The moon cast an eerie glow over the city as Raizen walked through the empty streets, his senses drinking in the unfamiliar world around him. The towering buildings and strange mechanical contraptions amused him, but the energy in the air was what truly intrigued him. Cursed energy still thrived, pulsing beneath the surface like a beast waiting to be unchained.

  His grin widened. He could smell them. Sorcerers.

  High above, perched atop a rooftop, a figure watched him. A hunter. The moment Raizen had stepped into the city, the Jujutsu clans had taken notice. They had sent their dogs after him, just as they had centuries ago. Some things never changed.

  The hunter, a young man clad in a sleek black uniform, adjusted the grip on his weapon—a staff infused with sacred sigils. His heartbeat was steady, his aura disciplined. He was no ordinary sorcerer. He was trained, perhaps even powerful.

  Raizen chuckled. "So, they send a pup to face a wolf."

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  The hunter dropped from the rooftop, landing gracefully before him. His golden eyes burned with determination. "Raizen, King of Cursed Beasts, you are an abomination. I will not let you roam free."

  Raizen tilted his head. "And what will you do, boy? Seal me away again?"

  Without another word, the hunter lunged. His staff moved like lightning, aiming straight for Raizen’s chest. But before it could connect, Raizen simply raised a finger. The moment the weapon touched him, it shattered into dust.

  The hunter’s eyes widened in shock. "Impossible—"

  Raizen grabbed him by the throat, lifting him effortlessly off the ground. "Pathetic. You’re centuries too young to challenge me."

  With a flick of his wrist, he sent the hunter crashing through a nearby building. Dust and debris filled the air as the structure caved in around him.

  Raizen exhaled, disappointed. "If this is the best they have to offer, I might just slaughter them all."

  Yet, just as he turned to leave, a new presence emerged from the rubble. The hunter, bloodied but very much alive, stepped forward. His golden eyes now glowed with something else—something unnatural.

  Raizen’s grin faltered for the first time. "Oh? You might actually be interesting."

  The night had only just begun.