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Chapter 4: The Horror House and the Darkness
"Wake up," Ard said softly.
Kurojin had already opened his eyes, staring at the ceiling in silence. He got dressed without a word and started walking.
"Oh… you're already awake," Ard muttered, floating beside him. "Are you still mad about yesterday?"
Kurojin stayed silent, just walking.
Ard sighed. "Hey, can you hear me?"
"Yeah!" Kurojin suddenly shouted. "I can hear you!"
"Then why are you ignoring me?!"
"Because I don't want to look crazy, talking to the air!"
Ard blinked. "Oh… well, why didn't you just say that?"
Yuki glanced over, raising an eyebrow. "You do look crazy… yelling at thin air."
Kurojin's face turned red. He picked up his pace.
---
In class, Kurojin sat down and noticed Mia's desk was empty.
She's not here today?
Ard whispered, "Maybe she chickened out."
A student raised his hand. "Miss, where is Mia?"
The teacher answered calmly, "She transferred schools."
Kurojin's eyes widened. Transferred?
The bell rang. Time passed. Kurojin sat quietly next to Yuki.
A boy from the soccer team walked over. "Hey, we're one player short. Wanna play?"
"No," Kurojin replied.
"Why not?"
Before Kurojin could answer, Yuki stood up. "My master said no."
She drew her sword out of nowhere.
"W-What?! Where'd that sword come from?! Why are you pointing it at me?!"
Yuki stared coldly. "Master, shall I kill this boy for you?"
Kurojin panicked. "No! Absolutely not!"
The boy screamed, "I'm too young to dieeeee!" and bolted out of the room.
Kurojin sighed. "Why are you like this…"
---
Later, as they walked through the school hallway, Kurojin spotted the bulletin board.
"New page posted," Ard said. "Go check it."
"Huh? Alright…" Kurojin walked over and picked up the paper.
"Haunted House Challenge – Dare to Enter?"
Ard grinned. "Let's go!"
Kurojin frowned. "Why?"
"Scared?"
"No! I'm not scared!"
---
They arrived at the local horror house. Its windows were shattered, and a rusty black gate loomed ahead.
Kurojin sighed and took a step forward—but Yuki stopped him.
"Wait."
She picked up a rock and threw it at the gate. The moment it touched, a shocking energy burst out.
"Whoa…" Kurojin muttered. "If I had walked in… I'd be fried."
"It's sealed," Yuki said.
Kurojin sighed again. "So… it's closed."
He turned to leave, but Yuki pointed toward the woods. "Look. There's a broken path."
They found a hidden opening in the trees. Yuki went in first, with Kurojin following.
"Is Ard's party still on?" she asked sarcastically.
Kurojin sighed. "I guess…"
They entered the back of the building through a cracked wall. Inside was dark and dusty.
Suddenly—a scream echoed through the building.
They ran toward the sound and found a blonde girl on the ground, a camera in front of her. A massive monster loomed over her.
Kurojin didn't hesitate. He dashed forward and covered her with his body.
WHAM!
The monster struck.
"Aaaah!" the girl screamed again.
Kurojin winced. "Is that how you thank someone who saves you?"
The girl blinked.
Yuki stepped in, slicing through the monster in one swift motion. It vanished into black smoke.
Kurojin stood and offered a hand. "I'm Kurojin. That's Yuki."
The girl slapped his hand away. "Name's Luna. And I'm fine!"
"…Alright then."
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
"I'm the new kid. I heard about this place and came to record it. Gotta grow my followers."
Kurojin groaned. "Of course…"
Suddenly, the ground trembled.
"What's happening?" Kurojin asked.
"I feel something…" Ard whispered. "Something strong…"
The monster returned—bigger, stronger—and grabbed Luna.
"HELP ME!" she cried.
Yuki charged, but the monster grinned and released Luna. In a blink, it struck Yuki in the stomach. She flew back.
"Let me take over!" Ard shouted.
Kurojin closed his eyes. When they opened, they glowed red.
"I'm back!" Ard shouted through Kurojin. He dashed forward and punched.
But the monster caught it.
"What?!" Ard gasped.
The monster kicked him hard. Ard flew into a wall, and Kurojin returned to normal, coughing up blood.
Ard shouted in his mind, "None of my powers work in this stupid body!"
Kurojin collapsed. The monster grabbed him by the head and laughed.
Then—
Flashbacks.
Kurojin saw his father's funeral.
His mother disappearing.
His childhood friends, promising to stay together… then vanishing.
I lost everything…
That's why I promised… I'd never open my heart again.
When the flashback ended, Kurojin's eyes turned deep crimson.
He stood, stepped forward, and whispered,
"Destruction."
With just a touch, the monster screamed as its body turned black and crumbled to nothing.
---
Yuki slowly stood up, eyes wide.
Luna gasped. "Your friend is something else…"
Yuki shook her head. "That… wasn't him. That was something darker. I could feel it."
Suddenly, Kurojin raised his hand.
"Summon: 100 Destruction Balls!"
Dark orbs floated all around—
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
The entire area shook with explosions.
Luna panicked. "Can't you stop him?!"
"I can't," Yuki said calmly.
"Then why are you so calm?!"
Yuki smirked. "Because I'm a warrior."
"…Seriously?"
A strange man appeared from the shadows. He gently placed a red orb into Kurojin's mouth. Kurojin fell unconscious.
Yuki ran over, worried. Luna looked confused.
The man looked down at Kurojin. "I can't believe this guy… is really our master."
Yuki paused, then sighed. "Yeah… he's our master."
She looked up.
"Long time, Natsu."
The man—Natsu—smiled.
To be continued...
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