The Oath of Vengeance

Kaito knelt in the middle of the ruined courtyard, his small body trembling as tears streamed down his face. His hands clutched the cold hands of his fallen parents, unwilling to let go. Their blood still stained the earth, mingling with the scent of smoke and steel that lingered in the air. His voice cracked as he whispered through sobs,

“Father… Mother… Sister… I swear. I swear upon my life—I will avenge you. I will restore the honor of our clan, no matter what it takes!”

As if in answer, a faint glimmer caught his eye. Resting beside his father’s still body was a crimson dagger, its hilt engraved with the sacred emblem of the Takemura Clan. Kaito reached out with shaking fingers, lifting it from the ground. The blade seemed to pulse faintly, as though recognizing its new master.

Clutching it tightly against his chest, Kaito vowed in a low voice, almost a growl,

“This dagger… this will be my bond with you. I will train, I will suffer, I will bleed—until the day I am strong enough to destroy those who destroyed us.”

With that vow carved into his very soul, he stumbled away from the massacre, running blindly into the forest. Shadows swallowed his figure as night fell, and after hours of wandering, exhausted and alone, Kaito stumbled upon the moss-covered ruins of an ancient temple. Cracked pillars and faded carvings whispered of forgotten ages. With nowhere else to go, he collapsed within its walls, the dagger clutched in his hand as sleep finally dragged him into restless dreams.

At dawn, a weak groan pierced the silence. Kaito’s eyes shot open. He followed the sound and found a man lying among the ruins, his robes torn, blood soaking through deep gashes across his chest. Kaito froze—this was the warrior he had glimpsed at the start of the massacre, locked in a desperate battle.

“Sir!” Kaito rushed forward, panic surging in his chest. “Please, don’t die! Hold on!”

The man’s voice rasped weakly, “Boy… herbs… in the satchel. Crush them… quickly.”

With trembling hands, Kaito obeyed, gathering the herbs, grinding them together, and applying them to the wounds. The man hissed in pain but endured, guiding him step by step. Hours later, the bleeding slowed, and the warrior’s breathing steadied.

The man opened his eyes, sharp even in weakness. “You… saved me.”

Kaito sat back, panting. “I couldn’t just watch you die, sir.”

A faint chuckle escaped the man’s lips. “I am Hong Li Feng… a wanderer. But tell me, child, what is a boy doing in this cursed forest alone?”

Kaito lowered his gaze, his fists tightening. “My name is Kaito Takemura… I had a family, a clan. But they were all slaughtered. I… I couldn’t protect them. I ran away.” His voice cracked, and fresh tears burned his eyes.

Hong Li Feng studied him in silence, then thought to himself: This boy carries a wound deeper than any blade. And yet… in his eyes, there is a fire that refuses to die. Perhaps… he is the one I’ve been searching for.

At last, he spoke, voice firm despite his injuries.

“Kaito. Fate has led you to me. For years, I have wandered, but my knowledge will die with me if I leave no successor. I ask you—will you become my disciple?”

Kaito’s eyes widened. “Your… disciple?” His heart pounded, torn between fear and hope.

“Yes,” Feng said. “Under my guidance, you will grow strong. I can teach you martial arts, cultivation, the ways of survival. But strength is not easily earned—it demands pain, sacrifice, and unyielding will. If you accept, there will be no turning back. So tell me, boy—what do you desire most?”

Kaito raised his head, and the grief in his expression sharpened into determination. “I desire strength. Strength to protect. Strength to avenge. Strength so that no one will ever take from me again!”

A fierce smile spread across Feng’s lips. “Good. Then from this day forward, you are my disciple. For the next fifteen years, I will shape you into a warrior the world cannot ignore.”

Kaito dropped to his knees, bowing deeply. “Master Feng, I will not fail you. I swear it.”

“Remember these words, boy,” Feng said, his voice echoing with power. “Your vengeance will not come from hatred alone. Only through discipline and unbreakable will shall you reach the strength you seek.”

Kaito clenched the crimson dagger, fire blazing in his young eyes. “Then discipline I shall learn. No matter how much pain it takes—I will endure it all!”

And so, under the watchful eye of Master Feng, Kaito Takemura began his new path. Each day was filled with relentless training, bruises, and exhaustion, but his progress was extraordinary. For every tear he shed, his resolve only hardened.

The oath of vengeance was no longer just a whisper in the ruins—it was the very heartbeat of his destiny.

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