Blood Runs Home

CHAPTER 8: Revenge

On his way to Piku's house, Zyne slowed his pace when he saw a familiar figure contemplating in front of a grave. It was Mr. Karlo, silently standing in the shade of the trees, his gaze fixed on the gravestone before him.

Zyne, curious, slowly approached the old boa constrictor. However, before he could speak, without warning, Master Karlo suddenly launched a swift attack on him.

Reflexively, Zyne jumped back, dodging the attack just in time. Dust flew up from the sudden movement.

“Master Karlo! Why did you attack me?!” Zyne asked, panting and confused, his eyes fixed on the old snake.

Karlo was stunned for a moment, then his eyes widened as he recognized the face before him. “Zyne?” he said softly, as if in disbelief. “What are you doing here…?”

“Uh… I actually came here to see Piku,” Zyne said, a little hesitantly, trying to keep his tone casual. "He promised to meet me on campus this morning… but he hasn’t shown up yet. Do you know where he is, Mr. Karlo?”

As soon as Piku's name was mentioned, Karlo's expression immediately changed. His previously calm body tensed, and he slowly turned to face Zyne.

“Piku…” he muttered softly. "He… has been kidnapped.”

The words hit Zyne like a bolt from the blue. His breath hitched, his eyes widening in disbelief. “W-what did you say, Mr. Karlo? It was a joke, wasn’t it?” he asked, trying to force a smile so the situation wouldn’t feel as bad as it already seemed.

But Karlo just stared at him, silent, not saying a word. His gaze was heavy—implying more than just worry.

“N-no way… This doesn’t make sense, does it?” Zyne was starting to lose his composure. He gripped his jacket tightly, hoping this was all just a misunderstanding.

But there was still no answer from the old boa. Silence.

“Answer me, Mr. Karlo!” Zyne finally snapped, his voice rising in desperation and anger. “What exactly happened to Piku?!”

Zyne, nearly losing his patience, suddenly grabbed Master Karlo by the neck and pushed him against a nearby tree trunk. His gaze blazing with anger and anxiety, his hands gripped the old boa's body tightly.

“If you don’t tell me what really happened,” Zyne hissed in a tone full of pressure and anger, “I will destroy you… and break your body apart piece by piece.”

Karlo was shocked and struggled to free himself from Zyne's grip, but the dragon's power within Zyne made it impossible to resist. Karlo's breath began to hitch, and his body curled up weakly.

“I… r-really… don’t know, Zyne…” Karlo said hoarsely, his voice breaking from difficulty breathing. “P-please… let go…”

Upon hearing that request, Zyne's eyes suddenly widened. A dark image flashed through his mind—a memory he had buried deep within.

Memories of when he was still in his homeland.

At that moment… in a fit of uncontrollable rage… he had killed someone with the power of a dragon raging within him. The blood, screams, and flames formed a trauma that lingers to this day. Since that incident, Zyne has been on the run—leaving behind his home, family, and shattered past—and eventually arrived in the town of Grimborough.

His body was shaking.

Zyne immediately let go of Karlo, gasping, and stepped back with his eyes now filled with fear… not of Karlo, but of himself.

“Cough! Cough! Cough…!” Mr. Karlo coughed loudly, his body going limp and helpless from the strangulation. His breath was labored, his eyes dizzy as he stared at Zyne, who was now standing away, his body trembling.

“What’s wrong with him…” Karlo muttered softly before finally losing consciousness and falling unconscious.

Zyne stood there, frozen. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead. His body shivered, not from exhaustion, but from fear—of himself. “W-why is this happening again…? Calm down, Zyne… calm down… calm down!” he whispered to himself, trying to control his ragged breathing and frantic heartbeat.

Shadows from the past continue to haunt him. The face of someone he accidentally killed, screams, blood... and a feeling of guilt that never really goes away.

After a few moments of trying to calm himself, Zyne finally lifted his head and glanced at Karlo. “Mr. Karlo…” he murmured softly.

He rushed over to the boa's body, which lay sprawled under the tree. "Mr. Karlo...?" he called, gently shaking Karlo's shoulder. However, there was no response.

Panic began to creep into Zyne's chest. "No... I really... no! He's still breathing!" he exclaimed, after checking Karlo's breathing and pulse. While not serious, the old man had fainted from lack of air.

Wasting no time, Zyne lifted Karlo's large body onto his back, using all his strength. "I'm sorry, Mr. Karlo... I'll take you to the hospital now."

Then with quick steps—half running, half holding back tears and guilt—Zyne took Karlo to the nearest hospital, hoping there was still time to atone for the mistake he had just made.

A black-robed tiger stomped down the path leading to an abandoned old building at the edge of the forest. On its back lay Piku, still unconscious, his body slumped limply. The dim moonlight reflected off the tiger's black coat, adding to the eerie atmosphere.

Inside the building, behind a broken window, the silhouette of a sturdy adult wolf emerged. He stared out with a cold gaze, his expression unreadable.

Without a word, the tiger stepped inside, dragged Piku's body and placed it on the dusty floor right in front of the wolf.

The wolf turned, his eyebrows raised when he saw Piku lying there. He took a few steps back, exerting an authority that suddenly made the air around him grow even more frosty. “Did you return with what I ordered?” he asked quietly, his voice echoing in the empty room.

The tiger just nodded, then without hesitation dropped Piku just like that.

The wolf's eyes darkened. He stepped forward and lifted Piku's head slightly with the tips of his claws, staring at the tiger coldly—yet still restrained. "If he's my prey, treat him more gently," he said sarcastically. "Don't just drop him like that."

The cloaked tiger nodded obediently, then retreated to a corner of the room, awaiting further instructions in the presence of the wolf who was now fixing Piku with a gaze full of planning.

At Grimborough Medical Center, Mr. Karlo lay unconscious in a hospital bed. A ventilator was attached to his face, his breathing slow as the machine maintained its rhythm. Outside the treatment room, Zyne sat anxiously in a waiting chair, staring at the closed door, waiting for the elderly man to regain consciousness.

Moments later, a nurse came to check on Mr. Karlo. Zyne immediately stood up and approached the nurse with hurried steps and a worried expression.

“S-Sister, will he be okay?” he asked in a worried tone.

The nurse smiled faintly, maintaining a calm and professional demeanor. "Don't worry, Mr. Zyne. His condition is stable. The doctor will reassess him soon."

“How long until the doctor comes?” asked Zyne.

“About thirty minutes,” replied the nurse.

Zyne breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank goodness… Thank you, Nurse.”

The nurse nodded politely and then went into the treatment room, leaving Zyne to sit back down, staring blankly at the floor—still haunted by guilt and anxiety.

In his reverie, Zyne began to imagine Piku being tortured by a cruel kidnapper. Cold sweat poured down his forehead, his body trembling violently. The image felt so real—as if he were actually witnessing his best friend screaming in pain. His heart clenched, refusing to accept that it was just a vision... not reality.

Zyne then rose from his seat and peered into the treatment room through the small window in the door. Mr. Karlo lay unconscious, surrounded by medical equipment keeping him alive.

“Mr. Karlo… I will find Piku and bring him home,” Zyne said quietly but determinedly. “I promise.”

Wasting no time, Zyne turned and left the hospital. His steps were steady, his eyes fixed straight ahead. He didn't yet know who Piku's kidnapper was, but his resolve wouldn't waver—his friend had to be saved.

Elsewhere, Piku slowly began to open his eyes. His vision was still blurry, and his head felt heavy. The surroundings were unfamiliar and dark—the smell of dust and rust filled the air. As his vision began to clear, he saw a strange figure rummaging through his shoulder bag.

The figure—a wolf in a suit—realized that Piku had regained consciousness. He approached quickly and grabbed Piku's snout roughly.

“Tell me, where is the inheritance letter?” he snapped with his eyes burning with anger.

Piku, still not fully conscious, stared at him in confusion. His breathing was still heavy, his mind racing, searching for clarity. “Wh… what…?” he muttered weakly, barely audible.

The wolf was even more furious at Piku's weak response. "Don't play dumb! You should have brought the letter. Tell me, where did you keep it?!" he snapped, his voice booming, filled with tension and barely controlled anger.

His breath quickened, his body tensed. In one swift movement, he nearly finished off Piku—the Grayhusk heir, helpless before him. However, the cloaked tiger standing by his side immediately acted. Swiftly, he grabbed the wolf's arm, then shook his head slowly, warning his boss not to act rashly.

The wolf's eyes blazed with rage as he stared at the limp Piku. His jaw clenched, and he let out a muffled growl. "Tch. You got lucky this time," he hissed coldly. "But once I get what I want, I won't hold back any longer."

Meanwhile, Zyne returned to the cemetery where Piku was last seen, based on information provided by Mr. Karlo. He carefully scanned the area, his steps filled with anxiety. Amidst the silence, something striking caught his eye: a piece of paper lying on Piku's parents' graves.

Cautiously, Zyne took it. When he read the contents of the document, his eyes widened. “This is… the Grayhusk family inheritance?” he muttered in disbelief.

He paused for a moment, staring at the letter in his hand, then muttered to himself, “How could this letter be here? Did Piku leave it there on purpose?”

Zyne then brought the paper close to his face and sniffed it gently, trying to detect Piku's scent—an ability derived from the dragon blood that flowed within him.

“The scent is very faint… but it’s definitely on the wind… and where is it—into the forest?” he whispered, before finally deciding, “I have to go after it… before it’s too late.”

Zyne's steps were firm through the cemetery grass, which was starting to dampen with morning dew. He tucked the will into his jacket pocket and dashed away, following the faint scent that still hung in the air. Every second was precious—he didn't know how much time he had left before something terrible would happen to Piku.

Meanwhile, inside an old, abandoned building filled with gloomy shadows, Piku slowly began to regain control of his consciousness. The pain in his head began to subside, though his body remained weak and unsteady. His gaze swept across the room—cracked walls, dust-covered windows, and only a single, old chandelier swaying gently from the ceiling, casting dancing shadows on the walls.

He tried to move his body, struggling gently against the restraints on his wrists. But before he could continue, a black-robed tiger, standing guard in the corner of the room, approached him and restrained his movements. Its sharp gaze narrowed, slowly approaching Piku's face—closer and closer, until only hot breath remained between them.

Suddenly, heavy footsteps were heard from outside the room. A well-dressed wolf entered, his aura cold and intimidating. Piku stared at him for a long moment, trying to identify the figure before him. However, the dim light made it difficult to recognize him. Only when the wolf approached and the light illuminated part of his face did Piku's eyes widen. His breath caught.

“Uncle Ben…?” Piku muttered in disbelief, his tone hardening into sarcasm, “What do you want, huh?”

The wolf—his uncle, who had been banished from the Grayhusk household five years earlier by his father—stared at Piku coldly. There was no smile, no hesitation. Just the gaze of a man waiting for his revenge.

His uncle stepped closer, his eyes sharp as knives. In one swift movement, he grabbed Piku's snout, causing the young man to wince in pain.

Piku looked at him with a mixture of fear and confusion. “Uncle…?”

But there was no answer. All that could be heard was a soft, mocking laugh.

“Hahaha…”

The laugh was soft, but enough to send shivers down Piku's spine. His uncle released his grip and circled him like a predator waiting for the right moment.

“What are you laughing at?” Piku asked, his voice trembling but still defiant.

His uncle's gaze turned cold. "Tch. I almost killed you just now. But unfortunately... I haven't received the inheritance certificate yet."

Piku returned the gaze with burning eyes. “So that’s your goal? To target my own family’s wealth for greed?” His voice rose, filled with anger. “You truly are shameless…”

He paused for a moment, then smiled sarcastically. “But you’re too late, Uncle.”

His uncle narrowed his eyes. “What do you mean?”

Piku looked up confidently, a small smile on his face. “I threw away the letter. You’ll never get it—and you’ll never touch the Grayhusk family legacy.”

His uncle leaned his face towards Piku, his smile wide and full of mockery.

"Are you sure, Young Master?" he whispered slyly. "I think you forgot... about your lizard friend. What's his name? Oh, right—Zyne."

He glanced at the cloaked tiger beside him. "He's on his way here… and most likely brought the letter, isn't that right, Yoshiya Taro?"

The tiger nodded silently, confirming his master's words.

Piku was silent for a moment, trying to hide his anxiety. He stared at his uncle in disbelief.

“He’s just making it up…” he thought to himself. Then he said quietly but firmly, “Hey, Zyne couldn’t have brought the letter. He doesn’t even know where it is.”

His uncle chuckled, his voice echoing in the silent room. He began to walk away, his back to Piku.

“We’ll see… Soon, your big friend will definitely come,” he said with a soft laugh, his voice fading away as he walked away, leaving Piku alone in the darkness and doubt.

Piku began to sink into despair. He didn't know what his uncle would do to his best friend. All he could do was hope that Zyne hadn't found the inheritance and had come here to save him.

Meanwhile, at Grimborough Medical Center, Karlo slowly regained consciousness. He was shocked to find himself in a hospital. His memories returned—he had been strangled by Zyne until he lost consciousness. Perhaps Zyne had brought him here. However, one question haunted his mind: where had Zyne gone?

Filled with curiosity, Karlo emerged from the treatment room. A nurse on duty was shocked to see him.

"Mr. Karlo? What are you doing outside? Come on, go back to your room now," the nurse said, trying to guide him back inside.

“Wait a minute, Nurse. I want to ask you something,” Karlo said, stopping the nurse. “Yes, Mr. Karlo. What do you want to ask?” “Do you know where the teenager who brought me here is?” “Which teenager, Mr. Karlo?” “A dragon, about two meters tall, athletic.”

The nurse was silent for a moment before answering, “Oh… that young man. He's been gone since yesterday.”

Karlo's eyes widened. "Left? WHERE DID HE GO!" he shouted, unconsciously wrapping his tail around the nurse. "I-I don't know, sir!" the nurse replied in fear.

The commotion drew several security guards. "Don't move!" shouted one of the guards, pointing a stun gun at Karlo.

Realizing his actions had caused a misunderstanding, Karlo quickly unwrapped himself. "It's not what you think," he said quickly, then lifted his tail away. The nurse quickly explained to the staff that Karlo was simply overly emotional.

After the situation calmed down, Karlo was allowed to leave the hospital. He was determined: he now had only one goal—to find Piku, who had been kidn*pped, and Zyne, who had gone to rescue him.

Zyne continued to follow Piku's scent until his steps took him deep into the forest. After making his way through the dense undergrowth, his eyes caught sight of an old building nearly swallowed by vines. Piku's scent was growing stronger from that direction. "Yes... he's here," he murmured firmly.

He stepped closer and entered the building. As soon as he entered, the damp, dusty air immediately hit him. Cobwebs hung from every corner, objects were scattered about, and the walls were cracked, as if ready to collapse at any moment. He called out loudly for his friend.

“Piku! Are you here?!”

From the next room, Piku, still bound, was startled by the voice. "It's... Zyne!" His heart pounded in panic. Relief mixed with fear enveloped him. He desperately wanted to be rescued, but on the other hand, great danger awaited him.

“Be careful, Zyne!” he shouted in a trembling voice. “This place is dangerous… you better leave now!”

“What do you mean? I came here to save you—” Zyne's voice suddenly broke off. A moment later, a loud crash and commotion could be heard from outside the room.

“Zyne! ZYNE!!” Piku screamed hysterically, his voice cracking against the echoing old walls. He struggled against his bonds, trying to break free despite knowing it was futile. But there was no answer… only silence that made his chest tighten even more.

A cold laugh suddenly erupted from the darkness. “Ahahaha… so I was right. Your big friend really is here to save you,” the voice barked triumphantly. From the shadows, Ben—a wolf in a suit—appeared with a wide smile that sent shivers down Piku’s spine.

“You… WHAT did you do to him?!” Piku stared at him with anger mixed with fear.

Ben raised his hand as if to reassure him. "Calm down, calm down... your uncle didn't mean to hurt him. All I wanted was..." He grabbed the bag Zyne had been carrying and immediately searched through it brutally.

Papers were scattered, objects fell to the floor, but his expression turned grim. “Huh? Nothing?!” he growled. Quickly, he gestured to the black-robed tiger beside him. “Search his body! Find the letter now!”

Several minutes passed, and only the sound of cloth and heavy breathing could be heard. But to no avail. Not a single piece of the inheritance document was found.

“No way… no way!” Ben slammed the wooden table nearby, cracking it, then threw Zyne’s bag onto the pile of junk. A loud crash echoed, followed by a clatter of items crashing to the floor. His face hardened, his eyes blazing with a near-explosive rage.

Ben slowly approached Zyne, who was still unconscious. Deliberately, he pressed his foot against the dragon's head, stomping on it roughly as if it were nothing more than a worthless object. "Hah! So where did you throw the letter, huh? You damned lizard!" he hissed mockingly.

Piku, seeing his friend treated like this, immediately tensed. His jaw clenched, his breathing quickened, and his eyes blazed with anger. But the bonds on his body prevented him from doing anything.