Chapter 9: Kill… or Be Killed
The battlefield went silent.
Not because the fight ended—
But because something worse had begun.
Kairo stood still.
Breathing slow.
Eyes locked on the two people in front of him.
Three.
Cold. Calm. Betrayer.
And the elite enemy.
Watching. Waiting.
Behind them—
Seven.
For a moment—
No one moved.
The Choice
Seven's voice broke the silence.
"…So this is how it is?"
Three didn't even look at him.
"He's a risk," Three said calmly. "If he lives… he'll surpass us."
Kairo said nothing.
Seven clicked his tongue.
"Tch… and you decided to kill him now?"
A pause.
"During a mission?"
Three finally glanced at him.
"Perfect timing," he said. "No one will question it."
Silence.
Then—
Both of them looked at Seven.
Waiting.
Which Side?
Seven exhaled slowly.
His eyes shifted…
From Three…
To Kairo.
A small smile appeared.
"…You're both insane."
A pause.
Then—
He stepped forward.
And stood beside Kairo.
"I hate cowards," Seven said.
Three's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…So you choose him."
Seven cracked his neck.
"No," he said.
A grin spread across his face.
"I choose a real fight."
War Begins
The elite enemy moved first.
Straight at Kairo.
Three followed—
Targeting his blind spot.
At the same time—
Seven stepped in—
Intercepting Three's strike.
CLANG!
Steel collided.
"Your fight is with me," Seven said.
Three's expression didn't change.
"…Fine."
And just like that—
The battlefield split into two.
Kairo vs the Elite
The enemy came fast.
Too fast.
But Kairo was ready.
This time—
No hesitation.
No holding back.
Their blades clashed—
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Faster.
Sharper.
Deadlier.
The man smiled slightly.
"There it is," he said. "Your true self."
Kairo didn't respond.
He attacked.
Relentless.
Every strike aimed to kill.
Seven vs Three
Not far away—
Seven laughed as he fought.
"Finally!" he shouted. "You show your real face!"
Three remained calm.
Efficient.
Deadly.
"You're loud," Three said.
Seven grinned.
"And you're boring."
Their blades clashed again.
But unlike before—
Seven was serious.
Breaking Point
Back to Kairo—
The fight intensified.
His injuries slowed him.
Blood dripped from his side.
From his shoulder.
But he didn't stop.
Couldn't stop.
If I stop… I die.
The enemy saw it.
"You're reaching your limit," he said calmly.
Then—
He attacked.
A powerful strike—
Kairo blocked—
But—
CRACK!
The force broke his guard.
His body flew back—
Slamming into a tree.
Pain exploded through him.
Edge of Collapse
Kairo struggled to stand.
His vision blurred.
His breathing heavy.
This is… the end…
The enemy walked toward him slowly.
"No one survives this long against me," he said.
He raised his blade.
"Die."
The Awakening
Time slowed again.
Kairo's heart pounded.
His body screamed.
His mind—
Went quiet.
Then—
A memory.
His mother's smile.
His father's voice.
The night everything ended.
The pain.
The loss.
The emptiness.
All of it—
Came rushing back.
And this time—
He didn't suppress it.
He accepted it.
Something Changes
Kairo stood up.
Slowly.
His body trembling—
But his eyes—
Were different.
Cold.
Sharp.
Focused.
Complete.
"…I won't die here," he said quietly.
The enemy paused.
Then smiled.
"Good."
Final Clash
They moved at the same time.
Faster than before.
Stronger than before.
Everything—
Pushed to the limit.
Blades collided—
Kairo stepped in—
Twisted—
Struck—
The enemy blocked—
But—
Too late.
SLASH!
A deep cut across his chest.
The man staggered.
For the first time—
He was hit.
End of Chapter 9
Across the battlefield—
Seven and Three froze for a split second.
They felt it.
The shift.
Kairo…
Had changed.
But—
The fight wasn't over.
Because the man he struck—
Was still standing.
And now—
He was smiling.
Cliffhanger:
Kairo finally landed a decisive hit… but his enemy isn't done—and something even more dangerous is about to happen.