Chapter 14 – Shadows of Betrayal

The village was quiet when Kijotsu returned home. The soft glow of the evening sun filtered through the windows, and for a moment, a faint peace settled over him. But that peace shattered the instant he stepped inside.

Kinata was waiting. Calmly, she prepared a cup of tea, her movements graceful, almost serene. She looked at him with an almost tender expression.

“Kijo… forgive me,” she said softly, her voice almost human, almost familiar.

Before Kijotsu could react, a flurry of dark, blade-like shadows erupted from her hands, slicing through the air and piercing his body. He fell to the ground, pain shooting through every fiber of his being. His Diamond energy flickered weakly, unable to react.

Kinata’s form shifted. Her eyes glowed a deep, piercing purple, and her smile twisted into something cold and sinister. Shadow tendrils curled around her as she laughed, a sound that chilled Kijotsu to his bones.

“So… you finally see me,” she whispered, venom in her tone. “I’ve been with the shadows since the beginning. My mission… is to destroy you and your friends.”

Before Kijotsu could recover, Makuski and Benma appeared, their expressions cruel, ready to strike. He was stunned, his body battered by Kinata’s shadow blades, unable to summon his abilities. The room seemed to shrink around him, suffocating, every breath labored.

Then, a familiar voice broke the tension. Leenka appeared, his usual humor fading as he saw the scene. He offered a small joke at first, trying to lighten the moment, but the seriousness in the air immediately silenced him.

Makuski lunged at Kijotsu, sword raised, but Leenka intercepted, blocking the strike with a forceful motion. The fight erupted around him — Notsu returned, engaging Benma, while Leenka took Makuski head-on. Kijotsu, still stunned, faced Kinata alone.

She advanced, her shadow blades slicing the air, forcing him to dodge weakly. He could barely stand, let alone fight. His anger boiled inside him, fury and disbelief clashing with his exhaustion.

“Why… why betray me?” Kijotsu shouted, his voice raw, trembling with rage. “I trusted you, Kinata!”

She only laughed, launching a barrage of deadly attacks. Every strike left him battered, broken, unable to retaliate. Pain and humiliation twisted inside him as he felt the weight of her betrayal crushing him.

Then, a strange phenomenon occurred — a voice in his mind, urgent and clear, as if the Diamond itself was speaking:

“Kaen Destruction… Activate… Now… Or you will die.”

Without thinking, driven by rage and desperation, Kijotsu pressed the command: “Use it.”

Immediately, power surged through him. His Diamond energy erupted uncontrollably, burning bright and intense. His strength became overwhelming, yet his body still trembled from exhaustion. The energy haunted him, scorching from the inside, warning him of the cost.

Leenka and Notsu quickly grabbed Kijotsu, helping him escape the crumbling village as Kinata’s attacks continued. The three of them raced through the streets, evacuating civilians and avoiding destruction.

Finally, they reached a ship, boarding it just as the village collapsed behind them. The wind carried the acrid scent of smoke and ashes as the vessel sped away.

After hours at sea, they arrived at Haunt Island. Soldiers stood ready, their king at the center, eyes filled with concern and curiosity. Leenka and Notsu explained the events, the betrayal, and the destruction they had barely escaped.

Kijotsu remained silent. He didn’t speak, didn’t move beyond the edge of the group. His body burned with residual Diamond energy, his mind heavy with rage and depression. Inside him, a faint, terrifying pulse of berserk power waited, coiling and restless, a silent storm threatening to break free at any moment.

He stared at the island, at the soldiers, at the king — but nothing touched him. His soul felt empty, hollowed by betrayal and the cost of power. And somewhere deep inside, he knew that this was only the beginning.

End of Chapter 14.