Chapter 1: The Moonless Night
The forest was suffocating, dark and oppressive under a moonless sky. The trees stood like silent sentinels, their gnarled limbs twisting together as if whispering secrets to the void. Not a single sound broke the stillness, save for the faint rustle of leaves in the damp air. A heavy silence wrapped the woods—the kind that heralds death, ancient and inevitable.
Renzoku moved carefully, his footsteps light and calculated, eyes scanning the shifting shadows. His pale skin and long white hair blended seamlessly with the darkness, making him almost invisible. He trusted no one. His katana rested against his back, its familiar weight a silent reassurance.
His senses were sharp, honed by years of surviving in places like this. He had seen beasts lurking in these woods—creatures twisted by unnatural forces, shadows that stalked without sound. He knew better than to let his guard down.
A low growl cut through the silence.
Renzoku halted, every muscle tensing. His sharp gaze locked onto a pack of hounds tearing into the carcass of some unfortunate prey. Their fur was matted with grime, their fangs dripping with fresh blood. Their eyes burned red, feral and unrelenting.
He crouched low, the shadows curling around him as he held his breath. He had encountered beasts like these before, but the terrain worked against him. The pack was large, their hunger palpable. Even with his skill, fighting them all would be reckless.
Then the forest trembled.
A deep, rumbling growl filled the air, vibrating through the ground beneath his feet. The hounds stiffened, their ears flattening. Something more powerful had arrived.
The creature emerged from the shadows—a monstrous, wolf-like beast, its fur tainted and diseased, black veins pulsing across its grotesque form. Its eyes glowed with a malevolent red hue, hunger twisting its expression. This was no ordinary beast. It had been corrupted, transformed by forces beyond mortal comprehension.
The hounds barely had time to react before the monster struck. In an instant, three of them lay in mangled heaps, their bodies torn apart. The remaining two turned to flee, but the creature was faster. It lunged, its claws carving through their flesh, silencing their whimpers in a heartbeat.
Renzoku remained motionless, his hand resting on the hilt of his katana. He had witnessed countless creatures fall to corruption, but this one was different. More powerful. More dangerous.
The beast devoured its kill with terrifying speed, its insatiable hunger evident. Then, as if sensing something, it froze.
Its gaze snapped toward Renzoku.
A chill crawled up his spine. He knew the moment the creature locked onto his scent.
With a growl, it lunged.
The ground trembled as the beast tore through the air, claws aimed for his throat. Instinct took over. Renzoku rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the deadly swipe. The monster landed, its claws digging into the dirt, then whirled toward him again, its snarl reverberating through the trees.
Renzoku drew his katana in one fluid motion. The blade gleamed even in the suffocating darkness, a sharp contrast against the night. He struck fast, aiming for the creature's chest, but its hide was thick—resistant. It retaliated, claws slashing toward him.
He blocked the attack, his muscles straining against the sheer force. The impact sent him skidding back, his breath hitching. Pain flared in his side, but he had no time to register it.
The battle raged on, every movement precise, every strike calculated. The creature was relentless, its attacks brutal and unyielding. But Renzoku had fought countless beasts before. He maneuvered skillfully, dodging and countering, his blade slicing through vulnerable points—its joints, its underbelly. The wolf howled, blood staining its matted fur.
Its movements slowed.
Renzoku didn't hesitate. With a final, practiced motion, he drove his katana through the creature's heart.
The beast let out one last strangled roar before crumpling to the ground. Its glowing eyes dimmed, its massive form collapsing with a sickening thud.
Renzoku stood over the fallen monster, chest heaving, sweat and blood trickling down his brow. Pain throbbed through his body, but it was dull compared to the weight pressing on his soul.
Another corrupted beast. Another fight won.
And yet, nothing changed.
His katana, stained with fresh blood, hung loosely in his grip. He closed his eyes, forcing himself to steady his breathing. The frustration clawed at him, relentless and suffocating.
Years had passed since he had begun this journey—hunting the corrupted, slaying beasts twisted by darkness. He had grown stronger. He had survived. And yet…
'He remained the same.'
No new understanding. No awakening. His soul remained empty.
The thought gnawed at him. 'How long had it been?' Too long. So long that the idea of returning to his clan felt like admitting defeat.
But he had no choice.
Renzoku took a slow, measured breath, his gaze sweeping across the darkened forest. The path ahead was unclear, but he knew one thing for certain.
It was time to return.
To face the elders.
To face the truth.