The smile didn't look human.
Not cruel.
Not angry.
---
Interested.
---
Yakumaro's body tensed.
---
"…What?"
---
The creature stepped forward.
Slow.
Controlled.
---
No rush.
---
No fear.
---
It raised its hand.
---
Yakumaro reacted instantly.
---
He attacked.
---
But—
Missed.
---
The creature was gone.
---
A blur.
---
Then—
Pain.
---
A deep cut across his side.
---
Yakumaro staggered.
---
"…Tch…"
---
Blood dripped.
---
His breathing broke.
---
The power…
Was unstable.
---
Fading.
---
The darkness inside him pulsed.
Violently.
---
His vision shook.
---
"…Not now…"
---
The creature stood behind him.
---
Silent.
---
Watching.
---
It understood.
---
Yakumaro turned—
But too slow.
---
Another strike.
---
He was thrown.
---
Hard.
---
Crashing into the ground.
---
The world spun.
---
"…Get up…"
---
His own voice felt distant.
---
"…Move…"
---
His body didn't listen.
---
The darkness inside him began to collapse.
---
Fading.
---
Breaking.
---
"…No…"
---
The creature stepped closer.
---
Slow.
Certain.
---
Yakumaro tried to move.
---
Nothing.
---
His vision blurred.
---
"…Is this it…?"
---
Silence.
---
Then—
The creature stopped.
---
Right in front of him.
---
Looking down.
---
A long pause.
---
Then—
It turned.
---
Walked away.
---
Yakumaro's eyes widened.
---
"…What…?"
---
No attack.
No finish.
---
Nothing.
---
It left.
---
Just like that.
---
The pressure vanished.
---
The air returned.
---
The world moved again.
---
Yakumaro lay there.
Breathing heavily.
---
"…Why…?"
---
No answer.
---
Only silence.
---
And flames.
---
His hand moved.
Slowly.
---
Grabbing the ground.
---
"…I'm not done…"
---
His eyes burned.
---
Not with power.
---
With something else.
---
"…I'll find you."
---
A pause.
---
"…And I'll kill you."