The streets of Eldoria were alive with the sounds of merchants setting up stalls, adventurers discussing quests, and townspeople going about their day. But Yami, Rei, and Lina weren't paying attention to any of it.
They sat around a wooden table in the inn's tavern, a half-eaten breakfast in front of them. The atmosphere was tense.
"We need to decide what's next," Lina said, stirring her tea absentmindedly.
Rei nodded. "With Kira gone, we don't have any clear leads. But…" She hesitated before continuing. "Yami, ever since that night, you've been… different."
Yami leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. "What do you mean?"
"You know exactly what I mean," Rei said, her gaze sharp. "You haven't been sleeping, and even now, there's something off about you."
Lina looked at him carefully. "She's right. You've been quiet—more than usual."
Yami exhaled through his nose. "I don't know. Ever since I lost control… since I killed her… it feels like something is watching me."
Both girls exchanged a glance.
"You think it's the God of Death?" Rei asked.
"Maybe." Yami closed his eyes. "I just have a bad feeling. Like something big is coming."
As if to confirm his fears, the door to the tavern suddenly slammed open.
A young adventurer staggered in, gasping for breath. His face was pale, his body trembling. "T-The northern gate! There's—"
Before he could finish, a loud explosion shook the entire town.
Yami was already on his feet.
Something was here.
At the Northern Gate
The townspeople screamed as they fled, dust and debris filling the air. The wooden gate had been shattered into splinters, and standing among the wreckage was a single man.
He was tall, with long black hair streaked with silver, deep scars covering his arms and neck. But what stood out the most were the golden chains wrapped around his body, glowing with an ominous light.
He stepped forward, dragging a massive golden chain behind him, its weight cracking the stone beneath it. His blood-red eyes scanned the town with an almost lazy interest.
Adventurers drew their weapons, but the man didn't even glance at them.
He lifted a hand.
"Bind."
The golden chain surged forward, moving like a living serpent. In an instant, half a dozen adventurers were wrapped in its grip, their bodies hoisted into the air. They struggled, but no matter how much they fought, the chain didn't budge.
The man sighed. "Weak."
With a flick of his wrist, the chain tightened. The sound of bones shattering echoed through the streets.
Then, he turned his gaze toward the approaching figures.
Yami, Rei, and Lina had arrived.
The man's lips curled into a smirk. "Ah… you must be Yami."
Yami's grip on his scythe tightened. "Who the hell are you?"
The man tilted his head.
"Sato Tengoku."
He yanked his chain free from the crushed adventurers and took a step forward.
"And I'm here to test you."