Chapter 6 — The Deadly Duo

Before the sun rose, Aria and Tatsuya were on a mission, both dressed in all-black cloaks and wearing masks resembling a rogue organization.

Yagami could alter his appearance, physique, and power depending on the victim he used as a copy source. Here, Yagami instructed Aria and Tatsuya to help kidnap an important figure from the strongest kingdom, Solandis. If Yagami copied recklessly, his power would disappear, depending on the victim.

Yagami himself was waiting for the two of them, who had just been assigned the mission. He sat with his legs crossed in a secret room. In his mind, he had no other option but to use another's body, considering the aura of Yagami's original form exuded a strong demonic scent.

In the darkness of the city's corridors—near the kingdom of Solandis—they both kept running to be on time. Tatsuya unwrapped the bandages on his sword and extended his hand to the hilt, as if reciting a spell to activate his legendary weapon. Though it had been somewhat rusty and dark, it now glowed once more.

"Hey, Tatsuya-! Don't be reckless. I don't want this mission to fail, let alone make our master angry. Everything could change, including the system that's already in place.—Tenebrae no kage yo omnia devora!"—While murmuring, a massive scythe suddenly appeared in her hands, having just been unsealed by Yagami.

The old man—Tatsuya—stared at the massive, pitch-black scythe with a purple aura, stunned by it. He hadn't expected Aria to truly be the strongest among the demon race, just as Yagami had said. "Tch... don't underestimate me, young lady. Even though this body is old and frail, my courage remains unshaken."—As he said those words, he pulled up the hood of his cloak.

"Whatever... If this weren't an order from our master, I wouldn't bother cooperating. This is only slowing me down."—Aria, feeling competitive after realizing that Tatsuya would become Yagami's bodyguard, didn't seem pleased. Especially seeing Tatsuya's sword, which shone with golden-white light as a symbol of purity—it made her want to finish him off right then and there.

When they arrived at the kingdom of Solandis—a massive wall stood before them. The two skillfully leapt from the city's high towers, plunging straight into the resting area of the Solandis troops. The atmosphere was still quiet, and the sun had yet to rise. A few guards were on watch, about five of them, all just ordinary soldiers.

Aria, who was thirsting for suffering, quickly ran toward them—with a single slash, only one soldier managed to evade—while the others died gruesomely, their heads severed without uttering any last words or screams.

Tatsuya, who had just arrived and saw the soldiers' heads rolling, felt a pang of guilt but realized there was no other way. He was already too deeply involved, and if he rebelled, Yagami could kill him at any moment, depending on the situation.

Tatsuya ran from behind Aria, spotting the last remaining soldier—his body clad in iron armor, leaving only his eyes exposed. The soldier screamed internally, cornered in the room, trembling in fear as he saw the black-cloaked figure with a glowing golden sword approaching him.

Without hesitation, Tatsuya struck him down—the metallic scent of blood instantly filled the air as the soldier died a horrific death. However, just as Tatsuya was about to follow Aria's trail, a young man blocked his path—a reincarnated hero defending Solandis, or so it seemed. With red hair and shining blue eyes reflecting the moonlight, he pointed his katana at Tatsuya.

"Cih, coward-!" the young man muttered as he charged at Tatsuya, who was momentarily hesitant. Even so, Tatsuya managed to keep up with him, dodging every katana strike without taking a single scratch. There were no words to stop the fight; the two continued their deadly duel.

The sound of clashing swords echoed outside—the battle was evenly matched. Yet, no other soldiers came, seemingly fast asleep in peaceful rest.

Suddenly, the young man stepped back from Tatsuya's increasingly serious attacks. He was astonished by Tatsuya's skills, which felt strangely familiar to him. "Oy, what's your true goal? Killing innocent people who know nothing—you realize they're just ordinary soldiers forced into military service, don't you? And now you kill them—" before he could finish, Tatsuya had already attacked him without warning.

The young man suffered a deep slash on his arm, blood pouring out profusely. The katana he had been holding was flung far away. As he endured the pain, tears began to well up—little by little. He watched helplessly as Tatsuya slowly approached him, dragging his sword along the ground, the metallic sound of its friction echoing.

Tatsuya said nothing; he didn't want his identity exposed, considering he had once fought for Solandis. He picked up the young man's katana, which wasn't far from him, and threw it back toward him, as if telling him to fight again.

The young man, expecting to be executed the moment the katana was thrown, now saw Tatsuya giving him back the weapon—his expression turned into disbelief. He let out a hysterical laugh mixed with despair and muttered, "-ha-ha-ha! Fine, if that's what you want, I'll play along with your game."

The young man stood up and grabbed his katana. Even with his injured arm, he had some kind of passive magic that gradually healed his wounds—the injury glowed green as it healed.

He raised his katana, looking like a madman(?) pressing invisible buttons in the air—though Tatsuya saw nothing.

After doing so, the young man took a combat stance, ready to attack Tatsuya, who had been silently watching him. Now, his katana emitted flames, and it split into two, as if copied(?).

Seeing the young man seemingly ready to unleash his ultimate power, Tatsuya dashed forward, swinging his massive sword at him.

But this time, the young man was more agile than before, and his slashes were sharper. The grass around their dueling area was suddenly split apart by the waves of the katana strikes.

Tatsuya didn't understand what was happening—he was just an old hero unfamiliar with the powers of the new era. He retreated, jumping onto a nearby building.

But the young man, seeing him run, didn't give him a chance to catch his breath. Unlike Tatsuya, who seemed to need space, the young man relentlessly swung his swords. The sound of clashing weapons continued to echo in the air as the sun began to rise, casting its first light.

—However, as Tatsuya was struggling to keep up with the young man in midair, Aria suddenly leapt down from the upper floors of the castle, tightly gripping her blood-soaked scythe. In her other hand, she carried a man whose head was wrapped.

Aria dropped the man she was holding and grinned gleefully, seeing the young man fighting below with Tatsuya.

"Oyah-!? You seem to be struggling against a fly like him." —she muttered, and then dropped her scythe directly on the young man—severing his left arm, the one he used to heal his wounds. The young man screamed in agony, unable to hold it in any longer.

Without his left arm, the young man was reduced to nothing more than a crying figure. He knelt down, his severed arm leaving him with only his right hand clutching the katana. He muttered, "WHY!? WHY IS THIS WORLD SO CRUEL-! HUH!? I WAS BROUGHT BACK TO THIS WORLD TO BE A HERO? FUUUUCK!!!"

"Oyah!?—Weren't you acting tough earlier!? Hey... don't bore me; we don't have much time—"

Before Aria could finish mocking the young man, Tatsuya, who had been observing her brutal methods from behind, suddenly ran toward the terrified young man, who was cornered by the sight of Aria. With a flash of his golden sword, Tatsuya struck down the young man without letting him utter his final words.

Aria, displeased that her prey was taken just like that, turned her back on Tatsuya without much thought and took the chosen man, who would be offered to Yagami for copying. The man wore luxurious clothing, his head still wrapped, and he seemed to have just fainted.

"Cih..." With a sour expression, Aria walked away, leaving Tatsuya behind.

Tatsuya stood there, staring at the people who had just died by his hands and those killed by Aria.

"I... Have I truly become a demon? Ha-ha-ha! How pathetic." —after saying that, he left the scene of the massacre. The sun was now halfway risen. The stench of blood filled the morning air, yet no one had realized that their kingdom had just been torn apart by the deadly duo.