Kaito's scream shattered the air.
The black veins spread faster, slithering across his skin like living ink. His shadow warped, no longer obeying the light—instead, it moved on its own.
Renji and Aoi stumbled backward, their instincts screaming at them to run.
But they didn't.
They couldn't.
Because this was still Kaito.
Or at least, some part of him.
---
The Spiral Takes Control
Kaito's body convulsed, his fingers digging into the dirt. His breathing was ragged, his face contorted in pain.
"Renji—" Aoi's voice was tight with fear. "He's changing."
Renji's fists clenched. "I know."
Kaito lifted his head.
His eyes—once warm, full of life—were now void-like spirals.
His lips parted, his voice strained. "Help me."
Renji's chest tightened.
But before he could take a step forward—
The spiral mark pulsed violently.
Kaito let out a choked gasp.
And then—
His body rose into the air.
Roots burst from the ground, wrapping around his limbs like restraints. His shadow stretched unnaturally, spiraling outward into a mass of darkness.
Aoi grabbed Renji's wrist. "We have to stop this!"
Renji's mind raced. "I know! But how?!"
Kaito's body twitched violently. His voice was a mix of agony and something… inhuman.
> "I… don't… want this…."
His own voice echoed strangely, layered with whispers—not his own.
Renji's pulse pounded. The spirals were consuming him.
If they didn't act fast—there would be nothing left of Kaito.
---
A Desperate Plan
Renji's instincts kicked in.
He lunged forward, ignoring Aoi's shouted warning.
His hand shot out—grabbing Kaito's arm, gripping the spiral mark.
A shockwave erupted.
Renji's mind reeled.
For a split second, he saw—
Memories. Fragments. Distorted images flashing in his mind.
Kaito's past.
His home. His family.
His last moments before the spiral took him.
> A mirror. A reflection that wasn't his own.
A twisted grin. A hand pulling him inside.
A voice whispering—"You belong to us now."
Renji gasped, yanking his hand away. His vision blurred, his head pounding.
But he understood now.
Kaito wasn't just possessed.
He was a fragment—something incomplete, stitched together by the spirals.
And now, that fragment was being ripped apart.
---
The Breaking Point
Kaito's body contorted, his screams turning guttural.
Renji staggered back. "Damn it—he's losing control!"
Aoi's eyes widened in horror. "If we don't do something, he'll—"
She didn't finish.
Because at that moment—
Kaito stopped screaming.
A breathless silence fell over the forest.
And then—
Kaito's body collapsed.
The black veins retreated. The spirals in his eyes vanished.
For a long moment, he didn't move.
Then—
A weak cough.
A shaky breath.
"…Renji?"
Renji's chest heaved. "Kaito?"
Kaito groaned, lifting his head. His face was pale, his body trembling.
But his eyes—
They were his own.
No spirals. No whispers. Just Kaito.
Renji let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding.
Aoi clutched her chest, relief flooding her face. "He's back."
But Renji wasn't so sure.
Because deep inside, he could still feel it—
A presence.
The spirals hadn't let go completely.
And they wouldn't stop until they took everything.
---
End of Chapter 21
---
To Be Continue