Chapter 4: – Shadows Over Towns
The streets of Wado Town were strangely still that night.
A shiver ran through the back alleys, wrapping around burning street lamps that sent long, bent shadows across the ground. It was late at night, and only a handful of people moved the concrete arteries of the city — street cleaners, nightwalkers, and the unfortunate ones going home late.
On the top of a crumbling roof, where neon lights could not penetrate, a figure stood still. Dressed in black robes adorned with peculiar designs, he gazed upon the town like a dark statue. His eyes softly glowed — not red, not blue, but something. unnatural.
A faint noise was heard from down below.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
A look had been cast up.
They saw nothing at first. Then a whisper, just a little louder than the wind: "Hey, innocents. I am your god. Let me put you out of your misery."
A crowd of four on the sidewalk stood still. One man — older, dressed in a work uniform—came forward slowly.
"H-Hey, who are you?"
The figure smiled. Not nicely.
"I am your death."
Before they could scream, the figure jumped. A black shape dropped out of the sky, and in his hand shone a long, cruel naginata, its curved edge glowing with a dark green light.
The man's voice was back — darker, deeper. "Ashes to ashes. Screams to silence."
Steel hit flesh.
The street was red-painted.
In seconds, the strangers were cold on the pavement. One attempted to crawl away, shaking, but the assailant stepped daintily over and pulled his knife slowly across the cement.
"There is no god in Ryuki. only me."
The Next Day — Headquarters of Ryuki Dojo
Sun had hardly kissed the tops of buildings in Ryuki City when fear spread.
Word of it ran like wildfire. Six were killed in Wado Town. Witnesses? None — or at least it appeared that way.
In the magnificent Ryuki Dojo, Master Hoshin Maru sat silently at the conference table, drinking tea, eyes intent, still as a stone. Only the faraway ringing of bells in the courtyard broke the stillness.
Then the huge wooden doors swung open.
A youthful officer entered, sweating and pale, supporting an old man with faltering steps.
"He witnessed it, Master Maru," the officer breathed.
The old man fell to his knees in front of the dojo master.
"I didn't want to see it. I didn't want to," he breathed, trembling. "I saw it through the slit in my curtain. I live on that street. I—I saw everything."
Hoshin Maru set his cup down carefully. "Tell me. What did you witness?"
The man's eyes grew large as if reliving the nightmare.
"He stood there. like a demon. Not human. Not even close. His face—his face was scarred from his forehead to his cheek, right through the left eye. A huge cut. But he didn't bleed."
"A scar?"
"Yes. It glowed when the streetlights shone on it. And his eyes. dark green fire. I swear to the gods, Master, I saw them burning like they were alive!"
The officer's posture became rigid. Hoshin Maru stood up.
"This is no common murderer," he said to himself.
"What else did you observe?"
"A naginata," the man replied. "Black, like ink. It sang when it moved. Not a noise I can ever forget."
Later during the afternoon, the city guards posted advertisements all over the streets:
WANTED – Unknown Wado Town attacker. Do not approach. Report sightings.
Gossip twisted through the city like creeper vines — some told of a Yuzen assassin's return. Others spoke of a cursed offspring of Ryuki, exiled years before. But none recognized the truth.
And somewhere distant from the din, concealed between shadows and wind, stood the man once more. observing the city he had once known.
"This is just the start," he murmured to himself, and disappeared into the darkness.
Hoshin Maru's eyes blazed with rage as he faced the quivering old man standing before him. His own voice was calm, but it was sharpened with cold steel.
"Worry not, elder. Whoever this butcher is, he won't be roaming this earth long. I'll see to that."
He nodded to the officer standing next to him. "See this man home. Have someone guard him. I don't want another innocent falling under our care."
The officer saluted and quietly escorted the old man away.
When the doors closed, Hoshin Maru moved to the center of the room and struck the ancient bell made from dragonbone—a summons that only called in the most powerful mages of Ryuki.
In a matter of minutes, the room was packed with the city's elite — warriors wearing spell-infused armor, staves vibrating with power, and fire, water, air, and darkness flowing like living offshoots of their abilities. Veon Ryuki led the pack, his red cloak fluttering ever so slightly from the spiritual tension in the air. His gaze was unflinching.
Hoshin Maru spoke to all of them.
"This is no ordinary killer. He's calculating, thoughtful, and without fear. The assault in Wado Town was a declaration of war on our peace. Every one of you will have a key district. Patrol with all your senses. If you catch him—"
Hoshin's tone grew dark.
"—kill him."
Veon moved forward, hungry. "Master, where am I to go?"
"Drake Town. Three days. You're young, Veon… but this is the time to make you a true Ryuki."
Veon saluted. "I won't disappoint."
Later that evening, Veon opened the door to his home, setting his staff by the entrance.
Ryden sat at the low table, quietly sipping his tea. The room was dimly lit, but the tension was warm, filled with unspoken pride.
Veon bowed slightly. "Father."
Ryden looked up, a subtle smile tugging at the edge of his lips. "What did Master Hoshin say?"
"I've got three days in Drake Town. I think. It's my turn to prove myself."
Ryden put his cup down with a quiet ring and stood up. He put a hand on the shoulder of Veon.
"I believe in you, son. If you get your hands on that bastard. Let him pay. For Wado. For our people."
From the corridor, concealed behind the slightly ajar sliding door, Auren observed the exchange in silence.
His heart hurt—he is anxious about veon''
He kept going quietly and returned to his room.
The moon hung high over Drake Town that evening, casting a silver light over the rooftops.
Veon stood atop a high watchtower, his black duster blowing. His gaze swept the still town below — stores shuttered, lights dimmed, silence spanning the horizon. His staff leaned against his back, a tiny magical globe hovering close to him to enhance his senses.
A shivering voice cut the silence.
"Oh my dinner… It's a pleasure to meet you… Veon Ryuki."
Veon spun around.
On a rooftop close by, there stood a towering figure in blood-hued robes. His face was covered by a worn white mask in the form of a wolf's cranium. At his side, a naginata vibrated with purple energy, singing an otherworldly song.
Veon narrowed his eyes. "Who are you?"
"Ashes to ashes. screams to silence.".
Your lives were nothing but flashes of lightning in a storm —and I am the storm that extinguishes. No prayers will find their way to your gods tonight. Only the ring of my blade… and your last breath."
The figure laughed, his voice echoing against the roof tiles as he tapped the bottom of his naginata on them.
"Names are for the living. You won't need mine."
Abruptly, the masked man sprang towards Veon like a bolt of lightning, the naginata flashing through the air.
Veon only had time to call up a barrier. Sparks erupted as magic met blade.