Crimson Night [Unmaking Quest - Root of the Problem]

[Shinku]

The moon bleeds red, tainting the night sky with its crimson glimmer. Could it be just nature at work, or perhaps an omen of a disaster that may befall the lush world? An eerie silence rules the nearly empty streets of Arcadia, save for a couple of guards that patrol the city. The ensuing peace may hide the tremor of chaos, but the heart of the Arcadians know best. Even the shivering chill in the air adds to the terror that plagues the night. The city, that is once bustling with nightlife, is now nearly a lifeless ghost town.

And on that eerie night, Shinku stands atop one of the tallest buildings in Arcadia, his eyes surveying over the city. His senses have greatly heightened since he awakened Orochi, making him clearly feel every movement from a few feet around him. His vantage point helps him as well to see any activity from around the city. The monstrous aura that woke him up from afar might be a pressing concern but he wants to make sure that the city is safe for the night as well. Even then, he can feel the threatening power pulsate from a distance but he also fears that the cultists that he encountered the day before could still be up to something.

With his senses, he can greatly feel the unrest from most of the Arcadians. Anxiety and stress are evident from each beating heart and uneven breaths. Disappointment and revenge reigns among the hearts of a few others but as they stay idle, the assassin of shadows couldn’t dare to touch them. After all, most of them are related to Elise and he understands the desperation of winning their own home back.

Around him, there is not much activity and fortunately, not even the suspicious ones. He can feel the obvious ill intent of a few citizens, but not anything the guards can’t handle. Satisfied, Shinku then hops from one building to another, concealed in the shadows as not to unnecessarily alert the guards.

‘What are you doing? There’s a bigger fish that we need to haul.’ Suddenly, the familiar voice of Orochi rang in his head. He flinches, missing a step as he slips from the edge of another building. Luckily, his reflexes are quick enough to make him grab a ledge, protruding from the building’s wall. With that, he swings himself up and safely lands on the building’s summit.

“Will you stop speaking out of nowhere! I almost fell!” Shinku grunts, though unnecessarily for obviously, the shadow demon can directly read his mind. It’s fortunate that he’s located high enough for any of the patrolling guards to hear him.

‘Oh is that how you treat the one who gave you that power? And come on, you can just access the shadow realm from there if you need to. No harm done. Besides, would you rather that I appear in front of you and speak?’ the shadow demon sniggers, his voice now messing up with the assassin of shadows.

‘Well...still you could have picked up a better timing,’ Shinku retorts, deciding to respond this time with his mind. He tries to compose himself up after a near accident experience. Although he does agree with the shadow demon’s point, he can’t make himself agree with its brusqueness. Moreover, Orochi’s way of communication is all new to him and it surprises him every time the shadow demon speaks.

‘I would not have spoken if you went straight to the source of that massive aura. Now stop wasting time. Let’s go!’ Orochi hisses, in a child-like impatient tone. Somehow, Shinku can feel the shadow demon’s hunger for their target but on the other hand, he finds it uneasy to just leave the town. Could it be out of his long term guilt? Of leaving his clan, as they are all slaughtered mercilessly. Of being powerless to prevent the doom of his own family.

‘Ok fine. I just need to make sure this city is safe.’ Shinku responds as he hop onto the next building. He does take his own patrolling seriously in spite of the fact that it isn’t a duty of his. Moreover, added security measures were suddenly implemented right after the discovery of the cults. And on that night, more patrol guards are visible around Arcadia.

‘What are you talking about? Can’t you see that there are plenty of guards around? What can possibly go wrong? The bigger threat is outside this city,’ Orochi urges, relentlessly bugging the boy.

‘But…’ Shinku stutters, realizing the absurdity of his actions. ‘...will they be enough to stop those madmen?’

‘That’s irrelevant now. It will all be over once you feed me that parademon. Now go. Can’t you feel it? The energy you felt on those fanatics' base is greatly similar to that one. And with an aura as strong as that, imagine how tasty its soul will be?’ Orochi hisses, in obvious excitement.

‘Parademon?’ Of all the shadow demon’s words however, the term parademon seems to be the only one that registered on Shinku’s mind. He appears puzzled, stopping by another building with his interest piqued.

‘Our prey, I mean. But it doesn’t matter, just bring me there and make me stronger. You still remember it do you? In exchange for the power that I provide you, you must feed me the souls of those you slay in battle,’ Orochi snarls in a more sinister voice, almost like a savage beast that hungers for its prey. ‘And I promise you, the more I get stronger, the more your own power grows. After all, you need power to avenge your clan right?’

The demon does raise a good point but for a moment, Shinku feels fear of his own power. Was it right that he awakened the demon? Would that power be his salvation? Would the dark blade be his avenger for the blood of his people? Or had he just plunged himself into an eternal seal that would eventually lead to his doom?

1006/10,000

 

[Shinku]

Fear and revenge battles inside Shinku’s mind. He does need Orochi’s power but the shadow demon’s intent is a total mystery for the boy. Till now, he is uncertain to what extent Orochi's aid can actually lead him. But he did leave a promise in front of the ashen bodies of his clan, that he will bring to justice the slaughter that ended all their lives. His desperation might urge him to cling on whatever can help him for his revenge. But how far will that thirst for vengeance bring him? He can even imagine it at that time, the last vision he had of his mother.

She was there, bloodied, helpless, weak. Only a heartless soul could dare to even lay a finger against her. But the world indeed wasn’t short of such souls, and Shinku even witnessed much worse. The scream of her mother still echoed inside his turbulent mind, the scream of a woman who was mercilessly impaled to death. It wasn’t even necessary, they could have just left her alone to at least die in peace. He could clearly see that day, from between the bandit’s legs, the horror of the spear’s blade that pierced through her mother’s heart. And not even contented, they dragged the poor woman’s body like a mere dummy that left a trail of blood.

“And we are going aren’t we?” Orochi hisses, shunning Shinku of his vision. The shadow demon definitely knows what’s going on inside the boy’s head, but is simply too insensitive to let his host reminisce about a fragment of his past.

“Alright, I’m on it.” The assassin of shadows grunts, seemingly forgetting that he can communicate through his mind. He throws one more glance at the dim city, barely lit by the bloody moon’s pallid glimmer. A few lamp posts illuminate Arcadia this time, but he understands why. The unlit structures house the citizens that shut their doors and windows from trouble. Shinku takes a deep breath, and in the blinking of an eye, he disappears into a purplish black smoke.

With the shadow demon’s urges, Shinku finally decides to race towards the source of the appalling aura. The crisp air brushes against his face as he emerges from the shadow realm, this time riding his shadowsteed. His vision of the ground gradually shifts from the concrete cobblestones to bare earth, then to a verdant forest.

He travels at the fastest pace that he could, mounted on his dark horse that helped him soar above Arcadia. Though partly, he wants the chaos in Arcadia to end, his intention this time seems to be overcome by his blade’s thirst for blood. Nevertheless, he pushes himself to a mission that he must accomplish at all cost.

Midway however, Shinku had to draw his sword to deflect a sudden attack out of nowhere from what seemed like a dagger. Along with the random attack, his shadowsteed mysteriously vanished midair, making him fall towards the ground. Luckily, he was able to gracefully land at the top of a century old tree. With his feet settled on a solid foundation, he then tried to sense the origin of the attack.

“‘Ye lookin’ for me?” The assassin of shadows flinched upon hearing a deep husky voice from above. He had to quickly raise his sword to defend himself from a downward slash. Momentarily, the flash of their clashing swords illuminated the face of a bearded man, in his late thirties. His head is adorned by a black pirate bandana that contains an emblem which seems to be familiar to Shinku. The man then jumps back, disappearing into darkness. The attack however, was followed up by a couple of shots from around the assassin of shadows. He quickly tried to step into his shadows but unfortunately, the portal does not seem to open. Left with no other choice, he deflected some with his swords, then jumped to evade a couple more.

“‘Ye sure move like the wind!” The same voice met Shinku, the moment he landed on the ground. His senses quickly registered at least seven men around him, two of which were constantly moving and the rest, including the one in front of him, were all stationary. He quickly attempted to hide himself but even his concealment skill did not seem to work.

“Ah these stones do work wonders!” Shinku’s eyes widened in terror upon seeing a purplish glowing stone at the hand of the man before him.

“So ‘ye know what this stone is eh.” The man mocked, as he raised the stone with his open palm. “Well ‘yer tricks won’t work this time!”

Shinku on the other hand, had to evade another round of bullet shots from random directions. Thankfully, his reflexes and alacrity did not fade along with the other skills that he can’t seem to access. Even the presence of Orochi himself seemed to have vanished as well. Unfortunately, the attacks did not stop with the shots for as soon as the barrage of bullets ended, two blades rushed from both his sides. Shinku had to skip backwards to evade one of the attacks, then raise his sword to parry another.

“Make ‘im dance boys!” The same man who had been talking from the start exclaimed in a deranged voice that echoed in the murky forest. Obediently, the swordsmen complied with relentless strikes, which Shinku had to alternately defend. His insane speed did help him to at least defend himself with the strikes along with ranged shots from time to time, but he can’t seem to find an opening to attack. He could defend himself at the moment but he knows that if the fight goes on, the attacks will eventually tire him out.

“Oh by the way kid! Kirden Wharf missed you!” The one who seemed to be at command laughed, as he watched from the background. It finally dawned on Shinku that the emblem on the man’s bandana belonged to the same pirates that he killed back at Kirden Wharf. Such an oddity that this time, Shinku is the one targeted for vengeance.

1006+1016 = 2022/10,000

 

[Shinku]

Unable to find any opportunity to counter, Shinku decided to hop back after parrying a sword attack, then turned to dash away from the pirates. He escaped quickly enough to disappear into the forest’s natural shadows and out from the sight of the pursuing pirates.

“Hey Jack, I thought these stones prevented his tricks. Why can’t we see ‘im now?” One of the pursuing pirates complained, suddenly exhibiting a few hints of tension.

“Arr, of course it does, ‘ya lily-livered scallywag! He just hid there somewhere! Now quit complaining and start looking.” Jack as he was addressed grunted, obviously annoyed at Shinku’s disappearance.

The search proved to be much difficult with the pirates having to contend with very scarce lighting, thanks to the thick canopy of leaves that blocked the bloody moonlight, at the area where the assassin of shadows chose to escape to. The gunners themselves seemed to be unable to fire as well, having lost their visual of Shinku.

The two pirates continued to thread along the murky forest, wary of their hidden enemy. Their quick, yet prudent steps led them through a bushy trail, as they blindly followed through what they could only guess as their enemy’s escape path.

“Ei Jack, why don’t we just let the boss…”, the lesser pirate complained but was cut short when Jack pulled him close and covered his mouth.

“Arr, ‘ya got a death wish in ‘ya eh Bernard?!” Jack scolded in a hushed voice while keeping his companion muffled as sweat started to form at his temple. “If he wanted to take care of that scurvy dog himself, the Boss wouldn’t have sent us here. So just shut up and help me deal with that prick!.”

“But ain’t we havin’ ourselves killed here as well?” Having made himself freed from Jack’s grip, Bernard was able to talk back in the same hushed voice as his companion.

“Arr, that scurvy dog’s nothin’ but a shark bait without his tricks. So once and for all. Stop ‘yer blabbering and…” As Jack spoke, a racing blade from his peripheral view quickly caught his attention. Luckily, the pirate’s reflexes were quick enough to let him deflect the attack. With the sword being blocked, it was pulled back, being obviously guided by a metal chain.

“That must be ‘im, Jack. Let’s finish ‘im off!” Bernard quickly ran after the direction of the retreating sword but was quickly stopped by the grip of his companion.

“Arr, downstairs for dancin’ and upstairs for thinkin’ mate! He’s obviously luring us in. Let’s hide for a while!” Once again, Jack scolded his companion and dragged the puzzled man behind a tall tree.

“But didn’t ya just say he’s nothin’ but a shark bait without his skills?” Bernard continued, in a hushed tone while crouched behind Jack.

“Shhh...let’s wait for ‘im to make his…” Jack warned but was cut short when he sensed an attack from behind his companion. With his quick reflexes, Jack pulled Bernard and blocked the blade held by Shinku himself. The encounter however was very short lived as the instance their blades touched, the assassin of shadows quickly hopped back and again disappeared in the forest’s natural shadow.

“Come ‘ere ‘ya coward!” Bernard, a bit enraged, wiggled himself loose from Jack’s grip and tried to run after Shinku but again, his companion stopped him from his tracks.

“Arr, Calm ‘yerself Bernard. He’s obviously got more tricks up his sleeve. There’s the two of us anyway and we’ve got backup. He can’t handle us directly so we only need to be careful of his tricks. Stay focused!” Jack lectured as he pulled his companion back from bolting towards their concealed enemy.

They haven’t even caught a single breath when another strike came from behind the two pirates. This time, Jack was able to push Bernard out of the way and docked to evade the lunging blade. With one swift move, he was able to swing his blade to slash his enemy’s body but Shinku was quick enough to hop back to evade the counter attack.

With their enemy finally in the open, Bernard was able to quickly follow up an attack which the assassin of shadows was able to block. Again, the assassin of shadows had to deal with yet another barrage of coordinated attacks from the two pirates then shortly afterwards, was followed up by shots from distant gunners.

Just as they thought they had the advantage, Jack had to pull Bernard back and dock to evade a couple of wooden spears that raced from their right. With that, the assassin of shadows was able to disappear again in the darkness of the forest.

“Blimey! He’s got allies with ‘im?” Bernard gasped, as he laid on the ground almost shocked with a near death experience.

“Arr, that was our own trap, dummy! I guess he figured ‘em out!” Jack exclaimed, as he wiped out blood from a scratch wound on his right cheek.

“He’s really good eh Jack. Did we really ‘ave any chance against ‘im!” Bernard whimpered, still shaking on the ground.

“Garr! Stand up ‘ye lily-livered bucko! Did ‘ya forget why we're ‘ere! That son of a biscuit eater killed Ketchu and the others! We ain’t restin’ till we make ‘im pay!” With all his strength, Jack pulled Bernard up and dragged the pirate to a nearby thick bush.

“Oi Jack!” Having no other choice, Bernard had to let himself be dragged by his companion then settled down behind the makeshift cover. “But how do will kill ‘im Jack?!”

“We’ve got more gunners on the other side. That scumbag won’t escape that easily and I think he figured that out, that’s why he kept coming back ‘ere. And if he thinks he can just use our traps against us. He’s got it all wrong!” Jack mumbled as he knelt with Bernard behind the bushes. A sudden gust of wind blew from the east, making the trees cheer with rustling noise. Shinku was still perfectly hidden thanks to the dark forest and the bloody moon.

“Listen…” Jack whispered and continued to mumble a couple of words near his companion’s ear. For a while, everything seemed to be quiet without further actions from the assassin of shadows. The night grew even deeper, as Shinku is faced with the threat of his old enemies and yet a bigger threat for Arcadia is still left undisturbed somewhere at the edge of the city.

As he waits for his enemies’ action, Shinku lies hidden on top of an old tree, obscured from the eyes of the malicious pirates. His heart continues to race along with time who seems to be not on his side this time.

2022 + 1117 = 3139/10,000

 

[Shinku]

“This farce has gone far too long matey.” After quite a long time of silence, Shinku was surprised by a sudden deep husky voice which he immediately identified as that of the pirate captain’s. All he knew was that he kept track of every presence around him but for some odd reasons, he wasn’t able to sense the one behind him till it spoke. The touch of a gun’s muzzle, cold and frightening, added to the fear that now partly paralyzed the assassin of shadows. He didn’t even know how the pirate captain was able to stand behind him as he, himself, stood on the narrow branch of an old yew tree.

“Arr, ‘yer food for the fish now….shiver me timbers!...err... ahoi there captain!” After a few while, Jack suddenly emerged on the ground, a few yards in front of Shinku but skidded to a halt upon noticing his captain standing right behind their enemy and illuminated by some sort of mobile light that hovered above. The captain in question, seemed to be hovering as well, with the help of some sort of floating platform.

“Ah Jack, ya’ did a splendid job distracting our sneaky little mate here. Now let’s give ‘im some break, after all, we ain’t here to cleave ‘im to the brisket. As fer our matey here, ‘ya heard it right, we ain’t here to kill ‘ya. We just let ‘ya play a few games with us and blimey ‘yer quite the swashbuckler as they said.” The pirate captain continued, his gun still pointed at Shinku in a very close range.

“So what is it that you want?” The assassin of shadows on the other hand, wanted to move out but sensing his position against his enemies, he deemed it better to listen to the pirate captain in the meantime. Jack on the ground, turned around and summoned Bernard who emerged from his hiding spot a few moments later. The hovering light moved around, illuminating parts of the forest like a vigilant scout. The sound of birds cawing could be heard from a distance along with the orchestra of the forest’s night choir. One by one, Shinku felt the spiritual presence of still seven people around him to gradually relax.

“Ehhh judgin’ from what we’ve learned about ‘ya so far. I assume ‘ye haven’t heard of Erde’s historical treasures as of yet.” Sensing no more resistance from Shinku, the pirate captain slowly lowered his gun but kept it grasped by his right hand with his finger still touching the trigger. “But first things first, the name’s Cap’n Barkley Mullins. Cap’n of the Sinking Kraken, slave to the Black Raven’s crew,” the pirate captain continued, partly bowing down in spite of still being behind the assassin of shadows.

“I assume you need me to find these ‘historical treasures’ for you.” Somehow, Shinku was able to relax, the moment Captain Barkley lowered his gun. Not wanting to waste more of his strength however, he simply decided to go with the conversation.

“Straight to the point I see. I like ‘ya kid! Now ‘ya see, we know where to get ‘em treasures but going there ain’t that easy. Err...a few of us have already gone to the afterlife with their attempt. Well, luckily we found ‘ya ‘ere and boy ‘ye sure have lots of tricks up ‘yer sleeve.” Captain Barkley narrated, in an attempt to convince Shinku to help them.

“If I help you then would you leave me alone?” The assassin of shadows responded, presenting his own end of bargain.

“Of course lad! That’s why we came to you after all. ‘Ya see, for the Black Ravens, ‘yer what we call a loose end. Err..’ya know, a wanted man in other words. But we’ll let ‘ya off if you cooperate in the gathering of ‘em treasures.” The pirate captain exclaimed, his lips widening into a satisfied grin.

“Well I’d be more than willing to help but right now, I’m in a bind. You see…” Shinku explained but was immediately cut off by the pirate captain.

“Ah worry not! We know what ‘yer up to and ‘ya may finish that first. We know where to find ‘ya anyway. But ‘ya better stay alive.” Captain Barkley remarked, followed by a sudden burst of laughter. “Well, I guess our time here is up. Good luck on ‘yer bloodbath! We’re out of ‘ere boys!” With those final words, the pirate captain set off with his floating platform with the other pirates dispersing out of the forest.

Shinku on the other hand, focused his senses, making sure that the area is left without any of the Black Raven pirates around. Indeed, he could sense them moving quickly out of the forest until one by one, their presence got too far for the assassin of shadows to sense.

‘National treasures eh. Interesting but their blood excites me even more.’ Suddenly, the sound of Orochi’s voice hissed inside his head.

‘What? Hey, you've been listening all along?’ Shinku complained, surprised by the shadow demon’s knowledge of the discussion.

‘Ah of course lad. Do you really think I could be restrained by those stupid stones?’ Orochi laughed in mockery, obviously enjoying himself.

‘Hold on. So all along you could have helped me take them down!’ Shinku snarled in disappointment but is still able to control himself, being able to stay speaking through his thoughts.

‘Aren’t you curious about those national treasures? As much as I wanted to bathe in their blood, I suggest we look into the mission they have for you first. I have a strong feeling that there’s something within those treasures that will be of great use. In the meantime, let them believe that those stones could really power you down.’ The shadow demon taunted, his intent obviously filled with malice.

‘Alright. So I guess it’s back to whatever monster owns this strong aura.’ The assassin of shadows simply went along with the shadow demon’s plan then had his attention back to the frightening aura that woke him up earlier.

‘Of course lad. Let’s devour that one first then tomorrow, let’s go treasure hunting!’ Orochi agreed, his tone growing ever more excited. With that, the assassin of shadows attempted to resummon his shadow steed on which he was able to do successfully. Riding the nether horse, he again soared into the skies of Erde and into a mysterious foe.

3139 + 1065 = 4204/10,000

 

[Shinku]

The arcadian woods possessed a haunting beauty from above, which Shinku couldn’t help but admire as he took off from the ground. The shades of autumn from amber to purple decorated the expanse of the forest as the bloody moon’s meager light shone upon its array of gigantic trees with leaves covering the forest from tip to tip. The freshness of the evening dew mixed with the musky smell of decaying wood, clung into the assassin’s nose and accompanied him to the sky. The faint sound of rushing water, accented by the song of crickets serenaded Shinku as he soared above the massive forest. One by one, the howls of wolves, the chirping of various birds and the sound of several other creatures added to the harmony of sounds that somehow calmed the terror that enslaved the night. It would have been a night of majesty if not for the perilous battle that awaited the assassin of shadows. Shinku took one final look at the majestic forest below, before he signaled the shadowsteed to fly at the top of its speed.

The cold wind howled from the east, brushing against Shinku who rushed towards the enemy’s hideout. It brought with it the stale scent of what resembled that of the monstrous plant’s, back at the occultists’ base. Gradually, the melody of the forest succumbed to the frightening silence that haunted the bloody night, save for the chilling winds that echoed terror and despair. Shinku’s heart raced, as the frightening aura grew ever stronger, with the shadowsteed soaring above the clouds. The wind whipped his cloak and strands of his medium-length hair lashed in the air as the shadowsteed raced through the air. Then there it was, from a distance, an army of gigantic, ferocious plants arrayed themselves in front of an old barn that secluded itself from the rest of Arcadia. The scene made Shinku skid to a halt as he watched over the mob that he had to go through.

‘We’re here at last, lad!’, the excitement of Orochi once again rang inside Shinku’s head, cutting off his focus from observing the massive army before him. ‘And I see you’ve already planned to stealth your way through that unmade army. Well, I only need that big fish lad so you can do whatever you need to get to it. But I’ll have to warn you, even your plan isn’t as easy as it seems.’

Shinku tensed at Orochi’s words but he couldn’t agree less as the enemy before him was far beyond any that he had fought so far. ‘Well, we’ll never know unless we try,’ Shinku shrugged, finally deciding to command the shadowsteed to descend.

‘Haha that’s what I like about you kid! Always eager to wade through danger!’, Orochi hissed, somehow adding to the meager courage which Shinku had and was almost crushed by the massive size of the army before him.

Midair, Shinku decided to delve into the shadow realm after dismissing the shadowsteed. He entered an instantly opened portal like an apparition that seeped into the opening of a dark cave. In an instant, he reappeared at the ground, lightly landing on a soft mossy ground which appeared strange to him considering the absence of any water source from a few miles around the area. That small detail however, deemed too trivial for Shinku to ponder much about, compared to the frightening scenery of the enemy’s hideout. Fortunately enough, he was able to land in an area that seemed oblivious to any of the ferocious plants that guarded the old barn.

‘Well, at least my skills are obviously working now.’ Shinku mused as a thousand more questions weaved through his head. Would his shadow meld be enough to stealth his way through the army of monstrous plants? He had a glance of how each of them posed some danger as he was there when Janica’s family was almost devoured by the same plant if not for his prompt rescue. Surely, a single mutant plant wouldn’t be much of a bother but with an army of them, Shinku couldn’t even imagine himself standing a chance should he battle them face on. Moreover, he cringed at the fact that inside the farm, stood an enemy much more dangerous than each of these rancid plants were. He chose to carefully approach the enemy with his shadow meld as the energy from his portal might alert the target should he decide to use his shadow pass,but even his stealth wouldn’t be a guarantee of success. Nevertheless, he got to try something.

‘Haha I can’t believe you were still going on with that,’ the shadow demon teased, amused at Shinku’s sudden doubt at his shadow techniques.

‘Better safe than sorry,’ Shinku retorted, peeking from behind a tree to take a look at the flock of monstrous plants from a distance.

‘Well, I already told you. Those stones didn’t work to begin with. I only suppressed your abilities so I could fool them. After all, sometimes you’ve got to fool your allies in order to deceive your enemies.’ Orochi lectured humorously, enjoying Shinku’s obvious annoyance which the assassin of shadows tried to suppress.

‘Sure whatever, now let’s get on with it.’ Brushing Orochi’s words off, he proceeded to focus on concealing himself to prepare for his perilous battle. Wiping the look of vexation off his face, he focused for a while to summon the concealing mist from the shadow realm.

‘Ready when you are.’ Orochi again hissed with excitement as Shinku covered himself with a mist of shadows which instantly disappeared along with the assassin’s form and scent and muting whatever sound that he would have made. After one deep breath, the assassin of shadows finally emerged from behind his makeshift hideout and swiftly, yet warily weaved through the monstrous plants that guarded the old barn. He need not be careful with the sound of his steps but he needed to move precisely enough to evade each of the enemies that crowded the area. He might be concealed from most of the enemies’ senses, but a slight touch on one of the creatures might alarm the rest of them with the presence of an intruder. It was but a short journey to the barn but the presence of several obstacles along the way made it feel almost like a mile long. Moreover, he had to move around the barn to look for an opening that he could pass through without creating any disturbance. Fortunately, he was able to find an open window behind the barn that welcomed him inside.

Finally, at the center of the barely lit interior of the barn, Shinku was able to see it - a gray-skinned creature that almost resembled that of a locust-like humanoid. The creature stood strangely still, as if waiting for something. It’s insect-like wings were folded, and its body seemed relaxed, signifying the absence of aggression. Its arms however, were equipped with a rifle on its right and a spear on its left which made the creature look like it was prepared for combat. Left with no other choice however, Shinku took another deep breath, then decided to carefully move closer at the creature, approaching it from behind.

4204 + 1204 = 5408/10,000

 

[Shinku]

Shinku had fought many battles before, but he still can’t help but be veiled in terror at the presence of a strong enemy. Carefully, he inched closer at the creature which bore the appalling aura that broke his sleep that night. He stood still for a while, yet his heart was far from being calm. The silence inside the old quaint barn made up for a tranquil scene, yet the peril of death was but a breath’s width away from Shinku. Still, his mind wrestled between performing the attack or simply escaping his way into safety. Fear still haunted him, yet at that time, his resolve was much stronger. With the memories of his clan’s slaughter and the nightmare of Governmorne’s destruction, Shinku was able to ward off the doubt that plagued his mind. With his sworn oath of vengeance, he couldn’t simply cower no matter the strength of the enemy before him.

Finally, his hand reached for the handle of his shadow blade and with a decisive move, he decided to pull it out from its sheath. Wasting no more time, the assassin of shadows finally raised his sword, its tip pointed at the creature’s chest. With one swift move, Shinku pushed his sword to thrust its blade through the enemy. Before the sword’s tip could touch the creature’s skin however, the humanoid’s wings suddenly unfurled and deflected the piercing strike. The move surprised Shinku, who naturally decided to backpedal away from the creature.

‘Hey kid! Get out of here!’ Orochi warned with urgency just a second after Shinku took his last step. Luckily, before the snake demon could even warn him, the assassin of shadows was able to sense some threatening movement from below the ground. Swiftly, Shinku backflipped his way out of the spot before he could be impaled by several thorny spikes that ripped the wooden floor apart and intersected each other, obscuring the assassin’s sight of his enemy. The spikes resembled sharp tipped roots that obviously came from the army of plants outside the barn.

‘We met at last Shinku Ashikaga.’ Another voice echoed inside his head, distorted and deep, heralding a sinister vibe. It was safe to deduce that the voice came from the creature that now hid behind the interwoven spikes that almost reached the old barn’s ceiling.

‘Don’t get distracted! There’s more coming!’ The shadow demon’s voice snapped Shinku back to reality, allowing him to evade another attack from below. After he saved himself from the attack however, several other spikes erupted from the ground, forcing the assassin of shadows to dance his way out of the relentless attacks from a whole army outside. He performed several other dodges, before Shinku finally decided to shift out of the current plane and into the shadow realm.

Strands of the bloody moonlight draped upon Shinku’s face as he emerged from the shadow realm, to the sky just above the barn. Still battle triggered, he let loose his sword and gripped the chain that supported it instead. With one graceful swing, the blade was able to cut at least four of the monstrous plants before it boomeranged back at its owner’s hand. Before his feet could land on the ground, he summoned another portal which sucked him back to the shadow realm, leaving a puff of purplish smoke where another group of spikes emerged from below the mossy ground.

The assassin of shadows reappeared above another set of the monstrous plants just a few yards away from the barn. He was about to perform the same attack but instead, had to skillfully maneuver himself to evade a laser shot that originated from inside the barn. He was able to keep the shot from hitting any vital point but the attack was able to graze his right shoulder.

Follow up attacks from below and several other laser shots forced Shinku to again delve into the shadow realm. This time, he decided to reappear in front of the creature inside the barn and with one swift movement, he swung his sword to strike the creature from its right side. With an agile twist however, the locust-like humanoid was able to gracefully side flip out of the sword's attack path like a water moving around a rock. Midair, the creature countered with a thrust from its spear, followed by another shot from its laser rifle. Shinku was swift enough to evade both attacks but was forced to distance himself from the agile creature. Several other shots forced the assassin of shadows to move even further and later to shift himself out of Erde’s plane.

Fortunately, the attacks from the ferocious plants seemed to have stopped. The sound of explosions could instead be heard outside of the barn which allowed Shinku to focus on his primary enemy. Sensing the presence of his shadowsteed, the assassin of shadows was convinced that the explosions outside were from his trusted companion.

Shinku emerged from the shadows behind the creature but had to step back due to a surprising attack from the creature’s wing blades. The humanoid turned to face the assassin of shadows and quickly fired another shot from its rifle. Shinku this time, was able to agilely evade the shots while dexterously closing in at his attacking enemy. He then swung his sword horizontally from his right but the blade simply collided with the creature’s spear. The spear’s tip then dashed towards Shinku’s face but the assassin of shadows was able to slide to his right and then countered with another slash. The creature then dodged in the same way and countered with a rifle shot.

‘You are a worthy opponent indeed, shadow weaver.’ The same distorted voice from earlier suddenly echoed inside Shinku’s head, momentarily making him lose his focus at the battle. He was however, able to quickly snap himself back into focus and proceeded to charge at his enemy with another barrage of strikes which the creature all swiftly dodged except for the last one which it again blocked with its spear. The creature then propelled itself forward, with the help of its strong wings, pushing Shinku along with its flight path. The assassin of shadows decided to quickly enter the shadow realm before his back could slam into a wooden wall.

5408 + 1044 = 6452/10,000

 

[Shinku]

The insect humanoid burst through the wooden wall of the old barn, revealing the sight of its gradually thinning army. Up in the sky, Shinku’s shadow steed fired a barrage of dark energy balls while evading some acid attacks that surprisingly reached it from the mouth of the ferocious giant plants. The shadow steed alternated from flying higher to take a rest from the acid spits of its verdant opponents, to getting back to a lower altitude, to be able to target its enemies more accurately.

The locust-like creature was about to propel itself into the sky to stop the rampaging horse but had to turn to deflect a racing sword strike, aimed at its head. The sword, after being deflected, retreated with the guidance of a chain into a shadowy corner of the barn. The humanoid then fired its rifle towards the sword’s retreat path but alas, the shot simply hit the wooden wall of the barn which was instantly obliterated, boring another hole at the other end of the makeshift hideout.

Shinku on the other hand, reappeared on another spot of the battlefield, right in the middle of the plantoid army. Using his chained sword technique, he was able to slash at least eight of the viny creatures then leaped to evade a couple of spikes that erupted from the ground. He then twisted to sever another monstrous plantoid before retreating back into the shadow realm. The assassin of shadows then emerged back, right in front of the locust humanoid who had to raise its spear to block a slashing attack from above. The creature fired a shot to retaliate but Shinku was quick enough to swerve his body out of the laser’s path. The assassin of shadows followed up with several strikes but his enemy was quick enough to avoid each blow then finally flapping its wings to leave the ground.

As if on cue, lightning suddenly flashed in the sky, providing a magnificent backdraft for the creature’s flight. Shortly after, the sound of thunder echoed as if accenting the locust humanoid’s brilliant ascent. Gradually, the crimson sky was being veiled by dark clouds that slithered above the battlefield. The meager light that barely illuminated the ground had been reduced much further.

Luckily, the previous lightning was quickly followed up by another, splitting the upper horizon of the night sky then quickly branching into several nodes providing momentary lighting at the darkened arena. Another roar of thunder reigned across the sky, accompanying the creature’s rifle shots that were directed at Shinku. The assassin of shadows had to dance with the creature’s shots before retaliating by throwing his chained sword at the enemy. The targeted enemy simply flew away out of the sword’s reach and closer to Shinku’s shadowsteed.

Realizing the enemy’s plan, Shinku quickly entered the shadow realm and emerged back right beside his shadow steed and then clashed his sword against the speeding creature’s spear. Shinku’s weight almost made the locust humanoid fall, had it chosen not to quickly disengage and fly away from Shinku’s free falling path. Midair, the assassin of shadows, had to enter the shadow realm yet again and decided to re-emerge right above his enemy then quickly threw a downward slash. Hastily, the creature moved out of the way before it could be cleaved in half by Shinku’s blade.

With the assassin of shadows falling to the ground yet again, the locust humanoid put its focus back at the shadowsteed. It was about to fire a shot at the otherworldly horse when it suddenly felt another attack from below. True enough, Shinku’s sword raced towards the creature yet it was agile enough to swing its spear to deflect the blade.

“I don’t think you should ever stray your eyes off your opponent.” Shinku taunted before disappearing into another of his shadow portals as the chained sword raced back to follow him. His breath started to show faint signs of fatigue yet his mind refused to concede. He went on, driven by his oath to banish the monster for Arcadia. Or could his battle frenzy be merely an influence of Orochi’s madness?

‘Well you sure have lots of tricks in you’ The distorted voice of the creature followed Shinku inside the shadow realm, again ringing inside his head. The creature's confidence was even more taxing yet a hint of struggle could still be seen at its actions.

“So do you!” Shinku this time, tried to appear just a hair’s breadth away from the creature but much to his surprise, his enemy was still too quick to distance itself away from him. More to his horror, the creature was quick to raise its rifle and fire a shot at him. Luckily, his reflexes were still at its peak and he was able to portal out before being hit by the laser shot.

‘Are you sure you want to play that game with me?’ The creature taunted back, as the assassin of shadows shifted between the shadow realm and Erde’s plane. He could not deny that it’s a daunting technique but that’s all he had at the moment against his flying enemy. Instead of confronting his enemy again this time, the assassin of shadows decided to emerge at the back of his shadow steed, able to make the horse’s body as his temporary standing platform.

‘Tired are we’ The creature teased yet again before firing another shot from its rifle. The shot was directed at the shadowsteed but having a strong sense of danger, the horse was able to gallop forward to evade the attack. The move made Shinku almost fall out if not for his dexterous ability to get his balance back.

“Sorry to disappoint you. But I haven’t even started yet.” Shinku retorted then quickly repositioned himself to properly ride his shadowsteed. The horse then flew higher before firing a ball of shadow energy at the enemy. The creature was able to fly off the shadow ball’s path but had to twist its body to evade another one. Gracefully, it flew away, weaving itself off of several other shadow balls that rained on it.

Lightning continued to decorate the sky, along with the roll of thunder that accented the climax of the battle. Finally, heaven poured all its support as heavy rain drenched the battlefield. The battle between the locust humanoid and Shinku however, continued as if the rain was merely a theatrical backdraft being shifted by a stagehand. Laser beams and shadow energies raced back and forth between the battlers, or perhaps the actors of the crimson night.

6452 + 1093 = 7548/10,000

 

[Shinku]

The battle between Shinku and the locust-like being ensued, merely lit by flashes of lightning and the shots of laser beams from the creature’s rifle. The battlers seemed unfazed at the dangers of the thunderous skies, both fighting at high altitude. The rain seemed nothing but mere props of battle though both Shinku and the creature had both been drenched by its curtain of water. With the monstrous plants below unable to do anything from the ground, the skirmish now focused on the aerial warriors. The intense battle continued with both the battlers seemingly elusive of the lightning strikes that continued to express the wrath of the heavens. Another flash of lightning then swept Shinku back into a shard of memory in his past

A young Shinku leapt in the air, his wooden sword violently crashing against his father’s staff. In an instant, his father was able to twist, guiding the boy’s sword into the ground along with the boy’s weight that came crashing down. Being suspended in the air, only supported by his father’s staff, he can’t help but let his body plummet down as his father gracefully retreated the staff back.

“Such a dangerous move son. You don’t just attack, you think of your every move.” His father lectured, calmly standing beside the fallen Shinku. Suddenly, the boy jerked up and quickly aimed to stab his father at the man’s guts. His father however, simply weaved its staff around the boy’s weapon then proceeded to disarm Shinku.

“That’s a smart move, but too predictable,” the man commented, his staff pointing at the boy’s head. “You attack with passion son, but too much of that can only lead you into danger. If you really want to master your sword, you must first master your emotion. Keeping a cool head is very important in a fight. Also, you don’t just focus on attacking, you must also learn how to defend yourself at the same time. Your strikes, no matter how strong or quick they are, will never be useful if your enemy can kill you first. And I know I’ve told you this, but it is also important to time your moves. Never rush nor delay what needs to be done. Observe your enemy’s movements and respond accordingly while plotting a move that can get you the upper hand. There are so many things to consider, that is why all throughout your battle, you must remain focused. Now pick up your sword and let’s do this again.” he continued his lecture ending with an order for the boy to rearm himself and fight.

Cutting back to the present, the battle between Shinku and the creature grew even more intense. The exchange between them seemed endless, with both of them being agile enough to evade each other’s shots. None of them seemed to show any signs of giving up though the smug expression on both their faces seemed to have been morphed to a more focused form.

After some time, Shinku finally decided to utilize his shadow spell to launch surprise attacks at the creature who seemed to be still keen enough to react.

‘You never learn don’t you? Your cheap tricks will never work on me kid no matter how hard you try.’ The creature taunted, speaking directly at Shinku’s head yet with a more stern tone this time rather than its usual cocky speech. Though true enough, the creature’s speed and responses never seemed to waver no matter how long the battle had gone. Shinku on the other hand, had to conserve his energy from time to time, allowing his shadow steed to cover for him with its shadow attacks.

Shinku chose to be silent this time, his mind seemingly more focused at the ensuing match. ‘Come on kid! Is that all you’ve got!’ The creature continued to taunt but seemed ineffective against the assassin of shadows. Though silent, his demeanor seemed to have grown more relaxed compared to his earlier tensed movements. The fear he had when he decided to confront the creature seemed to have vanished, evident at his sharp eyes that remained focused on his enemy.

Orochi seemed to have cooperated at his focused state this time. Not a single word from the shadow demon had emerged since its last aid of warning for its host. This greatly helped the assassin of shadows to perfectly observe each of his enemy’s movements through his shadow senses.

‘We can go forever like this, or you can just give up. After all, you’re obviously of no match against me.’ The creature on the other hand, seemed desperate enough to distract Shinku. His taunts made sense after all, but none seemed to have ticked Shinku even for a bit. Even the thunderous weather and the furious wind seemed to have faded in the background as the assassin of shadows focused on the locust-like being.

Shinku’s access to the shadow realm continued at varying intervals, aiming to surprise the creature every time. Perplexion was indeed evident at the creature but its senses seemed too strong to be caught off guard. He could catch up with the creature’s speed, yet not enough to create himself an opening. Nevertheless, he continued to observe as his random attacks continued to bug his enemy.

‘Come on now. You’re just tiring yourself. You know none of those won’t work!’ The creature boasted, though obviously distraught at Shinku’s underhanded strikes. Its resilience however, proved to be superb, considering the fact that it remained afloat while dealing with the assassin of shadow’s attacks that was supported by the shadow steed. Neither the raging tempest was able to faze the creature even a bit.

The weather grew even harsher, yet the passion of both the battlers seemed to burn stronger. It may have looked one sided at the start yet as the battle went on, both Shinku and the creature’s skills appeared to be close to a match. After a while however, the assassin of shadows suddenly disappeared without any trace. Even the shadow steed seemed to have been dismissed as it soared away from the battle scene then disappeared in a puff of purplish smoke when the creature tried to fly after it.

‘Giving up now kid?’ The creature taunted yet still of no avail. For quite a long time, none of Shinku’s presence could be felt no matter how much the creature tried to sense him. Finally, the creature chose to retreat back, sheltering himself at the old barn. For a while, the wind got through the destroyed walls but with the help of the creature’s army of plants, the holes were patched up with thorny vines. The creature however, remained vigilant as to where the assassin of shadows might strike next.

7548 + 1125 = 8673/10,000

 

[Shinku]

If not for the raging storm outside the barn, silence would have reigned over the battlefield with the absence of Shinku’s presence. As serene as it may have seemed, the lust for battle had not yet left the area as the locust-like creature mulishly tried to sense its missing foe’s aura. It held tight to both its spear and rifle, prepared to attack its foe anytime the assassin of shadows showed up. It had foiled Shinku’s previous attempt of stealth but this time, the sneaky shadow user seemed to have found a way to completely elude the parademon’s senses.

Finally, Shinku emerged from a cast shadow on the barn’s wall that faced the parademon’s back. The creature screeched and had to quickly turn then swing its spear, to deflect the assassin’s sword that raced towards it. It was able to simply divert the sword’s path, allowing it to race past the creature. In response however, the creature quickly fired a shot yet Shinku was quick enough to slink back into the shadows before the rifle shot could hit him. Simultaneously, a few spikes erupted from where the assassin of shadows was before escaping into his portal.

Pulled by the chain, the sword boomeranged back towards the narrow portal. The creature confidently sidestepped to avoid the sword’s retracted path but what it did not expect was a sudden snap of the blade that grazed its arm. The cut however was a shallow one but enough to make drips of green liquid to ooze out from the creature. Droplets of water from the chain and the sword splattered on the floor as the returning blade rushed into the shadowy portal.

‘So that’s it eh. You dare make a sneak attack against me and all you can manage is a measly cut. Come on, is that all you can do?’ The creature snarled, oblivious of the wound that the assassin of shadows finally managed to cause.

After a few moments, Shinku emerged above the creature, greeting his foe with a straight slash. The creature quickly defended with its spear then retaliated with another rifle shot. Fortunately, Shinku’s speed still allowed him to evade an almost point blank shot. The clang of blades however, did not stop with the assassin’s initial strike. Not giving the creature a second to rest, Shinku quickly followed up with another slash directed at his foe’s neck.

From there, countless exchanges of strikes ensued between the two, storming the old barn with their fierce duel. Metal against metal, brute upon brute, the sound of clashing blades continued to echo around the enclosed space.

‘The same old moves. Did you think you could really win with those cheap attacks? Or have you gone cocky because of this minor scratch you made?’ The creature continued to mock as the seemingly endless skirmish ensued. It didn’t take that long however, before the creature felt a sudden blurring of its eye. Threatened, it quickly flapped its wings and bolted away from Shinku.

“Tired, are we?” Shinku teased, willingly allowing his foe to escape. “But don’t worry, this won’t last long,” he continued, his face contorting into a mocking grin.

‘Shut up!’ the creature barked, letting loose a barrage of shots at Shinku. The assassin of shadows however, was again able to slink back to the shadows. Surprisingly however, he simply emerged back at another corner of the room where the creature fired another round of shots. Shinku was able to disappear yet again, then continued to waltz around the room as the creature fervently shot at him.

A few more moments had passed when the creature’s hazed status worsened. Its vision caused Shinku to appear in multiple forms. Gradually, its body started to feel numb, its muscles growing weary. It continued to fire at Shinku but obviously, the shots appeared random in contrast with its proven excellence in marksmanship. Nevertheless, it held on with a sliver of hope that it could still win the fight. Or perhaps of fealty to a sworn master that forced it to hold its ground.

The assassin of shadows simply watched from below as the creature struggled with an inner enemy that slowly destroyed its body. ‘You, you afflicted me with venom!’ The creature gasped, as it stubbornly fought against the effects of the poison. Miraculously, it was able to maintain its flight, in spite of the heavy feeling that started to drag its body.

A few minutes more, when it then felt a sudden heaviness on its breath almost causing it to falter in flight if not for its trained body. For one who had not seen it fight, it might appear that nothing is amiss but its now sporadic movement gave hint to the creature’s failing strength.

Suddenly, Shinku disappeared from the creature’s vision. Could it still be the effect of poison, or had the assassin gone out as before? Afflicted with haze however, the creature could only think of trying to keep itself together. It thought to fly even farther and barge through the weak ceiling yet it didn’t even have the strength to move an inch from where it was. The measly strength that’s left of it could only keep it afloat.

And then to its horror, the vision of a blade protruding from its chest caused the last of the creature’s strength to falter. Shinku finally succeeded with its attempt of assassination at the creature. The moment Shinku pulled his sword, the creature descended like a leaf falling to the ground. Gracefully, as if time slowed down for a while, Shinku’s enemy plunged until its body finally crashed into the wooden fall. Shards of the brittle wood flung into the air, broken by the creature’s unfortunate descent.

‘Tasty!’ Finally it was the shadow demon’s voice that again rang inside its head. He quickly portalled back to the ground even before his foe could land. He watched the descent of his fallen enemy, finally relieved at the end of the scuffle. For some reasons however an indescribable feeling of restlessness continued to well up from inside him. The death of his enemy was evident but the battle seemed to be far from over.

‘Haha! That was by far the best meal you got me since you started feeding me with blood.’ Orochi commented seemingly drunk in satisfaction. ‘But you can feel it, can't you? It’s still far from over, lad. Well, just continue to feed me and your strength will remain unmatched!”

8673 + 1078 = 9751/10,000

 

[Shinku]

Shinku stepped out of the barn, witnessing the remains of the monstrous plants scattered across the field. He was met by his shadowsteed that immediately descended, the moment he emerged from the parademon’s makeshift base. It whinnied softly, as if greeting its victorious master. Shinku’s hands brushed over the creature’s ghastly mane in response to its greeting.

The storm had already calmed down, yet the dark clouds remained in the sky slowly slithering out of the battlefield. The raging wind had settled as well, save for momentary gusts that played along the now peaceful field. Howls of beasts could be heard from a distance, seemingly announcing the battle’s conclusion. The bloody moon started to peek as the plumes of dark clouds gradually gave way to its crimson light.

‘So what do you think will happen next?’ Shinku beseeched, speaking with his demon through his mind as his eyes gazed upon the dark sky. He swung his sword that was still covered by the greenish blood that oozed from the parademon. He wanted to wipe it off but somehow he wanted to stare at it for a while as the trophy of his hard-fought victory.

‘We feast lad.’ Orochi responded with an anticipative cry of hunger. ‘Or do you still fear the coming battles? You still doubt your abilities. You still doubt our power.’ he hissed, as if challenging the boy’s resolve.

‘It’s not that. If it’s true that this battle is still far from over. Then there will be more victims.’ he mused, the memories of Elise’s story flooding in his mind. The gloom in his face emanated in spite of the victory that he just attained.

‘Ah of course, but it’s not your fault lad. You’re doing all that you can.’ Surprisingly, Orochi spoke with consolation yet his tone hinted more on mockery than of comfort.

A breath of despair left Shinku involuntarily as he bowed his head to the ground. ‘Well at least we're done here for now.’ he stated in solace however, he couldn’t help the feeling of sourness that gnawed at him inside like a sedating drug.

‘Such convincing words of solace, yet your anxiety is still too loud. And that will lead you nowhere. If you’re worried about the victims of the coming war, then strike before trouble could come.’ the shadow demon taunted, in a rousing lecture. ‘Your worries serve no purpose lad. You’ve now seen the path to grow stronger. You just need to walk along. Run if you must.’

‘Fine. I guess I’m just too tired. We might as well get back now. We still have that request from the pirates to take care of.’ Shinku simply brushed the shadow demon’s words off yet inside him, the words did strike him like a rekindling flame.

‘Yes yes. And we have their souls to take as well.’ Orochi hissed, his expression glimmering upon the mention of the pirates.

Shinku on the other hand, plucked a leaf from one of the monstrous plants and with it wiped his blade off of the parademon’s blood. He gave one more meticulous look at the sword before deciding to sheathe it back to its scabbard.

Wasting no more time, he climbed the shadowsteed who immediately took off towards the bloody skies. He glanced one last look at the desolate field, relieved that his battle at least ended in his victory. His hair fluttered as the wind brushed against him in his flight. The air grew even more crisp as the flight went on, yet a farfetched thought kept Shinku from even noticing.

The parademon’s body was left lifeless inside the battle-worn barn. The field screamed in desolation as its bathed soil served as the grave of an army of monstrous plants. The stale stench of rotten vines clung in the air, yet slowly swept by the winds that blew from time to time. Shinku on the other hand, sped away from the ravaged field. His weary eyes looked forward, as the view of Arcadia slowly appeared from a distance. His mind however, continued to wander at the events that might follow after the concluded battle.

Shards of light started to pierce the darkness that loomed over the horizon, announcing the arrival of daytime. Shinku witnessed as the crimson night gradually faded into Erde’s golden dawn. Somehow the faint glimmers of light, shone a sliver of hope in the young man’s anxious heart.

As he approached the city, he could still sense the feeling of dread that was evident among its citizens. He can’t blame any of them, for they remain clueless of the real enemy that lurked somewhere on the planet.

Shinku dismissed his shadowsteed before he could get near the city. He then disappeared into the shadows only to reappear on top of an arcadian building. A couple of Arcadian police continued to patrol the city as doors of the buildings opened one after another. For a moment, Shinku basked in the feeling of stone in his feet. The comforting air of the city seemingly embraced him as he bathed his eyes with the view of the city from above. The moment might be meaningless to most but for the young man who just endured a night of battle, the ambience of a home couldn’t be any less rewarding.

Satisfied with his momentary sense of pleasure, he started to move, stealthily weaving through the city. Then with the view of the inn he was staying, he slinked into the shadows then emerged back right inside his room.

‘Loneliness plus alienation plus fear plus despair plus self-worth divided by mockery divided by condemnation divided by misunderstanding multiplied by guilt multiplied by shame multiplied by failure multiplied by judgement. n equals y where y equals hope and n equals folly, love equals lies, life equals death, self equals dark side’ Meanwhile from somewhere in the city, a mysterious voice echoed, infesting the mind of an unsuspecting citizen. What meaning could such words hold? In spite of the rising light, darkness still loomed on unknown corners of the land.

9751 + 1010 = 10,761/10,000