"Five years ago..." The moment those words left Koumaru's lips, Ryuga’s expression shifted instantly.
A mixture of shock and suspicion flickered in his eyes as he pressed for answers. "Five years ago? You... it couldn't be!"
"Indeed. That incident where the Mad Dragon attacked your family's castle... To be perfectly honest, I was the one who orchestrated it."
Ryuga stared, paralyzed with horror, as Koumaru delivered the confession with a nonchalant smile.
As if reminiscing about the good old days, Koumaru continued his tale. "Five years ago, I was part of a research team tasked with studying Raiha-san after she became a half-dragon. Her body was a veritable treasure trove! My intellectual curiosity was piqued beyond measure... and eventually, I couldn't help but wonder. I wanted to see what kind of power she could truly wield if her Dragon Power was fully unleashed!"
"You wanted to see what would happen if the power was released...?"
"Exactly. So, I decided to run a little experiment. During a routine measurement one day, I used a combination of chemicals and spells to cloud her mind, drawing out her Dragon Power on her behalf."
The scene was utterly surreal.
Even though Koumaru was confessing to a heinous crime, he didn't seem to feel the weight of it at all. He spoke with a cheerful, guilt-free air, relating the truth behind the tragedy as if it were a pleasant memory. Ryuga, Yui, Setsuna, and Sakura could only watch in stunned silence.
"Then... you're the reason Raiha lost control!?"
"Yes, it was me. And just as I expected, as the Mad Dragon, she demonstrated her strength to its absolute fullest. I must say, the data I gathered that day was exquisite. I was quite pleased!"
"You... it was you... all of it... my father..."
"Still, I suppose one shouldn't do bad things. After all, here I am, cornered by the very man who grew so strong just to avenge the father lost in that incident. And yet—" Koumaru shrugged and shook his head with a mock sigh.
Ryuga glared at him with bloodshot eyes. He now understood that the man standing before him was the root cause of everything—the reason his father was dead. Koumaru met his gaze with a wicked smile.
"The Mad Dragon's power was ultimately a letdown. To think it could be repelled by a single, nameless swordsman... It was quite a disappointment."
"Koumaru! You bastaaaaard!!"
Ryuga snapped. Consumed by rage at the man mocking his father—who had died to protect his family and home—he lunged forward with a primal roar. He drew his katana back, ready to claim the villain’s head, but just as his killing intent peaked, a cross-shaped blade of wind slammed into his chest.
"Ghah...!"
"Brother!"
Blinded by fury, Ryuga had been unable to defend himself, and the sudden attack sent him tumbling across the ground. As Yui’s scream echoed, Ryuga spat up a mouthful of blood. Koumaru’s smile never wavered.
"...However, thanks to that, I understood. She would never be able to reach the heights I desire. Only those who seek power more strongly and greedily can reach the Realm Beyond Humans. It was because I realized that that I brought him into our fold."
"Thanks for buying me time. My arm's back in one piece."
Zaraki flexed his regenerated hand, his wounds completely vanished. It dawned on the group that Koumaru’s confession had been nothing more than a stalling tactic. Zaraki turned toward them with a ferocious grin.
"I was careless earlier, but I'm not holding back anymore. I'm going to kill you for real."
Ryuga forced himself up, feeling Zaraki's serious murderous intent. It was no longer the arrogance of a predator playing with its prey. He realized that the dragon-man’s killing intent was now directed at Yui.
Seeing the strike coming, Ryuga threw himself in front of his sister to shield her.
"Guh!"
"Brother, no!"
Yui screamed as her brother took the brunt of the devastating blow. Ryuga was gasping for air, blood flowing from his wounds, yet he somehow remained on his feet. Zaraki looked at him with an air of disappointment.
"You're strong, and you're sharp. But you're still just human. My strength, my Magic Power, and my sheer physical toughness as a Dragon-man are on an entirely different level."
"Guh...!"
Ryuga had only been hit twice, but those two strikes had been fatal. Zaraki possessed a power that transcended human limits; those direct hits had brought Ryuga to the very brink of death. It was clear who held the advantage.
"You might not like it, but give up. This is just how battles go."
Zaraki raised his arm with a sadistic grin. He began a relentless assault on the dying Ryuga, finally venting the frustration he had built up during their duel.