The bells stopped.
For one breath—
the mountain was completely silent.
Musha stood with both swords drawn.
White fire burned along one blade.
Black fire burned along the other.
Across the chamber stood the man wearing black-bone armor.
Her father.
Musha had imagined this moment before.
Not like this.
Not in a forgotten chamber beneath a mountain.
Not with her mother standing behind her.
Not with her brother holding a sword.
And not with the Hollow King laughing somewhere beneath their feet.
She listened to his heartbeat.
Slow.
Calm.
Almost peaceful.
That frightened her more than anything.
“You’re my father.”
The man smiled.
“Yes.”
Musha’s grip tightened.
“What is your name?”
The man’s smile disappeared.
“Kuroda.”
Kaito stepped forward.
“You shouldn’t be here.”
Kuroda looked at him.
“And yet you survived.”
Kaito’s expression hardened.
“You tried to kill me.”
“I tried to prepare you.”
“You chained me beneath the mountain.”
“You failed to control your darkness.”
Kaito raised his sword.
“I was a child.”
“So was your sister.”
Musha stepped forward.
“Don’t call me your daughter.”
Kuroda looked at her.
“Why?”
“Because fathers don’t abandon their children.”
A silence followed.
Kuroda slowly removed his mask.
His face was older than Musha expected.
A scar crossed his left eye.
His hair was streaked with silver.
But his eyes—
were the same white as hers.
Musha’s breath caught.
Kuroda noticed.
“You see it now.”
“My eyes.”
“Yes.”
“Why are they like this?”
“Because you’re mine.”
Musha shook her head.
“No.”
Kuroda tilted his head.
“You carry my blood.”
“I carry my mother’s heart.”
His expression hardened.
“That is exactly the problem.”
Aiko stepped forward.
“Enough.”
Kuroda looked at her.
“You always were stubborn.”
“And you always were afraid.”
His eyes narrowed.
“Afraid?”
Aiko raised her chin.
“You were afraid of what Musha would become.”
“I was afraid of what the world would make her become.”
Musha looked between them.
“You knew this would happen.”
Aiko answered quietly.
“Yes.”
Kuroda continued.
“She was never supposed to awaken this early.”
Musha raised her black-flamed sword.
“Then why did you come?”
Kuroda looked toward her chest.
“To finish what your mother started.”
Musha’s expression hardened.
“You’re going to kill me.”
“No.”
He smiled.
“I’m going to save you.”
Kuroda moved.
Musha barely heard him.
One moment he stood across the chamber.
The next—
CLANG!
His sword struck hers.
The force sent Musha sliding backward.
Her sandals scraped across the stone.
Kaito rushed forward.
Kuroda kicked him aside.
Kaito crashed into a pillar.
“Kaito!”
Musha turned.
Kuroda appeared in front of her.
She blocked.
CLANG!
Again.
CLANG!
Again.
His sword was impossibly fast.
Musha listened.
The blade moved before she heard it.
Left.
Right.
Above.
She ducked.
The sword cut through her hair.
Musha spun.
Her black blade struck.
Kuroda blocked.
The collision sent black sparks across the chamber.
“You’re fast.”
Musha stepped back.
“So are you.”
“You’ve improved.”
“I’ve never met you before.”
Kuroda smiled.
“I’ve watched you your entire life.”
Musha froze.
“What?”
“I watched you learn to walk.”
Her expression changed.
“I watched you fall.”
Another strike.
“I watched you train.”
Musha blocked.
“I watched you cry when you couldn’t see.”
Her sword trembled.
“I watched the first time you held a blade.”
Kuroda’s eyes softened.
“I was there.”
Musha screamed.
“Then why didn’t you help me?”
Her white sword exploded with light.
Kuroda was thrown backward.
He crashed through a stone pillar.
Aiko stared at her daughter.
“Musha…”
Musha’s breathing became heavy.
“You watched me suffer.”
Kuroda slowly stood.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I needed to know whether you would survive.”
Musha raised both swords.
“You’re a monster.”
Kuroda nodded.
“Perhaps.”
Then he looked toward the black stone.
“But monsters are sometimes created by necessity.”
A violent tremor shook the chamber.
Katsurane looked toward the ceiling.
“We don’t have time for this.”
Raiden stepped beside him.
“The Hollow King is breaking through.”
Kuroda glanced at them.
“Then we should hurry.”
Raiden raised his sword.
“You’re not taking her.”
Kuroda laughed.
“You still think you can protect her?”
“I don’t need to.”
Raiden looked at Musha.
“She can protect herself.”
Kuroda’s eyes narrowed.
“Interesting.”
Musha stepped beside Raiden.
“Why did you create the woman wearing Mother’s face?”
Kuroda became silent.
Aiko looked at him.
“Tell her.”
He didn’t answer.
Musha’s voice sharpened.
“Tell me.”
Kuroda finally spoke.
“Because the kingdom needed a queen.”
“And?”
“And because Queen Aiko was dead.”
Musha stared.
“You replaced her.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because if the kingdom discovered its queen had died, the clans would have gone to war.”
Katsurane frowned.
“That isn’t the whole truth.”
Kuroda looked at him.
“No.”
Musha stepped closer.
“Then what aren’t you telling me?”
Kuroda looked directly into her eyes.
“The woman wearing your mother’s face wasn’t created to deceive the kingdom.”
“Then why?”
“She was created to deceive the Hollow King.”
Silence.
Musha’s eyes widened.
Aiko lowered her head.
Kaito whispered:
“So that’s why…”
Musha turned toward him.
“Why what?”
Kaito looked at their mother.
“She used the copy as bait.”
Aiko nodded.
“The Hollow King was searching for me.”
Musha’s voice became quiet.
“And you?”
“I hid.”
“For eight years?”
“Yes.”
“While I believed you were dead?”
Aiko’s eyes filled with tears.
“I had to.”
Musha looked away.
“I hate hearing that.”
“I know.”
“I hate that everyone had reasons.”
Aiko stepped toward her.
“Musha…”
“No.”
Musha held up a hand.
“I’m tired of reasons.”
She looked at Kuroda.
“I want the truth.”
Kuroda’s expression changed.
“You’re not ready.”
Musha laughed bitterly.
“Everyone keeps saying that.”
She raised her swords.
“I’m ready now.”
The mountain exploded.
A massive crack tore through the floor.
Darkness poured upward.
Kuroda looked down.
“It’s awake.”
The Hollow King’s voice echoed through the chamber.
“KURODA.”
Kuroda’s face became pale.
Musha noticed.
“You’re afraid.”
He looked at her.
“Yes.”
The answer surprised her.
“Of him?”
Kuroda nodded.
“I have spent twenty years preparing for this moment.”
“And you’re still afraid?”
“Yes.”
Musha lowered her sword slightly.
“Why?”
Kuroda looked at her.
“Because I know what it is.”
The darkness rose.
Two red eyes opened beneath them.
The Hollow King emerged from the crack.
But it had changed.
Its body was no longer smoke.
Black armor covered its enormous form.
Its hands were human.
Its face—
was almost human.
Kaito stared.
“That’s impossible.”
Raiden whispered:
“It’s taking form.”
Katsurane raised his sword.
“What form?”
Kuroda answered.
“Ours.”
The Hollow King smiled.
“Father.”
Musha looked at Kuroda.
“You know it.”
Kuroda raised his sword.
“I’ve fought it before.”
“When?”
“Before you were born.”
The creature laughed.
“You failed.”
Kuroda’s expression hardened.
“This time I won’t.”
The Hollow King extended one hand.
Darkness exploded through the chamber.
Everyone was thrown backward.
Musha struck the ground and rolled.
Kaito landed beside her.
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
She stood.
Her blades were still burning.
Kuroda was already fighting.
His sword cut through tendrils of darkness.
Raiden joined him.
Katsurane followed.
Aiko stayed near Musha.
“Stay behind me.”
Musha looked at her.
“No.”
Aiko frowned.
“I won’t lose you again.”
Musha looked toward Kuroda.
“I’m not a child anymore.”
“I know.”
“Then trust me.”
Aiko hesitated.
Then nodded.
Musha turned toward the Hollow King.
It was fighting all four warriors at once.
Kuroda.
Raiden.
Katsurane.
Kaito.
And still—
it was winning.
The creature’s hand struck Kaito.
Musha heard his ribs crack.
“Kaito!”
She moved.
A black tendril intercepted her.
She sliced it.
Another came.
She cut it.
A third.
She stepped through it.
White fire.
Black fire.
Together.
Musha moved faster.
She crossed the battlefield.
The Hollow King turned.
Its red eyes met hers.
“There you are.”
Musha attacked.
The creature blocked.
BOOM!
The shockwave shook the chamber.
Musha’s feet left the ground.
The Hollow King grabbed her by the throat.
“You belong to me.”
Black veins spread across her neck.
Aiko screamed.
“Musha!”
The creature’s voice entered her mind.
“You were born for me.”
Musha’s vision blurred.
She saw the black stone.
She saw the ancient war.
She saw her mother kneeling in blood.
She saw Kuroda holding a newborn child.
She saw herself.
Then—
she saw something else.
A second child.
A baby boy.
Kaito.
Both children were lying beside the same glowing stone.
Aiko stood over them.
Kuroda was holding a sword.
And behind him—
the Hollow King.
Musha’s eyes widened.
The vision changed.
Kuroda raised his sword toward the newborn Kaito.
Musha screamed.
“No!”
The Hollow King tightened its grip.
“You remember.”
Musha’s eyes opened.
She struck it with her forehead.
The creature recoiled.
Musha fell.
Kaito caught her.
“What did you see?”
Musha stared at Kuroda.
Her father.
“He tried to kill you.”
Kaito froze.
“What?”
“When we were babies.”
Kuroda stopped fighting.
Aiko closed her eyes.
Kaito looked at his father.
“Is that true?”
Kuroda didn’t answer.
Musha stepped forward.
“You tried to kill Kaito.”
“I had to.”
Kaito’s sword lowered.
“Why?”
Kuroda looked at him.
“Because the prophecy said one of you would become the Hollow King’s vessel.”
Kaito’s face went pale.
“And you thought it would be me.”
“Yes.”
Musha looked at her brother.
“But you were wrong.”
Kuroda nodded.
“I was.”
Kaito’s voice became cold.
“So you abandoned me.”
“I saved you.”
“You left me beneath this mountain!”
“To keep the Hollow King from finding you.”
Kaito shook his head.
“You never even came back.”
Kuroda looked away.
“Because I was afraid.”
Kaito stepped toward him.
“Afraid of what?”
Kuroda whispered:
“That I had chosen wrong.”
Silence.
Musha looked at him.
“What does that mean?”
Kuroda raised his eyes.
“I thought Kaito was the vessel.”
His gaze moved to Musha.
“I was wrong.”
The Hollow King smiled.
“Yes.”
Musha felt cold.
Kuroda continued.
“It was never Kaito.”
The creature’s red eyes focused on her.
“It was always you.”
Musha’s chest began burning.
Her stone pulsed.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
The Hollow King laughed.
“Open the gate.”
Musha shook her head.
“No.”
“Open it.”
“No.”
“Your mother cannot protect you.”
Aiko stepped forward.
“Musha, don’t listen.”
The Hollow King laughed.
“Your father cannot protect you.”
Kuroda raised his sword.
“Enough.”
“And your brother…”
The creature turned toward Kaito.
“…cannot save you.”
Kaito stepped forward.
“I don’t need to.”
The Hollow King paused.
Kaito raised his sword.
“Because she isn’t alone.”
Musha looked at him.
Kaito smiled.
“You have me.”
Musha smiled back.
“Always.”
The two siblings stood together.
White and black flames erupted around them.
The Hollow King’s smile disappeared.
“No.”
Musha raised her swords.
“You wanted a vessel.”
Kaito raised his blade.
“You found a family.”
The Hollow King roared.
The mountain began collapsing.
Aiko looked toward the ceiling.
“Everyone!”
Kuroda shouted:
“RUN!”
The chamber exploded.
They ran.
Stone crashed behind them.
Katsurane pulled Raiden through the tunnel.
Kaito grabbed Musha’s hand.
Aiko followed.
Kuroda remained behind.
Musha stopped.
“Father!”
Kuroda looked back.
For a moment—
their eyes met.
He smiled.
“Go.”
“I’m not leaving you.”
“You have to.”
“Why?”
Kuroda looked toward the darkness behind him.
“Because this time…”
He raised his sword.
“…I’m going to finish what I started.”
The Hollow King emerged behind him.
Musha heard its voice.
“Run, little shadow.”
Kuroda charged.
Musha screamed:
“Father!”
Kaito pulled her away.
The tunnel collapsed between them.
BOOOOOOM!
Dust filled the corridor.
Musha dropped to her knees.
“No…”
Kaito knelt beside her.
“We have to go.”
“He’s still in there.”
“I know.”
“Then we go back.”
Kaito looked toward the rubble.
“We can’t.”
Musha’s fists trembled.
“He saved us.”
Aiko touched her shoulder.
“He chose this.”
Musha looked up.
“You knew he would.”
Aiko’s eyes filled with tears.
“Yes.”
Musha stood.
“Then we’re coming back for him.”
Kaito nodded.
“Yes.”
They continued upward.
But none of them noticed—
a small black crack spreading across the wall behind them.
From inside it came a whisper.
Not the Hollow King’s voice.
Kuroda’s.
“Musha…”
She stopped.
“What?”
Nothing.
Only silence.
Then—
a second voice whispered from the darkness.
“Don’t trust your mother.”
Musha’s eyes widened.
She turned.
The wall was empty.
Hours later—
the survivors reached the surface.
Snow covered the mountain.
The Dragon Gate was gone.
The White Dragon circled above them.
Musha stood beneath it.
Her swords rested at her sides.
Aiko approached.
“You should rest.”
Musha didn’t turn.
“Mother.”
“Yes?”
“Are you really my mother?”
Aiko stopped.
Musha waited.
Finally—
Aiko answered.
“Yes.”
Musha nodded.
“Then I have one question.”
“What?”
Musha turned.
“Why does my stone have the Hollow King’s heartbeat?”
Aiko’s face went completely pale.
Kaito looked at her.
Raiden lowered his head.
Katsurane whispered:
“No…”
Musha stepped closer.
“Mother?”
Aiko said nothing.
The White Dragon suddenly roared.
The snow beneath them cracked.
And somewhere beneath the mountain—
Kuroda opened his eyes.
But they were no longer white.
They were red.
He smiled.
And whispered:
“Forgive me, Musha.”
The chapter ends.