Chapter 4: The Dreadmark Awakens
"Wait—my monkey?!" Kaito blinked, glancing at Gero."Yes, your monkey," Haku replied with a sigh. "Gero and I have known each other for centuries—"
Kaito raised a brow.
"Wait… CENTURIES?!""I MEANT DECADES! YEAH, that's better!" Haku snapped.Kaito grinned."Either way… you're still old."
BONK.
Haku smacked him over the head with a closed fist.
"Owwww!"
Haku cleared his throat dramatically.
"Ahem. Like I said, we've known each other for years. Now, starting today… you're going to train with Gero."
"Huh? With a monkey?"
"For a monkey," Haku said, "he makes the average sword user look like a toddler holding toothpicks."
Before Kaito could question it, Gero leapt forward, a blur of movement, dual blades flashing in his hands, practically flying toward Kaito.
Instinct kicked in.
SHING!
Kaito's katana was already drawn. He blocked just in time, the clash ringing through the forest like lightning splitting the sky.
Haku's eyes widened—heart skipping.
"Damn… THAT BOY'S FAST. It's only been five days…"
Kaito smirked and looked toward Haku, then motioned to the second blade at the old man's hip.
"Throw me that one."
Haku hesitated—then grinned wide.
"Alright, hotshot. If you think you can handle two swords… let's see it."
He threw the blade.
Kaito caught it mid-spin.
Something changed.
Gero narrowed his eyes. He felt it—a shift within Kaito. A pulse.A heat that didn't come from muscle.
It came from somewhere deeper.
Kaito adjusted his stance.
Both swords drawn.
The wind stilled. The world paused.
"HOLLOWING DESTRUCTION!!"he screamed—
—and launched into the air.
The blades crossed in a wide arc, a cyclone of raw force spinning from his body.The forest behind them didn't stand a chance.
BOOOOOM.
A massive shockwave exploded out, trees vaporized, earth cracked apart, birds scattered in a screaming flock of feathers.
Kaito crashed down, body limp, hitting the ground like a meteor—BOOM.A crater tore open beneath him.
Dust. Silence. Shock.
Gero landed with a scar newly carved across his eye, stunned for the first time in his life. He touched the blood. Then grinned wide.
Haku stood atop a stone, his Jingasa hat casting a deep shadow over his face, cloak flapping in the aftermath wind.
His voice trembled as he stared down at the unconscious boy in the crater.
"Impossible…He's… he's…"
"The Dreadmark."
[END OF CHAPTER 4]