"I hate the rain," grumbled a muscular man in a sharp suit, his eyes darting to the raindrops trickling down the windshield.

His female companion in the passenger seat took a drag from her cigarette, exhaling a cloud of smoke. "Quit your whining," she retorted, her tone laced with impatience. "We've got a deadline to catch that psychopath by the end of the day, or we'll be answering to the higher-ups."

The man leaned back, frustration etched across his features. "Orders were clear: we're supposed to sit tight until we receive word from Her."

Her gift comes in handy in times like this," the woman remarked, taking another drag from her cigarette.

Just then, a beep echoed from the sleek black watch on the muscular man's wrist, causing him to tense.

"Speak of the devil," he grumbled as he received a message.

"He's at a place called Sacred Virtue's Orphanage," he relayed quickly

The woman's eyes widened slightly at the revelation. "Those kids better pray we get there in time," she muttered, as they swiftly sped off towards their destination

*******

Chaos reigned at the orphanage, a tidal wave of fear rippling through the children as they scattered in every direction after witnessing Kai's fate.

Richard's lips curled into a sinister smile at the sight, his dark eyes gleaming with a twisted pleasure. It was as if he savored the fear that danced in their wide, terrified eyes.

With a deft hand, he swiftly removed the knife lodged in his shoulder, his cold, calculating gaze locked onto a group of girls who had fled in the same direction. He moved to charge at them, his malevolent intentions clear.

But his path was abruptly blocked by Miss Agatha.

Her eyes welled up with tears, her face a mixture of anguish and unwavering determination. She knelt before Richard, her voice trembling as she begged, "Please, don't do this. Don't hurt them. Take my life instead."

Tears streamed down her cheeks, a stark contrast to the woman who had always appeared so composed and unshakable. In this desperate moment, she pleaded as she had never done before.

Richard stared at her for a fleeting moment, his expression inscrutable. Then, with an eerie calmness, he uttered, "Maybe I should just take both."

In one swift motion, he raised the knife and slashed it across Agatha's chest, leaving a trail of crimson in his wake.

Richard paid no heed to Miss Agatha's anguished pleas and simply continued on his path of destruction.

Soon after, the heart-wrenching sounds of terrified screams echoed from within the orphanage's walls, filling the air with an eerie, chilling chorus of despair.

Miss Agatha, now crumpled in a puddle of her own blood, lay there amidst the chaos, her thoughts a torrent of self-blame and despair. She wondered how it had all come to this point. Was it her fault? Had her decision to establish this orphanage been the catalyst for this tragedy? In her final moments, she questioned her choices, filled with regret.

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With the last vestiges of strength within her, she did the only thing left she could do – she prayed. It was a desperate plea, a final cry for help.

"Dear God, please... help."

As her eyes closed, the outside world remained oblivious to the horrors transpiring within the orphanage. Unbeknownst to them, a certain unconscious boy, lying alone in the rain, began to stir. His eyes slowly opened, and they glowed with an unsettling blood-red hue

A gust of wind began to sweep through the area, causing the leaves to rustle and dance. Alongside it, a dark and suffocating energy began to radiate from the young man, enshrouding the entire vicinity.

Even Richard, known for his fearlessness, couldn't help but shudder as the strange, oppressive energy engulfed him.

Gradually, the energy coalesced and took on a tangible form, gradually solidifying into a shadowy figure. It was a shape born of the densest shadows, with piercing crimson red eyes that seemed to burn with an otherworldly intensity. This ominous figure now stood before the boy with an aura of undeniable power.

In his groggy state, Kai could barely muster the strength to stand, but he managed to utter the words, "Who are you?"

The shadowy figure stared back at the boy, its crimson eyes flickering with a hint of confusion. Suddenly, Kai's body gave way, and he collapsed, clutching onto the shadowy presence.

What the hell do we have here?" Richard's voice echoed through the dark, rain-soaked night as he suddenly appeared on the scene, drawn by the intense energy he sensed.

His eyes widened as he took in the eerie sight before him—the shadowy figure with its piercing crimson red eyes, and within its embrace, the boy.

And then, as if a puzzle finally clicked into place, it all became clear to Richard. He let out a crazed, manic laugh, a chilling sound that seemed to reverberate through the shadows, and he covered his bloodstained face with his hands.

"He's one of us," he muttered amidst the manic laughter, his realization filling him with a dark delight. "One of us!"

The young boy, who Richard had kicked and left for dead, had turned out to be cursed, just like him. In this revelation, he saw a twisted form of kinship, a connection born of their shared darkness. It sent shivers down his spine and fueled his madness even further.

Meanwhile, the shadow swiftly and gently placed the boy in the embrace of a nearby tree, a safe distance from the chaos unfolding at the orphanage. Its crimson eyes flickered with determination as it turned to face Richard, who wore a twisted, malicious smile.

"Oh? You want to pick a fight, don't you?" Richard taunted, his tone laced with sadistic glee.

As expected, there was no verbal response from the shadowy figure. Instead, it simply outstretched its shadowy arm, and in response, a pitch-black, magnificent mystic sword began to take form in its grasp. The sword radiated with a sinister, dark energy, casting an eerie glow in the night.

This scene would normally strike fear into the heart of anyone who witnessed it, but not Richard. Fear was something he had never felt.

"Guess there's no need to hold back now," Richard said with a chilling smile.

His eyes glowed with an eerie crimson light as he tapped into his curse ability. "The Joy in Chaos."

Dark energy surged around him, swirling like a malevolent storm. The orphanage was already filled with potent negative emotions, providing Richard with an abundant source of power. He reveled in the growing intensity of their fear, which fueled his transformation.

Richard's form expanded, his muscles bulging with newfound strength. His stature grew taller, and his presence became even more imposing. Sinister laughter echoed through the air as he basked in the overwhelming potency of their fears.

With each passing moment, Richard's malevolent aura intensified, casting a sinister shadow over the orphanage. It was as though the very essence of fear had taken physical form in the shape of this ruthless man

And then...

The two figures dashed forward