The truth

"Kaminari-san, it's me… Shakazuki," Jigoku whispered weakly.

Kaminari's heart hammered in his chest as he grasped Shakazuki's trembling shoulders. "No—no, stay awake! I can help you!"

Shakazuki managed a faint chuckle, his breath shaky and labored. 

"Kaminari… some things can't be helped." He coughed, blood trickling from his lips. "I became a demon after serving Kuroshin-sama… for three years."

"But why?" Kaminari's voice broke with regret. "I never imagined it would be you. You were my only friend!"

"That's right," Shakazuki coughed again, weakly. "I couldn't protect you… from the people at school. I failed to fulfill my duty."

"But I never wanted you to do all this!" Kaminari’s voice trembled, a single tear falling down his cheek. 

"You were my first friend, and yet I did this to you. Damn it! I just got you back! Why does everyone leave me?!"

Shakazuki's hand shook as he gently placed it on Kaminari's arm. "Listen… you think your mother died of a heart attack? You're wrong…"

Kaminari's breath caught, his entire body going rigid.

"She was an elite member of the Executioners," Shakazuki continued, coughing violently. "A group so powerful… they ruled entire superclusters, and had the authority… to kill even gods. But sadly…

A moment of silence.

"she was murdered, Kaminari."

A chill ran down Kaminari’s spine, his grip tightening. "Murdered? My mother…? That's impossible."

The words reverberated inside him, his heartbeat quickening. "My mother was… an Executioner? But if that's true… who in the world could've killed her?"

"I don't know," Shakazuki struggled to speak, blood dripping from his mouth. "But Kuroshin fought her. His power… was terrifying… and I…" He coughed violently, his voice fading. "I just devoured her aura…"

"Was it really him?" Kaminari asked, his mind flooding with images of Kuroshin, the battle, and the aura Shakazuki spoke of.

"Yes…" Shakazuki whispered faintly, a gentle smile crossing his lips. 

"Kaminari, I was shocked your aura resembled the—"

His hand slowly reached out, softly touching Kaminari’s cheek. The smile remained on his lips as the life faded from his eyes. His hand fell lifelessly to the ground.

Kaminari placed a trembling hand on Shakazuki's chest, feeling his weakening heartbeat fade until silence took over.

 "Shakazuki?" Kaminari murmured desperately. "Oye! Shakazuki!"

Silence. Nothing.

"SHAKAZUKI!" 

His anguished scream echoed into emptiness, tears streaming down his face as darkness enveloped him.

Kaminari opened his eyes, finding himself paralyzed in an unfamiliar bed. Slowly, he regained control over his fingers, then his arms, each muscle painfully reawakening. A sickening sensation twisted in his stomach.

"Where am I? What was I doing?" he muttered groggily.

A growling voice answered, irritated yet oddly concerned. "Your aura had nearly vanished—your heartbeat was weak, barely alive. You've been unconscious for an entire week. You're lucky you survived. If you value your life, stay in bed and rest."

Kaminari sighed heavily. "Oye, Devil King… Oye! Shhh!"

"What do you want now?!" the Devil King snapped, arms crossed impatiently.

"Why are you acting like a worried mom?"

The Devil King's face flushed with embarrassment and rage. "Excuse me?! I am the King of all Devils! Don't treat me like a child!"

Kaminari forced a weary smile. "Jeez… So it was all real?"

"Your aura was extinguishing, as I said before," the Devil King huffed.

"Did you know what was happening when I was fighting?"

"Your aura… it means you're—" The Devil King's voice suddenly choked, violently silenced by an unseen force.

"What?" Kaminari demanded.

"That aura, you were—" His voice was cut off again.

"What do you mean?! Speak clearly, old man!"

The Devil King gritted his teeth. "Tch! Nothing. I'm receiving divine censorship for even mentioning his name. He's still toying with people."

"You mean a 500-year-old Devil King can't speak clearly? That's a joke!"

"Tch! It's not that simple!" the Devil King barked.

Kaminari clenched his fists tightly, frustration rising. "Then say it! Who the hell am I?!"

"I can't!" the Devil King's voice cracked, strangled as if an invisible grip tightened around his throat. A heavy, divine pressure filled the air, making Kaminari shiver. "He's… watching everyone."

"At least tell me—is it Kuroshin’s doing?" Kaminari’s voice shook.

"No," the Devil King whispered fearfully, his expression utterly terrified for the first time since Kaminari had met him. The oppressive presence slowly faded, leaving behind only a lingering dread.

"What's happening to me?" Kaminari muttered bitterly. "Why can't I live a normal life, with just a little bit of power? Even in the dream—"

"It wasn't a dream," the Devil King interrupted quietly.

"Then it's true," Kaminari said softly, pain filling his voice. "Shakazuki… Mother… I was weak… I let them die."

"You're sulking like a child. Pathetic," the Devil King growled.

Kaminari didn't respond, his gaze fixed ahead.

"You lost someone. So what? Are you going to cry in bed forever?"

Kaminari closed his eyes, fists clenched, nails digging into his palms. "If I had power… I could've saved them." Slowly, with newfound resolve burning in his eyes, he sat up. "I have to get stronger. Strong enough… so that no one I care about ever dies again."

The Devil King watched Kaminari, hope gleaming subtly in his gaze.

From that day on, Kaminari vanished from school. Driven by determination, he began rigorous daily training—hundreds of push-ups, endless sit-ups, intense martial arts practice, and relentless running until exhaustion took him.

A new goal filled his heart: to avenge his mother and to never lose anyone ever again.

—To be continued