Chapter 46 Better of dead

Crimson Vanguard – The Principal's Office

Principal Xander exhaled sharply, his fingers drumming against the desk. "This new intel on the seal… it's almost too much to believe."

Zane, seated across from him, nodded. "You're right. All twelve seals of Alzarel weren't just artifacts—they were people. Brothers, in fact. And the twelfth seal… the youngest of them all… is Renjiro Kurozaki."

Xander leaned back in his chair, eyes narrowing. "I've had multiple requests from the other Crimson Vanguard schools. They're against letting the last seal of Alzarel roam free in the city. They suggest we lock him away—just like the seal itself was." His voice dropped. "Frankly, I don't feel safe knowing that Kai's life is the only thing standing between us and the Demon Lord's return."

Zane crossed his arms. "Kai's getting stronger every day, but let's be real—there are beings out there far beyond his level. If something were to happen to him before he's ready…" He hesitated. "But there's something I've been thinking about. It's just a theory."

Xander's brow furrowed. "Go on."

"What if Kurozaki and Kai can switch bodies at will?" Zane said, leaning forward. "To hold back a Demon King for over a thousand years, Kurozaki had to be insanely powerful. If Kai can tap into that… then maybe we wouldn't have to worry anymore."

Xander tilted his head, considering the idea. "A divine being—one who's existed for centuries—merging with a sixteen-year-old human without side effects or drawbacks? That sounds like wishful thinking."

"Maybe," Zane admitted. "But after a month of holding the seal, I don't think Kai is just a normal human anymore. If anything, he's becoming something else entirely."

****

Inside the City of Ashford – Central Hospital

Dain and Kai walked through the hospital corridor, the bright overhead lights reflecting off the polished floors. The air was crisp with the cold scent of the air conditioning, mingling with the sounds of hushed conversations and the rhythmic squeak of rolling carts.

They stopped in front of a door.

"This is the room. Wait here, I'll be back in a flash," Dain said, pushing the door open and stepping inside.

Kai leaned against the wall beside the door, hands tucked into his pockets, his gaze wandering aimlessly across the bustling hallway.

Inside, Dain moved slowly toward the bed, his eyes locked on it. Beside it stood a cluster of machines, their screens blank, and a wooden bedside drawer. But something was wrong. The bed was smooth, untouched—completely empty.

His brows furrowed.

Just then, a nurse approached, a white towel draped over her arm.

"Hey… why did you guys move my mom?" A small, uneasy smile tugged at Dain's lips.

The nurse hesitated. "We didn't move your mom."

Dain let out a dry chuckle. "What? Then who did? The doctor?"

"No one moved your mom," she said, her voice light but unsure.

Dain's head jerked back slightly. "What? Did she walk out herself?"

The nurse exhaled softly. "Your mother passed away last night."

Dain blinked.

"We tried calling you multiple times, but you didn't answer," she continued. "She suffered a heart attack in the middle of the night. We did everything we could, but… I'm so sorry for your loss. We had to clear the room because we're expecting another patient soon."

A short, breathless laugh escaped Dain's lips. "What do you mean? I saw her yesterday. She was fine. She even slapped me for drinking again, so how could she just… how could she…"

A sharp pain clenched in his chest. His breath hitched.

The nurse lowered her gaze. "I truly am sorry."

Dain sucked in his lip, nodding slowly. "Yeah… sure. It's not your fault." His voice was hoarse. He turned on his heels, pushing through the door with hurried steps.

Kai tilted his head up, lost in thought—until Dain suddenly burst through the door.

Kai's head snapped toward Dain. "Hey man, you done?"

"Uh… yeah. I just need to use the bathroom real quick. I'll be back right away," Dain muttered, avoiding eye contact before stomping off.

Kai shrugged. "Alright, cool."

Five minutes later…

Kai let out a long sigh. "What's taking him so long?" He paced back and forth, growing restless.

His gaze flickered toward the hospital room, suspicion twitching at his brow. Without hesitation, he grabbed the doorknob and stepped inside—only to be met with an empty bed.

His stomach sank. He turned to a nearby nurse, her hands busy cleaning. "Excuse me… what happened to the patient who was here earlier?"

"She passed away last night," the nurse answered flatly before returning to her work.

Kai's eyes widened. His breath hitched as an icy chill shot down his spine. No… His mind raced, already picturing the catastrophe that would unfold if Dain awakened the mark.

His body turned rigid. Then, in an instant, he pivoted on his heel and bolted down the hallway.

He tore down the hallway his feet barely touching the ground the air rushed past him.

 Kai dodged startled nurses and doctors, weaving past curious onlookers. 

 He didn't dare look back, fearing what she might see. His heart raced with every step his mind fixed on one terrifying thought.

 Dain stood at the edge of the rooftop looking down with a blank expression the wind blowing his hair every which way.

Immediately Kai burst through the emergency exit door the bright sunlight slamming into him like a slap.

His eyes widened even more on seeing Dain.

"Dain wait!" Kai yelled his voice shot straight through the vast rooftop before reaching Dain. Dain's head snapped backwards locking eyes with him.

"Listen man I know you're hurting right now and I know the only reason you had to live has been taken away from you which isn't fair but listen what you're about to do now would take thousands of lives so please get down from there" Kai begged.

"My entire life has been a shit show Kai I literally have no reason to want to live everything... Everything has been taken away from me you can't expect to care about a mark that'll make me explode after I die.

You're a good person Kai but I'm not you I'm not as good as you unfortunately I don't care about the lives of anyone other than my mom and now she's dead so why should I care about you or anyone else who'd get caught up in the blast"

"I know you're hurting right now but please I'm begging you don't do this" Kai urged

"You don't know anything Kai" Dain thundered "And the sad truth is you're not here to save me, all you care about is the people who would die after me isn't it".

Immediately he burst into a sadistic laugh, Kai's eyes twitched trying to understand what was happening. "You know what this mark is a blessing, my whole life I've never been able to achieve anything worthwhile but the instant I take my own life the lives of thousands would be lost at least that's something worthwhile".

 Dain raised his gaze up meeting with the sky "This is all the more proof that I'm better off dead huh". "Good bye Kai"

Dain turned away, his

left foot stepping off the rooftop—then his right.

And before Kai's very eyes, he plunged into the open air.