Benji opens his eyes as a bell rings. He swiftly jumps from his bed and heads to the door.
"Yo, Benji! Care if I come in?" a playful voice calls as Benji opens the door.
"Oh, of course, Koruda," Benji replies, his tone sleepy, as if he could sleep for two more days.
Koruda walks into Benji's small apartment and settles down on the ground.
"Geez, you should clean here like, every hour..." Koruda teases.
"Yeah, yeah... of course, coming from you," Benji mutters, slightly annoyed.
"Anyway, I have some bad news," Koruda says seriously. "I've been seeing one of your brothers following me. I see him from time to time, and it's starting to worry me."
"My brother... the hell does he want? After all these years of exile? Why now?" Benji rages.
Koruda sighs and stands up.
"The latest head of the Joju family died about a year ago. One of your two brothers must be the new head now. Do you think they want to catch me to extort information about your location?" Koruda suggests.
"No, no, no. I know them too well. The 8 years I spent with those monsters was enough to understand—they want the same thing. Power," Benji says, eyes deep in thought.
"I'm saying this with a heavy heart, but I think we should stop meeting for a few days or weeks. Maybe you should find a different apartment," Koruda advises.
"Huh?! Find a different apartment? I'm happy to find a burger on the ground, but I'm not in the best situation, you know?" Benji protests.
"I know, I know. I'll bring you some money tomorrow. In the worst case, we'll have to face them. Benji."
Benji turns away from Koruda.
"Do you really think we can face them? You forgot why they kicked me out. I use a sword instead of magic," Benji says, recalling the day he was exiled from his family.
"What do you mean you can't use magic, Benji?" his father's voice echoes from memory.
"You worthless child! Why can't you be like your brothers?" His father's rampage continues.
"I'll train with a sword then! If I can't use magic, I have nothing left!" Benji screams, tears streaming down his face.
"A sword?! You think you'll be on 'his' level? You're not 'him,' and you won't be able to fight magic with a stupid little katana!" His father's eyes turn red.
"The day I was exiled, that was the last time I saw my family," Benji whispers.
"You use a sword—that's why I'm your best friend. You forgot, Benji? I come from a family specializing in swordsmanship. Sure, most also use magic, but still..."
"We both wield katana, yet we can't even touch the ground where 'he' once stood."
Benji turns to face Koruda again.
"That legend of 'The Family Killer'—I don't know. How can we get to that level?"
"You're probably right. We can't even face one man, while 'he' killed entire families of magic users using only a sword. He truly stood between magic and swordsmanship."
"Yeah, sometimes I think if Song Joju had never stopped him. I wouldn't have been born, but maybe those monsters wouldn't be around either..."
Koruda pats his shoulder.
"Lighten up, Benji! You're practically like 'him.' You were exiled because you can't use magic, just like 'he' was. You're him, but from a family that stopped him," Koruda says encouragingly.
"Yeah, my swordsmanship may be above average, but compared to 'him,' I'm practically disabled," Benji admits, letting out a sigh.
"Yeah, me too. Though I come from a family that's based on swordsmanship, I still have my limits. I have to go now. Don't forget—we'll meet at the park at this time tomorrow. I'll bring some money so you can move," Koruda says, heading for the door.
"See you, Benji," Koruda waves goodbye.
"See you, Koruda," Benji replies.
Koruda leaves.
Benji feels his heart racing. He senses something bad is coming. Just as Kuroda once taught him, he tries to ignore it.
Damn, all this thinking tires me out.
Benji jumps back into bed, exhausted.
Suddenly, he wakes up covered in sweat.
Benji: What is this feeling? I need to find Kuroda!
He jumps out of bed, quickly dresses, and leaves his apartment, heading straight to the park. When he arrives, he faces a harsh reality.
Standing before him is Kumara, his brother.
"You... what the fuck are you doing here?" Benji asks, eyes locking on Kumara.
Kumara chuckles softly.
"Oh, it's you. Long time no see, Mr. I-can't-use-magic," Kumara mocks.
Kumara raises a hand. A shadowy portal appears in front of him, and Kuroda falls out, battered and bruised.
"Benji... get out of here!" Kuroda struggles to speak.
"Kuroda!" Benji shouts, shocked.
Kumara laughs hysterically.
"Pray for me... and others," Kumara sneers, a black katana materializing in his hand.
"You'll pay for this, Kumara!" Benji screams, charging at him.
Kumara stands smug.
"You think you can go against a magic user? How interesting!" Kumara yells.
Benji raises his katana to strike.
"Shadow hands!" Kumara shouts.
Several black petals swirl behind him, and shadowy hands emerge from portals, grabbing Benji's katana.
"H-huh!?" Benji stammers, shocked.
"You forgot what magic powers your own family uses? How pathetic," Kumara grins.
The shadow hands snap Benji's katana in half and catch him by his clothes.
"Shadows, turn bright!" Kumara commands.
A glowing orb of light appears and collides with the shadows, creating a blinding flash. Benji is sent flying, clothes torn, blood pouring from his head.
"Benji!" Kuroda screams in agony.
Kuroda slowly struggles to his feet.
"Why can you leave us alone!?" he cries.
"We want to be the strongest. The last remaining Great Family. So why not start by killing you—the last descendant of the Godin family—the strongest family? And the only one left—someone as pathetic as you," Kumara mocks, reveling in his cruelty.
"Heaven's together!" Kumara exclaims, summoning a golden katana.
"Shadow hands!" he shouts.
Kumara slashes, tearing apart the shadow hands.
"Shadow hands: Swarm!" More portals open, sending more shadow hands to attack.
Kuroda fights to hold them off, but his wounds are taking their toll.
"Touch of Light," Kuroda whispers, a glowing hand emerging.
The shadow hands vanish in its light, but unexpectedly, one pierces his chest.
"Urgh!" Kuroda gasps, blood pouring out.
"You were fun to play with, Godin. But it's over—for you, obviously," Kumara sneers, holding back laughter.
Suddenly, a slash appears on Kumara's stomach and chest.
"Wha—when did you?!" Kumara stammers, surprised.
Kuroda collapses.
Behind him, Benji delivers a powerful punch, breaking Kumara's nose.
"Shadows: Hide!" Kumara screams in pain as he sinks into the shadows beneath him.
Benji rushes to Kuroda's side.
"Kuroda!" Benji shouts, tears in his eyes.
"I will avenge you, I promise. Now, let's get you to the hospital." Benji lifts Kuroda's battered body as rain begins to fall.
"I swear... it's not over, you monsters. I will find you. When I'm stronger."
"Don't worry, mister. The patient is alright. He has only fallen into a coma. His pulse is stable.
"Kuroda...I will make them regret this."