Chapter 4:
Ren crossed his arms.
"Well… what else am I supposed to call someone creeping around like that?"
Just then, a sudden thought crossed his mind.
Yuji.
Every year he always played a prank on him always every single year just a day after his birthday.
Ren paused then burst out laughing.
"Hold up wait don't tell me…" he said, pointing at him. "Did Yuji put you up to this?"
The hooded figure's expression darkened.
"You know… you have a pretty lousy mouth for someone who's about to die," he shot back coldly.
A brief pause.
Then....
"…Are all Kuroōkami like this?"
Ren didn't stop laughing.
He even started walking toward him, "Look, if Yuji pulled you into this, I hate to dosappoint you…"
He raised a hand casually.
"…but this prank is kinda trash."but before he could finish...
Whoosh!!
A defining blow sharp, clawed hands tearing through the air straight at Ren.
But effortlessly he dodged...
Ren gasped, his eyes widening slightly as he slid back.
"…He's fast… I almost didn't see that coming."
The hooded figure froze for a split second.
"…Impossible…" he muttered. "He dodged my attack?"
Then another strike came in but this time it was faster but Ren moved again Cean and natural dodging it like it was nothing.
"…Impossible. A second time?"
Ren jumped back this time, creating distance
but a thin line of red appeared across his cheek.
A slight cut from the earlier strike ren touched his face lightly.
"…Tch."
He looked at the little blood on his fingers.
"…What was that just now…?" he murmured. "It's like I felt it for a split second he had pure murderous intent he really was going to kill me "
His expression slowly changed and his casual attitude faded.
"…I would have died easily from that just now," he muttered.
The hooded figure's expression shifted.
"…How did you dodge that?" he said, his voice tightening. "from point-blank range? Not once but twice you're just a newborn, not even a newborn can do that without proper training"
Ren's expression hardened as his mind raced.
This is bad I can feel it his murderous intent is leaking out of his body.
This isn't a prank that means he's really a vampire.
Then he spoke aloud..
"…Who are you?, his eyes darkened."…What are you?"
A pause.
"…Are you seriously telling me that vampires are real?"
The figure grunted, clearly irritated.
"For the last time… I'm not a vampire you idiot"
A step forward.
" well i don't need to tell you what I am."
His smile darkened.
"…Because you're going to die anyway
The figure's smile widened then he vanished.
Ren's eyes widened.
"…What...?!"
BAM...!
A brutal уaар slammed into Ren's stomach.
"..GHHK !!"
The air was ripped straight out of his lungs as his body folded instantly. His feet lifted slightly off the ground before he collapsed forward, choking on the shock of the impact.
"He's even faster his mind raced impossible I didn't even feel the movement"…
Before he could even process it..
CRACK..
A second blow smashed into his side, sending him flying across the street.
"Gah..!!"
Ren's body skidded violently across the ground before crashing into a wall. Stone cracked. Dust scattered into the air like smoke.
For a moment, there was only silence.
Then..
Clap… clap… clap…
A slow clap echoed through the empty street.
"…Pathetic," the figure muttered, stepping forward casually. His voice carried boredom, like this wasn't even worth his time.
Ren coughed violently, clutching his stomach.
"Ghh… what the hell it's a good thing uncle Ben thought me about stamina when I was little but..…"
His vision blurred and his ears rang.
I didn't even see him move… not even a shadow…
Slowly, the figure approached, hands in his pockets like nothing had happened. Like he hadn't just shattered Ren in seconds....
"You really thought this was a prank?" he said, tilting his head slightly. "Or are you just that naive?"
Ren gritted his teeth. "Shut up…"
The figure stopped then smiled a little wider.
Ren tried to push himself up....
WHAM...!
A foot slammed into his back, crushing him back into the ground.
"AGH he screams !!"
Dust exploded beneath his body as the pressure pinned him down....
"Stay down," the figure said lazily..... "You're making this harder than it needs to be."
"But…" Ren's voice trembled, but he forced it out. "I'm not done yet…"
The foot pressed harder. Bones creaked faintly under the pressure as he managed to break free
"…where's the fun in that?"
Ren's teeth clenched so hard they almost cracked.
This guy… he's not human level he's something else entirely,
Ren gasped, dragging in air violently. His lungs burned as they refilled too fast.
Then....
WHOOSH....! A kick slammed into his ribs.
"—AAAGH—!!"
Ren's body was launched across the ground again, rolling before stopping a few meters away. His hand trembled as he tried to push himself up, but his arm collapsed under his own weight.
Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth.
The figure stood there, watching him like an experiment almost amused and calm
"…Too weak," he said plainly.
Ren's fingers dug into the ground. "Damn it…"
His vision shook. His thoughts scattered.
Move… get up… just move…
But his body refused to listen, the figure sighed.
"I expected more from a Kuroōkami…"
That name hit differently and ren's eyes flickered.
"Kuroōkami…?" he muttered weakly. "What the hell are you talking about…"
But the figure didn't answer.
He disappeared again and ren's eyes widened slightly
But it was to late as a hand grabbed his face...
"You're going to be my new toy ."
and slammed him hard straight into the ground.
BOOM....
The street cracked violently. Dust erupted in every direction.
Ren's vision went white for a second.
"…Ghh…"
His body twitched weakly beneath the impact. Blood ran down his face, pooling under him.
Slowly, the hooded figure dragged him up by the throat.
Ren clawed at the hand, trying to pry it off. His nails scraped uselessly against it.
"Let… go…" he choked out.
The figure chuckled.
"You still have voice left? Impressive."
Ren struggled harder, but his strength was fading fast.
The figure laughed louder now.
"Hahaha… he really thought he could hide you from me…"
"Hide… me…?" Ren whispered weakly.
The figure ignored him.
Instead, he stretched out his free hand
Aiming directly for Ren's chest.
"…It's over," he said coldly. "This ends here."
Ren's eyes widened slightly, he drove his hand forward
SLICK…
But something was wrong. "…What?"
The figure's eyes narrowed, it wasn't his hand that pierced Ren's chest but instead his arms were gone.
Clean and perfectly severed, blood burst out violently.
"…Huh…?"
BOOM...!
A thunderous kick slammed into his face, sending him flying across the street. His body rolled violently before crashing into the ground and skidding to a stop.
Ren dropped but didn't hit the ground.
A hand caught him. Firm. Steady. Controlled.
His vision blurred. Everything felt distant.
Through the haze, he saw another hooded figure holding him upright.
Different presence. Completely different pressure.
The air around this one felt… calm.
Then the figure spoke.
"…I'm sorry I'm late, Ren-sama."