“NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!”

  Etsuyo's anguished cry pierced the air, hearing her mentor's throat crushed. She buried her face into the dirt and dragged it to the side, witnessing the Elder's lifeless body dangle in Zei’s grasp as she helplessly watched her final moments drift away in terror.

  A disappointed sigh escaped Zei's lips. "I thought the old broad had a little more in her... guess that was all the fun she had to offer."

  With callous disregard, he tossed her disfigured corpse in Yasushi's direction, still unseen in the fleeting thickness of the fog.

  "BASTARD!! I'LL KILL YOU!! YOU HEAR ME!! I'LL KILL YOU!" Etsuyo choked out, her grief and rage mixing into heart-wrenching wails.

  He increased the pressure on her back in response, forcing the air from her lungs. "Don't think I forgot about you, cutie. We’ve gotta long trip ahead of us.”

  Zei's hand tangled in her hair and slammed her skull into the earth, cratering the ground beneath them. Her body went limp, awareness fleeing.

  He bent his lips with a smug pleasure. "And you'll serve as the main entertainment."

  The white fog fully lifted, exposing the carnage in full detail.

  Obeying his screaming instincts, Yasushi scrambled up the nearest tree with a stealth born of desperation, concealing himself behind the leaves.

  "Ahh... What's taking that fool so long?" Zei mused, his patience wearing thin. "Let's go find him, shall we?"

  He wrapped his fist closed around Etsuyo's hair and dragged her along, scraping her face against the smooth soil as they moved towards the lagoon.

  Reaching the water's edge, he found Lei suspending Kaname in his grip. He held her eye-level off the ground with one arm wrapped around her waist while she wildly thrashed in the air. Her small fists pounded against his forearm, her legs kicking uselessly at his backside.

  His eyes seethed, suppressing his frustration.

  "Stop squirming, little brat, or I'll drop you on your head."

  Kaname spotted Zei approaching at the corner of her eye, dragging Etsuyo's defeated body. She twisted her head around and sank her teeth deep into Lei's hand. Blood welled around her bite, clamping down into his flesh.

  He howled in pain, breaking his grip

  She dropped to her feet and bolted deeper into the woods.

  "THAT BITCH!"

  Enraged, he spun to give chase.

  "Relax!” Zei heckled, cracking his knuckles against the back of Lei's skull. “I'll get her."

  He hurled Etsuyo by her hair, forcing him to catch her torpid form. "Hold onto the broad. She's coming with us."

  Fire ignited from Zei's feet as he rocketed after Kaname, flames scorching the earth behind him.

  Kaname's legs pumped with tenacity, hearing his thundering footsteps close in. Seeing a hollow space opened at the base of a weathered oak tree, she dove inside, pressing her back against the rough bark. Her lungs fought to stay silent as heavy boots pounded the forest's floor above her head.

  The footsteps paused along with her heart beat. She remained still, further reducing her presence.

  His foot scraped against the tree’s roots before dissolving into the distance.

  She waited, oxygen burning in her chest. Air cautiously leaked out as she listened for any hints of danger.

  The forest maintained its normalcy. Insects resumed their gentle chorus and leaves whispered in weak wind currents. Sunrise began penetrating the thick canopy overhead, golden rays encroaching on her cramped sanctuary.

  As Kaname pushed herself toward the opening of the tree's hollow, a fist exploded through rotting bark. The trunk split apart, raining down wood splinters, fingers seizing her robe and hauling her into daylight.

  Fighting like a wild animal, arms and legs flailed against Zei's grasp. Her hood flew back, unraveling her distinctive hair. He hoisted her higher, his free hand shoving her mask up past her hairline. His pupils expanded, astonished by her features.

  "Well, well, well..." he murmured "Aren't you a pretty little thing?"

  Kaname's eyes locked with Zei's, ice cold defiance engulfing her stare. He held her up like a trophy, appraising every detail of her face.

  "Oh! The rumors are nothing compared to the real thing. What a pleasant relief," he snickered. "I'm going to make a fortune off of you!"

  His tone shifted to shallow gentleness, eyes swelling with greed and sick anticipation.

  "Get some sleep now. I don't want my precious merchandise getting damaged.

  Chopping his hand down against her neck, Kaname's body went limp, rendering her unconscious.

  Zei tucked her under one arm like cargo and headed back toward Lei.

  Miffed, his face contorted at Zei's return. "Ah, I see you caught that annoying brat! I should punish her for what she did. It really hurts, you know," Lei whined, nursing his bleeding hand.

  Opening his palm, Zei slapped Lei across his face. His lip split open, blood pooling at the corner of his mouth.

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  "No one will lay a finger on this child," he snarled, raising his eyebrows. "Even the slightest injury will lower her value."

  His tone took on a cynical low, deranged thoughts saturating his mind.

  “I have high expectations for her... the money she'll bring in will have us set for life!"

  Lei staggered sideways and dabbed at the blood with his sleeve, keeping quiet to avoid another blow.

  Yasushi's blood ran cold, hearing Zei's words. The bark pricked his hands, tightening his clench on the tree branch.

  Stepping closer to Lei, Zei's attention drifted toward the forest around them.

  "Hmm, the final question is... what should we do with him? He's been watching us this entire time."

  His stare fixed on Yasushi's exact location among the branches. "Did you think we didn't notice you, boy?"

  Yasushi's pulse nearly flatlined. Horror paralyzed every muscle as his predatory eyes pinned him in place, compelling him to solidify his resolve.

  Lei's forehead wrinkled, rubbing his injured face. "HIM...? What do you mean hi—"

  Water slammed into the back of his skull, dropping him face-first into the dirt. Yasushi balanced on top of the tree branch, fist glowing from the attack.

  Flames blazed from Zei's hands, forcing Yasushi to abandon his perch. He landed hard onto the ground and rolled, absorbing the impact as he transitioned into a fighting stance.

  "Let.... Let her go now, or else!"

  "Or else what..." Zei taunted, amused by his bravado. “I don't hear her objecting to coming with me.”

  The sight of Kaname's drooping limbs stirred rage in Yasushi, consuming his fear. He bellowed, charging forward. Water spheres materialized around him and accelerated in rapid succession towards Zei.

  Flowing like liquid mercury around each attack, Zei's body bent and spiraled with skilled grace, feet barely touching earth as he danced between the projectiles.

  The orbs broke through tree trunks and gouged craters in the soil.

  Yasushi heaved, drained from his onslaught. Motion blurred past his peripheral vision as Zei appeared faster than his next thought. Knuckles connected into his ribs, air ripping from his lungs. He folded and sprawled to the ground, gasping for a breath.

  "Holy shit, kid!" Zei admired, leaning over him while readjusting Kaname under his arm like a sack of grain. "That's impressive. You got a lot of power for someone so young. HAHA... tell me your name, son."

  Reeling from his punch, Yasushi's chest throbbed fighting to lift his head. The world spun in nauseating circles, darkness creeping at the edges of his vision. He gritted his teeth, forcing consciousness through sheer willpower.

  Zei dropped into a crouch in front of him, eyes narrowed. Hints of disgust filtered his expression, inspecting him.

  "From the way you're dressed... you're definitely a filthy royal."

  His calculating eyes shifted to dawning comprehension. "I see... you're not just any royal piece of trash. You're Kaito's brat."

  He placed his hand under his chin and slowly expanded his mouth into a malicious smile.

  "Hmph! Today is really my lucky day!"

  Suddenly, twigs snapped in the distance. Bushes rustled and voices flew into the clearing. Lei's head jerked up toward the sounds.

  "Zei, the sun is rising, and guards are heading this way. It's time to go."

  Hope revitalized energy into Yasushi's body.

  "It’s over now,” he scoffed, managing to prop up on one elbow, “That's Captain Haru and his men. You won't get—"

  Cutting off his audacious words, Zei's hand shot out and wrapped around his throat, slightly lifting him off the ground. Yasushi clasped the iron grip crushing his windpipe.

  "You see, your clan has a lot of enemies because of that ambitious father of yours." He pulled him closer, roughly allowing the tips of his soles to touch the ground's sturdiness. "I know of several buyers willing to pay a small fortune for you... even if it's just body parts.”

  Yasushi quivered, registering his threat.

  Zei loosened his grip and tore the Chika Clan emblem from his shirt.

  “Good news, you're coming with us, kid."

  A strike of defiance returned to Yasushi's eyes as he recuperated his breath, glaring at him.

  Looking upwards at the sun's rays reaching its peak, he sighed, rolling his eyes. He balled his fingers into his palm and drove it into the side of Yasushi's head.

  Yasushi collapsed, saliva spraying across leaves and dirt. Tumbling to the ground, darkness swallowed his consciousness.

  Zei wiped splatter from his cheek and stood, moving away from the approaching sounds.

  "Oi! Pick him up, and let's go!"

  Lei hastily hoisted Yasushi's body over his shoulder and followed behind him.

  Raising two fingers, flames danced at Zei's tips as he traced serpentine patterns in the air. The symbols materialized in fire as he carved them into existence. The jagged sigils pulsed, its geometric shapes bending reality around its rim. Sparks cascaded and hissed, forming a rippling portal.

  Lei stepped through the burning spiral, cradling Etusyo with Yasushi draped over his shoulder.

  Haru burst into the clearing, his voice crashing through the forest.

  "YASUSHI!"

  Royal guards girded his flank in overwrought pursuit.

  Zei paused and secured Kaname under his arm, turning to face Haru. He smiled, waving farewell as he stepped backward into the flames.

  "NNNNOOOO!!!"

  The portal winked closed, leaving Haru clenching the empty air. The clearing fell silent, smothered by the acrid smell of the burnt inscriptions and his ragged breathing.

  Haru fell to his knees, his hand claiming Yasushi's bloodied shirt. His knuckles went white crumpling the fabric against his chest.

  DAMN!!

  Impelling himself upright to face his royal soldiers, a grim resolve engraved deep lines in his face.

  "THEY COULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN FAR! FIND THEM!"

  The royal guards saluted, promptly spreading out to scour the area.

  "Captain?" A subordinate nervously approached. "We found the Elder."

  Angst gnawed at his heart motioning forward.

  "Where is she? Take me to her!"

  He followed his subordinate further into the forest's clearing. At its center, guards encircled into a tight cluster, whispering amongst themselves, unease pouring from their stifled postures. Upon Haru's presence, they parted, riddled with ghastly expressions at the display.

  Deformed, lying motionless on blood-soaked earth, the Elder's body sizzled, bearing the vicious violence endured. Her face charred in horror with dried tears of blood and burnt flesh melting into her robes.

  Haru shivered at the sheer cruelty. His stomach lurched suppressing the nausea.

  "Sir, we just found the young masters of the Kokoro and Takeshimego clans," a royal guard reported, rushing to his side.

  Haru's eyes widened in disbelief. "What! Where?"

  "They're with the first section unit."

  The guard stepped aside, clearing his path as he sprinted to the first unit. Noticing Kobi and Taichi huddled against a tree, his boots slowed, pounding against the tarnished earth. He took a deep breath and dropped to one knee.

  Koba turned his eyes away, reluctant to face him.

  Taichi kept his head down, eyelids squeezed shut while his fingers twirled his shirt into knots.

  Haru gently settled his hand on each boy's shoulder, breaking through their protective shells and drawing their attention upward.

  "Taichi... Koba..."

  His stare desperately searching their traumatized faces.

  "Tell me everything!"