The Chosen Successor

The air crackled with electricity. Massive bolts danced wildly around Kaminari’s arms, chaining him to the blood mask embedded in the altar stone. His body convulsed with every shockwave, and he groaned through clenched teeth, muscles straining as the very ground beneath him began to fracture. Stones cracked and splintered under the intensity of the current.

Sumire’s eyes widened in panic. “This is it!” she gasped, rushing toward him. “Kaminari-kun!”

But Kenzo grabbed her arm, stopping her just in time. “Wait!” he warned. “It’s suicide to touch him now.”

Behind them, Kaminari’s silhouette writhed in the glow of flickering lightning, his screams echoing through the cave.

“If you touch him now,” Kenzo added grimly, “you’ll be pulled in by the electricity too.”

Sumire’s breath hitched. “Isn’t there any way to stop it?! At this rate, he will—”

“There’s no other way,” Kenzo said, his voice low but certain. “Just believe he can do it.”
(It's not her fault,) he thought, (but this electricity... it’s more vicious than any demon or devil we’ve faced here.) 

Kaminari forced his arm forward through the roaring storm. “THERE IS NO OPTION AS DEATH!” he roared, veins bulging in his neck as his fingers clawed forward. “JUST A FEW CENTIMETERS MORE!”

The barrier sparked violently. The distance between his hands and the boundary of the spell was shrinking.

Kenzo leaned forward. “It’s coming out...! Just a few more moments, Kaminari!”

With one final surge of effort, Kaminari tore the mask free.

A blinding explosion of electricity burst from the altar, slamming straight into his chest.

Sumire reached near Kaminari to help him. “Kaminari! Are you all right?” 

He was launched across the cavern like a lightning bolt himself, crashing into a stone pillar. Dust and rubble flew everywhere. When the haze cleared, he lay there, bloodied but conscious, the blood mask still clutched in his hand.

Kenzo stood frozen, eyes wide, sweat pouring down his face. “He... He actually did it.” His lips trembled. “You’re the first person since Hiroshi to ever pull out the mask.”

Sumire rushed to Kaminari’s side, kneeling beside him. “Are you alright?!”

Kaminari groaned, pushing himself upright with effort. “Y-Yeah... I think so.”

Kenzo approached slowly, his voice thick with awe. “You’re no ordinary warrior. You have the will of Hiroshi… no, his very aura. It seems fate has chosen you to save the nation. I wonder what others will say when they learn you’ve taken Hiroshi’s mask.” He let out a rare, shaky laugh. “I’m terrible at showing emotions, but believe me… I’ve never felt this happy.”

Kaminari studied the mask in his hand. “This thing… kinda reminds me of a character from a manga I read two years ago.”
Without hesitation, he tied the mask onto his leg, just above the knee.

Kenzo chuckled. “It’s good to see that mask again...”

Suddenly, two smooth stone panels rose from where the mask had been embedded. From between them, a concentrated laser beam shot outward, beginning to carve through another stone structure in front of them.

“Eh?” Kaminari blinked. “What’s that?”

“It’s probably the sword,” Kenzo said, eyes narrowing with interest. “Inside the stone.”

“Oooh! Cool technology,” Kaminari grinned.

“But… isn’t this the red zone?” Sumire asked, frowning. “How can such advanced technology exist here?”

Kenzo laughed. “Hehehe! Hiroshi wasn’t your ordinary red zone guy. He was just as advanced as Kuroshima Central. Let me tell you something about him...”

His face turned serious.

“Hiroshi was a legendary swordsman. He trained alone at Mount Ryukozan.”

“Mount Ryukozan?” Kaminari echoed.

“A mountain near a town in the yellow and green zones. Harsh terrain, brutal climate. He trained there for years. Then, he began traveling, defeating bounty hunters known as warlords and even top ministers. A hundred years ago, he crushed almost every major power... except three. The General. The Shogun. And the Shadow Shogun. Those three were legends in their own right—and they all died sixty years ago.”

Kenzo paused. “Rumors say Hiroshi disappeared for some time… and that he met the King of all Devils.”

Kaminari smirked. “Yeah, I believe it. Why not? Let’s just go with that.”

“Who knows the truth,” Kenzo sighed. “But I do know this—he almost killed Kuroshin for his tyranny. Kuroshin’s laws are absolute. Say someone insults a royal guard… the entire family of the offender is thrown into the red zone. No trial. No mercy.”

“That’s horrible!” Exclaimed Sumire. “There should be justice—punishment proportional to the crime! Isn’t there a jail or something?”

“They had jails,” Kenzo muttered. “Until Kuroshin abolished them.”

Kaminari cleared his throat. “Sorry to interrupt, but... what about the sword?”

Kenzo turned with a grin. “Ah, it’s just about done. Look.”

The stone cracked and crumbled, revealing a massive crimson blade glowing faintly with aura. Kaminari stepped forward and grasped the hilt, pulling it free.

A wave of heat and energy surged through the chamber.

“Whoa...” Kaminari breathed. “Bright red. Way stronger than my blood sword. A bit heavier... but I’ll manage.”

Sumire’s eyes sparkled. “It’s so pretty...”

Kenzo smiled proudly. “That’s no ordinary weapon. Its name is Bakura.”

“Bakura, huh? Sounds fancy,” Kaminari replied.

Kenzo stepped back. “Kaminari... no, Kaminari-sama. You’re far greater than you realize. A man chosen to save this nation!”

Suddenly, the ground shook. Dust rained from above as rocks began to fall.

Sumire’s voice turned to panic. “The cave’s collapsing!”

“Run upstairs—fast!” Kenzo shouted.

They sprinted toward the staircase, but a massive boulder crashed in front of the exit, blocking their path.

“No way out,” Kenzo muttered.

“What do we do? We’re deep underground!” Sumire panicked.

Kaminari stepped forward, a calm grin spreading across his face. “Well... guess it’s time to test this sword.” He raised the blade, aura sparking around it. “If it fails,” he laughed, “we die together.”

Kenzo recoiled. “What the hell?! I don’t wanna die!”

Sumire blushed faintly, turning her head away. (Dying with Kaminari-kun? Not bad...)

Kaminari held Bakura in both hands, focusing his aura into the blade. A crimson glow spread across the sword’s surface, and red energy began swirling around it.

“Gentle Slash Wave,” he whispered.

A giant 'X'-shaped wave shot forward, slicing through the boulders in a brilliant flash of light.

"Ohh! Awesome..." Reacted Kaminari “GO! MOVE!”

Kenzo and Sumire bolted up the stairs. Kaminari followed moments later.

They emerged onto the surface, panting.

“That was close, a moment more or we would've died there.” Sumire said, catching her breath. (With Kaminari-kun…) She blushed

Kenzo leaned back against a rock. “Oh god... Kaminari-sama handles swords like a natural. Did he always know how to wield them?”

“No,” Sumire replied. “He was bullied constantly. Humiliated, even.”

Kenzo’s expression darkened. “What a tragedy...”

Suddenly, Kaminari leaped from the last step, panting heavily. “I... CLIMBED 300 STAIRS IN 30 SECONDS!” He collapsed to the ground, exhaling dramatically.

Sumire rolled her eyes. “What a pointless struggle.”

Kenzo sighed. “He’s still a child.”

But before they could laugh, a sharp gust of wind roared overhead.

A blue figure streaked through the sky, crackling with electricity. It landed with the force of a meteor, crashing into the earth and creating a massive crater.

Dust and smoke filled the air.

The figure rose from the center of the impact, placing one hand on his chest. Electricity danced across his body.

“Hello, everyone!” he chimed with a cheerful lilt, clasping his hands together with a grin that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I do hope you’ve been well... because I’ve come to hunt you down!”

—To be continued.