The Hashido estate was as calm as always. People walked around, going about their daily lives with smiles on their faces.

Ervin walked ahead of him and everyone seemed to smile at him when they noticed him, but it was natural since he gave them a place to stay. 

He turned and motioned for Kato to follow, leading him deeper into the eastern wing of the estate compound.

At that point, Kato couldn't keep the question quiet anymore..

Kato: Where are we going?

Ervin didn’t look back.

Ervin: To find you your answers.

Kato didn't understand what those words meant but he figured it would make sense in due time so he didn't pester Ervin for more. 

Soon enough, they stopped in front of a tall building which had an ancient looking door. It was carved with symbols Kato didn’t recognize and all it did was push him into further confusion. 

Then Ervin pushed the big door open and once they got inside, Kato immediately knew where they were. 

They were inside a library, but not just any library.

Rows upon rows of towering shelves stretched far into the ceiling, packed with books, scrolls, and sealed records. The air smelled old paper, leather, and ink that had soaked into paper for centuries.

Kato’s breath caught.

Kato: All this is yours?

Ervin gave a faint smirk.

Ervin: This is the Hashido archive. Knowledge gathered across generations and kept here. 

He walked between the shelves, turning corners without hesitation. Kato followed, feeling smaller with every step. After a while, Ervin stopped at a section hidden behind a sliding panel of wood.

He pulled it open.

Inside were fewer books, but they looked thicker and heavier.

Ervin: These are the records of the Hamorabi Clan.

Kato’s heart skipped.

Kato: The Hamorabi Clan?

Ervin nodded.

Ervin: You said you wanted to know about yourself right? Well it starts here. Take your time and read through it. I’ll be nearby. Call me when you’re done.

Then he stepped back and left Kato alone surrounded by the books.

Kato stood there for a long moment, staring at the spines of the books. The name Hamorabi was etched into many of them in faded gold.

He took a deep breath as he pulled out the first book he saw and saw on the floor as he began to read the words on the text. 

*****

“The Hamorabi Clan was one of the most prestigious and powerful clans to exist over 800 years ago. Like the Emo and Hashido Clans on the side of the Shadows, the Hamorabi were blessed with a rare ability known as the God Eye. This power was born into or inherited by only one individual per generation within the clan, and the person who possessed it was destined to become the clan head upon reaching the proper age.”

Kato paused wondering what the proper age to become a clan head was. 

“The God Eye grants its bearer absolute clarity in combat. After observing a technique for only a few seconds, the Eye can analyze and replicate its structure, movements, and energy patterns. In effect, it allows the user to copy nearly any ability they witness.”

Kato then remembered that he used Kenny’s own technique against him when he fought. 

Kato: So that's what it is… Wait if I copied it, does it mean that it's a permanent thing?

“Though this power makes the user appear nearly unstoppable, it carries a critical weakness: the abilities copied by the God Eye are only temporary and eventually wear off.”

He chuckled.

Kato: Yeah figures.

Kato then read on until his eyes fell on a section that immediately piqued his interest. 

“The second legacy of the Hamorabi Clan was their hereditary ability known as the Blood Art Technique. This technique allows the user to manipulate their own blood as a living medium, shaping it into weapons, wings, bindings, and conduits for energy. It responds not only to will, but also to the user’s emotion, pain, and resolve. To the Hamorabi, blood was regarded as proof of existence itself.”

Kato then looked at his hand and thought about it for a while. 

Kato: (mutters) Blood Art Technique… 

He read further and discovered a section that explained how to make use of the technique, and Kato knew exactly what he wanted to do next.

******

Meanwhile, somewhere in Benville city, a young man with pale skin and ash colored hair sat on a sofa in an apartment with a giant glass window viewing the neon lights of the city. He had a saddened look on his face like he had just lost someone important which wasn't that far from the reality of the situation itself.

Beside him was Gaki who looked more displeased than ever and it was rightfully so because behind them was the corpse of a Hunter from the HFA and the apartment had blood splattered everywhere.

There was a bit of silence before Gaki broke it.

Gaki: Hey Zero. Don't you think you went too far?

Zero: How so?

Gaki: I know that you're hurt that Kenny died because of what you told him to do, but killing Sanito who was the spy the HFA sent was a bit too soon don't you think? I know you care about all of us more than we care about each other but…

Zero: I know I shouldn't have killed Sanito this early but does it matter? He already leaked the information we wanted the HFA to have and he served no further purposes amongst us. He was doomed from the start.

Gaki: I guess. So what do we do now? What about Kato Hamura? “____” confirmed that he indeed awakened the god eye we've been searching for. 

Zero thought for a while and then responded. 

Zero: We leave him be for now. We can come back to him when I come up with something else. We're leaving now. 

Gaki: Right.

Zero’s gaze lingered on Sanito’s corpse one last time, not with regret, but with a faint curiosity; as if assessing what chaos it could still create.

Then he rose from the sofa and made his way to the door. Gaki followed and avoided stepping on the splatters of blood on the floor. Before they left, Gaki took one last look at the scenery of blood and Sanito’s corpse at the center of it and then shook his head as he closed the door behind him.

*******

THE SHADOW AWAKENING ARC–END