"There's no other way left. Words have failed. Now we must let actions speak." – Yuichiro Fujimoto
The two acquaintances stood facing each other, surprised to meet again after so many years. One of the soldiers stepped beside Yuichiro. "Should we kill him or imprison him?" With a serious expression, the young leader waved him off. "Neither, Senjiro. I'll invite him for tea, and we'll have a pleasant afternoon, understood?" The guards immediately let go of the boy, and Yuichiro beckoned him over. Morvan sent a small portion of slime to Aiden, which formed the message: "In two hours, at this place." The boy gave a thumbs-up before turning around and heading off with his old friend to the temple where he lived.
Episode 9 - Dissonance (Part 2)
The temple was grand and beautiful, built in a traditional Japanese architectural style. Aiden was immediately amazed when he saw the majestic structure. Yuichiro opened the gate to the small garden of the palace and invited Aiden to enter. They both sat down at a small table with two chairs. "So, tell me, what has happened to you in these seven years?" The boy took a moment before briefly explaining all that had happened. He told everything—from Vincent's betrayal to the meeting with the Forbidden Army, to the battle against Azrael, and Valenor's declaration of war. Yuichiro was shocked. "Well, I had it far easier. When I came here, I was welcomed by monks who were expecting me. They were performing a ritual to summon a boy from another world to be their future ruler. After that, I trained my skills, learned swordsmanship, and became what I am today."
Yuichiro leaned back, his hands resting on the table, his eyes firmly fixed on Aiden. No smile, no expression, just pure seriousness. "It sounds like you've been through a tough time. But you're here. That means you survived. Now, what will you do?" His voice was calm, but without a trace of lightness.
Aiden, feeling slightly uncomfortable in his chair, smiled briefly and tried to lighten the mood. "Yeah, you know, I just try to stay out of trouble. But somehow, drama always finds me. You could say I'm a walking chaos magnet."
Yuichiro's expression didn't change at all. He only nodded. "Life is no place for chaos. It's a matter of discipline and control. Those who don't understand that will fail." He spoke as if delivering a deep philosophical insight, but Aiden felt more like he was staring at a brick wall.
"Right," Aiden said, his tone slightly uncertain. "But sometimes you need a little flexibility, right? I mean, having everything under control is good, but it can also be fun to just let go once in a while."
"Fun is irrelevant." Yuichiro placed his hands on the table and folded them. "Fun is an illusion pursued by those who cannot accept reality. We live to serve. We fight to survive. Every moment not dedicated to perfection is a moment of weakness."
Aiden raised an eyebrow. "You really don't have fun, do you?"
Yuichiro looked at him blankly, as if he didn't understand the question. "Why should one focus on fun? It's a fleeting emotion, a distraction. What matters is duty."
Aiden leaned back in his chair, arms loosely draped over the armrests, and sighed slightly. "Man, Yuichiro, I remember when you used to laugh. Well, maybe it was more of a smile. Half a smile? A quarter? Whatever, the point is, you used to laugh."
Yuichiro remained motionless. "Laughter weakens the mind. It leads to complacency and negligence. Both lead to failure."
"I laugh quite a bit, and I'm still alive," Aiden shrugged.
"You've just been lucky," Yuichiro's tone was razor-sharp. "But luck is not a path to long-term survival. Only discipline and hard work bring progress. Everything else is meaningless."
Aiden sighed again, this time deeper. He looked down at the tea table, then back at Yuichiro, who was still staring at him with unwavering seriousness. "Do you ever just... switch off?"
"No." Yuichiro said it as if it were the most obvious answer in the world. "Switching off means succumbing to weakness. Allowing weakness leads to a loss of focus. And that only leads to death and failure."
Aiden leaned forward, a crooked grin on his lips. "And you call me chaotic."
Yuichiro didn't return the grin. Instead, he suddenly stood up, reached for the sword leaning beside him, and placed it with exaggerated precision on the table before him. "The sword is the perfect expression of discipline. It knows no deviations, no uncertainties. Every cut is final, every strike precise. That's all that matters."
Aiden stared at the sword, then back at Yuichiro. "You talk to your sword?"
"I respect it. It is the key to a life without mistakes." Yuichiro's eyes narrowed. "If your life were like a sword, there would be no room for uncertainty or chaos."
Aiden stared at him for a moment, trying to break the atmosphere, but he knew it was pointless. "You've really changed, man."
Yuichiro nodded once, curtly. "Yes. And it was necessary."
A soldier came rushing into the small garden where Aiden and Yuichiro sat, clearly panicked, struggling to get his words out. "Yuichiro-sama! There's a Shadow Walker in the forest! On our side of the mountain!"
Aiden flinched slightly, surprised by the urgency in the soldier's voice. He didn't know that the Demon Slayers and Shadow Walkers held such a bitter feud. Although both groups were powerful warriors, their differences were deeply rooted in history. Encounters between them rarely ended peacefully.
Yuichiro, in contrast to the panicked soldier, stood up with an emotionless face. "Lead us there," he said with cold calm, gripping his sword as if this were a daily occurrence.
Aiden also rose, the feeling of unease growing within him. "A Shadow Walker? On your side? That's rare, right?"
Yuichiro didn't answer directly. "Their presence here bodes ill," he said finally as they followed the soldier toward the forest's edge.
The sun was already beginning to set behind the mountains, casting the forest in golden, almost ghostly light. They moved quickly through the trees, leaves crunching underfoot. The deeper they went into the forest, the eerier the atmosphere became. The ground was dry, and the smell of earth and old leaves hung heavily in the air.
"Why would one of them come here?" Aiden murmured as they trudged through the dense undergrowth. "I thought they avoided the Demon Slayers."
"They do," Yuichiro responded curtly. "But if one is here, there's a reason. We need to find out what it is."
After a while, they began to sneak through the forest. The path became narrower and rockier. Suddenly, mist seemed to rise from nowhere, blanketing the ground like a thick veil. It swallowed the sounds around them and made the trees look eerie. Visibility was severely limited, but the group cautiously pressed on.
Then, between the swirling mist, they spotted a dark figure standing motionless among the trees, half-hidden in the fog. The person's posture was upright and alert. They wore dark clothing that nearly made them invisible, and Aiden could barely make out the outline of a long sword strapped to their back. There was no doubt: a Shadow Walker.
Yuichiro stopped, gripping his sword tighter. "There he is," he said quietly, his gaze sharp on the figure. Aiden felt the tension in the air increase. The mist seemed to thicken, and the only sound was the gentle rustling of leaves in the wind.
The figure didn't move, but Aiden knew they were aware they were being watched.
Aiden and Yuichiro moved cautiously through the dense mist of the forest. The mysterious Shadow Walker they had seen from afar had almost disappeared now. Only a shadowy flicker between the trees hinted at where the figure might be.
Yuichiro kept his eyes firmly on the mist, his hand on the sword, which he held with steady, controlled grip. His voice was flat but quiet enough that only Aiden could hear. "This Shadow Walker won't escape. Stay focused."
Aiden nodded, though he felt nervous inside. He knew the history between Demon Slayers and Shadow Walkers—enemies for generations, both masters of their craft. But why was this warrior here? Their behavior had been strange, not threatening, but their skills could be deadly.
They took a few more steps when suddenly there was an almost silent rustle through the trees. A flicker in the corner of his eye made Aiden spin around, but he saw nothing but the misty forest.
"He's moving," Yuichiro murmured, focusing on the shadowy figure. "Stay close to me."
Suddenly, the figure leaped out of the mist right in front of them, as if appearing out of thin air—fast and silent, a tall, slender silhouette. The Shadow Walker had hair falling just above his nose. One side was pitch black, the other bright white. An oversized black shirt hung loosely from his shoulders, with long, striped sleeves poking out from underneath. His nails were painted jet-black, and he wore baggy jeans that lightly fluttered in the wind.
Before Aiden or Yuichiro could react, the Shadow Walker dashed forward in a blink—[Quiet Step]. He was immediately behind them, as if teleporting through the air.
Yuichiro wasn't surprised, however. With a quick flick, he activated [Spirit Blade]. His sword glowed with an eerie blue light, enveloped in pure, ghostly energy. "We'll finish this quickly," he said coldly, launching a powerful strike at the Shadow Walker.
But the Shadow Walker seemed to enjoy the fight. He dodged the blow effortlessly, as if he were part of the mist. A broad, playful grin spread across his face as he dissolved into the mist and reappeared, this time right in front of Aiden. With a quick swipe, he used [Silent Strike], and Aiden suddenly felt his voice disappear.
"What..." Aiden thought as he stared at the Shadow Walker in confusion. No words came from his lips. But the enemy only grinned wider, clearly enjoying the game.
Yuichiro, fully focused on the battle now, used [Binding Chains]. From his ghostly sword, chains shot toward the Shadow Walker, moving to bind him in place. "You won't escape."
The Shadow Walker jumped to the side, darting through the mist like a leaf carried by the wind. His soft laughter, playful and reckless, echoed through the silence of the forest as he swung from tree to tree.
Then he activated his next skill: [Sphere of Silence]. The world around them went mute in an instant. No sounds, no footsteps, not even the sound of the wind could be heard. In this soundless dome, their movements seemed even more surreal, like a slow-motion dream.
Yuichiro wasn't fazed, however. With furious, precise strikes, he attacked the Shadow Walker again, whose movements seemed like a dance through the soundless sphere. The mysterious warrior grinned smugly as he spun, ducked, and slipped back into the shadows of the mist.
Aiden, still mute, activated his new skill: [Lifetime Legend – Restrictionless]. Bones shot up from the ground around him, racing toward the Shadow Walker, who now stood before a forest of skeletal tentacles. The bones almost enclosed him, but before they reached him, he disappeared into the mist once more, with a silent laugh.
"Impressive," the Shadow Walker would have said, but within the sphere of silence, not even his voice could be heard. Instead, only his playful smile and twinkling eyes were visible.
Aiden focused, his movements sharper and more precise now, but the more he focused on the Shadow Walker, the more familiar the figure's behavior became. The way he moved, the way he smiled—it was as if he had met this person before.
With a sudden, unexpected thought, Aiden stopped in his tracks. "Ash?" he wanted to shout, but the sphere of silence wouldn't allow any sound through.
The Shadow Walker paused. A look of surprise crossed his face before he lifted the silence. The sound of wind and rustling leaves returned, and the sudden rush of noise seemed almost loud compared to the previous quiet.
The Shadow Walker—no, Ash—grinned widely and pointed at Aiden. "Well, who would've thought you'd recognize me, Aiden!" He waved playfully, as if the entire fight had never happened. "Maybe I should've given you a hint sooner, huh?"
Yuichiro still held his sword ready, but now looked at Aiden in confusion. "You know him?"
Aiden, finally able to speak again, nodded slowly. "Of course! This is Ash, don't you remember?"
A sudden realization struck the young Demon Slayer. "That's Ash? And you say I've changed..." Ash and Yuichiro had never gotten along well. Even back then, they often clashed because Ash was playful and carefree, while Yuichiro was serious and duty-bound.
Ash, behaving as playfully and carefree as ever, glanced over at Yuichiro as they left the forest. "So, Yuichiro... you really haven't changed a bit. Still the guy who doesn't get fun, huh?"
Yuichiro shot him a stern look, the sword still firm in his hand. "This isn't a game, Ash. Why are you really here? What do the Shadow Walkers want?"
Ash leaned casually against a tree and toyed with a strand of his two-tone hair. "Well, not much. I just thought I'd drop by, maybe do some training, mess with some heads... you know me." His face grew more serious, though, as he added, "But to be honest, yeah, there's something bigger going on."
Aiden, now intrigued, stepped closer. "What do you mean? What happened between the Demon Slayers and the Shadow Walkers? You guys used to be at peace."
Ash dropped his head, letting out a heavy sigh. "Yeah, we were. But you know how it goes—two powerful groups side by side, and eventually, it blows up. It all started with a dispute. A pretty dumb one, honestly, between the leaders. Your guy, Ryunosuke Takeda, and our leader, Xu Wei, argued over the borders. Tensions rose, and suddenly, we were in the middle of a war."
Yuichiro crossed his arms. "Takeda-sama is not a man who acts recklessly. What really caused it?"
Ash shrugged and sighed. "Mistrust, pride, power. It wasn't just about territories. Both sides started spying on each other. Rumors twisted into truths, and soon there was no turning back. Xu Wei is just as convinced of his decision as your leader. There's no room for peace anymore."
Aiden shook his head, incredulous. "That's insane. You're fighting... but for what?"
"For nothing," Ash said dryly. "It's just pride. And a stupid, old grudge that's reignited."
Yuichiro rested his hand on his sword, looking at Ash intently. "So why are you here?"
Ash grinned again. "Honestly? I don't want anything to do with this whole war. I just want to have fun—and maybe bring back peace. I thought I'd join you guys and help out a bit. You know, classic Ash style."
Yuichiro studied him with suspicion. "Why should I trust you?"
Aiden stepped in. "Because he can help us. Ash knows the Shadow Walkers and can give us the information we need. And he has no reason to betray us now."
Yuichiro hesitated, but eventually nodded. "Fine. You can come along. But you follow my orders, and there are no games."
"Understood!" Ash gave an exaggerated salute, a playful smile on his lips. "Promise."
A few hours later, they stood in the majestic hall of the temple where Ryunosuke Takeda, the leader of the Demon Slayers, resided. The hall was tall and artistically decorated, with massive pillars framing the room. Ryunosuke sat on a raised platform, his eyes sharp and watchful as he regarded the group with cold detachment. As they told him their idea to stop the war, the man closed his eyes briefly.
"Yuichiro, Aiden..." he began calmly, but his voice was firm. "You want an alliance with the Shadow Walkers?"
Yuichiro stepped forward and bowed respectfully. "Takeda-sama, this war only brings death. We must unite to fight the real threat."
Ryunosuke shook his head. "That will not happen. The Shadow Walkers betrayed us. They are traitors. There is no reason for an alliance." His gaze shifted to Ash, who was casually leaning against a pillar, watching the scene with an amused grin.
"And who is this? A Shadow Walker in my temple?"
Ash waved nonchalantly. "Just me, Ash. Don't worry, I'm harmless. Mostly."
Ryunosuke narrowed his eyes. "A fool. Your game will not work here, Shadow Walker."
Yuichiro stepped forward again. "Takeda-sama, please. Xu Wei and you may be at odds, but this war is pointless. We are fighting ourselves while greater dangers loom."
But Ryunosuke remained resolute. "There will be no alliance. The Shadow Walkers are our enemies."
With this harsh answer, the group left the temple. Outside, Aiden took a deep breath and looked at Ash, who was whistling lazily again.
"So, what now?" Aiden asked.
Yuichiro thought for a moment. "We will take a closer look at the battles at the summit. Maybe we'll find something there to help convince Takeda-sama."
Ash grinned widely. "Finally, some action!"
Together, they made their way to the mountain's summit, where the fierce battles between the Demon Slayers and Shadow Walkers raged on, as the mist grew thicker and the atmosphere more ominous.
Ash chuckled lightly as he left behind the stone-faced gaze of Ryunosuke Takeda. "Man, that went well. Think I'll get a tea invitation soon?"
Aiden snorted and shook his head. "You really have a way of getting people riled up, you know that?" He grinned, but he couldn't deny that Ash's behavior had lightened the situation a bit. The Shadow Walker simply wasn't the type for serious conversations, no matter how tense the situation.
"I just make a good impression everywhere I go," Ash replied, stretching like a cat before casually leaning against a tree. "Takeda-sama just doesn't have a sense of humor. But hey, that was to be expected. You should've seen how Xu Wei reacted to my last joke. Not a good idea to make a man laugh when he's holding a sword." He grinned widely and winked at Aiden.
Yuichiro, who had been marching silently ahead, stopped and slowly turned to Ash. "You know this isn't a game, Ash. This war is costing lives, and every mistake could be fatal."
Ash raised his hands in a mock gesture of innocence. "Hey, I'm not the one who started the war. That was your leaders. I'm just trying to lighten the mood before we all end up in the mud."
Aiden shook his head again and smiled, this time a bit wider. "Ash, you've really got a twisted sense of humor."
"Life's twisted enough, so why not have fun with it?" Ash suddenly jumped onto a rock and balanced effortlessly on one edge, as if it were the easiest thing in the world. "What we need is a little perspective. You're all so serious. Just because the world is ending doesn't mean we can't laugh, right?"
"It'd be easier not to end if you'd focus on something for once," Yuichiro retorted dryly, his face as stony as ever. "If you really want to help us, then stay focused."
"Focus, huh?" Ash spun around grinning on the rock. "You know, Yuichiro, I've heard that's supposed to be useful in fighting. Next time, I'll try it." Then he elegantly jumped down and landed right in front of Yuichiro. "Don't worry, I've got it all under control. Just trust me."
Yuichiro stared at him for a moment, then turned around and continued walking. "Just come along."
On the way to the summit, Aiden nudged Ash in the side. "So, what really happened between the leaders? You didn't tell the whole story earlier, did you?"
Ash sighed theatrically and slapped a hand to his forehead. "Oh, Aiden, you always see through me. Alright, here's the truth: the leaders fell out over..." He paused dramatically and leaned toward Aiden. "…a tea party."
Aiden stopped and blinked at him. "A tea party? You're kidding."
"I mean, metaphorically." Ash shrugged. "Takeda wanted a diplomatic gathering. Xu Wei saw it as provocation. Words were thrown around, someone mentioned the word 'honor' too many times, and boom – a war breaks out. Classic story."
Aiden frowned, but a smile crept onto his face. "That sounds so absurd it could almost be true."
"Welcome to my world," Ash replied, grinning broadly. "It doesn't take much to get two stubborn men into a war."
Yuichiro, who was walking ahead, finally interrupted them. "Enough talking. We're almost there."
As they reached the summit, the mist thickened, and they could hear the outlines of warriors fighting in the background. The screams and clash of swords echoed through the thick fog as the wind swept restlessly over the peak.
Ash tilted his head and squinted into the mist. "Sounds like a real mess up there."
Aiden drew his sword and sighed. "Well then, let's go take a closer look at this mess."
"Now we're talking," Ash replied, giving Aiden a playful slap on the back. "Maybe I'll find my next tea opponent up there too."
Liang Wei and Morvan reached the summit shortly after Aiden, Yuichiro, and Ash had made their way through the dense mist. Morvan, carrying his usual calm demeanor, nudged Liang Wei slightly. "So, looks like there's quite a bit going on here, huh?"
Liang Wei nodded seriously. "More than just 'a bit.' This is pure madness." His gaze swept over the scene, where Demon Slayers and Shadow Walkers were locked in fierce battles. All around them, the sounds of war echoed – the clash of swords, the screams of injured soldiers, the thunderous stomps of fighters colliding.
Morvan sat down on a rock and watched the chaos. "It's always the same. Two sides fight, and in the end, everyone loses."
"And those who have nothing to do with it suffer the most." Liang Wei clenched his fists as he saw a young girl crying over a dead body—probably her father. Her face was dirty, and the tears seemed to have no place amid the despair. The sight cut into his heart.
Yuichiro, standing silently beside them, took a deep breath as he watched the battle. "This has to stop," he said in a voice as cold and sharp as his sword. "We can't stand by and watch people die over a pointless conflict."
Ash, who had also been watching the scene, momentarily dropped his playful demeanor. His smile faded, and his eyes looked more serious than usual. "This isn't what I wanted," he said quietly. "I like fun, but this... this is just sad." He gazed at the wounded and dying people, lying hopelessly in the mud and blood.
Liang Wei snorted and stepped forward. "The leaders sit in their palaces while their soldiers die here. They should see this. Maybe that would open their eyes."
"But they're too blind with pride," Morvan said bitterly. "They only see their own interests."
Yuichiro suddenly turned to them, his gaze firm and determined. "We've talked enough. If they can't be convinced with reason, we'll have to force them to act."
"Oh?" Ash raised an eyebrow, and the familiar grin returned to his face. "So you want to force Xu Wei and Ryunosuke Takeda to listen with violence? Sounds like a plan, could be fun."
Aiden shot Ash a sideways glance. "That's not the kind of fun we need."
"But this time, it's necessary," Yuichiro added. "These people are suffering, and it's their fault." He gestured to the chaos before them. "We'll end this. Either they help us, or they'll regret it."
"But we can't all go together," Liang Wei said, shaking his head. "Someone has to stay here and hold the line."
"Right," Morvan agreed. "There will be more fighting, and we need to defend the people here. We can't leave them."
Yuichiro nodded briskly. "You three stay here and secure the camp. I'll go to Ryunosuke while Ash goes back to Xu Wei. We'll talk first, but if that doesn't work..."
"Then we'll force them," Ash finished the sentence, stretching theatrically as he spoke. "You know I'm not a fan of violence, but this time... I'll make an exception."
Aiden glanced between Yuichiro and Ash. "Are you sure this is the right way?"
Yuichiro looked at him seriously. "There is no other way. We've tried everything. Words have failed, and now actions must follow."
Liang Wei nodded. "Do what you have to do. We'll hold the line here." He glanced at the people who had gathered around them, seeking help. "We can't abandon them to their fate."
Morvan stood up, stretched his arms, and let a small amount of slime swirl around his hands. "Don't worry, we've got this. But hurry. The longer this war lasts, the more innocent people will die."
Ash patted Aiden lightly on the shoulder. "Chin up, buddy. We'll get through this. And hey, maybe there will still be a bit of fun at the end."
Aiden sighed, but couldn't help a slight smile. "I hope you're right."
Yuichiro set off for Ryunosuke Takeda's palace, while Ash headed in the opposite direction toward the Shadow Walkers' hideout. Both sides were determined to convince the leaders with force that this war had to end.
As he approached the palace of Ryunosuke, Yuichiro could feel the growing tension in the air. With a determined expression, he held his sword firmly in his hand, ready to use it if necessary.
And so, he marched to the palace gates, fully intent on confronting Ryunosuke Takeda—and convincing him with force if needed.
What a surprise, seeing two of his friends at once! Only Vincent and the remaining two friends left. Will Yuichiro and Ash succeed in convincing their leaders to stop the war, or will the eternal feud continue? Find out in Episode 10 – Resonance (Part 1)!
If you enjoyed the story, follow me on Instagram for updates, exclusive content, and behind-the-scenes insights. Your support means the world to me and helps me continue writing creative stories.
Instagram: @writerphleg
Stay tuned for the next chapter, and don't forget to share your thoughts and feedback in the comments. Until next time!