Tsukishima was silent.
Not peaceful—
but suffocating.
Doors were shut. Windows barely open. Shadows moved behind thin curtains, but no one dared step outside.
They were all hiding.
The streets were empty.
Too empty.
Shizuma walked carefully through the narrow path, his eyes scanning every corner.
"…This isn't normal," he muttered.
"I know."
Arai stepped out from the side, sword already in her hand. Her expression was sharp, focused.
"No bodies," she said. "No movement. Just fear."
Shizuma exhaled. "…So they're all inside."
Arai nodded.
A faint wind passed.
whoooooosh…
Both of them stopped.
"…You feel that?" she asked.
"…Yeah."
The air felt sharp.
Like it was being sliced apart again and again.
Then—
The wind gathered.
Dust rose slowly from the ground, swirling in one spot ahead.
A figure stood there.
Calm.
Still.
His hands hung loosely—but the air around his fingers distorted, as if invisible blades were forming.
Arai's grip tightened.
"…So you're the one."
The man tilted his head slightly.
"…Looks like someone capable showed up."
Shizuma stepped forward, eyes cold. "Name."
The man smirked.
"…Kaibutsu Kaze."
A faint gust circled him.
"They call me the wind that cuts."
He raised his hand slightly.
"Remember it."
SWOSHHH—!!
A sharp invisible slash tore through the ground beside them, splitting it open like paper.
Arai didn't wait.
She moved.
CLANG—!
Her sword cut toward his neck—
But—
Nothing.
"…Gone?" she muttered.
A flicker—
Behind—
"Shizuma—!"
SLASHHH—!
A deep cut ripped across his back.
"Ghh—!"
He stumbled forward, blood spilling down his clothes.
Kaibutsu Kaze stood behind him, calm.
"You're reacting too late," he said.
Arai stepped in front instantly.
"…Don't move."
"I'm fine—"
"You're not."
Kaibutsu Kaze chuckled softly.
"Interesting," he said. "But still slow."
WHOOSH—!
He vanished again.
Arai swung—
CLANG! CLANG!
Empty air.
Shizuma tried to follow—
swish—!
Another cut grazed him.
"Tch—!"
"…He's reading us," Shizuma muttered.
Arai narrowed her eyes. "…Then we stop letting him lead."
Kaibutsu Kaze appeared again, relaxed.
"It won't matter," he said. "You're already behind."
WHOOSH—!
He disappeared—
Straight toward Arai.
She turned—
There.
Right in front of her.
Hand raised.
Air compressing violently.
"You're the sharpest one here," he said calmly. "So I'll remove you first."
Arai moved—
But—
Not fast enough.
Then—
Everything stopped.
The wind died.
The air grew heavy.
…thump
A step echoed.
Kaibutsu Kaze froze.
"…What… is this…?"
Another step.
thump…
The pressure intensified.
Not wind.
Not speed.
Weight.
Shizuma's eyes widened.
"…Don't," he said. "Don't go near him."
Kaibutsu Kaze hesitated.
For the first time—
Fear crept in.
Slowly—
He turned.
A shadow stretched across the ground.
A large figure walked forward.
Tetsuya.
Silent.
Calm.
Each step heavy enough to crush the air itself.
Kaibutsu Kaze's expression changed.
"…What are you?"
No answer.
He attacked.
SWOOSH—!
A wind blade shot forward—
But—
CRACK—!
It shattered before reaching him.
"…Impossible…"
Tetsuya kept walking.
Step.
Step.
Closer.
Kaibutsu Kaze gritted his teeth.
"Then I'll cut you directly!"
He dashed forward—
Appearing right in front of Tetsuya.
Too close.
A mistake.
Tetsuya moved.
Just once.
BOOOOM—!!
The punch landed.
Raw.
Heavy.
Just force.
Kaibutsu Kaze's body snapped back as he was blasted away—
CRASH—!
Slamming into the ground, rolling across the empty street.
Silence.
Arai stared.
Shizuma stared.
"…That alone sent him flying…" Shizuma whispered.
Tetsuya turned.
And began walking away.
Calm.
Like it was already over.
Behind him—
Kaibutsu Kaze coughed, forcing himself up.
"…I'm not… done…"
His eyes shifted—
Toward the houses.
Toward the people hiding inside.
A twisted smile appeared.
"Let's see how long you can protect them…"
He raised his hand—
whoooosh—!
Nothing.
He tried again.
Nothing.
"…What?!"
His voice cracked.
"…Why isn't it working?!"
Tetsuya stopped.
Without turning—
"They're inside."
"…Inside what?!"
Kaibutsu Kaze felt it.
A boundary.
A fortress.
Everything within it—
Untouchable.
Tetsuya turned.
Slowly.
Walked back.
Each step heavier.
Kaibutsu Kaze stepped back unconsciously.
Fear.
Real fear.
Tetsuya reached him.
Grabbed him by the collar.
Lifted him effortlessly.
"W-wait—!"
Tetsuya's grip tightened.
His voice came out calm—
But heavier than before.
"…Almighty Shock."
BOOOOOOOM—!!!
The second punch landed.
Stronger.
Deeper.
The air itself cracked.
Kaibutsu Kaze's body distorted violently as the force tore through him completely—
"GAAAAAAH—!!"
He was launched—
WHOOOOOSH—!!
Flying across Tsukishima—
Smashing through trees—
CRAAASH—!!!
And disappearing deep into the jungle beyond.
Silence returned.
The wind slowly came back.
Arai lowered her sword.
Shizuma exhaled slowly.
Both of them looked at Tetsuya.
Different now.
"…Kaibutsu Kaze got destroyed…" Shizuma muttered.
Arai's eyes narrowed.
"…And he didn't even try."
Tetsuya walked past them.
Unbothered.
Like nothing had happened.
Shizuma looked at his back.
"…You've been hiding this?"
No answer.
Arai spoke quietly—
"…He's not normal."
Shizuma nodded.
"…Yeah."
Now they understood.
Tetsuya wasn't just strong.
He was—
immovable.
TO BE CONTINUED...