The Path Of No Return

The Silver Curse – Volume 3, Chapter 8: The Path of No Return

Mira's Fate – A Life on the Brink:

Pain

That was all Mira knew as her consciousness flickered between reality and fevered hallucinations. A deep, searing wound tore through her abdomen, every breath sending white-hot agony through her body. She barely remembered what had happened—only the look in Yuto's eyes when his sword pierced her.

Not hesitation. Not shock. Nothing.

Somewhere nearby, voices murmured, muffled and distant. The scent of medicinal herbs filled her nostrils, mixed with the cold scent of damp stone. She was alive. But where?

Slowly, Mira's eyes fluttered open, the dim glow of lanterns illuminating a small, enclosed space. A makeshift infirmary—tattered curtains, a few worn cots, and shelves stacked with crude healing supplies.

A figure sat beside her. A woman with sharp amber eyes and a scar running down her cheek. "You're awake," she said simply, not looking up from the herbs she was grinding.

Mira swallowed hard, her throat dry. "Where—?"

"A healer's outpost. Some mercenaries found you bleeding out near the ruins and brought you here. You're lucky." The woman finally met her gaze, expression unreadable. "Most people don't survive wounds like that."

Mira shivered. She shouldn't have survived.

Yuto hadn't held back.

Her fingers curled weakly into the sheets. He had walked away. Left her there.

She bit back a sharp inhale as she tried to sit up, but the pain was instant and merciless. The healer's gaze turned sharp. "Don't move. You'll rip your stitches."

Mira barely heard her. She had to find him. She had to bring him back—

But even as the thought formed, doubt crept in.

Would Yuto even listen to her anymore?

Yuto's Descent – The Curse Tightens Its Hold

Far from the healer's outpost, in the depths of an abandoned stronghold, Yuto sat in silence.

His sword rested against his lap, the metal still stained with Mira's blood. He hadn't bothered to clean it.

The whispers had returned, louder than before.

You hesitated.

She should be dead.

Why do you care?

He exhaled slowly, gripping the hilt until his knuckles turned white. The answer should have been simple.

He didn't care.

…Did he?

A soft chuckle echoed from the darkness. Selphira.

"Second-guessing yourself already?" she mused, stepping into the dim firelight. Her crimson eyes gleamed as she studied him. "I expected more from you, Yuto."

He didn't respond. He had no energy for her games tonight.

Selphira moved closer, one finger tracing the edge of his blade. "You did well. She was holding you back. And yet…" Her gaze flickered toward him. "You haven't finished embracing what you've become."

Yuto's jaw clenched. "I didn't hesitate."

"No?" Selphira smirked. "Then why did you leave her alive?"

A long silence stretched between them.

Yuto forced himself to meet her gaze. "What do you want?"

Selphira smiled, slow and deliberate. "To welcome you properly. It's time for your first mission."

Yuto's fingers flexed around his sword hilt. A test. Another step toward sealing his fate.

He should have said no.

Instead, he exhaled. "What's the mission?"

Lina & Lyra – Closing In"Are you sure this is the right place?"

Lina scanned the outskirts of the crumbling town, her grip tightening on her sword. Lyra stood beside her, frowning as she adjusted the strap of her satchel.

"The rumors say a masked warrior passed through here," Lyra murmured. "A man wielding inhuman strength. If that's not Yuto, I don't know who it could be."

Lina felt something in her chest tighten. They were close.

Too close.

She had spent weeks searching, fighting off bandits, questioning travelers—all leading here. But after so long, what would she even say to him when they met?

"Lina."

She snapped out of her thoughts to find Lyra watching her carefully.

"Are you ready for this?"

Lina didn't hesitate. She had to be.

"Let's find him."

The Demon Army's Next Move – Yuto's First Command

The air in the demon stronghold was heavy with anticipation.

Selphira stood on the overlook, gazing down at Yuto's new unit. A dozen hardened warriors—some demons, some humans who had abandoned their old allegiances.

They did not bow to him. Not yet.

"They follow only the strong," Selphira said, stepping beside him. "If you want them to listen, prove to them you deserve their loyalty."

Yuto didn't respond. His gaze settled on his blade.

Selphira smirked. "Your first mission is simple. There's an adventurer outpost a day's travel from here. Wipe them out. No survivors."

Yuto's fingers twitched.

His mind flickered to Lina, Mira, . To the life he had before.

And then… he let it go.

"Understood."

Selphira smiled. "Good. Then go. And don't hold back."

The Convergence – A Deadly Collision Awaits:

As the sun dipped beyond the horizon, three fates began to collide.

Mira, weakened but alive, swore to find Yuto again—even if it meant risking everything.

Lina and Lyra followed the trail, their determination burning brighter than ever.

And Yuto, walking the path of no return, prepared to lead his first massacre.

None of them knew the truth.

The outpost Yuto was ordered to destroy?

Lina and Lyra were already heading straight for it.

End of Chapter 8