blood painted the stone.
And standing at the center of it all—
Kael.
Baku.
For a long moment, no one spoke.
Because the enemies before them were not strangers.
They were people they once called family.
Beru took a slow step forward, his fists trembling.
"…Kael."
Kael's cold eyes shifted toward him.
Beru's voice tightened.
"Why?" he asked quietly. "Why did you do this? I told you to stay away from the clan."
For the first time, something flickered in Kael's expression.
Not guilt.
Something colder.
"I did this because of you," Kael said calmly.
Beru's brows furrowed.
Kael continued, voice low and sharp.
"The Misaki Clan is the reason I never had my brother."
The words hit like a blade.
Beru's eyes widened—
Then anger exploded across his face.
He grabbed Kael by the collar.
"You crossed the line."
Before he could move—
Baku stepped in.
In a flash, he seized Beru's arm and pulled him back.
Kael's gaze sharpened instantly.
"…Don't touch him."
But before the tension could snap—
Nobu moved.
His body blurred forward.
A powerful side kick shot toward Kael's ribs.
Kael reacted instantly.
Block.
The impact cracked through the courtyard, but Kael's feet barely shifted.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"…You came back."
Nobu's expression was hard.
"Everyone inside. Now!" he shouted.
His father didn't hesitate.
He grabbed Nobu's injured brother and rushed toward the safe room.
The moment they disappeared—
The battlefield was set.
Nobu vs Kael.
Beru vs Baku.
The Fight Begins
Nobu attacked first.
Fast.
Sharp.
His leg whipped toward Kael's ribs again.
But Kael moved like smoke.
Dodge.
Nobu pressed forward, fists and kicks flowing one after another.
But every strike—
Missed.
Kael's voice was calm.
"You're forcing it."
In the middle of the exchange, Nobu growled,
"You could've lived peacefully with your brother."
For the first time, Kael's eyes hardened.
"…Peace?" he muttered.
Then—
BOOM.
His fist slammed into Nobu's stomach.
The air exploded from Nobu's lungs.
A thin line of blood slipped from his mouth.
But Nobu didn't fall.
They clashed again.
Beru vs Baku
Across the courtyard, Beru stared at Baku with heavy eyes.
"…We trusted you," Beru said quietly. "We saw you as family."
Baku didn't answer.
He moved.
His fist slammed into Beru's face.
THUD.
But Beru didn't dodge.
Didn't even step back.
Baku's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Why didn't you move?"
Beru's voice was low.
"…Because I didn't want to fight you."
For a brief second—
Memories flickered.
Training together.
Fighting side by side.
Then Baku stepped back, expression turning cold.
"I swore to destroy the Misaki Clan," he said flatly.
"If anyone stands in my way… I'll cut them down."
Beru slowly lowered his head.
"…Then do what you must."
Baku lunged.
This time—
Beru moved.
BOOM.
His kick slammed into Baku's stomach, launching him through a stone pillar.
Nobu's Limit
Back in the courtyard—
Nobu was breathing hard.
Too hard.
Kael stood untouched.
"…You're weak," Kael said quietly.
"You can't save them."
Nobu's fists tightened.
"I'm… not done yet."
With everything he had left, Nobu lunged forward and drove a full-power punch into Kael's chest.
CRASH.
Kael slammed into the ground.
Nobu rushed forward—
But Kael vanished.
Appearing behind him.
WHAM.
A brutal kick smashed into Nobu's face.
The world spun.
Still—
Nobu forced himself up again.
Again.
And again.
His attacks were fast.
But the strength behind them was fading.
Kael caught Nobu's wrist mid-strike.
"…Why struggle this much?" he said quietly.
"You should've stayed away."
Kael stepped back.
And finally—
Drew his sword.
Cold steel gleamed under the lantern light.
"…If you won't step aside," Kael said calmly,
"die here."
He moved.
Too fast.
Nobu's vision blurred.
His body wouldn't respond.
The blade pierced straight through his chest.
Time froze.
Blood spilled across the ground.
Nobu's eyes lost focus—
And his body collapsed.
Silence fell over the courtyard.
Kael exhaled slowly and turned away.
The fight was over.
Or so he thought.
Something Wakes
…
…
A faint twitch.
Kael stopped.
Behind him—
Nobu's fingers moved.
Once.
Twice.
Slowly—
His body rose.
Head lowered.
Shoulders loose.
Wrong.
Kael's eyes narrowed.
Then Nobu looked up.
His eyes were completely black.
A quiet, amused chuckle slipped from his lips.
"…You humans are rough with borrowed bodies."
The pressure in the courtyard dropped instantly.
Cold.
Heavy.
Predatory.
With a wet sound—
He grabbed the sword lodged in his chest—
—and pulled it out himself.
Blood poured down his body.
But his smile only widened.
Kael's stance sharpened slightly.
"…What are you?"
The thing inside Nobu tilted its head.
"…Mm."
It studied Kael briefly.
Disinterested.
Then it rolled Nobu's shoulders slowly.
"…This body is more damaged than usual."
Before Kael could react—
The curse vanished.
Steel flashed.
Kael's eyes widened—
Too late.
A clean slash tore through his arm.
Blood sprayed across the courtyard.
For the first time—
Kael's expression cracked.
Across the battlefield—
Baku froze.
His pupils shrank slightly.
Because he remembered.
And he knew.
Something had gone terribly wrong.