Epsiode 10
### **Chapter 10: The Shadow of Arcade**
Sakamoto knelt beside his grandmother's lifeless body, his hands trembling as he clutched the letter the officers had given him. The room was eerily silent, the weight of the moment pressing down on him like a suffocating blanket. He looked up at the officers, his voice barely above a whisper. "What happened here?"
One of the officers, a middle-aged man with a tired expression, shook his head. "We don't know much. We received a call from this house and rushed over as fast as we could. By the time we arrived, this is what we found." He handed Sakamoto the letter, his tone apologetic. "This was left behind. It might be a clue."
Sakamoto opened the letter, his eyes narrowing as he read the words: **Eagle Island**. His jaw tightened, his grief giving way to a simmering rage. "Eagle Island… What the hell does that mean?"
The officer hesitated before speaking. "We've already reported this to the higher-ranking hunters. They'll take over from here. You don't need to worry."
Sakamoto let out a bitter laugh, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, sure. Just like they handled Draven's situation, right? Let me guess—they'll sit around, do nothing, and hope the problem goes away."
The officers exchanged uneasy glances, but Sakamoto wasn't finished. He stood up, his fists clenched, his voice rising with every word. "I don't care what they do. I'm going to find whoever did this. And when I do… I'll kill them myself."
---
### **The Hunter Association's Meeting**
Meanwhile, at the Hunter Association headquarters, a tense meeting was underway. The room was filled with the most powerful figures in the organization: **Bartoni**, the President of the Association; **Neo**, the Vice President; and **Dogoro**, the Chief Commander of the Police. The atmosphere was heavy, the weight of recent events hanging over them like a storm cloud.
Bartoni, a tall, imposing figure with a deep, resonant voice, leaned back in his chair, his expression grim. "The Ten have resurfaced," he began, his tone somber. "This is not just a threat—it's a declaration of war."
He paused, his gaze sweeping across the room. "Ten years ago, we faced a similar threat. His name was **Arcade**, a legendary hunter from the Shadow House. At the time, there were five houses, but after Arcade's rise, the Shadow House became so powerful that it overshadowed the others. He was… unlike anything we'd ever seen."
Bartoni's voice grew heavier as he continued. "Arcade pushed the limits of Shen energy, developing it to a point where some believed he was a god. But that wasn't enough for him. He discovered a way to combine Shen and Od energy, creating something entirely new—**Shin Kai energy**."
Neo leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "Shin Kai? I've heard rumors, but…"
Bartoni nodded. "Shin Kai is the third state of energy. Shen is the first, Od is the second, and Shin Kai is the fusion of both. It's a godlike power, but it comes at a cost. Arcade's mind was corrupted by it. He lost all sense of reason, seeing strength as the only measure of worth. He began a campaign to destroy anyone without Shen energy, believing them to be unworthy of existence."
The room fell silent, the weight of Bartoni's words sinking in. Dogoro, the police commander, broke the silence. "How did we stop him?"
Bartoni's expression darkened. "We didn't. Not really. It was **Ichabod**, another legendary fighter, who defeated Arcade. Ichabod had also mastered Shin Kai energy, and the battle between them was… catastrophic. In the end, Ichabod emerged victorious, but Arcade's legacy lived on. Before his death, he created **The Ten**, a group of elite fighters dedicated to carrying out his will."
Neo frowned. "And now they're back."
Bartoni nodded. "Yes. And if the rumors are true, Arcade may have even cheated death itself. I don't know how, but if he's alive… we're facing a threat unlike anything we've seen before."
---
###
Bartoni leaned forward, his tone shifting to one of resolve. "We can't let fear paralyze us. The tournament must continue. Its purpose has always been to recruit new talent for the houses. We need strong fighters now more than ever."
Dogoro crossed his arms, his expression skeptical. "And what about the public? They're scared. The explosion at the stadium, the arrival of The Ten—it's all over the news."
Bartoni stood, his presence commanding. "I'll address the press. I'll assure them that the Hunter Association will protect them, no matter what. But we need to act quickly. The Ten won't wait, and neither can we."
---
###