Night had fallen again.
The forest was quiet.
But Raizen's mind wasn't.
"…You're afraid of your own power."
Hollow's words echoed.
Again.
And again.
Raizen stood alone.
Sword in hand.
Breathing steady.
"…Am I really holding back?"
No answer came.
Because he already knew.
Kagen's Lesson
Behind him—
Kagen spoke.
"You are."
Raizen didn't turn.
"…Then how do I stop?"
Silence.
"…You don't."
Raizen's eyes narrowed.
"…What?"
Kagen stepped forward.
"You don't stop being afraid."
A pause.
"You act despite it."
The Truth of Power
Raizen clenched his fist.
"…If I use that power…"
The darkness flickered.
"…I might lose control."
Kagen didn't deny it.
"Yes."
A pause.
"And if you don't use it…"
Raizen finished the sentence.
"…I'll die."
A Forced Decision
Kagen drew his blade.
"Then prove it."
Raizen turned.
"…Now?"
"Yes."
No hesitation.
Fight Begins
Kagen attacked instantly.
Faster than before.
No restraint.
Raizen barely blocked.
The impact pushed him back.
"…He's serious."
Another strike came.
Then another.
No openings.
No time to think.
Breaking Point
Raizen tried to keep up.
But failed.
His movements slowed.
His reactions delayed.
A strike slipped through.
He fell.
Hard.
The Edge
Kagen pointed his blade at him.
"…Get up."
Raizen didn't move.
His body refused.
"…I can't…"
"Then die."
Silence.
The same words as before.
But this time—
Different.
The Decision
Raizen's fingers tightened.
"…No."
His breathing changed.
Faster.
Deeper.
The darkness responded.
Stronger than ever.
His left eye glowed.
The mark returned.
Spreading.
Burning.
Unleashing Power
The air trembled.
Shadow energy surged outward.
Wild.
Violent.
Kagen didn't move.
He watched.
"…Good."
Loss of Control
Raizen stood up.
But something was wrong.
His movements—
Too sharp.
Too aggressive.
Not controlled.
Not calm.
Attack
He moved.
Faster than before.
Struck.
Again.
And again.
Each attack—
Stronger.
But unstable.
Kagen blocked.
Easily.
"…This is not control."
The Problem
Raizen attacked again.
Wild.
Unfocused.
Kagen stepped inside.
One clean strike.
Raizen's blade was knocked away.
Reality Check
Raizen froze.
Breathing heavy.
Eyes still glowing.
"…Why…"
Kagen stood in front of him.
"…Because power without control is useless."
Turning Point
Raizen's breathing slowed.
He forced it.
Controlled it.
Step by step—
The chaos faded.
The shadow calmed.
The mark stopped spreading.
Balance
Raizen picked up his blade.
This time—
Steady.
Focused.
"Shadow Breathing—"
The darkness formed.
But controlled.
Stable.
"Fourth Form— Shadow Execution."
He moved.
Fast.
Precise.
Kagen blocked—
But stepped back.
Slightly.
Acknowledgment
Silence.
Kagen lowered his blade.
"…Now you understand."
Raizen stood still.
Breathing steady.
"…Power is not enough."
Final Scene
The mark faded.
The glow disappeared.
Raizen looked at his hand.
"…I didn't lose control."
Kagen turned away.
"…Not this time."
Ending Line
True strength is not unleashing power—
It is choosing how to use it.