The pier still bore the scars of the clash. Splintered planks floated on the waves, lanterns hung broken, and the scent of salt mixed with the sharp tang of shattered wood. But the greater damage lingered within Kaizen.
He lay in the healer's hut, his body wrapped in bandages, breath shallow but steady. Every ache was a reminder of Garou's strikes each bruise a lesson carved into his flesh.
Yet it wasn't the pain that kept him awake.
It was the storm.
Even now, with his eyes closed, he could feel it. Crashing, pounding, desperate to be freed. The battle with Garou had rattled the chains; the storm was louder now, more insistent, like a beast that had tasted blood.
Kaizen pressed his palms to his temples, whispering to himself. "Breathe… steady… I'm still in control."
But the storm laughed.
Bang sat cross-legged at the corner of the hut, his eyes closed, his breathing calm. To anyone else, he might have appeared asleep. But Kaizen knew better his master was always aware.
"You're restless," Bang said without opening his eyes.
Kaizen forced a laugh, though it came out hollow. "Restless is putting it lightly."
Bang finally opened his eyes, his gaze sharp as steel. "Garou struck deep not into your body, but into your spirit. He spoke truths that you fear."
Kaizen turned his head away. "He's wrong. I'm not a monster."
Silence stretched between them, heavy and uncomfortable. Then Bang spoke again, softer this time. "Do you know what makes a monster, Kaizen?"
Kaizen frowned. "…Power without restraint?"
Bang nodded. "Partly. But the true seed of monstrosity is surrender. When you give up the will to fight yourself, when you stop believing you are more than your hunger then the beast wins."
Kaizen's hands trembled. He clenched them into fists to hide it. "But every time I fight, it feels like I'm walking on the edge of a blade. One slip, and"
"And you'll fall," Bang finished for him. "Yes. That is the path you walk. But remember, Kaizen: balance is not found by fearing the fall. It is found by taking each step with purpose."
Renji entered then, carrying a tray of steaming broth. His expression was uncharacteristically serious.
"You scared the whole village, Kaizen," he said, setting the tray down. "When Garou slammed you into the pier, I thought" He stopped himself, shaking his head. "Doesn't matter. You're still here."
Kaizen offered a weak smile. "Barely."
Renji crouched beside him. "Listen, I don't care what Garou said. You're not a monster. You're Kaizen. My sparring partner. My rival. If the storm inside you wants to say otherwise, then we'll both beat it back until it learns who's in charge."
For the first time since the fight, Kaizen chuckled. "You make it sound so simple."
Renji grinned. "It is simple. Not easy, but simple."
Bang cleared his throat. "Words alone will not hold back the storm. We must strengthen the chains. Training begins again tomorrow."
Renji blinked. "Tomorrow? Master, he can barely move"
Bang's voice was firm. "Tomorrow. The body heals, but the spirit rots if left idle. Kaizen must learn to wield his storm as part of himself, not as something caged."
Kaizen's heart thumped hard in his chest. Part of myself…?
The thought terrified him.
The next morning, pain still gnawed at his body, but Kaizen stood on trembling legs at the training grounds. The sun had barely risen, painting the ocean with streaks of gold.
Bang watched silently, arms folded. Renji stood nearby, worry etched on his face.
"Begin," Bang said simply.
Kaizen dropped into his stance, wincing as bruised muscles protested. He moved through the familiar forms blocks, strikes, counters each one sluggish, awkward. The storm hissed at him, eager to burst free and fill the gaps.
No. Not like that.
He forced himself to move with precision, not power. Every motion deliberate, controlled. Sweat poured down his back within minutes, his breath ragged, but he pushed on.
Bang's voice cut across the waves. "Your body seeks strength, but your spirit must seek balance. You are not fighting Garou now. You are fighting yourself."
Kaizen struck the air, his fists trembling. "And what if I lose that fight?"
Bang's reply was calm. "Then you rise again. Until you win."
The hours dragged. Kaizen fell more than once, his body too battered to keep up. Each time, Renji tried to rush forward, but Bang held him back with a stern shake of the head.
"Let him stand," Bang said.
And Kaizen did. Again and again, even when his vision blurred, even when his arms felt like lead.
By midday, he collapsed to his knees, gasping for air. The storm inside him surged with fury, demanding release. Sparks flickered along his skin, lightning flashing in his veins.
He pressed his palms into the dirt, teeth gritted. "Not yet… not yet!"
Bang finally stepped forward, kneeling beside him. He placed a steady hand on Kaizen's shoulder.
"Good," the master said softly. "You are beginning to understand."
Kaizen looked up, sweat and tears mingling on his face. "Understand what?"
Bang's eyes were steady, filled with a rare gentleness. "That the storm is not your enemy. It is your reflection. To fight it is to fight yourself. To master it is to master who you are."
Kaizen's chest tightened. For a moment, he almost felt the storm quiet not caged, but listening.
That night, as the village lanterns flickered to life, Kaizen sat on the pier, staring at the endless sea. Renji joined him, tossing a pebble into the waves.
"You scared me again today," Renji muttered. "Thought you'd pass out for good this time."
Kaizen smirked weakly. "Guess I'm getting good at scaring people."
Renji shot him a glare, then sighed. "You know, one day, you'll have to stop being afraid of yourself. Otherwise, Garou will tear you apart."
Kaizen's smile faded. He thought of Garou's words, of the grin that saw straight through him.
Hero or monster…
The storm rumbled faintly, but this time, Kaizen didn't silence it. He listened.
For the first time, he wondered if Bang was right. Maybe the answer wasn't chains. Maybe it was something else.
He closed his eyes, letting the sea breeze wash over him. "I don't know what I am yet. But I'll find out."
The storm stirred. Not violently. Not angrily. But like a tide turning.
Far out at sea, unseen by the village, Garou walked upon the water beneath the moonlight. His grin lingered, but his eyes were thoughtful.
"That boy…" he muttered. "He's either going to break… or become something even I can't predict."
His grin sharpened again. "Either way, I'll be waiting."
The waves swallowed his footsteps, carrying his promise toward the shore.