Chapter 51: Left alone
Chapter 50
Stark observed Kaizen for a moment, then turned to the others, "I trust that he’ll be fine. I’ll inform the rescue team to come in one hour after we leave." Then he turned to Kaizen, "Try not to die kid."
Stark had noticed that Kaizen wasn’t someone ordinary, he could sense that there was something more to him, and he was definitely hiding something. But he knew for sure that Kaizen could be trusted, so he decided not to push it.
So I have just one hour to gather as many points as possible. That should do.
The others began packing up quickly, none of them wanting to spend a second longer than necessary in this cursed realm. A few glanced Kaizen’s way, uncertain whether to respect his decision or question his sanity. But after what they’d just witnessed, no one really had the nerve to argue, after all... if it wasn’t for him, they’d all be dead by now.
"Good luck, man. And thanks again," one of the hunters said, giving Kaizen a brief nod before turning to follow the group.
"You’re either brave or crazy," another muttered under his breath, shaking his head as he moved along with the rest.
Kaizen didn’t say anything. He just stood there watching them as they walked away, one after the other, disappearing into the trees the same way they’d come in.
The air was still thick, but it felt different now. The presence that had been pressing down on them since they arrived was lighter. But that didn’t mean it was over.
Kaizen exhaled quietly and rolled his shoulders.
He didn’t stay behind to prove anything. He wasn’t trying to play hero either. Truth was, he saw this as an opening, a chance to test himself without anyone watching or getting in the way.
He’d unlocked other elements for a reason, and he’d barely used any of them so far. He didn’t want to wait until he was backed into a corner before figuring out how to control them properly. Now was the perfect time to practice. Real fights. Real pressure. That’s the only way to know what worked and what didn’t.