Chapter 6: The Return of the Dreadmark

Chapter 6: The Return of the Dreadmark

The battle had frozen.

The assassin's blade hovered in mid-air. Gero crouched, his swords raised, blood dripping from his newly scarred eye.

Kaito stood at the center, katana in hand.

He swung it.

At first, nothing.

Then—AGONY.

"AGHHHHHHH!!"

The sword hit the ground with a sharp clang, and Kaito dropped to his knees.

His body twisted.His eyes…BURST into burning stars.

Flames danced in his irises.His smile curved unnaturally.

His skin cracked, glowing faintly with power. His height shrank.His voice trembled—

Then shattered.

What stood now was not Kaito.

It was something else entirely.

A child, no older than 8. Hair longer. Aura darker.But that same eerie grin.

Dreadmark Kaito.Or as the world would soon come to know him: DMK.

He picked up Kaito's sword…

And began to eat it.Bite by bite.Blade and all.Eyes locked with the stunned assassin.

The entire world around them went silent.

The assassin froze mid-swing, body shivering uncontrollably.

Haku didn't flinch.

He exhaled slowly.

"I've seen this once before…"

FLASHBACK – DECADES AGO

The world once trembled before the name:

Haku: Thy Destroyer.

A younger, bulkier Haku sat at the head of a banquet table in a rowdy tavern. His black saber, forged by the famed Ogormy Dwarf Brothers, rested beside him. 1,000 warriors surrounded him, drinking, singing, celebrating conquest.

"To Haku!" they cheered."Slayer of Sea Kings! King of Burning Steel!"

But the celebration stopped when a whisper reached Haku's ear.

His second-in-command leaned in:

"Sir… There's a Dreadmark in this land."

Haku's expression darkened instantly.

No questions.No delay.He left the table and vanished into the Forest of Ruin.

It was dark. The trees twisted unnaturally. The air was thick with the stench of rotting corpses and blood.

A figure stood waiting.Eyes burning like coals. Voice echoed in two tones—one human, one otherworldly.

"So you're the monster that's been killing kings…"

Haku drew his saber.

"You haven't met a real monster yet."

He leapt.

"FIREBALL: FIREBIRD!!"

The phoenix made of flame exploded from his blade—

Direct hit.

But when the smoke cleared—

The figure stood untouched.

It raised a hand.

WHAM.

Haku flew backwards, crashing through trees like paper walls.

He stood up, blood dripping.

"You know how to piss someone off…"

He activated his true power:

"Bleedingstar."

His arms glowed crimson. His saber turned black with blood-red streaks.

He dashed forward, cutting the Dreadmark in two with a thunderous scream.

But when he returned to the tavern…

Everyone was dead.

All 1,000 men. Torn apart.His eyes filled with tears. He buried every last one.

Back to Present

Haku's eyes narrowed.

"And now… the next Dreadmark walks again."

DMK turned toward him and the assassin. His voice layered like an echo:

"I'm going to kill each one of you."

He cracked his fingers. Tossed aside the sword handle.

"WOAH! I DON'T NEED A SWORD!!"

"My hands will be just fine."

He dropped into a strange stance. Loose shoulders. One foot forward.

Then disappeared in a blink—

BOOM.

The assassin froze mid-dodge.

DMK struck her twice with godlike speed. One to the gut. One to the chest.

She flew backwards like a cannonball, crashing into a rock wall.

First blood had been drawn.

END OF CHAPTER 6 Lore & Ability Info Dump Bleedingstar Technique

A legendary technique passed down only to the strongest.

Hardens the user's arms with spiritual force.

Allows melee weapons, fists, and even guns to hit with devastating impact.

Color reflects user's heart:

Red = Strong will, inner rage, protective nature.

Others exist: Blue (calm precision), Black (death intent), Gold (divine justice), etc.

Dreadmark Curse

A generational curse: one person per generation is chosen.

If the previous user survives, the curse still finds another host.

Hosts have dual personalities: their own and the Dreadmark speaking through them.

Power includes:

Unnatural strength

Fear-based aura

Twisted, reality-warping instincts

Regeneration and evolution

Unique "form regression" — they become children in appearance but retain ungodly power.

Hands Only Style (DMK's Technique)

Ancient martial art where the user only uses their hands.

Passive effect: Opponent is stunned briefly when facing it for the first time.

Allows for "Free Swings" — hits that ignore defense or dodges:

DMK currently has 2 Free Swings.

More can be earned through training.

Devastating close-range combat. Weaponless. Fluid. Unpredictable.