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  Chapter 6: The First Kugutsu**

  Later, as the group shared a simple meal, Paige ate slowly, as if afraid the food might be taken away at any moment. Akari noticed and spoke gently:

  — Paige, you can eat as much as you want. No one is going to take it from you.

  The girl hesitated, but finally nodded, taking another piece of bread. After a while, her childlike curiosity began to show.

  — Are you... warriors? — she asked, looking at Yuzuki and Akari with admiration. — How do you know how to fight so well?

  Akari smiled slightly before replying:

  — Life taught us, Paige. And now we need to teach you too. We will not let anyone hurt you again.

  Paige smiled—her first genuine smile in a long time. Gotier watched the scene with a thoughtful expression, his hands clutching the crucifix around his neck.

  Yuzuki, despite his usual seriousness, felt something new. When Paige looked at him with gratitude, he answered with a slight smile. It was small, almost imperceptible, but it was there. Mao, noticing this, writhed within him.

  — **Do you really think you can be saved by this, Yuzuki?** — the demon mocked, his voice now dripping with disdain. — **Foolish human bonds. All they do is weaken you.**

  Yuzuki did not respond. He knew the road ahead was long and dark, but for the first time in a long while, he had found a reason to fight that was not fueled solely by vengeance or despair.

  And that night, as the fire died down and everyone settled in to sleep, the group—even in their sadness and hopelessness—began to feel more like an improvised family. Paige, lying between Akari and Yuzuki, slept deeply for the first time in years, while Gotier, ever watchful, kept guard. Mao, even in his frustration, could not deny that something was changing.

  And that change, however small, could be the key to facing what was yet to come.

  ***

  ### **Lost Bonds and Redemption**

  The group gathered around the fire, their silhouettes illuminated by the flickering light of the flames. Gotier remained silent, his eyes fixed on little Paige as she nestled close to Akari, murmuring something softly. Yuzuki, sitting a bit apart, sharpened his sword with methodical movements, but everyone's thoughts converged on the same direction: the uncertain future in Salem and the ghosts of the past each one carried.

  Gotier watched Paige with a mix of tenderness and sorrow. The girl's smile, even amidst misery, brought back memories of his own daughter. Her eyes had the same spark of hope his little girl used to show—before the Church of the Holy Faith took everything from him.

  — She is strong, is she not? — murmured Akari, noticing Gotier's gaze.

  The former priest nodded but did not answer right away. He moved closer to the fire, sitting nearer to the flames as if needing their warmth to push away the cold he carried inside.

  — Paige... — he called softly, his voice laced with a nearly paternal tone.

  The girl looked up, curious but cautious.

  — Yes, Mister Gotier? — she replied with a shy smile.

  — You... do not need to call me 'Mister.' Just Gotier.

  She hesitated before nodding, a glimmer of gratitude in her eyes. Gotier continued:

  — You remind me a lot of my daughter. She was cheerful like you. Strong, even when everything seemed lost.

  — Where is she now? — Paige asked.

  The question was direct, but Gotier swallowed hard. He did not want to burden her with the darkness of his past. Instead, he just murmured:

  — In a better place.

  Akari noticed the tension and changed the subject, asking Paige to tell them more about her life before being sold into slavery. It was then that the story of Fryr emerged.

  ***

  ### **The Story of Fryr**

  Paige hugged her knees and lowered her voice, as if afraid that something or someone might hear her.

  — Fryr... she was like an older sister to me. Whenever I got beaten or went without food, she found a way to take care of me. But Mister Kubo... he was cruel to her. He did horrible things.

  Gotier looked up, frowning slightly.

  — Fryr?

  Paige nodded, her small hands squeezing her knees as if it were the only thing keeping her grounded.

  — She... was my friend. More than that, my sister. When I was... — she swallowed hard — ...when I was punished for making mistakes, Fryr would always take part of the blame. She said I had to survive, that my life could still get better. But she... — The words caught in her throat, and tears began to stream down her cheeks.

  — I managed to escape, but Fryr... she did not. And now... — Paige suddenly dropped to her knees, her trembling hands clutching the fabric of Yuzuki's clothes. — Please, help me save her! She saved my life so many times... I cannot abandon her.

  Akari, sitting nearby, moved closer and placed a comforting hand on Paige's shoulder.

  — What happened to her?

  — Kubo — the name spilled from her lips like poison. — He keeps her as a slave, like all the others. She... she suffers so much, but never complained. I cannot bear to think of what he is doing to her. Please, Mister Gotier, Mister Yuzuki, Miss Akari, help me free her! — Paige knelt before them, her hands clasped in supplication. — I will do anything! Please, save Fryr!

  Yuzuki looked at her, surprised by the intensity of her words. He was never good at dealing with emotions, but there was something in her sincerity that touched him. Akari hugged Paige, offering comfort.

  — We will help. Fryr deserves the same chance you had. Right, Yuzuki?

  Yuzuki slowly nodded. Gotier, however, remained silent, his thoughts a whirlwind of conflicting emotions.

  The silence fell over the group, heavy and full of emotion. Gotier looked at Paige, seeing not just the fragile girl before him, but also his own lost daughter.

  — We will help her — Gotier finally said, his voice hoarse. — Not because you are begging, but because it is the right thing to do.

  Yuzuki watched the scene in silence, his expression somber. Inside him, Mao whispered:

  — **Do you really think saving a slave will change anything? This world is rotten, Yuzuki. One act of kindness will not cleanse it.**

  — Shut up — Yuzuki muttered, almost inaudibly, but with a firmness that made Mao shrink back.

  Akari gently helped Paige to her feet.

  — We will save your friend. But we need to know where she is and who is guarding her.

  — Kubo keeps her in his mansion — Paige replied, wiping her tears. — It is well protected, full of guards. But there is more... Zeke is there too. He works for Kubo now.

  Yuzuki froze upon hearing the name.

  — Zeke? What do you mean?

  — He is Kubo's head of security. I do not know why he is here, but he is strong. He... he is dangerous.

  The memory of Zeke surfaced in Yuzuki's mind: the man who had almost stopped him from fleeing the Island of Kugutsu, a relentless and brutal warrior. How had he ended up in Salem, serving a slaver?

  — Zeke... — he murmured, his fists clenched. — I met him on the Island of Kugutsu. He tried to stop me from escaping. I do not understand how he ended up here.

  Mao, who had remained silent until then, chuckled softly in Yuzuki's mind.

  — **It seems the threads of fate are crossing again, boy. Will you face your past or run like last time?**

  Yuzuki ignored the provocation, but could not shake the growing unease in his chest. Akari placed a hand on his shoulder.

  — It does not matter who he was. What matters is what we do now. We will save Fryr and the other slaves. And if Zeke stands in our way... we will deal with it.

  ***

  ### **The Plan**

  The group devised a plan to infiltrate Kubo's mansion. Gotier would use his knowledge of *Dankai* to break the seals at the main entrance, while Yuzuki and Akari would handle the security. Paige, though desperate to help, was convinced to stay out of the fight.

  Before they left, Gotier approached her and held her small, injured hands.

  — Paige, you gave us a reason to fight. Now trust us to bring Fryr back.

  She nodded, though tears still ran down her cheeks. When Yuzuki saw her like that, something inside him cracked—a wall of coldness he had maintained for so long.

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  — We will bring your friend back. I promise, Paige.

  Mao let out a grunt of disgust in Yuzuki's mind.

  — **Promises... so human. Let's see how long this 'compassion' of yours lasts when the blood starts to spill.**

  Yuzuki ignored him, but he knew the battle ahead would be more than just a physical confrontation. He would have to face both the external demons and the ones within.

  The First Kugutsu**

  At dawn, the group advanced toward Kubo's castle, each step heavy with the weight of recent discoveries. Paige walked beside Gotier, holding his hand as he maintained a stern expression, lost in thought. The priest felt torn: the determination to save the slaves and the pain of being constantly reminded of his daughter and wife.

  — You're going to save Fryr, right? — Paige asked in a low voice, her eyes fixed on the ground. — She... she was all I had before I met you all.

  Gotier gently squeezed her hand and replied, without looking directly at the child, "We will save her, Paige. We will save everyone."

  Yuzuki walked ahead in silence, his eyes fixed on the horizon. Mao, invisible yet ever-present, whispered in his mind:

  — **They do not understand the weight you carry, Yuzuki. You should rid yourself of these emotional chains and focus on what truly matters: destroying everything in your path.**

  Yuzuki ignored him, but Mao's words echoed as truth.

  As they arrived at the castle, the atmosphere shifted. The stench of death and suffering hung thick in the air, and muffled screams of pain and despair echoed through the stone corridors. The narrow windows seemed like accusing eyes, watching the group with malice.

  — This place... — murmured Akari, frowning. — It is worse than anything I ever imagined.

  Inside, the scene was even more harrowing. Cages filled the main halls, where people were crammed together, starving, covered in wounds. Some prisoners were hanging by chains, subjected to tortures that tested the limits of the human body. Paige clung to Gotier's arm, sobbing quietly, while Akari looked away, fighting the urge to vomit.

  Grotesque and revealing at the same time. Torture experiments were displayed like macabre trophies. There was a wall decorated with documents and maps showing detailed routes between the Island of Kugutsu and Pangea. A mixture of horror and purpose overtook the group as they realized Kubo was not merely a merchant of pain—he was a strategist, manipulating the fate of two worlds.

  Yuzuki, however, remained cold. His eyes scanned every detail of the place, his mind already plotting strategies to deal with Kubo.

  — Look at this — murmured Gotier, examining the maps. — He is planning something bigger. He is not just a tyrant... he is a fanatic. Devoted to the King of Kugutsu.

  Yuzuki stepped closer, his eyes fixed on a rudimentary portrait of the King of Kugutsu hanging on the wall.

  — **Fanatics like him are always dangerous, but they have a weakness** — Mao whispered. — **They rely on blind belief. And beliefs can be broken.**

  Meanwhile, Gotier stopped in front of a cell where Zeke was chained. The former warrior of Kugutsu looked visibly worn, his body covered in fresh scars and dried blood. His eyes, once burning with conviction, were now hollow pools of resignation.

  — Zeke... — Yuzuki murmured, the name escaping as a sorrowful whisper.

  Zeke slowly raised his head, recognizing the trio. A spark of surprise flashed for an instant before being extinguished by the weight of his condition.

  — You... escaped the island. — His voice was hoarse, marked by suffering, but his eyes still held the same determination as before. However, something was wrong: a seal glowed on his chest, pulsing with dark energy.

  Before they could respond, a heavy sound of opening doors echoed through the hall. Kubo entered, imposing, his thin body draped in a black cloak adorned with golden runes. His eyes were cold and calculating, while a sinister smile curved his lips.

  — So, my final guests decided to explore my home? — he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. — What an honor to receive emissaries from the Island of Kugutsu.

  Yuzuki stepped forward, his fists clenched.

  — You are nothing but a coward who hides behind cages and suffering.

  Kubo laughed, a sound that reverberated through the walls, making the atmosphere even more oppressive.

  — Coward? No, boy. I am a visionary. You cannot see it now, but I am creating something grand. A new era where Pangea and Kugutsu become one. And these slaves are the foundation of that future.

  Without warning, Kubo activated his Kugutsu. A shadowy figure emerged behind him—a colossal demon with eyes that glowed like burning coals. Its presence made the hall tremble, and even Mao watched intently within Yuzuki.

  — This is my partner. Do you really think you can stop me? — Kubo said, a triumphant smile on his face.

  Yuzuki drew his weapon as Gotier and Akari prepared for the confrontation.

  — Protect Paige! I will take care of this — Yuzuki said firmly, his eyes locked on Kubo.

  ***

  ### **Echoes of Resistance**

  The cages echoed with the screams of prisoners as the battle against Kubo escalated. The group was at a disadvantage; Kubo demonstrated absolute control over his Kugutsu, manipulating the shadows to trap Yuzuki and Gotier in a deadly dance. Akari tried to protect Paige, who cried silently beside her, while Zeke, under the control of Kubo's seal, advanced relentlessly against his former allies.

  — Paige, stay behind me! — shouted Akari, gripping her blade tightly as she blocked an attack from Zeke.

  Paige, trembling with fear, looked at Akari and then at the cages. Her eyes locked onto Fryr, who was unconscious, hanging by chains high inside a cell. An uncontrollable desperation overtook the girl.

  — I cannot let her die! — Paige screamed, running toward the cages.

  — Paige, no! — Yuzuki shouted, dodging a blow from Kubo's shadows.

  Mao, inside Yuzuki's mind, laughed with disdain.

  — **Your emotional weaknesses are so predictable. That girl will not last.**

  With tears streaming down her face, Paige climbed the rusty bars and, with a desperate effort, managed to unlock the chains holding Fryr. The young slave fell into her arms, and Paige tried to drag her to safety, even as her small body showed clear signs of exhaustion.

  Gotier, observing the scene, felt a wave of conflicting emotions. The image of Paige and Fryr merged with memories of his wife and daughter, reopening wounds he had tried to bury.

  — You are stronger than you think, little one — Gotier murmured before striking Zeke with a precise move, temporarily incapacitating him.

  With Fryr in Paige's arms, Akari and Yuzuki fell back to protect them, forming a barrier against Kubo.

  — You think saving one life will make a difference? — Kubo mocked. — You are nothing more than insects in the grand design of the King of Kugutsu!

  Yuzuki surged forward with renewed fury, activating part of his *Dankai* ability to break through Kubo's shadows. With help from Akari, who used her precision to sever the manipulation lines of the shadows, they managed to land a devastating blow on Kubo, who fell to the ground, seemingly defeated.

  The silence that followed was filled only with the groans of the prisoners and Paige's sobs.

  — We did it... at least for now — said Akari, trying to mask the doubt in her voice.

  Gotier, however, kept his eyes fixed on Kubo's body. Something felt wrong.

  Suddenly, a low, hoarse laugh filled the air.

  — You really thought that would be enough to stop me? — Kubo's voice echoed, cold and threatening. His body began to rise, and the air around him grew heavy, almost suffocating.

  — Get ready! — shouted Gotier, pulling Paige behind him.

  Kubo was far from defeated. His Kugutsu emerged once more, now more powerful, with grotesque, twisted forms that reflected his true monstrous nature.

  — This is not over. You have no idea what you are up against — Kubo growled, charging forward with renewed rage.

  Yuzuki gripped the hilt of his sword, exchanging a determined look with Akari and Gotier.

  — Then let's finish this once and for all — Yuzuki replied, a cold smile playing on his lips.

  ***

  ### **The Sacrifice of the Stag**

  The battle inside the castle raged on, and the air seemed to vibrate with the energy radiating from Kubo's powers. His Kugutsu was a grotesque creature, larger than any seen before, with claws that sliced the air and a dark aura that seemed to smother all surrounding light.

  Yuzuki, exhausted and covered in wounds, breathed heavily but stood firm. Kubo, on the other hand, seemed amused, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction as he controlled his Kugutsu with mastery.

  — You really think you can change anything? — Kubo sneered. — You are nothing but insects fighting a giant.

  As the combat intensified, Paige, hidden with Fryr behind one of the shattered columns, watched in horror. Her eyes widened when, during a brief pause, Kubo revealed:

  — It is curious that you are here, Paige. One of my more... disappointing 'experiments'. — He laughed with disdain. — Yes, child, I am your father. Do not tell me you never suspected? You are so useless that the only thing you and your mother were good for was as breeding slaves.

  Paige's world seemed to collapse. Her lips trembled, and tears began to stream down her cheeks. She looked at Fryr, hoping for a denial, but the devastated expression on the woman's face confirmed the truth. Paige fell to her knees, her breathing heavy and erratic.

  Fryr could barely stand. Days of open wounds, hunger, and exhaustion had stolen her voice, her strength—almost her soul. Still, when her eyes met Paige's, something awakened. A deep silence took over the moment—there was no need for words. In that brief instant, their gaze spoke louder than any sentence: there was a bond between them. Not just of friendship. It was something visceral, indestructible. A bond of mother and daughter, born not of blood, but of shared pain and hope.

  — Why? — Paige whispered. — Why did you do this to me? To my mother?

  Kubo laughed again, a dry and cruel sound.

  — Because you are weak, useless, and a failure. The King... Oh, Great King!

  Upon hearing this, Yuzuki summoned the strength he had left and shouted:

  — Akari! Get Paige and Fryr out of here now! I cannot protect them while we fight!

  Akari hesitated for a moment, her eyes locked on Yuzuki, but seeing the gravity of the situation, she nodded. She grabbed Paige by the arm and pulled her, while Fryr was hoisted onto her shoulders, and she ran toward the exit of the castle.

  Kubo laughed, a dark sound that echoed through the chamber walls.

  — You think you can just run away? How foolish.

  Meanwhile, Zeke charged at the group with astonishing speed. Even without his sword, he was a formidable opponent, and his relentless attacks forced Gotier and Yuzuki into a purely defensive stance. In the rare pauses, Zeke seemed to hesitate, his eyes flickering as if trying to regain control of himself.

  — Zeke, fight it! — Yuzuki shouted, dodging a devastating blow. — You are not his slave!

  For a brief instant, Zeke paused, his muscles trembling as he fought against Kubo's control seal. But the moment passed too quickly, and he resumed his attacks with renewed ferocity.

  Kubo watched the scene with satisfaction.

  — You are all so pathetic. Trying to save someone beyond salvation. He belongs to me.

  Gotier, sweating and visibly tired, shot a quick glance at Yuzuki. They needed to change their strategy, or they would be crushed. Then, with a superhuman effort, Yuzuki threw himself in front of a combined attack from Kubo and Zeke, using his body to shield Gotier. The impact flung him against the wall, where he collapsed, bleeding and nearly unconscious.

  Mao, inside Yuzuki, watched everything with sadistic pleasure.

  — **You are truly an idiot, Yuzuki, sacrificing yourself for these weaklings. Perhaps I should take over for good.** — His voice echoed in Yuzuki's mind, trying to dominate him. — **After all, only I can save you now.**

  But Yuzuki, even weakened, murmured:

  — I... will not... let you...

  Meanwhile, Paige, being dragged by Akari, cried uncontrollably. She looked back, seeing Kubo's looming figure and hearing the shouts of battle.

  — I cannot leave them! They will die because of me! — she screamed, trying to break free.

  Akari clenched her fist tightly.

  — You will not help by staying here. Trust them. They will not give up.

  But deep down, even Akari felt the weight of despair. Kubo was an enemy unlike any they had faced before, and the revelation about Paige made everything even darker.