Vrroooom… vrroooom…
The quiet town stirred as several sleek black vehicles rolled in like shadows sliding over wet stone. Dust lifted from the dirt road, curling at their tires. Doors opened. Boots touched ground. Mei stepped out, her coat swaying lightly in the breeze, eyes scanning the streets like a hawk. Her agents followed without a word, each one sharp and ready.
They'd come looking. For him. For Executioner.
And Rina.
A young man with brown hair tied loosely behind his head was walking by, hands in his pockets, chewing gum like life didn't have anything urgent to offer. Takashi. Mei stepped forward with a calm grace that only years of control could teach. Her voice was polite, but it held weight.
"Hello," she said. "Please, can I talk to you for a minute?"
Takashi paused, lifting his brows, lips curled in a casual smile. "Ohhh, whatever. Sure."
Mei moved closer, the wind brushing strands of her hair past her cheek. Her eyes didn't waver.
"Have you seen two Japanese? A man and a woman."
Takashi tilted his head slightly. That was a strange question. Japanese tourists came through here sometimes, but they never stayed long. Still…
"There were two, yeah… they stayed a little longer than usual," he muttered.
Mei stepped a little closer, voice firm now. "Have you heard a name? Executioner?"
Takashi blinked. That name didn't ring any bells. He shook his head slowly.
"Rina?" Mei added, watching him closely.
"Rina, Rina…" he repeated softly to himself. "Like I've heard that name somewhere…"
He stared into space for a moment. The memory drifted in slowly, like smoke curling under a door. He remembered now. That guy — strange fellow — used to say that name sometimes. Called it out like it meant more than life.
Mei leaned forward slightly, searching his face. "Do you know them?"
Takashi snapped out of his thoughts, eyes widening slightly. "Yeah. I think I do. I can show you where they lived. If you want."
Mei nodded once, eyes gleaming with satisfaction.
Shota, her second-in-command, leaned in and whispered, "Mrs. Mei, can we trust him?"
She blinked once — slowly — and gave a short nod. That was her answer.
Takashi pointed down the road. "That way," he said. "Straight down, past the market."
Mei thanked him, already turning back toward her team.
They climbed into their luxurious black car. The sun reflected off the polished metal, and the engine purred like a beast barely leashed. Takashi stared after them, eyes wide. He'd never seen anything like it.
He ran up again, panting lightly. "Ma'am, I don't think I showed you clearly. Maybe I could… sit in the car and give the directions better?" he said, grinning.
Mei chuckled, an actual smile playing at her lips. "Why not? Come."
The door opened. He stepped in, grinning like a fool.
---
In the forest…
The air changed.
Executioner stood tall, body still glowing faintly with green lightning. His eyes burned like the sky before a storm. The monster across from him — a hulking thing, skin stretched thin over bones that shouldn't move — stepped forward. No, charged. Both figures shot toward each other like meteors on a collision course.
They collided with a roar that cracked the air. The ground shook. Even the trees seemed to flinch.
Executioner slid back, boots grinding against the dirt. The monster rose higher, its massive blade now crackling with dark power. Purple energy spiraled up the hilt. Its voice boomed low and foul as it muttered dark words, and the sword grew. Grew and grew, until it was broader than five trees and longer than the sky could hold.
Rina covered the children's eyes, her voice trembling. "Don't look…"
Executioner didn't flinch. Lightning danced along his skin. His sword pulsed, ready.
But the monster didn't swing.
Instead — it summoned them.
A storm of blades. Sixteen thousand, eight hundred and fifty-three heavenly spirit swords tore through the sky, each one humming with the echo of ancient souls. They came down fast. Executioner leapt high, meeting them midair. His blade moved like lightning — striking, blocking, deflecting — but the numbers were too much.
One sword slipped through, slicing his cheek. Blood ran. More swords came, screaming through the sky. Executioner twisted, dove, and struck them away. One blade spiraled down, aimed straight for Rina and the kids. He moved faster than pain, intercepting it mid-flight.
Then one drove into his back.
Executioner gasped.
He hit the ground, but stayed up. One hand pressed to the wound. His teeth clenched. Another sword came. He swung and missed. The blade pierced his shoulder. Another — his chest. Then his side. His mouth opened in a silent cry as he staggered back, barely holding on.
Rina screamed, her voice raw.
Executioner staggered forward, forming a weak array to shield them. It shimmered weakly — a shell of light ready to break. And it did. The next three blades cracked through it. He threw himself in front of them, taking the hits again. Blood painted the earth.
But still… he stood.
The monster laughed. It was not a laugh that belonged to anything living. It echoed like bones falling down a pit.
Executioner flew back into the sky, weak, his limbs trembling. The spirit swords faded, but his blood still fell like rain.
The monster rose to meet him. A second wind of evil.
Executioner's face twisted. Blood dripped from his mouth. He held his sword tightly — fingers broken, breath short.
He moved.
He flew with a roar, sword lifted to strike. But the monster met him halfway — and drove its blade through Executioner's stomach.
His body jerked in the air. Pain erupted across his face. He gripped the monster's wrist, holding on through the agony.
"Rina…" he whispered.
The monster smiled with cracked lips, then shoved the blade deeper before yanking it out.
Executioner fell.
His body hit the ground like thunder. The impact cracked the dirt beneath him.
He didn't move.
Not even a twitch.