Ki hopped from tree to tree, finally reaching the balcony that led to the king's chamber. He pushed the door open—and froze.
Blood stained the floor. Two figures were locked in motion: Kenji and a man with a scar across his face. But then Kenji collapsed, coughing blood. The scarred man chuckled, licking the blood from his blade. His aura pressed down on Ki like a physical weight, suffocating him. For the first time, Ki felt true fear.
"No… Ken…ji…" he whispered.
The scarred man stepped forward arrogantly. "Ohhh, sweet, sweet revenge… even sweeter when served cold," he hissed, scuffing the floor with his boot.
He knelt before Kenji, tracing the old scar along his eye. "Hey, Kenji… remember this scar?"
Then he raised his blade and slashed upward, cutting across Kenji's eye. Kenji screamed, grimacing in pain. Ki's body was frozen, terror rooting him in place.
"This trick doesn't work on me twice," the man said smugly, clearly familiar with Kenji's tactics.
A mad laughter echoed through the room.
"Get away from him!!" Kenji's companion charged, but with a flick of the scarred man's hand, a dagger flew across the room, striking true. Blood splattered the floor.
Ki trembled uncontrollably as the man traced the scar along his own throat with a finger. "This too, Kenji… remember this?"
Kenji coughed, trying to speak. "Speak louder, Kenji! I couldn't hear you!" the man sneered.
Kenji gasped through bloodied lips: "Go… to… hell."
With a slash, something flew across the room. Ki fell to the floor in horror. In front of him lay Kenji's lifeless head, eyes blank, staring at nothing. The vibrant, energetic voice Ki had known, the smile he remembered—gone. He couldn't believe it. His mentor, the man who had trained him, was lifeless.
Ki screamed, a sound of pure, shattered horror.