Choso advanced with a deliberate, almost hypnotic stride, his loose off-white robe and flowing purple gi-like vest rippling with each step. The dark blood mark on his face seemed to throb with a life of its own, a subtle reminder of the formidable cursed power he commanded. His black Prada boots echoed softly against the cracked pavement, each step resonating like a drumbeat in the silent, eerie night.

"It's dangerous to travel alone."