Vico, Akio, and Ken were walking deep inside the Black Ghost Cave when Ken started telling them his story and his past. By the time he finished, both of them were shocked by what they heard.
Vico (with a sad look): “Ken-senpai… you’re really strong to have gone through all of that!”
Akio (in surprise): “Oh my God, he killed over 500 soldiers!”
Ken (in a calm tone): “Yes, I’m not a good person. Are you sure you want to be a friend with a killer?”
Akio: “I don’t care. I see you as a good friend, Ken! And you must have had your reasons.”
Ken (surprised): “Are you joking with me?!”
Vico (curiously): “And what about Cirrus? Have you ever met him?”
Ken lights his cigarette, takes a puff, and prepares to continue his story.
Ken: “Yes, it was a few months after the war. I was living with that old man on Urakano Island when we were shocked to see Cirrus arrive on it.”
The scene shifts to eight years ago, in the middle of a park on Urakano Island near the sea. Cirrus was walking through the park arrogantly, without any guards. He looked like he was in his early thirties, with red hair the same shade as Ken’s, though his hair was wild and messy. He had the same grey eyes as Ken and an X-shaped scar on his right cheek. Some people noticed him and started shouting his name: “It’s Cirrus!” “That killer!” But Cirrus ignored them completely and kept walking.
At that moment, Ken was holding Grandpa Laud’s hand as they strolled. They heard the crowd shouting “Cirrus!”
Ken: “Grandpa Laud, I heard the name Cirrus!”
Laud: “That’s strange. What’s going on?”
Seconds later, they realized Cirrus was walking right in front of them. Some people tried to attack him, but he threw fireballs from his right hand at them. He did it with a cold, confident smile. Ken stood in the middle of the crowd, stunned by what he saw. Cirrus looked so much like him—the same features, hair color, and eyes. There was no doubt he was the one that he was looking for.
Without hesitation, Ken stepped into the middle of the circle to face Cirrus. His expression turned into one of anger and hatred. Cirrus looked at Ken, surprised by his bravery.
Ken (angrily): “You filthy bastard! You killed everyone I loved! I will never forgive you!”
Ken began firing fireballs from his hands toward Cirrus, but Cirrus blocked every attack with ease and speed.
Lawd (yelling in fear): “Ken! What are you doing? Come back here right now!”
Cirrus: “It seems I underestimated weak Akako and his children. I thought I had wiped you all out, but here I see one standing in front of me.”
The crowd began whispering: “Who is this child? And why does he have fire powers?!”
Ken (attacking): “Don’t you dare say my father’s name! I will kill you right now!”
Cirrus laughed and said: “An eight-years-old child killing the greatest king on earth? What a joke! Don’t you realize I could crush you like an insect in a second?”
Ken: “I don’t care… I’m dead on inside.”
The People: “What bravery! How can a child this young face the strongest man on earth?!”
Tears started falling from Ken’s eyes, but his angry expression didn’t fade. He was determined to attack Cirrus again and showed no fear. He ran faster, getting closer to Cirrus. When he reached him, Cirrus grabbed him by his neck, lifting him off the ground, and looked at him mockingly.
Cirrus: “I like you, my nephew. That’s why I won’t kill you. Tell me, what’s your name?”
Ken (bravely): “My name is Yukaji Ken, and I’m the one who will cut off your head!”
Cirrus punched Ken hard in the face, knocking him to the ground.
He looked at him mockingly and said: “Good, I’ll be waiting for you, Ken. When you grow up and become stronger, try to cut off my head—if you can! No one has ever managed to leave a scratch on me, except for one person.”
More tears streamed from Ken’s eyes from the pain of the blow. Then, he looked at the scar on Cirrus’s cheek and realized this was the scratch he was referring to. At that moment, Laud rushed into the middle of the crowd and grabbed Ken.
Laud: “We need to get out of here now, or we’ll die!”
Ken finished telling the story of what had happened. Before anyone could respond, they heard the sound of rocks breaking in front of them. As the rocks crumbled, a new passage was revealed. It looked dark and mysterious. That wasn’t the only surprise. Blue, faint lights began to appear on the surrounding walls, forming ancient patterns or symbols that were hard to understand.
Vico (amazed): “What is this? I’ve never seen anything like it!”
Ken (approaching one of the walls): “These symbols… they seem to point to something. Maybe there’s a puzzle we need to solve.”
Ken noticed a symbol that looked like a circle surrounded by tangled lines. When he cautiously touched the symbol, he felt a sudden warmth radiating from it. Suddenly, a bright light filled the cave, making it feel alive.
Ken (softly): “Is this some kind of ancient magic?”
As the light pulsed, a holographic figure of a warrior in ancient armor appeared in the air. The figure looked like someone from the distant past, with glowing blue eyes.
Mysterious Voice: “Who are you? How dare you enter my cave?”
Akio: “Give us Ann back!”
Ghost: “This place is not a playground for teenagers. Do you want to die?”
Ken (fearlessly): “I’ve faced worse than your tests, I’m not running back now.”
The ghost laughed mockingly, then said:
Ghost: “Then prepare yourselves for the test of true will. The path ahead is open only to those who prove their strength—not of the body, but of the soul.”
The walls glowed even brighter, and a new passage opened in the cave, revealing a faint light calling to them.
Vico: “I guess we don’t have a choice but to move forward…”
Akio: “Then let’s prove we’re worthy to pass.”
The three cautiously moved toward the open passage, their eyes filled with determination and anticipation for whatever lay ahead.
They entered a room filled with glowing mirrors.
Ghost: “You’ve shown courage by passing the first entrance, but the cave won’t let you proceed without facing more trials. In each test, you must reveal your true heart, or you will lose your way forever.”
As they entered, each of them found themselves surrounded by a large mirror reflecting scenes from their past or nightmares they feared.
Ken saw himself as a child, surrounded by the lifeless bodies of his family, with Cirrus laughing at him.
Cirrus (from the mirror): “You were weak, and you always will be.”
Ken (angrily): “I’ll crush you!”
Akio saw himself losing control of his lightning powers, destroying an entire village.
Akio: “This isn’t me… I won’t let this happen, ever!”
Vico saw himself abandoning his friends and running away during a battle.
Vico (crying): “I’m not a coward… I’ll be strong!”
Ken (angrily): “These are cursed mirrors! Stop looking at them!”
Akio (looking at Ken): “And how do we escape them? They’re everywhere!”
Vico (wiping his tears): “If these mirrors reflect our fears, then maybe the solution is to face them, right?”
Ken: “Vico’s right.”
Ken approached his mirror and stared deeply at the image of his dead family and the mocking voice of Cirrus. He took a puff from his cigarette and said confidently: “You’re all part of the past.”
Suddenly, the ground began to shake, and a familiar figure emerged from the shadows—a phantom version of Cirrus, smirking and stepping toward him.
Phantom Cirrus (in a voice like Cirrus): “I thought you were braver than this, Ken. Come on, show me your strength!”
Ken (furiously): “I know you’re not real, but that won’t stop me from destroying you!”
Ken charged at the phantom, unleashing fireballs at high speed, but the phantom skillfully deflected them.
On the other side of the room, Akio felt a sharp headache as lightning began to surge uncontrollably around his body.
Akio (trembling): “No… I can’t control my powers… This will hurt everyone!”
Sparks of lightning exploded chaotically from Akio, shattering rocks around him. As Vico dodged falling debris, he noticed a giant black beast emerging from the shadows, heading toward Akio, who was struggling to regain control.
Vico (shocked): “What?! That beast… It’s going after Akio senpai, I have to do something!”
Vico sprinted through the rubble, determined to reach Akio before the beast could.
Ken (shouting): “Vico, take care of Akio! I’ll handle this jerk.”
Ken’s fight with the phantom Cirrus grew more intense. He was using all his strength but struggled to match the phantom’s skills.
Vico (with determination): “Akio senpai, I won’t let that beast get to you!”
Vico focused his gaze on the massive creature charging at Akio. He carefully retreated, then leaped into the air with ninja-like agility, disappearing into the shadows.
Vico (calmly and cleverly): “I can’t attack it head-on… I need to use the shadows and my speed.”
Vico used his stealth skills to vanish from the beast’s view.
Beast (searching wildly): “GROOAH!”
Vico quickly appeared behind the beast, throwing small smoke bombs around it to disorient it.
Vico (confidently): “You think your size will protect you?”
As smoke filled the area, Vico used a grappling hook tied to a strong rope to jump onto the beast’s back, trying to immobilize it.
Ken (noticing Vico): “That fast fool… He’s using his skills well!”
Akio struggled to regain control of his powers as lightning lashed out unpredictably, nearly hitting Vico.
Akio (shouting): “Vico, watch out!”
Vico pulled a shuriken from his pouch and hurled it at the beast’s leg, hitting a sensitive spot. The beast roared in pain and stepped back, giving Vico a chance to leap away before it counterattacked.
Vico (confidently): “I won’t let you hurt Akio, you miserable giant.”
Vico continued using his speed and ninja skills, darting between rocks and shadows, delivering quick, calculated strikes to the beast. As the fight raged on, the cave began to shake even more, hinting that something new was about to emerge in the midst of the chaos.
To be continued…
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