One-The koji

Amidst the towering trees of the Akatsuki forest, the sunlight filtered through the dense capony like scattered shards of glass.The forest was always dark, even on the most hottest days as the thick, towering trees prevented the sunlight to escape to the ground, giving it a haunted aura, as it was already. Ryuu moved with the grace of a shadow,hardly making any sound as he strode , his slender form in flowing dark robes blending seemlessly with the dark forest. His long dark hair billowed behind him like smoke, caught in an invisible breeze as he navigated the landscape with purpose.

The air was thick , Ryuu could feel its presence lurking in the shadows, a predator that had stalked the southern village, leaving destruction in its wake.He ventured deep into the forest, his sharp grey eyes glowing in the semi dark forest as he followed a track that the monster had left.The forest was home to small creatures but, as he had been told by the villagers, these animals had started to disappear slowly, sometimes bones of these animals would be found at the edge of the forest, striking fear through the villager but noone dared to travel deep into the forest.

He covered his nose with the sleeves of his robes as the smell of decomposed flesh assaulted him. The source of the pungent odour became obvious, as he reached a small clearing.About a dozen of decomposed bodies were thrown around, all in male robes, mostly missing thier entrails.Ryuu swiftly turned his gaze to his side, as a very beautiful women, stood a few meters away, having emerged from behind a tree,her yellow robes painted in dark blood. Her eyes were wide, frightened even, and she sank on the ground, crying

''Help me, please.It's trying to kill me.''

Ryuu stood, emotionless and unfazed by the woman. He had spent years hunting monsters.

"where is this creature that you're afraid of?''

The women raised her eyes, her face of pure innocence,

''l...I don't know. I escaped, it took me here''

Ryuu narrowed his grey eyes, he had spent years hunting monster, some in children form and even old people's form.

''The creature that you're speaking about doesn't take women,thus all these dead bodies here, are males, "he stepped forward," l suggest you turn yourself and face the punishment by the Great Shaman' s law'

The women, understanding that she had failed, dropped her acting and bared her teeth at him.

''You! Noone dares to threaten me. You will die by my claws.,'' gone was the gentle human voice but rather a sketchy shrieking voice in its place. The Koji, like many demons had seemed to only exist in human fantasy and mythology until about a hundred years ago. The black scorpion mages, known for thier dark magic had opened underworld portals to the human world. A power hungry tactic, meant to instill fear and submission.Through the barrier of the four winds, an arcane protective structure that had been instilled by the most powerful mages that had first ruled the Empire alongside the Emperor. The barrier want not just a physical force but a spiritual and magical shield formed by the runes etched into the four elements, earth, water, fire, air of the land. The runes were tied to the very essence of the Empire allowing it to remain untouched by external magical forces. This had protected the Empire for thousands of years , but the barrier was only able to prevent forces from entering from outside but it wasn't able to prevent them from entering from within.When Yakima and the black scorpions had opened the portals, they had opened them in the boundaries of the Empire, this allowed the demons to come into the kingdom but they couldn't cross its boundaries to other lands,making the Empire isolated from the rest of the world,leaving it to deal with its own problems.

With the demons at his side, Yakima, the leader overthrew the monarchy. He hated monarchies as he believed they were heavily corrupted, failed to serve the citizens and furthermore, the Emperors inherited the leadership without earning it. The black scorpions controlled the empire to thier will, forcing anything to bend or break to thier will . He was worshipped as the one who controlled the fabric of existence, the Overlord . The constant access to the dark worlds had driven the powerful mage leader into madness and unnecessary blood had been shed.The dark overlord had been defeated but the dark creatures still lingered in the human realm creating havoc and destruction.

Ryuu stood undaunted, his hand reaching inward as he summoned his sword. The blade materialize in his hand, with a silver hilt and scarlet dragon engraved along the steel.

'Then l have no choice but to take your head.' he declared, his voice steady and commanding, echoing through the clearing. The female Koji shredded the human form, its natural form, bluish leathery skin,large slanted ears, black pointy horns emerging from its head. The Koji lunged forward, fangs bared and claws poised to strike. Time seemed to slow as Ryuu's instincts took over. He sidestepped with fluid precision, as the beasts claws grazed the air, where he moments had stood. In one swift motion, he raised his sword, the scarlet dragon engraved on the silver blade glimmering as if coming to life at his behest.

With a swift arc, Ryuu's struck. The blade connected with the koji's abdomen and it roared in pain. Blood, dark and hot spattered the ground amid the foliage. Ryuu pressed forward, each move, a fluid dance of death.

The Koji retaliated, baring it's long sharp fangs and leaping forward. Ryuu ducked and rolled,loosing his hold on his sword. The Koji smiled, a squishy sound at the realization that his sword was now a few meters away from him on the moist earth. It turned its yellow eyes on him, preparing to strike a fatal blow.

Breathing heavily, Ryuu stepped back,just as the Koji lunged at him with all its mighty, sharp claws ready to rip him apart.He closed his grey eyes and with a thought, he commanded his sword, It flew into his hand instantly,quicker than the blink of an eye.The air shimmered with a surge of power and he drove the sword deep into the creature's heart. A terrible agonizing cry escaped as it crumpled to the floor with one final convulsion, dead.

Ryuu knelt beside the fallen creature and pressed his sword on its neck, the sword cutting neatly through flesh and bone. He grabbed the bluish hair, lifting the koji's head.Standing tall, he gazed through the trees towards the village and started walking, it's head, heavy in his hand .