The day had started to settle into that strange, hazy twilight where the shadows of the evening draped over the streets, stretching lazily like the remnants of a forgotten dream. Mazanka and Rakan walked side by side, their steps at odds — one light, carefree, the other heavy with impatience. The erratic buzzing of the small choad, their chosen pitstop for the day, was already starting to wear on Rakan's nerves, but Mazanka was too caught up in his antics to care. The sound of the choad's garbled squawks and rhythmic hums was a constant backdrop as the two made their way down the cobblestone streets.
"Right, kid, keep up. I'm not carrying you back home," Mazanka tossed over his shoulder, his voice teasing but with a distinct undertone of amusement. Rakan grumbled in response, but he had learned long ago that resisting Mazanka's whims was a battle that never ended in victory.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming. You don't need to drag me around all the time, you know."
Mazanka turned, his grin wide, eyes gleaming with that irritating spark of mischief. "Oh, I'm sure you'd love to wander off and get lost. I mean, it's just adorable when you try to find your way through the world. You're a lost cause, Rakan."
Rakan's eyes narrowed, the sarcasm thick in his voice. "I'm not lost."
"No, you're right," Mazanka smirked, his voice dropping into a tone that was impossibly playful. "You're just hopelessly directionless. It's charming, really."
Rakan, utterly exasperated, had no retort for the comment. Instead, he let out a huff and crossed his arms, focusing on the darkening streets ahead. He had become used to these jabs from Mazanka, but that didn't make them any less annoying.
Their walking came to a sudden halt when the ground beneath them trembled slightly. Mazanka's head snapped up, and Rakan could feel the atmosphere shift, thickening with a sense of danger. A low, guttural rumble broke through the evening's air, vibrating through the stone underfoot.
"That's… ominous," Rakan muttered, his hand instinctively reaching for the energy thrumming in his core.
Mazanka, ever the picture of nonchalance, didn't so much as flinch. "Yeah, yeah, hold your horses, kid. That's just an old bud of mine."
The ground in front of them cracked as a hulking silhouette emerged from the shadows. A figure, towering and imposing, stepped forward, casting a long shadow over the street. His massive arms gleamed with a grotesque, shifting mass of Ka'ro, twisted and monstrous, the manifestation of his power. The Ka'ro swords extended from his forearms, each one massive and jagged, catching the dying light of the day and reflecting it in blinding bursts. The air itself seemed to grow heavier with the presence of the man.
"Hazome," Mazanka said casually, as if the name was no more important than that of a shopkeeper.
The hulking figure grinned, teeth sharp as knives, eyes gleaming with a savage hunger.
"You," the voice rumbled, dark and dangerous. "I've been looking for you. You and your dirty trick last time." His Ka'ro swords twisted violently, sending sparks flying into the air. "This time… I'm not letting you get away."
And old bud…sure.
Rakan felt his blood run cold. Mazanka's reputation preceded him, but this… this wasn't the kind of fight he had been expecting.
"You've been searching for me, huh?" Mazanka tilted his head, genuinely amused. He tossed a glance at Rakan, who was standing frozen in place, eyes locked on the looming figure. "This is Hazome, by the way. The Blackened Root." A snort. "The guy really needs to stop compensating with his weapons, though. It's starting to get embarrassing."
Rakan blinked, unsure whether he should laugh or be horrified. He settled on confusion. "Compensating?"
"Ah, well, it's a joke," Mazanka added, stepping forward, unbothered by the threat hanging in the air. "I mean, look at the size of those arms. Can't possibly be for anything good."
Hazome's eyes narrowed, his heavy jaw clenching. "You think this is a joke?" He swung one of his enormous arms, causing the ground to quake beneath them. "I'll show you just how serious I am, Mazanka!"
"Oh, don't get your panties in a twist," Mazanka said with a smirk, entirely unconcerned by the power radiating off Hazome. He raised his hand and casually flipped his hair out of his face, his voice dripping with amusement. "If you really want to prove something to your little group, Hazome, why don't you take on someone worthy?"
Rakan watched in utter disbelief as Mazanka faced down the massive brute with a grin plastered on his face. He hadn't realized just how big a difference there was between them until now. The Ka'ro energy swirling around Hazome was frightening, but Mazanka was simply… not impressed.
"Are you done bragging?" Hazome snarled, his voice low and guttural. He took a threatening step forward, his Ka'ro swords moving with a terrifying fluidity. "I'm going to crush you, Mazanka. This time, I'll be the one to win."
Mazanka, meanwhile, was busy scrolling on his phone, eyes locked on the screen with total disinterest. "Hey, Terukooooo," he said aloud, turning off his phone with exaggerated care, "If you want to impress your old man, might I suggest taking down this guy? Way better than trying to mess with little Rakan over there." He gestured behind him to Rakan, who glared daggers at him, offended but still in the dark about Mazanka's true purpose in that exchange.
Teruko, who had been lurking in the shadows, not far from the scene, froze. Her blood boiled at the mention of her mentor, but she wasn't about to let Mazanka goad her into a move she wasn't ready for. "What did this prick jus say?" she muttered under her breath, bristling with frustration.
Mazanka, totally unaware of the simmering tension, smirked. "Come on out, Teruko! I know you want to prove yourself! This is your chance, kiddo!"
Teruko's patience snapped, and with a loud curse, she leapt into view, her body shifting and ready for battle. "I'll show you what I'm capable of, you smug piece of dirt! Watch me as I take down this giant moron and then I'll rip you to shreds and kill you and that pathetic brat of yours before the becoming the greatest One-Eye to exist!" Her voice was full of venom, eyes narrowed in a deadly stare.
Rakan couldn't help the scowl which carved his face. "Pathetic brat?!" he yelled back. But his offended shout was left unanswered, the fight had already begun.
Teruko attacked first, launching herself toward Hazome with a flurry of speed. Her movements were swift, and she moved like a shadow, slicing through the air with deadly precision. The battle was intense, sparks flying as Hazome swung his grotesque Ka'ro swords, the ground trembling with each swing. His blades were large, consuming anything in their path, and as he swung them, they grew bigger, more monstrous.
Mazanka, still standing off to the side, casually leaned against a nearby wall. "Are you done yet?" he called out to Rakan, who was watching the chaotic battle unfold with wide eyes. "You're really going to let her get all the attention, huh?"
Rakan was caught somewhere between disbelief and a growing sense of awe. "What… is going on?"
"Oh, you'll understand soon enough," Mazanka said nonchalantly, not once taking his eyes off the fight. "I mean, Teruko's going to try and save the day, but there's no way she can keep up with Hazome's Ka'ro. This guy… he's a brute."
And so the battle continued, with Teruko moving with speed and anger, Hazome countering with raw power. The chaos grew as they traded blows, the night air thick with tension. But Mazanka, with his wry smile and teasing quips, seemed entirely out of place. For him, this was all just another game.
But even games had consequences.
The clash between Teruko and Hazome intensified with each passing moment. Hazome's monstrous Ka'ro swords tore through the air, massive slashes sending shockwaves that reverberated through the streets, crumbling stone and sending debris scattering in every direction. Teruko was fast, fluid, darting around the strikes with precision, her movements like a shadow blending into the night, but Hazome's raw strength was undeniable. Every swing of his enormous swords created ripples of destruction in its wake.
"You're fast, but you'll never be fast enough!" Hazome roared, his voice booming, a wicked grin spreading across his face as he swung both arms down in a single sweeping arc.
Teruko barely managed to dodge, the edge of one of the swords grazing her side and tearing through the fabric of her uniform, leaving a deep gash across her ribs. She hissed through her teeth, but her eyes only flared with more determination. "I'm just getting started!" she spat, narrowing her gaze as she prepared to strike again.
But it wasn't just speed that Teruko needed. The overwhelming size of Hazome's Ka'ro blades, their monstrous forms growing larger with each strike, made it clear that this fight was far from even. Mazanka, who had been lazily watching the destruction unfold, finally sighed.
"Okay, okay, this is getting boring." He pushed himself off the wall, one hand reaching up to scratch the back of his head. "Oi! Teruko! Stop showing off! If you really want to impress us, just finish him already!" His voice carried that same teasing, light-hearted tone, utterly at odds with the carnage surrounding them.
Teruko, too focused on dodging Hazome's relentless strikes, barely acknowledged Mazanka's comment. She leapt into the air, her body twisting and contorting with incredible agility, aiming for Hazome's exposed side. "I'll show you real strength! " she yelled, launching herself down toward Hazome.
Hazome, his grin widening, responded with a vicious counter. He swung both of his Ka'ro swords horizontally in unison, a massive burst of power aimed directly at Teruko. The force was too much. Teruko was thrown back, the edge of the blast grazing her skin and sending her crashing into the side of a building. The force shattered the stone, and a cloud of dust exploded into the air.
Rakan, frozen and watching from the sidelines, felt a surge of panic in his chest. He instinctively stepped forward, but before he could do anything, Mazanka's voice stopped him in his tracks.
"Now, that's the kind of fight you've gotta admire," Mazanka said, his tone almost nostalgic, as if he were watching a professional athlete compete. "You really are making it look hard for her, Hazome. I'm sure she'll appreciate the challenge, but I'm getting a little tired of this."
Rakan's eyes shifted from Mazanka to Teruko, who was struggling to rise from the rubble, blood dripping from the cut along her side. "Isn't she—?"
"She's a Kenshiki," Mazanka interrupted with a wave. "She's tougher than she looks. Trust me, if she was human, she'd be done for. But she's built for this."
Teruko, bloodied but undeterred, pushed herself to her feet, glaring at Hazome with a fire in her eyes that was anything but human. The Ka'ro around her flared to life, sparking with raw energy as she straightened her back. "I'm not weak," she hissed, voice dripping with defiance.
Hazome sneered at her, swinging his monstrous blades with even more force. "You think you're strong? Let's see how long you last!" He swung both swords in a massive arc, a violent storm of power exploding outward as the blades whistled through the air.
Teruko moved with a speed that defied the eye, cutting through the chaos with lethal precision. Every movement was a strike, every step calculated to tear into Hazome's defenses. Her Ka'ro flared again, her body surrounded by a translucent energy that made her seem like a blur of deadly motion.
"You can't outrun me forever, Kenshiki!" Hazome bellowed, frustrated as she slipped past his massive strikes, her attacks landing with pinpoint accuracy. The ground trembled with each blow, her punches landing against his swords with a force that rattled even him.
Teruko's eyes burned with intensity, the grit of her determination fueling her every movement. Her Ka'ro surged forward, a strike aimed directly at Hazome's chest. But before she could land the blow, Hazome retaliated with a desperate burst of Ka'ro energy, sending her crashing backward once again.
Rakan stepped forward, heart racing. But Mazanka's presence, relaxed and unbothered, kept him still.
Mazanka smiled, watching as Teruko recovered. "You see?" he said, casually leaning back against a nearby pillar. "She'll be fine. Kenshiki are more resilient than you think. If she didn't get herself in such a mess, she'd have handled Hazome easily."
Teruko didn't say anything. She narrowed her eyes, flipped midair, and landed with a slide, sparks streaking from her sandals against the cracked pavement. Her sleeve fluttered as her hand whipped behind her back, fingers brushing against the smooth surface of her Yugurekawa—the small, intricate device worn on her lower back like an arc-shaped buckle, carved with spiraling engravings unique to her Ka'ro signature.
A hum of energy pulsed through it, flickering slightly.
She didn't notice.
Hazome slammed one of his monstrous limbs into the earth, sending up a quake that made her stumble slightly. A chunk of debris whistled through the air—fast, jagged, and stupidly sharp. She pivoted too late.
Crack!
Teruko froze. Her eyes slowly drifted downward as she felt something snap behind her. A sickly crunch of metal folding into itself echoed under the chaos.
"…shit," she hissed.
She reached behind her instinctively—and her hand met jagged shards.
The Yugurekawa had cracked down the middle, half of it bent inward, the other sparking weakly, coughing out trails of burnt Ka'ro energy. Its once-elegant spiral runes now resembled a crushed beetle, twitching in its death throes.
"No no no no—"
Mazanka, watching from a distance with one hand in his sleeve and the other palming his chin, tilted his head like a curious cat.
"Ohhh… Did your little magical key just snap?" he called. "That's gonna put a dent in your ride home, y'know!"
Teruko clenched her jaw. "Shut the hell up!"
Teruko's Ka'ro flared once again as she glared at Hazome, her breath coming in quick bursts, her body aching from the fight. Her movements were sharper, more controlled now, and her eyes were locked onto Hazome's, filled with a determination that matched his monstrous power.
Then, without warning, Teruko surged forward, her Ka'ro imbued with so much raw energy that the ground beneath her feet cracked open. Her fist slammed into Hazome's side, the force of the impact sending a shockwave that cracked the ground. Hazome staggered, his grin faltering as Teruko pressed forward with relentless strikes.
"You were right," she muttered, her voice cold as ice. "This ends now."
Hazome, struggling to keep his footing, roared in frustration. But Teruko wasn't giving him a chance to recover. With one final surge of power, she struck with a precision blow, sending him crashing into the earth with enough force to create a crater around him. The massive Ka'ro blades shattered with the impact, disintegrating into nothingness.
Hazome lay there, stunned and defeated, his Ka'ro energy flickering and fading.
Teruko stood tall, breathing heavily but victorious. Her body was battered, but her spirit remained unbroken. Her eyes met Mazanka's, and for a moment, the carefree, playful expression he usually wore slipped away, replaced by a brief but approving nod.
Rakan, still frozen in place, could only stare in awe at Teruko's power. He had seen Mazanka fight before, but this was something else completely—Teruko was no ordinary being. Like Mazanka, she was a force.
Mazanka shrugged, giving a mock salute. "Guess I was right. Told you she'd win. I was just waiting for the right moment to jump in."
He then turned to Rakan, offering a sly grin. "Now that it's all wrapped up, let's go get something to eat, yeah? I'm hungry."
Rakan blinked, still in shock. "You… you were just letting her handle this?"
Mazanka smirked, tilting his head. "You really think I'm going to waste my energy on him? Nah, she's fine. I knew she'd pull through." He turned to Teruko, who was standing over Hazome, victorious but breathing heavily. "Nice job, Teruko. You can stop playing the hero now."
Teruko gave him a glare, but it was tempered with exhaustion. "Don't get too cocky, you fililty criminal. I'll be the one who gets to finish you next."
As Teruko stood victorious over Hazome, her chest rising and falling with each heavy breath, the remnants of the battle were all around them. The earth beneath their feet was cracked and scarred, the debris scattered like a forgotten battlefield. The towering Ka'ro swords Hazome had manifested had disintegrated into nothingness, leaving behind only the faint scent of burnt energy.
Rakan stepped closer, his eyes wide with disbelief as he took in the scene. The monstrous Ka'ro fighter who had seemed invincible moments ago was now lying on the ground, barely moving. He couldn't understand how it had all unfolded so quickly. He had been expecting Teruko to struggle, yet here she was, standing triumphant.
"That… that was incredible," Rakan muttered under his breath, still processing everything.
Mazanka, however, didn't seem as impressed. He gave a lazy stretch, unbothered by the chaos that had just occurred. "It was alright, I guess. Hazome's a loud one, but he's predictable. You just have to wait for him to make the same old moves."
Teruko glared at Mazanka with a mix of exhaustion and irritation. "You could've helped, you know, 'O so great Mazanka'. Not that I needed help from a self-absorbed asshole like you. And I didn't ask for your commentary."
Mazanka tilted his head, unfazed. "Oh? But where's the fun in that? Watching you struggle is more entertaining. You're like a little kitten learning how to roar. Besides, I'm not the one who wanted to impress everyone by showing off."
Teruko's eyes narrowed, her pride wounded by his words. "I don't need to impress anyone. I know what I'm capable of."
Mazanka laughed, a low chuckle that echoed in the air. "Sure you do. But if you want to prove to Kurosawa you're worth something, you're gonna need to do more than just beat up big guys like Hazome here. He's nothing special." He shot a glance at the unconscious Shujikō member, who was still lying in a heap of rubble. "You'd be better off taking a swing at someone with more substance."
"And who would that be? You?" Teruko snapped with a scoff, her tone biting. "You're the one who's always making jokes, Mazanka. Maybe you should try taking your own advice and put yourself to better use for once instead of being a criminal bum."
Mazanka's grin never wavered. "Who says I'm not? But you, on the other hand, just keep dodging the real fight. You think Kurosawa's gonna be impressed by you beating up some brute with big arms? You need to make a bigger statement."
Rakan watched, confusion written all over his face. "What's he talking about?" he muttered to himself. Mazanka had this way of twisting everything into a joke, and it was starting to make Rakan question the seriousness of everything.
Mazanka, noticing Rakan's confusion, tapped him on the shoulder. "Well, you wouldn't understand, kid. You're still busy looking for the point. Teruko here? She's got potential, but she's too busy getting distracted by the big guy." He tossed a casual glance at Teruko. "She's got the wrong priorities. If she really wants to prove something, she needs to step up her game."
Teruko growled, frustration boiling over. "Enough with the lectures! I'm tired of you underestimating me!"
Mazanka raised an eyebrow, his smile growing wider. "Underestimate you? I'm just being real with you. You've got fire, Teruko, but you need more than just that. You want to prove yourself to Kurosawa? All I'm saying is maybe you need to find a better approach than that." He gestured to Hazome, still lying defeated.
Rakan was about to say something, but before he could speak, Mazanka cut in with a lazy yawn. "Oh, don't worry, Rakan. She'll be fine." He flicked his wrist dismissively, his voice filled with casual amusement. "But if you want to be useful, stay back and let me handle taking care of her Yugurekawa. It looks like Teruko's a little too distracted by the fight to handle it."
Rakan blinked. "Her what?"
Mazanka looked at him with a knowing smirk. "The device she uses to travel between worlds. You know, the one that broke during her little… encounter with Hazome here?" He motioned toward Teruko, who was busy gritting her teeth and staring down at Hazome's unconscious form.
Teruko, overhearing Mazanka's comment, spun around to face him, eyes narrowing. "What the hell are you talking about?!" she demanded.
Mazanka raised his hands in mock innocence. "Hey, don't blame me. You're the one who got all violent and smashed it. Looks like you're gonna need a fix."
Teruko's eyes sparked with irritation. "You think I need help from you?"
Mazanka chuckled, a low, almost amused sound. "What? You're gonna do it yourself, then? Because from where I'm standing, you're looking a little beaten up. Maybe you'll make a better Kenshiki once you stop trying to act all tough." He paused for a beat. "But hey, if you really don't need my help, I'm sure Rakan here can lend a hand."
Rakan, feeling entirely out of his depth, glanced from Mazanka to Teruko. "I… I'm not sure that's a good idea..."
Teruko shot him an irritated look, turning back to loom over Hazome, clearly trying to hide the fact that she was still bleeding from the wound he had left earlier. "I don't need help from a weak human," she muttered in disgust, as if someone had recommended rolling around in the dirt stark naked.
Mazanka smirked, unfazed. "Suit yourself. But when that thing goes haywire, don't come crying to me." His tone shifted, becoming mockingly ominous as he continued, "And don't forget, your precious Yugurekawa is in serious need of repairs and my capabilities are just as great as I am."
Teruko's patience snapped, and she whirled around to face him, her voice sharp. "You're a criminal, Mazanka. You always have been, and you always will be." Her voice trembled with a mixture of anger and exhaustion.
Mazanka tilted his head, unbothered by her words. "I'm not a criminal—I'm just… misunderstood. But, hey, if you're done throwing a tantrum, maybe you'll realize that you'll need my help if you want to get out of here in one piece."
Rakan shifted uncomfortably, feeling like he was stuck between two forces he didn't understand. "What is this device? What's going on here?"
Mazanka looked at him with a mocking expression. "Well, kid, you wouldn't know a Yugurekawa if it hit you in the face. But Teruko here? She's been traveling between the worlds using a piece of technology that keeps her from being stuck in one place forever." His eyes shifted to Teruko, who was still glaring at him as he let out a whistle. "Too bad you broke it in your little brawl though."
Teruko gritted her teeth. "I didn't break it!"
Mazanka raised an eyebrow. "Right. It just happened to break while you were showing off. You're lucky I'm even offering to fix it." He stretched, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "But hey, if you're so proud of your little 'Kenshiki honor' and want to deal with it yourself, then good luck. I'm sure you'll manage."
Teruko clenched her fists, her face flushed with frustration. "I don't need your help!"
Mazanka chuckled again, completely unbothered by her tantrum. "Alright, alright. Jeez. Emotional much. But don't say I didn't warn you when it all goes to hell."
With that, he looked down at Rakan, a glint of amusement in his eyes. "You can go home now, kid. I'll deal with this."
As Teruko stood, her body still trembling from the battle, her vision began to blur. The intense rush of adrenaline that had fueled her in the fight was starting to wear off, and the reality of the injuries she had taken hit her all at once.
Her hands, still scrunched into fists, slowly lowered. Her knees began to buckle, and for a brief moment, Teruko struggled to stay upright, her eyes narrowing in defiance. She wasn't going to show weakness in front of Mazanka. Not now, not ever. She'd rather be corrupted.
Mazanka, noticing her falter, tilted his head, an amused smirk creeping onto his face. "Uh-oh. Looks like somebody's reaching her limit. How tragic."
Teruko's voice came out in a low growl. "I'm fine. I'm just… I'm just catching my breath. Just you—"
But her words slurred slightly, and her knees gave way. She tried to catch herself on the ground but ended up stumbling and leaning awkwardly against a nearby boulder.
"See? I told you," Mazanka said, his grin widening as Teruko's vision started to fade. "You're lucky I'm even going to help you." He casually strolled up to her, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "But first, I'm going to have to help you… by picking you up like a ragdoll."
Teruko, who had been swaying like a tree in a gentle breeze, finally gave in. With one last disgruntled growl, her eyes fluttered shut, and she collapsed.
"Teruko?" Rakan called out, startled, but it was too late. Her body hit the ground with a soft thud, and she was out cold.
Mazanka looked down at her, nonchalantly twirling his fingers. "Well, that's one way to get out of the fight. I mean, I was hoping for a bit more flair, but I guess this works too."
Rakan's eyes widened. "She passed out… mid-sentence!"
Mazanka shrugged, bending down to grab her by the shoulders and hoisting her up effortlessly. "Honestly? If you were as tired as she is, you'd probably pass out in the middle of telling me how amazing I am too. Happens to the best of us."
He adjusted his grip on her, making sure she was draped over his shoulder like a sack of flour, her head flopping to one side. Her arms dangled limply, and her hair fell across her face in a tangled mess.
"How does it feel, Teruko? To be carried around like dead weight?" Mazanka mocked her with a playful tone, though Teruko, of course, was completely oblivious.
Rakan blinked. "I… I don't think she meant to do that."
Mazanka chuckled, clearly entertained. "Oh, she didn't intend to. But after all that yelling and fighting, she just couldn't hold it together. Don't worry, she'll be fine. Just a little nap. Although, if I'm being honest, I don't think she was that invested in winning this fight."
Rakan's brow furrowed as he glanced between Teruko's unconscious form and Mazanka. "But you could have helped her! Why didn't you stop her from getting hurt?"
Mazanka gave Rakan a side-eye, as if the question was the most ridiculous thing he had ever heard. "Who says I'm here to save people? Besides, I'm just letting her learn the hard way. She'll thank me later. Trust me."
Rakan just stared at him, the whole situation too absurd to wrap his head around. "Is this… normal?"
Mazanka grinned widely, his voice dripping with mock innocence. "I mean, for me, yeah. But for you, kid, I'd say that's a definite 'no.'"
Teruko's head lolled against his back as he began to walk off, her face scrunched in an expression of annoyance, even in her unconscious state. "Yeah, yeah," Mazanka muttered, rolling his eyes. "You can get all mad when you wake up, but I'm not carrying you like that again."
As he turned to leave, Teruko's limp hand smacked against his back. "Oof," he grunted. "What the hell? Did she just try to punch me… in her sleep?" He shot a glance back at her. "Maybe she's tougher than I thought."
Rakan stared in disbelief as Mazanka disappeared into the distance, Teruko still draped over his shoulder like a ragdoll. He was left standing there, feeling like he'd just missed the punchline of a joke he didn't even know was happening.
Rakan stood alone in the midst of the wreckage, the tension in the air thick. The sounds of the battle slowly faded, but the questions in his mind only grew louder. What exactly had Mazanka gotten him into?