"Tsk, didn't even feel that, you stupid monster?! Just another scar to add to your collection?!" Lawkey clicked his tongue as he realized what was going on.
The wolf had intentionally been waiting for him to attack it.
It wasn't impatient, in fact, it was testing him.
Showing him the difference in their powers and mocking him for even considering an outcome where he would be able to win against it.
"Give me a break. Everything is so complicated lately." Lawkey frowned, feeling the muscles of his stomach tighten and his body temperature rising.
Fatigue was once again quickly beginning to catch up with his body.
Nevertheless, he tightened his grip on Eclipsed Dawn.
"I just want one thing and everything keeps getting in my way." He said with a hoarse voice as he raised his blade toward the beast once more.
"..." Munisai watched in silence, waiting to see what the boy was planning to do next.
"How damn difficult is it to get some pancakes with a side of peace and quiet?!" Lawkey shouted in frustration.
"Huh?!"
Munisai and Jun couldn't help but let out a weird noise in unison. They were completely taken aback by the boy's proclamation. Who wouldn't be?
Even the giant wolf had a look that practically said; what's this idiot talking about?
"Just get lost already!" Lawkey bellowed as he rushed head first toward the wolf again, his sword held to the side now.
Dammit, I can't just stand here and watch a kid protect us… Munisai thought to himself as he narrowed his brows in frustration.
Is this really what I've been reduced to? A man who watches a kid fight in my stead? He gritted and grinded his teeth together.
He felt his daughter's shivering through the sleeve she was still holding onto. He looked down and noticed the black ring hanging from his sword's handle.
Seeing it forced memories of his late wife to suddenly flood his mind.
How they met, how she helped him after he lost his leg, how she saved him and made him want to live on, their marriage, the birth of their beautiful daughter, their joyful and peaceful life together…
And then, the memories changed to that day of the monster attack, of the moment he left her to fight alone, only to return and…
Clench!
He took the ring in his palm, and gripped it tightly with closed eyes.
I have to do something.
I have to settle this blood debt right here and now!
Crash!
The sudden sound and the rising of dust from beside him quickly brought Munisai back to reality.
He looked back toward the destroyed gate, searching for the kid that was fighting alone.
Instead, what came into view was the friction smoke coming out of the wolf's rock-covered tail as it repeatedly brought it up and down, almost as if wiggling it.
Dammit… Did the kid fall prey to that? Was I too late again?! Munisai reprimanded himself in his mind.
But not a second later, he heard it…
Ptuh!
As the dust started to clear from the earlier crash, a sound of someone spitting came from next to Munisai where the bell structure stood.
Lawkey planted his sword in the ground and leaned on it as blood dripped down his face.
"Damn… My body can't take much more…" He let out as he wiped the blood from his mouth and chin using the bandages on the back of his arm.
"..."
Munisai and Jun stood in place looking at him with both of their mouths slightly agape. The kid was just too strange. They didn't even know how to respond to him.
"What are you two still doing here?! Get the hell away from this place!" Lawkey shouted in their direction as he finally noticed them watching him from his peripheral view.
Step!
Munisai moved his crutch and took a step forward, he had already resolved himself to this fight.
It was his only remaining chance, there were no guarantees another time would come where he would have the opportunity to fight this monster.
To slay it and finish the job his wife had started.
To make sure the cause she died for wasn't in vain.
To avenge her.
However, there was one more worry lingering in Munisai's mind.
I can't let Jun watch this…
"Jun!"
Her father's resolute call stopped all the shivers in her body. This was how he called her name when training her in the dojo.
Her body reflexively stood straight, her expression immediately strengthening. She wasn't the top apprentice in the Shadow Sword Style School just for show.
"Yes!" She responded with determination, ready for whatever her father would ask of her.
"Run and get the guards! I'll stay here and help the kid!"
"!"
Her eyes widened in surprise after hearing those words. Even though she had prepared herself, she was not expecting him to ask her to run.
"No! If you're going to fight, I'll fight too!" She shouted as she made a fist in front of her chest.
",,,"
Munisai turned around and crouched down to meet his daughter at the same eye level. Both of their blue eyes stared at each other with determination.
"This is no time to act spoiled! I need you to get us help, understand?! The faster you do it, the better for everyone!" The Sword Saint said in a low tone, but his firm words carried much weight behind them.
"..."
Jun couldn't help but stay silent, trying to think of some way she could convince him. She too didn't want a repeat of last time.
She looked to the side, watching the strange boy lean on his sword and pant uncontrollably.
If I stay, could I really do anything to help? If I could find someone strong, like the Commander, then maybe…
She bit her lip, realizing her own weakness.
"I understand!" Even through her frustration, she still managed to give her father a proper and firm answer.
"Good, now run along! Try to get Hachi if you can, the guards should've heard the bells ring too. Lead them all this way!" Munisai smiled proudly and instructed his daughter.
Without a moment of delay, Jun turned around and ran towards the inside of the village. Her figure quickly disappeared into the distance.
Lawkey watched her go as Munisai stepped closer towards him.
"You want to fight, old man?" Lawkey questioned, finally realizing Munisai had been missing a leg.
"I can't let a shady kid fight for me, now can I?" Munisai smiled as he drew out his katana.
It was with this sword that he earned the title of Sword Saint, the famous blade known as Masamune.
He held the weapon he hadn't used properly in years, watching the gray pattern crawling on the surface of the purple blade. Behind his grip, there was a plain black strand with the ring from earlier hanging on the end of it, and around it hung two braided pink tassels for decoration.
For better or for worse, it had been too long since he felt the excitement of a real fight.
Lawkey, as if challenging him, held out his own sword in front of himself, making sure the wavy blue pattern on his own blade was visible.
"Hmph! Just don't get in my way! This is my responsibility!"
Responsibility? What a strange kid. At the very least, he's got guts.
Munisai thought inwardly as the corner of his mouth rose up.
"Do you even know what you're fighting, kid? That's Kerberos, formerly a three headed beast residing in the Shadow Valley and recognized as a four golden stars grade threat. Do you understand what that means?" Munisai explained, trying to make sure the kid knows what he's been up against.
"Huh?! Stars? I'm pretty sure I'm the one who got hit on the head, old man. Did you fall onto yours back there or something?" Lawkey cocked his head to the side, frowning at the man spouting nonsense.
It was safe to say he didn't have a single clue of what Munisai was talking about.
"This won't be easy, kid." Munisai sighed.
"Good, easy is for the weak anyway." Lawkey shot back.
"Grrr!"
They both looked at the monster, still growling in place, waiting for them to approach.
"Tsk!" Lawkey clicked his tongue at it and took a step forward.
"Stop it right there, kid." Munisai stopped him, blocking his path with Masamune.
"There must be a reason it's not attacking. It's being very careful." The Sword Saint continued, all the while trying to think of a reason why the giant beast wasn't attacking them, even though they had been standing around for a while now.
"Well, the stupid thing was sent flying into the valley and ran all the way back here pretty quickly, maybe it's tired or something?" Lawkey recalled the earlier awe-inspiring shadow vortex that traced over him and across the Shadow Valley.
"Maybe. You managed to hurt it a bit, but that's not enough. We have to work together!" Munisai proclaimed, ignoring Lawkey's unusual statement for now.
"You have a plan, old man?"
"Yes. I bait, you attack."
"Don't treat me like a dumb animal!"
"Heh, don't demand respect if you can't show it yourself!"
Munisai bantered as he planted his right foot in the ground and tightened his grip on his crutch with his left hand.
He bent his knees slightly, crouching a bit as he held his sword to his left side.
Then, without another second wasted, energy started accumulating around his blade.
Lawkey recognized the sensation immediately.
It was simply the familiar energy that the old man was calling upon.
It was…
Shadows?!