Five years ago… Ryuuga’s expression changed the moment he heard that.
As a little surprise and doubt leaked, he pressed Koumaru for an answer.
“Five years ago? Did you…!?”
“Yes. The incident where the mad loong attacked the castle where you lived… was actually caused by me.”
“…!!”
Koumaru declared it calmly with a smile, and Ryuuga looked at him with shock.
And as Koumaru looked nostalgic, he continued.
“Five years ago, I was part of the team researching the body of the half loong, Raiha. Her body is a treasure trove, I thought, and it really stimulated my thirst for knowledge!
…So I was curious. How much power would I see if the full power of the loong was unleashed…!?”
“What would happen if it were released, you say…?”
“Yes. So I did a little experiment. One day during measurements, through drugs and a procedure, I muddied Raiha’s consciousness and drew the power of the loong.”
…It was a very strange sight.
Koumaru confessed his misdeeds, but did not appear to be doing so at all.
He laughed with no worry, and spoke without a hint of malice. As he revealed the truth behind that incident, Ryuuga and Yui, and also Setsuna and Sakura, listened with dumbfounded expressions.
“So Raiha went berserk because…!?”
“Of me, yes. As I predicted, she turned into the mad loong and put her power on full display. I was so happy about the data I got that day!”
“You… Everything… My father…”
“But you can’t do bad things. After all, you got strong to avenge your father, and now I’m being cornered by you. And…”
Koumaru shrugged and shook his head with exasperation, as Ryuuga glared with bloodshot eyes.
The man in front of him was behind the death of his father… As he realized this, Koumaru spoke with an evil smile.
“The unleashed power of the mad loong was disappointingly weak. I didn’t expect some random swordsman to drive it back… It truly was a shame.”
“Damn you Koumaru!!”
Ryuuga yelled and charged forward, enraged by the way Koumaru mocked his father who drove back the mad loong and protected his family and the castle at the cost of his life.
He swung his sword coated with bloodlust, intending to slice his head off, but his body was hit with an X shaped blade of wind.
“Gaha…!?”
“Big brother!!”
Ryuuga was possessed by anger, and was blown away by a sudden attack when he could not properly defend.
He rolled on the ground, and as Yui saw him spitting blood and screamed, Koumaru continued with a smile on his face.
“…But I understand thanks to you. I can’t reach the height I want with her. Someone stronger, with a thirst for power, who surpassed humans… It was because I understood this that I allied with him.
“Thanks for buying time. My arm is healed now.”
Zaraki thanked Koumaru while opening and clenching his fist.
The arm Ryuuga cut off was perfectly healed.
Did Koumaru speak about the truth from five years ago to give Zaraki time to heal… As Ryuuga understood this, Zaraki spoke with a savage laughter.
“I got careless, but no more. I’m really gonna kill you.”
“…!!”
Ryuuga got up, and felt the bloodlust without arrogance emanating from Zaraki.
When he realized it was pointed not just at him, but at Yui as well, he jumped forward to protect her from the incoming attack.
“Guuh!!”
“Big brother, no!?”
Yui yelled as her brother took the strong attack practically head on to protect her.
His breathing was ragged and blood dripped from his body, but Zaraki was disappointed to see him still standing.
“You’re strong. Sharp-minded too. But only human. My power and magic energy are on a whole other level.”
“Guh…!”
It was only the second time Ryuuga was hit by one of Zaraki’s attacks… But it was almost fatal.
Zaraki’s attacks carried power beyond human knowledge, and the way it put Ryuuga one step away from death made it clear who was superior.
“You might not accept it, but give it up. That’s just how it is.”
Zaraki swung his arm up with an evil grin on his face.
Ryuuga was near death and purely on the defensive, and Zaraki began attacking to vent his frustration.
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