Chapter 10: The Keeper’s Warning

Kaizen pushed through the mist-covered village, his thoughts clouded by the revelation of the warriors bound to the shards. Every step seemed heavier, as though the ground itself resisted him.

Behind him, Itsuro appeared as if from nowhere, leaning casually against a crumbled stone wall.

"I see you survived the village guardians," Itsuro said with a crooked smile. "Impressive. Most would've been torn to pieces by now."

Kaizen stopped but didn't turn to face him. "What do you want?"

"Want?" Itsuro's tone was mocking. "You make it sound as though I have some grand scheme. No, Kaizen, I'm here to warn you. These shards… they're not what you think they are."

Kaizen turned, his crimson eyes narrowing. "And what are they, then?"

Itsuro stepped closer, tapping his staff against the ground. "The shards of Eternity are fragments of an ancient seal. Together, they imprisoned the Great Void—an entity so powerful it could devour the very fabric of reality."

Kaizen's grip on his blade tightened. "And you expect me to believe that?"

Itsuro shrugged. "Believe what you will. But every shard you claim weakens the seal. You think you're saving your precious Sayuri, but in truth, you're setting something far worse free."

Kaizen's jaw clenched. "If that's true, why are you hunting the shards?"

Itsuro's smile faded. "Because someone has to stop fools like you from destroying the world."

The Demon's Temptation

As night fell, Kaizen sat by a small fire, replaying Itsuro's warning in his mind. Could the shards truly be as dangerous as the man claimed?

"He's lying," Kuragami whispered, his voice slithering through Kaizen's thoughts. "The Great Void is a myth—a story told to frighten weak souls. The shards are keys to power, nothing more."

"And yet you pushed me to claim them," Kaizen muttered under his breath. "What aren't you telling me, Kuragami?"

The demon chuckled darkly. "You'll learn the truth soon enough, monk. But for now, trust this—without the shards, you will never save her."

Kaizen stared into the flames, his resolve wavering. Was he truly saving Sayuri, or was he merely a pawn in a much larger game?

The Next Shard

The following day, Kuragami guided Kaizen to an ancient shrine nestled deep within a jagged canyon. The structure was nearly buried by time, its once-grand pillars reduced to rubble.

"The shard lies within," Kuragami said. "But beware, monk. This place is sacred to the Snake of Eternal Venom. You will face trials beyond your understanding."

Kaizen entered the shrine cautiously, his senses on high alert. The air was thick with the stench of decay, and the faint sound of hissing echoed through the corridors.

At the shrine's center, he found the shard, glowing faintly atop an altar. But as he approached, the ground trembled, and the walls seemed to come alive, shifting and writhing like scales.

A massive serpent slithered into view, its emerald eyes glowing with malice. Its voice was a low, menacing hiss. "Who dares disturb my domain?"

Kaizen drew his blade, the veins in his arms darkening as he summoned Kuragami's power. "I'm here for the shard."

The serpent laughed, a sound that reverberated through the chamber. "Foolish monk. Do you think you can take it without consequence? Prove your worth, or be devoured."

The Trial of Venom

The serpent lunged, its fangs dripping with venom that sizzled as it struck the ground. Kaizen dodged, his movements swift and precise, but the creature's speed was unmatched.

"You cannot defeat me with brute force," the serpent hissed. "Your strength is meaningless without conviction."

Kaizen's mind raced. The serpent wasn't merely a beast—it was a test. He sheathed his blade and stood his ground, his breathing steady.

"I seek the shard not for power, but for redemption," Kaizen said. "If you stand in my way, I will face you. But know this—I will not falter."

The serpent paused, its emerald eyes narrowing. "Conviction… such a rare trait among mortals. Very well, monk. I will grant you my blessing."

The creature coiled around the shard, merging with it in a burst of light. When the glow faded, the shard was embedded in Kaizen's palm, its power coursing through him like fire.

The Seeds of Doubt

As Kaizen left the shrine, the weight of the shard's power bore down on him. He could feel the venomous essence of the serpent intertwining with his own, its whispers echoing alongside Kuragami's.

"You are becoming something more," Kuragami said, his tone almost admiring. "Something greater than a mere monk. But beware, Kaizen. The more shards you claim, the more the world will fear you."

Kaizen clenched his fists, his determination unwavering. He didn't care if the world turned against him. He would save Sayuri, no matter the cost.

But as he ventured further into the unknown, a lingering question gnawed at the edges of his mind. Was Itsuro right? Was he unleashing something far more dangerous than he could imagine?