Thud!
In a forest surrounded by blooming trees, a waterfall's site brings a refreshing atmosphere.
The sound of a wooden sword striking comes from a vast clearing within the forest. Two men
are battling fiercely with wooden swords, illuminated by the light of a full moon.
In one corner, an old blind man sits cross-legged on a large rock, observing the fight. A
young woman, dressed in all black and beautiful, stands beside him. They are surrounded
by dozens of others, all observing the battle from around the clearing.
"Harghh!" One of the fighters swings his sword with all his strength, repeatedly.
The powerful attack is easily parried and dodged by his opponent, who wears a blindfold.
The light from the crescent-shaped hairpin on the right side of his head, reflecting the
moonlight, blinds his opponent's view.
"Are you only planning to defend, Shin?" The attack continues.
There's no response. Shin remains steadfast in evading and blocking the strikes.
"Fight me seriously!" Another slash is aimed at the young man called Shin.
Thud! The two wooden swords clash.
"Ariki, if I fought seriously, wouldn't the match be over quickly? Where's the fun in that, huh?"
Shin says.
Ariki, hearing this, is provoked. What a cocky guy, he thinks. "You think I can't dodge your
attacks, hah?! Do you really think I have no chance of winning?"
Shin breaks off from the clash, jumping back slightly. At that moment, he gestures with his
fingers, making a mocking expression with his mouth.
A vein pops up on Ariki's forehead. "Let's prove it, then!" Ariki responds with fiery
determination.
"You asked for it, I'm not responsible for what happens next. Prepare to cry," Shin stands tall,
pointing his sword downward.
"Bring it on!" Ariki charges forward.
Just before his sword reaches Shin, the latter vanishes from view, moving too fast for Ariki to
keep up.
Everyone around the clearing gasps in amazement at Shin's speed.
Ariki spins around, searching for Shin. Suddenly, Shin emerges from the darkness behind
him and swings his wooden sword forcefully toward Ariki's waist. "Don't blame me if you
break a bone."
"Urghh!" The strike causes Ariki to tumble sideways. He struggles to rise, but the blow isn't
too serious, as he's back on his feet almost immediately.
"Tuihhh!" Ariki spits out saliva mixed with blood. "Now, this is more like it," he mutters, now
advancing toward Shin again, but with even greater speed. He grips his sword with both
hands.
Once again, just as Ariki is about to strike Shin, the latter vanishes, using the night's
shadows as cover to strike from an ambush.
Ariki pauses. He takes a deep breath, slowly attuning himself to the surrounding sounds of
nature. He prepares, lifting his sword to his right.
Thud! His choice is proven correct. Shin reappears from his right side, aiming a strike at his
head.
Ariki sighs in relief. "This is Ariki you know ! This is nothing to me ! ."
The clash results in a brief standoff. Shin cleverly twists his body and delivers a powerful
kick to Ariki's stomach.
Ariki is thrown back several meters.
The previously silent atmosphere erupts into cheers from the spectators, excited by the
increasingly thrilling battle.
Ariki quickly gets back on his feet, ready. At that same moment, Shin charges at him with
lightning speed, launching rapid attacks. Ariki tries to parry each strike. He also attempts to
counterattack, but Shin gives him no openings.
Shin's attacks are so fast that not all of them are able to be blocked. When one of Shin's
strikes lands on him, Ariki grits his teeth and fights through the pain, trying to stay strong and
avoid further damage.
Everyone watching is in awe, witnessing the intense battle unfolding before them.
The old man simply smiles, watching the match unfold.
—-----------------------------------------------------
In a magnificent room adorned with silver and gold decorations, a chair made of crystal
fragments stood proudly in the center. From beyond the balcony doors, a vast green field
stretched endlessly, with grass swaying gently in the breeze. Occasionally, the calls of birds
echoed, their songs weaving together as if serenading one another in love.
Suddenly, the door to the room creaked open. A mysterious figure with pale white skin
entered the room, humming softly, "Haaa~~Huu~." The delicate melody of her voice was so
enchanting that several birds flew in and perched on the balcony railing. Only her feet were
visible—smooth and flawless, adorned with golden patterns that swirled gracefully along her
white skin.
She moved effortlessly toward the grand crystal chair, lowering herself onto it with a tired
sigh. "Huuhhh..." Her voice was soft, almost like a whisper. "What's he doing, hmm?" she
murmured to herself, her tone curious.
She raised her right hand slightly, which was also embellished with golden patterns and
black streaks. Her arm was encased in a bracelet adorned with emerald gemstones,
covering the length of her forearm. With a small flick of her index finger to the left, several
glowing screens suddenly appeared, each displaying scenes of a bustling city.
"Ermmm~~ha! There you are!" she exclaimed, her tone shifting to one of amusement. She
tapped on one of the screens, enlarging it with a simple motion of her fingers.
"Attack again, more!" Ariki's enthusiastic shouts rang from the screen as it displayed Shin
and Ariki locked in a fierce battle.
In the battlefield shown, a peculiar sight appeared in the sky above—a crystalline object with
a glowing, iris-less eye floated silently, watching the fight below. It wasn't alone. Dozens of
similar objects hovered across the night sky, their cold, unblinking eyes monitoring the city
where Shin was located.
The figure tilted her head slightly, her expression unreadable. She seemed intrigued as she
focused intently on the screen. "Hmm... Got here just in time," she murmured.
The room grew silent once more, save for the occasional chirping of birds from the balcony.
Everything seemed to linger in quiet anticipation, as if awaiting the next move in a game that
had only just begun.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ariki tightened his grip on the sword, his breath still heavy. He stepped forward with determination, while Shin stood almost casually—yet his eyes never wavered, sharp like a wolf waiting for its prey.
The atmosphere froze. No cheers, only the pounding of hearts that felt loud enough to be heard.
Clang! Clang!
The two wooden blades collided in rapid succession, tiny splinters flying with every clash. Shin attacked mercilessly, his movements sharp and precise. Ariki held his ground, blocking with clenched teeth. His hands trembled, but he refused to yield.
"Arghhh!"
With a roar, Ariki shoved hard, twisting his sword and swinging toward Shin's shoulder. The strike nearly connected, but Shin bent back just in time—barely an inch to spare. He rolled, sprang back up, and slashed upward, almost knocking Ariki's weapon from his hands.
Ariki cursed under his breath, pain crawling through his body. Yet the fire in his eyes refused to die.
Shin pressed on, circling him, vanishing into the shadows and reappearing with sudden strikes. The attacks came from every angle. Ariki fought with everything he had, his blade ringing with each desperate parry, sweat dripping down his jaw. His breathing grew heavier, his legs trembled, but he planted his stance firmly, unwilling to retreat.
At last, Ariki unleashed a swing with all his strength. The air itself seemed to tear apart, forcing Shin to leap far back. Dust burst into the air at the impact, making the crowd gasp, some even stumbling backward.
But Shin only smirked faintly. He lowered himself slightly, his blade held low, eyes gleaming—not with anger, but with challenge.
Ariki wiped the blood off the corner of his mouth, a faint grin tugging at his lips despite the bruises already covering his body.
"Heh… you really think you can bring me down that easily, Shin?"
Shin said nothing. He slowly spun his wooden sword, the grain of the wood groaning as it cut through the night air. His smile was faint, but his eyes burned sharp and unblinking.
Ariki stepped forward again, his movements heavy but brimming with confidence.
"If you're serious about beating me, you'll have to do better than this."
In a flash, Shin lunged—fast as an arrow. Clang! Their swords clashed once more, the impact rippling through the ground beneath them. The crowd erupted again, some screaming Ariki's name, others chanting Shin's.
"Urghh!" Ariki blocked the strike, gritting his teeth as he shoved back, then threw a kick forward to drive Shin away. But Shin spun on his heel, blade sweeping from the side. Ariki barely caught it in time, the wooden swords screeching as splinters flew.
Shin leaned close, his voice low, almost taunting:
"You're too slow, Ariki. You think too much."
Ariki's eyes blazed as he pushed back.
"And you… you're too confident. That's your weakness."
With a furious roar, Ariki forced Shin off, then rushed him with a storm of strikes. Shin retreated step by step, parrying each blow with practiced precision, but the pressure was real this time.
The spectators were on fire, shouting, gasping, unable to look away. What had begun as a spar now burned with something far greater—a battle of wills, of pride.
Despite his heavy breaths, Shin smirked again, his chest rising and falling.
"Finally… you're taking this seriously."
Ariki tightened both hands on his sword, his arms trembling but steady.
"I won't let you steal this victory from me, Shin!"
They both lowered their stances, shoulders tense, blades ready. The night grew eerily silent, the only sound the whisper of the wind brushing past.
And then, in an instant, they charged together—wooden swords colliding in a crack that lit the night with sparks, fiercer than anything before.
this battle is far from over
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The eerie silence of space, vast and pitch-black, only heightened the existing sense of
dread. Massive asteroids floated aimlessly, occasionally colliding with one another with
deep, hollow echoes.
Suspended above Earth's atmosphere, a lone figure loomed. His silhouette was
monstrous—dark, towering, and grotesquely shaped. His massive body was wrapped in
thick, sinewy muscle, yet patches of rough, bristling fur protruded at irregular places, giving
him an unsettling, primal appearance.
He sat motionless atop a floating board, his clawed fingers tapping rhythmically against its
surface. Though his face was featureless—void of eyes, nose, or mouth—his presence
alone exuded an overwhelming sense of menace, as if an abyss itself had taken form.
Then, the silence was shattered.
"Phloxz, are you certain he is here?" His voice rumbled, low and guttural, as if multiple
voices spoke at once, layered with an unnatural resonance that sent vibrations through the
air.
"Y-yes, my lord. This is where his energy was detected," a trembling voice answered from
somewhere unseen.
The figure exhaled, though it sounded more like a deep, guttural snarl than a breath.
"Hurrh… Vora, you're still troublesome, even after she passed away."
A ripple of tension pulsed through the air as he slowly rose to his feet. His movement was
deliberate—unnervingly slow, yet carrying an undeniable weight, as though the universe
itself acknowledged his presence.
The moonlight finally revealed him in full. His head was angular, unnatural in shape, and
where a face should have been, there was only a void—an abyss of swirling darkness that
devoured all light. His spine bristled with jagged, needle-like spikes, running down his back
and extending into a segmented tail that coiled like a serpent, twitching with restrained
violence.
He lifted his left arm, his clawed hand curling into a tight fist. A dreadful sound followed—like
the crushing of bone and the grinding of rusted metal against stone. Then, with a flick of his
wrist, he hurled the 'object' toward Earth.
"Destroy everything… and find him."
The air itself seemed to distort as the objects plunged toward the planet, breaking through
the atmosphere like meteorites. The night sky was set ablaze, streaks of fire illuminating the
city below where Shin resided.
As they crashed onto rooftops, buildings, roads, and even farms, a loud explosion shook the
ground. The summer night, once peaceful, was now filled with blaring sirens, flickering
streetlights, and the distant echoes of chaos.
People turned their attention to the mysterious objects. Some dared to approach.
Upon closer inspection, the objects were oval, resembling giant eggs, their deep purple
shells covered in pulsating red spots.
"What… what are these?" someone muttered.
As they watched, the objects throbbed like living hearts. The red spots flickered and
multiplied, glowing brighter with each pulse. Unease spread among the crowd.
"Get a closer look!" an elderly man urged.
A young man hesitated before stepping forward, swallowing hard. He leaned in, peering at
one of the glowing red spots—only for his eyes to widen in terror.
"A-ARGH!" He stumbled backward, trembling violently.
"What is it?!" another man asked, bewildered by his reaction.
"Mon… monsters…!" the young man stuttered, pointing at the object.
Before he could explain further—
BOOF!
The red spots shattered like glass, exploding outward all at once.
And what emerged from within was far more terrifying than anyone could have imagined.
Suddenly, the air was filled with a sickening squelch as slimy appendages slithered out from
within the shattered eggs. A deep, guttural chittering echoed in the night as grotesque
creatures emerged, their bodies pulsating with an unnatural, eerie glow.
Each creature was different—some had elongated limbs ending in jagged claws, others had
rows of needle-like teeth protruding from twisted, malformed mouths. Their skin, slick and
translucent, revealed dark, pulsing veins underneath. The red spots that once covered their
eggs had now become part of their flesh, glowing ominously like molten embers.
The first scream rang out when one of the creatures lunged at a man who had stepped too
close.
SHLACK!
With a single swipe of its elongated claw, his torso was ripped open. His body convulsed
before crumpling lifelessly onto the pavement. Blood splattered onto the ground, dark and
steaming under the streetlights.
Panic erupted instantly.
People screamed, pushing and trampling over each other in their desperate attempts to flee.
Some fell, only to be seized by the monstrous creatures. Their cries of terror were cut short
by sickening crunches as fangs and claws tore through flesh.
Above, the faceless figure watched impassively from his floating board. He could hear the
chaos, the sound of buildings being torn apart, the wails of the dying.
But there was only one thing he wanted.
"Vora… Come out of your hiding place," he muttered, his clawed hand tightening into a fist.
His presence alone seemed to thrum through the air, a heavy pressure settling over the city
as if reality itself was bending to his will. His tail coiled and uncoiled slowly, the spikes on his
back bristling with anticipation.
The creatures continued their slaughter, their guttural screeches blending into the night.
Buildings collapsed under their rampage, the city slowly descending into ruin. The sky was
painted in fire and shadow, and beneath it, the streets were drenched in the screams of the
doomed.
The faceless figure remained still, waiting...
|◆◆◆|
"This ends here!"
Ariki's wooden sword flew through the air before hitting the ground with a dull thud.
Shin held his blade right in front of Ariki, a small smile tugging at his lips.
Both of them drew a deep breath after the fierce battle.
"With that, the winner is Shin!" announced a woman standing beside an elderly man.
Cheers erupted from the crowd, celebrating the two fighters.
Shin lowered his sword.
"Not bad, huh " he said, offering his hand to help Ariki up.
"Humph... seriously? " Ariki grumbled, rolling his eyes.
Shin chuckled. They talked casually as they approached the old man seated on a large rock.
"Your senses have improved quite a lot. " said the old master before leaping down from the rock.
The crowd instantly fell silent as he stood tall before them.
Shin and Ariki bowed their heads in respect.
"I must admit, that was an intense duel. Well done!"
Both raised their heads.
"Thank you, Master!" they said in unison.
The old man walked past them and faced the audience.
"With this final match concluded, tonight's tournament officially ends.
Everyone, prepare yourselves — we'll return to the dojo in thirty minutes before heading home."
"Yes, Grandmaster!" they replied in chorus.
He turned his gaze back to Shin.
"Shin, come with me."
"Y–yes, sir..."
"Shin, do you still remember what I told you — that you're the one entrusted by your parents after they passed on?"
Shin simply nodded.
They walked along the edge of a waterfall, the moonlight shimmering across the mist.
"They also entrusted this… to be given to you."
They stopped walking. The old man reached behind his back and pulled out a sword still wrapped in cloth.
"I believe the time has come. You're ready for this."
He held out the sword toward Shin.
"B–but Master, I'm st–still not—"
"No," the master interrupted firmly.
"You are ready. You'll face many trials ahead. Guard this legacy well."
He pressed the sword into Shin's hands, forcing him to accept it.
Shin accepted the sword with an uncertain look on his face.
He gazed at it in silence, feeling as though something was staring back at him — from within the thin layer of gauze that wrapped the blade.
༺•ı•༻
"Haaah…"
She leaned back on her chair. "The match's over… now what should I do? Hmm~"
she spun the crystal chair lazily before stopping midway, her eyes flicking toward the screen showing Shin's face for a brief moment.
"Why did Ivyy-sama ask me to keep an eye on that kid anyway…" she muttered under his breath.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
"Huh?"
Suddenly, a glowing warning symbol appeared beside her.
She tapped it with her right hand, resting her chin on her left as multiple holographic panels unfolded before her— displaying live footage of Yagami City and its surrounding districts.
"What!? They're attacking this early?"
She sighed in frustration.
"Well… what choice do I have? If not today, they'd attack anyway."
Her tone grew colder, more resolute.
She rose from the chair and strode toward the wide balcony.
Raising her right hand to chest level, she spread her palm open. Tiny shards of crystal floated up from his hand, swirling gently in the air before she hurled them forward.
A gust of wind followed — the shards hovered, then fractured the space around .
Cracks of light spread outward before collapsing into a glowing portal.
"I'm going."
Wings unfurled from her back in a burst of radiant light.
Without another word, she beat her wings once — and with a powerful rush of wind, she shot forward, diving straight into the shimmering rift.
In the blink of an eye, she vanished.
The fractured space slowly sealed itself, returning the world to its calm, unbroken form.
༺•ı•༻
Chaos erupted across the city.
Flames devoured buildings, smoke curled into the sky, and the ground was littered with bodies.
Screams echoed through the streets — men, women, and children running for their lives.
"M–monster! R–run!" cried a terrified woman as she stumbled to the ground, trembling uncontrollably.
Before her stood a grotesque creature — its massive body rippling with muscle, sharp fangs glinting in the firelight.
Spikes jutted out from its back, and its skin seemed to twist unnaturally.
Some of the creatures had eyes; others had none at all — only hollow, writhing sockets.
It crouched low, drooling, its tongue slithering out between rows of jagged teeth.
"Grraaaakh... hhhrrksshh... Ghhhrrraaaghhh…"
"P–please... don't... please don't hurt me…" she begged, tears streaming down her cheeks.
The monster moved closer — slow, deliberate — savoring her fear.
She crawled backward, hands trembling, until her back hit a wall.
Then — a flash.
A heavy sound tore through the air.
The woman's scream was silenced. In an instant, her head was severed from her body. The creature's shadow loomed over her lifeless body as it lifted what remained.
It opened its maw wide, revealing countless razor-like fangs — and bit down with a sickening crunch.With one bite, the head was crushed, and one eye burst out
Blood splattered across the pavement, painting the burning street crimson.
The city's cries began to fade — one by one — swallowed by the roar of the flames.
༺•ı•༻
He now sat in meditation at the edge of a cliff, where a vast waterfall roared beneath him. The mist clung to his skin, cool and alive. Closing his eyes, Shin gathered every trace of awareness within him and focused.
He inhaled deeply — drawing in the fresh scent of the surrounding trees — then slowly exhaled.
"Why are you hiding like that? I know it's you, Sakura."
From the shadowed grove behind him, a familiar figure emerged. It was the same woman who had acted as the match supervisor earlier. With a soft smile, she approached him.
"Grandfather was right. Your senses are getting sharper," she said warmly.
Shin returned a faint smile.
Sakura sat down beside him as he finished his meditation, the rhythmic rush of the waterfall filling the silence between them.
"So… what will you do now? Wander the world?" she asked, her tone carrying a hint of sadness. She drew her knees close to her chest.
"I don't know," Shin sighed. "I have no destination. What did Master mean by 'the real challenge' anyway?"
Sakura turned to look at him, then back at the star-filled sky above.
"Me neither," she murmured, resting her chin on her knees, her eyes dim and distant.
A moment later, she felt a hand gently patting her head. Surprised, she blinked — then smiled faintly.
"I'm not going far," Shin said softly. "I won't forget anyone here… Master, Ariki, you, and the others."
His voice trembled slightly. "Honestly… I'm still not ready to face the sins of my past."
Sakura lifted her head. Shin stopped patting her and looked into her eyes.
"Shin," she said gently, "no one was ever really at fault — not you, not her."
"Do you think she'd ever forgive me?" he asked quietly.
"That day… it keeps replaying in my head, over and over." He turned his gaze toward Sakura, almost pleading.
Suddenly, he felt warmth on his cheek.
His breath caught — her lips were pressed gently against his skin.
Sakura's face lingered close for a moment before she pulled away.
Shin touched his cheek, stunned. "H-hey, you know my—"
"Haha, sorry! I forgot your whole 'principle' thing," she laughed, her tone playful.
He chuckled, embarrassed. "You're impossible."
Their laughter echoed softly through the night air.
Then—
Crack… crack…
The sound of branches snapping and leaves being crushed underfoot.
Their laughter stopped. Shin's expression hardened as he spun toward the darkness.
He grabbed his sword at his side while the wrapped he rested against his back then stood up, Sakura quickly following his lead.
"Who's there!?" His tone was sharp, commanding.
"What's wrong, Shin?" Sakura whispered, still confused.
"Sakura," he said firmly, eyes scanning the shadows, "fall back. Tell the others to evacuate the camp."
His voice was low and serious now.
Why can't I sense them at all? he thought, gripping the hilt of his sword tighter.
The night air was cold, the mist from the waterfall catching the faint silver light of the moon.
Sakura was about to speak—"But—"
She cannot even finish her words. Something spun through the air toward her, slicing the wind with a high, violent whistle. Her eyes widened in horror.
"Sakura!"
Shin lunged forward, grabbing her by the wrist and yanking her down just as the object whooshed past—so close it nearly took her head.
It whirled back, glinting like a blade before disappearing into the darkness.
From that darkness came figures—hulking, monstrous shapes creeping into the dim light. Their bodies were twisted and grotesque, skin pulsing like molten tar, claws glinting under the moon. Some had eyes, others only hollow sockets that oozed black mist.
Shin's jaw tightened. He scanned their surroundings, the air thick with a suffocating stench.
He could sense them—many of them—but there was something else. That aura… black, heavy… it's different.
"W–what are they, Shin?" Sakura's voice trembled.
"Sakura, run," Shin ordered sharply. "Go warn the others. Get as far away from here as you can."
Before she could argue, Shin pushed her backward—hard.
Her footing slipped. The world tilted.
"Shin—!"
Her scream echoed as her body plunged off the cliff, the waterfall roaring beneath.
She hit the river below with a violent splash, vanishing into the churning water.
Please, be safe, Shin thought, tightening his grip on his sword.
He turned back toward the creatures, his eyes narrowing.
"Alright then… let's begin."
He tightened the knot of his blindfold, lowering his stance. His sword rose slowly—both hands steady, blade aligned with his face, the classic pose of a swordsman ready to strike.
He drew a deep breath.
Then—he vanished.
A gust of wind sliced between the creatures. Their heads darted around, confused.
A deep, guttural growl echoed from one of them as it morphed its arm into a blade-like appendage. Grrrkkhhhhh!
But before it could swing—its arm dropped to the ground, severed cleanly. Thick black fluid splattered across the rocks.
"GAAARRHHH!"
The monster howled, staggering back.
Up on the cliff, Shin reappeared, flicking his blade sideways to shake off the black ichor.
His stance remained unbroken—sword lowered, left hand steady beneath the hilt.
Moonlight gleamed across the steel.
༺•ı•༻
Sakura gasped for breath as she broke through the water's surface, coughing violently. Her hair clung to her face, drenched and heavy. She dragged herself toward the muddy bank, fingers trembling.
"Shin…" she whispered, looking up toward the towering cliff.
She forced herself to her feet and ran—heart pounding—back toward the camp.
When she arrived, she froze.
The scene before her stole the breath from her lungs.
Flames. Screams. Bodies.
She covered her mouth, eyes wide with horror as tears welled up.
"...No way… no… this can't be real."