The sound of the train wheels on the tracks was deafening. Shirogane stepped out of the cabin, breaking the door that connected the carriages. The wind howled, but it didn't seem to bother him.
Kuroyami, who had returned to the boy's shadow, continued to speak with him.
"Why not let the knights handle it?" the spirit asked, trying to understand Shirogane's decision.
Shirogane looked up at the sky for a moment, then replied gravely,
"Didn't you see? That guy has something incredible. Besides, the knights should've already won."
He paused for a second, the memory of their first encounter surfacing in his mind.
"Even without a spirit, he fought with extraordinary skill. And then... that last attack—that was pure spiritual power."
The boy reflected silently, his words followed by a heavy pause.
"How can he use spiritual power without a spirit? Kaito is a true enigma… A threat that could ruin everything I've planned."
Kuroyami's voice cut through his thoughts:
"Your plan… to destroy every member of the Mugentamashii."
Shirogane didn't answer immediately. His face remained expressionless as he leapt effortlessly onto the roof of the train. The strong wind messed up his hair, but he quickly adapted. And then, he saw him.
Kaito. Standing, covered in wounds, but incredibly still alive. That wasn't what surprised Shirogane, though.
(He did it!) he thought. Kaito had taken down everyone. Of the fifteen knights sent against him, he had defeated them all.
The boy slowly raised his head, locking eyes with Shirogane. In a low but firm voice, he said:
"You came to me…"
Shirogane stared at him defiantly.
"I see my 'puppets' didn't do their job," he said, eyeing the broken helmet of one of them. "But beyond that, I have a question for you… Why did you come back, even after I gave you a way out?"
Kaito looked around for a moment, then replied, his tone firm:
"I'm here to eliminate you. But the main reason is something else. You have to let Yume go home!"
A dry laugh escaped Shirogane's lips. He couldn't help but be amused.
"HAHAHA! Do you really think I'll do that? Don't joke—she's essential to my plans."
Kaito sighed, his expression turning serious.
"If you leave me no choice, I'll kill you."
He took his stance, gripping both swords firmly, ready to fight.
"I figured this would happen…" Shirogane replied, smiling with confident disdain. "Now I understand how you managed to survive without a spirit."
He paused, as if gathering his thoughts, before raising his voice.
"That power I sense… it's not coming from you, is it? It's coming from your blades!"
Shirogane shouted, his gaze becoming even more menacing.
"YOUR BLADES ABSORB SPIRITUAL POWER AND USE IT AS IF IT WERE YOUR OWN! YOU WIELD IT FREELY! ISN'T THAT RIGHT, KAITO?!"
Kaito stood still for a few seconds, thinking. Then, he replied calmly:
"And if it were true? What difference would it make?"
Shirogane sneered.
"You're not strong. Everything you can do, you owe to your blades. Nothing more."
But Kaito didn't flinch. He responded to Shirogane's provocation:
"Think what you want. It doesn't change a thing. Call me weak if you like, but this won't be my last battle—it will be yours. I have a goal… and I won't die until I reach it!"
With a cry of determination, Kaito drove one of his blades into the roof and charged at Shirogane. The speed with which he closed the distance was impressive. Shirogane prepared to counter.
The fight began with a series of Kaito's slashes, but none landed. Shirogane took advantage of an opening and hit him with an uppercut, just like in their first battle. Kaito flew into the air. He thought about throwing his sword to counter, but an instant later realized his opponent had vanished.
(This can't be… Where did he go?) he thought, searching for his foe.
The answer came instantly. Shirogane suddenly appeared in front of him mid-air, landing a devastating blow to Kaito's abdomen. The impact was so violent that it bent the structure of the train. Pain clenched his stomach.
Meanwhile, Shirogane landed nimbly, watching him with contempt.
"That's all you've got? I expected much more."
Kaito, however, didn't give up. A smile appeared on his face.
"Didn't you learn anything from our last fight?" he said, and with a swift move, knocked Shirogane down.
In a flash, Kaito grabbed his blade with determination and stood, aiming at Shirogane's chest.
"YAAAAAHHH!"
Shirogane heard the scream and, in a flash, Kaito was hurled away. His body rolled for several meters, pain surging through his bones.
Shirogane got up quickly, surrounded by a large amount of spiritual power, as Kuroyami appeared beside him.
"This time, I won't let you live. Know that."
Despite the damage, Kaito repositioned himself with determination. The battle raged on.
Shirogane observed him.
"Kage no Itsuwari," he said. Kaito's body froze in place. With a quick dash, he approached the boy, his fist charged with spiritual energy.
"DIIIEEEE!"
The punch was about to land when, suddenly, under Shirogane's shocked gaze, Kaito moved, jumped, and kicked him full in the face. Shirogane was thrown backward—the blow was so strong that, upon rising, he noticed blood pouring from his nose. He touched it, seeing his gloves stained… with his own blood.
"BASTAAARD!!!" he screamed in a rage, while Kuroyami watched him, concerned. Meanwhile, Kaito walked over to the sword he had earlier planted into the roof.
"You know," said Kaito, looking at Shirogane, "in our last fight, I figured out how to counter your immobilization technique…" Then he added:
"The secret was in my blade. By planting it here… it absorbs the spiritual energy you emit. The way your technique works is by releasing a huge amount of energy to trap the opponent through their shadow, am I wrong?"
Shirogane listened and realized he had underestimated him.
"You're right, Kaito… That's exactly how it works. However, if I can't finish you with that technique, then I'll do it the old-fashioned way."
"Kage no Itsuwari kan." A shadow blade appeared beside Shirogane, which he gripped tightly.
"Tell me," Shirogane began, his voice cold, "you said you have a goal. What is it?"
Kaito looked at him, his expression serious.
"I… want revenge. I will kill every member of the Mugentamashii!"
Shirogane froze for a moment. Even Kuroyami seemed surprised by the declaration.
"Really now…?" said Shirogane, a cynical smile crossing his face. "This must be a cruel twist of fate. I have the same goal!"
Shirogane stepped toward Kaito, his voice lower but filled with malice.
"I want to kill you, Kaito. However, I have to admit, you have potential. You must know that right now, you'd never stand a chance against them…"
Kaito stared him straight in the eyes, completely unafraid.
"So I propose you join me. In return, I'll forget your little act of disrespect… What do you say?"
Kaito didn't hesitate for a second.
"Forget it. It's true—I want to kill them—but I'd never accept help from a psychopath like you. Before coming here, I looked into what was so interesting in Shinkase to get you moving. And I found out there's human trafficking…"
He looked at Shirogane with disgust.
"They even sell children. I don't care what happened to make you this way—I despise you, Shirogane. And that's why I'll kill you."
Hearing those words, Shirogane gripped his sword tighter. Veins bulged from his trembling, rage-filled hands. Then, slowly, he calmed down, his expression turning cold and serious.
"Fine. You've made your choice."
The final battle between the two was about to begin.