CHAPTER 24: LIGHT AMIDST THE DARK

The two didn’t hold back.

With wind howling and lightning cracking beneath their feet, they dashed toward each other smiling, like they were enjoying it.

Every clash of their blades sent shockwaves through the broken sewers as the walls trembled and the ground cracked beneath them.

But slowly, Ren began to push ahead.

Zeishuro’s blade was starting to crack as each blow weakened it. His hands shook from the impact and felt the pain of Ren’s heavy attacks.

They were only getting faster, so fast that it looked like blurs colliding again and again. It was like both of them had gone beyond their limits.

Yes! That’s it! That’s what I wanted! Stronger, faster. Be the hero I’ve been waiting for! Zeishuro grinned with a strange spark in his eyes.

Then....

CRASH!

Zeishuro’s machete finally shattered and the pieces clattered to the ground.

They both stepped back, breathing heavy and hard. Their bodies were pushed to the limit. But their eyes still burned with purpose. Different goals but same fire.

"Surrender," Ren said. "You don’t have a weapon anymore."

"Surrender?" Zeishuro smirked. "Who said I needed one?"

He raised his hands. The air around him twisted violently and wildly. A huge tornado spun around him, much more intense than anything he’d created before.

Ren’s eyes narrowed. He still have that much power?

He swung his katana wide, sending bolts of lightning toward the storm. But instead of breaking it, the tornado absorbed the lightning. It became more deadly. Now it spun with sparks of electricity glowing with power.

"My lightning got pulled in?" Ren muttered in disbelief.

"Cyclone," Zeishuro whispered. "This is it, boy. If you can survive this, you’ll be the hero of my story. Let’s finish it right."

Ren didn’t answer. He didn’t need to.

Instead, he collected his thoughts.

And then, it came. A memory. A vision. The lightning spheres from before, floating in the black void.

They connected in his mind again.

He didn’t force it. It just flowed.

Energy surged from his heart, running through every nerve in his body like lightning had become his bloodstream. Like everything inside him was finally in sync.

He was shocked. After all, he had never felt this light before.

Without thinking, Ren moved.

He dashed around the tornado in a wide circle, so fast that afterimages of him stayed behind like shadows.

Then, with a slow breath, he raised his hand.

The lightning swirling around the tornado suddenly changed course. It responded to him. It rushed toward him, all of it and wrapped around his body.

And then the lightning turned black.

Ren exhaled calmly.

He focused. His breathing slowed, steady and precise. His Pulse Control Breathing was sharper now and deeper. Somehow, he unlocked a part of himself he didn’t even know existed.

He didn’t understand how. But his body knew what to do.

He whispered. "Zansetsu Kata: Black Flash."

The air cracked.

He stopped circling and dashed forward in a violent streak of black lightning.

The flash tore straight through the wind and smashed into the tornado, breaking through Zeishuro’s cyclone like it was paper.

Inside the storm, Zeishuro waited.

He was smiling. As if waiting for his end.

But Ren stopped mid slash. He wasn’t here to kill. Even during the battle, through every clash of their blades, he felt it.

There was still something human left in Zeishuro.

He didn’t need to be killed. He needed to be saved.

Just inches away, Ren pulled back his katana and threw his left fist forward instead as it crackled with black lightning.

BOOM!

The hit landed clean.

Zeishuro was launched backwards, smashing into the wall.

He didn’t get back up.

Blood spilled from his mouth as he coughed weakly. Despite losing, he was still smiling.

"End me," he whispered. "Free me from this misery."

Ren stepped forward, his katana already sheathed.

"There’s no need to," he said softly. "I’ve already won. And you can’t fight anymore."

Zeishuro let out a shaky laugh as he raised his arms in surrender with tears in his eyes.

"You really are a hero."

Ren dropped to the ground, face first.

His body finally gave in as all the exhaustion hit him at once.

Still, there was a small peaceful smile on his face. After all, he had won. And right there in front of the enemy, he fell sound asleep.

Zeishuro, though beaten and barely breathing, he was still conscious. He looked down at Ren with a tired smile.

"Heh. You really just passed out in front of me after all that?" he said, voice weak. "You do know I’m still the enemy, right?"

But there was no anger in his voice.

With shaky legs and the last bit of strength left in his body, Zeishuro limped forward and slowly bent down.

He picked Ren up and carried him over his back.

"You’re strong. Hero."

He turned to head for the surface, one slow step at a time. But before he could move far...

BOOM!

A wall exploded open, scattering dust and stone everywhere.

Delicate pink petals emerged through the smoke.

Kaela stepped in, looking pale and weak but standing. She was supporting Seth with his arm wrapped over her shoulder as he limped heavily.

The moment Seth saw Zeishuro with Ren on his back, his eyes widened. He reached for the sniper across his back.

"Let go of him!" he shouted, forcing himself to raise the weapon.

Zeishuro didn’t even flinch. He just gave a tired smile.

"Don’t bother," he said. "You’re too worn out to fight me. And besides, your friend already beat me. I’m just bringing him back to you."

"Liar!" Seth yelled.

But Kaela raised her hand. "Wait."

Seth turned to her. "What? You believe him?"

Kaela looked at Zeishuro again, studying his condition carefully.

"Yes," she said. "I think he’s telling the truth."

"What are you talking about? He literally tried to kill us all. And now you’re saying he’s helping Ren?"

Kaela didn’t look away.

"Just look at him," she said softly. "Ren’s beaten up, yes, but Zeishuro’s in far worse shape. And I don’t feel any core energy coming from him anymore. I don’t even know how he’s still standing."

Seth didn’t lower his guard, but something in Zeishuro’s voice made him hesitate.

"What’s your goal here?" Seth asked. "Why are you helping Ren all of a sudden?"

Zeishuro looked down at Ren’s unconscious body on his back and gave a tired smile.

"He saved me. And for the first time. I think I finally found someone who can end all of this. Someone who can free us."

Kaela spoke. "End what? Free you from what?"

Zeishuro gently laid Ren down and sat beside him.

"Someone needs to stop us. Stop Father. Stop Grin."

Seth and Kaela shared a look. But Kaela spoke first. "What are you talking about?"

Zeishuro looked straight ahead with his eyes distant.

"Father, he’s changed. Lost in darkness. He forgot what we were fighting for. He used to be better. Kind, even."

There was a long silence before he continued.

"For years, I’ve waited. Waited for someone strong enough to beat us. But no one ever came close. We just kept getting stronger, too strong for normal gangs to handle. Our only hope was ZEAL. Father used to lead with purpose. He believed strength should protect people, not hurt them. But that all fell apart."

Zeishuro’s voice got lower and heavier.

"We had a squad once. A real team. Loyal. Powerful. And then they were all wiped out. We didn’t even know who did it. Just one day, gone. Only four of us survived. Me, Father, Kuro, and Gray."

He clenched a fist in anger. It was too clear in his eyes how he felt during the moment. As if letting out something he held for far too long.

"Father couldn’t take it. He wanted revenge. That’s all he could think about. Then, like it was planned, the Shikkoku showed up."

Kaela and Seth flinched at the name. They were finally getting to something.

"They helped us. Gave us weapons, men, everything we needed. And with that, we took over this ward in a year. But it wasn’t free. The price was something different. Father let the darkness take him. His only goal was revenge. Nothing else mattered."

"What? Shikkoku’s been in Aetherpolis that long?" Seth asked.

"Yes," Zeishuro nodded. "But they didn’t make any big moves until about two years ago. Before that, they were just hiding in the shadows, slowly growing stronger."

Seth and Kaela exchanged shocked looks. They both knew that this kind of info could seriously help ZEAL.

"Then why haven’t you gone after Grin?" Seth asked. "You three together, the saints, you’re strong enough together, right?"

"We couldn’t stop him. We owed him too much. He raised us, protected us when no one else did. But one day, Gray, Kuro, and I found something. Something we weren’t supposed to know."

He looked at Seth.

"The ones who wiped us out back then, it was the Shikkoku."

Seth’s eyes widened as Kaela gasped.

"I always thought it was strange how we survived when everyone else didn’t. Turns out, they let us live. We were useful. Tools they could use later. We told Father and begged him to listen."

Before he continued, Zeishuro shook his head slowly.

"But he wouldn’t. He was already too far gone. Brainwashed. Obsessed. Deep down I think he knows the truth. But he doesn’t want us involved. So he started cutting us off. Stopped calling us sons and just gave us orders. Had us beat people up like we were his attack dogs."

Zeishuro looked back at Ren.

"So we stopped digging, just trusting father, because if the Shikkoku find out what we know, we’re dead. All of us. Including Father. They were that strong."

"Then what’s your plan?" Seth asked.

"There is no plan," Zeishuro replied quietly. "All we’ve been doing is waiting. Waiting for someone strong enough to stop Father or save us from this mess."

Seth’s eyes narrowed. "I get it now. You don’t want to be killed by the ones you’re trying to get revenge on. So instead, you’re hoping someone else takes you down first. Someone like Ren."

Zeishuro gave a tired nod. "Yeah. Our pride won’t let us die by their hands. But deep down, we knew they’re too strong for us to handle. So if we can’t beat them, at least someone out there can stop us before we fall deeper into the dark."

A heavy silence settled between them.

"Well," Seth finally said, "I don’t know how this will all end but Ren didn’t kill you. That means he saw something in you. Something worth saving. So help us. Let’s stop Grin. and let’s end Shikkoku together."

Zeishuro glanced at Ren’s unconscious body and let out a small laugh. "That kid, huh? He’s got a lot of light in him. Maybe too much. But look at you guys. You can’t do anything right now, I know you’re strong. But right now, you’re barely standing."

Seth smirked. "We’re ZEAL. We push forward, no matter what."

Zeishuro couldn’t help but smile. They were so bright, like sunlight piercing through a world of shadows.

"I do have one question though," Zeishuro said more seriously. "Did you kill Gray?"

"Yeah," Seth answered.

"Did he suffer?"

"Probably."

Zeishuro’s heart sank. Deep down, he wished things could’ve ended peacefully. But their sins were too deep, far too deep for that. He could only accept the harsh truth. But then.....

"Before he fell," Seth added, "he smiled."

Zeishuro’s eyes widened slightly. Then, a quiet smile crossed his face.

"I see. So he finally found peace."