Klaus barely had time to register the words before Kuro was gone—vanished in the blink of an eye, leaving only the faintest trace of disturbed air behind. His instincts screamed at him, but by the time he reacted, Kuro was already behind him, his silhouette cutting through the charged air like a shadow.
"Focus, Klaus," Kuro's voice rang out, sharp and cool. "The moment you lose track of me, you've already lost."
Klaus twisted, his eyes darting around, but Kuro was everywhere. A blur of movement. A ripple in the air. And then—slash—a sudden cut across his side, a deep gash that tore through his clothes.
Klaus hissed in pain, but before he could even recover, Kuro was gone again, reappearing with a soft hum of the spectral blade in a new position, aiming for his other side.
"Stay sharp!" Kuro called, his voice coming from multiple directions at once. "The enemy doesn't wait for you to figure things out. They strike when you're weak, when you're thinking. That's where you're failing now."
Klaus lunged again, lightning crackling around his hand. This time, he aimed for Kuro's midsection, hoping to land a decisive blow. But Kuro's eyes flashed as he casually sidestepped, his movements so fluid they almost seemed like he was floating. Before Klaus could even recover from the missed strike, Kuro was behind him, the sharp edge of his spectral blade grazing his back, leaving a thin red line.
"Still not thinking ahead," Kuro taunted, his voice low, almost playful. "I told you, Klaus. You can't just throw punches and expect to win. You've got to outsmart me."
Klaus hissed in frustration, but the sting of the wound only fueled him. He gritted his teeth and spun around, lightning arching across his body as he let loose a full-blown barrage of electric bolts, all aimed at Kuro's location.
But once again, Kuro vanished in the blink of an eye, his movements blurring and impossible to track. The lightning fizzled harmlessly against empty air, and before Klaus could stop himself, he was wide open again. Kuro reappeared right in front of him, his blade already in motion.
"Tsk, too predictable." Kuro smirked, easily deflecting Klaus's hasty counter with a swift flick of his blade.
Klaus's breath came heavy now, his body aching from the relentless onslaught. This was unlike anything he had ever experienced. The sheer difference in speed, technique, and precision was enough to overwhelm him. He needed to think. But every time he tried, Kuro was always a step ahead.
"Damn it," Klaus muttered through clenched teeth. "Why… why am I not fast enough?!"
Kuro watched him, his expression unreadable for a moment. Then, with a soft sigh, Kuro stepped back, a shadow of something darker crossing his features. He lowered his blade just slightly, raising a hand to his side. His eyes gleamed with an almost predatory gleam.
"You want to see what speed is? Let me show you the 0.1% of power I hold."
Klaus froze.
Before he could even register the words, Kuro's body began to shift. His figure contorted, his presence expanding in an instant as his form twisted into something far darker, far more dangerous. His face remained cold, but his eyes now glinted with a supernatural hunger.
The change wasn't subtle. Kuro's once-human appearance melted away to reveal something far more monstrous—his body surged with demonic power. His skin took on an ethereal pale hue, like a reflection of moonlight, and veins of pure, dark energy pulsed under his skin. His muscles rippled with newfound strength, the elegance of his movements amplified by the sheer force emanating from him.
But the most striking transformation was his hands, which elongated into clawed appendages, dark shadows flickering across the sharp edges of his fingers. His once-spectacular blade grew, warping into a massive ethereal katana that hummed with violent power.
His hair seemed to darken, hanging in wild streaks, his already sharp features twisting with an otherworldly aura. He wasn't just a man anymore; he was something far more terrifying.
Kuro raised the sword above his head, his eyes narrowing in Klaus's direction.
"Danmaku Tenshou."
The air vibrated violently as Kuro's demonic form flared to its peak, the wind howling around him. He moved faster than Klaus could process, his movements so fluid, so precise, that it was as though he were the embodiment of death itself. He swung the katana in a wide arc, releasing a shockwave of dark energy that twisted the air and sent the ground splitting beneath Klaus's feet.
The force was enough to knock Klaus off his feet. He barely managed to roll out of the way as the wave of destruction carved a path through the earth. He sprang back to his feet, but the ground was still shaking beneath him. The sheer power Kuro unleashed now was otherworldly—like he was a force of nature, a hurricane in human form.
Klaus's eyes widened, his heartbeat pounding in his chest. The difference in their power was too apparent now. Every attack Kuro made seemed to slice through the air with ease. It was like Klaus was fighting against a storm, one that was unpredictable and overwhelmingly dangerous.
Klaus tightened his fists, his eyes narrowing. This wasn't the time to back down. He had to adapt, or he wouldn't make it out of this fight.
Kuro grinned, his stance poised. "Come on, Klaus. Show me you've learned something. Try to keep up."
With a roar, Klaus let loose. The wind howled around him, and lightning crackled at his fingertips as he charged at Kuro. But this time, there was no reckless abandon. Klaus used the wind as his ally, letting it guide his every step. The lightning was no longer just an outburst of raw energy; it flowed like a current through his body, enhancing his every move.
But Kuro was already there, waiting.
In an instant, Kuro vanished again, moving faster than the wind. Klaus barely had time to react before he felt the cold, sharp edge of Kuro's blade against his throat. He stumbled back, his heart racing as Kuro's demonic form towered over him.
"That's better," Kuro said, his voice low, a dangerous gleam in his eyes. "But if you want to land a hit on me, you've got to do more than that. You've got to think like me. You have to move like me."
The sword lowered, and Kuro stepped back. He wiped the blood from his mouth, smirking as he observed Klaus. "You've got the will to fight, I'll give you that. But it's not enough. Not yet."
Klaus exhaled, his body trembling with exhaustion, but there was a spark in his eyes. He wasn't done. Not yet.
With a final growl, Klaus summoned every ounce of his power. The wind and lightning merged in a violent burst as he charged again, determined to break through Kuro's defenses.
Kuro's katana was inches from Klaus's face, the blade gleaming with lethal intent. Klaus froze, his heart pounding as he stared into Kuro's eyes—cold, calculating, and filled with an eerie amusement. He could feel the sharp edge of the blade so close to his skin, the weight of Kuro's power pressing down on him like an inescapable force.
Kuro's grin was maddening, as though he reveled in the fact that Klaus had reached his limit. "You're not there yet, Klaus," he said, his voice smooth like the calm before a storm. "But you're getting closer."
Kuro pulled the katana back, retracting into his humanoid form with a fluid grace. His expression shifted again, his devilish smile twisting into something far more maniacal, something that sent a chill down Klaus's spine.
The aura around Kuro seemed to flicker as his demonic transformation slowly faded away, his form reverting to that of a human, though still exuding an eerie, unsettling presence. The sword shrank down into nothingness with a soft whisper, and Kuro let out a loud, almost maniacal laugh.
Klaus blinked, shaking off the shock of the moment as Kuro leaned back, thoroughly amused with himself. "I'm glad you're not dead yet," Kuro said between fits of laughter. "You'd be a boring corpse."
Klaus narrowed his eyes in irritation, his frustration mounting. He was far from defeated, but the constant teasing, the sheer superiority Kuro displayed—it was maddening.
Without a word, Klaus began to walk away, trying to calm the anger that was bubbling within him. But as he moved, Kuro was right there beside him, still grinning, looking utterly entertained by the whole thing.
"You know," Kuro said casually, "you're not as bad as I thought. You've got a good fight in you. It's just wrapped in that mess of yours." He nudged Klaus with his shoulder. "If you could just control it, you'd actually be a problem for me."
Klaus didn't respond, his frustration evident. He kept walking, heading for the nearby cliffs, where the beach awaited. The tension from the fight still lingered in the air, but now, there was something more peaceful about the environment—an odd contrast to the chaos that had just transpired.
Time seemed to skip forward, the next thing Klaus knew, he was seated at the edge of the beach. The sun was setting in the distance, painting the sky with hues of red and gold. The salty breeze whipped around them, and the sounds of the waves crashing against the shore filled the space.
Kuro finally settled down next to Klaus, his carefree demeanor never faltering. He leaned back against the sand, his legs stretched out, the evening breeze tousling his hair as the waves crashed in the distance. He took another swig from his flask, clearly enjoying the quiet after the storm of their earlier sparring match.
Klaus eyed him curiously. The transformation Kuro had undergone—half-demon, half-human—had been unsettling, a surge of power that Klaus still couldn't fully comprehend. He felt a nagging curiosity bubbling within him. "What was that earlier?" Klaus asked, his voice low but direct. "The transformation. What happened?"
Kuro's smirk returned, lazy and amused. He took another sip from his flask before answering, his voice casual as if he were talking about the weather. "Oh, that? Just a little something I do to remind myself who I really am. You know, when I need to get in touch with my more... aggressive side." He stretched lazily, eyes half-lidded as if the whole thing were no big deal. "A little bit of demon blood, a little bit of discipline. When you've lived as long as I have, you pick up some tricks. Not that it matters, I'm just enjoying the show."
Klaus frowned, his gaze still fixed on Kuro. Something about his nonchalance didn't sit right with him. He pressed on, his curiosity growing. "How much of that is... you? And how much is that... whatever you're mixed with?"
Kuro's grin returned, a sharp edge to it. "Now, Klaus, you ask a lot of questions for someone who doesn't want answers. But if you must know..." He leaned in a bit, his voice dropping to a more serious tone, though still laced with sarcasm. "It's a bit of both. But that's all I'm giving you. I'm not exactly in the mood to get sentimental about my 'half-demon' nature."
Klaus nodded slowly, his mind still chewing on the fragments of Kuro's cryptic answer. But then, his focus shifted. He had one more question—one that had been bugging him ever since their fight started. "Why are you so interested in me?"
The question hung in the air for a moment. Kuro's smile widened into a devilish grin, his eyes glinting with mischief. "Oh, come on, Klaus. You really want to know?" He chuckled darkly, leaning closer to Klaus, his voice dropping into a playful tone. "I mean, who wouldn't be? You're a walking, talking disaster with a side of angst. How could I not be intrigued?"
Klaus shot him a flat stare. "I'm serious."
Kuro threw his head back in laughter, slapping his knee as if Klaus had just told the funniest joke he'd ever heard. "Oh, I'm serious, too. What, you think I'm gonna start spilling my heart out to you? Nah, it's just—" He grinned wider, his eyes gleaming. "—I'm definitely not interested in you in that way. But if you want me to be..." Kuro raised an eyebrow, teasing, his voice light and flirtatious, "I could make an exception." He winked dramatically.
Klaus didn't flinch. He didn't even look fazed. His expression was as deadpan as ever, his thoughts unreadable. Kuro's teasing was nothing new, and Klaus had learned a long time ago how to shut out the noise. Still, Kuro's laughter was infectious, and for the first time in a while, Klaus felt himself loosening up just a bit.
Kuro continued laughing for a while, clearly enjoying the tension he was causing. He leaned back into the sand, the last of his laughter dying down, leaving a comfortable silence between them. Then, with a sudden change of tone, Kuro picked up his flask and took another sip of his beer. The sound of the waves became louder, the wind softer, as if the world itself were waiting for something.
"…You ever wonder what's out there,
Klaus?" Kuro muttered, eyes fixed on the stars. "Beyond this quiet little marble we call home."
Klaus didn't respond. But Kuro didn't need him to.
"There are worlds… empires… titans that walk through black suns and bleed galaxies. Civilizations that would look at Earth the way you look at an ant nest. No—less than that."
He took another slow sip. The wind brushed across the firelight, sparks rising like ghostly fireflies.
"You think Varion was tough?" Kuro chuckled lowly, but there was no humor in it. "He's a war dog. One of many. Out there, even the foot soldiers are stronger than most of Earth's elite."
Klaus's brow twitched. Still silent.
"I don't have much time left," Kuro said, his voice quieter now, more somber. It was such a stark contrast to his usual sarcasm that Klaus blinked, taken aback.
Before Klaus could respond, before he could even process the weight of Kuro's words, the air around them shifted. Kuro stood up, his movement so fluid it was as though he never stopped. He looked at Klaus one last time, the grin returning, though it was now tinged with something more elusive.
"Goodnight, Klaus," he said, and just as quickly as he had appeared, he vanished.
Klaus sat there in stunned silence, his mind racing as he tried to comprehend what had just happened. It was like Kuro had dropped an emotional bombshell and then just disappeared before Klaus could react.
"…He's finally said my name,"Klaus muttered to himself, his voice barely above a whisper, a small, strange feeling curling in his chest.
The wind whipped through the air, but it did little to break the heavy silence. Klaus shook his head, feeling a strange mix of irritation and confusion. What did Kuro mean? Why had he said that? And what was with that sudden shift in his mood? Klaus wasn't sure if he had just been pranked or if there was something deeper Kuro was hiding.
With a sigh, Klaus stood up, dusting off the sand from his pants. His thoughts were scattered, and whatever strange exchange he'd just had with Kuro wasn't going to leave him anytime soon. But for now, he had a mission to focus on, and no amount of teasing or cryptic conversations was going to change that.
He made his way back toward the camp, the last of the sun dipping below the horizon. The day was ending, but his thoughts were still tangled in the cryptic nature of Kuro's words.