The Dark Magician's mocking laughter echoed through the cavern as he stared at Rin, his glowing purple eyes cutting through the haze of dust and debris. The air was thick with tension, the dim light of the cavern casting shadows that seemed to dance in mockery of the scene unfolding.
"Look at you," the Dark Magician sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "A so-called warrior, reduced to this pitiful state. This is where you belong—beneath me, covered in dirt, struggling to stand."
Rin's breathing was labored, his chest rising and falling as he leaned heavily on his katana. Blood trickled down the side of his face from the gash on his forehead, the crimson trail a stark contrast to his pale skin. His hands trembled as he tightened his grip on the hilt of his blade, forcing himself upright despite the searing pain coursing through his body.
He met the Dark Magician's gaze, his eyes burning with a fierce determination that refused to be extinguished. His voice, though strained, carried an unyielding resolve. "You talk too much," Rin said, his words cutting through the air like the edge of his blade.
The Dark Magician chuckled, stepping back as flames began to swirl around him. "You're in no condition to fight me, warrior. I commend your bravery and skill for finding me here but you will fail to protect the town. I've sent many demons using the artifact. In this realm I am a god!"
Rin took a deep breath, steadying himself as he shifted into a fighting stance. The weight of exhaustion bore down on him, but he pushed it aside, focusing solely on the figure before him.
Rin's eyes narrowed as he watched the Dark Magician smile cruelly, his hand resting on the corpse of the spear demon. The artifact in his grasp glowed ominously, dark energy coursing through it as the high-class demon's body began to regenerate in a grotesque display.
"Why are you doing this?" Rin asked, his voice steady despite his battered state.
The Dark Magician chuckled bitterly, his gaze fixed on the regenerating demon. "You wouldn't understand, warrior. You're nothing more than a tool of the empire—a pawn for their power games. But me? I once served this empire faithfully, gave everything I had for its glory. And what did I receive in return? Exile, humiliation, ruin."
Rin's grip on his katana tightened as he studied the man's face, the faint flicker of recognition sparking in his mind. He'd seen this man before, years ago, during the purges—back when he was still a prince acting in secret to cleanse the empire of corruption.
The Dark Magician continued, his voice filled with venom. "The official purge, they called it. Led by that dog of the empire, Hoshimi Rin. He stripped me of everything—my title, my status, my life! All for the sake of their so-called justice. And now, I'll make the empire pay for what they did to me."
Rin felt a knot tighten in his chest. He remembered now—the man before him had been one of the many officials purged for exploiting his position. The crimes were clear: embezzlement, cruelty to subordinates, and using imperial resources for personal gain. At the time, Rin hadn't hesitated. It was necessary to cleanse the rot within the empire, even if it meant leaving behind those who would seek revenge.
But this man didn't know who Rin truly was. To him, Rin was just another nameless warrior standing in his way.
"You speak of justice like you were a victim," Rin said, his voice calm but firm. "But what you did to the people you swore to protect was anything but just. You brought this on yourself."
The Dark Magician laughed darkly, his eyes blazing with hatred. "Spare me your sanctimonious lectures. You're no better than the empire you serve. But unlike you, I've embraced the truth. The empire doesn't care for its people, and neither do I. They'll all learn what it feels like to be crushed underfoot."
Rin stared at him, his purple eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. He could feel the weight of his past actions pressing down on him, but he refused to falter. "You're wrong," Rin said quietly. "There are still those who fight for the people. Those who protect the innocent, even when it's hard."
The Dark Magician sneered, gesturing to the now fully regenerated spear demon, its body crackling with dark energy. "Then let's see if you can protect them now, warrior. Let's see if your ideals can save you from the wrath of those you've left behind."
Rin shifted his stance, his body protesting every movement, but his resolve unwavering. He couldn't let this man's hatred destroy everything he had fought to protect.
"If that's the path you've chosen, I'll stop you here," Rin said, his voice steady. "Not for the empire, but for the people you're trying to destroy."
The cave filled with tension as the demon growled, stepping forward, its massive spear gleaming ominously in the dim light.
Rin steadied his breathing, feeling the last reserves of his mana dwindling. He cast a simple healing spell to halt the bleeding from his head. It wasn't enough to heal completely, but it would keep him conscious. The pain throbbed, but Rin pushed it aside, his mind focused entirely on the task ahead.
Taking a deep breath, he shifted into the **Te Ura Gasumi** stance, his katana steady in his hand. With a deliberate motion, he tapped the blade twice. Small flames began to flicker along its edge, glowing faintly in the dark cave. It wasn't a grand display like the Vermillion Princess's flames, but it was precise and controlled—proof of years of training and discipline.
This was all the mana he had left, concentrated into a single, modest flame. It wasn't meant to dazzle or overwhelm. It was meant to endure. The light it cast was small yet unwavering, illuminating the cave's darkness and casting long shadows over the grotesque figure of the Class A demon and the sneering Dark Magician.
Rin exhaled slowly, his purple eyes fading back to their normal color. His focus sharpened, his calmness absolute.
The Dark Magician smirked, raising his hand to command the demon forward. "Bold words for a man on his last legs. Your light will burn out here, warrior."
Rin's gaze didn't waver. He tightened his grip on his katana, the faint glow of the flame reflecting in his determined eyes. "You're wrong," he said evenly. "I will endure. You will fail."
With that, he dashed forward, closing the distance between him and his foes. The Dark Magician and the Class A demon moved to meet him, their combined presence radiating overwhelming malice.
Rin didn't falter. There was no magic left to rely on—only his technique, his will, and the small yet steadfast flame he carried.
The situation in the town grew dire as the final wall collapsed. The once-organized defense turned chaotic, with the 7th wave of low and mid-class demons overwhelming the exhausted defenders. The clash of steel against claws and the cries of desperation filled the air as those fighting for their lives were forced to retreat step by step.
The Vermillion Princess, drenched in sweat and dirt, stood at the frontlines. Her blade flashed relentlessly as she cut through the swarm of demons, her crimson hair streaked with dust and blood. Amid the chaos, she reached for an injured civilian and dragged them to safety.
"Fall back!" she commanded, her voice steady and strong despite the panic around her. "Those who can still fight, hold the front line! Everyone else, throw anything you can to slow them down!"
Her sword struck down another demon, and then another, but it was clear the tide was turning against them. Behind her, Niwa Yori moved with precision and speed, defending the retreating injured while expertly cutting through the advancing demons. Her usually calm demeanor was replaced by fierce determination as she guarded those unable to fight.
The defenders were being pushed further and further back, the line of resistance now perilously close to the cliff's edge. Despite the overwhelming odds, the Vermillion Princess refused to give in. She gritted her teeth, her mind racing as she considered their dwindling options.
"Slow their advance!" she yelled, her voice carrying over the clamor of battle. "Even if it's just for a second, buy us time!"
The soldiers and civilians rallied to her cry, throwing debris, stones, and whatever they could find at the advancing demons. The air was thick with the stench of blood and desperation, but the Vermillion Princess stood tall, her presence a beacon of hope for those around her.
Even as despair crept into her heart, she refused to let it show. **Rin, wherever you are... please succeed,** she thought, gripping her sword tightly. She steeled herself for the inevitable, ready to fight until her last breath to protect the people behind her.
Rin's movements were precise, almost instinctual. He narrowly evaded the demonic spear as it came hurtling toward him, the sound of its force slicing through the air like thunder. Without missing a beat, he shifted his focus to the dark magician, whose hands were alight with hellish flames. Fireballs erupted toward Rin in rapid succession, but his katana moved with an elegance born of countless battles. Each strike of his blade deflected the fiery attacks, their heat singing the air around him.
In a swift pivot, Rin turned his attention to the spear-wielding demon. The creature lunged at him with brute strength, aiming to impale him with a single devastating thrust. Rin sidestepped the attack and parried the spear to the side, redirecting its momentum. With fluid grace, he dropped low and slid between the demon's legs, evading its immediate reach.
As Rin slid beneath the spear-wielding demon, narrowly evading its reach, the flames on his katana flickered wildly, responding to his sheer will. Each parry, each strike, seemed to ignite the blade further. When he emerged on the other side of the demon, his weapon burned brighter, the small controlled flame now roaring like a beacon in the darkness.
The air around the katana shimmered with heat, casting long shadows against the cavern walls. Sparks danced off the blade with every movement, leaving faint trails of embers in its wake. The once modest flame had transformed into an inferno covering the katana.
As he cut through another fireball hurled by the dark magician, the flames intensified further, their brilliance illuminating the cave in golden light. The heat was palpable, causing even the spear-wielding demon to hesitate momentarily.
The Dark Magician's eyes widened in disbelief as the flaming katana burned even brighter with each strike, casting a golden glow that filled the cave. He clenched his fists, his confidence wavering as Rin stood unwavering amidst the chaos, his presence now more imposing than ever.
"How...?" the Dark Magician muttered, his voice trembling slightly.
Rin tilted his head, his mocking smirk cutting through the tension. "What's wrong, Dark Magician? Scared of a little heat?"
Even as his body screamed in agony, Rin pressed forward, his movements deliberate and relentless. The spear-wielding demon lunged at him from the shadows, its spear thrusting downward in a swift, precise motion. Without hesitation, Rin parried the strike, the clash sending sparks flying. Using the momentum, he spun gracefully, his katana slicing cleanly through the demon's legs. The flames from his sword cauterized the wounds instantly, leaving the demon writhing helplessly on the ground.
"Impossible!" the Dark Magician bellowed, panic overtaking his composure as he unleashed a barrage of demonic flames.
Rin moved through the onslaught with fluid precision, his flaming katana cleaving through the fiery projectiles with ease. Each step brought him closer, the air around him rippling with heat as the katana's golden flames grew ever more intense.
The Dark Magician, now desperate, hurled jagged rock spikes toward Rin. But they too were cut cleanly, shattered into harmless shards. For a moment, the Dark Magician lost sight of him—until Rin reappeared mid-air, his blade descending with deadly precision.
The Dark Magician instinctively stepped back, narrowly avoiding the lethal strike, but not without consequence. The artifact hanging from his neck was severed, clattering to the ground. Rin followed through with a kick, sending the Dark Magician sprawling against the cave wall.
Rin glanced down at the artifact now lying at his feet. The spear-wielding demon, despite its grievous injuries, made one last desperate charge toward him. With a single, fluid motion, Rin's katana cleaved through the demon's body, the golden flames leaving a brilliant trail in the air.
Standing amidst the carnage, Rin's gaze locked onto the Dark Magician, his katana glowing brighter than ever. The once-dominant presence of the Dark Magician now seemed small and insignificant against the warrior who refused to fall.
Rin stood firm, his burning katana casting a golden glow that flickered like a beacon in the dark cave. He stared down at the Dark Magician, then shifted his gaze to the ominous artifact lying at his feet.
Raising his sword high, he spoke with unwavering authority, his voice resonating through the cave. "Seta Tadao, you will be judged back in the real world."
The Dark Magician's eyes widened in shock, his body trembling as the name he thought buried in the shadows was uttered by the warrior before him. "You... how do you know that name?!"
Rin's expression remained cold, but the weight of his words hung heavy in the air. Without answering, he brought the flaming katana down in a single decisive strike.
The artifact shattered under the blade, releasing a brilliant burst of light that consumed the cave. The intense illumination banished the darkness, and with it, the subspace began to collapse. The flames of Rin's katana flickered one last time before the overwhelming brightness enveloped everything, signaling the end of the battle.