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[Kagetsu jo]
[Castle courtyard, 1:00 AM]
Kazuhiro navigated through the shadows, his elongated form weaving through the dense foliage as the moonlight barely grazed his frame. The faint rustle of leaves was the only sign of his movement, as if the night itself bent to accommodate his presence.
Ahead loomed the main building of Kagetsu castle, its stone walls ancient but fortified, the wooden doors reinforced with iron. The air carried the faint scent of incense, a contrast to the cold dread lingering over the compound. Kazuhiro paused, his faceless head tilting slightly.
'I've cleared the outer perimeter. The guards were easy to handle, relevant for the stats I've gained.'
He retrieved his device and scanned the latest updates.
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_Attribute_
Attributes points | AP: 25
● STR: 107 (+41)
● STA: 112 (+74)
● CON: 76 (+49)
● AGI: 107 (+93)
● DEX: 56 (+9)
● INT: 76 (+20)
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'These boosts won't last long. I need to act before they expire.' His focus shifted to the towering structure ahead. 'Should I storm in or find a secondary entrance?' He studied the castle's architecture, noting the placement of windows and potential weak points, but the faint shimmer of cameras at the corners caught his attention.
A plan was forming in his mind, but it was interrupted when the doors of the main hall creaked open.
Several men in tailored suits emerged, descending the stone steps with slow, deliberate movements. Their eyes swept the courtyard, surveying the premise. Unlike the panicked guards, these men moved with the precision of trained operatives.
Kazuhiro remained crouched in the shadows, observing every detail. "Judging by their postures, they seem confident, were they aware?... How long have they been watching me?'
A man with short-cropped hair and a scar slicing down his cheek, stopped at the base of the stairs. His posture was relaxed, but his gaze was sharp as a blade.
"We know you're here," the man called out, his voice calm yet authoritative. "Show yourself."
Kazuhiro stayed motionless, concealed within the dense foliage. He calculated his options silently, his thoughts sharp and methodical. The soft vibration of his device broke the silence, drawing his attention. With the device in hand, he lowered his head to inspect.
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You received 1 inbox message...
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After carefully reading the message, Kazuhiro's clawed fingers tapped across the screen to respond. The tension in the courtyard seemed to thicken as the agents remained still, waiting. After what felt like an eternity of silence, the rustle of leaves gave away his location. Slowly, he rose to his full height, the foliage parting to reveal his towering, monstrous frame.
The men gazes betrayed a flicker surprise before their rigid discipline snapped them back into control. Kazuhiro's 14-foot shadow stretched across the stone tiles of the courtyard, a harbinger of chaos.
The man at the front remained unfazed, his sharp eyes locked onto Kazuhiro's featureless face. "You are to surrender immediately," he commanded, his voice carrying the weight of absolute control. "Any attempt to resist or flee will result in the immediate execution of the captives."
''Surrounded. High-ground marksmen and ground-level Combatants.' His calculations ran smoothly.
He processed the information rapidly, weighing his options against the odds, the men from behind approached, to subdue his arms. Only a second before they could reach him, a faint vibration in his pocket alerted him again. His claws flexed, and with a quick motion turned to slice the heads of those from behind.
Using that small window of surprise, Kazuhiro lunged forward, a swift movement that shattered the quiet stillness.
The nearest marksman didn't even have time to react. Kazuhiro's claws closed around his head with terrifying precision, crushing it with a wet hard crunch. Blood and bone fragments sprayed across the rooftop, painting the stone in macabre streaks.
Aware that he'll be shot, he made a quick whisper "...aeryn vel'hai" as he was mid chant, he was hit in the lower shoulder by one bullet.
Soon a shimmering distortion surrounded him as a wind barrier erupted to life, nullifying the other bullets, several clanks were heard as they soon fell to the ground.
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HP: (4789/5000(+120))
+3 (CON) = Took medium damage
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He didn't stop as the health bar dropped, and continued as he noticed The remaining agents scrambled to reposition, their rifles barking as bullets tore through the air. Kazuhiro moved with serpentine agility, his elongated limbs making impossible twists and turns as the wind barrier nullified the gunfire.
"What..." murmured the man as he watched, with a calm exterior, he brought his wrist up, "It's resisting, finish off one of the captives, leave the blond haired teen and that chainsaw thing alive."
Two agents aimed their rifles, but Kazuhiro's hand shot out, pierced into their torso. The second agent attempted to fight back with close range, but Kazuhiro immediately sliced his head off with a quick slash with his other hand.
Below, the leader, his brows furrowing after receiving no confirmation from the other side 'Something must have happened.' The scarred man clenched his jaw, with a press of a button, he raised his wrist to his mouth once again. "Fall back and regroup inside the main hall. Do not engage further. Repeat: fall back—"
A blur of blackness descended before him. The arm that had the comms was ripped off. The man barely had to react as Kazuhiro's claws plunged through his chest, lifting him off the ground. The guards standing way weren't sure on what to do they tried to shoot but they were blocked by a shield they can't even see.
The man lips quivered as blood bubbled from his mouth. His eyes locked onto Kazuhiro's featureless face. 'How... how did he-' His mind was slowly fading as this was his last thoughts.
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+11 (STR): Swiping Frenzy | 29:59
+ 5 (STR): Tax (Class ability activated) | 29:59
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'With those above gone, I'll rid of those below.' Kazuhiro thought to himself, pulling his claws away from the lifeless body by flinging to his side. Those nearby, knew their only chance was to fight him close combat, or stall him till reinforcements arrive. Retreating would expose their backs to it.
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[Kagetsu Building – Inner Tatami Room]
The dim glow of flickering lanterns cast long, restless shadows across the tatami floor, their orange hues struggling to penetrate the thick weight of the night. A lone man, sharp-featured and calm, sat cross-legged at a low wooden table, his presence exuding an air of quiet dominance. The blue glow from the surveillance tablet in his hand illuminated his features, reflecting coldly against his narrow, calculating eyes.
His brow furrowed as he analyzed the chaotic display unfolding on the screen. Bodies littered the outer courtyard—his men, fallen too swiftly for mere incompetence to be blamed. There was a pattern to the attacks, a precision that suggested strategy rather than mere brute force.
His fingers drummed against the lacquered wood of the table.
Not acting alone…
That realization sharpened his focus. Those stationed underground had yet to report in. The screens cycling through the castle's security feeds revealed movement, faint disturbances, blind spots that should not have existed.
With a slow exhale, he shut the tablet with a click and rose to his feet. His movements were deliberate and composed.
Crossing the room, he reached for a black rotary phone resting on a polished wooden stand. The number dialed was familiar, one used for only the most pressing of situations.
The line connected immediately.
"No, I haven't yet," the man in the tatami room spoke, his voice carrying no trace of concern. "However, reinforcements are required at the underground entrance. Have them investigate at once." He paused, his gaze unmoving.
"I will handle this personally." His tone hardened. "This is my duty—to deliver what Father seeks. For now, surround the premises. Ensure that no one escapes."
There was silence on the other end, as they soon complied.
His fingers tightening slightly around the receiver. A flicker of irritation flashed across his face—an emotion he rarely allowed himself to feel.
"You underestimate me," His shoulders rolled back, tension coiling within him like a drawn bowstring. "Very well... if I cannot subdue him within half an hour, then you may join." He then ended the call and left the device where it was.
His footsteps were slow but heavy with purpose as he made his way to the far side of the room, where a katana rested upon a display stand. The black lacquered sheath gleamed faintly beneath the dim lantern light.
He reached for the weapon, his hands steady as he lifted it with both hands. The weight was familiar, an extension of himself. Sliding the blade into his obi, he secured it tightly against his waist.
"Only a few hours left until sunrise," he murmured to himself, his fingers tracing the silk-wrapped hilt. "I must end this swiftly… and ensure I stand before Father in triumph, not disgrace."
He stepped toward the door, reaching to slide it open—
SHING!
A thin, near-invisible wire grazed his fingertips.
Reacting on instinct, he withdrew his hand immediately, his enhanced reflexes saving him from a deeper wound. He examined his palm. A thin red line had formed along his index finger.
A cut.
His sharp gaze flickered to the doorway.
His mind processed the implications with rapid precision.
'A trap? But when?'
His heartbeat remained steady, but irritation flared beneath his composed exterior. 'Had that thing set it? Or was there truly another figure working in the shadows?'
he swiped the blood with his thumb only to see the skin regenerate from the wound. The fact that it had landed at all was unacceptable.
His jaw tightened. 'How iritating.'
Turning away from the door, he pulled his phone once more, fingers gliding over the keypad. Sending a quick message through the phone to warn them of the traps laid out.
With that taken care of, his gaze darkened.
His fingers curled around the hilt of his katana.
He inhaled deeply, the breath centering him—
Then—
BOOM!
With a single, precise slash, the entire wall exploded outward.
The wooden beams cracked and shattered, sending splinters and debris careening through the air. The paper-thin walls of the traditional room disintegrated, torn apart as a massive hole opened into the moonlit courtyard.
Dust billowed out in thick clouds, swirling in the aftermath of his strike. The distant sounds of battle were momentarily drowned beneath the sound of rubble settling.
Slowly, he sheathed his blade, the faint click of metal against its scabbard barely audible beneath the stillness.
His eyes lifted toward the ruined courtyard, where blood painted the earth in fresh strokes of crimson.
'This world is already in ruins…'
His first step crunched against fallen debris.
'Upon Father's vision, we will rebuild anew…'
Another step, and the cold night air embraced him.
His gaze locked onto the courtyard ahead. 'A world where only those of our blood will remain.'
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