At a distant point in the sea, a fleet of ships sailed steadily toward an isolated island. The vessels were packed with soldiers and mages, each preparing for the mission ahead.
On the deck of one of the ships, Kagura Mikazuchi and Millianna stood together, gazing at the endless horizon. The salty sea breeze ruffled their hair as they spoke.
"Isn't this overkill?" Kagura asked, her sharp eyes scanning the massive fleet surrounding them. "So many ships, soldiers, and mages—just to deal with a single dark guild?"
Millianna tilted her head, her tail flicking with mild concern. "Now that you mention it, nya, it does seem a bit excessive," she replied thoughtfully.
Kagura crossed her arms, her expression serious. "They're not telling us everything," she concluded, her tone edged with suspicion.
A deep, resonant voice interrupted their conversation. "You are correct, Kagura-dono."
Startled, both women turned to see a tall, broad-shouldered man standing behind them. His bald head gleamed in the sunlight, and a thin dark beard framed his strong jaw. It was none other than Jura Neekis, one of the Ten Wizard Saints.
"Sir Jura!" Kagura exclaimed, her usual composure momentarily slipping.
Millianna's ears perked up as she blinked in surprise. "Nya, I didn't know you were part of this mission too!"
Jura offered a warm chuckle, crossing his arms over his chest. "The Magic Council specifically requested my presence, Millianna-dono," he said calmly.
Kagura's curiosity deepened, and she wasted no time. "What did you mean earlier, Sir Jura?" she asked, her tone steady but probing.
Jura's expression turned somber as he nodded gravely. "Since you're unaware, I will explain. This mission is far more critical than it seems. Five days ago, Princess Hisui was kidnapped."
Millianna's gasp was immediate, her eyes widening in shock. "Nya! The princess? Are you serious?"
Jura nodded again, his face reflecting the gravity of the situation. "Indeed, Millianna-dono. That is why the Magic Council and the king have mobilized such forces—and why I was sent to assist."
Kagura's lips pressed into a thin line as the weight of Jura's words sank in. She turned her gaze back to the ocean, her brow furrowed in thought.
"So, it's not just a dark guild... This is much bigger than we thought," she murmured, her tone resolute.
Millianna glanced between Jura and Kagura, her tail flicking nervously. "Nya, this just got a lot more serious," she said quietly.
The three stood in silence for a moment, the sea breeze carrying the weight of their realization as the fleet continued its steady advance.
***
Meanwhile, deep within the dense underbrush of the island, a figure shrouded in a camouflage jutsu moved silently, blending seamlessly with the shadows.
It was Rudra, already well-informed about the island's terrain and its inhabitants. Hidden from sight, he crouched near a group of rowdy pirates gathered around a makeshift campfire, their boisterous laughter cutting through the night.
Man, we hit the jackpot this time! Drinks are on the house!" one of the pirates roared, raising a mug of ale high into the air.
The others erupted in cheers, slamming their fists on the ground and shouting in unison, "Yeahhh!"
Leaning against a tree, he crossed his arms, his patience wearing thin. How long are they going to take to get here? he thought, referring to the approaching fleet. This is getting boring. Maybe I should just take care of all things and get it over with.
The idea was tempting, but before he could act, the sudden tolling of a loud bell shattered the cacophony of pirate laughter. The sound reverberated across the island, carrying an unmistakable message: prepare for the arrival of the enemy.
Rudra's head snapped toward the coastline, his sharp senses instantly on high alert. Without a moment's hesitation, he scaled a nearby tree to gain a higher vantage point.
As he reached the top, his eyes widened at the sight before him—a massive fleet of ships cutting through the waves, each brimming with soldiers and mages.
"What the hell is this?" he muttered under his breath, his voice tinged with disbelief. "Why so many ships? Are they planning to Buster Call this island?"
He rubbed his chin in thought, piecing together the implications of such a large force. But after a moment, he shrugged it off.
"Well, it doesn't matter to me," he said to himself, a smirk playing on his lips. "I should probably go as well."
With that, he left his vantage point and headed toward the mountain at the center of the island, where the dark guild's hall was located.
Arriving at the dark guild hall, Rudra observed the commotion outside as members scrambled to fortify their defenses. Ignoring the chaos, he walked through the main entrance with deliberate calm, weaving past the panicked guild members who barely noticed his presence. His destination was clear.
According to my shadow clone, the entrance to the underground facility should be just ahead, he thought, his sharp gaze scanning his surroundings.
He soon reached a heavy, unassuming door at the back of the hall. Without hesitation, he pushed it open, slipping inside unnoticed.
The air grew colder as he descended a spiraling staircase. The dim lighting cast eerie shadows on the stone walls, and the faint sound of his footsteps echoed softly in the silence.
The stairs eventually led to a narrow passageway carved into the mountain. Rudra moved cautiously, scanning for guards or traps, but to his surprise, he encountered neither. Odd. You'd think they'd have tighter security for a place like this.
The passage suddenly widened, opening into a massive hollow chamber at the heart of the mountain. Rudra's sharp eyes immediately took in the bizarre scene. The space was vast and utilitarian, devoid of any traditional furnishings or decorations. Instead, it was lined with rows of towering glass tubes, each containing the corpse of a demon suspended in some kind of liquid. The tubes gave off an eerie glow, casting ghostly reflections across the chamber.
At the center of it all stood a solitary figure, hunched over a strange device that emitted a soft hum. The man's fingers flew across the device's keys, his intense focus suggesting he was analyzing data.
The man's fingers trembled as he typed furiously, muttering under his breath, "Damn it, damn it, damn it. Everything was going so smoothly, but now I have to erase it all. Ugh!"
His frustration reached its peak when a sharp pressure suddenly pressed against the back of his neck. A cold, calculated voice whispered, "If you don't want to die, answer my questions. If you understand, nod."
The man froze, panic seizing him as he quickly nodded his head. Rudra's voice cut through the tension like a knife. "What is this place?"
The man's voice was shaky as he stammered, "This is... a research facility where we study demons for the guild."
Rudra's eyes narrowed. "And why are you kidnapping children?"
The man hesitated, his words fumbling as his throat tightened with fear. Rudra pressed the kunai harder into his neck, the cold steel making the man flinch. "Answer properly," Rudra demanded, his tone deadly.
The man yelped, panic evident in his eyes. "We... we kidnap children for experiments—using demon blood to create hybrids. We... we brainwash them for the guild!"
Rudra's expression darkened with disgust. He pressed further, his voice sharp. "This device—does it contain information on all the subjects?"
The man nodded frantically, sweat beading on his forehead. Rudra's voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. "Show me everything."
With shaking hands, the man complied, typing quickly into the device. A holographic screen flickered to life, displaying detailed files on the various test subjects—children, each marked with horrific data. Rudra's eyes scanned the screen, his jaw tightening as he absorbed the grim reality of the guild's experiments.
Before the man could react, Rudra knocked him unconscious with a swift strike, sending him crumpling to the floor. He stepped over the fallen body, his eyes still fixed on the screen as he scrolled through the horrifying data
Rudra's eyes flicked over the data, pausing when he came across a familiar face in the file labeled "Subject 69." It was his own, but much younger. He opened the entry, as he read through the details.
According to the guild's records, Rudra was the only successful subject in their twisted experiment to create a human-demon hybrid.
The rest of the data revealed something more troubling: during the transfer of Subject 69 from a branch base to the main facility, their convoy was attacked and wiped out, and Rudra had vanished without a trace.
His gaze lingered on the final piece of information—his hometown, Magnolia Town. It was the place where he had been kidnapped from. The memories came flooding back, hazy and distant, but it was clear. If he wanted answers, Magnolia Town was where he had to go.
As he closed the device, his mind raced. I need to go there. But first… His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of heavy footsteps echoing through the passage. A voice rang out, sharp and commanding. "Stop right where you are!"
Rudra turned toward the voice. Standing in the doorway was Jura Neekis, accompanied by Kagura, Millianna, and a dozen soldiers and mages. They had him cornered.
Rudra exhaled sharply, his expression unreadable. This just keeps getting better.