«Captain, they don't intend to take us in,» one of them said, breaking the silence.
The figure he addressed was a young man.
He had very short, almost shaved hair, a bright blond. His face was marked by a neat goatee.
He wore well-made clothes: black trousers with a little chain hanging from his belt, a white shirt slightly unbuttoned, and a jacket draped carelessly over his shoulders.
«You think so?» he replied, inhaling slowly the smoke from the cigarette he held between his fingers.
«I wouldn't bet on it.»
The gate that separated them from the main building began to open slowly.
The deep sound of wood moving cut through that apparent calm.
From the doorway came out Genzō, followed by the guard who had called him.
«What brings the captain of the Hakumei here?» he began in a cold tone.
The man stepped forward and let the cigarette fall to the ground, stamping it out with his foot.
«I introduce myself. Zeon Hakumei.»
He nodded, as if giving him the floor.
«Genzō Fuyumi.»
«Good, Genzō Fuyumi.» Genzō Fuyumi sat on a large stone nearby, watching him with studied calm.
«How about you and I have a little chat?»
Then his gaze slid to the monastery walls.
«You Fuyumi...» he narrowed his eyes slightly.
«You're in our territory.»
He tilted his head to the side, a half-smile on his lips.
«We already told you to leave, but apparently the message wasn't received.»
He rose slowly.
«So tell me, Genzō Fuyumi...»
«how do we settle this?»
Genzō did not flinch an inch.
«Let's make things clear right away.»
He exhaled softly.
«A war between our families would only leave one faction standing...»
He paused briefly.
«...the Hakumei.»
The expressions of the men present hardened instantly.
«Excuse me?» Zeon snapped, irritated.
«You're right.»
Genzō stepped forward.
«I'll show you.»
With a sharp kick he struck the captain, lifting him off the ground.
«Appear, Kokuen.»
From his shadow emerged a creature almost skeletal, wrapped in thick, black smoke. Kokuen
The body was barely visible: only thin arms and legs, a dull gray, jutted out from the dark mass that covered it.
With a single motion, a compact cloud of smoke crashed onto Zeon, sending him to the ground.
«Damn it!»
The other men tensed.
«Black smoke bomb.»
A band of smoke spread around Genzō, engulfing the area.
«Guys, where are you?!» one of them shouted.
Visibility was nil.
«Pointless to shout.»
The voice behind him froze him.
«Spiritual block.»
With a fluid, precise movement, Genzō struck at every spiritual flow in succession.
The enemy's face was covered in blood in an instant.
The body collapsed to the ground, lifeless.
Before the cloud of smoke completely dissipated, Genzō moved again.
One by one, six of the ten men fell without even realizing what had struck them.
When the smoke thinned, the scene was a massacre.
«It's... it's a monster...» horror distorted the face of one of the survivors as he looked at the blood-covered figure.
«So then, Zeon.»
Genzō turned to him; by now, Zeon had managed to get back on his feet.
«Do you want to continue?»
His gaze was no longer human.
«You...»
Zeon's veins bulged with rage.
«How dare you!!»
A wave of spiritual energy burst from his body, making the air around him tremble.
In seconds Zeon lunged forward, his fist thrusting toward Genzō.
The blow never reached its target.
A dense fog exploded around him, enveloping him completely.
Black tentacles rose from the ground, seizing his legs like living chains.
«Wha—!»
He looked down, panic tightening his throat.
«What the hell is this stuff?!»
He tried to wriggle free, but the more he moved the tighter the grip became.
From the smoke, Genzō stepped forward at a slow pace.
The blood of his men still dripped from his fingers, staining the earth of the battlefield.
«Know this.»
His voice was cold, without hesitation.
«Their deaths were caused by your choices.»
Zeon trembled.
«We Fuyumi always give a warning.»
Genzō continued to approach.
«And the mere fact that we didn't eliminate you at once...»
He stopped in front of him.
«...should have made you grateful.»
Zeon's body began to shake uncontrollably.
«Those who don't know their place...»
Genzō raised his arm, bringing it horizontal.
«...don't deserve to live.»
A single motion.
«Goodbye.»
Zeon's head rolled to the ground.
The black smoke that covered Genzō's arm slowly dissolved, revealing the skin beneath.
Silence fell over the monastery.
The remaining henchmen stood frozen, horrified at the sight.
—This... is really the strength of the family head's brother—
The thought crossed the mind of the guard who had accompanied Genzō, leaving him speechless.
Within a minute, the only ones still standing in front of the monastery were Genzō Fuyumi and his companion.
«Take away the corpses.»
His voice was tired, devoid of any emotion.
«Y-Yes?! Y-Yes, I'll do it right away!»
The boy stiffened, springing into action at the order.
Genzō added nothing more.
He turned and began to walk into the monastery.
His gaze was low, distant.
It was not the look of a man satisfied by victory.
Soon he returned to his room.
When he opened the door, his expression changed at once.
Aoi was pressed against the wall, breathing shallowly.
Holding her was a young man with long silver hair; a dark tattoo ran across his face from eye to jaw like an indelible wound.
«Reon!» Genzō said.
The man released his hold without hurry.
Aoi collapsed to the floor coughing, instinctively clutching her throat.
«Genzō, welcome back...» Reon turned to him with a half-smile. Reon
«What were you doing.»
It was not a question.
Genzō's spiritual aura began to expand—heavy, oppressive. The air in the room vibrated.
«Contain your energy,» Reon replied calmly.
«Your merchandise tried to escape.»
There was no fear in his eyes.
Genzō stared at him.
The same look he'd had in front of the monastery.
«And you expect me to believe that.»
Reon's spiritual energy answered, pouring out of his body like an invisible blade.
«What do you want to do, Genzō?»
His tone was light, almost amused.
For an instant.
just one.
Genzō hesitated.
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