The Shogun Returns

Kenzo’s green aura surged, swirling wildly around him like a silent storm.

Kaminari-sama, he said with gravitas, please lend me the sword for a few minutes.

Kaminari, who was watching the butler dodge his blood stitching spikes, blinked. “Eh? The sword? Don’t tell me…”

“Yes,” Kenzo replied, eyes sharp. “You understood correctly. Please, let me borrow Bakura.”

Above them, the devilish butler zipped through the air, avoiding the deadly spikes with elegant precision. (How can I avoid this? This isn’t just an attack—it’s an ultimate technique.)

Kaminari turned toward Kenzo, examining the aura flaring off the old man like wildfire. (That’s a huge amount of aura. Guess he can fight too.)

He grinned and raised a hand in a goofy salute. “Okay, sir!” He handed over the sword.

Kenzo grasped it with steady hands, his voice quiet. (So this is Bakura? Heavier… larger than anything I’ve held in decades.)

Meanwhile, the spikes dissipated as the butler rose above them with a chuckle.

“This cheeky little trick has no effect in the air,” he cooed. “How amusing.”

Kaminari shrugged. “Yeah? Well, more’s coming.” He raised a hand to cancel the current wave of spikes.

Kenzo stepped forward, dragging the flat of the sword against the rocky ground. “It’s been nearly a century since I stepped onto a battlefield.”

Sumire’s face twisted in shock. “A century?! Just how old are you?!”

Without looking back, Kenzo lifted the blade in one smooth arc. “On this planet, demons and devils live over 300 years. As for him...” he gestured toward the butler, who floated midair with a refined smile.

“Well, well~” the butler chimed in a silky tone. “Kenzo… the ex-shogun. The so-called Shogun of Justice. Partner to the Shadow Shogun of Destruction. What a pleasure to meet you at last! First time, isn’t it?”

Kenzo stepped forward, a faint smile playing on his lips. “No. We’ve met several times before… You just don’t remember.”

The butler tilted his head, curiosity flickering behind his cheerful expression.

Kaminari’s eyes sparkled. “Did he just say Shogun?! The strongest swordsman?! I knew this gramps was hiding something!”

Sumire’s mouth parted in disbelief. “He looks so normal and calm…”

Suddenly, the butler winced as sparks burst across his temple. “Ahh! That damn pain again.”

He clenched his jaw, cracking his neck as more electricity pulsed down his spine.

“It doesn’t matter how legendary you were back then, old man,” he said with a sinister smile. “Now? You’re just expired meat.”

Kenzo chuckled. “Ah, youngsters and their charming insults. Back in the day, nations trembled at the mention of my name.”

He narrowed his eyes.

“Raizen.”

Kaminari blinked. “Raizen?”

Sumire gasped. “Is that the butler’s real name?”

The devil groaned again, electricity lancing through his neck. “Ugh! This damned infection…”

Kenzo’s tone remained calm. “That’s no infection. It’s a seal—put in place by Kuroshin’s government. That name… Raizen… it’s yours, but it’s also a lie. Your memories and true powers have been sealed. You’ve forgotten everything—because they made you forget.”

Raizen’s eyes flared with a sharp edge. “Oh dear~ Were you hoping I’d switch sides and become your sweet little ally?” he mocked. “Go pray at a temple, old man. I am Lord Kuroshin’s butler, his most humble servant. There is nothing but justice in his heart.”

Kaminari clenched a fist. “There’s a difference between justice and oppression!”

Raizen’s gaze narrowed. “What do you know, boy? Sahara hid the deadliest criminal The Blood Warrior’s mask, as well as your people gave birth to a three-star criminal, Kenji. These consequences are earned.”

Kenzo’s voice hardened. “Hiroshi… was declared a criminal because he defeated every single powerhouse in this nation. Even Kuroshin himself. That was not justice. Kuroshin couldn’t tolerate someone stronger than him.”

He lowered his voice. “I’m done arguing with a puppet.”

Raizen smirked. “Shut up. What can you even do, old monkey? I don’t even need to move. Come on then—hurry up. I don’t have all day.”

Kenzo smiled faintly. “What a cheeky little brat you’ve become.”

He leaned forward, one leg bent, the other extended behind him in a swordsman’s stance. His eyes closed.

The wind fell silent.

Kenzo inhaled slowly. "I can feel it..."

His eyes snapped open. “Here I come.”

In a blink, Kenzo vanished.

A split second later, he reappeared right in front of Raizen, Bakura mid-swing, the blade aimed at his chest.

Raizen’s eyes widened. (He's fast... I can’t dodge—)

He threw his arm across his torso just in time. The blade carved through it. Blood splashed.

“Still quick, huh, old man?” Raizen hissed, blood dripping from his forearm.

He raised his fists and took a battle stance, a flicker of seriousness showing for the first time.

Kenzo struck again—Raizen ducked, deflecting the swing with his forearm and countered with a punch glowing with lightning.

“Raijin Strike!”

Kenzo was pushed back by the force, skidding across the ground. “Not bad. You managed to stun me. But you’ll need more than that to win.”

Before he could recover, Raizen landed a heavy blow to Kenzo’s stomach, forcing him to stagger.

Kenzo straightened quickly, slashing forward with smooth, deadly accuracy. They traded blows in a blur—Raizen dodged and countered with electric fists, his movements sharp and violent. But Kenzo blocked, parried, and struck with the precision of a master.

“You’re fast, old man!” Raizen shouted. “But your blade will never catch me.”

Kenzo grinned. “Raizen boy… you rely too much on brute power. You’ve forgotten the art of the sword. Watch carefully.”

In a flash, Kenzo vanished again.

He reappeared behind Raizen, slashing in one smooth arc.

Raizen twisted midair, narrowly avoiding a killing blow—but a deep gash tore through his back.

(His speed... it’s rising. This is no ordinary swordsman. This is—an ex-shogun?)

Kaminari nearly burst. “GRANDPA IS SO COOL!”

Sumire glanced at him, then smiled as she returned her gaze to the fight.

(At this age? Then how powerful must he have been in his prime? No wonder nations feared him...)

Raizen panted, facing Kenzo. “Now… I’ll show you power.”

He lunged, unleashing a flurry of kicks and punches, but Kenzo blocked each strike with Bakura, turning the blade into a fluid shield.

“You have strength,” Kenzo said, “but it’s unrefined. Let me show you what centuries of training can do.”

He surged forward, slamming the blunt side of Bakura into Raizen’s body at rapid speed.

Raizen countered with Raijin Strike, but Kenzo dodged and retaliated.

Their exchange intensified—until suddenly, Raizen’s head snapped back in agony. His body trembled.

The Black Lotus Seal on his neck flared to life, glowing with a silver aura that pulsed the symbol of Kuroshin into the air.

Raizen groaned. “Wh-Why… why is my head hurting more than before?!”

Kenzo’s face turned grim. (The seal is breaking. That kind of pain... it’s beyond anything a mind can handle.)

“You’re more than just Raizen,” he said softly. “You’re a prisoner… trapped in chains you can’t see.”

Raizen staggered, gripping his skull. “Why won’t this infection stop?! I’m in the middle of a fight!”

He looked at Kenzo, rage twisting his expression. “I’LL EXECUTE YOU, OLD MAN—PAIN OR NOT!”

Electric aura burst violently from his body. Sparks flew, cracking across the battlefield. But his focus was shattered, his attacks wild, unrefined.

Kenzo dodged effortlessly.

“You’re fighting two battles now,” Kenzo said, stepping through the chaos. “One with me… and another with yourself.”

Raizen screamed, blinded by agony.

Kenzo moved.

This ends now.

He appeared behind Raizen, raised the blunt side of Bakura, and struck the seal at the base of Raizen’s neck—pouring his own aura into the mark.

“Release!”

The seal cracked.

Kaminari held his breath. “Did... did he break it?!”

Sumire gasped, then smiled. “He did it!”

A powerful shockwave pulsed from Raizen’s body. The air snapped as the seal shattered. Kenzo was blown back but landed on his feet, sword in hand.

Raizen’s body stood still.

Then, slowly, his eyes opened—haunted and wide—as a tsunami of memories surged into his mind.

He collapsed to his knees.

“...Kenzo,” he whispered.

—To be continued