The air was thick with dust and tension. The ruins, once silent and forgotten, now bore witness to the clash of wills between Kaizen and the Eclipse Order. The golden-eyed leader wiped the blood from his lips, his smirk never fading despite the obvious pain in his ribs. His subordinates circled Kaizen and Rei, their weapons gleaming under the faint moonlight filtering through the cracks of the ancient structures.
"You're an interesting one, Kaizen," the leader mused, cracking his neck. "Few people ever manage to injure me. Fewer still live to talk about it."
Kaizen exhaled, steadying his stance. "Yeah? Well, I'm not exactly planning on dying tonight."
Rei, standing beside him, gritted her teeth. "We need to get out of here. These guys aren't just some back-alley thugs."
The leader let out a chuckle. "Oh, but why leave so soon? We were just getting to know each other. And besides, you hold something that belongs to us."
Kaizen glanced at the scroll tucked inside his coat. It was a key to the past—one he wasn't willing to surrender. "If you want it, come and take it."
That was all the invitation they needed.
The battle reignited, even fiercer than before. The Eclipse Order's warriors moved with precision and deadly intent, their strikes swift and calculated. Kaizen met them blow for blow, his strength sending shockwaves through the crumbling ruins. Rei, agile as ever, weaved between her opponents, landing precise cuts that forced them on the defensive.
The golden-eyed leader stayed back, watching with an expression of mild amusement. His eyes, however, betrayed something deeper—calculation, anticipation. He was studying Kaizen, waiting for something.
Kaizen realized it too late.
A sudden shift in the air. A presence moving faster than his eyes could track.
Pain exploded in his side as a fist, wreathed in some unknown energy, slammed into his ribs. He barely had time to react before another strike caught him in the chest, sending him crashing through a stone pillar. Dust and debris rained down as he struggled to his feet, coughing.
Rei called his name, but before she could reach him, the golden-eyed leader finally made his move.
He was fast. Too fast.
In the blink of an eye, he appeared before Kaizen, driving a knee into his stomach. Kaizen's vision blurred, his breath caught in his throat. The force sent him skidding across the ground, his back slamming into another piece of ancient rubble.
"You rely too much on brute strength," the leader remarked, rolling his shoulders. "But strength alone isn't enough in this world."
Kaizen gritted his teeth, pushing himself up. He had underestimated his opponent. This man wasn't just strong—he was experienced. He had fought countless battles and lived to tell the tale. There was no wasted movement, no hesitation in his attacks.
Kaizen smirked despite himself. "You talk too much."
The leader laughed. "Perhaps. But I also win."
He lunged forward again, this time aiming for Kaizen's throat. But Kaizen was ready. Instead of dodging, he stepped forward, meeting the attack head-on. Their fists collided, sending a shockwave through the air. For a brief moment, time seemed to slow.
Then Kaizen twisted, using the momentum to drive his elbow into the leader's ribs—the same spot he had hit earlier.
The leader's smirk faltered as pain flashed across his face.
Kaizen didn't let up. He followed with a brutal uppercut, then a sweeping kick that sent the leader sprawling. The other members of the Eclipse Order hesitated, momentarily stunned by the sudden shift in battle.
Kaizen took the opportunity. He grabbed Rei's wrist. "We're leaving. Now."
She didn't argue. Together, they sprinted through the ruins, weaving through narrow corridors and jumping over broken pillars. The Eclipse Order shouted behind them, but they didn't give chase—not immediately.
The golden-eyed leader slowly sat up, wiping blood from his mouth. He watched Kaizen disappear into the night, his smirk returning.
"Interesting," he murmured. "Very interesting."
Kaizen and Rei didn't stop running until they reached a secluded cave deep within the jungle outside the ruins. The moment they were inside, Kaizen collapsed against the wall, catching his breath.
Rei sat beside him, shaking her head. "That was too close."
Kaizen chuckled weakly. "You think?"
She elbowed him lightly. "Seriously. That guy… he wasn't normal. And he knew you. He knew your name."
Kaizen's expression darkened. "Yeah. And that's what worries me."
They sat in silence for a moment before Rei finally asked, "What now?"
Kaizen pulled the scroll from his coat, staring at it. "Now? We find out why they want this so badly."
Outside, the wind howled through the trees, carrying whispers of the past and warnings of what was to come.