The office was eerily silent, the kind of quiet that wraps around you and makes even the smallest sound seem deafening. DNS sat slouched in his high-backed chair, a cigarette dangling between his fingers, the soft ember illuminating his face in the dim light. The smoke curled upward, dancing in lazy spirals before disappearing into the air.
On the desk before him lay the box. An innocuous thing by appearance—edges frayed, surface faded—but what it contained had stirred something deep within DNS, something that felt like both a warning and a challenge. He hadn't slept, hadn't eaten, and his mind churned with possibilities that only seemed to lead to darker questions.
Neel leaned casually against the doorframe, his arms crossed over his chest, watching DNS with a mix of concern and curiosity. "You've been at this all night," he said, breaking the silence. His voice carried its usual sarcastic edge, but there was an undertone of genuine care. "You planning to keep staring at that box until it tells you all its secrets?"
DNS exhaled a long plume of smoke, the red glow of the cigarette briefly lighting up his stormy expression. "Maybe," he replied curtly, his eyes never leaving the object of his obsession. "Or maybe I'm waiting for it to stop whispering to me."
Neel raised an eyebrow, pushing off the doorframe and walking into the room. "Whispering, huh? You sure you didn't lace that cigarette with something stronger?"
DNS shot him a half-hearted glare but didn't respond. Instead, he reached for the dagger that had been nestled inside the box. The blade was sleek and sharp, its hilt adorned with intricate symbols that seemed to shift and shimmer in the dim light. They weren't just designs; they were markings—ancient, deliberate, and heavy with meaning.
"Where exactly did you find this?" DNS asked, his voice low, almost a growl.
Neel pulled out a chair and sat opposite him, leaning forward. "One of Kazuma's old safehouses. Place was practically falling apart. We stumbled on a hidden chamber beneath the floorboards. It looked like some kind of shrine." He paused, his tone turning serious. "No one from his crew seemed to know anything about it. They were just as spooked as we were."
DNS finally looked up, his piercing gaze locking onto Neel's. "This isn't just some relic. It's connected to something—something bigger than Kazuma, bigger than us. I need to know what."
Neel shrugged, though his expression betrayed his unease. "Well, you're the boss. Just don't go summoning any ancient curses while you're at it."
DNS smirked faintly, though the weight in his eyes didn't lift. He set the dagger down and pulled out the documents that had accompanied it. The paper was yellowed and brittle, the ink faded but legible enough to reveal an unmistakable name: Daiichi Nagata Saito.
His father.
Neel noticed the change in DNS's demeanor immediately. "What is it?"
DNS held up the document, his jaw tight. "My father's name. It's all over these pages."
The air in the room grew heavier, the unspoken implications settling like a fog. Neel leaned back in his chair, his casual demeanor slipping as the gravity of the situation sank in.
"So, what's the plan?" he asked.
DNS stood, snuffing out his cigarette in a nearby ashtray. "Get Kyan. I want these translated. Now."
The Shadow Ravens' archive was a technological wonder—a labyrinth of screens, servers, and encrypted files manned by Kyan's team of elite operatives. The room buzzed with activity, the hum of computers and the clatter of keyboards creating a strange, almost musical rhythm.
Kyan, ever the perfectionist, was seated at the center of it all, his eyes darting between multiple monitors. He looked up as DNS strode in, flanked by Neel.
"This looks urgent," Kyan said, his voice tinged with curiosity.
DNS dropped the box onto the desk without a word. Kyan opened it, his sharp eyes narrowing as he examined the contents. He picked up the dagger first, his fingers tracing the symbols on the hilt.
"This isn't modern," he muttered, more to himself than anyone else. "Looks ancient. Maybe pre-Edo period, but the markings... they don't match any known Japanese script."
"Can you translate it?" DNS asked, his tone clipped.
Kyan set the dagger down and pulled out the documents, scanning the fragile pages carefully. "This will take time. The language is archaic, and some of it seems to be coded."
"You've got until dawn," DNS said, his voice brooking no argument.
Kyan glanced up at him, raising an eyebrow. "Dawn, huh? No pressure."
DNS didn't reply, turning on his heel and walking out. Neel stayed behind for a moment, offering Kyan a sympathetic shrug. "You know how he gets," he said before following DNS out the door.
Hours passed. DNS found himself on the rooftop of the Vajra Syndicate's headquarters, a cigarette once again dangling from his lips. The city sprawled out before him, a sea of lights and shadows that seemed to stretch on forever.
The cool night air bit at his skin, but he barely noticed. His mind was a storm, filled with fragments of memories and questions he couldn't answer.
He thought of his father—Daiichi Nagata Saito, the man who had been both a legend and an enigma. Growing up, DNS had idolized him, but there had always been an air of mystery about the elder Saito, secrets that had seemed unimportant at the time but now loomed like specters in the dark.
The sound of footsteps broke his reverie. He didn't need to turn to know it was Lily.
"You know, those things will kill you," she said, her voice light but carrying an undercurrent of concern.
DNS exhaled a plume of smoke, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "We all die eventually."
Lily stepped closer, leaning against the railing beside him. "You've been brooding up here for hours. What's going on?"
DNS hesitated, flicking the ash from his cigarette. "Neel found something... something connected to my father. A dagger, documents with his name on them. It's tied to an organization called the Void Dynasty."
Lily frowned, her brow furrowing. "Void Dynasty? I've never heard of it."
"Neither have I," DNS admitted. "But it feels... big. Bigger than anything we've dealt with before."
Lily placed a hand on his arm, her touch grounding him. "Whatever it is, we'll face it together. You're not alone in this."
For a moment, DNS let himself lean into her presence, the storm inside him calming ever so slightly.
By dawn, Kyan had his report ready. DNS and Neel met him in the war room, the tension in the air palpable.
"This wasn't easy," Kyan began, spreading the translated documents across the table. "The script is a mix of ancient Japanese and something older—possibly a lost dialect or proto-language. But what's clear is that these aren't just historical records. They're instructions."
"For what?" DNS asked, his voice sharp.
Kyan pointed to a diagram on one of the pages. "This describes a ritual. The dagger is ceremonial, used for something tied to the Void Dynasty. The documents suggest it's a key—either to seal something or to unlock it."
Neel frowned. "Seal or unlock what?"
Kyan shook his head. "That part isn't clear. But there's more. Your father's name isn't just mentioned in passing. He's listed as a gatekeeper—a title that implies he was either a guardian of this secret or someone entrusted with its power."
The revelation hung in the air like a thundercloud. DNS's jaw tightened, his mind racing.
"Do we have a lead?" he finally asked.
Kyan hesitated. "There's an old contact of your father's in Kyoto. A historian who specializes in ancient criminal organizations. If anyone knows more about the Void Dynasty, it's him."
DNS nodded. "Set it up."
Kyan glanced at him, his expression cautious. "If the Void Dynasty is real, they won't take kindly to us poking around in their affairs."
DNS's lips curved into a dangerous smile, his eyes burning with resolve. "Let them come."
The journey to Kyoto was tense, every shadow and alleyway feeling like a potential ambush. DNS, Neel, and Lily traveled together, their senses on high alert.
Their destination was a secluded house on the outskirts of the city. When they arrived, the man who greeted them was small and wiry, his eyes sharp despite his age.
"You're Daiichi's son," Shiro Takeda said, his voice raspy. "I wondered if this day would come."
DNS wasted no time. "What do you know about the Void Dynasty?"
Shiro's expression darkened. "More than I'd like. They're not just a myth, but theyShiro's expression darkened further, and he gestured for the trio to enter his modest home. The interior smelled faintly of incense, the walls lined with old scrolls and books that looked as ancient as the stories they sought. Shiro lit a cigarette, the paper crackling in the silence as he took a slow drag.
"The Void Dynasty," he began, his voice low, "is not an organization in the way you understand. It's more like an entity—shadowed by myth, obscured by time. They've operated for centuries, pulling strings from behind the curtain of history. To some, they're gods; to others, they're devils."
He leaned forward, his sharp eyes narrowing as they met DNS's. "Your father was one of the few who dared cross their path."
DNS stiffened, the embers of his cigarette glowing fiercely as he inhaled. "What did he do?"
Shiro exhaled a plume of smoke, his hand trembling slightly. "He tried to destroy them."
The weight of the words hit the room like a hammer. DNS's mind raced, memories of his father's stoic presence now tinged with a deeper, more dangerous purpose.
"He was close once," Shiro continued. "He uncovered something vital, something they would kill to protect. That dagger you carry—it's part of it. But Daiichi disappeared before he could finish what he started. Some say the Void Dynasty got to him; others believe he sacrificed himself to keep their secrets from spreading."
Lily, who had been quietly absorbing the conversation, finally spoke. "If they're so powerful, why haven't they wiped out anyone who knows about them?"
Shiro gave a grim smile. "They don't need to. Fear does the work for them. Most who learn of the Void Dynasty either join them or vanish. Your father was the rare exception—he fought back."
DNS stubbed out his cigarette, his movements deliberate. "Where do we go from here?"
Shiro hesitated, then pulled out an old, leather-bound book. He flipped through its fragile pages before stopping at a map. "There's a temple," he said, tapping the faded parchment. "Hidden in the mountains beyond Kyoto. It's said to be one of their sanctuaries. If you want answers, that's where you'll find them. But be warned: no one who's gone looking has ever returned."
Neel snorted, his trademark smirk returning. "Sounds like a challenge."
DNS shot him a look. "This isn't a joke, Neel."
"I know," Neel replied, his smirk fading. "But we're not exactly the kind to back down, are we?"
Shiro extinguished his cigarette and stood. "You'll need more than bravado. The Void Dynasty is unlike anything you've faced. Be prepared for that."
The Road to the Temple
The journey to the mountains was fraught with tension. They traveled under the cover of darkness, their car winding through narrow roads flanked by dense forests. DNS sat in the backseat, staring out at the shadowy landscape. He lit another cigarette, the flame briefly illuminating his face.
Lily, seated beside him, glanced over. "You've been smoking a lot more lately."
DNS gave a faint smile, exhaling a plume of smoke. "Helps me think."
She didn't press further, though the concern in her eyes was clear.
Neel, at the wheel, broke the silence. "So, what's the plan when we get there? Walk in, wave the dagger around, and hope for the best?"
"We assess first," DNS replied, his voice calm but firm. "If it's a trap, we fight our way out. If there are answers, we take them. Simple."
Neel chuckled. "You make it sound so easy."
The Temple
The temple was a stark contrast to the lush forest surrounding it—an imposing structure of stone and wood that seemed to grow out of the mountainside. Its walls were covered in ancient carvings, the same symbols that adorned the dagger.
As they approached, a sense of unease settled over the group. The air felt heavier, the silence almost oppressive.
DNS led the way, the dagger clutched tightly in his hand. The entrance was guarded by massive doors, their surface engraved with intricate patterns. He hesitated for a moment before pushing them open.
The interior was dark, the faint scent of incense lingering in the air. The only light came from torches mounted on the walls, their flames flickering eerily.
They moved cautiously, their footsteps echoing in the vast space. The walls were lined with more carvings, each one telling a story that felt both ancient and foreboding.
At the center of the temple was an altar, its surface adorned with symbols and offerings. DNS approached it slowly, his eyes scanning the inscriptions.
"This is it," he muttered, placing the dagger on the altar.
The moment the blade touched the stone, the torches flared brighter, their flames turning an unnatural shade of blue. A low hum filled the air, growing louder with each passing second.
"What the hell is happening?" Neel shouted, his hand going to his weapon.
DNS didn't answer, his attention focused entirely on the altar. The symbols began to glow, their light pulsating in a rhythm that seemed almost alive.
And then, a voice—a deep, resonant tone that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once.
"You seek the truth," it said. "But are you prepared to face it?"
The question hung in the air, and DNS felt the weight of it pressing down on him. He squared his shoulders, his grip tightening on the dagger.
"I am," he said firmly.
The light from the symbols intensified, enveloping the room in a blinding glow. And then, just as suddenly, everything went dark.
When the light returned, they were no longer in the temple. The walls and altar had vanished, replaced by a vast, shadowy expanse. Figures began to emerge from the darkness—cloaked individuals with eyes that glowed like embers.
"The Void Dynasty," Lily whispered, her voice trembling.
DNS stepped forward, his jaw set. "I'm here for answers. About my father. About the dagger. About all of it."
One of the figures stepped forward, their movements unnaturally smooth. "Your father was brave," they said, their voice a cold whisper. "But bravery is not enough. To uncover the truth, you must prove yourself worthy."
The figure raised a hand, and the shadows around them began to writhe and take shape. Creatures emerged—twisted, nightmarish forms that snarled and lunged toward the group.
DNS drew his blade, his allies following suit. "Prove ourselves, huh?" he muttered, a fierce grin spreading across his face. "Let's do this."
To Be Continued