Chapter Three

The nightmare gripped him like a vice, clawing at the edges of his mind until his eyes snapped open. Sweat slicked his face as Genkei bolted upright, his breaths shallow, his chest heaving.

The dream was always the same—a vision of fire, of screaming faces, of blood pooling in the streets where his family once laughed.

His hand instinctively moved to the hilt of the half-blood sword resting by his side. The blade's blackened steel shimmered faintly in the dim light of the stables.

And then, as if on cue, the voice began.

#You should give up this mission of yours,# came the low, growling tone of Gyakutai, the demon king bound within the sword. #Let me go, you toy with things you have no idea whatsoever about, forces far older than time itself. you keep me as prisoner, but you, you have become your own Jailer and prisoner,#

"Shut up," Genkei muttered, his voice raw. He turned to glare at the cursed blade, his jaw tight, his knuckles white as they gripped the scabbard. The voice was as sharp as the blade itself, cutting through his thoughts like a dagger.

The laughter that followed was deep and rumbling, filled with venom. #You grow weaker, swordsman. Your Life force it is slipping away ever so slightly, Do you really think you can outrun them, do you think you can destroy me, They will find you. And when they do, they'll kill you. Without me, you're nothing. And when they have this sword, chaos will spread across this land. I kept that chaos in check for centuries. But you—your petty vendetta will doom them all#

Genkei's fury flared. He sprang to his feet, his shadow stretching long across the stable as moonlight poured through the cracks in the walls. "Enough! You'll pay for what you did, It's all that matters and not until I see you pay for what you did to me, to them, I will nevre stop,"

The voice sharpened, mocking. #Foolish human, how naive you are, to think that you have such power at your finger tips yet onlt seek so little, so shallow, pitiful! #

"Shut up!" Genkei roared, his voice echoing through the stable. The horses nearby shifted uneasily, their hooves clattering against the wooden floor.

He tore his gaze away from the sword and stormed toward the stable door, slamming it open with a burst of strength. The cool night air hit him like a wave, but it did little to calm his burning rage. Every step he took away from the cursed blade felt heavier, like the sword's presence was seeping into his very bones.

Behind him, the voice followed, relentless. #You will fail swordsman, and when you do, I will finish what I started.#

But Genkei didn't look back. His only thought now was to keep moving. If he stayed in Dukai any longer, the villagers would start asking questions. Questions led to whispers, and whispers led to hunters and hunters attracted demons.

He couldn't afford that. Not now. Not ever.

... Elsewhere in Ode...

The Pit was a sea of bodies, strewn haphazardly like broken toys. Blood soaked the earth, mixing with the faint glow of lingering demon chi that clung to the corpses. Surika stood amidst the carnage, her crimson eyes gleaming as she surveyed her work.

The twins were dead, as were the other warriors who had foolishly tried to resist her. Their screams had been delicious, but ultimately, they'd proven useless. No amount of torture could draw from them the information she sought.

Her lips curled into a sneer. "Humans. Always so fragile. So useless."

The thought of her next move brought a name to her lips. Hilde.

The path dealer had always been reliable—if aggravatingly opportunistic. He was a demon whose loyalty lay only with himself, but his knack for information made him a valuable tool to all. If anyone could give her an edge, it was him.

As if summoned by her thoughts, Hilde appeared in a swirl of black smoke behind her. His thin, angular frame was draped in dark robes, his golden eyes alight with curiosity.

"You called me," he said, his voice smooth, almost playful.

"I didn't call you, wretch," Surika snapped, not bothering to turn around.

"But you were going to. My birds have been watching," Hilde's gaze wandered to the corpses littering the field. He licked his lips, his sharp teeth glinting in the dim light.

"Quite the feast you've laid out here. Generous, as always."

"They're yours—once you've done what I need," Surika said, her tone cold.

Hilde's grin widened, his sharp features gleaming with amusement. "Oh, but that's not how this works, my dear. You make the offer. I decide what it's worth."

Surika's eyes flicked toward him, sharp as daggers. "Fine. I need help finding the swordsman, He is likely far away from this dump. My guess is you've already sold the same information to the other heads. I don't care. I need to get to him first."

Hilde chuckled, his laughter echoing unnaturally across the field. "Oh, you always assume the worst of me. But I can't blame you, The swordsman, no demon can track him,"

"Then find me something that can," Surika hissed. "Dragon magic, perhaps. It's the opposite of demon magic, Surely you know of something that can give me the edge."

Hilde's laughter stopped abruptly. He tilted his head, considering her words. "I see you want to impress Lord Kujah, I warn you Lord Kujah is a hard one to please anyway Dragon magic, hmm? That might actually work. But it won't come cheap, dragon magic never comes cheap, the right dragon magic? Even costlier, dear Surika. A few corpses oozing with demon magic won't cut it.I will need a real feast for me and my birds,"

Surika stepped closer, her presence towering despite her human form. "You'll get what you desire But if you dare betray me, Hilde…" Her voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. "…I'll make you wish for death."

Hilde smirked, unfazed. "Always a pleasure doing business with you." With that, he vanished, leaving only the faint scent of sulfur behind.

Surika watched the empty space where he'd stood, her fists clenched. Her form shimmered briefly, her true demon form threatening to break through. But she calmed herself, letting the disguise of a young, beautiful woman—Ki—return.

Dukai would be her next stop. She would wait there until Hilde returned with what she needed. One way or another, she would find the swordsman and claim a place for herself under Lord Kujah.