Chapter 1: The Strongest Knight
The city stood tall beneath a gray afternoon sky, its streets alive with noise, motion, and ignorance. People moved freely—laughing, arguing, living their ordinary lives—completely unaware of the invisible horrors lurking just beyond their senses.
At the center of a quiet avenue, three figures waited.
The first was a man who stood out without trying.
Tall. Relaxed. Hands casually tucked into his pockets.
His pale hair shimmered faintly under the sunlight, and dark-tinted glasses covered eyes that carried an unnatural calm—eyes that had seen countless deaths and never flinched. His presence alone bent the atmosphere, as if the world itself acknowledged him.
This was Sataro Gozzaki.
A Knight instructor.
And the strongest Knight alive.
Beside him stood two students.
The first was a boy with sharp eyes and an expression permanently locked between boredom and irritation. His posture was stiff, alert, like a blade that never fully returned to its sheath. He observed everything but trusted nothing.
His outfit was simple—dark clothing meant for movement rather than style.
Silent. Watchful. Dangerous.
The second student was a girl.
Her name was Riko.
She stood calmly, hands behind her back, her eyes soft yet unsettlingly focused. There was something unreadable about her—an intelligence that stayed hidden beneath politeness. Unlike the boy, she didn't scan her surroundings. She already understood them.
Sataro glanced at his watch.
"We're still missing one," he said casually.
The two students remained silent.
Moments later, hurried footsteps echoed across the pavement.
A boy ran toward them, slightly out of breath.
"Hi! I'm Niru!" he said quickly. "First term—second student!"
Sataro tilted his head.
"Second?" he replied.
Niru froze.
"…Ah—no. Third. I'm the third student, sir."
Sataro smiled.
"Good. At least you corrected yourself."
The three students exchanged brief glances.
Sataro clapped his hands once.
"Alright. Since training on an empty stomach is cruel, let's eat first."
They headed to a nearby restaurant.
The place was warm, quiet, and smelled of freshly cooked food. Bowls of traditional meals were placed on the table, steam rising gently into the air.
The students ate.
Niru tried to lighten the mood with small talk, but neither Riko nor the silent boy responded much. Sataro, however, ate peacefully—as if nothing in the world could disturb him.
After finishing, they stepped outside.
Sataro stretched his arms.
"Now," he said, "we're heading to Knight High School."
Niru blinked.
"…Wait. Right now?"
Sataro nodded.
"And since you're my students, you should know this."
He stopped walking.
"In this world, I'm considered the strongest Knight."
Niru's eyes widened.
But then Sataro continued, his tone unchanged.
"However, even above me stands the school's principal. He decides who is worthy of joining."
The students listened carefully.
"And above him," Sataro added, "are six higher authorities. They don't appear in public. They control everything from the shadows and give orders through the principal."
Niru swallowed.
They resumed walking.
After a few steps, Sataro stopped again and turned around.
"Alright," he said cheerfully. "Grab my hand."
The students froze.
"…Why?" Niru asked.
"You'll see."
Reluctantly, they reached out.
Sataro's grip was firm.
"Don't let go," he said. "And close your eyes."
Riko did so calmly.
Niru hesitated, fear creeping into his thoughts.
I have no idea what's about to happen…
The world suddenly collapsed.
No sound.
No ground.
No sense of direction.
Then—
Silence.
"Open your eyes," Sataro said.
They did.
Before them stood a breathtaking sight.
A massive campus hidden deep within the mountains. Elegant buildings blended perfectly with nature. A vast lake reflected the sky like a mirror, while a dense jungle surrounded the area, alive with unseen movement.
The air felt clean. Heavy. Powerful.
This was not a normal school.
"This," Sataro said, smiling, "is Knight High School."
The students stood speechless.
Their real journey had just begun.
Chapter 2: The Principal's Test
The doors to the principal's office opened with a deep, echoing sound.
Sataro Gozzaki stepped inside first, hands in his pockets, wearing the same careless smile as always. Behind him followed the three students—Riko, Niru, and the silent boy, Megaro.
The room was large and heavy with pressure.
At the center sat an old man with sharp eyes and long hair tied behind his head. His presence alone felt like a crushing weight, as if the air itself bowed before him.
"You are late again, Sataro Gozzaki," the principal said coldly.
Sataro smiled wider.
"Good afternoon to you too, Principal Yogaki Lokk."
The old man's expression darkened.
"Show some respect," Yogaki snapped. "I am still your superior."
Sataro tilted his head lazily.
"Are you, though?"
"SHUT UP, SATAROOOO!!!!" Yogaki roared.
Riko flinched slightly.
Is he always this crazy? she thought.
Sataro chuckled.
"Relax, Principal. These are my new students."
Yogaki's eyes shifted toward the three.
Without warning, the room exploded with pressure.
Yogaki moved.
In a blink, he appeared in front of them and struck.
"This is your test," Sataro said calmly, stepping aside. "Enjoy, guys."
The principal attacked again and again—his strikes precise, brutal, overwhelming. The students barely had time to react.
Megaro dodged silently.
Niru stumbled back, heart racing.
Riko stood her ground.
Then it happened.
Yogaki gathered immense power into a single blow and aimed it directly at Riko.
The air screamed.
Before the attack could land, a hand appeared.
Sataro stood in front of her, gripping the principal's leg mid-strike.
The impact shook the room.
"That's enough," Sataro said, his voice calm but firm. "You're using way too much power on them."
Yogaki glared.
"…Hmph."
He pulled back.
"Fine," the principal said. "I approve them for admission."
The pressure vanished.
Sataro cracked his neck.
"Good choice."
He placed a hand on each student, a soft glow spreading across their wounds. Cuts closed. Bruises faded.
"Regeneration," Sataro said casually. "Can't have broken students on day one."
He turned and walked out.
"Follow me."
Moments later, they stood on the school's open training ground.
"Alright," Sataro said, clapping once. "Fight each other. Lightly."
"Lightly?" Niru repeated nervously.
The fight began.
Riko moved first, unleashing a powerful strike toward Niru.
Megaro vanished.
In the same instant, Niru appeared beside Megaro—teleported away from the attack. The blow crashed into the ground instead.
The earth shattered.
Riko stared.
"…Did the ground take any damage?"
Sataro smiled.
"Yes. And that attack could've destroyed an entire city."
The students froze.
"But this school," Sataro continued, "is protected. It can withstand power equal to ten thousand atomic bombs."
They resumed fighting.
Niru and Megaro attacked together.
Riko countered without hesitation.
From the sidelines, Sataro watched them with a satisfied smile.
Then—
"What exactly is going on here?"
A calm but annoyed voice echoed behind them.
A woman stepped forward, her presence graceful yet firm.
Sataro glanced over his shoulder.
"Oh. You're here."
"This is not a playground," she said. "What are you doing?"
"Nothing," Sataro replied. "Just my students."
He pointed at her lazily.
"Kids, say hello. This is Yuhima. She's… a weak teacher."
"WHAT?!" Yuhima shouted. "Will you ever stop talking nonsense?!"
The students quickly introduced themselves.
Yuhima sighed and shook her head.
"Don't believe everything this man says. He's always been like this."
Sataro placed a hand on his chest dramatically.
"What? Am I really that terrible?"
Yuhima turned away.
"…Unbelievable."
The sun shone above Knight High School.
And for the students, the true nightmare—and glory—was only beginning.
Chapter 3: The Man Behind the Blindfold
Principal Yogaki Lokk stood alone in his office, staring out of the tall window as clouds drifted slowly across the sky.
"…I'll have to do something about Sataro," he muttered.
His fingers tightened against the wooden desk.
"If I don't, he'll eventually slit the throat of this entire system."
The old man's eyes narrowed.
The scene shifted.
Sataro Gozzaki lay stretched across a couch in his room, one arm hanging lazily off the side. The events of the previous day lingered faintly in his mind.
His phone vibrated.
He lifted it, glancing at the screen.
A mission alert.
Sataro smiled.
"Well then," he said softly, standing up. "Looks like work calls."
Moments later, he stood in front of his students.
"I got a mission," Sataro said casually. "I'm heading out."
Niru's eyes lit up.
"Can we come too?!"
Sataro shook his head.
"Nope. You all already have some fighting experience, but I'm not taking anyone inexperienced into this."
He turned toward Yuhima.
"I'll be gone for a bit. You train them."
Yuhima sighed.
"…Fine."
Sataro smirked.
"You don't really have a choice anyway. You can't refuse my orders."
Yuhima froze.
"…WHAT?!"
But Sataro was already gone.
In the blink of an eye, he appeared inside an underground railway station—abandoned, silent, and echoing with distant metallic creaks.
Dim lights flickered above.
Sataro pulled out his phone and activated the camera.
"Hi guys," he said cheerfully, pointing the lens at himself.
"Today, I'll be fighting this guy."
He turned the camera.
Across the platform stood a man leaning casually against a pillar.
He had red hair, sharp features, and his eyes were hidden behind a black blindfold. A dark mask covered the lower half of his face, and a crimson collar wrapped around his neck like a warning sign.
The man stared directly at Sataro.
Sataro made a ridiculous face at the camera.
Then he glanced down at his phone again.
On the screen was a photo of the same man.
Name: Kamo.
"Oh," Sataro said lightly. "So you're Kamo."
Kamo didn't respond.
He slowly drew a knife from his side, the blade glinting under the dim lights.
Sataro smiled.
In an instant, he vanished.
He reappeared right beside Kamo.
"Camera's on," Sataro said, holding the phone up. "Say cheese."
Kamo reacted immediately, leaping back and slashing forward.
The knife tore through the air—aimed straight for Sataro's neck.
But Sataro was already gone.
The blade struck the wall behind him instead, embedding itself deep into solid concrete.
Sparks flew.
Sataro reappeared a few steps away, unharmed, phone still recording.
"…Nice throw," he said calmly.
Kamo straightened his posture.
The underground station fell silent.
The real fight had just begun.
Chapter 4: The Moment the Strongest Fell
The underground station trembled as the two figures collided.
Sataro and Kamo clashed head-on, fists meeting fists.
Their punches crashed together again and again, each strike powerful enough to shatter concrete. Every blow was blocked, redirected, or absorbed with impossible precision.
No wasted movement.
No hesitation.
Kamo suddenly vanished.
In the same instant, he reappeared beside the knife embedded in the wall. His hand closed around the handle, and he twisted mid-air, launching himself straight at Sataro.
The blade flashed toward Sataro's chest.
Sataro blocked it with his forearm.
Metal screamed.
Sataro countered with a brutal punch.
Kamo was sent flying into the air.
While airborne, Kamo flicked his wrist—three knives shot downward like falling stars.
Sataro stepped aside effortlessly, each blade slicing past him and embedding into the ground behind.
Kamo landed.
Sataro appeared in front of him and smashed a palm strike straight into Kamo's face.
The impact sent Kamo crashing into the wall.
Dust exploded.
From the smoke, something howled.
A creature formed beside Kamo—an electric wolf made of crackling lightning. Its eyes burned white as it lunged at Sataro.
The wolf reached him—
And shattered.
Its body dispersed into sparks, erased completely.
Kamo's expression hardened.
"…Not even that worked," he muttered. "None of my attacks even slow you down."
Slowly, he reached up and pulled the blindfold away from one eye.
That eye glowed red.
The air changed.
Sataro rushed forward, throwing a series of rapid punches.
Kamo dodged every single one.
Then—
One punch landed.
Kamo vanished.
He reappeared several meters away, sliding backward across the ground. He raised his hand and fired an energy blast straight at Sataro.
It passed through empty air.
Sataro stood untouched.
Kamo teleported again, this time sitting casually on a broken bench.
Sataro walked over and sat beside him.
For a moment, silence.
Then both of them stood up at the same time.
The killing intent returned instantly.
Sataro raised his hand.
A glowing red sphere formed, warping the space around it. Power flooded the area, crushing the station under its pressure.
Sataro released it.
The explosion slammed Kamo into the wall, leaving cracks spider-webbing outward. His body fell limp, clearly injured.
"…Got you," Sataro said calmly.
But Kamo vanished.
Suddenly—
Pain.
A blade pierced into Sataro's arm from behind, slicing deep.
Another strike cut into his leg.
Sataro staggered.
Kamo appeared in front of him, eyes glowing fiercely.
With a final movement, Kamo drove his attack forward.
A hole opened in Sataro's chest—right where his heart should have been.
Time stopped.
Kamo grabbed Sataro's body and hurled it across the station.
Sataro slammed into the wall, his body collapsing lifelessly to the ground.
The red glow faded.
The underground station fell silent.
Sataro Gozzaki did not move.
The strongest Knight…
was dead.
Chapter 5: The Grave of Load
Kamo turned his back.
"…Killing him was far too easy," he said quietly.
He took a step forward, ready to leave the underground station behind.
Then—
A sound.
Footsteps.
Slow. Calm.
Behind him.
Kamo froze.
A voice followed.
"負荷の力 — The Grave of Load."
Kamo spun around.
Sataro Gozzaki was standing.
Unbroken.
Unsmiling.
Alive.
The world shattered.
Reality folded in on itself as the space around them collapsed inward, dragging both men beyond the physical plane.
In an instant, they were gone.
They stood in a place that did not exist.
A third dimension—colorless and endless—where gravity felt twisted and the air carried unbearable weight. Massive invisible pressure crushed everything, as if existence itself had been stacked infinitely.
This was not the real world.
This was Sataro's world.
Outside, in reality, both Sataro and Kamo had vanished—completely invisible to everything and everyone.
Kamo tried to move.
His body refused.
His limbs trembled, locked in place by overwhelming force.
"What… is this…?" he growled.
Sataro stepped forward slowly.
"This," he said calmly, "is The Grave of Load."
Each step Sataro took increased the pressure. The ground beneath Kamo cracked without being touched.
"In here," Sataro continued, "only my will exists."
Kamo's breathing grew heavy.
"Even if a god entered this space," Sataro said, eyes cold, "it wouldn't be able to do anything."
Kamo's red eye burned with fury—but his body would not obey him.
Sataro reached out.
His hand closed around Kamo's head.
The pressure intensified beyond comprehension.
Bones screamed.
Kamo tried to teleport.
Nothing happened.
"Game over," Sataro whispered.
The force crushed inward.
Kamo's head exploded.
The third dimension collapsed instantly.
Both bodies reappeared in the underground station.
Kamo's corpse hit the ground first.
Then Sataro's.
Silence returned.
Blood slowly spread across the cracked floor.
The scene shifted.
Knight High School.
Training grounds.
Niru was catching his breath when his phone rang.
He answered.
"…Hello?"
The voice on the other end was quiet. Professional. Cold.
"We're calling from the hospital," the voice said. "I'm sorry to inform you that your grandfather has passed away."
The phone slipped from Niru's hand.
It hit the ground.
His knees followed.
"No…" he whispered.
His body shook as tears fell uncontrollably.
Yuhima rushed to him.
"Niru—what happened?"
Niru looked up, his face broken.
"…My grandfather," he said, voice trembling.
"He's… gone."
The wind passed through the training ground.
Somewhere far away—
The strongest Knight lay motionless.
And the world had begun to crack.
Chapter 6: The Path That Split
Night wrapped the city in silence.
Streetlights flickered along an empty road, their pale glow reflecting off wet asphalt. The air was cold, heavy, as if the city itself was holding its breath.
Sataro Gozzaki stood alone beneath a streetlamp.
Hands in his pockets.
Eyes calm—but alert.
Then he saw him.
A man walking slowly down the road.
Short dark hair. Calm posture. A presence that felt disturbingly familiar. His eyes carried intelligence, conviction… and something far darker beneath.
Sataro narrowed his gaze.
"…Is that really him?" he muttered. "No. I need to be sure."
He moved.
In seconds, Sataro closed the distance.
The man stopped.
He turned his head slightly, then fully faced Sataro—standing beside him rather than in front of him, as if they were equals sharing the same path.
Sataro froze.
"Kizen…" he said quietly.
The man smiled faintly.
"Sataro," Kizen replied. "After a long time."
Silence stretched between them.
"You left Knight High School," Sataro said. "Without a word."
Kizen looked ahead at the empty road.
"I had work to do."
Sataro felt it—the shift in his tone.
"…What kind of work?"
Kizen's voice was calm. Too calm.
"I'm going to kill all humans on this planet."
The words landed like a blade.
Sataro turned sharply.
"…What?"
"I'll create a world," Kizen continued, "where only Knights exist."
"Only Knights?" Sataro asked. "Why?"
Kizen finally looked at him.
"You already know," he said.
Sataro's expression darkened.
"My entire village," Kizen said, "was destroyed by cursed humans. I was three years old."
His fists clenched.
"I was the only survivor. The only reason I lived… was because Knights arrived."
Sataro remained silent.
"From that day," Kizen continued, "I swore I would kill every cursed human."
He exhaled slowly.
"But then I learned the truth. Cursed humans are born from normal humans."
He looked up at the night sky.
"So even if I kill them all… they'll just be born again."
His eyes sharpened.
"And then I understood. The real source of disaster isn't monsters."
Kizen turned back to Sataro.
"It's humans."
Sataro felt a chill run through him.
"The only people I ever trusted," Kizen said quietly, "were Knights. And there was only one person I truly considered my friend."
He paused.
"After you."
Sataro's jaw tightened.
"I realized something else," Kizen went on. "I don't have soul energy like yours. Not enough to erase the world."
His gaze locked onto Sataro.
"But you do."
"If you stood with me," Kizen said, "you could kill every human on Earth in a single second."
Silence.
Then—
"Never," Sataro said.
He turned fully toward Kizen, eyes cold.
"If you don't stop," Sataro continued, "I'll kill you myself."
Kizen stared at him.
Then he smiled.
"If you can," he said calmly.
He turned and began to walk away.
Sataro raised his hand.
A symbol began to form.
負荷の力.
The pressure trembled faintly—
Then stopped.
Sataro let his hand fall.
From beneath his glasses, a single drop of water slid down his cheek.
Kizen continued walking.
He didn't look back.
The night swallowed him whole.
And with that, the line between salvation and destruction was drawn
Chapter 7: The Scar That Never Healed
The training ground was quiet.
Sataro Gozzaki stood alone at the center, phone pressed against his ear. His posture was relaxed, almost careless, as if nothing in the world could truly surprise him.
On the other end of the call, Kizen stood inside a high-rise building, city lights glowing behind him through the glass. He wore the standard academy uniform, his presence calm but heavy with intent.
"So," Sataro said lazily, "what's the mission this time?"
"We're heading to the capital," Kizen replied. "There's a cursed human outbreak. We eliminate it."
Sataro sighed.
"Another easy one. Honestly, I get bored with missions like these."
He smiled to himself.
"Don't you ever feel that way? I mean… I'm just too strong."
Kizen's expression darkened slightly.
"Sataro," he said quietly, "I've told you before. Stop being proud of your power."
Sataro laughed.
"I'll stay exactly like this."
Suddenly—
BOOM.
An explosion erupted from Kizen's floor.
The building shook violently.
Sataro straightened.
"What happened?" he asked. "You still alive?"
Kizen coughed.
"…Yeah. Still breathing."
Sataro relaxed.
"Alright then. Talk later."
He ended the call and slipped his phone into his pocket.
That was when it happened.
A masked man burst from the shadows, hurling multiple knives straight at Sataro.
The blades stopped mid-air.
Frozen.
Not a single one touched him.
The masked man froze as well.
"…What is this?" the attacker muttered.
Sataro tilted his head.
"You don't really have the resolve to kill, do you?"
He stepped forward calmly.
"How about a deal?" Sataro said. "You apologize… and I'll let you live."
The masked man trembled.
The scene shifted—
Back to Kizen.
Standing amid shattered glass, he spoke into his communicator.
"Do you need help?"
"No, no," Sataro replied casually. "I've got this."
In the same instant—
Sataro drove his hand straight through the masked man's chest.
Blood spilled.
He pulled his hand back out and kicked the man away. The body flew through the air and slammed into a tree in the distance.
Sataro exhaled.
"…Dead."
He turned his gaze toward the building where Kizen stood.
"See?" Sataro said quietly. "That was way too—"
Something felt wrong.
His eyes widened.
A blade pierced straight through his chest.
Sataro's vision shattered.
Time slowed.
It was the same man.
The masked attacker—still alive.
Shock rippled through Sataro's body as he saw the sword driven completely through him.
At the same moment, the attacker tore the blade out and vanished, teleporting away instantly.
Glass exploded.
Kizen smashed through the building's window and dropped to the ground, sprinting toward Sataro.
"Sataro!"
Blood dripped down Sataro's uniform.
He lifted his head slowly.
"…No," Sataro said calmly. "Kizen. I'm fine."
Kizen grabbed his shoulders.
"You idiot—your chest—!"
"I said I'm okay," Sataro repeated.
He straightened despite the wound.
"Go," Sataro said firmly. "Handle the mission alone."
Kizen hesitated.
"But—"
"I'll heal this," Sataro said. "Don't worry."
Kizen clenched his fists, then nodded.
"…Don't die."
Sataro smiled faintly.
The night wind passed between them.
And deep within Sataro's chest—
A scar was born.
One that would never truly disappear.
Chapter 8: The Night Everything Died
Kizen walked away.
His footsteps faded into the distance, swallowed by the city's noise.
Sataro turned slowly, eyes scanning the empty space where the masked man had fallen.
"…There's no one here," he murmured.
The night felt still.
Too still.
Then—
Pain.
A katana pierced into Sataro's neck from behind.
The blade tore through flesh, cutting deep along the back of his neck. Blood burst out instantly, splashing across the ground.
Sataro's body jerked forward.
The sword was pulled out.
Before he could turn, the attacker appeared in front of him.
Cold eyes.
Silent breath.
The blade stabbed straight into Sataro's shoulder, carving downward and slicing through his chest. Bone cracked. Blood poured endlessly.
Sataro staggered.
The man struck again—one brutal kick to Sataro's leg.
His body collapsed.
Blood-soaked, trembling, Sataro fell to the ground.
His vision blurred.
The world darkened.
Sataro Gozzaki did not move again.
He was dead.
The man wiped his blade clean.
His name was Yukari.
Without looking back, he ran—disappearing into the left side of the city, vanishing into the night.
The scene shifted.
Kizen opened the door to his apartment.
He stepped inside slowly, exhaustion heavy on his shoulders.
"…That mission would've been much easier with Sataro," he muttered.
He glanced toward his bed—
And froze.
Yukari was sitting there.
His katana rested casually in his hand, the blade soaked in fresh blood. Thick drops stained the floor beneath him.
Kizen's breath caught.
On the ground—
A body.
Lifeless.
Blood pooled beneath it.
It was Kino.
His best friend.
Kizen's eyes widened in disbelief.
Then he noticed the bathroom door.
It was open.
Blood trailed inside.
Kizen's hands trembled as he stepped forward, each step heavier than the last.
He entered the bathroom.
The bathtub was filled with water—
Red water.
Inside lay his wife's body.
Her eyes were empty. Her skin pale. Deep wounds covered her chest and abdomen.
The water had turned completely crimson.
Behind him, Yukari spoke calmly.
"She was taking a bath," he said lightly.
"So I stabbed her in the chest."
Kizen's fists clenched.
"Then I pulled the blade out and stabbed her stomach."
His voice remained emotionless.
"And at the end… I cut her throat."
He tilted his head slightly.
"…It was fun. I really enjoyed it."
The bathroom fell silent.
Kizen slowly turned.
His eyes locked onto Yukari.
The air around him began to tremble.
Something inside Kizen shattered beyond repair.
The night had taken everything.
And what would rise from this moment—
Would no longer be human.
Chapter 9: The One Who Shouldn't Exist
Kizen attacked first.
A surge of energy exploded from his palm, tearing through the air toward Yukari.
Yukari stepped aside.
The blast missed by inches and tore through the wall behind him.
Kizen's eyes widened.
"…He's fast," Kizen muttered. "But that doesn't make sense."
He stared hard at Yukari.
"He has zero soul energy," Kizen continued. "So how is he this strong?"
The answer never came.
Yukari vanished.
Pain surged across Kizen's back as a blade slashed toward him from behind.
Kizen twisted at the last moment, narrowly avoiding a fatal hit. He grabbed Yukari mid-motion and slammed him into the ground with crushing force.
The floor shattered.
Kizen raised his hand.
A monster formed instantly—twisted, massive, born from raw cursed force. It roared and smashed through the room's floor, sending debris flying everywhere.
But then—
A clean flash of steel.
Yukari appeared beside the monster.
One precise swing.
The monster's neck was severed.
Its body collapsed into nothing.
Kizen didn't even have time to react.
Yukari kicked him hard in the chest, launching him out of the building.
Glass shattered.
Kizen crashed down onto the road below, cracking the asphalt beneath his body.
Gasping, he forced himself up.
He summoned another monster—larger, more violent—and sent it charging upward toward Yukari.
The room above exploded.
Dust and fire filled the night.
For a brief moment, Kizen believed it had worked.
Then—
Yukari appeared behind the monster.
One strike.
The blade passed through its core.
The creature died instantly.
Kizen stared in disbelief.
Impossible.
Yukari slowly turned toward him.
He smiled.
The smile of something that enjoyed this.
Yukari vanished again, appearing behind Kizen—blade already mid-swing.
But before it could land—
A figure stepped between them.
A punch connected.
Yukari was launched through the air, crashing violently into a line of trees. Trunks splintered as his body tore through them.
Kizen turned sharply.
"…Sataro?"
Sataro Gozzaki stood there.
Alive.
Blood-stained. Silent.
"Sataro… you're alive," Kizen said, his voice shaking with disbelief.
No response.
Sataro didn't even look at him.
He walked past Kizen, his gaze locked onto Yukari.
Yukari staggered to his feet.
He tried to laugh—
But instead, he vomited.
Blood spilled from his mouth as his body trembled.
Sataro stopped in front of him.
The night grew heavy.
For the first time—
Yukari looked afraid.
And Kizen realized something terrifying.
This wasn't the Sataro he remembered.
This was something far worse.
Chapter 10: Infinite Attacks
Yukari stood upright.
Blood dripped from his mouth, yet his smile widened.
"Killing you," he said calmly, "will be fun."
In the next instant, he vanished.
His sword flashed toward Sataro at impossible speed.
Sataro stepped aside effortlessly.
The blade sliced nothing but air.
Yukari reappeared behind him and struck again.
Sataro caught him by the neck.
With a single motion, he slammed Yukari into a tree.
The impact shattered bark and splintered wood—
But before his body could collide fully, Yukari twisted mid-air and slipped away, escaping the blow by a fraction.
He countered instantly, swinging his sword toward Sataro's chest.
Sataro caught the blade with two fingers.
The steel cracked.
Then shattered.
Fragments fell to the ground.
Sataro rose into the air.
Gravity bent beneath him.
He descended in a straight downward kick, crashing into Yukari and driving him into the earth. The ground split open, and Yukari groaned as blood spilled from his mouth.
Sataro appeared behind him.
His voice was cold.
"Domain of Power:"
"Infinite Attacks."
The world collapsed.
Reality folded inward, turning into a vast circular space of pure black and white. No shadows. No sky. No ground—only endless pressure and absolute silence.
This was not the real world.
"This is my domain," Sataro said calmly.
"Infinite Attacks."
Yukari tried to move.
He couldn't.
"In here," Sataro continued, "every attack reaches its target."
He stepped forward.
"You're going to die."
He raised his hand.
"Go on," Sataro said quietly.
"Try to survive."
There was no scream.
No resistance.
Yukari's head was severed cleanly.
The domain shattered.
Both bodies fell back into the real world.
Yukari's corpse collapsed lifelessly.
Sataro stood still, holding Yukari's severed head in his hand.
Kizen stared in shock.
He couldn't breathe.
He couldn't move.
The pressure coming from Sataro was overwhelming—ancient, absolute, inhuman.
"…Sataro," Kizen whispered.
Sataro didn't answer.
His eyes were empty.
And Kizen realized something terrifying.
This power was no longer bound by rules.
The scene shifted.
A peaceful school.
Sunlight filled the classrooms.
"Alright," the teacher said, smiling, "this is break time."
Students poured out toward the ground, laughing and playing.
A girl remained seated on a bench.
Her name was Sataro Maki.
Eighteen years old.
She stared at her phone, fingers trembling slightly.
"I told him," she murmured to herself.
"I told him our family never had powers."
Her eyes softened with worry.
"Sataro was the first," she whispered.
"No parents… no one else."
She looked down.
"He never listened to me. I told him to take a normal job."
Her voice cracked.
"But he chose Knight High School."
She clasped her hands together tightly.
"…Please," she said quietly.
"Nothing happens to my brother."
The wind passed gently through the school grounds.
Far away—
The strongest Knight stood drenched in blood.
And destiny continued to move forward.
Chapter 11 – Home
The road was quiet now.
The earlier chaos—blood, shattered ground, unbearable pressure—had already faded into the past. Sataro walked beside Kizen for a while, neither of them speaking. There were questions left unanswered, but this was not the moment for them.
Time moved on.
The front gate of a small house creaked open.
Inside, the smell of warm food filled the air.
Maki stood in the kitchen, stirring a pot, her sleeves rolled up. The sound of footsteps reached her ears.
The door opened.
"Sataro" stepped inside.
He looked different now.
A plain black T-shirt.
Black pants.
No glasses.
Before he could even say a word—
SMACK.
A shoe flew straight into his face.
"Oii!" Maki shouted. "You're late again, Sataro!"
He barely dodged the second shoe.
"Your job ends at 5 p.m.," she continued, furious. "And you're coming home at 7 a.m. now?!"
Sataro stood there silently.
She talks way too much… he thought. But she still cares.
"What are you thinking about?" Maki snapped.
"Nothing," Sataro replied calmly. "Hey… will I get food?"
She glared at him.
"Sit down," she said. "I'll serve it."
She placed the plates on the table.
The moment she turned around—
Sataro devoured everything in seconds.
Empty plates. Completely clean.
"…You'll never change," Maki muttered. "That's why I already ate."
Sataro leaned back. "Damn. Fine, I'm going to my room."
"Sleep early," she warned. "No phone after 11 p.m."
"Stop it," he replied. "You talk too much."
Another shoe flew.
Sataro disappeared into his room just in time and slammed the door shut.
Maki crossed her arms, shaking her head.
"He's really going to stay like this forever," she sighed.
"Twenty-seven years old… and still has the brain of a five-year-old."
Inside his room, Sataro lay down on his bed.
The ceiling felt oddly comforting.
Memories surfaced—his childhood, running around the house, constantly annoying his sister, never realizing how much she protected him.
"I used to trouble her so much," he whispered to himself.
A small smile formed on his face.
Even after everything he had seen…
Even after everything he had done…
This place still felt like home.
And for the first time in a long while—
Sataro closed his eyes peacefully.
Chapter 12 – The Weight of Inheritance
Morning light slipped quietly into the room.
Sataro slowly opened his eyes and sat up on the bed. For a moment, he simply stared ahead, letting the silence settle. Then he stood, walked into the bathroom, and splashed water onto his face.
He brushed his teeth, rinsed his mouth, and exhaled deeply.
From the kitchen, Maki's voice echoed.
"I'm making breakfast. Eat before you leave."
Sataro replied casually, "No, I'll eat on the way."
She clicked her tongue. "At least stop living on junk food."
He smiled faintly. "No, no. That's impossible."
He stepped out, grabbed his jacket, and moved toward the door.
His hand reached for the handle—
And froze.
The world around him blurred.
Flashback
A small house.
Only two rooms.
In one room, a five-year-old Maki slept peacefully beside a five-year-old Sataro.
In the second room, their parents slept.
Then—
Something crawled out of the darkness.
A twisted, humanoid shape, its body distorted, its presence heavy with hatred. Its mouth opened unnaturally wide.
It lunged.
Sataro's father was the first to die.
The creature tore into him, crushing his skull, devouring him without hesitation.
A wet sound echoed through the room.
Sataro's mother woke up screaming.
"Help! Help!"
Her voice shook the house.
Both children woke instantly.
"Mama?" Maki cried.
They ran.
The moment they entered the room, they saw it.
Their mother was already bleeding, her body trembling as the creature turned toward the doorway.
Its eyes locked onto Sataro.
It began to move.
Then—
Five figures appeared from behind it.
Their presence was overwhelming.
Symbols flared, energy surged, and in a single coordinated strike, the creature was erased from existence—its body torn apart, dissolved as if it had never existed.
The room fell silent.
Blood soaked the floor.
Present
"Sataro?"
He blinked.
He was standing at the door again.
Maki stood behind him, concern in her eyes. "What happened? You just stopped."
"…Come," Sataro said quietly. "Let's go to my room."
She followed him inside.
They sat on the bed.
"What is it?" Maki asked softly.
Sataro took a breath.
"I'm going to give you my power," he said.
She stared at him. "But… I don't have any. And I don't need it."
"This is for your protection," he replied.
Before she could protest, Sataro placed his hand over her chest.
A deep, invisible pressure spread through the room.
Maki gasped.
Energy flooded into her—warm, heavy, endless.
She grabbed the edge of the bed. "I… I feel something incredible. It's too much."
"That's because I gave you thirty-seven billion units of soul energy," Sataro said calmly.
Her eyes widened. "Thirty-seven… billion?!"
"Yes."
"And how much do you have?" she asked slowly.
"I had one hundred and thirty-seven billion," he answered. "Now I have one hundred billion left."
She couldn't speak.
"That amount," Sataro continued, "has only existed once before in history."
"…Who?"
"Lucifer."
Maki stiffened.
"He possessed power on this level," Sataro said. "And it corrupted him. He controlled the entire world once. The greatest emperor of cursed beings."
He shook his head. "But forget that. What matters is how you use this power."
He looked directly at her.
"With this much soul energy, you can use a Domain of Power."
Maki swallowed. "Then why not use it all the time?"
"Because one domain consumes twenty billion soul energy," Sataro replied.
"And even with limitless energy, a human body can only withstand using it five or six times."
He tapped his forehead.
"There's a specific part of the brain created by soul energy. That part is responsible for domains. Use it too much, and it explodes."
Her breath caught.
"If that happens… the chance of surviving and ever using a domain again is one in a hundred billion."
Silence filled the room.
"And remember," he added, "a normal energy attack uses about five thousand units. A large blast takes sixteen thousand. Healing even a single finger costs two hundred thousand."
"Two hundred thousand?!" Maki exclaimed.
He gave a small, tired smile.
"What did you expect? Power isn't cheap."
Maki looked down at her hands.
They were shaking.
And for the first time, she understood—
This power wasn't a gift.
It was a burden.
And now… it was hers.
Chapter 13 – The Man Who Had No Soul Energy
The battlefield lay deep within a vast jungle, trapped between towering mountains.
The air was heavy.
More than ten thousand bodies covered the ground—fallen samurai, warriors who once carried pride, discipline, and power. Their blood soaked into the earth, turning the soil dark and sticky.
Two kinds of uniforms were scattered everywhere.
Some wore light black.
Others wore deep, pitch-dark black.
At the very center of this sea of death stood a single man.
His body looked no older than someone in his early twenties—tall, lean, calm.
But his true age was one hundred and forty-six.
His name was Sataro Gozzaki.
In his hand, he held a katana.
The blade, the hilt, even his arms were drenched in blood.
This was Sataro Mizo—the man who would one day be known as Sataro Gozzaki's father.
Flashback
The same battlefield.
Both teams stood facing each other.
The light-black team and the dark-black team.
Every warrior present possessed soul energy. Every one of them had awakened powers.
Except one.
Sataro Mizo.
He stood among the light-black team with zero soul energy.
No aura.
No cursed power.
No domain.
Only a sword.
The battle began.
The leader of the dark-black team raised his hand and smiled.
"I'll end this quickly."
He activated his Domain.
Reality twisted.
The warriors of the light-black team were dragged inside his domain, their bodies instantly weakened, crushed under the absolute rules of his power. Attacks rained down on them relentlessly.
Screams echoed.
Blood spilled.
One by one, they fell.
But one thing the dark leader didn't notice—
Sataro Mizo was not inside the domain.
He stood just outside its range.
The dark leader gathered energy and unleashed a massive attack meant to erase everything beyond his domain.
The blast struck.
When the domain collapsed and the real world returned—
All members of the light-black team were dead.
On one side stood 5,738 warriors of the dark-black team.
On the other side—
Only one man remained.
Sataro Mizo.
Holding his sword.
The dark leader laughed loudly.
"So you survived, child."
The next second—
Sataro Mizo vanished.
No sound.
No warning.
Light flashed.
The dark leader felt something cold pass behind his neck.
His body stood still.
Then his head slid off his shoulders.
It hit the ground.
Silence.
The dark-black team froze in shock.
Before they could react, Sataro Mizo moved.
Not with soul energy.
Not with cursed power.
But with pure speed—faster than light itself.
One slash.
One body.
Another step.
Another death.
He moved like a phantom, his blade dancing through the air. Each strike was precise, fatal, merciless.
One by one—
All 5,738 warriors fell.
The battlefield became a graveyard.
Flashback Ends
Sataro Mizo stood alone again.
Blood dripped from his sword.
Then—
A sound.
Crying.
He turned his head.
Among the corpses lay a one-month-old baby, crying weakly.
Sataro Mizo walked toward him and crouched down.
"…A child," he muttered. "Probably from the dark team."
He stared at the baby for a long moment.
"Should I kill you?" he asked quietly.
Then he sighed.
"No. I'm not that cold-blooded."
He remembered something he had learned just yesterday.
The child has no one left.
Sataro Mizo sheathed his sword.
"I suppose that leaves only one choice."
He gently lifted the baby into his arms.
"I'll adopt you."
Turning away from the battlefield, he walked deeper into the jungle.
After some time, a small hidden house appeared among the trees.
Sataro Mizo entered the home—
Carrying the child who would one day change the world forever.
Chapter 14 – A House Divided by Blood
Sataro Mizo entered the house quietly.
In his arms, the baby slept—small, fragile, unaware of the ocean of death he had been born into.
His clothes were soaked in blood.
His katana dripped red onto the wooden floor.
From inside the house, a woman stepped forward.
Her name was Oko—Sataro Mizo's wife.
She froze the moment she saw him.
"Mizo…" her voice trembled. "Why are your clothes and your katana covered in blood? Are you hurt?"
Her eyes dropped to the baby.
"…And whose child is that?"
Sataro Mizo replied calmly, "I'm fine. This baby—I found him on the battlefield. He belonged to the enemy."
Oko's expression darkened instantly.
"What?" she shouted. "We already have a child! Maki was born just yesterday—and you bring home a baby from the enemy side?"
Sataro Mizo looked at the child in his arms.
"Yes," he said firmly. "And I've decided his name."
Oko's eyes widened.
"Sataro Gozzaki."
Silence filled the room.
Oko's face twisted with rage.
"Have you lost your mind?" she screamed. "I won't raise this child. Throw him out—right now!"
Sataro Mizo shook his head.
"No. From today onward, he will live with us."
He looked down at the baby and spoke softly.
"Isn't that right… Sataro Gozzaki?"
Oko snapped.
"Enough!" she yelled. "I will never accept him!"
Sataro Mizo sighed.
"Then I'll raise him myself," he said. "You don't have to care for him."
He gently placed the baby on a bed.
"I'm going outside to get some food," he added. "It's cold."
With that, he turned and left the house.
Oko stood there, staring at the baby.
Her fists clenched.
"I can't stand this," she muttered. "This child has to go."
Suddenly—
Crying echoed from the other room.
Maki.
Only one day old.
Her cries pierced the silence.
At the same time, Sataro Gozzaki began to cry as well.
Oko's anger exploded.
She stormed toward Sataro Gozzaki and punched him straight in the face.
A sickening crack echoed through the room.
His nose bone shattered.
Blood began to flow as the baby screamed in pain.
Oko grabbed him violently and slammed him onto the ground with full force.
The baby's cries grew weaker.
Oko turned away without hesitation.
She went to Maki, lifted her gently, and fed her milk.
Behind her—
Sataro Gozzaki lay on the floor.
His face was covered in blood.
His tiny body trembled as he cried.
Time passed.
Then the door opened.
Sataro Mizo returned.
The moment he saw the baby on the floor, bloodied and shaking, his eyes widened.
"Oko…" his voice cracked. "Oko!"
He rushed forward and picked the baby up.
His hands trembled as he examined him.
"…His nose," he whispered. "It's broken."
He turned toward Oko, rage boiling in his eyes.
"What did you do?" he demanded. "What did you do to him?!"
Oko looked at him coldly.
"It was my choice," she said. "You should be thankful."
She crossed her arms.
"At least I didn't kill him."
Chapter 15 – Poison Behind a Smile
Oko's voice was cold, sharp like a blade.
"He is not my child," she said. "Keep him far from my sight. If I lose my temper even once more… I will kill him."
Sataro Mizo said nothing.
He only looked down at the crying baby in his arms.
Without another word, he turned and carried Sataro Gozzaki into his own room. He gently laid him on the bed and carefully wrapped cloth around the baby's broken nose, trying to stop the bleeding.
"I don't know why she hates you so much," Mizo whispered, his voice heavy.
"But whether Oko accepts you or not… I will raise you."
Just then, the door burst open.
A tall man stepped inside.
"Yo, Striker! Yo, Striker!"
It was Striker—Sataro Mizo's elder brother.
He entered the room, sat down, and immediately noticed the baby.
"…This isn't Maki," Striker said slowly. "This is another child."
Sataro Mizo nodded.
"Yes. I found him at the end of the war."
Striker frowned.
"Then he must be from our side."
"No," Mizo replied firmly. "He belonged to the enemy."
At that moment, Oko entered the room.
"Yes," she said sharply. "An enemy's baby. As if one child wasn't already enough for us."
Striker's expression hardened.
"Is that true?" he asked, looking at Mizo. "I am your elder brother. I order you—leave this baby immediately. If you don't… then I am no longer your brother."
Sataro Mizo didn't hesitate.
"Anyone who wishes to stay with me may stay," he said calmly.
"But I will not abandon this child."
Striker stared at him for a long moment.
Then he turned and walked out of the room.
In the kitchen, Striker stopped.
Oko followed him.
"I told him to leave the baby," she said angrily. "But he doesn't listen."
Striker lowered his voice.
"I have an idea," he said. "Pretend that you've accepted the baby. Act as if you like him."
Oko's eyes narrowed.
"One day," Striker continued, "mix poison into his food… and kill him."
Oko's lips slowly curved into a smile.
"Yes," she said softly. "That's a good idea."
Striker left the house.
A few moments later, Oko entered Sataro Mizo's room.
Her voice was gentle now.
"I'm sorry," she said sweetly. "I'll raise him. I've changed my mind."
Sataro Mizo froze.
"Really?" he asked. "You're not joking?"
Oko smiled warmly and reached toward the baby.
"No, no," she said. "He's my baby too now."
She looked at Sataro Gozzaki and spoke softly—
"Good boy."
But behind her smile…
death was already waiting.
Chapter 16 – Poisoned Blood
Eighteen years later.
The same house still stood.
The same walls.
The same silence.
Sataro was now eighteen years old.
He sat alone in Sataro Mizo's old room, staring at the ceiling, his thoughts heavy.
I still remember that day, he thought.
The day everything changed.
The day Mother suddenly turned cold toward me.
The day she threw me to the ground… and broke my nose.
His fingers slowly clenched.
Kitchen – Present Time
Oko stood in the kitchen.
She was ninety-two years old, yet her body looked no older than forty.
Her eyes were calm. Too calm.
I think the time has finally come, she thought.
The time to kill Sataro.
She took a small vial from a hidden place and poured the poison into Sataro's food. She mixed it carefully, making sure nothing looked suspicious.
Then she picked up the plate and walked toward his room.
Sataro's Room
Oko entered with a soft smile.
"Eat this, Sataro," she said gently, placing the food in front of him.
She stood near the door, watching.
Sataro didn't question it.
He ate.
Oko took the empty plate back to the kitchen and placed it down. Then she returned and stood quietly at the doorway.
Moments later—
Sataro suddenly felt sick.
His stomach twisted violently.
He vomited.
Oko's lips curved upward into a smile.
Sataro's vision blurred. The room spun. He looked up at her, his eyes unfocused.
"…Mom?" he whispered. "What… is this?"
Oko slowly walked closer.
She laughed softly.
Sataro tried to move—but his body refused to respond. His legs gave out, and he fell from the bed onto the floor.
Blood began to flow from his mouth.
Then from his eyes.
He couldn't scream.
He couldn't fight.
Oko looked down at him without a single trace of emotion.
"I've been waiting for this moment," she said calmly.
"For the moment I could poison your food… and finally kill you."
She leaned closer.
"I never loved you," she continued. "I only pretended—for Sataro Mizo's sake."
Her face hardened.
Oko lifted her foot and crushed it against Sataro's face.
She turned away and walked into the kitchen.
"I should finish this before Sataro Mizo comes home," she muttered.
She grabbed a knife.
Then she returned.
Oko knelt beside Sataro's helpless body.
Without hesitation, she stabbed him in the chest.
Once.
Again.
She stabbed his eye.
Then she cut his neck.
Blood spread across the floor.
Sataro's body went still.
Oko grabbed his lifeless body and dragged it outside, into the backyard.
She threw him onto the ground and began covering him with soil.
Buried beneath the earth—
Sataro Gozzaki lay motionless.
Dead.
Or so the world believed.
Chapter 17 – Hatred That Survived Death
Oko scrubbed the floor again.
And again.
Every trace of blood was gone.
The house looked normal—quiet, clean, innocent.
Just then, the front door opened.
Sataro Mizo stepped inside.
"Oko," he said casually, removing his coat. "I'm hungry. Prepare food for me… and for Sataro too."
Oko froze.
Her heart skipped a beat.
"S–Sataro?" she asked carefully. "Where is he?"
Sataro Mizo smiled faintly.
"He was behind me."
Footsteps echoed.
Sataro walked into the room.
Oko's face drained of color.
Her body stiffened like stone.
Sataro Mizo entered his own room, unaware of the storm behind him.
Sataro followed—but stopped at the doorway.
He turned his head slightly and looked at Oko.
A calm smile appeared on his face.
"Nice try," he said softly.
Then he walked inside and closed the door.
Oko collapsed to the ground.
Her hands trembled.
Impossible… she thought.
I killed him. I stabbed him. I buried him.
She ran outside—straight to the backyard.
She began digging with her bare hands, tearing through the soil where she had buried the body.
Her breath grew frantic.
Then—
Nothing.
No corpse.
No blood.
No bones.
She fell back, staring at the empty pit.
"…This… this thing," she whispered, her voice shaking.
"Sataro is not human. He's something else."
Fear crept into her chest.
It's good he didn't kill me, she thought.
He might be even stronger than his second father… Sataro Mizo.
Her fists clenched.
"But I won't let this end," she muttered. "Not yet."
Oko went straight to Maki.
She sat beside her and spoke in a soft, poisonous voice—filling her ears with lies, fear, and hatred.
She spoke against Sataro.
Again.
And again.
From the very day Sataro had entered this house, Oko had been whispering poison into Maki's heart.
And slowly—
Maki began to hate him too.
Present Day
After giving Maki soul energy, Sataro left the house.
He headed toward the Knight High School.
Maki stayed behind.
She stood alone, clenching her fists.
"This is good," she thought.
"Now I have soul energy too."
Her eyes hardened.
"I'll become stronger," she whispered.
"And I'll finish what my mother couldn't."
Her gaze turned cold.
"I'll kill Sataro myself."
Chapter 18 – The First Disciple
Sataro stood inside Knight High School, the familiar energy of the grounds surrounding him.
In front of him were his students—
Niru.
Riko.
Megaro.
They waited, curious, sensing something different about today.
Sataro smiled.
"Today," he said, "I'm going to introduce you to someone special."
The students straightened.
"My first student," Sataro continued. "The one I trained before all of you."
A figure stepped forward.
A young man, calm and confident.
Sharp eyes. Relaxed posture.
His presence alone carried weight.
His look was modern and clean—short hair, composed expression—someone who looked ordinary at first glance, yet dangerous beneath the surface.
"This," Sataro said, "is Sako."
Sako waved casually. "Yo."
Sataro smirked.
"He's also the strongest among you."
Riko raised an eyebrow.
"And the youngest too?"
"Yes," Sataro replied. "Only twenty years old."
Sako immediately frowned.
"Not twenty," he corrected. "Twenty-one."
Sataro laughed.
"Right, right. I was just testing you."
The students stared.
Sataro's tone shifted—more serious now.
"When Sako was a child," he said, "his entire family was wiped out in a single attack."
Silence fell.
"He survived," Sataro continued. "And I adopted him. I raised him like my own."
Sako looked away, expression unreadable.
"And there's something else," Sataro added.
"Sako possesses almost the same amount of soul energy as me."
Niru, Riko, and Megaro froze.
"How much?" Niru asked slowly.
"99.281 billion soul energy," Sataro replied.
Their eyes widened.
"W–What?!" Megaro shouted. "Ninety-nine billion?!"
Sataro nodded.
"And it's still increasing. At this rate, in one or two years… he'll surpass even me."
The students were speechless.
Before they could recover, Sataro clapped his hands.
"Now—about missions."
They all groaned.
"Not one," Sataro said casually. "Two missions."
Riko blinked. "These are yours, right?"
"They are," Sataro agreed. "But I want you to grow stronger."
The students exchanged glances.
Sataro continued, "You know this is your 28th battle."
They nodded.
"And Sako's?" he added.
Sako smiled faintly.
"Fiftieth."
The students stared at him again.
"So," Sataro said, "teams."
He pointed.
"Sako and Niru—you're together."
Niru gulped.
"Megaro and Riko—you're the second team."
The students muttered among themselves.
"Of course," Riko whispered. "He puts us with the monster."
Sataro raised an eyebrow.
"What was that?"
"Nothing!" they said in unison.
Sataro smiled.
"Good. Then let's move."
He snapped his fingers.
Teleportation
Light twisted.
Space folded.
Niru and Sako vanished—reappearing inside an abandoned school, broken desks and silence all around.
At the same time—
Riko and Megaro materialized inside a hospital, lights flickering, the air heavy and cold.
Elsewhere…
Deep beneath the mountains.
Hidden from the world.
An underground laboratory pulsed with strange energy.
Inside stood Kizen.
Machines hummed softly around him.
Beside him was an old knight—over one hundred years old.
Long white hair flowed down his back.
His eyes glowed orange, sharp and ancient.
He leaned on a wooden staff, yet his presence was overwhelming.
Kizen looked toward a glowing screen.
"The world is moving again," he said quietly.
The old knight smiled faintly.
"And so is destiny."
Chapter 19 – The Storm Arrives
Kizen stood inside the underground laboratory, facing the ancient knight.
"Please," Kizen said coldly, "give me the power quickly. My team is waiting outside."
The Long Knight nodded slowly.
"Very well."
He lifted his staff and pressed its tip against Kizen's chest. Ancient symbols flared to life as the old knight whispered words older than the mountains themselves.
Power surged.
Kizen screamed—not in pain, but in exhilaration.
His soul energy exploded outward, cracking the stone floor beneath his feet. The air itself trembled.
Kizen clenched his fists.
"…I feel it," he said, breathing heavily. "I'm powerful now."
He looked up, eyes burning.
"I can use my domain now… can't I?"
The Long Knight smiled faintly.
"Yes," he replied. "And your domain is extremely dangerous."
Kizen turned toward the exit.
"Good," he said. "Then I'm leaving."
The Long Knight's voice followed him.
"Go. Destroy the Knight High School."
Hospital – Exterior
Megaro and Riko stepped out of the hospital building.
Purple blood stained parts of their clothes.
Megaro stretched his arms.
"That was way too easy."
Riko exhaled.
"Yeah. Let's go back."
Megaro nodded.
"To Sataro."
Riko smiled slightly.
"Sataro-sensei."
Knight High School
Sataro stood calmly in the school grounds.
Beside him were Sako and Niru.
Moments later, Megaro and Riko arrived, stopping near them.
Megaro grinned.
"We're not late, right?"
Sataro looked at him flatly.
"No."
They relaxed.
Then Sataro added,
"You're not late."
A pause.
"You're very late," he continued. "I've been waiting for thirty-four minutes."
The students groaned.
Suddenly—
A voice echoed from behind them.
"Hi, Sataro."
Sataro slowly turned around.
His eyes widened.
Kizen stood there.
Behind him—four figures, each radiating killing intent.
The air grew heavy.
Sako narrowed his eyes.
"Who's that?"
Sataro didn't take his eyes off Kizen.
"…Kizen," he said quietly.
Then, louder—
"Kizen. Why are you here?"
Kizen smiled.
"Because I'm going to destroy this Knight High School."
The students stiffened.
"If I attacked the city directly," Kizen continued, "you'd come after me immediately. Right, Gozzaki?"
Sataro stepped forward.
"Then let's start the fight," he said.
Kizen chuckled.
"Why not?"
He raised his hand.
"To my team—attack."
Sataro turned sharply to his students.
"Fall back," he ordered. "I'll handle them."
Before anyone could argue—
Sataro vanished.
He reappeared behind one of Kizen's men and crushed him with a single kick, then followed with a punch that sent the body flying.
Another enemy rushed toward the students.
Sataro grabbed that attacker mid-air and threw him straight at Kizen.
At the same time—
One of Kizen's team members lunged forward, blade flashing—
Slash.
His head fell to the ground.
Blood sprayed across the stone.
Kizen's smile didn't fade.
He turned suddenly and attacked Sako.
Riko and Megaro engaged another enemy together, while Niru launched an attack of his own, soul energy blazing.
The battlefield erupted into chaos.
Sataro faced Kizen directly now.
His voice was calm—but dangerous.
"Stay away from Sako," Sataro warned.
Kizen tilted his head.
"Or what?"
Sataro's eyes hardened.
"Or I'll forget that you were ever my friend."
Chapter 20 – The Line That Broke
Kizen's fist moved like a bullet.
It was aimed straight at Sako.
The air cracked—
But the punch never landed.
Sataro appeared between them in an instant and caught Kizen's fist with one hand.
The shockwave rippled outward, tearing the ground apart beneath their feet.
"Sako," Sataro said calmly, without looking back.
"Go. Help Niru."
Sako hesitated for half a second.
"…Understood."
He vanished.
Across the battlefield, Sako reappeared beside Niru. The enemy fighting Niru barely had time to react—
One strike.
That was all.
The opponent was erased in a single blow.
"Come on," Sako said. "We're informing the principal."
Niru nodded, still shaken, and the two disappeared.
Kizen attacked again.
Fast. Relentless.
Punches, kicks, energy blasts—
But Sataro didn't counter.
He only dodged.
Again.
And again.
Kizen frowned.
"Fight back," he said. "Attack me, Gozzaki."
Sataro's expression darkened.
"I can't," he replied quietly.
"I won't raise my hands against my friend."
Kizen smiled.
"Is that so?"
His eyes shifted.
"Then what if I attack your students?"
Sataro's head snapped up.
"No," he said sharply. "Your grudge is with me. Not them."
Kizen's smile widened.
And then—
He vanished.
"—!"
Before Sataro could react, a cursed human appeared behind him.
Its form was twisted, monstrous, humanoid—its presence heavy and violent.
It lunged.
Sataro dodged instinctively—
But it was a distraction.
Far away—
Kizen reappeared in front of Megaro.
A punch slammed into Megaro's face.
Bones cracked.
Megaro was sent flying.
Before anyone could scream, Kizen turned and fired an energy blast straight at Riko.
The explosion swallowed her.
The ground collapsed.
Riko's body was thrown aside—broken, unmoving.
She was barely alive.
Sataro saw everything.
Time seemed to stop.
Something inside him snapped.
The air around him screamed.
His soul energy exploded outward like a collapsing star.
The cursed human lunging toward him—Zako—froze midair, locked in place by sheer pressure.
Sataro didn't even look at it.
The ground beneath his feet shattered as he walked forward.
Every step caused explosions.
The sky darkened.
Sataro appeared directly in front of Kizen.
And punched him.
The impact erased everything nearby.
The Knight High School was torn apart by the shockwave.
Kizen was launched like a meteor—crashing through buildings, through stone, through an entire mountain—until his body slammed into a distant peak.
His body was twisted. Broken.
He couldn't move.
Sataro appeared again.
"Teleport."
He stood before Kizen.
Then—
He healed him.
Bones reset. Flesh restored. Organs regenerated.
Kizen gasped.
Before he could speak, Sataro grabbed him and flew upward—higher and higher—until the sky turned black.
Then—
Sataro hurled him.
Kizen crashed onto the surface of Mars.
The planet shook.
Kizen barely clung to life.
Sataro appeared again.
He healed him.
Completely.
Then—
The punches began.
One.
Two.
Ten.
A hundred.
Each strike carried world-ending force.
The surface of Mars cracked.
Half the planet's terrain collapsed into dust and fire.
Kizen screamed—not in pain alone, but in realization.
This was no longer a fight.
This was punishment.
And Sataro Gozzaki was no longer holding back.
Chapter 21 – The Knife That Stopped a God
Sataro struck Kizen again.
One punch.
Kizen's body shattered, his life fading to the edge of death.
But before death could claim him—
Sataro healed him.
Again.
And again.
Every time Kizen reached the brink of death, Sataro restored him completely, only to beat him once more.
The violence escalated beyond reason.
The planet Mars could no longer endure it.
With a final, catastrophic shockwave, Mars exploded, reduced to fragments drifting into space.
Sataro grabbed Kizen by the neck.
Without warning, he hurled him toward the Moon.
The impact cracked the lunar surface.
Sataro appeared above him.
Another beating.
Then—he healed Kizen again.
One final punch.
This time, Sataro drove his hand straight through Kizen's chest and ripped out his heart.
Kizen's body collapsed, lifeless.
For a moment, there was silence.
Then—
Sataro revived him.
Kizen gasped back to life, coughing violently.
Sataro grabbed him by the collar and pulled him close.
"If you hadn't touched my students," Sataro said coldly,
"none of this would have happened."
Then he punched Kizen square in the face.
Kizen fell to his knees.
"Please… stop," Kizen whispered.
"I'm sorry. Let me go. Just this once… forgive me, my friend."
Sataro froze.
Slowly, he pulled Kizen into an embrace.
For a brief second—
It looked like mercy had won.
But Kizen smiled.
From his soul energy, he formed a knife—dark, thin, and unnatural.
He stabbed it straight into Sataro's spine.
A sickening crack echoed through space.
Sataro's backbone shattered.
Blood poured from his mouth.
Kizen struck again.
And again.
He flung Sataro downward, then followed, stabbing him repeatedly—into his back, his side, his body.
Sataro was bleeding heavily.
Desperately, he tried to heal himself.
But—
Nothing happened.
Kizen appeared above him.
With one final motion, he cut off Sataro's head.
Sataro's vision faded.
Kizen looked down at him.
"Healing takes time," Kizen said calmly.
"And I don't plan on waiting."
He turned away.
"I'm leaving."
With that, Kizen teleported back to Earth.
Sataro's body lay broken.
His consciousness flickered.
"Why…?" he thought.
"Why can't I heal myself…?"
Darkness swallowed him.
Scene Shift
Deep underground, Kizen entered the hidden laboratory.
The ancient knight stood there—over a hundred years old, white hair flowing, orange eyes gleaming, leaning on his staff.
Kizen approached him.
"The knife you gave me," Kizen said.
"The final-term weapon… I used it."
The old knight smiled.
"Good."
Kizen frowned.
"What was in it?"
"Why couldn't Sataro heal himself?"
The old knight's smile widened.
"That knife," he said softly,
"was forged to sever the connection between soul energy and regeneration."
He tapped his staff on the floor.
"Even a god cannot heal…
if his soul is cut at the source."
Kizen exhaled slowly.
"So even Sataro Gozzaki…"
The old knight nodded.
"…can bleed."
And somewhere in the void,
the strongest knight lay silent.