Chapter 5 - Threads of Destiny

Rudra stood amidst the blood-soaked town, his crimson Sharingan glowing faintly as he turned toward the distant church spire, barely visible through the smoke and ash. Just as he prepared to move, a strange sensation in his left hand gave him pause.

He glanced down to see the faint glow of his Devil Trigger pulsing steadily. Before he could process it, a rustling behind him snapped his focus. Turning sharply, his eyes locked on the enemy leader's body.

The corpse twitched unnaturally, black veins spreading like cracks through its remains. A shadowy mass oozed from it, rising and twisting into a monstrous form. Its glowing eyes burned with malice, claws extending as it let out a guttural growl.

At the same time, Rudra's hand began to tremble uncontrollably. The glow from his Devil Trigger reached its peak, and with a blinding flash, the light dimmed to reveal a weapon in his grasp. A katana, sleek and deadly, materialized within his hand. He recognized it immediately: Yamato.

As his fingers curled around the hilt, a flood of memories surged into his mind—the Dark Slayer Style, precise and lethal, etched into his very soul. He clenched his teeth, fighting against the overwhelming rush of knowledge, his head throbbing with pain.

The demon snarled and charged, its movements wild and erratic. Rudra tightened his grip on the katana, his stance instinctively shifting. Time seemed to slow as he unsheathed Yamato, its blade slicing through the air with deadly precision.

In a single motion, he executed the Judgement Cut. A luminous arc of energy cleaved the demon mid-stride, freezing it in place, then disintegrated into dozens of perfectly sliced pieces. The pieces fell to the ground with a sickening squelch, pooling into a lifeless heap.

Without hesitation, Rudra formed a series of hand seals, his fingers moving with practiced ease. "Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique."

A massive sphere of roaring flames engulfed the remains, reducing them to ash in seconds, leaving no trace of the demonic creature.

Standing in the silence, Rudra's gaze shifted toward the horizon, sensing a presence far beyond the town. Without a word, he dissolved into a flock of black crows, the flapping of their wings the only sound as they vanished into the smoky sky, leaving behind a battlefield drenched in silence and death.

Rudra stumbled away from the ruined town, the weight of his actions heavy on him. Once he was far enough from the carnage, his body betrayed him—he doubled over and vomited, his breath ragged as he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. His mind raced, struggling to process everything.

The faces of the people he had killed flashed before him. This was his first time taking a life, and the reality struck harder than he had imagined. Swallowing back the rising bile, he steadied himself. "No time to lose," he muttered, forcing his legs to move.

He headed to the spot where Old Man Ranold's lifeless body lay. When he found the old man, he knelt, carefully lifting the frail form. "I'll get you home," he whispered, his voice trembling with guilt and resolve.

With Ranold's body cradled in his arms, Rudra began the long journey back, the silence around him heavy with his thoughts.

Meanwhile, In the smoldering remains of the town, Ultear Milkovich emerged from the shadows. Her long dark hair flowed behind her as she surveyed the destruction, her gaze sharp and calculating. She walked through the desolate streets, her movements calm and deliberate.

When she reached the church, she pushed open the heavy wooden doors. Inside, rows of sleeping children lay undisturbed, their peaceful faces a stark contrast to the horror outside. A faint smile tugged at her lips, a rare softness breaking through her usual demeanor.

"They're safe," she murmured, relief evident in her tone.

She turned her gaze to the direction where she had seen the crows vanish into the distance. Her thoughts lingered on the enigmatic figure responsible for the massacre. Before she could dwell further, the sound of approaching footsteps pulled her back to the present.

"Ultear!" Two familiar voices called her name. She turned to see her comrades entering the church. Jellal Fernandes, his sharp blue eyes scanning the scene, and Meredy, her short pink hair catching the dim light, approached with urgency.

"What happened here?" Jellal's voice was calm but edged with concern. His gaze swept over the lifeless bodies outside the church, lingering on the signs of battle.

Meredy hesitated before adding, "Could this have been a fight between dark guilds?"

Ultear shook her head. "No. This wasn't a guild battle. They were all killed by a single person."

Jellal's expression darkened. "A single person? Who?"

Ultear recounted the events methodically, describing the man with red eyes and a glowing hand who had dispatched both the dark guild members and the demon with chilling efficiency. Her voice carried a weight that silenced her companions.

Meredy blinked, processing the information. "Wait. You're saying a kid with glowing red eyes took down an entire guild and a demon?"

Ultear nodded. "That's exactly what I'm saying."

Jellal's tone sharpened. "How strong was he?"

Ultear paused, her gaze distant. "Stronger than he let on. Even against the demon, it felt like he wasn't using his full power."

Meredy's brow furrowed. "Why does that matter? Shouldn't we just leave him alone?"

Jellal's eyes shifted to her, serious. "Because if he's a threat, we need to be prepared. If he's not, we need to understand why someone like him is wandering around."

Ultear's voice was quiet but firm. "He's an unknown factor, and unknowns are dangerous. But for now, I don't think he's our enemy."

Jellal nodded, though his expression remained pensive. The distant sound of marching boots interrupted their conversation. Soldiers were approaching.

"The children are safe," Jellal said decisively. "We should go before they arrive."

Ultear turned to her comrades. "You two go ahead. I'll stay behind for a moment."

Meredy hesitated, her worry evident. "Ultear…"

"I'll catch up," Ultear reassured her. "Trust me."

Reluctantly, Meredy nodded. "Fine. Don't take too long."

With that, Jellal and Meredy vanished into the shadows, leaving Ultear alone. She took one last glance around the ruined church before stepping into the darkness herself, her figure disappearing as though she had never been there.

By the time the soldiers reached the church, they found only silence—and the faint smell of lingering smoke.

By dawn, Rudra had finished crafting a simple yet sturdy coffin for Old Man Ranold. His hands trembled as he gently laid the old man's body inside and lowered it into the freshly dug grave. The morning light cast long shadows as Rudra shoveled the last mound of dirt over the grave.

Kneeling beside the mound, he placed his kodachi atop it—a gesture of respect and farewell. His voice was low, laced with sorrow. "Thank you for everything, Gramps. For taking me in, for giving me a place to belong." His crimson eyes shimmered as he continued, "I'll be leaving today, but I promise to visit. I won't forget."

With a deep breath, Rudra stood, his gaze lingering on the grave one final time before turning toward the forest.

The foliage parted as a figure emerged. Ultear Milkovich stepped forward, her expression composed but her eyes watchful. "Hello," she greeted, her voice steady. "My name is Ultear Milkovich."

Rudra's eyes narrowed slightly as recognition dawned. Ultear? What's she doing here? Shouldn't she be with Jellal? He remained guarded as he asked, "What do you want?"

Ultear folded her arms, meeting his gaze. "I came to determine whether you're an enemy."

Rudra raised an eyebrow, his tone neutral. "And?"

She hesitated briefly before speaking, her words measured. "I don't believe you are. You're no saint, but you're not evil either."

A soft scoff escaped Rudra's lips. "If that's all, you can save yourself the trouble. Get to the point."

Ultear straightened, her voice firm. "I want you to join us—Crime Sorcière."

Rudra's expression remained impassive. He glanced at her briefly before dismissing her with a wave of his hand. "Not interested."

Ultear's lips pressed into a thin line, though she didn't argue. "Fine," she said, her tone even. "But at least consider it."

Before she could say more, Rudra moved. In a blink, he closed the distance between them. His thumb gently tilted her chin upward, forcing her to meet his piercing crimson gaze. A faint smile tugged at his lips as he spoke, his tone low but teasing. "You should be more cautious about approaching strangers."

Before Ultear could react, he dissolved into a swirling mass of crows, leaving her standing alone in stunned silence. Her cheeks flushed as she muttered under her breath, "I didn't even get his name…"

By afternoon, Ultear rejoined her comrades. Meredy, noticing her arrival, immediately asked, "What took you so long?"

Ultear's expression was calm, though a faint blush lingered. "I met him," she said plainly.

Meredy's eyes widened. "The red-eyed guy?!"

Jellal, seated nearby, stood abruptly at the revelation. "You met him?" His voice carried urgency. "What did you find out?"

Ultear met his gaze, her tone composed. "He's not our enemy."

Meredy let out a sigh of relief. "Well, that's good news, isn't it?"

Jellal's expression remained thoughtful, his brow furrowing. "Maybe. But he's clearly powerful, and that makes him unpredictable. We can't let our guard down."

Ultear nodded. "I agree. He's not someone to take lightly."

Meredy tilted her head curiously. "Did you at least get his name?"

A faint hint of embarrassment flickered in Ultear's eyes as she replied, "No… He left before I could ask."

Meredy blinked, surprised. "That doesn't sound like you."

Jellal interrupted, his tone decisive. "We'll keep an eye out for him. For now, let's focus on the task at hand."

The group resumed their work, though the enigmatic figure of Rudra lingered in their thoughts, each of them pondering what role he might play in their future.