Sora stood frozen in front of the entrance to the house, his eyes scrutinizing every detail of the massive wooden door. The cold air penetrated through his clothes, making his body shiver. He hesitated to enter, his fear growing with each passing second. Yet, he knew he had no choice. The threat waiting for him outside was much greater than the fear the door inspired in him.

He felt his heart beating faster and faster as he approached the handle. His mind screamed to run away, but his legs seemed to weigh tons, preventing him from moving. Finally, with a sigh, he took a deep breath and took the first step inside the house, overwhelmed by growing anxiety.

“Hello, is anyone here?”

Sora scrutinized every corner of the house, his eyes slowly adjusting to the ambient darkness. He felt the presence of massive furniture around him, and by paying attention to their details, he recognized Gothic patterns engraved in the wood. Each piece of furniture was topped with a gargoyle head, grafted with disturbing realism. He tried to orient himself in the darkness, but the shadows seemed to move and disorient him.

Suddenly, a small light caught his attention. Without hesitation, he rushed into the room from which the faint light emanated and discovered a kitchen. As he approached, he distinguished an old man with his back turned, busy doing the dishes. Sora observed the old man’s hands with curiosity, noticing several scars that testified to a life of hard work. He wondered who this mysterious character could be, living in this strange and sinister house.

“Hello, sorry to bother you. Can you please explain where I am?”

“You know what awaits you when you enter here, don’t you, my boy?” he replied while continuing to do the dishes.

Suddenly, in the space of an instant, the old man stood before Sora. His muscles suddenly contracted, revealing all the marks of his musculature.

Without warning, he threw a punch at Sora’s face. However, before the punch could reach Sora, an electric shock ran through the old man’s arm. The old man leaped backwards and immediately returned to his spot. The old man’s movements were lightning fast, and Sora didn’t even have time to blink. He didn’t even notice that the old man had tried to kill him. To Sora, it seemed as if the old man had never left his spot and was calmly doing the dishes.

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The old man suddenly turned to face Sora, a mischievous smile forming on his wrinkled face. He let out a deep, rough laugh that echoed throughout the room as he played with his long, wild, white beard. His eyes sparkled with an amused and mysterious glint as he intensely stared at Sora, as if trying to read him like an open book.

“Hohohoho, interesting! Who would have thought that one day a human would cross my doorstep. Who sends you, my boy?” He exclaimed in a gravelly voice, prolonging the sound of his laughter as if savoring every moment of the scene. Sora felt a shiver run down his spine as he watched him.

“What a strange laugh,” thought Sora as he scrutinized every detail of the old man.

He first noticed his clothing: dark green pants matched with a white shirt and an olive green cape that seemed strangely aged and worn by time. The cape floated in the air as if it had a life of its own, while the folds of the shirt suggested an imposing stature hidden under the clothes. The old man’s white hair and long white beard cascaded down his chest, giving him a wise and wild appearance. But it was the snake-shaped tattoos that caught Sora’s attention, coiled around his muscular arms and streaked with bulging veins.

The snakes seemed almost alive, their scales sparkling in the light, their eyes fixed on Sora as if they were ready to attack him at any moment. The tension in the room was palpable as Sora carefully observed the old man.

The old man stared at Sora intently, a mischievous smile stretching his lips.

“What’s happening, my boy? Have you lost your tongue?” he teased.

“I...”

Sora opened his mouth to respond, but was interrupted by footsteps getting closer and closer to the room. He instinctively turned towards the door, wondering who could be arriving like this.

The entrance of the mysterious man into the room immediately turned Sora’s head. He remained speechless in front of the magnificence of his outfit. The purple tunic was beautiful, but what caught his eye was the golden embroidery in the shape of ancient words that adorned the sleeves. The heavy violet velvet cape that trailed behind him added a touch of grandeur to his slender silhouette. His helmet was also a masterpiece of craftsmanship, with complex patterns that reflected light in a sinister gleam. The man’s eyes were hidden behind a dark visor, giving his face an impenetrable appearance. An aura of power and danger seemed to emanate from him, making Sora shudder despite himself.

The old man’s sinister laughter echoed throughout the room as he stared at the mysterious stranger. Sora immediately felt uncomfortable in the presence of these two men who seemed to be silently confronting each other.

“Hohohoho, what brings a soul hunter to my humble abode?” the old man said, a mocking smile on his lips.

“I came for the boy Komura,” he replied, pointing his finger at Sora.

“Hohohoho, the last one who called me by that name is no longer in this world to speak of it,” retorted the old man in a threatening tone.

“The house rules apply to everyone, even to you. So I ask you, too. You know what awaits you when you enter here, don’t you?”