Dawn didn't rise like it used to.
It bled into the city.
A weak, pale light crawled across shattered rooftops and cracked billboards like it was afraid of what it might reveal. Smoke hovered low, thick as fog, twisting through alleys like living shadows.
Somewhere far away, sirens screamed.
But here…
In the abandoned market district…
Even sound refused to breathe.
A group of boys stood in a loose circle, their breath visible in the cold morning air.
All of them wore the same thing—black jackets with red stitching. The emblem of Kurogane Syndicate, the gang that ruled this side of the city like an infection.
At the center of their circle, a man knelt on the ground.
Blood ran from his forehead into his eye.
His hands trembled.
One of the boys crouched in front of him, holding his chin up with mocking gentleness.
"Where is he?" the boy asked softly.
The man didn't answer.
The boy's smile widened. "Okay."
He stood up and kicked the man's face.
A wet crack echoed.
The man collapsed sideways, coughing blood like it was choking him from the inside.
The gang laughed.
But the laughter died quickly.
Because footsteps entered the street.
Slow.
Unhurried.
Not running.
Not panicked.
Like whoever was walking didn't care if the whole city watched.
The boys turned instantly, hands moving toward their pockets—toward hidden knives, chains, brass knuckles.
A silhouette stepped through the smoke.
A long black coat hung open like wings. Hood down.
Hands in pockets.
Hair dark, slightly messy.
Face calm… almost bored.
A boy.
No…
Not a boy.
Not the way he walked.
The way he moved didn't belong to someone young.
His eyes passed over them like they were background objects—like furniture placed in his path.
One of the gang members scoffed. "the hell are you supposed to be?"
The newcomer didn't answer.
He stopped a few meters away.
His gaze dropped to the bleeding man on the ground.
Then back to the gang.
Only then did he speak.
His voice was quiet.
Almost lazy.
"…You guys woke up early."
The gang leader stepped forward, taller than the others, shoulders thick with confidence.
"You're either lost," he said, "or you're stupid."
The boy—Renji—tilted his head slightly, like he was thinking.
Then, with a faint smile:
"Maybe both."
A few of them laughed nervously.
But the leader didn't.
He narrowed his eyes, sensing it.
That pressure.
That strange feeling like the air had become heavier.
"What's your name?" the leader demanded.
Renji blinked slowly.
His expression didn't change.
But something in his eyes sharpened.
"Kurozaki Renji."
That name moved through the group like a ghost.
A few of them shifted back.
One of them whispered, "No way… that Renji?"
The leader frowned. "What are you idiots talking about?"
Another boy swallowed. "Boss… that's the guy who—"
Renji interrupted him, still calm.
"I'm not here for drama."
He stepped forward once.
The gang leader instinctively stepped back.
Renji stopped.
His smile widened slightly—not friendly.
Dangerous.
"I'm here for one thing."
His gaze dropped again, to the man on the ground.
And for the first time, his voice lost all softness.
"If you touch my people…"
His eyes lifted.
"…you disappear."
The leader's face twisted in anger to hide the fear.
He pointed at Renji.
"Get him."
Ten boys moved at once.
Chains swung.
Knives flashed.
Boots pounded the broken pavement like a stampede.
Renji didn't run.
He didn't even move quickly.
He simply exhaled.
And stepped into them like he was walking into rain.
The first attacker swung a chain.
Renji tilted his head—
The chain missed by centimeters.
Renji's hand shot out, grabbed the attacker's wrist, and twisted.
A sharp crack.
The attacker screamed.
Renji didn't look at him.
He used the man's arm like a lever and threw him into the second attacker.
Bodies collided.
The third attacker lunged with a knife.
Renji's hand moved faster than thought—he caught the wrist, pushed the blade back toward its owner.
The boy froze.
Renji leaned in and whispered near his ear:
"Don't bring sharp things near me."
Then slammed his forehead into the attacker's face.
The boy dropped like a puppet with cut strings.
Another came from behind.
Renji's elbow struck backwards—perfectly timed.
A gasp.
Then silence.
One by one…
They fell.
Not because Renji was violent.
But because he was efficient.
No wasted movement.
No unnecessary effort.
Like this wasn't a fight.
Like this was a routine he had done a thousand times.
A boy tried to tackle him.
Renji stepped aside.
Placed a foot behind the boy's ankle.
The boy tripped.
Renji lightly pushed his head downward—
CRACK.
The boy's skull met the pavement.
Still alive.
But not waking up anytime soon.
Within seconds, the street was filled with groans, coughing, broken pride.
And Renji was untouched.
Not even breathing hard.
The leader stared, sweat pouring down his temple.
His mouth trembled.
"W-What the hell are you…?"
Renji walked closer.
The leader stumbled backward.
Renji stopped right in front of him.
Close enough that the leader could see it.
Renji's eyes weren't angry.
They weren't emotional.
They were empty in the most terrifying way.
The leader raised his knife with shaking hands.
Renji looked at the knife.
Then back at the leader.
A small amused breath escaped him.
"That's cute."
The leader screamed and stabbed forward—
Renji's hand shot out.
His palm caught the blade mid-motion.
Blood dripped between his fingers.
The leader's eyes widened.
Renji leaned in, whispering:
"Did you really think…"
His grip tightened.
The blade bent.
Snapped.
"…you were him?"
The leader's knees almost gave out.
Renji released the broken blade and grabbed the leader's collar.
Lifted him slightly off the ground.
The gang leader wheezed.
Renji's voice returned to soft calm.
"Listen carefully."
He leaned closer, like sharing a secret.
"From today onward… this district is silent."
The leader couldn't even speak.
Renji let him drop like trash.
Then turned away.
As he walked toward the injured man, the smoke shifted around him like it bowed.
The bleeding man stared up at Renji with disbelief.
Renji crouched beside him.
His expression softened just slightly—not warm, but human.
"Can you stand?" Renji asked.
The man nodded weakly.
Renji grabbed his arm and helped him up.
Then, looking over his shoulder toward the defeated gang:
Renji said one last line.
A quiet sentence that froze everyone's blood.
"Tell your boss…"
He smiled faintly.
"…dawn is coming."
And with that…
Kurozaki Renji walked away.
Hands in pockets.
Like nothing happened.
Like the city was just another stage.
And he was the shadow behind the curtain.