"Shadows of Blood and Redemption"

Caural charged at Elcos with full force, his blade glinting ominously. As the blade grazed Elcos's chest, he cried out, "Caural! Why are you doing this? Did you really forget me?" His voice was filled with pain and desperation.

Caural's eyes were cold as he replied, "I don't even know who you are, and I'm not your brother."

Elcos, clutching his wound, pleaded, "You joined hands with the people who killed our parents. You are being manipulated! Please listen to me!"

Suddenly, Caural was hit by a series of fragmented flashbacks from his past. They were brief, disjointed, and confusing. He shook his head, trying to clear his mind, and then struck Elcos across the face. "I am not being manipulated! I know what I am doing, and I don't have any parents."

Elcos, struggling to stay on his feet, replied, "You were not this mindless fighter. You didn't even use blades before! These people changed you!"

Caural's expression hardened. "Then I will defeat you without my blade." He sheathed his weapon and began to strike Elcos with his fists, each blow filled with a mix of anger and confusion. Elcos tried to defend himself, but Caural's relentless assault left him reeling. Elcos, after being punched, shouted, "I don't want to fight you!" His voice echoed with desperation. Caural's eyes narrowed as he replied coldly, "I am not a pacifist like you. So, die."

Elcos suddenly remembered his father's words, which had been etched into his memory: "If you are in danger, always fight, no matter who the opponent is, even if it is me or your brother. Fight!" These words ignited a spark within him. With renewed determination, Elcos started fighting back, delivering a strong punch to Caural's jaw.

Caural retaliated swiftly, kicking Elcos's leg and landing a punch on his face. Elcos staggered but tried to gather his strength to deliver another powerful punch. However, his arm began to throb painfully, a lingering effect from the snake bite he had suffered a month ago. "My right hand... urghh... it's paining," Elcos muttered to himself. "My left hand isn't strong enough. I should have trained my left hand too."

Caural noticed Elcos's struggle and smirked. "Your hand is hurting already. You were only able to give one strong punch, and now you're done."

Elcos attempted another punch, but Caural dodged it effortlessly and delivered a crushing blow to Elcos's midsection, causing him to collapse to the ground. After seeing Elcos collapsed, Caural sneered, "What a weakling. Now, back to the plan!" He moved towards Shank, but suddenly he was stopped. He turned back and saw Elcos holding his leg to stop him. Elcos, with a determined look, jumped into the air and landed a punch on Caural's face with his sore hand. Shank, Mitsuki, and Yelena were shocked by his strength and determination.

Caural, taken aback, held his neck and delivered a series of punches. Elcos, with a burst of energy, kicked Caural in the chest and escaped his grip. Seizing the moment, Elcos grabbed Caural's blade and pierced it through his leg. "Brother... you still have a chance to change," Elcos said, his voice filled with hope.

Caural, enraged, kicked Elcos and grabbed his face, slamming it onto the ground. In the shadowy village of Shavik, whispers of a dark past lingered in the air. The village was cloaked in an eerie silence, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves and the distant howl of a wolf. In a dimly lit hut, two figures sat across from each other, their faces partially obscured by the flickering light of a single candle.

"It seems a strong guy was captured in the raid of Shimaz which happened three years ago," the man said, his voice trembling slightly. His eyes darted around the room, as if expecting someone to leap out from the shadows.

The witch, a sinister smile playing on her lips, replied, "Yes... I manipulated him and brainwashed him. He is a very strong soldier, one who can be as powerful as Ervin." Her voice was cold and calculating, sending shivers down the man's spine.

"Are you sure he won't get his memories back and kill us?" the man asked, his voice barely above a whisper. Fear was evident in his eyes as he leaned closer to the witch, seeking reassurance.

The witch's smile widened, revealing a row of yellowed teeth. "He will only remember his memories when blood from someone in his family touches him," she said, her voice dripping with malice. "And I am sure the raiders killed them all. Hehehe." ________________________________________

In the midst of the chaotic raid, Caural's fist connected with Elcos's face with full force, sending him sprawling to the ground. The impact was so powerful that a few drops of Elcos's blood splattered onto Caural's face. As the blood made contact, something within Caural began to shift. Memories, long buried and forgotten, started to resurface, creeping into his consciousness bit by bit.

Caural stood frozen, staring at his bloody hands. The guilt and realization of his actions washed over him like a tidal wave. He could see flashes of his past, moments of happiness, sorrow, and betrayal. The faces of his family, friends, and comrades appeared before him, their voices echoing in his mind. The weight of his deeds pressed heavily on his chest, making it hard to breathe.

Shank, seeing the opportunity, quickly grabbed Elcos and fled from the village. A few minutes later, Ervin arrived at the scene. He saw Caural standing there, staring at his bloody hands. The sight was haunting; Caural's face had darkened with a mix of horror and guilt. The memories of his actions seemed to weigh heavily on him, and the realization of what he had done was too much to bear. As the full impact of his deeds hit him, Caural's strength gave way, and he collapsed to the ground, unconscious.