The marble rolled beneath the table with an almost casual elegance, its smooth surface glimmering faintly in the dim light of the room. Then, in a subtle flicker, it transformed into a human figure—Kazuya. His body rippled and solidified into the form of a tall, imposing man. The power he possessed, the Compress Quirk, allowed him to become the very thing he had just been. His form was like a polished stone, a glint of blue light pulsing from within his being.
He sat back into the chair, a moment of quiet contemplation settling over him. The plot of Queen Carmilla and her faction weighed on his mind like a looming storm cloud. The information he'd heard earlier wasn't just troubling—it was dangerous. He had barely escaped from her claws, and the mere thought of her continued schemes was enough to fuel the fire of vengeance building in his chest.
"I won't just take her down," he muttered under his breath, his gaze darkening. "I'll make her suffer worse than death itself."
His thoughts turned toward Kuroka, the one who had been posing as one of the vampires in Carmilla's faction during the meeting. He'd noticed her watching him, carefully observing his every move. The fact that she was involved with the Carmilla faction to spy about him only made him more suspicious. Kuroka's true intentions had yet to be seen, but he wouldn't leave them to chance.
As he thought about Vali and his group, Kazuya stood up and focused his enhanced senses. His mind sharpened, and a flicker of awareness told him exactly where to find her. She was outside the town, taking a nap in the treetops.
With a smooth motion, he raised his hand and drew a teleportation circle in the air. A swirl of energy enveloped him, and in an instant, he vanished from the room, reappearing outside the town where Kuroka rested.
Kuroka's form was nestled lazily on a thick branch, eyes closed, lost in a nap. The sound of the wind rustling through the trees and the soft chirping of birds filled the air, giving her an almost serene presence. But Kazuya didn't come here for peace. He came for answers.
With a snap of his fingers, an ice shard materialized in the air. Without hesitation, he flung it directly at the tree branch. The ice hit with a soft crack, and the branch splintered, sending Kuroka tumbling to the ground in a flurry of leaves and twigs.
"Who dares?!" she hissed, her voice laced with surprise and irritation. She scrambled to her feet, instantly summoning a defensive aura around her. Her eyes flicked around the area before narrowing as she saw Kazuya standing calmly before her.
"Well, well," Kuroka's voice turned cold. "What do we have here? You're not exactly what I expected. Who are you, and why attack me?"
Kazuya's gaze was as icy as the shards he'd just summoned. He crossed his arms, watching her carefully. "Don't play games. I know exactly who you are. You've been tracking me for a while. You were at Carmilla's meeting earlier, weren't you?"
Her eyes widened, but she quickly masked her surprise with a forced smirk. "So what if I was? None of your business."
Kazuya stepped forward, his presence intense. "It is now. I don't like being watched. And I don't like people interfering with my plans."
A tense silence hung between them, only the distant wind breaking it. Kuroka's hand subtly inched toward her weapons, but Kazuya was quicker. Before she could react, a shimmering barrier surrounded them, cutting them off from the outside world.
"Don't act stupid," Kazuya said, his tone unwavering. "I'm giving you a chance to step aside."
Kuroka's lips twisted into a sneer as she summoned a flurry of illusions, attempting to disorient him. But to her shock, Kazuya didn't flinch. His eyes remained locked on her, unaffected by the tricks she had so effortlessly used on others before.
"You think illusions will work on me?" Kazuya's voice was filled with cold amusement. "I've dealt with worse."
Frustrated, Kuroka shifted tactics. She conjured a dense mist of poison, the air turning thick and suffocating as the poisonous gas curled toward him. Kazuya felt it seep into his body, his muscles twitching and locking in place. His vision blurred as his body went limp, the poison paralyzing him. Kuroka grinned, stepping closer, dismissing her mist poison to not kill him with effects of it.
"You're not so tough now, are you?"
But as she leaned down to grab him, she froze.
A cold chill crept up her spine as she felt the faintest pressure against her neck. A blade. She snapped her head to the side, and there, standing behind her, was Kazuya—alive and very much in control. The version of him lying on the ground, writhing in pain, was nothing but a clone.
Kazuya's voice was low and deadly as he whispered, "One last warning."
Kuroka stiffened, realizing just how close she had come to making a fatal mistake. Her hand dropped from her weapon, and her expression shifted from one of defiance to one of reluctant respect.
"Don't interfere again," Kazuya continued, his tone soft but firm. "And tell Vali to stay out of my way. If you tell him anything about this, I will make you regret it."
Kuroka's face twisted with fear as Kazuya's icy eyes burned into hers. He smirked, his voice carrying a dark promise. "I've placed a little spell on you. If you even think about telling him, you'll burn from the inside out."
Her breath hitched, and Kazuya's smirk grew.
'I was just joking, of course' he vanished in a swirl of blue energy, leaving her standing there, shaking with both fear and uncertainty.
The next morning, Valerie's brow furrowed as she approached Kazuya, her voice filled with curiosity. "Wait—why are only you and Medusa going to meet Queen Carmilla? I thought we were all supposed to be there for the negotiations."
Kazuya's expression softened, but only slightly. "The vampires of her faction won't like you hanging around there, even if it's an alliance. I'd prefer you stay out of that mess. It's better for you to avoid their scrutiny."
"But what about Asia?" Valerie pressed.
"She'll be with you," Kazuya said, a hint of fondness in his voice. "I don't want her to feel alone here. You two should enjoy school life while it's peaceful. Neither of you deserves to be dragged into the war."
Valerie nodded, though she still didn't seem entirely convinced. "And what about you? Why are you going?"
Kazuya's gaze hardened. "It's inevitable. The Tepes faction will make their move soon enough. I'm striking first."
Before Valerie could respond, Elmenhilde appeared, a teleportation circle swirling beneath her feet. She motioned for Kazuya and Medusa to step inside. As they said their goodbyes, Kazuya's thoughts remained focused on the task ahead. He had no intention of letting Carmilla or anyone else stand in his way.
As the circle closed around them, Kazuya couldn't help but feel the weight of his plans pressing down on him. The next steps were crucial. He would deal with the Queen and her faction—but on his terms, and with no mercy.