As Zani gathered his belongings and prepared to depart for the Cursed Pond's forest, a sense of urgency hung heavy in the air. The night was still and eerily quiet, the moon casting a pale glow over the land as he made his way to the main gate. Squad 1, a group of seasoned warriors, stood ready, their faces etched with determination. Zani's presence commanded respect; his every movement was purposeful and calculated as he addressed his men.
"Listen carefully," Zani began, his voice firm. "We are heading to the Cursed Pond's forest to investigate the deaths of our scouts. The situation is grave, and we must proceed with caution. We do not know what we may encounter, but we must be prepared for anything."
The squad nodded in understanding, their expressions grim. They knew the dangers that awaited them, but they were prepared to follow their leader into the unknown.
With a final glance back at the castle, Zani signaled for the squad to move out. The journey ahead would be perilous, but Zani was determined to uncover the truth behind the mysterious deaths and protect his people at all costs.
As they ventured into the night, the shadows seemed to dance around them, whispering of the dangers that lay ahead. But Zani's resolve was unwavering, his mind focused on the task at hand. Together with Squad 1, he would unravel the mysteries of the Cursed Pond's forest and confront whatever darkness awaited them.
The night was cloaked in an eerie stillness, the full moon casting a haunting glow over the land as Zani and Squad 1 approached the outskirts of the Cursed Pond's forest. The moonlight bathed the landscape in an ethereal light, casting long shadows that danced and flickered, adding to the ominous atmosphere.
Ren Akari, Squad 1 Captain: "Master Zani…"
Zani: "Yes, Ren?"
Ren: "Do you feel the same thing as I do?"
Zani: "The smell of smoke... I can't exactly tell, but it smells like both burnt wood and burnt flesh."
Ren: "Then let's assume it's both and follow the scent deeper into the forest."
As Squad 1 delved deeper into the forest, the temperature began to rise steadily, a stark contrast to the coolness of the night air. The heat seemed to seep through the dense foliage, enveloping them in an oppressive atmosphere.
Ren: "Master Zani, what do you think about this? We still haven't found any bodies, but the temperature is increasing in the middle of the night! It makes me almost want to remove my armor and clothes!"
Zani: "This is not normal. If it were Emberon soldiers, ashen runes wouldn't emit heat. They produce an explosion, not heat, once activated."
Ren: "Could it be that some specially trained squads have developed new ways of using ashen abilities?"
Zani: "I have a few insiders in the country, so I believe I would've been informed about anything like that, but I haven't."
Ren: "So what's your conclusion?"
Zani: "This wasn't the doing of the Emberon Empire. They have no reason to attack us, and there's no way they would've gone unnoticed advancing toward our border."
Ren: "Are there any people who have the power of wielding fire itself?"
Zani: "No, there are only tales and stories about someone who existed who could do that."
Ren: "Tales?"
Zani: "When I still lived in the Emberon Empire, at the war academy, we were told about a man who had the power of flames. It's said that he won countless wars by himself. He's the sole reason that Emberon survived the Age of Rising without losing any original territory. There's even a statue of him in the capital city Dictoria, but it lacks any facial features and is simply named 'Hero.'"
Ren: "Then could it be possible?"
Zani: "Are you suggesting something?"
Ren: "That there's someone like that still around?"
Zani: "That was hundreds of years ago, Ren."
As they ventured further into the forest, a pulse of fear-inducing energy washed over them, intensifying the already rising temperature. When Zani and Ren glanced in its direction, they beheld a very old man seated on a charred tree trunk. As the man's deep red eyes opened and locked onto Zani's, a realization dawned on him—this was the legendary figure he had learned about at the war academy.
Zani: "EVERYONE, ASSUME YOUR STANCE!"
The entire Squad 1 drew their weapons, ready to strike at the command of either one of their leaders.
Ren: "My lord, is this what I think it is?!"
Zani: "It seems so."
Ren: "Should we use our soldiers to create a diversion so we can attack the flanks?"
Zani: "We could try that, but we need to be careful."
Ren: "Squad 1! Assume formation 3 and attack!"
Squad 1: "Yes, sir!"
As Squad 1 charged toward the mysterious old man, Zani's keen eyes caught a subtle movement—a lift of the man's left hand, a gentle opening of his palm. A small flame emerged, coalescing into a katana, the weapon of a demon. In a heartbeat, Zani's warning cry tore through the air, but it was too late. Ren, leading the flank attack, was already too close. Time seemed to pause as the old man's thumb brushed against the katana's tsuba, nudging the sword barely a centimeter from its sheath. In an instant, a wave of intense heat engulfed everything within a 20-meter radius, igniting Squad 1 in a blaze that consumed them all, including Captain Ren.
Three Hours Earlier
Restless in his bed, Yashiro's intuition prickled with unease, a sense that all was not well with Zani and his squad. Despite Zani's earlier reassurances, a growing urgency gripped him, compelling him to action. With a sudden surge of determination, he leaped from his bed, his body transforming into its demonic form. Wings unfurled and feet melded into a blur of motion as he streaked out of the city towards the Cursed Pond's forest. His singular focus: to prevent whatever impending disaster threatened his mentor and the squad.
Back in the Present
As Zani watched every single one of his comrades turn to ashes, he felt utterly helpless. Out of simple curiosity, he tried to talk to the mysterious old man.
Zani: "What is your name?"
The Old Man: "I don't think I need an introduction, boy." (His deep voice echoed through the forest)
Zani: "Are you the person from the legends of the Emberon Empire?"
The Old Man: "Why did you betray your country?"
Zani: "How do you know my full name?"
The Old Man: "I can smell my own blood."
Zani: "Your own blood?"
The Old Man: "You were in line to become the next Chief General. But you fled for that man, didn't you?"
Zani: "How do you know all this?"
The Old Man: "I have been on this earth for eons longer than you, kid. I dislike people who run away from their duties."
Zani: "That has nothing to do with you! Who are you?"
The Old Man: "You're about to die, so it does not matter if I do not tell you."
Zani: "I can feel it. What's the source of your power? You're not human."
The Old Man: "I've long transcended humanity, boy. This forest shall be your eternal grave."
With a swift motion, the mysterious old man raised his katana, the flames dancing along its blade, ready to strike the final blow.
Meanwhile, Yashiro, in his demonic form, could see a large swirl of flames forming in the heart of the forest from the sky down. The sheer anger in the flames dancing around The old man's sword was enough to be felt from kilometers away.
As Yashiro was trying his hardest to get there in time, a brief image of Saro flashed before his eyes, and just in that moment, he heard Saro's voice.
Saro: "Yashiro, you must stop now!"
Yashiro: "Stop? HE'S ABOUT TO DIE!"
Saro: "AND YOU WILL DIE TOO IF YOU DON'T TURN AROUND! WE DON'T KNOW WHO THAT PERSON IS, BUT ONE THING IS FOR CERTAIN. HE'S A MILLION TIMES STRONGER THAN YOU, AND IF YOU WANT TO JOIN EVERYBODY ELSE OUT THERE, THE ONLY WAY YOU WILL BE SEEING THEM IN PERSON IS DOWN THERE IN HELL!"
Yashiro, being completely discouraged, stopped in his tracks and watched as the swirling tornado of flames began descending, splitting the entire forest in half and creating a blaze that no person alive at that moment had ever seen before.
Saro: "Yashiro, you need to get away from here as fast as possible, or he will sense you and come after you, and I'm sure he will be looking."
Yashiro: "How do you know?"
Saro: "It's just an ominous feeling that I have. And don't forget, I'm the other side of you, so listen to yourself."
Yashiro: "What even happened over there?"
Saro: "I don't know, but this person holds a power I see no way of stopping at our current level. Head back."
Yashiro took the advice to heart and started heading back. On the way home, he tried to come to terms with the fact that his whole family was murdered, and along with them, Zani was also killed before his eyes, and he couldn't do anything about it. After about five hours, he made it back to the city gate. Feeling hopeless, but still having to do something about the situation, he personally filed a report to the Marinea Empire, stating that the forest fire was raging and they had no way of stopping it, urging the emperor of Marinea to send his soldiers to use their water element powers to extinguish the fire. It took three whole days to put an end to the last flame.
Feeling lost and despondent after losing the last person he considered family, Yashiro returned home and sank into his bed, consumed by thoughts. With Zani's death, he realized he had also lost the opportunity to learn about crucial aspects of his world: its history, the countries, his father, his uncle, and the true motives behind the Morfiem Empire. This loss weighed heavily on him, leaving him unsure of his next steps.
After a few days of Yashiro abandoning his duties as a ruler and not leaving his bed, a messenger knocked on his door to deliver information.
The Messenger: "My lord, how are you feeling?"
Yashiro: "Not better than yesterday."
The Messenger: "My lord, we have to start doing something. The city is still shaken by the attack, the disappearance of your family. Now word has also started spreading about General Zani's death. If we don't act soon, I fear a civil war will break out."
Yashiro: "I am well aware of that. Do you have any information to share?"
The Messenger: "My lord, yes. That's the main reason I came. The fire has been extinguished, and I've sent the regards of the whole nation to the emperor of Marinea."
Yashiro: "What about the bodies?"
The Messenger: "My lord, not a single body was recovered. The whole area was pulverized. As if it was reduced back to an atomic level. There were a few blood samples that sank into the ground that definitely match the members of Squad 1, but it seems that whoever did this made sure that not a single trace of General Zani was left in this world."
Yashiro: "I see. Thank you."
The Messenger: "My lord, do you have any requests?"
Yashiro: "Gather all the generals. We will form a meeting where we will appoint a group of the most capable people to lead this country in my name."
As Yashiro prepared to relinquish direct control of his nation, a sense of solemn determination settled upon him. The loss of Zani, his last connection to the world he once knew, weighed heavily on his heart. Yet, in the face of adversity, he found a spark of resilience.
With the formation of a new leadership group imminent, Yashiro understood that his path forward would be one of adaptation and growth. The events that had transpired had changed him, molding him into a leader tempered by tragedy and fortified by resolve.
As the sun set on the horizon, casting a warm glow over the city, Yashiro's gaze turned toward the future. Though the road ahead was fraught with challenges, he was determined to honor the legacies of those he had lost and forge a new path for himself and his nation.