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Under the shade of a dark, cloudy sky, the world looked dead, as though a storm had come and stolen every last bit of joy. Beneath those ominous clouds lay a city, silent and deserted, as if it, too, had surrendered to the gloom. Not a single creature dared cross the empty roads, and even the birds held their songs, perched on the rusty rooftops of crumbling buildings or the few ornate ones still standing.
Inside those buildings, life clung on—but only barely. People peered out from shadowed windows with dark, haunted eyes, as though every hope had been buried.
But while the city lay in a hush, some figures still moved in the darkness, alive with other plans.
The city's alleys were a labyrinth of shadows, and between them slipped a figure cloaked in black, his coat falling nearly to his feet, blending him with the shadows as he moved like a panther on the hunt. His steps were silent, steady, and confident. He was being chased, but he didn't look afraid—if anything, he looked ready.
Behind him, glowing blue eyes flickered in the dark. Not human eyes.
The figure reached to his wrist, where a strange device glowed faintly. Bringing it closer to his lips, he whispered, "The rats are lured."
A deep voice crackled back, "Good work, Kennedy."
He smirked, turning down another alley, "They aren't hiding anymore."
"That's what we wanted."
He moved forward, calm and calculating, until he reached a dead end surrounded by towering, decaying buildings.
"Come out already," he called, his voice ringing out into the silence. "You really think I can't sense you?"
A figure stepped from the shadows—a man in a black tactical suit, a shield symbol gleaming on his shoulder. His sneer was full of contempt. "Well, well, if it isn't Liod Kennedy. The Dark Slayer himself. The man who conquered the power of the vales."
An eerie whirring sound came from a nearby ventilation fan, adding a chilling note to the silence.
Liod's gaze was steely. "We don't have to do this, Lieutenant."
The soldier's face twisted with a mocking grin. "What? 'Don't have to'?" he spat, rage flickering in his eyes. "I've waited a long damn time to kill you. You have to die by my hands, Liod."
The lieutenant raised his left arm, half-missing and horribly scarred. "Look at what you did to me. You—because of you, I can't regenerate my arm!" He gritted his teeth, then gave a short, bitter laugh. "Ahem… pardon my outburst. Now, where are your teammates?"
Liod's silence was answer enough. The lieutenant's smile grew vicious. "Oh, right. Dead, aren't they? Poor boy. You think you can challenge us alone?"
A chorus of low, mocking laughs rose from the shadows as creatures stepped into view. These were no ordinary soldiers. With crimson skin, fangs, and gleaming blue eyes, they were vales—twisted, bloodthirsty, and eager.
Liod's gaze didn't waver. He gave a small, knowing smile and whispered, "Lieutenant… do you want to live?"
The lieutenant's grin faltered. "Who's gonna kill me? You?"
Liod's eyes flashed, his voice low and deadly. "You're already dead."
Suddenly, a deafening roar shook the air as a tank crashed through the wall of a nearby building, hurtling straight into the lieutenant and smashing him through another building with brutal force. Time seemed to slow, the massive vehicle carrying the screaming lieutenant like a helpless rag doll.
Liod smirked, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Bingo."
With that, he drew two green daggers from the scabbards at his hips. The blades shimmered with an unnatural, mythic energy. He moved with blinding speed, a green blur slicing through the air. In one swift motion, twelve vales fell, lifeless at his feet.
For a second, the remaining creatures hesitated. Moments ago, they had looked unstoppable; now they cowered before him, uncertain.
One vale lunged from behind, but Liod spun, bringing his foot up in a sharp arc that sent the creature's skull shattering into the wall beside him.
Meanwhile, the lieutenant, still pinned to the tank's massive hull, screamed, "Who the hell is in this damn thing? You bastard! When I get my hands on you, I'll—"
A gruff voice echoed from inside the tank. "Shut up already."
The tank's door creaked open, and a figure stepped out, landing with a heavy thud. Black hair framed his face, and he wore an all-black military outfit, sleek and intimidating, marked only by an "S" symbol on his wrist. His mask gleamed with tactical glass, giving him a sinister, otherworldly look.
The lieutenant's voice wavered. "You… You can't be… You were supposed to be dead…"
The figure leaned in close, his voice a whisper of pure menace. "A shadow might hide… but it never dies."
A low, sultry laugh echoed from within the tank. Another figure emerged, her white hair floating around her, her red eyes gleaming dangerously. She wore a sleek, black military outfit, perfectly fitted, and held two kusarigama in her hands, their chains glinting in the faint light.
The lieutenant's face twisted in horror. "Evilin… and Shadow? How…?"
Evilin's smile was cold. "Disappointed, are you?"
The lieutenant swallowed, sweat dripping down his face. Shadow stepped closer, his voice almost a growl. "Let me clear up that confusion for you, Lieutenant."
Shadow leaned down, his face inches from the lieutenant's, his gaze deadly. "It was all planned."
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To be continued…