The air was thick with an ominous stillness. The once serene mountains, where Yameri and Tsuki had been enjoying their newlywed life, now felt like the harbinger of a great storm. The scent of battle clung to the wind, and the sky above seemed darker than before, as if mourning the calamity that was about to unfold.
Yameri stood outside their lodging, gripping the hilt of the Sword of Hell, a foreboding sense of unease weighing heavily on his chest. Something was wrong. He could feel the pulse of dark energy shifting inside him, like an untamed beast clawing at the edges of its cage.
Inside, Tsuki watched him from the doorway, her golden eyes clouded with worry. She had sensed it too—the darkness that lurked within Yameri was stirring. Ever since he had started training with the Sword of Hell, the seal that had bound his powers seemed weaker. She had spent nights watching over him, seeing his brows furrow in pain while he slept, whispering words she couldn't understand.
"Yameri…" she called out softly, stepping toward him.
He turned to face her, his expression unreadable. But Tsuki knew him too well. Beneath his calm facade, there was a storm raging inside.
"I feel it," he murmured. "Something is coming."
Before Tsuki could respond, a sudden gust of wind sent a chill down their spines. The ground beneath them trembled slightly. Then, a shrill scream echoed through the village.
Yameri's eyes widened. That voice—Ikari.
Without hesitation, he sprinted toward the sound, Tsuki following close behind. They weaved through the village streets, past startled villagers and guards rushing toward the source of the commotion. As they reached the village's entrance, they saw her.
Ikari, bruised and breathing heavily, clutched her side. Her face was twisted in both pain and urgency. She had run all the way here, barely stopping to catch her breath.
"Yameri… Tsuki…" she gasped. "Amaterasu… she's in danger!"
Yameri's heart pounded. "What happened?"
"She went into the mystery dungeon alone," Ikari said, struggling to stand straight. "It's not just rumors. There's something in there—something ancient. She's been missing for two days!"
Tsuki's face paled. "Why didn't you tell us sooner?"
"I thought she could handle it," Ikari admitted, her voice shaking. "She's strong. She's the heiress of the Sun Clan. But… I felt something shift in the air. And then, I couldn't sense her anymore. It's like… she vanished."
Yameri's grip on his sword tightened. His instincts screamed at him—this wasn't just a missing person's case. Something far worse was waiting in that dungeon.
"Ikari," he said, locking eyes with her. "Take me there."
Ikari nodded, swallowing her fear.
Tsuki stepped forward. "I'm coming too."
Yameri hesitated. His gut told him this was going to be dangerous, but he knew better than to argue. Tsuki wasn't just his wife—she was a warrior, the Moon Clan's princess. And there was no way she would let him face this alone.
The three of them set out toward the dungeon, the wind howling through the mountains as if warning them of the abyss ahead.