The grand hall of Yamato stood tall and imposing, its ancient pillars etched with the history of war and peace. Torches flickered along the stone walls, casting eerie shadows across the long wooden table where the six clan elders sat. Their expressions were carved from years of experience—hardened, unreadable, yet laced with unease.
Tonight's meeting was unlike any before. The air was thick with tension, the kind that signaled the arrival of something inevitable, something uncontrollable.
At the head of the table sat Ryojin Hikari, the eldest among them. His silver hair was tied back in a traditional knot, his robes embroidered with the golden crest of the Hikari Clan—a beacon of wisdom and light. Though his body had aged, his mind was still as sharp as a blade. He surveyed the room before finally speaking.
"We all know why we are here," he began, his voice deep and measured. "The balance of Yamato is shifting, and we cannot afford to be unprepared."
Across the table, Gorou Kazan, the burly elder of the Kazan Clan, scoffed. His arms, thick as tree trunks, were crossed over his chest, and his fiery red cloak barely contained the sheer strength of the man beneath it.
"Prepared?" he growled. "We have spent hours talking, yet nothing has been decided. Words will not defend Yamato. Only power will."
A sharp breath was drawn as Ayame Seiryu, the lone female among the elders, narrowed her piercing emerald eyes. She tapped her fingers against the wooden table, her nails clicking in an even rhythm.
"And rushing into battle without strategy will only bring ruin," she countered, her voice cool and sharp. "Or do you suggest we swing our swords blindly, like savages?"
Before the argument could escalate, a voice cut through the air like a blade.
"You're all wasting time."
The elders turned toward Escarion Kazan, who sat at the far end of the table, legs stretched out, his arms draped lazily over his chair. Unlike the others, he showed no interest in diplomacy or the weight of leadership. The torchlight flickered across his piercing golden eyes, revealing a smirk playing on his lips.
Escarion's presence alone was overwhelming. His raw power sent shivers down the spines of even seasoned warriors. He was the kind of man who did not follow rules—he bent them.
"Your lack of patience is why you're all beneath me," Escarion continued, his tone dripping with arrogance.
Seated beside Ryojin, Jun Hikari exhaled through his nose, his fingers pressing lightly against his temple. Jun had remained silent throughout the meeting, listening, watching, analyzing. But Escarion's words demanded a response.
"Escarion," Jun said, his voice calm yet firm. "You always act as if power alone is the answer."
Escarion's smirk widened. "And yet, here we are, discussing problems that wouldn't exist if we had more of it."
A few of the elders exchanged glances, knowing that, as frustrating as he was, Escarion's strength was undeniable.
"The issue at hand," Renji Yukihana, elder of the Yukihana Clan, finally interjected, his voice low and cold, "is not just power. It's what lurks in the shadows. The Samodiva Clan was destroyed for a reason. Yet now, rumors say they are returning."
The room fell deathly silent.
Even Escarion's smirk faded.
The Samodiva Clan—the traitors who sought power from Satan himself—had been wiped out long ago. Their existence had been a stain on Yamato, and the six clans had united to destroy them.
But now, whispers in the wind spoke of their return.
Jun straightened in his seat, his sharp blue eyes now focused. "If that is true… we need to know how. And why."
Escarion chuckled, but this time, there was a dark edge to it.
"Oh, we'll know soon enough," he said. "But whether we act now or later, the outcome will be the same—whoever stands in my way will be erased."
Silence followed his words.
Jun studied him carefully. Escarion was dangerous—not just because of his power, but because he truly believed in his own invincibility.
"You're quick to make claims," Jun replied, his tone steady. "But what if the enemy is stronger than you expect?"
Escarion's golden eyes gleamed. "Then I'll make them fear me."
Renji Yukihana let out a long breath, shaking his head.
"Your arrogance will be your downfall, Escarion," he muttered.
Escarion merely grinned. "Then I guess we'll see who falls first."
Before anyone could respond, the heavy doors of the hall creaked open.
A messenger stepped inside, his face pale with fear. He stumbled forward, kneeling before the elders.
"Forgive me, Lords, but… we have received a report."
Ryojin Hikari furrowed his brows. "Speak."
The messenger gulped, his voice trembling.
"A survivor… has been found."
The room froze.
"A survivor?" Jun repeated. "Of what?"
The messenger lifted his head, his eyes filled with terror.
"The Samodiva Clan."
A heavy silence crashed over the meeting.
For the first time, even Escarion's smirk disappeared completely.
Something had begun. Something that could not be stopped.
The storm was here.
And Yamato would never be the same again.