The red mark on my face began to glow.
Brighter.
And brighter.
The strange light spread across my skin, as if something inside me had finally awakened.
The void around me seemed to come alive.
For the first time, I understood that my story hadn't begun with Katsuo.
It had begun long before I was born.
I wasn't just Tom Fogo anymore.
I was a descendant of something ancient.
Something powerful.
Something I didn't understand yet.
The weight of that legacy settled onto my shoulders.
But strangely...
It didn't feel like a burden.
It felt like hope.
The nightmare slowly faded.
The ruined village disappeared.
The voices became distant.
The darkness began to crack.
I looked forward.
"Katsuo..."
My voice was quiet.
But this time, there was no fear behind it.
"You've met your doom."
I clenched my fists.
"You're not getting out of this century alive."
Then—
FLASH!
The six yellow eyes appeared again.
I froze.
They stared directly at me.
And then the darkness changed.
I saw a throne.
A massive throne made of gold and silver.
And sitting upon it...
was Katsuo.
He rested one arm against the throne, looking completely relaxed.
As if the entire world belonged to him.
He smiled.
"Alright, Fogo."
His voice was calm.
"Just try."
The vision vanished.
I opened my eyes.
I was back in my room.
My heart was pounding.
But I wasn't afraid.
Not anymore.
I had no idea how strong Katsuo was.
I didn't know how long it would take.
I didn't even know if I could ever defeat him.
But I knew what I had to do.
If I wanted to challenge a king...
I had to become strong enough to face one.
I looked at my hands.
"I won't stop."
I whispered the words to myself.
"I'll get stronger."
My eyes hardened.
"One day..."
"...I'll defeat Katsuo."
And that was the moment I made my decision.
Whatever happened next...
I would keep moving forward.