Somewhere in a dark, damp alley on the outskirts of the city…
A man emerged from the shadows, his face twisted with clear frustration. He slammed his fist against the brick wall once before walking deeper in.
Waiting for him was a second man — a mage dressed in a long dark coat, lazily shuffling a glowing deck of cards between his fingers.
The mage raised an eyebrow. "Did you finish him?"
Gitoshi spat on the ground, clearly irritated.
"My technique betrayed me. Instead of crushing a vital organ, it only stole his voice. He'll be mute for the next 12 hours. Nothing more."
He stepped closer, eyes burning with annoyance.
"But don't think your Card Manipulation will save us, Megtsar."
Megtsar let out a mocking laugh. He stood up straight and flicked a glowing card into the air, catching it smoothly.
"Don't worry. Unlike you, my technique won't betray me, Gitoshi."
Gitoshi growled. "If it had hit his liver or veins properly, he would've died on the spot. No noise, no struggle."
Megtsar smirked, spreading his cards like a fan.
"Still… it's good enough. He can't speak now. He can't warn his little brother. He'll just have to run like a scared animal. Twelve hours is more than enough time for us to corner both of them."
Gitoshi crossed his arms, trying to act superior.
"Admit it. I still did the best part."
Megtsar's grin turned cold and dangerous.
"We will do the best part… together."
Back in the small apartment…
Kanashimi sat motionless on the floor, still holding Haru close. He kept trying to speak, but nothing came out. No sound. Not even a whisper.
What… what is happening to me?
I didn't feel any pain. I didn't sense any technique. Why did my voice suddenly disappear? Is this because I used Lightning Bird last night? Or is someone doing this to me from far away?
Yuna…? No… she wouldn't use something like this. Then who?
Kanashimi's mind was spiraling with confusion and growing fear. He gently touched his own throat, trying again and again to make even the smallest sound.
Nothing.
Haru looked up at him with big, worried eyes, his small hands clutching Kanashimi's shirt tightly.
Big brother can't talk… Why?He looks so confused and scared… Did I do something bad?Yesterday there was blood and now brother lost his voice… Is the world trying to take him away from me? I don't want that… I want my normal big brother back.
Haru's eyes started to water again. He pressed his face into Kanashimi's chest and spoke in a small, trembling voice.
"Brother… why can't you talk? Are you sick? Did the bad uncle do this to you?"
Kanashimi could only shake his head slowly. He hugged Haru tighter, stroking his back in comforting circles, but inside he felt completely helpless.
I don't know what's happening to my voice…And because I don't know, I can't even explain it to you.If I can't speak how am I supposed to protect you when they come? How do I tell you to run if something happens?
He looked down at Haru's teary face and forced a gentle smile, even though his heart was breaking.
Haru sniffled and tried to be strong.
"It's okay, brother… Even if you can't talk, I'll stay with you. I'll be very good today. I won't ask for too many things. Just… please don't leave me."
Kanashimi nodded and kissed the top of Haru's head, his eyes burning with unshed tears.
my voice might return… or everything might end.
Yuna is coming.Those men from last night are probably still looking for us.And I'm sitting here… completely mute… unable to warn anyone.
The Sunday morning sun continued to rise outside, painting the apartment in soft golden light.
But inside, an invisible countdown had already begun.
And neither Kanashimi nor Haru knew how much time they truly had left.
Kanashimi sat frozen, his mind racing in the heavy silence.
No… I can't do that.
I can't use that technique.
If I activate it, everyone within a 2km radius will fall asleep instantly… and every Special Art and technique will be nullified. Completely reset.
If that man can hurt organs without even touching… then the next time he might aim straight for the brain or heart. I can't risk it so carelessly.
Haru suddenly stood up, swung his little hand in a cute motion, and guided a glass of drinking water from the table toward his brother using his ice-water art. The glass floated gently and landed in front of Kanashimi.
"Brother… drink. It's for you," Haru said softly, trying to take care of him.
Kanashimi's heart melted and broke at the same time. He gently patted Haru's head, then drank the water in one go.
…But if Yuna comes… I won't be able to fight her. I still love her too much.
If she steps into the radius, she'll fall asleep too. That will give me time to run away with Haru. And if I meet her inside… I can stop the technique and protect him.
He made up his mind.
Kanashimi turned to Haru and gestured urgently with his hands — paper and pen.
Haru quickly ran and brought both. Kanashimi took the pen and wrote in clear letters:
"Haru, climb on my back. I'm going to use my Special Art."
Haru read it excitedly and immediately tried to climb onto his brother's back like a little monkey.
Kanashimi gently but firmly made him get down first. He stood up, opened an old hidden box under the bed, and changed into his real fighter clothes — black and dark blue traditional attire that fit his body perfectly. He strapped two katanas to his hips.
Haru tilted his head. "Why two katanas…?"
Kanashimi didn't answer. He simply signaled again for Haru to climb on his back.
The moment Haru was securely on him, arms wrapped tightly around his neck, Kanashimi formed a complex hand sign with both hands.
The world around them instantly distorted.
Reality twisted and folded like paper. The small apartment melted away and transformed into an endless, surreal structure — an Infinity Castle with shifting stairs, upside-down corridors, and floating platforms.
Both of them began to fall through the open space.
"WOWWWWWWWW!!!" Haru screamed in pure childish excitement, his eyes sparkling.
Kanashimi's voice suddenly returned inside this domain.
"Haru! Don't scream in my ear!"
Haru gasped. "Brother! You're speaking again!"
"Stay silent," Kanashimi said sharply, though his voice was low and serious.
Inside his head, his thoughts were moving at lightning speed:
I have to be completely silent and fast.
This technique nullifies every art and technique in the area… which means it resets everything. That man outside won't be able to reuse his organ-destroying technique immediately… but inside my Infinity Castle, I can use my arts again at full power.
This is the only way to buy us time.
Kanashimi adjusted Haru's position on his back and dashed across a shifting staircase, his two katanas swaying at his sides. The Infinity Castle kept changing its layout around them, making it almost impossible for anyone to track or follow.
Haru whispered excitedly but tried to stay quiet, "Brother… this place is so cool… Are we safe now?"
Kanashimi didn't reply out loud.
He only thought:
Safe?
Not yet.
Yuna is coming.
Those two men are coming.
And I just activated the one technique I swore I would never use again…
The Infinity Castle continued to shift endlessly around the two brothers as they ran deeper into its impossible architecture — searching for a temporary sanctuary in a world that no longer felt safe.