Episode 4

Wang stood in the center of the arena, blood dripping from his fingertips and pooling at his feet. The crowd, buzzing with excitement just moments before, fell silent as his sinister smile spread. Slowly, he raised his hands, and the blood followed suit, defying gravity, swirling in the air like a crimson vortex.

Jack tightened his grip on his blades, his sharp eyes watching every movement. His breathing was steady, his stance poised. The air between the two fighters was thick with tension, as if the stadium itself was holding its breath.

Then Wang blurred out of sight.

The crowd gasped collectively as Jack reacted instantly, his blade flashing like lightning. The sound of steel slicing flesh rang out—shhkk!—as Jack's strike found its mark. Wang stumbled back, and for the first time in tournament history Since Jack has tried to be part of Hunter house over 2 years he has failed and lost everytime he tried engaging, blood sprayed from his chest.

The wound was deep, exposing his heart, visibly beating beneath his torn flesh.

The commentator screamed into the mic, his voice echoing across the stadium. "UNBELIEVABLE! For the first time ever, Wang has been injured! Jack the Reaper has done the unthinkable!"

The crowd erupted into chaos. Cheers and shocked gasps filled the arena, some fans chanting Jack's name while others stared in disbelief.

"This is insane!" one fan shouted.

From the VIP section where Feng was , He tilted his head slightly, a faint smile playing on his lips. "So… he can bleed after all," he murmured.

Above the glass, Sakamoto pressed his face to the window, his jaw hanging open. "Did I just see… his heart? HIS ACTUAL HEART?!" He turned to Lee, grabbing his arm. "That's not normal! That guy's supposed to be dead! How is he still standing? Is his heart battery-powered or something?!"

Lee smirked, leaning casually against the wall. "Relax, kid. The fun's just starting."

"Fun? FUN?!" Sakamoto flailed his arms dramatically. "That's not fun! That's… that's medical malpractice!"

As the crowd chanted Jack's name, the victorious fighter prepared to advance for another strike—but something was wrong. Jack's movements slowed, then stopped entirely. He froze mid-step, his blades limp at his sides, his body trembling slightly.

"What's happening?!" the commentator bellowed. "Jack isn't moving! Is this fatigue, or…?"

In the Glass section, lee's calm voice carried across the room. "Ah, so that's his play. Wang's Blood Manipulation. He let himself get cut on purpose and used the little

Pieces of blood that touched Jack for his technique. A risky move, but it worked."

"WHAT?!" Sakamoto practically screamed, spinning to face Lee. "Are you telling me he wanted to get stabbed? Who does that?!"

Lee sighed, rubbing his temples. "Wang does. Blood Manipulation lets him connect his blood to anyone else's. That little cut was all he needed to trap Jack like a puppet. It's risky but genius."

Sakamoto threw his arms in the air. "This isn't fighting! This is… witchcraft!"

Lee snorted. "Call it what you want, but Wang's about to win."

In the arena, Wang straightened his posture, ignoring the blood still dripping from his chest wound. His voice carried through the stadium, cold and unyielding.

"Blood Manipulation: Mutation Technique… completed."

The crowd fell silent again as Wang approached Jack, who remained frozen in place, unable to defend himself. Wang crouched down, picked up one of Jack's swords, and examined it briefly.

"You fought well," Wang said, his tone almost respectful. "But this is the end."

Without hesitation, he plunged the blade into Jack's chest with a sickening shhkkk!

The crowd erupted in madness. Cheers, gasps, and screams blended into one chaotic roar as the commentator shouted at the top of his lungs.

"WANG HAS DONE IT AGAIN! What a mind-blowing display of power and strategy!"

Sakamoto stumbled back from the glass, pale and wide-eyed. "Nope. Nope, nope, nope. I can't do this. I don't fight like that! I don't stab people—or let them stab me! Nope. I'm out."

Lee chuckled, crossing his arms. "Scared already? You might as well leave now if you can't handle watching."

"I'm not scared!" Sakamoto snapped, crossing his arms defensively. "I'm just… uh… I'm more of a problem-solver, you know? Diplomatic solutions. Peace and love and all that."

Lee gave him a flat look. "Right. Because 'peace and love' work so well in a death tournament."

Lee decided to change the subject. "Alright, let's get serious. How much Shen can you manifest?"

Sakamoto blinked. "How much what now?"

Lee froze, staring at him like he'd just grown a second head. "You're kidding me. You don't even know what Shen is? How the hell are you even here?!"

Sakamoto laughed nervously, scratching the back of his head. "I, uh… came for the prize money. Five million yen, baby!"

Lee groaned. "Unbelievable. Alright, listen up, genius. Shen is the energy inside you that lets you use your abilities. It's the foundation of everything you've seen so far. Without it, you're toast."

"Wait… so Wang uses Shen for his blood thing, and Jack used it for that smoke trick?" Sakamoto asked, his curiosity piqued.

"Exactly," Lee said. He raised his hand, palm out, and a spark of lightning crackled to life, dancing between his fingers. "This is my Shen. I use it for lightning manipulation."

Sakamoto's jaw dropped. "You're a walking thunderstorm?! That's so not fair!"

Lee ignored him, continuing, "If you can't manifest Shen, you won't last a minute down there."

Sakamoto's Name is Called

Before Sakamoto could process this, the commentator's voice boomed again.

"And now, our next fighter… Sakamoto!"

Sakamoto froze. "Wait… what?"

The commentator repeated, "Sakamoto, please report to the arena immediately!"

Lee's eyes widened. "What the—? They're calling your name?!"

Sakamoto laughed nervously. "Oh, great. This is fine. Totally fine."

Lee grabbed his shoulder, glaring at him. "You're gonna die, you idiot!"

But before Lee could finish his rant, Sakamoto was already out the door, grinning nervously. "Don't worry! I've got this! Probably. Maybe. Okay, no, I'm screwed."

Lee groaned, yelling after him. "Freaking hell! You're gonna die, Sakamoto!"

The door shut behind him.