"I-I can’t believe it…" the girl whispered, her voice heavy with hope and worry.

"That bastard… I even warned him." Shirogane clenched his fists.

From his shadow, Kuroyami slowly emerged and took his place at Shirogane’s side. "What’s gotten into you?" he asked, curiosity on his face.

Shirogane gave a slight smile.

"I’m going to prepare a welcome committee," he replied.

The spirit fell silent for a moment, considering.

A more pleased smile spread across the boy’s face. "Kage no itsuwari… Knights."

A black aura rolled out around him and his eyes flared a deep violet. Moments later, fragments of shadow began to leak from the passengers, who were still trying to understand what was happening down on the tracks.

The shadows crept up, silent, until they reached the roof of the train. Nobody noticed.

"What are you planning, Shirogane?" Yume asked, watching the shadows spill out of the compartments.

"You already know what’s about to happen," he said with an amused smile.

Meanwhile, Kaito had reached the top of the carriage by leaping up from the tracks.

—Now I just have to kill Shirogane… and take Yume.—

His voice was calm, though a shadow of worry threaded through it. He began to move carefully along the roofs.

The wind was strong; it hit his arm. The pain hadn’t faded yet.

—I can move it, but it still hurts like hell.— He grit his teeth, eyeing the bandage.

Kaito kept advancing, then froze.

A strange, pulsing mass of shadow was taking shape a few meters ahead of him.

—What the hell is that?!— his heart raced.

"Shit…" he muttered, tightening his grip on his blades.

Before his eyes, the shadow had formed into fifteen knights.

"So that’s how you want to play this, Shirogane?" he raised his blades, ready to fight.

The newly-formed enemies didn’t hesitate.

The first knight lunged forward; his heavy steps thundered across the train’s roof. He drew his sword and aimed for Kaito’s face.

With a quick move, the boy slid to the side, brushing the edge of the roof. Then, with a decisive motion, he burst forward. His blade struck the knight; at the moment of impact, part of the enemy’s body was absorbed by it.

A satisfied smile crossed Kaito’s lips.

Another knight intercepted the boy’s blade.

The collision sent him reeling backward.

The two faceless warriors attacked him without hesitation. Their swords met his in a shower of sparks.

—They fight in perfect sync…— Kaito thought.

With a fluid move, he leapt behind the knights, who spun at once with a simultaneous slash.

At the last instant, Kaito dropped down, arching his torso back to avoid the blow.

A moment later he tried to counter, but his strike was blocked.

"Damn!" he grit his teeth.

Two knights pinned his arms while a third grabbed him by the throat, stopping his head from turning.

The two knights from before stepped in; one of them lifted his sword high.

Ready to strike.

Kaito watched the blade, struggling to free himself.

—I can’t get loose!— he tried to move.

The enemy blade fell on him.

The blow ripped through Kaito’s chest.

Pain shot through his body like an icy fire. Blood poured from the wound.

Kaito lowered his gaze in silence.

Short of breath, the pain made it hard to breathe.

His voice was low.

"Spirit Slayer!"

A blue light washed over the knights who had been holding him and swept them away.

He lifted his tired face; he hadn’t given up yet.

He pushed himself back to his feet with effort.

He squared his eyes on the two enemies in front of him.

They both lunged; Kaito reacted on instinct: he threw himself backward, and their swords pierced the roof of a carriage.

Seeing an opening, Kaito leapt forward. His blades flew, decapitating the two enemies with precision.

The remaining knights stared at him with empty eyes.

His blades absorbed the struck parts immediately, as if their existence evaporated.

"Come on… who’s next?!" he taunted.

At his challenge, all the remaining knights surged forward.

Kaito faced four of them, blocking blows with one blade while countering with the other. The fight was brutal and shifted along the length of the train’s roof.

Two enemies fell: one pierced through the shoulder, the other sent flying by a blow to the helm.

He sensed more opponents behind him; he jumped back and struck them midair—only one remained standing.

Still airborne, he saw another sword aimed at him.

The thrust was strong: the blow ripped his side and the impact sent him crashing down onto three other knights.

Soon after, the opponent who had wounded him suddenly collapsed to the ground: at the very moment he had been struck, Kaito had managed to hurl his blade at the enemy.

Gasping and marked by the wounds, he rose again.

"I’ll take you all down!" he declared, bracing himself for what came next, his gaze still determined.

Meanwhile, inside the compartment, Shirogane shot to his feet, fists clenched.

"Where are you going?" Yume asked, her heart in her throat.

Shirogane didn’t turn. "I’m going to take care of something."

He said no more and walked away.

Yume understood at once what he intended: he was going to kill Kaito.

She lowered her gaze.

"Please, Kaito… don’t die because of me. Run…"