Emily and Asami brought up the rear, the only two villagers remaining to enter the Edge of the Sword Domain, aside from the village Chiefs who stood preventing the sword hail from enveloping everything. They exchanged a resolute glance, their determination to protect their village and people evident in their eyes. With a deep breath, they stepped forward, ready to face whatever lay ahead:
"It was nice knowing you, but Mark is mine," Emily said, her voice firm and possessive.
"He's already my fiancé, I think you already lost," Asami added, casting a sideways glance at Emily. With that, they walked through the Edge of the Sword Domain, the village Chiefs following close behind. After everyone went through hail of swords continued, swirling and humming.
[ Four months later ]
Mark, wearing all black, jumped into a tree, his long black hair flowing like a dark waterfall amidst the branches.
'How long has it been?" he thought, his mind wandering to the isolation that had become his life.
'Alone here, it's crazy.' He jumped to another tree, his movements swift and silent:
'Everyone left, leaving me alone here. I don't dislike it here, but I do feel lonely.'
As he landed on a sturdy branch, Mark's thoughts drifted into his memories.
"I remember it like it was yesterday," he said to himself, his mind racing reeled back to the day he was left
"And what might that be?" Mark wondered, hoping to find a clue to break the sword bonding curse.
Sasha's response was like a whispered secret, her voice barely audible:
"Becoming one." She leaned in closer, her words sending a shiver down Mark's spine.
"Wait, what?!" Mark exclaimed, his face flushing with surprise and curiosity:
"I can't say no, but can't we take it slow?" Mark asked.
Sasha got up, her movements languid, and said with a lazy tone:
"You're boring, Mark. You best hurry up. If the villagers leave, you'll be stuck here forever, unless you reach Level Three Knight, bye." She added with a dismissive wave,
"Oh yeah, don't forget, in a month or two, some monsters will spawn. I wouldn't want to stay here when that happens." With that, she disappeared into thin air, leaving Mark stunned and confused.
"What?!" Mark shouted to no one, his voice echoing through the room. He was left alone once again, with only his thoughts and the looming threat of monsters to keep him company.
"Damn!" Mark exclaimed, dashing out of the room and looking around frantically. He recognized the place, it was the level four village. He rushed north and reached the sword rain. He dashed forward, but the hail of swords was closing in fast. He tried to jump in, but the blades' force pushed him back, sending him stumbling. The deadly hail's shockwaves reverberated through the air, making it hard for Mark to regain his footing.
"No!" Mark screamed, his voice echoing through the air as he slammed his fist against the ground in frustration. But then, a sudden sense of liberation washed over him, like a refreshing breeze on a sweltering summer day. It wasn't the freedom to escape, but the freedom to train, to hone his skills, and to become stronger. With a menacing grin spreading across his face, Mark walked back into the Level Four village, his eyes blazing with determination.
"If I can't get out now," he growled to himself:
"I'll train till I get out. I'll become so powerful that no sword hail or obstacle can hold me back." His grin grew wider, revealing a hint of fierce resolve.
"I'll make my own freedom, no matter what it takes."
Mark's long, dark hair blew across his face, obscuring his vision. He swept it back with a swift motion, revealing his piercing eyes. With a graceful leap, he jumped to another tree, his movements fluid and agile, as if avoiding an invisible threat.
'That's what I thought would happen anyway,' he thought to himself:
'but now I want to leave again. What changed my mind? Well, the monsters, of course.'
As he landed on another sturdy branch, Mark's thoughts drifted into another flashback, his mind a whirlwind of memories and emotions. His eyes took on a faraway look, his gaze lost in the haze of his past. The rustling leaves and creaking branches of the trees seemed to fade into the background as he became immersed in his thoughts, reliving moments that had shaped him into the person he was today:
Mark wielded his scythe with deadly precision, slashing through the snarling monsters with swift, powerful strokes. The blade sliced through the air, leaving behind a trail of glittering silver light as it bit deep into the flesh of the beasts:
"You're going to die here!" Mark shouted, his voice ringing out across the battle-scarred landscape.
"You shouldn't have come while I was here!"
Five one eyed lion like monsters, their fur matted and twisted, their eyes blazing with feral fury, surrounded Mark. They snarled and snapped, their jaws wide open, revealing razor sharp teeth. But Mark was a force to be reckoned with, his scythe dancing in the sunlight as he fought off the beasts with a grace and ferocity that was both beautiful and terrifying to behold.
Mark battled the monsters relentlessly, day and night, with no escape in sight. His only option was to fight on, or face certain death. He had faced a myriad of terrifying creatures, each one more fearsome than the last. But on this particular day, he encountered a behemoth of a monster, a giant ogre like creature with thick, scaly skin and a roar that shook the earth.
"Am going to kill you!" Mark shouted, his voice echoing through the desolate landscape. He channeled all his energy into his scythe, imbuing it with a fierce determination. With a mighty swing, he slashed at the ogre, his blade biting deep into its flesh. But to his horror, the monster began to regenerate, its wounds closing up before his very eyes.
The ogre retaliated with a powerful blow, sending Mark flying across the ground. He struggled to his feet, his scythe trembling with fatigue. The ogre attacked again, its massive fist swinging down like a hammer. Mark raised his scythe to defend himself, but the force of the blow was too great. His scythe shattered, the blade shattering into a thousand pieces. Mark excitedly smiled.