Hours earlier...
In a desolate square covered in dust, the bandit leader stood tall, his massive body covered in scars that adorned his chest and arms like demonic medals from countless battles. His eyes blazed with anger, resembling two burning embers as he stared at the cart filled with the corpses of his men, sent days earlier to kidnap the demi-humans.
He gripped his sword so tightly that his hand dug into the hilt, blood trickling from his palm. His voice thundered as he roared:
"Grrrrr... How dare these vermin annihilate my men?! How dare they stand against me?! Damn them... Damn them all!"
He raised his whip and struck his black horse wildly, making the animal tremble in pain, while he continued shouting orders:
"Prepare to move out immediately! We won't leave a single stone standing in that village! I'll burn them all... men, women, and children!"
His men's expressions shifted between fear and loyalty, dust rising beneath their feet, steel gleaming under the moonlight as if they were an army of demons preparing to ignite a new hell. But what the leader didn't know was that two eyes were watching him from the distant shadows... Lloyd's eyes.
The Other Side...
Behind dense trees, Lloyd stood still as a ghost, while behind him stood a group of demi-humans, each with a heart burning with vengeance. Lloyd whispered in a voice cold as ice, yet filled with unbearable power:
"I know your blood is boiling... I know your hearts are screaming for revenge. But don't forget... blind vengeance kills its owner first. War isn't emotion... war is calculation and strategy."
One of the demi-human fighters, veins bulging and rage boiling, said with sparks flashing in his eyes:
"Then what should we do, Master Lloyd?! If we don't attack now, they'll attack us tomorrow!"
Lloyd smiled a cold smile, reflecting a devilish intelligence, and said as he raised his hand:
"The plan is simple... a death trap. We'll surround them from all directions. They'll find nothing but blood and darkness before them. They'll think they're the hunters... but they're the prey."
Some of those present gasped, terror freezing in their veins from the tone of his voice, colder than a sword's edge.
Bandit Camp...
A soldier knelt before his leader and said in a tense voice:
"Sir! Preparations are complete. The men are ready to march."
The leader mounted his black horse, raised his sword high, and shouted:
"Forward! We'll make that village an example for anyone who dares raise their head against us!"
Voices trembled with shouts, horses began to neigh, as if the night itself would be torn in half...
And suddenly... on the dark road leading to the village, a small child appeared. He stood firm, his hair flying in the wind, his piercing eyes staring fearlessly at the approaching army.
The leader laughed mockingly, showing his fangs:
"Hahaha! A child in my way? Damn it, kill him and be done with it!"
One of his soldiers dismounted, swaggering with heavy steps, his sword gleaming under the moonlight.
"I'll end your life with one strike, you insect."
But before he could approach, a strange laughter echoed... Lloyd's laughter, its echo reverberating through the entire forest:
"An insect? A child?... Well then, let's see who the real insect is here!"
The soldier charged with his sword, striking with storm-like force, but Lloyd bent down coolly, and the blow passed over him. The soldier hesitated, tried again, but Lloyd pierced his heart in a flash. The soldier fell, blood gushing from his chest, and Lloyd pulled out his sword with a cold smile.
"Now... it's your turn, Leader."
The leader screamed in his madness:
"Kill himmmmm!"
Lloyd raised his sword high and signaled:
"Attack!"
And in a moment, deadly arrows rained from between the trees, along with explosive rocks and magical lightning bolts. The entire forest ignited with the light of death.
The demi-humans advanced like a whirlwind, their voices mixing with death screams, swords flashing in every direction.
Lloyd was at the center of the battle like inevitable fate:
Decapitating with a single strike. Piercing hearts without hesitation. Blood splattered on his face,and with every step he took, another man fell.
He shouted with a resounding voice:
"Hiiiiyaaaa!"
Split another opponent's chest in half, while the ground filled with blood until it became like a hellish pool.
But suddenly... a dark spear pierced his side. He fell to the ground, dirt mixing with his blood, his leg bleeding. He tried to get up, but received another blow that forced him to his knees.
Another soldier approached, raising his sword to finish the job.
Lloyd, panting and sweat pouring from his forehead, remembered everything in a moment:
The demons' screams during their attack on the village and its destruction, The blood of his parents who sacrificed their lives to save him and help him escape, Kane's stern looks and the difficult days of training,the long lonely days in the forest and the beautiful time he spent with the village. He screamed inside:"I won't end here... I haven't... surrendered yet"
His left eye suddenly ignited crimson, his sword trembled in his hand then moved with lightning speed, piercing his enemy's chest. Blood scattered like a fountain, and the enemy fell stunned.
The crimson eyes gave him a terrifying ability: seeing his opponents' movements before they made them. It was like reading the future.
He began moving among them like a demon, every strike of his felling a victim, every step leaving behind a torn corpse.
And after just minutes... no one remained alive except the leader.
The huge man trembled, sweat dripping from his forehead, his eyes widening with indescribable terror:
"W... who in hell are you?!"
Lloyd approached slowly, his laughter rising until it became terrifying like the voice of a demon coming from hell:
"The game's over... you've lost."
The leader raised his sword screaming madly, attacking with random strikes. Lloyd dodged them all easily. Finally, he unleashed his shadow core, trying to hide, but wherever he fled, Lloyd was waiting for him.
"I told you... it's over."
And with a flash, he severed his head, the leader falling as a faceless corpse.
But no sooner had it ended than Lloyd fell to his knees, clutching his eye:
"Gaaaaah... my eye!"
The pain was unbearable, as if fire was burning his skull. Blood began dripping from his crimson eye, but he remained composed.
One of the trembling fighters approached and said:
"Master Lloyd... we've finished them all."
Lloyd sat on the pile of corpses, his chest heaving, his eyes reflecting the color of blood as he stared at the sky.
Return
As he returned to the village at dawn, he was greeted with cheers and shouts of joy.
"We've avenged our families!" "Lloyd,our hero!"
But with every cheer, his face grew colder. His steps began to sway, then suddenly... a dark world without ground or sky opened before him.
In that darkness, twisted shadows appeared, whispering:
"Lloyd... our chosen enemy..."
Familiar faces faded: his father screaming, his mother stretching out her hands, Kane calling him. But everything turned into demonic laughter.
And from the darkness, a huge red eye appeared, dripping black blood.
"You won't escape... we'll haunt you... until the end."
Lloyd felt as if his heart was being crushed in claws, his blood boiling in his veins, his voice unable to emerge. Then suddenly... everything shattered with a harsh white light, and he suddenly fell unconscious to the ground, his exhausted body drained of all energy by his crimson eye. They rushed him to a tent, where Yuki the cat-girl sat by his side, wiping his sweat and tending to his wounds.
The Capital...
News reached the Emperor of Austeria, sitting on his golden throne. His booming voice trembled:
"An entire band of bandits was wiped out? Who did it?!"
Silence prevailed. Kane, standing beside the Emperor, opened his eyes in shock: (Impossible... could it be him? Lloyd?!)
The Emperor said sharply: "Bring this boy to me immediately."
The soldier bowed and left.
As for Kane, he remained silent, immersed in dark thoughts.
The Masked Man...
And in a tower in the capital, the Masked Man was watching the scene from afar, laughing madly:
"Hahahaha... your student, Kane... has begun to bloom with blood."
Awakening...
Hours later, Lloyd opened his eyes inside the tent, Yuki by his side wiping his forehead with worry.....
To be continued in the next chapter...
✨ End of Chapter Ten ✨