Swords of Fate

"I wonder why I exist," a man muttered as he stepped out of the shadows. "Is it just to please you?" His eyes fixated on a dusty picture frame of a man, the word "Father" escaping his lips like a bitter accusation.

"Somewhere in this twisted world, it could've been different. You didn't have to die..."

He placed a trembling hand on the picture frame, a single tear sliding down his cheek. "Did you know your death would leave me with nothing but a life of pain?" The man's voice cracked with anger as his fist shot forward, shattering the glass into jagged shards.

"Nothing ever mattered to you when it came to yourself," he continued, his voice quieter now, laced with a hollow bitterness. "You never wanted the spotlight... The man who had everything doesn't even have a legacy to show for it."

He slumped into a chair, his shoulders sagging under the weight of his words. "The only thing you gave me was a name."

For a moment, he sat in silence, his reflection staring back at him from the broken shards scattered on the floor. "Am I what you wanted? Am I everything you wished for?" He let out a cold laugh as he rose to his feet and strode into a dimly lit bathroom.

He stared into the mirror, his face marked by grief and frustration. "Kage Kurayami. How could I forget the name you gave me?" His gaze fell to a black bag sitting by the sink. Slowly, he reached inside and pulled out a mask. Its design was sleek, ominous, and perfect for obscuring the man behind it.

"Just because you gave me that name..." He slipped the mask over his face, his voice deepening and distorting as he continued, "...doesn't mean I have to go by it." He straightened his posture, the shadow of his masked reflection towering in the mirror.

"I am Shadow Man," he growled.

From somewhere in the shadows, a chuckle echoed. "Shadow Man?" A voice taunted, smooth and dripping with amusement. "Really? That's the name you're going with? How... creative."

The man's head whipped toward the sound, his masked face unreadable. His fists clenched as the intruder stepped into the light.

Here's an edited version of your scene with improved flow, clarity, and dialogue formatting:

"Who are you?!" the Shadow Man demanded, his guard up, as the light illuminated the woman's face, revealing her identity.

"You don't recognize your wife's voice?" she replied softly, stepping closer.

The Shadow Man hesitated, then removed his mask, his tense expression softening. "Sorry... a lot has been on my mind lately," he admitted.

She smiled gently and kissed him. "Don't worry. I'll always be here for you."

Three days later, the same woman entered the room with an unusual look on her face.

"Hey, Shadow Man. It seems... I'm pregnant," she announced.

Kage froze, his eyes widening. "What?! How?!"

Hikari Megami smirked at his reaction. "It seems you never learned how babies are made," she teased with a laugh before adding, "I took three tests. I know for certain it's yours. I'm not a cheater."

Kage's mind raced as he tried to process the news. His voice shook slightly. "Do you know what this means? Our first child will inherit our powers. Do you realize how strong our baby could be?!" he exclaimed, his tone bordering on panic.

Hikari placed a gentle finger on his lips, silencing him. "Is that what you're afraid of? That our powers will weaken because of the baby?" she asked with a sigh, her tone calm but firm. "Maybe we don't need to fight anymore, Kage. Maybe it's time to focus on us... and our family."

Kage closed his eyes, trying to calm the storm in his heart. "How would I protect you?" he asked quietly, his voice filled with worry. "What if our child is targeted?"

Hikari met his gaze, her eyes steady and reassuring. "I will seal their powers," she said with determination. "So no one can detect them. Trust me, Kage. When the time is right, we'll teach them how to use their abilities. Until then, we'll keep them safe—together."

"Jaaku Kurayami, what are you doing over there?" A bald-headed man enters the room with a cruel smirk plastered on his face. His voice drips with malice as he speaks, "Seems like you're going to have a kid, huh?"

He pulls out a knife, slicing his hand with a quick, practiced motion before licking the blood, a twisted grin curling at the corners of his mouth.

Hikari flinches, turning her gaze away, while Kage's expression hardens. "What do you think you're doing, Jaaku?!"

Without warning, Jaaku rushes at Kage, his movements quick but predictable. To Kage, they appear almost slow. Kage grabs Jaaku's wrist with ease, his grip like iron. Jaaku groans, trying to break free, but Kage's strength only tightens.

"What do you think you're doing, Jaaku?" Kage asks, his tone dripping with disdain.

Jaaku chuckles darkly, a twisted smirk playing on his lips. "Looks like it won't be as easy killing you after all." His eyes flicker to Hikari's stomach, a malicious glint in them.

Hikari's breath catches in her throat, her hand instinctively clutching her abdomen.

Kage's eyes burn with fury. "You won't lay a hand on my wife or my child!" He lunges forward, his body a blur of motion, but before he can reach Jaaku, smoke fills the room, followed by a deafening explosion.

When the smoke clears, Jaaku is gone.

Kage scans the room, panic rising in his chest as he realizes Hikari is missing. The place is empty—no sign of her, no trace of Jaaku.

His knees hit the floor, and his fists slam into the ground in frustration. "I will get you for that, Jaaku!" His voice cracks with sorrow and rage.

Elsewhere, in a dark, cold room, Hikari struggles against chains, her breath shallow and frantic.

"Where am I?" she whispers, her voice weak.

Jaaku's shadow looms over her as he steps into her line of sight, a sick smile stretching across his face. "You're just like your husband," he says, his voice a snake's hiss. "The both of you think you're invincible, but not anymore."

He steps closer, his hand resting on her stomach. "You're carrying something precious, Hikari. Something I need."

Hikari's eyes widen with fear, but she refuses to show weakness. "No... No, you won't get away with this."

Jaaku's eyes sparkle with a twisted delight. "Don't worry, I won't kill you... Not yet. I need what's inside of you. I didn't expect the child to be... so powerful."

Hikari's heart races. "What are you talking about?"

Jaaku steps back, looking at her with a grin that could freeze blood. "Maybe your husband already knew. Maybe he wanted you to die. Maybe he wanted me to kill you and your child."

Hikari shudders, the idea too unbearable to comprehend. "No... He would never do that to me."

Jaaku tilts his head, almost amused. "Even if that's true, he won't be able to save you now. No one will." His laugh echoes in the cold room, a sound that chills her to her core.

Back in the ruins of the building, Kage is on his knees, gasping for breath. The air feels heavy with sorrow. He's never felt this helpless before. He slams his fist into the ground, the rage boiling inside him.

Kage pulled a mask from his pocket, the weight of his words heavy as he spoke, "I will get my revenge." He placed the mask on, and his voice deepened. "Nothing will stand in my way."

He scanned the area, footsteps echoing in the distance. Without hesitation, he chased after them, determined to find his wife.

The footsteps led him to an underground lair, the narrow staircase stretching ahead like a path into darkness. He didn't look back.

"I will do this for everything I cared for," he muttered, his heart pounding in his chest. Guards appeared, rushing toward him with weapons drawn. With a swift motion, Kage pulled his twin blades from the dark circle, the air around him thick with the promise of vengeance.

"I won't lose!" he shouted, his blades cutting through the attackers one by one. Their lives ended in seconds, blood splattering across the walls and staining Kage's clothes.

"No one will stop me!" he growled, his mission clear and unwavering.

The sound of alarms echoed through the halls as Kage blasted through room after room, searching frantically for Hikari.

Back in the room with Jaaku and Hikari:

Jaaku smirked, his eyes cold. "It looks like he's found us. I stand corrected. You really do have an amazing husband."

Hikari's eyes filled with tears, but she could find no words to speak. Jaaku knelt down, his face too close to her stomach. "Don't worry, I'll be back soon for you, little one."

16 Years Later

"Alright, son, are you ready for your first day at school?" a man asked, his voice warm with encouragement.

The boy nodded, his expression determined. "Yes, Dad. I'll try my best."

The boy walked into the building, and his father stood there, watching him with a look of quiet pride. His gaze shifted to a figure nearby, a man casually reading something from a crumpled paper. The father's eyes narrowed when he saw a familiar logo on the paper. "It can't be…" he muttered under his breath.

The man reading the note threw it into the garbage, but the father's instincts kicked in. He rushed over, digging through the trash until he found the crumpled paper.

He unfolded it, his eyes scanning the message.

"We found the whereabouts of the Shadow Man and his wife. We believe his child is there, though the details are unknown. We will attack tonight at midnight. No one is safe..."

The man's face twisted with anger. He crumpled the note in his fist, his knuckles white with tension. He stood there, frozen for a moment, then muttered through gritted teeth, "This is going to be bad..."