Kado's breath came sharp as he shut his eyes again.
"...What was that?"
Silence—
Then whispers.
Low. Growling.
Voices.
"…the new one…"
"…the feast…"
"…the Death Curse has chosen again…"
Kado's eyes snapped open. "Who said that?"
The voices didn't stop.
"…foolish curse…"
"…this one is different…"
"…we'll take him…"
Kado staggered back, clutching his head. "I can hear you…"
His right eye burned—then bled into crimson.
The world stretched again.
Forest. Distance. Movement.
The demon beasts.
They stopped.
Turned.
Looked straight at him.
Kado's breath hitched.
"…they see me."
A low growl echoed in his mind.
"Come… vessel of death…"
Kado's jaw clenched.
"…No."
His voice dropped.
"I'll destroy you before you even get close."
The floor beneath him cracked slightly as he stepped forward—
Then he ran.
Fast.
Too fast.
The corridor blurred past him.
"What—?!" Kado gasped. "Why is the air so—cold?!"
The ground rushed beneath his feet, closing distance unnaturally. His body moved before he could think.
Backyard.
Fence.
He didn't stop.
He leapt—
Cleared it in one motion.
Landed.
Didn't break.
Didn't slow.
"…What is happening to me?"
The academy wall rose ahead.
High. Solid.
Kado didn't hesitate.
He grabbed the edge—
Pulled himself up with raw force.
"Move!" he growled under his breath.
He vaulted over—
Dropped—
And landed hard on the other side.
Forest.
Dark. Breathing. Waiting.
The voices returned.
"…he's coming…"
"…good…"
"…bring him closer…"
Kado straightened slowly, crimson eye glowing faintly in the dark.
"…Try me."
And he stepped deeper into the forest.
Kado burst into the forest clearing, skidding to an abrupt halt.
Three demon beasts, grotesque and hulking, tore at a human corpse. Their heads snapped up, eyes like burning coals locking onto him.
"Unwise," one rasped, a low wave of force erupting, slamming into Kado.
He cried out, covering his bleeding ears, the agony searing. "Stop!" he roared, pushing through the pain, ready to charge.
Then, a voice, calm and ancient, echoed in his mind, not from the beasts, but from within him. *Stop.*
"Who's that?" Kado demanded, scanning the snarling demons. The voice resonated again, clearer now, a distinct presence.
*I am the Death Curse. A fragment of the King's power, bound within you. You are the weakest of your kind, Kado, and you are not ready to die. Retreat.*
Kado's jaw tightened. "If you're here to help, then help. Otherwise, stay out of my head!"
A fleeting image of a snarling wolf flashed in his mind, a primal instinct. He saw another beast closing in.
*Stay put. Do not fight the pressure.* The Death Curse's voice was firm, a command Kado instinctively obeyed.
The five demon beasts converged. Kado closed his eyes, a strange calm washing over him. When they snapped open, his right eye blazed dark red, blood-hued, but it wasn't Kado looking out.
Black, inky veins crawled up his arm, hardening into razor claws. His feet felt impossibly light as the veins snaked across his face, pushing out sharp fangs.
His right ear elongated, tufts of fur sprouting. A guttural groan tore from his throat as the transformation completed, Kado's consciousness receding into a dark corner of his own mind.
The possessed form launched itself forward, a dark blur.
It grabbed one demon beast by its horn, twisting, and slammed it into the ground with bone-shattering force.
Before it could stir, the form was on the second, its claws digging deep into its throat, tearing it wide open.
The elongated ear twitched, sensing another beast. It met its charge with a powerful kick, sending it crashing into a tree, splintering wood.
The Curse-driven body moved like a demon, a feral dance of death. It snatched a fallen branch, a heavy club in its transformed grip, and became a whirlwind. It circled the remaining beasts, a blur of speed, shredding their flesh, tearing them apart with brutal efficiency.
It stood, chest heaving, body painted in their blood. The branch dropped from its hand. Weakness washed over the form as it stumbled towards the river.
The demonic power receded, the red eye fading, the veins retracting. Kado gasped, his own consciousness flooding back, staring at his blood-soaked hands, his reflection in the water.
"What... what was that?"
*A lynxed demon form,* the Death Curse answered, its voice now a faint echo. *But be warned, Kado.
Continue to surrender your body so freely, and you will lose your consciousness to me. You must train. Master this power, or be consumed by it.*
Voices.
Human.
"…Over here!"
"…I smell blood—"
"Five beasts… all dead?"
Kado's head snapped up.
"…They're here."
Footsteps closed in. Teachers. Students.
He clicked his tongue. "Tch."
No time.
He turned—ran—
Fence ahead.
He jumped, clearing it in one motion—landed—kept moving.
"Just move…" he muttered, breath steadying as he sprinted back toward the academy.
"Five demon beasts?"
"No way—who killed them?"
"That's not normal…"
Kado walked past them, silent, eyes forward.
A loud bip echoed.
"Training time! All first-years to the grounds!"
Kado exhaled slowly. "…Great."
The training field buzzed with noise.
Students lined up.
Kado stepped into place, shoulders slightly tense.
Riku rushed to his side.
"Hey! Where were you?" he whispered. "Did you hear? Five demon beasts—dead! Torn apart like—"
"I heard," Kado cut in quietly.
Riku blinked. "…You look terrible."
"I'm fine."
"…You don't look fine."
Kado didn't answer.
A presence passed him—
Sharp. Confident.
Kaori.
She bumped his shoulder—hard—her hair flicking across his face.
"Watch it, weakling."
Kado didn't react.
She stepped into the line opposite him, blade resting behind her shoulder.
"…Still standing, huh?" she added, smirking.
Kado looked away. "…Focus on yourself."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
A heavy cage was dragged into the field.
Inside—
A demon beast.
Bound. Growling.
"Injured but alive," a teacher announced.
"Your task—strike and weaken it. Show control, not fear."
Chains snapped loose.
The beast roared.
Kado's fingers tightened around his sword.
"…Not now," he muttered under his breath.
A cold shiver ran through him.
A reminder.
He couldn't use that power here.
Not in front of everyone.
"Go!"
Students rushed in.
Blades clashed against thick hide—
Small cuts. Shallow.
The beast swung—students scattered.
Kaori stepped forward.
Fast.
Too fast.
She gripped her sword behind her—
Then moved—
A flash—
SLASH.
A deep cut tore across the beast's shoulder.
Blood spilled.
Kado's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…That's impressive."
Kaori smirked, stepping back. "Next."
Kado stepped forward.
The world narrowed.
The beast's eyes locked onto his—
Then—
"…Help me… master…"
Kado froze.
"…What?"
"…Help me…"
His grip tightened.
He scoffed under his breath.
"Sorry."
He tilted his head slightly.
"Your master's already in me."
A few trainees glanced at him.
"…What did he just say?"
Kado ignored them.
He moved.
Fast.
He dropped low—
Sliding under the beast—
His blade cut across its underbelly—
Flesh tore.
He twisted—
Jumped—
Aimed for the neck.
"Got you—"
The beast's arm swung.
CRACK.
Kado's body flew—
He slammed into the building wall.
Dust burst around him.
"Ghh—!"
He hit the ground hard, breath knocked out.
"…Tch…"
He tried to push himself up—
The beast turned—charging—
"Careful!" someone shouted.
Before it could reach him—
A flash—
A teacher appeared—
SLASH.
The beast staggered back, roaring.
"Fall back!" the teacher barked.
Kado stayed on one knee, breathing rough.
Riku rushed toward him.
"Are you insane?!"
Kado wiped blood from his lip, eyes steady.
"…I miscalculated."
Inside—
A voice.
Calm.
"YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN DEAD."
Kado's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…What?"
"THAT STRIKE WOULD HAVE CRUSHED YOUR VITALS."
A pause.
"I MOVED THEM."
Kado went still.
"…You what?"
"SHIFTED THEM. SLIGHTLY."
Kado exhaled slowly, steadying himself.
"…So you saved me."
Silence.
Then—
"…DONT MISUNDERSTAND."
Kado let out a quiet breath.
"…Still. Thanks. Demon"
A pause.
Then the voice spoke again—clearer this time.
"DON'T CALL ME DEMON.'"
Kado's brow furrowed.
"…Then what?"
A faint, cold presence settled deeper within him.
"CALL ME...CURSE."
Kado's lips twitched slightly.
"…Curse, huh."