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  Chapter 9: The Darkest Hour**

  After hours of walking in the rain, Yuzuki arrived in the town. The cobblestone streets were muddy, and the dim glow of lanterns swayed in the wind. He entered a corner bar—a modest place, but full of life.

  Inside, the warmth of the room contrasted sharply with the cold outside. People drank and laughed without a care. A man was playing with his small son by the counter, and a group of mercenaries were playing cards at a table. The scene seemed peaceful, but Yuzuki knew it would soon become a battlefield.

  He made his way to the bar, slowly pulling back the hood that partially hid his face.

  — A drink. And a cigarette — he said, his voice low and heavy with fatigue.

  The bartender handed him his order without asking questions. Yuzuki lit the cigarette and took a sip of the bitter drink.

  *"This place... people smiling, living their lives... and I, about to destroy it all."*

  Mao's voice dripped with sarcasm in his mind.

  — **Look at you, the great hero drowning in human sins. I bet you even taste a bit of freedom in this, don't you?**

  Yuzuki did not answer. His eyes drifted around the bar, taking in every detail: the worn wood of the tables, the laughter filling the air, the fleeting sparkle in the boy's eyes as he played with his father.

  — **What are you waiting for, Yuzuki? We both know how this ends. Do you really think you can change anything?**

  He inhaled the cigarette and let the smoke curl from his lips. His thoughts swirled with doubt, guilt, and determination.

  *"I am not a hero. I never was. What I am about to do... might be my greatest sin yet. But there is no other way. There is no salvation for me. Only the end."*

  ***

  ### **The Weight of Revelation**

  The rain pounded the village with almost supernatural intensity. Thunder and lightning briefly lit the sky, making the night even more dark and unsettling. Inside the bar, the atmosphere was drastically different: laughter, singing, and the clink of glasses filled the air, while cigarette smoke mingled with the scent of spilled ale and freshly prepared plates.

  Yuzuki, seated in a corner near the counter, watched everything with hollow eyes. His presence was a stain on the room's joy. With his hood hiding part of his face and a cigarette between his fingers, he looked like a specter from another world.

  — **Look at them** — Mao's sarcastic voice echoed in Yuzuki's mind. — **Such fragile happiness. So easy to destroy... like glass about to shatter.**

  A deafening thunderclap tore through the bar's joyful symphony, followed by a flash of lightning that briefly illuminated the room. The door slammed open with violent force, letting in the icy wind and torrential rain. The entrance of two figures was enough to silence the entire bar.

  Alkaraz entered first, imposing, his silver armor reflecting the dim light. The Alcali emblem on his chest—a silver tree—seemed to glow like a grim warning. A weathered black hood partially hid his scarred face. His razor-sharp teeth glinted as he drew on a cigarette, exhaling smoke slowly, while his eyes—one jade green, the other white and opaque—scanned the room with deadly calm.

  Behind him, Yuri followed. His gray cloak trailed along the wet floor, and his black hood did nothing to conceal the unsettling glow of his blood-red eyes. He moved like a living shadow, the scent of iron preceding him.

  They strode to the counter without hurry as every patron's gaze fixed on them. The bartender, nervous, wiped glasses frantically, avoiding eye contact.

  — Two beers — said Alkaraz, his voice soft yet as firm as distant thunder.

  Meanwhile, Yuzuki remained motionless, every muscle coiled. He knew the moment had come.

  — **Ah, look at that** — Mao murmured in his mind with a low laugh. — **Great Alkaraz and his bloodhound. This is going to be fun.**

  Alkaraz raised his mug and took a long draught. Then he slowly turned his head, his eyes locking onto Yuzuki. The bar seemed to freeze.

  — So it is you — said Alkaraz, his voice laced with sinister calm.

  Yuri leaned forward slightly, his eyes shining with excitement.

  — **He knows. Oh, he knows very well, Yuzuki. You are in deep trouble now.**

  — Do you know who I am? — Alkaraz asked, breaking the silence once more. His voice was lower now, almost a whisper, yet heavy with threat.

  — I do — Yuzuki replied, his voice steady despite the weight of the moment.

  Alkaraz exhaled deeply and set his mug back on the counter.

  — Then tell me, Yuzuki... how did it feel to plunge that knife into my father's throat while he slept?

  The bar, already silent, seemed to lose even its air. Yuzuki did not answer at once. He lifted his gaze, letting Alkaraz see the darkness in his eyes.

  — It was necessary.

  The simple, almost indifferent answer drew a low, scornful laugh from Yuri. Alkaraz, however, remained unmoved, studying Yuzuki as if dissecting every inch of his soul.

  — Necessary — Alkaraz repeated. — Is that how you justify your actions? Is that how you live with the blood you have spilled?

  Inside Yuzuki's mind, Mao was in ecstasy.

  — **Oh, how delightful! You really know how to provoke, Yuzuki. No wonder I love you so much.**

  Alkaraz leaned forward, resting his elbows on the counter.

  — You stole from me, Yuzuki. You stole more than a father. You stole the only man I ever respected. And now I am here to settle the score.

  ***

  ### **The Dance...**

  The bar, once a haven of joy, had slowly transformed into a stage of tension. Laughter turned to uneasy whispers, and glances flicked between Alkaraz and Yuri.

  Alkaraz raised his calm, menacing voice, slicing the air like a blade:

  — No one leaves this bar. If anyone tries, it will be the last mistake of their life. Drink, enjoy, sing. This is an order.

  The bartender, hands shaking, served their drinks. Yuri exuded repressed madness and violence as he spoke:

  — I have always liked bars. So many scents—alcohol, sweat, blood... Fascinating, is it not? — He laughed while the patrons averted their eyes.

  Alkaraz drew a deep breath and, without looking at anyone in particular, spoke again:

  — My mother—sacrificed as part of a ritual, all to create a powerful Kugutsu for the king. I led her to the altar with my own hands. — He paused, savoring the memory as the bar fell silent. — I did it without remorse. Because it is the destiny of the strong to decide who lives and who dies.

  The bartender, sweating profusely, tried to break the tension:

  — A-and your father? He was a great man—I have heard many stories about him. — His voice trembled, and he immediately regretted speaking.

  Alkaraz slowly turned his head toward him, a grim smile revealing his sharp teeth:

  — My father, Fausto, was the greatest ritualist the island has ever known—feared even by the king. He always carried one book... *the* book. Black, with golden details and the emblem of a blood tree. The greatest treasure of our clan. — His tone grew colder. — That book holds secrets that could drive anyone mad—forbidden knowledge of Kugutsus and absolute power. And that is why I am here.

  Yuri laughed, his voice rolling through the hall like thunder:

  — That book—surely already touched by unworthy hands, right, Alkaraz?

  Alkaraz nodded, fixing the bartender with his gaze until the man looked away.

  — It is out there somewhere. And I will find it. — He addressed the entire bar, his voice ringing out: — Enjoy this night. Because tomorrow, many of you may not be alive. — The threat alone sent chills through everyone present.

  Meanwhile, Mao howled in Yuzuki's mind:

  — **What a marvelous play, Yuzuki! See the fear in their eyes—they are like rats, waiting for the final blow.** — He paused, then added more quietly: — **But tell me, what will you do? Sit there like a fool, or will you act?**

  Yuzuki remained motionless, his eyes on the two men. The weight of the rain and the storm outside mirrored the tension within. Lightning highlighted his serious expression under the hood. He knew the moment to strike was close—but for now, he waited, still as stone, for his enemies' next move.

  Alkaraz raised his beer mug and, without breaking eye contact, whispered:

  — The night is only beginning. I hope you are ready.

  Kanji vs. Alcali**

  The tension in the Salem City bar had reached its peak. The laughter and toasts had vanished, replaced by silence and fear. Children cried, their screams cutting through the dense smoke that now filled the room. Parents, desperate, tried to reach their children, but their legs and arms would not obey. Their bodies were manipulated like puppets by an invisible and sadistic power.

  — Look at me! All of you are now part of my theater of blood! — Yuri declared, his voice booming like thunder.

  His red eyes burned like embers, and the smile that formed on his face revealed a perverse pleasure. He controlled the blood of the innocent as if he were a maestro conducting a macabre symphony. Sharp blades made of blood emerged from the victims' veins, turning each person into a living weapon.

  Parents screamed as they saw their children involuntarily walking toward the battle. Children wept as their small hands gripped blood-formed spears, ready to attack. An elderly man, with tears in his eyes, tried to resist the control, but his arms were raised, wielding a blood sword pointed at Yuzuki.

  Yuri licked his lips, as if savoring every moment.

  — You are beautiful! The pain, the despair—all of it is part of the perfect art! Let us dance until the last breath escapes your bodies!

  Meanwhile, Alkaraz remained silent, his body hidden by the dense smoke. Only the intense, suffocating smell of smoke gave away his presence. Suddenly, a low, guttural laugh echoed through the bar.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  — There is no escape... Whoever leaves, dies. Whoever stays, dies too. So drink, laugh, live your final moments the way you should! — said Alkaraz, his voice calm yet dripping with irony.

  Amid the chaos, Yuzuki stood firm, his green eyes locked onto his enemies. Unlike the faces of fear and despair around him, he was smiling. A cold, calculated smile that contrasted sharply with the horror of the scene.

  — You think you have cornered me, do you not? — Yuzuki said calmly. — You are so confident you have not even realized where you really are.

  Alkaraz stepped out of the smoke, exhaling a puff from his cigarette and raising an eyebrow.

  — You talk too much for a man who is surrounded, Yuzuki. Tell me, what can you do against an entire clan? Against me?

  Yuri laughed, raising his arms. The people under his control moved forward like grotesque marionettes, surrounding Yuzuki.

  — Let us get this over with. I have no patience for the mind games of a cornered rat — Yuri thundered.

  But Yuzuki kept smiling. He lifted his cloak, revealing a black book adorned with golden details and the symbol of a blood tree on its cover.

  Alkaraz froze. For a moment, his expression shifted from confidence to surprise.

  — The Book of Faust... — Alkaraz murmured, his voice thick with tension.

  Yuzuki opened the book. A blinding golden light filled the bar, forcing everyone to squint. He smiled darkly, his presence now radiating something far more powerful and terrifying than any Kugutsu.

  — You still have not understood, have you? — he said, as the pages of the book glowed intensely. — You are in Pangea, in the city of Salem. This is my battlefield. I have studied everything about you—your clans, your powers. I have developed my techniques in secret, far from the eyes of Mao and anyone else.

  Yuzuki's smile widened, his green eyes shining fiercely.

  — And now, you will face something you never imagined. **Dankai: Wall of Sin.**

  A deafening roar filled the bar, followed by a thunderclap that shook the windows. Mao laughed loudly inside Yuzuki's mind, his laughter echoing like that of a triumphant demon.

  — **This is going to be fun! Finally, Yuzuki, you are showing who you really are!**

  ***

  ### **Yuzuki, the True Demon**

  Inside the bar, silence reigned, broken only by the thunder roaring outside. The golden energy radiating from Yuzuki lit up the room with a divine intensity, while Mao, astonished, watched the events unfold before his eyes.

  — **This... This is impossible** — Mao murmured, his voice trembling with a mix of fear and ecstasy. — **I have seen lunatics, religious fanatics, even the most terrifying Kanjis, but never... never anyone from the Island of Kugutsu like him.**

  Yuzuki gave no reply. His gaze was locked onto Yuri, whose red eyes now flickered with desperation. With a firm gesture, Yuzuki summoned the technique.

  — **Dankai: Wall of Sin.**

  A golden glow enveloped the bodies of Yuri's victims, breaking the control of the blood Kugutsu. The people, once unwilling puppets, collapsed to the ground, gasping for air.

  Yuri staggered back, stunned.

  — Wh-what did you do? How dare you sever my connection? — His voice, once powerful, now trembled.

  Yuzuki moved forward with another gesture.

  — **Shinkō.**

  The energy surrounding Yuri began to dissipate. The blood Kugutsu that served as his extension faded away, like mist scattering in the wind. Yuri fell to his knees, unable to contain his panic.

  — No... This cannot be... How can something like this exist?!

  Mao laughed loudly.

  — **Ah, Yuri, look at you! The great blood demon reduced to a rat! But, Yuzuki, I must admit, even I am impressed. You... you suspected me all along, did you not?**

  Yuzuki remained silent. His expression was serene, but his eyes gleamed with an intensity that bordered on the inhuman.

  ***

  ### **Alkaraz's Smile**

  Alkaraz observed everything calmly. The smell of smoke emanating from his body mixed with the tense atmosphere. He then smiled, a smile filled with irony and malice.

  — So, this is it. You knew all along. You knew we were coming. You planned this. You are not human, Yuzuki. You are worse than a Kugutsu... you are the demon itself.

  Alkaraz took a step forward, his presence overwhelming.

  — **Dankai: Alcali Protection.**

  A silver seal surrounded his body, blocking any attempt from Yuzuki to affect his connection with the Kugutsu.

  — Yuri, we were deceived. He predicted everything. You must reconnect with your Kugutsu. I will take care of this bastard until then.

  Yuri disappeared into the smoke, trying to reestablish his connection.

  ***

  ### **The Contrast: Strategy Against Brutality**

  Yuzuki remained calm, his eyes following Alkaraz's movements.

  — Not everything is about strength or power. Planning is the real weapon. — He raised the golden book. — **Dankai: Divine Protection Seal.**

  A golden barrier covered everyone in the bar, guiding them to the exit. Children cried as they were carried by their parents.

  — Go! Now! — Yuzuki shouted.

  Alkaraz, realizing he was losing control of the situation, took the brass knuckles from his belt and equipped them.

  — You can protect these people, but you will not protect yourself from me.

  With impossible speed, Alkaraz charged. His punches came from all sides, hidden by the smoke that made him disappear and reappear like a ghost. Yuzuki tried to defend himself, but the attacks were brutal and relentless. Each punch that hit his body felt like the impact of a thunderclap. He was thrown against the counter, then into the tables, which broke under the impact.

  — This is the end, Yuzuki. You may have planning, but your body is weak! — Alkaraz roared.

  Yuzuki spat blood but kept smiling.

  — Do not underestimate the mind of someone who has already prepared for the pain.

  Meanwhile, Mao begged:

  — **Yuzuki, let me fight! I can finish him off now!**

  — *No, Mao. I do not want to depend on you. Not yet.*

  — **You are stubborn, boy. But you know that, when you fall, I will take control.** — Mao laughed, though his voice sounded anxious.

  Yuzuki continued to resist, each blow pushing him to the limit. He knew he could not defeat Alkaraz through brute strength, but he needed time to ensure everyone escaped.

  Finally, with the last child crossing the door, Yuzuki lifted his head, smiling.

  — Now, this is it...

  Amok vs. Yuzuki**

  Yuzuki no longer felt his own feet. Each of Alkaraz's blows was an explosion of force, a thunderclap echoing through the ruined bar. Brutal fists hurled him against tables, chairs, and walls, while his head smashed against the counter. The impacts sounded like war drums, and blood streamed down Yuzuki's face, mingling with dust and splintered wood.

  Alkaraz moved through the smoke like a specter—silent and invisible—revealed only by the devastation he left behind. Suddenly, he unleashed his first offensive technique: "Phantom Punch." He vanished completely—no energy, no scent, no aura—for an instant. Yuzuki tried to track him, but before he could react, Alkaraz's fist drove his head into the floor with devastating force.

  The sickening crack of bone made Yuzuki scream in agony. Blood spurted, staining Alkaraz's knuckles, as he pummeled Yuzuki mercilessly. Each punch carved craters into the bar's floor, shattered walls, and even brought down part of the ceiling. Outside, refugees fleeing in the storm froze at the sound of Yuzuki's cries. Elders, adults, and children—soaked by the torrential rain—bowed their heads in prayer, placing all their hope of survival in him.

  Meanwhile, on the other side of the city, Yuri moved like a lightning bolt. He ran at superhuman speed, circling Salem. Each footfall shook the earth with thunderous booms. The merciless rain and biting cold did nothing to slow him. Lightning illuminated his blood-red eyes, which shone with murderous intent.

  Back in the bar, Yuzuki—still being battered—found an opening. A well-placed kick to Alkaraz's gut sent him stumbling back, buying precious seconds. Gasping and drenched in blood, Yuzuki staggered to his feet—and realized that everyone had escaped. Free from concern for the innocents, he allowed himself a grim smile.

  — Now I can use everything — he murmured, sliding his hand to the hilt of his sword.

  With a swift motion, Yuzuki bounded off the walls and up to the ceiling, disappearing into the thick smoke. His agility blurred his form, confusing Alkaraz. From above, Yuzuki plunged his sword into the ceiling and hung by his right hand. In his left, he held Fausto's black-and-gold book.

  His eyes flared an intense green as he shouted:

  — I will stop your smoke! **Dankai: Blood Reparation!**

  A golden wave of energy radiated from the book, slicing through the smoke like a blade. Agony tore through Alkaraz's chest, forcing him to his knees. He cried out, clutching his heart as his Kugutsu power unraveled from within.

  — Bastard! — he roared, pounding his fist on the floor. — How did you cancel my ability?! That technique has been passed down through generations of my family! YOU WILL PAY!

  Alkaraz lifted his gaze to Yuzuki—and froze. Those were not the eyes of a desperate man; they were cold and calculating, brimming with conviction. He realized he needed a new strategy.

  — Amok — he whispered, a sadistic smile curling his lips. — Come to me, my Kugutsu!

  A thunderclap split the sky, illuminating the bar's shattered interior. Behind Alkaraz, a monstrous figure materialized. Human in shape but monstrous in presence, a black aura pulsed around it like a malevolent heart.

  — This is Amok — Alkaraz declared, staring directly at Yuzuki. — And he will be the last thing you see before you die.

  Yuzuki said nothing, the book still glowing in his hand. His steady smile showed he was already two moves ahead. As Mao's triumphant laughter echoed in his mind, Yuzuki readied himself for the next assault.

  ***

  ### **Amok vs. Yuzuki**

  The bar's atmosphere was beginning to clear as Alkaraz's smoke dissipated, revealing the scene of destruction: cracked walls, shattered tables and chairs, and a floor littered with shards of glass and blood. The sound of the driving rain outside seeped in through gaps in the walls, mingling with distant thunder. The air was heavy, charged with tension and electricity.

  Amok emerged like a living shadow. His black eyes gleamed with inhuman coldness, his meticulously styled black hair framing a killer's visage, and his dark robes reinforced his aura of a lethal predator. He wielded an imposing sword, its silver skull-shaped hilt and jet-black blade seeming to absorb all light.

  A chill ran down Yuzuki's spine. Fear surged through him like an unstoppable current. *"This... cannot be just a Kugutsu,"* he thought, his eyes wide facing Amok. The creature seemed too human—as if it carried the essence of something beyond mortality. He drew a deep breath, forcing himself to master the terror that threatened to paralyze him.

  Alkaraz laughed with satisfaction.

  — Now we will make this city bleed — he declared, a diabolical grin on his face.

  Amok tilted his head slightly, his soft voice slicing the air like a blade:

  — A pact, Alkaraz. I fight for you... in exchange for the souls of this city. I smell the flesh, the despair. I want it all.

  Alkaraz's grin widened.

  — Accepted — he replied without hesitation. — We will turn Salem into an altar of blood.

  Yuzuki tightened his grip on his sword's hilt. He knew he stood at a complete disadvantage. Two lethal foes faced him now—and Yuri was still at large, concocting something to deepen the chaos. Yet he smiled—a grin that defied circumstances and dismissed fear. Yuzuki knew he had only one chance.

  He swiftly opened the book and read a few lines before closing it and tucking it away. That moment felt crucial, as if he had discovered the key to turning the tide. With both hands on his sword, he pulled it from the ceiling beam and landed on the floor in a fluid motion. His green eyes burned with a fierce intensity.

  Outside, Yuri was completing his plan. He raced through Salem at superhuman speed, tracing a perfect circle around the city. Each step resounded like thunder, lightning illuminating his slender form. Atop an abandoned church, he paused, surveying the horizon. Anticipation quickened his heartbeat—he loved the chaos, the control, the power. A wicked smile curved his lips before he vaulted from building to building, returning to the bar.

  Inside, the fight began. Amok and Alkaraz exchanged a glance. In perfect sync, they attacked. Their movements were so swift and precise that Yuzuki could scarcely follow. His sword clashed against Amok's blade and Alkaraz's fists, and only the golden barrier he had conjured kept him alive. Each strike made the floor shudder, further cracking the already-ruined room.

  Amok fought methodically, studying Yuzuki's movements, while Alkaraz employed an aggressive, chaotic style, seeking any opening. Yuzuki retreated, defending as best he could. Thoughts raced through his mind—he needed a strategy.

  Suddenly, Amok leapt high, spinning in midair.

  — **Symphony of Death** — he whispered. A macabre melody echoed through the bar, as if the blade itself sang. The sound was hypnotic, disorienting Yuzuki's vision. Dizziness struck, and in that moment Alkaraz surged forward, landing a blow that sent Yuzuki crashing into the wall.

  From above, Amok vanished and reappeared in an instant. His sword descended toward Yuzuki's neck. In a reflexive move, Yuzuki deflected the fatal strike—but not without cost. He screamed in pain as his right ear was sliced. Blood streamed down his cheek, mixing with sweat and grime.

  — Is that the best you have got? — Alkaraz taunted, closing in. — You are nothing but an insect trying to escape giants.

  Despite his wound, Yuzuki smiled again. Memories of training with Gotier, of countless nights studying the book and planning every detail, flooded him.

  — I am not just strength — he panted, determined. — I am a strategist.

  Amok watched him intently, his black eyes gleaming.

  — Interesting — he murmured. — You do not seem ready to give up... but your fate is sealed.

  Outside, Mao watched eagerly, excitement gleaming in his thoughts.

  — **Yuzuki... you really are a demon. Perhaps even more than me** — he whispered, chuckling softly. He wanted to intervene but knew this moment was crucial—and his anticipation of the coming chaos only grew.

  All the while, thunder roared and rain fell even harder, as if nature itself bore witness to this inhuman clash. The chapter ends with blood-soaked Yuzuki rising once more, Alkaraz and Amok closing in—readying for their next assault.