Chapter 22: The Mask of Change, Unleashed

"LET'S FIGHT TO THE DEATH, MY ADVERSARY!"

As soon as Juzo announced it, he immediately sprinted towards Kiyoto. Kiyoto on the other hand, sprinted just as well as their fists launched to one another.

Both of them got hit in the face by their punches, though as expected, Juzo has the more impactful hit due to his build and experience. It made Kiyoto take a few steps back, but then he felt restrained.

"Ugh!"

It was the chains once again. Though this time, he felt as if it's coiling around more violently unlike last time.

"Noticed something different huh? Let me tell you something, the power of the masks never stayed dormant. They will evolve as per their wielder! You don't know that don't you? After all, I experienced it first hand!"

Kiyoto, in fact, knew about this since he read the research notes that Klauss gave him. It was written there by Akimitsu, fixating on the phenomena when the masks will upgrade its own power in relation to their wielder's own evolution. Though no one knows that there are limits to it.

Kiyoto is trying to break free like how he did last time, but it's not working. The gauntlet he had back then doesn't show up. Juzo was watching him struggle, like he was waiting for Kiyoto to do what he did back then.

Alas, it won't come, for now. Juzo shook his head lightly in disappointment.

"Don't tell me brat, that you don't know how to even use your mask's power."

Juzo held Kiyoto's head and repeatedly punched the cracked mask.

"Bhahaha! So if it's useless, then discard it! The mask is damaged already in the first place so maybe it's destructible!"

One thing they learned about Juzo's chains is that when the restrained individual gets hit by him, it will be dispelled.

And so, once the first hit lands, Kiyoto was freed although since he's been held by the head, he can't freely move yet. As a response, Kiyoto blocked Juzo's punch by holding his fists with both of his hands.

"If you want to destroy it, then be my guest!!"

Kiyoto puts Juzo's hand down and gives him a powerful headbutt using his mask as the front.

Bam! "Ghk!"

Juzo felt like he was struck by a hard metal bat upon collision and took a leap back. He then massaged the part where he was hit, while Kiyoto catches his breath.

"Ahh brat, you know you can't keep this up unless you can wield your mask's powers right? Honestly speaking, I'm still enjoying this fight, but not as I expected."

Kiyoto would gladly manifest the powers if he just can, but then it is easier said than done. As a human being, it's like repairing a broken air-conditioner while you're an IT graduate just because someone said that you should be capable of such a thing.

"Hah. Looks like I'm gonna have to force you to do that again. Maybe when you're on the brink of death." Juzo said it so casually, making Kiyoto shiver. He then proceeds to apply what he learned about the research notes.

'The power of the Masks adapts to its wielder. Their power does not stay dormant, the fascinating thing about them is that the masks seems like it has a mind of its own, or to put it more logically; it merges with the mind of its wielder, with emotion as its base fuel.'

With that same logic, Kiyoto made use of what he is currently feeling: a desire to win the battle and– and then what? His mind has hit a wall.

Bam!

A quick punch hits Kiyoto in his face. "What are you doing spacing out there eh brat!? Don't you further disappoint me!"

After getting hit, Kiyoto was shackled once again by the violently coiling chains.

"Aaaaagh!"

"You do know right? This is just me, getting started. I'm not at the level of putting up a resistance yet! I don't even have to turn around to chain you! So what? What can you do to win!?" Juzo fiercely inquired.

Kiyoto on the other hand can't even let out his voice. The chains are getting tighter and tighter as if he's being flatten out by the second. 'Why!? Why can't you respond to my emotions!?' Kiyoto thought as he was talking to his mask.

Is it the resolve of his emotion that is lacking? Or maybe…it is not what the mask needs.

He plunged into a dream once again.

There was an image of a beautiful scenery. The bright, glimmering sunlight shines upon the vibrant display of Cherry Blossoms. Under the shade of a Sakura tree, a young man can be seen resting his head on a girl's lap, while the girl is combing his hair.

The girl speaks: "If ever the day comes that we somehow pass each other by the road…I hope you will still feel my emotions. And if you do…remember the thing we promised each other…that we will fight, for the sake of Change."

The girl paused and smiled. She then asked a question as if confirming something from the sleeping man: "What do you want to change, Kiyoto?"

The scenery changed as he gasped. The previous vibrant setting changed into a sorrowful atmosphere. He saw a figure of a man carrying the remains of his departed family.

There's no doubt about it, that it was Juzo. But unlike the current him, this man looks soulless, his eyes staring into a blank space and his body unmoving. His past then entered Kiyoto's mind.

His real name, his past title, how he fell in love, the miracle leaf, Akimitsu, and finally the death of his loved ones. Kiyoto was overwhelmed by the sudden revelations that appeared to him. He holds his head as if struggling about something.

As he turns his gaze back at Juzo, a snake crawls into his body like the chains he is representing, and bites his neck.

He grinned. A voice then echoed throughout the space: "This pain that you will carry from now on will be your fuel, as long as you feel this pain coursing through you like the chains that are bound to the mask, you will feel more alive. This feeling is hatred. And it will be your strength."

It was yet another revelation, that Juzo or rather, Zaiaku, was being used as a weapon and it's too late for him already.

With all this information entering his mind, Kiyoto cannot help but shout in pain. After a while, a voice finally calmed him down, a voice of the woman who accompanied him in his dreams. "Kiyoto."

Yet she asked once again:

"What do you want to change?"

Kiyoto stands back up, weakly yet determined. He then replied with a steeled resolve:

"I will change Zaiaku's fate."

"But it's too late for him."

"Then I will carry the burden of putting him down."

The girl smiled. She then touched his mask and announced:

"Then the Mask of Change shall serve you."

As Juzo was about to take him down, he heard his chains slowly breaking.

"Huh?"

Clank! Break! As Kiyoto closed his fist, the invisible and violent chains that were keeping him bound got destroyed. Juzo witnessed once again, the chains that are representing him get torn apart. A powerful punch from the face snapped him back and made him fly across the room.

As he stood back up, there he witnessed Kiyoto. Now wielding a dark gauntlet with its armor extending to his shoulders. Kiyoto takes a deep breath and clenches his fists.

"Zaiaku, I will put you down."

Kiyoto's Mask of Change, Chain breaker mode.