The Beginning of the War... The Mysterious Emperor
In the Imperial Palace, a mysterious figure sat upon the throne, while Takeru bowed before him with reverence, like a shadow pledging loyalty to the silence that enveloped the place.
The figure spoke in a calm voice, yet filled with authority:
"So, you say the Shadow Division attacked the capital during my absence? It seems they're planning something."
Takeru replied seriously:
"When we were fighting the Shadow Division, a strange person appeared who wiped out most of the division with a single strike, as if they were mere insects before him. I haven't forgotten his appearance; though he wore a ronin hat to cover his hair, his hair was silver and long, and his eyes were crimson. As for the katana he carried, it was drenched in blood."
Upon hearing this description, the expression of the man sitting on the throne changed briefly; shock flickered across his face for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure. Then he spoke in a serious tone:
"It seems we are heading into a brutal war... we must prepare well."
He continued with a firm voice:
"Inform the commanders to prepare immediately."
Takeru bowed without hesitation and said respectfully:
"As you command, Your Majesty."
At that moment, the mystery was unveiled. That man was none other than Emperor Tenma... the strongest man in the empire, its unbreakable pillar.
Before Takeru could leave the hall, a samurai burst in, running at full speed. He flung the door open with force, as if fleeing from a ghost. His face was pale and trembling, his eyes wide as if reflecting a nightmare. He bowed quickly and spoke in a broken, panic-stricken voice:
"Your Majesty... it's a catastrophe!"
Tenma looked at him sharply and said:
"What is it? Speak immediately!"
The samurai continued, still shaking:
"The Empire of Sorcerers and the Ancient Kingdom... have been completely destroyed!"
A heavy silence fell upon the hall. I couldn't comprehend what was just said. Did that mean the Empire of Sorcerers and the Ancient Kingdom had fallen? A thousand questions raced through my mind: How were they destroyed? What caused their downfall? I slowly turned to the left, watching Takeru's reaction, but his expression was no less stunned than the samurai's... he was sweating, and his trembling body revealed the deep terror within him.
Takeru finally spoke in a shaky voice that barely escaped his throat:
"How were they destroyed?"
The samurai answered, his body still trembling:
"When the delegation was sent to investigate, as they approached, they saw a terrifying dark energy engulfing the horizon, swallowing the entire empire... as if it had been erased from existence. And as they got closer, the disaster became clearer: the corpses of the people were scattered everywhere, as if an unknown entity had drained their souls and ripped the life from their bodies completely."
I fell silent for a moment and muttered in a low voice barely audible to anyone:
"It seems my suspicions were correct."
I looked at Takeru seriously and said:
"Inform Commander Ryota to head to the Empire of Sorcerers for investigation, and tell Roku to go to the Ancient Kingdom."
Takeru bowed and said:
"As you command, Your Majesty."
In the Capital
Night had fallen, covering the place with thick fog. The streets were lined with the ruins of destroyed buildings, stained with blood and scattered corpses everywhere.
Samurai were inspecting the faces of the dead to notify their families of their fate. Among the corpses, there was one with a disfigured face and a body covered in blood, with one of the Shadow Division's weapons impaled in his chest.
One of the samurai approached to take a closer look. When he saw the wound on the hand, he realized the corpse belonged to Jin.
A Few Hours Earlier
Jin was breathing heavily, feeling like his body was disintegrating while still alive. It was as if something unknown was tearing him apart from within.
Jin looked at Akayama, who was standing before him, and said in a trembling voice:
"What's happening to me? Help me, please! I don't understand what's going on."
Akayama looked at him coldly, his crimson eyes like frozen blood, and his voice void of tone, void of emotion.
He spoke with a killing calm:
"Your mission is over."
Despite the pain and despair, Jin clung to the last thread of hope and asked:
"What do you mean by that?"
But that hope was shattered when he saw the hidden truth...
Akayama's hair began to change from black to silver, and his eyes grew more terrifying. This was his true form.
Jin gasped in horror, his body trembling as his memory—once thought to be his own—slowly crumbled.
Images... scenes... voices... began flooding his mind. He remembered things he never knew before. The truth was more horrifying than he imagined; everything was a lie... even his thoughts.
In a broken voice, he asked:
"Why did you do it?"
Akayama smiled, but his smile carried no human meaning, and he said:
"You weren't supposed to witness that battle... farewell."
Jin collapsed to the ground. There wasn't even time left to scream.
His head suddenly exploded, painting the walls with blood, while his eyes froze in a gaze of absolute terror.
Akayama looked at the corpse in silence, then turned and walked away, leaving behind the remains of a shattered puppet.
End of Chapter
And thus ends the Shadow Division attack event, which began in chapter seven and concluded in this chapter. I hope you enjoyed it. Which character did you like the most in this event?