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© 2025 RAJ BAJPAI — ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
This story, THE MOON – PART II: BLOOD OATH
No part of this work may be reproduced, copied,
distributed, or adapted in any form
without the author's written permission.
THE MOON – PART II: BLOOD OATH
The old training hall echoed with the rhythmic clash of wooden swords.
Noxy's blade sliced through the air, again and again, until his breath grew ragged. The moonlight spilled through the cracked ceiling, painting his scarred skin in silver. His movements were sharp—precise—but not yet perfect.
Rino watched from the shadows, arms folded, his expression unreadable.
Rino: "Still too predictable, Noxy. The world won't wait for you to learn."
Noxy (panting): "I'll be ready, brother… I promise."
But the world, cruel as ever, never kept its promises.
The Attack
That night, the wind howled through the walls—unnatural, heavy with whispers. The first scream came from outside the hall. Then, the doors burst open.
Figures cloaked in black surged inside, their faces hidden behind bone masks etched with red demonic symbols.
Rino (drawing his sword): "Stay behind me!"
Noxy: "Who are they?!"
Rino: "The kind that don't deserve to breathe."
The first attacker lunged. Rino met him halfway, steel clashing against steel. Sparks exploded into the darkness.
Noxy followed, striking one down—but another came from behind, smashing a chain across his back.
Noxy (choking): "Rino—!"
Rino turned—too late. A heavy blow sent Noxy crashing to the ground. Blood pooled beneath him. Two cultists grabbed him, dragging him toward the door.
Rino (roaring): "NOXY!"
He fought like a storm—cutting through limbs and throats—but the cultists vanished into the smoke, taking Noxy with them. When the last one fell, silence returned.
Bodies littered the floor.
The air stank of iron and burnt flesh.
Rino fell to his knees, trembling, blood dripping from his sword.
Rino (hoarse whisper): "Don't worry, little brother… your big brother's coming."
The Oath
Moments later, a group of guards entered, weapons raised. They froze when they saw the carnage.
Guard: "Lord Rino! The ones who took him—they're from the Demon Worship Circle! They sacrifice children during the Blood Moon!"
Rino slowly stood, eyes glowing faintly red.
Rino: "You'll do nothing. I'll go alone."
Guard: "But, sir—"
Rino (snapping): "I said no!"
He turned toward the window, where the moon bled crimson across the sky.
Rino (low voice): "Prepare my armor. Sharpen my sword. The hunt begins tonight."
The guards bowed silently. They saw it in his eyes—the fury of a man who had nothing left to lose.
The Blood Moon Temple
The valley beyond the town was silent except for the howl of the wind. Rino's armor gleamed black beneath the crimson moonlight. Each step echoed across the broken stones as he approached the ruined temple—the lair of the cult.
The moment he entered, he smelled it: rot, incense, and blood.
Dozens of cultists knelt before a grotesque altar, chanting.
Cultists (chanting): "Blood for the moon… flesh for the demon… blood for the moon…"
Rino's voice cut through the air like thunder.
Rino: "You took my brother. Return him, or I'll feed this temple to hell itself."
The cultists turned, laughing.
Cultist #1: "You dare threaten the chosen of the demon?"
Cultist #2: "We'll carve his name into your bones!"
Rino (raising his sword): "Then start carving."
The Slaughter
He moved before the first could blink.
Steel flashed—one head flew, then another. Blood splattered across the altar.
Cultist (screaming): "Kill him! KILL HIM!"
Dozens rushed him, blades drawn.
Rino met them all.
His sword tore through their ranks like fire through dry leaves.
He ducked, parried, ripped a throat open with his gauntlet, then drove his blade through a chest. The impact shattered ribs, blood spraying across his face.
Rino (growling): "You think you can take him from me?!"
One cultist tried to flee. Rino caught him by the neck, slammed him into a pillar, and crushed his skull against the stone.
Rino (snarling): "Where is he? WHERE'S NOXY?!"
The man choked out a laugh before Rino's sword ended him.
Narrator: He was no longer fighting like a man. He was vengeance itself, drenched in blood and hate.
When the last cultist fell, the temple went silent again.
Rino stood alone amidst a sea of corpses.
And then… he heard a voice.
The Demon Appears
A deep, mocking laugh echoed from the shadows. The torches flickered. The air grew heavy.
From the altar's darkness, something stepped forward—tall, monstrous, with black horns curling from its head. Its eyes glowed like molten gold.
Demon: "You've killed my disciples, human. How very… entertaining."
Rino turned, eyes burning.
Rino: "If you're their god, then prepare to die with them."
Demon (smiling): "Bold words. But rage doesn't make you strong—it only makes you blind."
The demon raised its hand, forming a blade of black fire. The flames hissed as they touched the ground.
Rino: "Let's find out whose fire burns hotter."
They charged.
Steel met flame with an explosion that shook the temple walls. Sparks scattered like stars.
The Duel
The demon struck first, a heavy downward slash. Rino blocked—but the force sent him sliding backward, boots digging trenches into the floor.
Demon: "You fight well… for prey."
Rino (gritting teeth): "Prey bites hardest when cornered."
He lunged, sword thrusting forward, catching the demon across the chest. Black blood hissed against the floor.
Demon (grinning): "You bleed me. Impressive. Now bleed with me."
He swung again—Rino barely ducked, feeling heat scorch his armor.
The two clashed again and again, faster, harder—every impact splitting the ground beneath them.
Rino (roaring): "You took my brother! You'll give him back—or I'll rip your cursed heart out!"
Demon: "Your brother already belongs to the darkness."
That broke something inside him.
Rino screamed, driving his sword through the demon's chest, flames erupting around them.
Rino (snarling): "Then I'll drag him out of it myself!"
The demon's laugh echoed even as its body burned.
Demon: "You'll follow him soon, Rino… The moon claims you both."
And with one final explosion of black fire, the temple collapsed into the valley.
Narrator: Under the blood-red moon, Rino's rage reached the heavens. The world would remember that night—the night a brother's love turned into legend… and a curse.