Chapter 19
Inside the cave, the atmosphere was heavy. Haiko sat with his head lowered, his voice trembling. He said, "Yusugo… the real plan was something else…"
Yusugo's eyes narrowed. "Speak clearly, Haiko."
Haiko took a deep breath and began to speak, "Three years ago, the king issued a secret order… anyone who killed fifty Scriptors would be rewarded with ten thousand Hó… in DX Kingdom's currency. This plan was so secret that only the king's most trusted and loyal men knew about it."
Yusugo's face turned red with rage. His fists clenched tightly.
Haiko continued, "The Book of Enlightenment… it was kept here in our kingdom. Every month, different temple Scriptors would come here to report on the book. But when they returned… the king's secret agents ambushed and killed them."
Tears welled up in Haiko's eyes. He spoke softly, "In these past three years… 128 Scriptors were killed. From different temples…"
Yusugo's entire body trembled. The fury in his heart had now turned into a raging volcano. "One hundred and twenty-eight?!" His voice was deep and terrifying.
He threw his hands in the air as if choking the king right there. "If I see the king today… I'll end him right here!" He stood up, his breath heavy. "Enough is enough. I will take back the Book of Enlightenment to our temple. If Kazan Kaga takes over this kingdom, it will no longer be the Scriptors' fault."
Haiko, now on his knees, started crying. "Please… please don't abandon this kingdom, Yusugo… save the people…"
Yusugo's eyes burned with rage. His voice turned icy cold. "Your begging won't bring back the murdered Scriptors, Haiko."
Just then, the sound of clapping echoed through the cave.
Yusugo flinched and turned around sharply. From the darkness, a tall figure stepped forward. A cruel smile played on his lips. "What an emotional story… so touching that even my eyes got wet." He mocked.
Yusugo clenched his fists. "Who are you?"
The man slowly stepped closer. "My name… is Takiyu."
---
The scene shifted to the palace. Hyugi, still tied up before Team Kaji, slowly smirked. He said, "You were asking who the fifth one is? It's Takiyu… one of Kazan Kaga's most powerful Dark Scriptors. He's there in the cave… where the Book of Enlightenment is hidden. And now, he will take it… to Kazan."
Captain Rokuhei's face turned pale. "What? He won't be able to touch the Book of Enlightenment! Only S-rank Scriptors are allowed to touch it. No soul or dark energy can go near it!"
Hyugi burst into loud laughter. "Ha ha ha ha! How naive you are… Takiyu himself is an S-rank Scriptor."
Rokuhei's eyes widened in shock. "Takiyu… an S-rank…!" He gripped his sword tightly. "We must rush to the cave at once. Yusugo cannot defeat him alone."
But just then, a woman's voice echoed from the palace entrance. "Oh? So you people are thinking of running away?"
Everyone turned around. A tall woman stood at the door — long white hair and eyes glowing like blood. She smiled. "Hyugi, what happened? You lost to those low-level Scriptors?" She was Era — the assassin assigned to kill the king. But since there was still time left, she had entered the palace to check the situation.
She pointed a finger at them. "None of you will leave here alive."
And with that, she lunged forward, attacking Team Kaji. A new battle had begun.
---
Back in the cave, Yusugo and Takiyu stood facing each other. A mocking glint sparkled in Takiyu's eyes.
"So you're Yusugo, the great Scriptor everyone talks about," Takiyu said, "Kazan Kaga's plan is simple… destroy this kingdom from within, overthrow the king, and then claim the Book of Enlightenment. And now… I will kill you, the great Yusugo."
Yusugo took a deep breath. "Your filthy tongue… Today I will erase you, Takiyu."
Takiyu laughed. "Come on, show me your strength."
Both of them unleashed their Script Energy into the air. The walls of the cave trembled. Yusugo formed a shield with his emotions and charged straight at Takiyu.
"Take this — Emotion Blade!" Yusugo roared.
Takiyu blocked the strike with black smoke and counterattacked. "Your emotions are your weakness!" He hurled dark spears made of shadow.
Yusugo dodged swiftly. "I draw power from my emotions, not weakness!"
Takiyu's attacks grew fiercer. "Before Kazan Kaga's power, your emotions mean nothing!"
Yusugo growled, "Then today you will witness… what true emotion can do!"
Their clash shook the entire cave. Rocks began to fall, and a storm of energy swirled around the Book of Enlightenment.
The sounds of battle echoed far and wide — one side shrouded in darkness, the other blazing with the light of truth.