Flames swallowed the village as the Shadow Executioner stepped through the smoke, each footstep cracking the earth beneath him. His blade, Nightfang, dripped with a strange, black aura that devoured light itself.
Taki could barely breathe.
This was no ordinary assassin.
This was a monster forged under Madara Jin.
Orgen pushed Taki behind him. "Stay back! You're not ready to face him!"
The Executioner tilted his head, amused.
"So this old man is your shield? Disappointing."
He vanished.
Taki's eyes widened.
One moment the Executioner stood still—
the next, he was in front of Orgen, blade arcing downward.
"MASTER!"
CLAAAAANG!
Orgen blocked the strike with his staff, but the force sent him flying into a wall, cracking it like paper. Blood sprayed from his mouth.
"Master Orgen!!"
The Executioner didn't even look at the fallen elder. His crimson pupils focused only on Taki.
"You awakened your bloodline too early. The seal is unstable… I can smell it."
Taki's chest tightened.
"You're here… to kill me?"
"To take your heart," the man corrected calmly. "Madara Jin requires the bloodline core within it. When I cut you open, I'll make it painless—"
Taki clenched his fists. His fear burned into anger.
"You're not touching me."
The Executioner smiled in anticipation.
"Fight, then. Show me why the Demon King favored you."
He vanished again.
This time, Taki moved—instinctively.
The blade sliced past his cheek, cutting the air where his head had been just a second earlier. A thin line of blood trailed down his face, warm and sharp.
Another strike came—faster.
Taki dodged.
Another.
He twisted.
A third.
Taki kicked off the ground, flipping backwards.
The Executioner laughed.
"Good… your instincts are waking."
Taki didn't understand what was happening, but his body felt alive—every muscle sharper, every sound clearer. The crimson glow flickered again in his eyes.
He grabbed a wooden training sword lying on the ground.
The Executioner scoffed.
"You face Nightfang… with wood?"
Taki raised his makeshift blade.
"I'm not dying here."
The Executioner attacked.
The clash shook the entire training grounds.
Taki's wooden sword didn't break.
Instead—
it absorbed the dark aura of Nightfang, glowing faintly red.
The Executioner's eyes widened.
"…So it's begun. Your bloodline is reforging even trash into demonic weaponry."
Taki didn't have time to think. He swung.
A faint shockwave erupted, sending the Executioner skidding backwards across the dirt.
Taki stared at his hands.
That wasn't me… was it?
The villain wiped dust from his cloak, expression twisted with excitement.
"Yes… Yes. THAT'S IT! Show me more, Heir! Show me the power that terrified even the Runcandel Elders!"
He charged.
But Taki's body moved faster.
He ducked under a slash—
kicked off the ground—
and struck the Executioner across the chest.
CRACK!
The man flew through two burning houses, collapsing into rubble.
Taki gasped. His heart was racing uncontrollably.
What… am I becoming?
Orgen, bleeding heavily, raised his head.
"Taki… listen… Your bloodline is unstable… If you push further… you might lose yourself…"
But it was too late.
The Executioner rose from the rubble, laughing hysterically, eyes glowing with madness.
"This is the power Madara wants! But you're still incomplete—
I'll carve out the rest!"
He dashed toward Taki, faster than ever.
Taki's vision blurred.
Voices echoed in his head.
The same deep voice from his awakening.
"Use it."
"Claim it."
"Unleash the Demon King's Will."
Taki's heart pounded.
He felt the world slow.
The Executioner's blade neared his throat—
And Taki whispered:
"…Stop."
A crimson shockwave exploded outward.
The Executioner froze mid-attack, eyes widening.
"What… what did you—"
Blood erupted from dozens of invisible gashes across his body.
He collapsed.
Motionless.
Silence.
Taki stood there, trembling, the crimson aura swirling violently around him.
Master Orgen stared in horror… and awe.
"Taki… what have you awakened…?"
Taki looked at his shaking hands, terrified.
"I… I don't know."
But one thing was certain.
Madara Jin would feel this power.
And he would come.
Flames swallowed the village as the Shadow Executioner stepped through the smoke, each footstep cracking the earth beneath him. His blade, Nightfang, dripped with a strange, black aura that devoured light itself.
Taki could barely breathe.
This was no ordinary assassin.
This was a monster forged under Madara Jin.
Orgen pushed Taki behind him. "Stay back! You're not ready to face him!"
The Executioner tilted his head, amused.
"So this old man is your shield? Disappointing."
He vanished.
Taki's eyes widened.
One moment the Executioner stood still—
the next, he was in front of Orgen, blade arcing downward.
"MASTER!"
CLAAAAANG!
Orgen blocked the strike with his staff, but the force sent him flying into a wall, cracking it like paper. Blood sprayed from his mouth.
"Master Orgen!!"
The Executioner didn't even look at the fallen elder. His crimson pupils focused only on Taki.
"You awakened your bloodline too early. The seal is unstable… I can smell it."
Taki's chest tightened.
"You're here… to kill me?"
"To take your heart," the man corrected calmly. "Madara Jin requires the bloodline core within it. When I cut you open, I'll make it painless—"
Taki clenched his fists. His fear burned into anger.
"You're not touching me."
The Executioner smiled in anticipation.
"Fight, then. Show me why the Demon King favored you."
He vanished again.
This time, Taki moved—instinctively.
The blade sliced past his cheek, cutting the air where his head had been just a second earlier. A thin line of blood trailed down his face, warm and sharp.
Another strike came—faster.
Taki dodged.
Another.
He twisted.
A third.
Taki kicked off the ground, flipping backwards.
The Executioner laughed.
"Good… your instincts are waking."
Taki didn't understand what was happening, but his body felt alive—every muscle sharper, every sound clearer. The crimson glow flickered again in his eyes.
He grabbed a wooden training sword lying on the ground.
The Executioner scoffed.
"You face Nightfang… with wood?"
Taki raised his makeshift blade.
"I'm not dying here."
The Executioner attacked.
The clash shook the entire training grounds.
Taki's wooden sword didn't break.
Instead—
it absorbed the dark aura of Nightfang, glowing faintly red.
The Executioner's eyes widened.
"…So it's begun. Your bloodline is reforging even trash into demonic weaponry."
Taki didn't have time to think. He swung.
A faint shockwave erupted, sending the Executioner skidding backwards across the dirt.
Taki stared at his hands.
That wasn't me… was it?
The villain wiped dust from his cloak, expression twisted with excitement.
"Yes… Yes. THAT'S IT! Show me more, Heir! Show me the power that terrified even the Runcandel Elders!"
He charged.
But Taki's body moved faster.
He ducked under a slash—
kicked off the ground—
and struck the Executioner across the chest.
CRACK!
The man flew through two burning houses, collapsing into rubble.
Taki gasped. His heart was racing uncontrollably.
What… am I becoming?
Orgen, bleeding heavily, raised his head.
"Taki… listen… Your bloodline is unstable… If you push further… you might lose yourself…"
But it was too late.
The Executioner rose from the rubble, laughing hysterically, eyes glowing with madness.
"This is the power Madara wants! But you're still incomplete—
I'll carve out the rest!"
He dashed toward Taki, faster than ever.
Taki's vision blurred.
Voices echoed in his head.
The same deep voice from his awakening.
"Use it."
"Claim it."
"Unleash the Demon King's Will."
Taki's heart pounded.
He felt the world slow.
The Executioner's blade neared his throat—
And Taki whispered:
"…Stop."
A crimson shockwave exploded outward.
The Executioner froze mid-attack, eyes widening.
"What… what did you—"
Blood erupted from dozens of invisible gashes across his body.
He collapsed.
Motionless.
Silence.
Taki stood there, trembling, the crimson aura swirling violently around him.
Master Orgen stared in horror… and awe.
"Taki… what have you awakened…?"
Taki looked at his shaking hands, terrified.
"I… I don't know."
But one thing was certain.
Madara Jin would feel this power.
And he would come.