The black castle loomed in the void of night, its spires swallowed by shadows. Within its depths, a pool of black water reflected nothing, as if it absorbed light itself. Half-submerged in that abyssal liquid lay a figure, eyes lifted toward the ceiling, lips curling into a faint, knowing smile.
"Seems… they have come."
Victor appeared at the edge of the pool, cloak brushing the floor, voice low and careful.
"My lord Konsoon… they have arrived."
Konsoon's gaze remained steady, cold as the void.
"I expected as much. Yet… even if they search, they will never find this castle. Still… there is one matter we cannot allow. There are forces too close, and words spoken carelessly might unravel more than they should."
He adjusted the black coat draped over his shoulders. His voice softened slightly, almost contemplative.
"Fuko… can I trust you?"
Fuko's reply was swift, unwavering.
"Yes, my lord. I will obey without question."
From the shadows, Remji emerged, a sly smile crossing his face.
"Leave it to me, my lord," he said, bowing slightly.
Konsoon rose gracefully from the black water, stepping onto the stone floor. His presence alone seemed to bend the dim light around him.
---
Miles away, the air crackled with tension. Nako, the elite mage, strode through the barren landscape, boots leaving scorched marks on the earth. His eyes burned with unrestrained fury.
"Where is he?" Nako's voice was sharp, cold. "I will kill that magician and parade his filth-stained head through my village."
Without warning, a voice spoke directly beside him—soft, taunting, impossibly close.
"I am here."
Nako spun around, flames erupting from his hands.
"What… you—mongrel! Die!"
The firestorm exploded outward, consuming the ground beneath him, yet the figure before him remained untouched.
Konsoon's calm voice cut through the chaos.
"I see… but it is not enough. I did not come here to fight. Consider this a warning. Leave these lands, or you will see what true consequence entails."
Two of Nako's servants lunged at him. Konsoon did not flinch. His voice carried the weight of inevitability.
"How many times must I repeat myself? I am hollow now… yet I can still touch, still act as if I have a body."
With a single motion, one servant fell, lifeless. Konsoon's eyes never wavered.
"You would do well to leave."
Nako clenched his fists, fury spreading through him.
"You… I will kill you!"
Konsoon's smile was faint, almost amused.
"Perhaps you should be more concerned with your own survival."
Nako's expression faltered. Two more threats emerged silently behind him, their presence chilling. Konsoon passed through him as though he were a ghost, leaving no trace.
"I have… moved on," Konsoon murmured. Then, his voice carried slightly, addressing unseen ears.
"Fuko, Remji… who shall strike first? Do not be gentle."
And then, in the blink of an eye, he vanished.
---
Konsoon reappeared in his chair, calm as ever, eyes scanning the darkness.
"Humans… they never realize the cruelty they face. They imagine they can overcome forces far beyond them, yet their greatest enemy is themselves. Their anger… their mistakes… it is endless."
Victor listened silently, bowing his head.
---
Elsewhere, the confrontation had begun in earnest.
Fuko's voice cut the tension.
"Hey, Jako—"
"It's Nako, you illiterate fool," Nako interrupted, teeth gritted.
Fuko waved him off.
"Whatever your name is… I don't care. But I must say… you are foolish."
Remji leaned slightly, whispering.
"Never let your opponent know your identity. And remember… he is a mage. Do not underestimate him."
Fuko smirked.
"I know, I know. But… they cannot beat me. Not really."
Turning toward Nako's servant, he said,
"And you?"
The servant opened his mouth—but before he could react, his head was severed.
Fuko's chains rattled, glinting in the dim light.
"These chains… they can cut through anything."
Nako's voice roared.
"Enough, novice! Flames—come forth!"
Fuko's grin widened as he swung the chains, striking the fire with precise, controlled arcs.
"Do you see, Nako? There is a difference between us."
The mage bellowed again, commanding the fire to spread, attempting to engulf everything. Fuko leapt and weaved, chains slicing through flames.
Remji watched quietly from the side.
"I suppose this one is mine to observe," he muttered.
"Blaze!" Nako's command tore through the battlefield, fire roaring like a living thing.
Fuko's movements were fluid, controlled, deadly.
"Scarlet Howl—Slash!"
The chains struck true, slicing half of Nako's body with precise efficiency.
"W-what?" Nako stammered, staggering. His legs buckled, his body scorched and broken.
"Too easy," Fuko murmured, chains resting casually across his shoulders.
Remji pointed behind Fuko.
"Look!"
A three-headed beast lunged, jaws snapping. Pain seared Fuko's arm as it bit him, but in an instant, it was slain.
"That was… annoying," Fuko muttered.
Remji shook his head, sighing.
"Idiot. Next time… let me handle it."
Fuko gave a short laugh.
"All right, all right. Your turn next time."
The forest reeked of blood and rot. Moonlight filtered faintly through the broken canopy, illuminating scattered corpses of goblins.
Hiroshi stood among them, blade in hand, its violet aura pulsing faintly, like a heartbeat. His eyes were cold.
"Novices… nothing more."
He raised his sword, and flames swept outward, reducing the crawling dead to ash. But the earth trembled suddenly.
A massive shadow leapt into view, landing with a quake that split the ground. From the pit rose a grotesque figure—skin pale, eyes burning with malice. Its voice was guttural, echoing like a drum of decay.
"I am… Zumo. Lord Zumo, King of the Dead."
Hiroshi's gaze sharpened. His lips moved, but his tone remained flat.
"A zombie king, then. Tell me—why do you slay these humans?"
The monster's grin widened, jagged teeth glistening.
"Why? Because I hunger. I crave their flesh, their screams… I will devour them all!"
Hiroshi exhaled slowly, violet light gathering at his sword's edge.
"I see. Then I have no choice but to kill you."
The battle began with a thunderous clash. Hiroshi's violet blade struck against Zumo's massive black sword, sparks scattering into the night. Each strike carried weight enough to shatter stone.
"Enough!" Zumo bellowed, swinging with brutal force. "I will kill you, mortal!"
Hiroshi's expression did not change.
"Is that so?"
The ground split under Zumo's strike, but Hiroshi stood firm. A faint ripple shimmered around him.
"A barrier," Hiroshi whispered. "Your blows are useless."
Zumo roared, pressing harder, only to find his power failing to break through.
Hiroshi's violet aura intensified, rising like a storm. His voice was calm, yet carried the finality of a verdict.
"Now… it ends."
He lifted his blade. Violet energy condensed, flooding the clearing with dazzling light.
"Dawn of Violet."
The sword descended.
Zumo's eyes widened, disbelief freezing his monstrous face.
"W-what…?"
The explosion of violet light tore through the battlefield, consuming everything in its path.
When the radiance faded, Zumo's body collapsed, dissolving into ash. Hiroshi stood tall, unscathed, his sword still humming with residual energy.
"Finally… it's over."
He looked at his blade, his reflection flickering in the violet glow. His thoughts surfaced, heavy and conflicted.
"I always hated this. Killing. Slaughter. I never wished to become a monster."
But more undead swarmed from the shadows. Hiroshi cut them down one by one, his movements efficient, precise. With each strike, his inner voice repeated itself like a curse:
"I hate this… I hate what I must do."
When the last of the corpses fell silent, he turned away.
A man in armor approached.
"You did well."
Hiroshi ignored him, walking past without reply. His thoughts lingered on one name.
Konsoon.
"My goal… is to bring him down," Hiroshi whispered inwardly.
A girl's voice called out from behind.
"Leader Hiroshi! You fought magnificently!"
He gave a faint smile, though his eyes held no warmth.
"Praise… I don't care for it. But… it isn't unpleasant."
He glanced back at his companions.
"My name is Hiroshi. My duty… is to preserve Kisdain Academy. I will not allow it to fall. I will lead, I will strengthen, no matter the burden."
For a moment, his smile faltered. A flash of memory seared into his mind.
---
"Hey," Konsoon had once said, smiling faintly. "No matter what happens, we will remain friends. Don't be upset. Trust me."
Hiroshi's younger self had smiled back. "Yes."
But the memory twisted. Blood. Pain. Betrayal.
Hiroshi staggered, clutching his side. His body was broken, bleeding, the world dimming.
"Why… why did you do this?"
Konsoon's eyes had been calm, his words cold.
"For my own desire. For truth. For the pain of this world that no one dares to admit. You… will understand."
The memory shattered.
---
Back in the present, Hiroshi's hand clenched tightly around his sword. His resolve hardened.
"That… is why I must end this. No matter what."
Later, beneath the quiet lantern glow of a tea house, a man in a flowing kimono sat sipping from a porcelain cup.
Reiho, the commander, lifted his gaze as Hiroshi entered.
"So. You finished the mission."
Hiroshi nodded. His voice was steady, his eyes unwavering.
"Yes. It is done."
The night fell silent. The world moved forward. But Hiroshi's vow lingered, sharp as the violet edge of his sword.