Thunderous cracks lanced through the dark skies, followed by black-heated lightning.
Muffled screams flew upward like death cries as blood sprinkled every corner of the Baek courtyard.
Wet thuds lingered. Heads flew. Warm blood seeped out as they danced in the air.
Hayes's body heaved. The blades of the blazing Hi-no-Kami chopped his head off without a struggle.
His headless, kneeling body slid to the ground. Leon walked past him and stormed into the Baek main castle.
The scent of rotten copper wire and old coin rose up. He shook the hilt of the sword, spraying blood from the blade.
Cloth flapped around him. The black cloth tapped on his chest like a snake. 'Where is he?'
…
Deep inside the blackened Leon, the original Leon stood before the door of his inner world, locked in chains. "Get me out!"
Chains rattled as he forced his right arm out, only to be caught by another.
A muffled cough filled the air, catching Leon's attention. "Who is there?"
