"Charlotte Linlin—"
The wind howled fiercely.
Huge hawks circled down from the sky, landing near a lake at the center of Asuka Island. In front of the lake stood a monument with stone steps. At the top of the stairs was the entrance to a dark cave, above which rested a lifelike statue of a sacred woman.
Without hesitation, Wilhelm walked up the stairs, accompanied by Finley, who had transformed into a snow-white mastiff.
Inside the cave, it was dark, empty, and slightly eerie. A faint chill filled the air. At the center of the cave lay a single sarcophagus.
"Roar..."
Finley growled softly as he stepped forward. The mastiff bit down on the edge of the sarcophagus and, with great effort, pushed the lid aside.
What lay inside wasn't a corpse. Instead, it was an incredibly long and peculiar double-edged sword.
"The legendary cursed holy sword... the Seven Star Sword!"
Wilhelm's golden eyes glinted coldly as he gazed at the weapon. The sword glowed faintly green, as if trying to lure him closer. With a calm tone, Wilhelm said, "Interesting. Are you calling for me?"
An ancient legend spoke of this blade.
A long time ago, during an age lost to history, there was a rare blood moon night that only appeared once every hundred years. On that night, the three princes of Asuka Island met a beautiful witch for the first time. All three fell in love with her.
To win her heart, the princes took up the Seven Star Sword and fought for the throne. The war they started caused the earth and sea to mourn, as countless innocent lives were lost.
The sword absorbed their blood and hatred, becoming a cursed demon blade.
Over time, the Seven Star Sword brought more destruction, feeding on endless battles and sacrifices. It caused the downfall of the Asuka Island Kingdom, leaving the once-beautiful sea under the shadow of war and darkness.
To end the war and save everyone, a shrine maiden sacrificed her life to cleanse the blood and hatred absorbed by the Seven Star Sword.
The three princes, mourning the loss of the witch they loved, prayed to the gods of Asuka Island. In response, the gods gave them three sacred gems. These gems were used to seal the cursed power of the Seven Star Sword, turning it into a demon sword.
"Well~, the stories might be a little exaggerated," Wilhelm said with a sly grin. "But if this really is the legendary demon sword, it better not disappoint me..."
He stepped forward without hesitation, grabbed the Seven Star Sword, and held it firmly in his hand.
"Shhh—"
In an instant, a strange green light radiated from the blade, carrying an ominous and unsettling aura.
A flash of scarlet briefly appeared in Wilhelm's eyes.
"Boom!"
A massive blue slash burst forth from the sword, lighting up the dark cave.
The powerful attack tore through the air, splitting the mountain itself and blasting into the sky.
The once-quiet Asuka Island was thrown into chaos.
"What—what just happened?"
"Did you hear that sound?"
"It came from the forbidden area in the back mountain!"
All over the island, villagers woke up in shock.
A beautiful woman, gently cradling a baby girl who had just been fed, froze as her face turned pale. "No... it can't be..."
She quickly placed the baby down, her heart racing, and ran outside without a second thought.
A crowd of islanders gathered, staring wide-eyed toward the back mountain.
At the mountain's peak stood a tall figure, his silver-white hair glinting in the moonlight.
In his hand, he held a strange long sword glowing with an eerie green light.
The sight sent chills through the villagers.
"That's... the Seven Star Sword?!"
The beautiful woman, who had just arrived, looked up at the figure in horror, her expression frozen with dread.
At that moment, an elderly woman in her fifties, flustered and pale, shouted, "Oh no, Maggie! Someone has broken into the forbidden area and stolen the Seven Star Sword!"
"If the Seven Star Sword is unsealed, it will bring endless slaughter to the seas, and darkness will once again cover the world. Our purpose, passed down through generations, is to guard the sword and ensure its seal is never broken."
The young woman, Maggie, replied anxiously, "My lord, you must gather a group and retrieve the Seven Star Sword immediately! It must be sealed again!"
"What? The legend is true?"
"Saint Maggie, does the Seven Star Sword really exist?"
"No! That cursed demon sword must not be unleashed!"
The villagers around them gasped, their faces filled with fear and disbelief.
They had always thought the legend of the Seven Star Sword was nothing more than a story.
But now, the terrifying truth was clear—the Seven Star Sword was real.
Soon, Maggie, the witch who guarded the sword, led a group of young and armed tribesmen up the mountain.
"Put down the Seven Star Sword immediately! It will consume you!"
She stood at the mountain's peak, staring at the silver-haired figure holding the sword. The weapon radiated an ominous and unsettling energy.
Maggie's beautiful face was pale with worry as she shouted, "The Seven Star Sword is a cursed demon blade! It's filled with dark and sinister power. Anyone who seeks its strength will become nothing more than its puppet!"
On the mountain top, Wilhelm stood proudly, bathed in the moonlight. His silver-white figure radiated an air of authority and indifference.
He looked down at Maggie and the islanders of Asuka, his expression cold and mocking.
"A mere sword… and you think it can control me?" he scoffed.
"Do you even know who I am?"
His eyes narrowed sharply.
A terrifying aura erupted from his body, filled with his overwhelming Conqueror's Haki.
The force surged outward, wild and unrelenting, spreading across the area.
But instead of targeting the villagers, Wilhelm focused his Haki directly on the Seven Star Sword in his hand.
The cursed blade, which had been radiating malice and attempting to corrupt his mind, suddenly stopped its attempts to influence him.