Chapter 87 - 82 – Dog Arc (20)
For the first time, Raiden's expression shifted. His eyes sharpened, a thin line of cold recognition.
(He survived… as expected. He must be one of them…)
The Clown tilted his head again. His voice rasped, yet carried clarity.
"Oh… it looks like this vessel cannot handle it anymore."
Before their eyes, the Clown's body began to crumble. Ash flaked off his limbs, his torso fracturing as void surged outward to hold him together.
He turned his gaze, first to Khael. Then slowly, deliberately, to Kaen.
"See you… all." His tone shifted, almost reverent.
"…Especially you… young boy who has the power of the void. See you at my real body… if fate lets us meet again."
Kaen stepped forward, fists trembling, voice iron.
"Yeah… and if we see each other again—that time will be the day I kill you."
The Clown chuckled, voice breaking apart with his vessel. "Perfect. Become stronger, little flame… become worthy."
With that, his body disintegrated completely, swallowed by the void until only smoke and silence remained.
...
…
The group stood in the wreckage of the gym, hearts still racing.
Khael exhaled slowly, shoulders stiff.
(Now I know… in the manga Kaen Eclipse, that mask guy's name—Miraku. That bastard obsessed with Kaen… Luckily it's not me. That freak gives me chills…)
Raiden finally turned back, his gaze sweeping over the battered students. His tone dropped, heavier now:
"Well… you kids better start explaining. What the hell is going on here?"
Before they could answer, the gym groaned. The barrier lining the walls, once glowing faintly with stabilizing runes splintered like glass. Fragments of energy broke apart, sizzling into the air.
Raiden clicked his tongue, scratching his head.
"Tch. Looks like the barrier couldn't handle that last strike."
A piece of the ceiling collapsed, echoing across the ruined hall. Sparks still crawled along the shattered ground.
The gym of Veyl Academy—one of the strongest reinforced facilities in the region—was now reduced to rubble.
As The dust settled, and in the silence Raiden's voice cut through, colder than before:
"Start talking. Who was that clown—and why was he after you?"
His eyes locked on Kaen.
…
[Unknown Underground Chamber – Shadows coil like veins across stone]
The air was thick, stale, dripping with moisture. Faint red glyphs pulsed across the cavern walls, casting a sickly glow. In the center, seated upon broken stone thrones, were two figures.
The Clown Mask leaned back, shoulders shaking as manic laughter erupted again and again.
"Hahahaha—ahh—hahaha!—ahhh, how delightful… hahahaha!"
A gravelly voice cut through the echoes.
"What's funny, clown fuck?"
From the far side of the chamber stepped a man with wild yellow hair, his body laced with deep scars that carved across his arms, chest, and jawline. His eyes glowed faintly—feral, hungry.
The Clown tilted his head, laughter halting into ragged chuckles.
"Bakuza… you're here… listen to me. I encountered the most amazing young children. Ah! Their sparks, their fights, their power—so beautiful! So raw! They are—ahhh!"
Bakuza's grin widened, jagged teeth flashing.
"What a perverted guy. Getting off over kids throwing fists. You're sick, clown."
The Clown twirled his hand, void smoke curling from his fingertips.
"Sick? No. Inspired. And—" his tone shifted, almost reverent, "an Eclipse Vanguard appeared too."
Bakuza's grin sharpened at the words. His scars seemed to twitch with his expression, stretching like living marks.
"Hoh… an Eclipse Vanguard? How strong was he?"
The Clown's voice dropped lower, almost trembling—not with fear, but obsession.
"Very strong. Lightning that split the sky. His strike… it tore me apart. For a moment… I felt death."
Bakuza chuckled darkly, his tongue running across a scar on his lip.
"Heh. Then let me ask—could you beat him?"
The chamber stilled. The Clown tilted his mask downward. Silence. Then, slowly—he smiled. The cracks in his charred vessel whispered as void stitched them tighter.
"..."
He gave no answer. Only the widening grin beneath the mask.
Bakuza's laughter rumbled, a beast-like sound echoing off the walls.
"So you also don't know. Perfect." His shoulders shook with anticipation.
"I want to fight another Eclipse Vanguard so badly… I want to tear one apart with my own hands."
The Clown's laugh returned, high-pitched and unhinged, until the walls themselves seemed to shiver.
"Now who's the real pervert, Bakuza?"
Bakuza's grin only grew wider, scars stretching grotesquely.
"Heh. At least I don't pretend otherwise."
…
Meanwhile in Kaen side
The academy's medical ward smelled faintly of antiseptic and dried herbs. Tall windows spilled strips of golden light across the floor, painting the quiet space with warmth despite the faint groans of students lying on the beds.
Bandages wrapped around Kaen's arm, Rael sat upright with his usual sharp expression, Ceyla Nox leaned against her pillow scowling at nothing in particular, and Andromeda Ban lounged with his dog Jun Jun happily sprawled at his side. Across the room, Matthew Lomwel awkwardly patted his own dog, the creature wagging as if they'd been inseparable for years.
The door creaked open.
In walked Shigeo Motome—curly dark blue hair falling loosely over his forehead, deep navy eyes calm and calculating. Beside him was Saya Kurenai, the bright-eyed blonde with a long braid who already had her mouth running before she even fully stepped inside.
Shigeo's gaze swept the room.
"You all… beaten, huh."
Kaen snorted and leaned back, arms crossed like a smug kid despite the bruises across his shoulders.
Saya's attention immediately snapped to Matthew and his dog.
"Wait—since when are you and that dog close? Didn't you abandon him? Hah! That's rich—"
Matthew's ears reddened. He coughed into his hand, looking away.
"Ahem. It's… all in the past now."
Kaen cracked a grin.
"He's just shy."
"Shut up," Matthew shot back quickly, but the twitch in his ears betrayed him.
Ceyla, Andromeda, and Kaen all broke into laughter. Even Jun Jun barked as if joining in.
Rael scoffed, folding his arms tighter.
"Childish."
Shigeo ignored the noise, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"Where's Khael?"
The laughter died down a notch.
Kaen shrugged.
"Khael? Don't know. Said he had somewhere to go."
Ceyla clicked her tongue, annoyed.
"Tsk. Where is that idiot going…? He's injured. He shouldn't be wandering around like that."
Andromeda smirked.
"Heh. Seems like you care about him, huh, Ceyla?"
Ceyla whipped her head, eyes flashing.
"Shut your mouth—or I'll zip it shut myself."
Everyone burst into laughter again except Rael, whose sharp gaze lingered on the empty bed where Khael should have been.
In the middle of the noise, Shigeo lowered his eyes, his jaw tightening.
(Sorry, Khael… I tried to follow your trail. But then—someone called me. I couldn't ignore it. I'm really sorry.)
He glanced once at the door, a shadow flickering across his normally calm expression.
To be continue