Kage walks through the dimly lit corridors of the Assassin's Guild, his footsteps steady, his expression unreadable. His body carries the weight of the past months, but he does not falter. Tomorrow is graduation. But before that, there is one last trial.

  The elders summon him to a large chamber, the walls adorned with rare weapons, paintings of legendary assassins, and aged portraits of those who reshaped the underworld. This is where only the most elite are judged.

  Kage kneels before them, his head lowered. One of the elders studies him carefully before speaking. "It is remarkable how much you have grown."

  He continues, "To go from nearly being washed out to standing among the greatest recruits we have ever trained—it is a feat worth honoring."

  Kage does not smile. He does not bask in the praise. It does not feel earned. Yet, he feels honored to be compared to the greatest.

  "One last trial before you graduate, Kage... the Torture Chamber."

  Kage stiffens. He has heard the rumors.

  Within the Guild, the Torture Chamber serves a dual purpose. For enemies, it extracts vital information that could save or condemn lives in the underworld. For Guild members, it acts as both punishment and test—a crucible where one's true nature is revealed under extreme duress. Friend and foe alike pass through those doors, though not all emerge.

  The elder's voice is calm, but absolute. "You will be in there for only one hour. If your shadow attacks any of my cadre, you will be dismissed and killed on the spot. We cannot have an assassin with a wild concept running rampant. Do you accept?"

  Kage's thoughts race. The Torture Chamber is designed to place subjects in the most stressful situations imaginable—a perfect test to see if he can truly control his shadow when pushed to the edge.

  He swallows his fear. "I accept."

  They lead him into the Torture Chamber and chain him up in the center of the darkened room. His wrists and ankles are shackled. His body is exposed, vulnerable.

  Then, she arrives.

  Aoi Okano.

  The lead torture specialist of the Assassin's Guild.

  Slender frame, dark blue hair, an eyepatch covering one eye.

  Where other cadre were chosen for their physical prowess, Aoi was selected for her mind. As an orphan who witnessed her parents' murder before being brutally assaulted herself, she had fled into the underworld, finding refuge with the Guild at age twelve. Her trauma had shaped her, honing her understanding of pain into a precision tool.

  What she lacked in physical strength, she made up for with her concept: Control Flow, which allows her to implant illusions, distort time, and manipulate her victims' minds. Under her guidance, the Torture Chamber became not just a place of suffering, but a sophisticated information extraction facility. For the first time in her life, the Guild gave her camaraderie, purpose, and control.

  She removes her gloves, stepping toward him with an eerily calm demeanor. "You're lucky. I get to be your guide through hell."

  She places both hands on his head. Kage's vision shifts.

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  The chamber vanishes.

  Kage blinks, and suddenly, he is standing in an endless white void.

  "Where am I?" he asks.

  Aoi pulls out an array of swords and tools. She smiles. "We are inside your mind."

  She tilts her head. "The damage you receive here is not real. But your mind does not know the difference."

  Kage's stomach turns. "What do you mean?"

  Aoi's voice is soft. "One minute here can feel like an hour, a day... or even a year."

  Kage's shadow flickers. It senses danger.

  It tries to break free, but nothing happens.

  Here, in this illusion, it is trapped just like him.

  Aoi watches him carefully. "If you attack me here, I will kill you in your mind. Now... suffer."

  The torture begins.

  Swords pierce his skin.

  One after another, missing vital organs just enough to prolong the pain.

  Back in the real world, blood seeps from his mouth, his body trembling.

  One of the cadre watching hesitates. "Aoi... is this necessary?"

  Aoi, still holding Kage's head, doesn't look up. "This is a test of endurance. He will suffer."

  Inside his mind, Kage screams. He wants to fight back—but if he lets his shadow loose, he will die.

  His vision blurs. The pain feels endless.

  Only two minutes have passed.

  Then, in the midst of his agony, a familiar figure appears in the void. Kagawa Masaki stands before him, offering his hand.

  "Embrace Lucifer's gift," Kagawa says, his voice almost compassionate. "Let the shadow free. End this pain."

  Kage stares at the offered hand, temptation coursing through him. One moment of surrender and the pain would stop. One moment of weakness and he could unleash the power that had carried him this far.

  "You will never deny Lucifer," Kagawa insists.

  The thought enrages him.

  "I am not yours," Kage growls, rejecting the hallucination's hand. "And this shadow is mine."

  He refuses to let Masaki's words define him.

  His shadow shifts—not to attack, but to shield him.

  It coats his body, covering the wounds, limiting the pain.

  Aoi smiles. "Oh? You can use it defensively as well?"

  She steps back. "Then let's make this interesting."

  The illusion distorts.

  Dozens of clones of Aoi appear, each wielding a blade.

  10... 15... 30.

  They don't stab—they slash. Again and again.

  Kage grits his teeth, but blood flows freely.

  In the real world, his body is drenched in crimson.

  Cadre members panic. "Aoi, enough! You're going to kill him!"

  Aoi remains silent, watching as Kage struggles.

  Inside his mind, Kage's shadow wraps around him like armor.

  Kagawa appears again, circling him. "Your resistance is admirable. But futile."

  Kage focuses, concentrating on making the shadow his own. Not Lucifer's gift, but his tool.

  The room is soaked in blood.

  Every cut deepens his exhaustion.

  It feels like he has been here for months.

  His body gives in.

  He is about to lose consciousness.

  Just before everything fades—

  He wakes up.

  Kage screams, thrashing in his chains.

  He has broken free from Aoi's control.

  No one has ever done that before.

  The cadre watching are speechless.

  Aoi slowly releases him, breathing unevenly. For the first time, she looks... shaken.

  Kage gasps for air, his body trembling slightly before he forces himself to regain composure. He won't show weakness. Not now.

  "What happened?" one of the cadre asks.

  Aoi swallows, her voice quieter than before. "He passed out. But the white void I placed him in... it was different."

  She hesitates before whispering, "Yes. He's our perfect soldier."

  Present day.

  The cold, familiar walls of the Torture Chamber surround Kage once again. His body hangs suspended by chains, just as it did years ago. The symmetry is not lost on him—once again tested, once again pushed beyond human limits.

  Aoi enters, laughing softly. "Long time no see, pretty boy."

  She leans against the doorway, arms crossed. "You do know I signed off on your graduation, right? So, tell me—how did you get yourself back in this situation?"

  Kage smirks. "What can I say? I like a challenge."

  Aoi shakes her head, amused but studying him carefully. She was right about him.

  "You were the perfect soldier back then," she murmurs. "And yet, here you are. Bound again. Tortured again."

  She clicks her tongue. "That's the problem with prodigies. You all find ways to ruin yourselves."

  Kage chuckles lowly, ignoring the ache in his body. "Guess I'm full of surprises."

  Aoi watches him for a long moment, then sighs. "Looks like I have the honor of handling your first day of torture."

  There's a subtle difference in her eyes now. Years ago, she tested him to see if he would break. Now, she knows he won't. This isn't a test—it's punishment.

  Kage's smirk remains. "Looks like I can't escape your abilities this time."

  His grin fades, his voice steady.

  "Do your worst."