Shishhh~

Kazuichi’s body felt like it was on fire, every nerve alight with a feverish intensity that refused to abate. Each step was a battle against the weight that seemed to drag him down, his legs trembling beneath the strain.

He could feel the pulse of something dark and powerful within him, a force that had taken root during the fever that had nearly consumed him the night before. It was as if his very blood had been tainted, turning his veins into conduits for raw, uncontrollable energy.

His quarters were just ahead, a sanctuary where he could collapse and rest, but the thought of facing his friends in his current state filled him with dread. He couldn’t let them see him like this—weak, vulnerable, and teetering on the brink of something he couldn’t even begin to understand.

The last thing he wanted was to put them at risk, to unleash whatever was festering inside him on the people he cared about.

With a low growl of frustration, Kazuichi turned away from the door, his feet carrying him away from the warmth of the campfire and into the shadows of the stronghold.

The night air was cool against his feverish skin, a stark contrast to the heat that raged within him. He welcomed the chill, hoping it would soothe the burning sensation that seemed to be seeping into every fiber of his being.

But the farther he walked, the more he could feel the strange power building inside him, pressing against his consciousness like a caged beast demanding release.

It was a dangerous sensation, one that made his heart pound in his chest, each beat sending ripples of energy through his body. His breaths came in ragged gasps as he pushed himself deeper into the darkness, seeking solitude where he could battle this new threat alone.

Just as he reached the edge of the camp, a sharp jolt of electricity shot through his brain, blinding him with its intensity. He gasped, clutching his head as the sensation intensified, sparks of light dancing behind his eyelids like a violent storm. The world around him blurred, and for a brief, terrifying moment, everything went black.

When Kazuichi opened his eyes again, he found himself hurtling toward the stone wall that surrounded the stronghold, his body moving with a speed and force that defied comprehension.

There was no time to react, no way to brace himself for the impact that followed. The collision was sudden and brutal, a thunderous crash that reverberated through the night like the roar of an enraged beast. The air was knocked from his lungs as he crumpled to the ground, pain exploding in his limbs as the world spun around him in a dizzying spiral.

The noise of the impact sent shockwaves through the camp, the ground trembling as if an earthquake had struck. Hybrids rushed from their quarters, alarms blaring as they prepared for what they believed to be an attack.

Panic spread like wildfire, voices shouting orders and commands as they gathered near the wall, weapons drawn and ready to face whatever had breached their defenses.

But as the dust began to settle, the source of the disturbance became clear. Kazuichi lay motionless on the ground, his body battered and bruised from the collision. The Hybrids hesitated, confusion replacing their initial fear as they realized what—or rather, who—had caused the tremor.

"Kazuichi!" Arisu was the first to reach him, her eyes wide with shock as she dropped to her knees beside his unconscious form. She shook him gently, her voice trembling with worry. "Kazuichi, wake up!"

But Kazuichi remained motionless. Out of his mouth came a slight groan that screamed of pain, and that was the only thing he could utter.

Jurou and the others quickly followed, their faces pale as they took in the sight of their friend.

"What the hell happened?" Jurou muttered, glancing at the cracked wall where Kazuichi had collided. His voice was thick with disbelief as if he couldn’t quite process what he was seeing. "Did he...did he do that?"

Lea knelt beside him, her hands trembling as she pressed her fingers to Kazuichi’s neck to check for a pulse. "He’s alive, but his heart’s racing," she said, her brow furrowed in concern. "We need to get him back to the infirmary, now."

Nodding their heads, the group decided to put all the questions at the back of their minds at that moment. They still had no idea whether Kazuichi was attacked or not— it might be the latter— but for now, his safety was of utmost priority.

As they carefully lifted Kazuichi and began to carry him back to the camp, Ryuunosuke appeared, his expression unreadable as he surveyed the scene. His eyes lingered on the wall, the deep cracks in the stone telling a story that only he seemed to understand.

"Ryuunosuke, we don’t know what happened," Arisu explained, her voice shaking. "He just...collapsed."

Ryuunosuke nodded slowly, his gaze shifting to Kazuichi’s unconscious form. "It seems the effects of his condition are more severe than we anticipated," he said quietly, his tone thoughtful. "Get him to the infirmary and make sure he’s stabilized. We’ll need to monitor him closely from now on."

Jurou exchanged a worried glance with the others before nodding. "Right," he agreed, his voice firm despite the fear in his eyes. "Let’s move."

As they hurried back to the camp, Ryuunosuke remained behind, his gaze fixed on the damaged wall. He could feel the energy that had erupted from Kazuichi, the raw power that had nearly torn through the stone. It was unlike anything he had encountered before, and yet...it was familiar.

A storm was brewing, one that would soon engulf them all. And Kazuichi was at the center of it.

Ryuunosuke turned away from the wall, his expression darkening as he made his way back to his office. The pieces of the puzzle were falling into place, but the picture they formed was far from clear. All he knew was that the events of the night were only the beginning.