The road stretched endlessly ahead, lined with low hills that gave way to the sprawling expanse of Kurogane City. Its walls rose like iron teeth against the fading sun, dark timber reinforced with stone at the corners. Smoke from countless forges curled into the sky, mixing with the scent of baked bread, river mud, and horses. Civilians bustled along trade paths, merchants shouted their wares, and the clang of smiths' hammers echoed across the city gates.
Raizen inhaled slowly, feeling the wind against his face. For the first time in weeks, he moved with full strength. Every muscle remembered its rhythm, every nerve responded with clarity. The poison was gone; the shrine had done its work. His veins no longer throbbed with dark fire, his breaths no longer carried the metallic bite of venom.
Haruka walked beside him, quiet but alert. "Do not mistake the city for safety," she said. Her eyes scanned the crowd, sharp and calculating. "Tsuchigumo do not remain hidden in forests forever. They infiltrate cities, temples, guilds. You will see them in ways you've never fought before."
Kaito groaned. "Great. I just healed enough to not be dizzy, and now you're telling me we're going to get eaten in a crowd." He glanced nervously at Raizen. "Seriously, how are we supposed to fight in a place with all these people?"
Aoi rolled her eyes. "By not dying, Kaito. Try to keep up." She tugged Mika along, who only raised an eyebrow, her calm demeanor unchanged despite the growing tension.
Senji, as usual, strode ahead, eyes narrowed. "City walls are deceptive. The Tsuchigumo we encounter here will be subtle, intelligent, organized. They will not throw themselves at us like in the mountains. One misstep, and the entire block could be compromised."
Raizen simply nodded. He didn't need to speak. His senses were already alert to the rhythm of the city—the uneven cobblestones underfoot, the sudden shifts in shadow, the faint metallic glint of steel hidden in alleyways.
⸻
The Scout
The first attack came without warning.
A small figure leapt from a rooftop, landing with the grace of a predator. Its limbs were unnaturally long, fingers tipped with clawed nails. Silk-like threads snaked from its wrists, shimmering in the fading light as it tried to entangle a merchant mid-step.
"Trap!" Haruka shouted.
Raizen reacted instantly. He stepped forward, spinning to intercept the creature. His fist struck the scout squarely in the chest, but instead of collapsing, it twisted mid-air, letting out a shrill hiss. Its eyes—human but impossibly cold—glimmered with intelligence.
Aoi and Mika moved almost simultaneously, flanking the scout with precise, fluid motions. Aoi's strikes were sharp and economical, while Mika intercepted and restrained the silk threads with bare hands, snapping them before they could fully entangle a bystander.
Kaito, meanwhile, panicked. He threw a cart in the scout's path. It tripped, scattering vegetables everywhere, narrowly missing Raizen. "I—I helped!" he stammered, face red with embarrassment.
Aoi groaned. "You're lucky you didn't get killed."
Haruka's eyes were fixed on Raizen. "Do not underestimate the city scouts. They are faster, smaller, and far more cunning than the ones in the mountains. Observe their patterns."
Raizen nodded, adjusting his stance. The scout lunged again, faster this time, and he met it with a calculated dodge, guiding its momentum past him. With a swift strike to the solar plexus, he sent it sprawling onto the market stones.
The creature hissed but did not die. Instead, it retreated, scuttling along the rooftops like a shadow dissolving into darkness.
⸻
The Sisters' Recognition
Aoi crouched beside Raizen after the brief skirmish, inspecting the broken threads. "These markings… they're Tsuchigumo."
Mika's gaze followed the rooftops. "Not just any scouts. Someone higher sent them."
Aoi's jaw tightened. "Our village… it wasn't destroyed. But we know these markings. The survivors… they were taken. Trained or experimented on. This is their signature."
Raizen's expression didn't change, but a flicker of understanding passed through his eyes. "Then this is more than random scouting. They're organized."
Haruka approached, placing a hand lightly on Raizen's shoulder. "Exactly. And that organization has priests, commanders… those are the ones who decide what happens to cities."
The realization hung heavy in the air. The mountains had been practice. The city would be a test.
⸻
Temporary Respite
The team slipped through a narrow side street, away from the panicked merchants. They found refuge in a small, abandoned warehouse. Dust coated the wooden beams, and broken crates provided rough seating.
Haruka immediately began a short training session. "The shrine taught you how to endure and channel energy, Raizen. Now you must learn how to apply it in urban combat."
She demonstrated a minor technique: directing chi through hands to sever the silk traps of Tsuchigumo without direct contact. Aoi and Mika mirrored the movements quickly, their hand-to-hand style perfect for intercepting the agile scouts.
Raizen practiced quietly, his motions calm, precise. Kaito tried, stumbled, and fell onto a crate, muttering, "I think I cut my own pants."
Aoi smirked. "At least you're consistent."
The laughter was brief. Outside, shadows moved along the rooftops again. The scouts had not forgotten them.
⸻
The Shadow Priest
As night fell, the streets quieted. Lanterns flickered along the road, illuminating puddles of water and the occasional scattered leaf.
A shape appeared above the city walls—a figure draped in silk robes patterned like spider webs. Its eyes gleamed under the dim light, and long, slender fingers clutched a staff tipped with a dark crystal.
Haruka's voice was quiet but tense. "A priest. A minor one, but still powerful. Their presence is always a sign. They orchestrate the scouts and prepare the city for a larger purpose."
Senji's hand went to the hilt of his sword. "We need to be careful. They observe, plan, and strike only when they have advantage."
The team gathered on a nearby rooftop, watching. Raizen's hair shifted with the wind. The city was alive around them—sounds of doors shutting, guards patrolling, merchants locking carts. But somewhere above, the priest watched silently.
Aoi whispered, almost to herself, "That one… is nothing like the scouts we fought."
Mika's calm eyes mirrored hers. "And if it is involved, the danger is only beginning."
Raizen's gaze remained steady on the figure. "Then we learn. We adapt. And we strike back."
⸻
A Quiet Moment
Before descending, Raizen took a deep breath. The wind caught in his hair, ruffling it like the leaves scattered across the rooftops. Aoi silently joined him, her presence a quiet anchor.
No words passed between them—none were needed. The city, with its chaos and shadows, felt heavier now. The threat was no longer mountains, forests, or hidden paths. It was everywhere.
Kaito finally muttered, "I hate cities. Way too many corners."
Aoi smirked faintly. "You'll get used to being outmatched in more ways than one."
Even Raizen allowed a small smile. The road ahead would be long, dangerous, and full of lessons. But for the first time in weeks, he felt ready.
The priest above vanished into the night. Somewhere in the city, the first signs of an organized Tsuchigumo presence stirred.
And Raizen knew: the real fight had only just begun.