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  Chapter 12: The Clan of Pigs**

  The sun was rising, its rays filtered through the clouds, reflecting off the city's debris. Yuzuki sat atop a large stone in the midst of the ruined bar, still smeared with blood and exhaustion. The battle was over, but he felt no relief. The weight of the fight, of loss, of destruction, seemed a constant now—a shadow he could not shake. The cold morning wind brushed his face, but he felt nothing but emptiness.

  He gazed at the horizon, his eyes distant, as if seeing nothing but what he had become. *"Ten years. Ten years preparing for this moment. Ten years of study, training, and now... what is left of it all?"* Yuzuki thought, doubt crushing his shoulders. *"Was this really what I wanted? Or was it all just an illusion of power?"* He no longer knew.

  Yuzuki's breathing was ragged. There was no pride in victory. No joy in what he had done. The city lay in ruins, the people—by and large—had perished. He looked at the scars on his body, recalling every blow, every battle, as though there were no room left for recovery. *"I can no longer run from this. I owe them an explanation. To Father Gotier, to Akari... even to Zeke. They have the right to know what happened."*

  As these thoughts consumed his mind, Mao's voice resonated in his head once more.

  — **You will never free yourself from this, Yuzuki. What you did... Alkaraz's death... The lies... They will never see you the same way.** — Mao's tone was mocking, yet laced with sadistic pleasure, as if he delighted in Yuzuki's constant agony.

  Yuzuki tried to ignore him, but Mao's words echoed relentlessly in his mind.

  — **You are a monster, Yuzuki. You know it, do you not? And the others? They will never accept what you have done. They do not know the truth. They do not know of Amok. They do not know what happened when you made that pact. Do you really think they will stand by you after this?**

  Mao's presence was constant, but now Yuzuki felt an even heavier burden pressing in on his thoughts. *"Why does he treat me this way? Why does he care so much?"* Yuzuki wondered, unsettled. *"He made a pact with me... but something is not right. He was never like this before. What is he hiding?"*

  Meanwhile, Amok, silent, watched the interaction between Yuzuki and Mao with intrigue. He wondered why Mao seemed to hold such deep interest in Yuzuki beyond the obvious pact. *"I do not understand... Why does he treat him like that? As if there is something more between them... something unsaid."* Amok thought, curiosity alight in his eyes.

  Suddenly, the silence was shattered by footsteps. Yuzuki looked toward the horizon and saw the silhouettes of three figures approaching. Father Gotier, Akari, and Zeke were coming.

  Father Gotier spoke first, his deep voice echoing in the air:

  — Yuzuki... we have seen what you did. We have seen what happened in Salem. What happened to Alkaraz and Yuri... What do you have to say? — He looked at Yuzuki with a mixture of anger and despair, but also compassion. — You cannot continue hiding what you have done. If you think you can keep lying to us... we are willing to hear the truth.

  Akari stared at Yuzuki with a serious expression, doubt in her eyes.

  — I do not know what to believe anymore, Yuzuki. You killed Alkaraz. You betrayed all of us. I do not know if I can remain by your side. — The sadness in her voice was palpable, but also a sense of betrayal that could not be ignored.

  Zeke, the quietest of the three, simply watched. He stepped forward, his stance defensive.

  — I... am new to this. But what happened here was much more than a power play. You need to explain yourself.

  Yuzuki looked at his friends, now his accusers. His chest tightened as the truth at last came to light. With a deep sigh, Yuzuki rose slowly, his words heavy with immense sorrow.

  — I know you have doubts. I know you do not understand everything, but what I did... I did not do it for pleasure. I did not do it for power. I did it because... I had to. And yes, I made a pact with Mao. But you do not know what happened... what he did. And worse, you do not know what I lost to arrive here.

  ***

  ### **The Beginning of Everything**

  Yuzuki looked deeply into the eyes of each of his allies, the tension in the air almost tangible.

  — I am going to tell you everything — he began, his voice low, but unusually heavy. — But understand this: I will not die here. And if I have to kill you to complete my goal, I will.

  Yuzuki's words hit his allies like a bomb. Father Gotier, Akari, and even Zeke were visibly shaken by the coldness in his voice. The silence settled over them until Akari finally spoke, her voice trembling:

  — You... have you always been like this?

  Yuzuki looked at her with a dark gaze and nodded.

  — Yes. I have always been like this.

  He then began to tell his story, hiding nothing.

  — I was born into a noble clan called Kanji. But over the years, the leaders of the three most powerful clans on the island of Kugutsu—and even the king himself—used my clan as a sacrifice to summon a primordial Kugutsu. My family... my clan... we were treated like cattle. We were bred to become beasts for slaughter. I never received love from my parents or uncles. I do not even know what love is.

  Yuzuki paused, his words laden with pain.

  — I grew up like this. The Kanji clan has been like this for generations. There was nothing but suffering, sacrifice, and death. Until it was my turn. I would have accepted my fate easily. I lied to you, Akari—I never cared about my family. The only problem... the only problem was that I had a younger brother.

  The mention of his brother darkened Yuzuki's eyes even further.

  — I do not know what love is, but I believe I felt it for him — he said, his voice carrying genuine sorrow. — I took care of him, bathed him, took him out... he was the only happy child in that miserable clan. He was the only one who returned my affection, and I felt so happy for it. Kaleb. He was the only ray of light in my life.

  He looked at his allies, each absorbing his words in different ways.

  — But the Island of Kugutsu, its people, the clans, the kings who passed... nothing changed. They did not care about us. We were disposable. So, I did what needed to be done. I studied, I learned about the clans, about the kings, about the rituals. I knew my brother would not have much time. They were going to sacrifice him, as they always did.

  Yuzuki's words dripped with immense frustration.

  — I did not care about my family. I did not care about the clan. But I did care about him — Yuzuki said, his tone tinged with suppressed rage. — I did not know what else to do. So I made a pact. I called Mao. I did whatever was necessary to ensure Kaleb survived, at least in my memories. And now... I will continue, no matter the cost. Because in the end, everything I did was for one reason. I did all of this to save the only being I ever loved. The only one who showed me I am not just a monster.

  ***

  ### **Kaleb Forever**

  The air was heavy, laden with the weight of unspoken words and averted glances. Yuzuki fixed his gaze on Father Gotier with a disturbing intensity.

  — You told Akari and me that your family was murdered by the Church of the Holy Faith and Mr. Kitty. You said your only sin was loving your family too much — Yuzuki began, his voice deep and full of resentment. — Do you understand how I feel? I said I would help you in your vengeance. And I will.

  He continued, revealing the most painful truth of his life.

  — My brother, Kaleb, was only ten years old. I spent eight years preparing, making plans so we could escape that cursed island, so we could be happy. I never told him about my plan... I should have.

  Remorse consumed Yuzuki. He forced himself to breathe, but could not prevent tears from welling.

  — I was poisoned in my sleep. A paralyzing toxin. I woke bound to a cross and I saw my family and my brother being led to the king's sacrificial altar. I screamed, begged to know how they discovered my plan, but no one answered. When I looked at my family, at my parents... they were smiling, but it was no loving smile. It was a diabolical, cruel grin. It was them... they were the ones who betrayed me. They ransacked my room, took my documents, and delivered everything to the king, to the clans. I was forced to watch my mother and father drag my brother, Kaleb, away to be sacrificed, while the clans and the king laughed.

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  The silence fell, and the atmosphere grew even denser. Zeke, the recent ally still rooted in his origins on the Island of Kugutsu, stood visibly shaken. He had no idea how deep Yuzuki's pain ran. Akari, also from the island, could scarcely believe what she had heard.

  — You judge me — Yuzuki said, his voice taking on a bitter, furious edge. — But what did you do to save my clan? What did you do to save my brother? You bastards... and now you think I am cruel?

  The contempt in his voice was palpable. He looked at Akari and Zeke with a gaze that could rend their very souls.

  — You are the same as me. You should not judge me.

  The weight of Yuzuki's words fell upon them like a verdict. He did not want pity. He did not want understanding. What he wanted was for those around him to see the truth behind his actions, the pain behind his decision.

  Amok, silent and watchful, merely observed it all. He understood the burden Yuzuki carried, and in a way, he respected it. But what fascinated him most was Yuzuki's growing power.

  Meanwhile, Mao reveled in the situation. He knew that, at some point, Yuzuki would have to confront his own truth. And when that happened, the consequences would be all the more unpredictable.

  The silence settled over the group for a few more seconds, until at last Father Gotier spoke. His voice trembled, but there was a note of understanding in it.

  — Yuzuki, I... I did not know all of this. I did not know what you endured.

  Yuzuki looked at him with an impassive stare.

  — Now you know. Now everyone knows.

  But the ache in his heart did not fade. Kaleb, his brother, the only being he had ever truly loved, would never return. And with that, Yuzuki's past was forever stained by tragedy, betrayal, and loss.

  ***

  The Real Villain**

  Zeke and Akari were on their knees, immersed in a sea of remorse and anguish. Their faces were contorted by the pain of a past now impossible to deny. Guilt weighed on them like a crushing mountain. The silence between them was muffled by the tears beginning to well up, but neither had the courage to speak.

  Zeke, shame filling his eyes, stared at the ground as if he could hide from himself. The weight of his humiliation and what he had done burned like fire. Akari, meanwhile, looked at Yuzuki with her head bowed, her hands trembling with guilt. It was as if the weight of her actions against the boy standing before them now was the heaviest burden she had ever carried.

  Yuzuki, impassive, continued his story, unaffected by his former allies' sorrow.

  — After watching my family die — he began with terrifying calm —, the king did not want to kill me. To him, death would be too quick. I had to be an example for others, for all who defied the doctrines of the Island of Kogutsu. So, I was locked in a cage, in public. Every clan passed by and threw food at me, mocking me. I was the joke, the spectacle. The warning of what happens to those who dare to challenge the laws.

  Akari and Zeke were paralyzed by those words. The silence reigned, but in their minds, images of the past resurfaced with painful clarity. Akari remembered passing through the square many times, spitting on Yuzuki and calling him a traitorous pig. The contempt in her youthful eyes now mirrored in her own soul. Zeke recalled the jeers he and his friends had made, throwing stones and even urinating on Yuzuki's body as if it were mere amusement. They could no longer deny the truth: they had contributed directly and cruelly to Yuzuki's suffering.

  — You remember, do you not? — said Yuzuki, his voice cold and cutting like a blade. — You remember me in that cage. I remember every face. Every word of hate. You are no different from the king who imprisoned me. No different from the clans that destroyed my life. And now you stand here, pretending you can help me? — He laughed bitterly, his voice dripping with contempt. — You are the same as me. You should not judge me.

  Zeke tried to speak, but his voice failed him.

  — I... I am sorry. I did not know...

  — Did not know? — interrupted Yuzuki, his voice rising. — You knew! All of you knew! You knew what was happening on that island! You knew what you were doing to me! Do not come to me with excuses now. I do not need your pity.

  Yuzuki drew a deep breath, closing his eyes for a moment before continuing.

  — While I was in that cage, I thought of only one thing: Kaleb. My brother. He was all I had, all that mattered. And I failed him. I promised I would protect him, but I could not.

  He pulled a small letter from the inner pocket of his coat. The paper was yellowed and worn with time, its edges burned.

  — I wrote this to him the night I planned our escape. I never delivered it. I never told him how much he meant to me. — Yuzuki's voice trembled for the first time, a crack in the wall of his coldness. He gazed at the letter as if it were a piece of his own soul. — Kaleb... I hope you have found peace, wherever you are. Because I never will. Not while I remain bound to this hatred, to this vengeance. But know that everything I do, everything I have become, was for you.

  The silence fell once again, but this time it was different. It was a silence laden with pain, remorse, a sorrow so deep it seemed to consume the very air. Akari and Zeke said nothing. There was nothing left to be said.

  And so, Yuzuki slipped the letter back into his coat, his eyes returning to their usual chill.

  — Expect no forgiveness. Expect no redemption. I am not a hero. I am only someone who has lost everything and has nothing left to lose.

  ***

  ### **The Death of Hope**

  Yuzuki, with his cold and distant gaze, continued to share the details of his past—without hesitation, without regret.

  — So, I just changed my plans — said Yuzuki, his voice laden with bitterness. — Before, I only wanted to escape... but now, I want to see everything that made me suffer burn. I want to see the culture, the knowledge, the people, the island, the king, and the clans consumed by flames. I understood something... The continent of Pangea, where we are, is not the problem. The problem is what we do with it—the twisted rituals people use to summon the Kugutsus. It is all our fault. Our very existence is a mistake on this planet. The knowledge we have accumulated, the powers we control—they are flaws. And that is what I am: a flaw.

  The silence that followed was heavy, oppressive.

  — I am not a villain — Yuzuki went on, a bitter smile on his lips. — I am not a hero. I just want peace. I just want freedom... but I am still trapped, like a bird that lived twenty years in a cage, unable to fly. And when it is finally freed, it no longer knows how to fly... and it dies, wishing for freedom, but unable to have it.

  He continued his story, immersed in his memories, but now with a cruel clarity.

  — I spent years training, preparing to escape with my brother. I trained in *dankai*, *shinkō*, *genkai*, sealings, and forbidden rituals. I was preparing myself. Father Gotier, you were surprised, were you not? You thought I did not know those techniques—but I always knew. Always.

  Gotier remained silent, his eyes wide with surprise.

  — I knew about the Alcali Clan — said Yuzuki, now looking directly at Akari. — I knew about Fausto's forbidden book. The Tree of Blood, as you call it. Akari, you know that book, do you not? You told me about it months ago. And I knew what it meant.

  Akari, visibly uncomfortable, looked down at the ground.

  — That book — Yuzuki continued — held the most important knowledge of all the clans. Fausto, Alkaraz's father, was one of the most powerful men, and his name was feared by all. He had uncontrollable power over the clans and the king. But what I did was something even more radical.

  He laughed—a low, dark chuckle, as if he had finally reached a point of morbid satisfaction.

  — I did what needed to be done. I went to the leader of the Alcali Clan, entered his room, and applied a paralyzing poison. I stabbed him several times until he died. I wanted him to know who was responsible, just as my brother Kaleb knew what had happened.

  The impact of Yuzuki's words was immeasurable. Akari and Zeke recoiled, the shock etched clearly on their faces.

  — Then, I stole the book — Yuzuki continued, now with an inhuman coldness. — The Book of the Blood Tree. It contains the ritual for splitting the soul and creating a Kugutsu being. But I did something different. I used the information from the book along with the Kanji method. Kings and clan leaders usually summon primordial Kogutsu by sacrificing my clan, but I did it another way.

  The silence was now nearly tangible.

  — I exterminated my entire clan that night — said Yuzuki with a detached tone. — I sold their souls in exchange for a pact with Mao. And that night, I obtained a primordial Kugutsu. Mao was forced to serve me—a member of the Kanji clan. The great Mao, summoned by kings and feared for centuries. And now, he serves me. Now, he is mine.

  Yuzuki laughed, as if amused by the irony of fate.

  — Mao killed many from my clan. And now, he works for me. I even understand his rage. But honestly, I do not care.

  He stood up, his eyes fixed on his former allies.

  — I will say no more. You already know enough, and I have said too much. I know how to destroy this island and end all of this. I know how to destroy the Kugutsus. And that is why Mao wants to kill me before I complete my goals. He knows that, when I am done, all summonings will vanish.

  Mao, for his part, only smiled insidiously. He knew this moment would come. Yuzuki was now more than ready. Amok watched everything in silence, finally understanding Mao's hatred and the reason why he treated Yuzuki so peculiarly.

  Gotier remained silent for a moment, letting the weight of Yuzuki's revelations echo among them. Then, without saying a word, he stepped forward and embraced Yuzuki tightly, almost paternally.

  — I will stand by your side, Yuzuki — he said, his voice filled with seriousness. — And in the end, if necessary, I will be the one to stop you. But until then, I will be your master, your priest, and your friend.

  Yuzuki stood still, surprised by the show of affection—something he had not experienced in years. His eyes quickly turned away, refusing to show any vulnerability.

  Akari, with quiet tears, stepped forward shortly after.

  — Yuzuki... I am sorry. I am sorry for what I did in the past and for what I did not do. — She hugged him tightly, ignoring any resistance from him. — I understand you. And know that I will stand by your side. I will avenge my family against the king and the clans, but I also want something different. I want to take control of the Island of Kugutsu and change the system. Even if that means we may have to face each other in the end.

  Yuzuki did not respond immediately, but his rigid posture softened slightly at Akari's sincere words.

  Zeke, on the other hand, remained silent, arms crossed and eyes fixed on Yuzuki. He was processing everything—every detail of the dark, tragic story. Finally, he stepped forward, his heavy boots echoing on the stone floor.

  — I am not going to apologize, because I know it changes nothing — Zeke said, his voice deep and resolute. — But I understand what my path is now. No matter what lies ahead, I am with you, Yuzuki. Your plan... your goal... is what I want to achieve too.

  The two exchanged a look heavy with mutual understanding. No further words were needed; the connection had been made.