Though he wore a brave face, he could not believe his eyes.
The foe he had defeated stood before him, fully healed. He had been stabbed through the back with a blood spike—yet here he was, alive. Kosuke couldn't wrap his head around what was happening.
Jarad noticed his hesitation and decided to exploit his shaken state.
"You must be wondering how I'm alive," he said with a smirk. "It's simple, really. You were just not strong enough to kill me."
Kosuke tried to move, but something was wrong inside his body. Pain surged at the slightest motion, and his vision began to blur. Even so, he maintained his stance, though his body trembled uncontrollably.
"So you're finally feeling the effects of my power!" Jarad shouted in ecstasy. "Soon, you'll die in a dark, empty world!"
"Don't insult me, you bastard!" Kosuke roared. "If you think an Ashura samurai would lose the will to fight because of pain, then you're dead wrong!"
He lunged forward, but his movements were sluggish. Jarad dodged each strike effortlessly before driving a crushing punch into Kosuke's gut, forcing blood from the old man's mouth.
"Don't take it personally," Jarad said as he withdrew his fist, "but you lost this fight the moment my blood entered your system."
"What you're experiencing is a blood manipulation technique—Poisoned Blood. Its very rare dangerous to use." He shrugged lightly. "But I had no choice, seeing as you nearly killed me."
He kicked Kosuke away, sending him crashing into a nearby tree. Using his sword for support, Kosuke forced himself upright, his right hand clutching his chest.
His resilience mesmerized Tsushiro. He couldn't understand how someone could continue fighting with the odds so heavily stacked against them.
Kosuke drew on what little strength he had left. His eyes glowed navy blue as he leapt forward for one final attack.
"Now I see," Jarad said calmly, bracing himself. "No wonder it's taking effect so fast. You're sick, aren't you? That probably explains why you left the corps."
Just as Kosuke was about to strike, his body failed him. He collapsed mid-motion.
Jarad grabbed him by the hair and scoffed.
"Did you really think a sick, hollow shell of a warrior like you could defeat me? If you were in your prime, you would've killed me—but this version of you never stood a chance."
"I am sorry, though," he added mockingly. "For ruining your peaceful retirement."
He drove his fist through Kosuke's gut, then sent him flying toward Yushiro with a powerful kick.
Turning to the boys, Jarad spoke casually. "Now it's your turn."
Yushiro desperately tried to wake the old man, but there was no response.
Tears streamed down his face as he picked up Kosuke's sword and screamed, "I'm going to kill you!"
"Such powerful words for such a weak boy," Jarad replied.
Yushiro forced his way past his brother and charged forward, swinging wildly with little coordination, desperate to land even a single hit. Jarad dodged every strike with ease. Before long, he caught the blade with his right hand.
"Like I said—you're weak."
Blood gathered around Jarad's left hand, coating his fist in glowing energy.
"Now die. Blood Manipulation: Gauntlet Drive."
He drove his fist through Yushiro's gut. Pulling his hand free, he grabbed him by the hair and hurled him toward Tsushiro.
Tsushiro tried desperately to stop the bleeding, but Yushiro whispered through tears, "Brother… it hurts. Help me."
Moments later, he fell silent.
Infuriated, Tsushiro picked up the sword and screamed, "Why?! What did we ever do to you?!"
Jarad laughed. "Tough break, kid. That's the world we live in. No one cares about poor village scrubs like you and your family."
Tsushiro charged—but unlike his brother, his movements were sharp and deliberate, as if he had been fighting his entire life. Even so, he was no match for Jarad, who evaded every attack with ease.
Tsushiro managed to graze Jarad's upper arm.
Enraged, Jarad seized Tsushiro's left arm and tore it off at the shoulder. Tsushiro screamed before being struck across the face, sent flying by the force of the blow.
Despite the pain, Tsushiro remained standing. His determination intrigued Jarad.
Without warning, a blood arrow flew—severing Tsushiro's right hand. Even then, he didn't hesitate. He clenched the sword in his mouth and charged forward.
Jarad grinned, forming two blood sabers.
"Alright—bring it on!"
They clashed in a blinding flash.
For a moment, they stood back to back.
Then blood splattered across the ground, and Tsushiro collapsed.
Jarad wiped the blood from a scratch on his face and smirked.
"Not bad. Not bad at all."
Tsushiro lay in a pool of his own blood, pain overwhelming his senses. His short life flashed before his eyes. He looked toward Yushiro and his mother as a tear rolled down his cheek.
With pain and frustration consuming his thoughts, one question echoed endlessly:
Why was I not strong enough?
As regret took hold, the last of the light faded from his eyes—giving way to darkness.