Kyle did not sleep that night.
Raizo's words echoed in his mind as if they were carved into him.
"A sealed core… one that grows stronger the closer you get to death."
He clenched his fist as he sat beside the fading ashes of the fire.
"If that's true…"
He slowly stood up, his eyes carrying a resolve he had never had before.
"Then I need to get closer to death."
…
The next morning—
Kyle stood at the edge of the city, facing a deserted forest known among the people as the "Forest of Silence."
A place everyone avoided.
For one reason.
Monsters.
He took a deep breath… and stepped inside.
Each step felt heavy—not from fear, but from realization.
He was weak.
And any mistake…
Could be his last.
…
Minutes passed…
Then—
💢 A sharp sound echoed between the trees.
Kyle froze.
His eyes moved slowly.
There…
In the shadows.
A pair of red eyes.
A creature stepped out—wolf-like, but larger, with longer fangs and a body covered in scars.
"A monster…"
Kyle whispered.
He swallowed hard.
"…I won't run."
He raised his fists.
The beast didn't wait.
💥
It lunged forward with terrifying speed.
Kyle tried to dodge—
Too slow.
One strike—
He was slammed into the ground.
"Gah…!"
The pain exploded through his body.
Before he could get up—
Another attack.
💥
The beast's claw tore through his shoulder.
Blood spilled.
Kyle screamed… but he didn't run.
"Get up…!"
he shouted at himself.
"Get up!"
He forced himself to stand, his body shaking violently.
But then—
He smiled.
A broken… almost insane smile.
"This… is the feeling…"
He rushed forward.
His fist struck the beast—
But did nothing.
The difference was absolute.
The monster crushed him again.
💥
Kyle fell to the ground, his body barely responding.
His breathing weakened…
His vision faded…
"Is… this… the end…?"
…
In that moment—
💀
Something inside his chest… moved.
A pulse.
Then—
💥💥
A silent explosion within him.
His eyes snapped open.
A dark, cracked glow spread from his chest.
The pain…
Disappeared.
Replaced by something else.
Power.
Slow… but real.
"…ha…"
Kyle stood up.
Slowly.
The beast stepped back.
For the first time—
It felt fear.
Kyle looked at his hand.
"This…"
Then he raised his eyes.
"…is my beginning."
He dashed forward.
But—
Before he could reach it—
💨
A figure appeared between him and the beast.
One strike.
It was over.
The monster collapsed, dead.
Kyle froze.
"You…?"
Raizo.
He lowered his blade calmly.
"I was going to let you die…"
he said, his voice cold.
"But it seems you proved something."
He stepped closer.
His eyes locked onto Kyle's.
"You touched your limit…"
A faint smile appeared.
"And this…"
He paused.
"…is only the beginning."
Kyle collapsed to the ground, his body finally giving in.
But this time—
He wasn't defeated.
…
He had begun.