chapter 25: Bloody fire sword

In the bustling marketplace of Darkova, where laughter and whispers filled the air, the fight between Akio and Akira was still the talk of the town. However, amidst the chaos and amusement, people's gazes slowly turned back to Ken, who had been silently observing everything.

A woman from the crowd (shouting): "Hey, you all! Have you forgotten about Yukaji Ken so easily and started laughing at this nonsense?! Don't forget that he killed my husband!!"

The moment she said those words, the crowd's attention shifted back to Ken. He was leaning against a wall, staring at the ground while smoking his cigarette. Slowly, people began gathering around him, their eyes filled with resentment and hatred. The woman, her face stained with tears and fury, stepped forward toward Ken.

Woman: "How can you stand there so calmly? You're truly a heartless monster!"

Ken remained still, silent, not uttering a word, while more people stepped forward behind the woman, some holding sticks and stones, others raising their fists in the air.

He found himself in a difficult situation. Closing his eyes for a long moment, a strange feeling weighed on his chest—something like regret or pain—but he kept his face cold and unreadable.

A man in the crowd, older and more aggressive, stepped closer and began shouting.

Man: "You slaughtered over 500 innocent soldiers! That's why you must pay the price now! There's no place for a villain like you here!"

The crowd erupted in furious chants, as if they had all suddenly decided that Ken was their common enemy. Years of built-up hatred and resentment exploded at that moment.

From a distance, Akio watched, feeling uneasy at the sight of the overwhelming hostility directed at Ken. But he wasn't sure what to do—after all, Ken had done terrible things.

As Ken stood motionless, memories of his past came flooding back.

It was a dark night, with only the moon lighting the way. Ken, at thirteen years old, walked slowly through the paths leading to one of King Cirrus' army bases. His steps were steady, his face stone-cold, devoid of any emotion except pure rage.

In his left hand, he held his flaming red sword, burning with the hatred of its wielder.

He stormed into the large courtyard of the base, where soldiers sat grilling meat, engaged in their usual conversations, their laughter echoing in the night. They had no idea that death itself had just walked in.

"Huh? What's this?" one soldier muttered, noticing the small boy standing before them.

"A child…?" another soldier mumbled, staring into those gray eyes filled with fire.

"Is he lost? Or maybe looking for his parents?" one of them laughed mockingly.

But before they could process what was happening, something unthinkable occurred.

In less than a second, the laughter turned into screams.

Ken vanished from their sight, leaping forward with his sword raised, and before they even realized what had happened—their blood burst out like waterfalls, their bodies shredded apart before they even knew they had died.

"AAAAAH!!" one soldier screamed, collapsing to the ground, clutching his severed hand. But it wasn't just cut off… it was burning from the inside.

"Aaaaah! The fire! It's inside me!!"

"M-My body… My body is burning!!!"

The wounded men convulsed on the ground, writhing in agony, not just from the deep wounds but because Ken's sword wasn't just a blade—it was hellfire itself. It didn't just sever their limbs… the flames slowly consumed them from within.

The remaining soldiers who hadn't been killed yet stood frozen, unable to believe what they were witnessing.

How…? How could a child this young slaughter dozens of soldiers in seconds with such brutal power?!

But Ken gave them no time to think.

As soon as he laid eyes on them, he rushed like a storm toward them.

Screams. Fire. Flying bodies.

Everything descended into bloody chaos.

One by one, Ken cut through the soldiers, showing no hesitation, no mercy. Every victim didn't just die instantly—they burned alive, watching their skin melt, feeling their insides ignite before their hearts finally stopped beating.

"This is impossible…! This isn't human!!"

"He's a demon!!!"

Some tried to escape, but Ken didn't let them.

With a single swing of his sword, he unleashed a blazing wave of fire that engulfed everything in its path, incinerating those who dared run away.

In the midst of the corpses and destruction, Ken's gaze landed on a man crawling away, his face strangely familiar…

Ken froze, his heartbeat racing, his eyes widening as a forgotten memory resurfaced—

A gunshot.

A stifled scream.

His brother Dan's head exploding before his very eyes.

The world stopped.

His breathing became heavy.

His hands trembled.

That man… He was the same soldier who had killed his brother Dan.

As soon as the soldier recognized Ken, he began gasping, trying to crawl backward, his hands shaking violently.

"W-Wait… I-I have a family…! I didn't mean to kill anyone…!"

Ken stepped forward slowly, his sword dripping with fresh blood, his flames still burning.

His gray eyes, filled with rage and sorrow, stared at the man with ice-cold hatred.

"Family…?" Ken muttered.

"Did you think about my family when you blew my brother's head off right in front of me? Was killing children just a simple job for you?!"

The soldier's eyes widened in terror, his trembling growing worse.

But before he could even scream—

Ken vanished from his sight.

And in less than a second, a pain unlike anything imaginable surged through the soldier's body!

He looked down—his hands were gone.

He froze in shock.

He couldn't even scream.

Seconds passed… and he realized his legs were missing too.

Then he collapsed.

In his last moments of consciousness, he saw Ken standing over him, his expression cold and merciless.

Ken: "It wouldn't be fair for you to die quickly."

And then, slowly, Ken drove his sword into the soldier's chest, so agonizingly slow that the man felt every single inch of fire spreading through his body.

His final screams filled the air—

Then, silence.

Ken stood among the corpses, the destruction, the hell he had created.

He looked at his bloodstained hands.

And before he realized it—

He laughed.

A dark, chilling laugh.

Ken snapped back to reality, standing in the marketplace, with people throwing stones at him.

He lifted his head slowly, facing the angry mob alone.

But his face remained cold.

His gray eyes showed no fear, no concern.

Instead, he watched everything unfold like a chess game, calculating his next move.

(A furious mob… No one here will listen… Justifying is a waste of time… Random violence will make things worse… So?)

A quick analysis, a conclusion, a decision—all in less than a second.

Instead of backing away, Ken stepped forward.

And that alone was enough to make everyone flinch.

Even the woman leading the charge hesitated, but quickly gritted her teeth and raised her wooden staff.

Woman: "Now is the time for justice! Don't think you'll get away with this!"

Ken remained silent—but lifted his left hand and caught the staff mid-air before it could strike him.

Ken (calmly): "If you think I'll let you beat me like a stray dog… you're a fool."

Ken squeezed the wooden staff slightly, and in the blink of an eye, it splintered under his fingers and broke in half.

The woman gasped, stepping back in shock, while the crowd began hesitating. They had expected a violent explosion, a fight, a massacre—but instead, Ken's calm reaction caught them completely off guard.

Before the situation could escalate any further, Ann suddenly intervened, stomping the ground forcefully.

Ann: "That's enough! Have you all lost your minds?! You're a bunch of adults attacking a teenager—a boy who was nothing more than a victim of Cirrus' actions!"

Woman: "Huh?! Are you defending a murderer?! Do you have any idea how many families he's destroyed?!"

Ann: "And what about you? Do you know how many people your husband killed in wars?! Were you there when he took the lives of innocent people?!"

Woman (hesitating): "T-That's… not the same…"

Ann (angrily): "Yes, it is the same!"

Before anyone else could argue, Akio stepped in.

Akio (furious): "You're all treating him like a monster, but did any of you ever stop to ask why he became like this? Did any of you wonder what his life was like before he became a killer?! Did anyone ask how he lost everyone he ever loved?!"

Ken, who had been watching in silence, let out a small sigh.

Ken: "I didn't ask for your help."

Ann (firmly): "Oh really? So what, then? Were you just going to let yourself be killed here? Were you going to pretend you're alone in this world?"

Ken didn't respond but turned his face away.

He knew she was right, but he wasn't willing to admit it.

Slowly, the crowd began dispersing, realizing that fighting wouldn't solve anything.

Ann looked at Ken, feeling a deep sadness for him. She stepped forward with determination, grabbed his hand suddenly, and pulled him with her forcefully.

Ann (in a soft but firm voice, her cheeks slightly flushed): "Ken-san… don't worry. Let's just go."

Ken's eyes widened slightly in surprise.

But before he could react, Ann had already started walking, holding onto his hand tightly.

From a distance, Akira watched.

His expression was strange, a mix of shock and deep thought.

For a brief moment, he felt as if he and Ken were the same. They had both lived terrible childhoods, but somehow, they had turned out so different.

Akira (whispering to himself): "So he's… like me."

Ken and Ann continued walking away from the market.

Ann was still holding onto his hand, trying to comfort him.

Her heart felt heavy with sorrow.

She didn't know much about his past, but she could see that he had lived through things no child should ever experience.

Ken (quietly, turning to her indifferently): "How long are you planning to hold my hand?"

Her eyes widened at his unexpected words, but instead of letting go, she smiled.

Her cheeks flushed even more, and hearts appeared in her eyes.

Ann (thinking excitedly): "I can't believe this! I'm holding Ken-san's hand again! His hand is so soft! I wish I could hold it forever!"

She stared at his hand for a long moment, almost as if she was checking whether he would try to pull away.

She found herself enjoying every second of it.

Ann (suddenly, out loud): "I can't believe it! Am I dreaming?!"

Ken glanced at her, but he didn't seem to care.

He just kept walking, completely unfazed.

Meanwhile, Ann felt a mix of embarrassment and excitement.

She kept imagining silly scenarios in her head, but when she noticed Ken getting slightly irritated, she finally let go of his hand, looking embarrassed.

Ann (muttering softly, trying to hide her flustered expression): "I guess it's time to let go… but I just… can't! Your hand is too comfortable!"

Ken (coldly, with sarcasm): "Good. I'm free now."

Meanwhile… Akio & Akira

Akio and Akira had been following them from behind.

Suddenly, they caught up and appeared in the scene.

Akio (amused): "Did you see that, Akira? Ann was holding Ken's hand like she was in some romantic movie!"

Akira (smirking, his cheeks slightly red): "Looks like Ann needs someone who understands her better than Ken does."

The two of them walked closer, joining Ken and Ann as they continued down the road together.

Ken (mocking, still walking calmly): "How long are you going to follow me? Am I some kind of wedding ring or what?"

Ann (embarrassed but smiling to herself): "You just don't understand! This isn't what you think!"

Akira (grinning slyly as he stepped even closer to Ann): "I think I'm the perfect man for this job. Ken has no idea how to treat a lady, but I do… especially when it comes to you, Ann-chan."

Suddenly, Akira reached out quickly and grabbed Ann's hand smoothly, his eyes filled with charm as he smiled flirtatiously.

Akira (playfully): "I think your hand belongs in mine more than his. Don't you agree?"

WHAM!!

Ann's face turned into a comical ball of rage, and she punched Akira in the face with all her strength, sending him crashing to the ground.

Ann (screaming): "Let me go, you pervert! What do you think you're doing?!"

Akira (rubbing his scratched cheek, chuckling softly with a smirk): "Oh? I didn't expect that reaction! You're strong, huh? I like that in a woman."

Akio (laughing hysterically, tears forming in his eyes): "Akira, you idiot! Did you seriously think Ann would choose you over Ken?!"

Akira (smugly): "I know it's hard to resist my charm… but if you ever change your mind, Ann-chan, I'm right here! I'm not just handsome, I'm brave enough to handle that punch too!"

Ann violently turned away from Akira, marching straight back to Ken.

Ann (blushing furiously, but with a determined face): "Shut up, you cocky, arrogant, perverted wolf! I belong to Ken-san, and Ken-san belongs to me! End of discussion!!"

Akira (laughing): "I was just joking, you Ken-obsessed maniac! You're so easy to tease!"

Ann (furious, her face red with anger): "I'M EASY TO TEASE?! HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT AFTER GRABBING MY HAND AND FLIRTING LIKE THAT?! I JUST MET YOU TODAY, YOU PERVERT!!"

Akira (closing his eyes, resting his hands behind his head smugly): "Alright, alright, Ann-chan. Thank you for the entertainment. You got what you wanted!"

To be continued…