The Return of the Legends

A gloomy silence atmosphere could be felt. It filled the lifeless room of one of the heads of the east as if darkness, sadness, and failure filled the room alone. He sat alone on a chair in front of a round table while holding papers of classified swordsmen under his list in his hands. He looked at these papers one-by-one.

More papers were on his table till he heard a knock on the door and it opened. He put the papers underneath the table where there were multiple layers of small cabinets. He left a single paper on top of the round table and began reading it in silence. The unknown who walked in, reached the round table, stood tall, and awaited for his words.

"I- I have no choice, but to uh, task you on a dangerous mission, young one. Be careful out there," he murmured worriedly, handing him the paper, which he promptly took. He was afraid as darkness filled the room, until it suddenly began to rain outside, accompanied by a cool air blowing in from the window toward them.

"You've sent a few, but no reports after a while. They must've been killed along the way, lead," remarked the swordsman with a dark voice while handing back the paper, but he waved at him.

"Keep that along with you, let's wait for Rinkuri for the scroll you'll have. It is instructions you'll need along the way. And yeah, they must've been killed. I didn't expect it, it's just a classified mission. I told them to scout, but it seems some kind of enemy have spotted them. I should not have sent them, but sent someone like you instead, that is powerful enough to handle whoever is there," he said with regret as he exhaled a deep inhale. He felt melancholy as he clasped his fingers together and gazed out the window to his left, seeing the wind blowing the trees next to the building along with the heavy rain and feeling the cold.

Rinkuri arrived after a few hours. He handed over the scroll first to the head of the village before handing it over to the swordsman.

"Good luck to you," the head gave him a good luck. The swordsman bowed and nodded at him before vanishing in thin air like he was never there. He turned to his right and nodded at Rinkuri, who was a messenger swordsman. He also nodded at him before leaving the room, a gesture of sign of respect.

The head sighed in relief as the room was filled with loneliness. It stopped raining as soon as Rinkuri walked out of the room. The dark sky was slowly getting filled with a bright blue color along with the yellow light of the sun. It was beautiful as the cold breeze started to turn into a warmth and comforting breeze.

After a day, the head and Rinkuri meet again in the same room. Their eyes met as if there was a storm coming. The room was filled with tense and silence for a moment till Rinkuri spoke with a heavy chest.

"You called me, why?" He asked as he sat down on a chair in front of the round table, filling his thoughts with curiosity. He saw fear in the head's eyes realizing something bad might have happened.

"I want Shikari and Gakushin on this. Send them there as soon as possible," he said urgently with a serious expression on his face.

"They are currently mourning Rida's death. I'll tell them after they mourn," he said in a serious tone, making the head nod with relief.

"That will be fine... Wait, no, I change my mind. Tell them that I called them here for a specific matter. Both of them," he remarked while staring into Rinkuri's eyes. He nodded at him and immediately walked out of the room. He sighed in frustration as he cleared his throat and stared blankly at the table, seeing the papers of classified swordsmans he had sent to many unknown place.

A tall man stood solemnly before a gravestone, his gaze fixed upon it. The wind whispered through the air, carrying a weight of sorrow that seemed to intensify under the bright, unforgiving sun. Footsteps approached from his left, the rustle of leaves joining the symphony of emotions, yet he remained steadfast, unwilling to let the external world penetrate the heavy atmosphere surrounding him.

"She died in your hands... I'm sorry I couldn't be there for her and for you," the mysterious man's voice trembled with regret as he approached Shikari, the tall man before the gravestone. Shikari, bearing the weight of sorrow in his eyes, sighed deeply, his gaze finally meeting the remorseful stranger.

"Rida died in my hands because of that man. They were misunderstood, that lead to many deaths and multiple outcomes that made people suffer," he remarked, the weight of regret hanging heavily in his voice, each word a burden on his conscience. The newcomer, his friend Gakushin Gakure, kneeled before the grave, his touch on the cold stone expressing a profound sadness, as if realizing the truth that could've been avoided, leaving an indelible ache in their hearts. He put a small memorial flower before the gravestone next to the rose flowers that Shikari brought for her.

"Before she died, I remember you telling me that she warned you not to show any anger or you'll get consumed by it and end up nowhere and caused further damage," Gakushin Gakure recounted, standing and expressing his frustration with a mournful sigh. Yet, amidst the heavy emotions, a bittersweet warmth lingered in the air, as if Rida's wisdom had become a guiding light, offering solace in the midst of sorrow.

"We should leave now, let's-" Shikari Gakure uttered, his words abruptly stifled by an unexpected presence. They found a kneeling swordsman behind them, his intense gaze capturing attention. A hush fell, a tense quietude settling.

Gakushin's brows furrowed in solemn contemplation as he took a step back. "A messenger swordsman?" he pondered, observing Shikari approach the swordsman. The air hung heavy with curiosity, a silent inquiry echoing in the mountain breeze. The swordsman, slowly rising, bowed with a grace that spoke volumes of unspoken tales.

"I'm Rinkuri... The two of you are called to the heads office. He said he has a matter to discuss with you two," Rinkuri conveyed, his voice holding a solemn weight. Gakushin and Shikari exchanged puzzled glances, the mountain air charged with curiosity and anticipation.

At the heads office, the trio arrived, and Rinkuri bowed to an unknown figure standing in front of a round table. The unknown man nodded, and Rinkuri exited the room, leaving Shikari and Gakushin to face the enigmatic individual.

"You called us, why?" Shikari inquired.

"A matter to discuss, get to the point. Shimodo Rou," Gakushin added, his tone carrying a subtle menace.

"Five teams of swordsmen went missing last night. I'd like you two to go there and find out what's happening. That team I sent teleported a message here saying that the first teams I sent weren't there. And, I asked them as soon as they teleported the message and there was no response," Shimodo Rou, the unknown man, spoke with a stern demeanor. His gaze bore into Shikari and Gakushin, each word resonating with the weight of an ominous threat. The air in the room turned solemn, and an unspoken tension hung.

"Where?" Shikari pressed for an answer, maintaining a steady gaze into Shimodo Rou's eyes.

"The Mountain of the Zigaria. You two are my last hope. It's a classified mission. When you find them, locate a scroll, the information about their mission is there. Be careful, and I... apologize for being careless," Shimodo Rou lowered his head, a gesture of sincerity.

Shikari and Gakushin exchanged nods, acknowledging the gravity of their task. They left the room promptly, driven by a sense of duty. Meanwhile, Shimodo Rou raised a piece of the round table and retrieved a piece full of papers, each bearing the details of the swordsmen he had sent to the mountain, now feared lost.

The table resembled a double pizza, with one on top and another below, attached to a movable wood underneath, creating a seamless and convenient design. He heard a knock, and the door swung open. Two men entered, fixing their gaze on him as they approached. The mood in the room shifted, an unspoken tension settling in.

"You look sad, Rou. They've left for the mission. They've departed. You should be happy," one of the men spoke while smiling. Shimodo Rou remained silent, reading the paper detailing the personal background of an unknown swordsman.

Outside the gate, a shadowy figure approached, walking out of the forest, leaving no discernible footsteps. Gradually, a dark human figure materialized, leaving traces of footsteps behind. The guards, finally noticing him, assumed defensive positions as the atmosphere around the figure grew dark and intimidating.

Suddenly, the unknown dark figure vanished into thin air and reappeared in front of the gate in the blink of an eye. The guards were immediately seated on the ground, visibly shocked by the mysterious display of speed.

All of a sudden, a sword descended from the sky toward the unknown dark figure, who had transformed into a completely shadowy being. The tip of the blade was about to hit his face when, in a swift motion, he dodged it by simply turning his head.

The tip of the blade hit and pierced through the ground behind him. The unknown figure glanced in the distance and saw Gakushin waving at him while approaching.

"You're a Dark Mob? You're new, dangerous. But it doesn't matter," the unknown heard a whisper behind him that immediately made him turn around. As soon as he pivoted, he saw a sword blade about to decapitate him, and a man standing there.

"Teleport?!" thought furiously the dark mob as he kneeled and dodged the blade, but that's what he thought. He was sliced into numerous pieces, yet he remained alive. Stuck on the ground, he looked up as Shikari stared at him menacingly.

"Dull creature," he sneered, his voice dripping with disdain, as he raised his sword with his right arm, ready to thrust it into the dark mob's head and bring an end to the clash. Suddenly, he noticed a kimono emerging slowly on the body, a shadowy garment materializing like a phantom veil. A menacing shiver ran down his spine, freezing him in place, as Gakushin sensed another presence lurking inside the dark mob, an enigma within the shadows.

"Shikari! Behind you!" Gakusin shouted while pulling out his sword with his right hand. He suddenly propelled himself forward, and Shikari turned as soon as he heard the shout. He saw a darkening hand flying in the air, about to grab his face. His eyes widened for a moment, but suddenly he vanished from where he was standing and appeared behind the hand, a distance away from it.

He turned, ready to make his move, but the menacing hand and the dark mob vanished, leaving only Gakushin Gakure standing there. The threat was gone.

"They vanished! That hand! It came out of a dark portal!" Gakushin exclaimed, frustration evident as he resheathed his blade. Shikari appeared at his side, tapping his shoulder.

"Learning that teleportation sorcerer technique came in handy thanks to Kuro and to you," Shikari thanked him. They both turned to see countless soldiers approaching.

"Tell them to double the guards, and at least one Shira swordsman should be guarding this gate. After that, we're leaving," Shikari commanded. Gakushin nodded and headed toward the soldiers. Shikari turned, walking in silence toward the distant forest, the noise of chatter echoing behind him.

An hour later, deep in the forest, Shikari and Gakushin emerged onto a grassy road. Towering trees surrounded them, their branches creating a canopy above. They halted, inhaling the fresh air. Shikari stood on the grassy path, while Gakushin approached a nearby tree, touching it with a smile.

"Shikari! This place, no humans have been deeply in touch with this place, at least. We're nearing that mountain. We should be going up instead of down. Are we in the right place?"

"Why are you asking if you already know it?"

"Well, uh, I'm just distracted by how beautiful this place is. I can't believe we're near that kind of mountain," he replied, smiling at the natural beauty surrounding them.

"Gakushin, you're calling that thing just a mountain without a name, let me guess, you forgot its name, didn't you?" Shikari asked, turning his head to the left and locking eyes with a blank face. Gakushin began sweating and giggling.

"Well, can we go now?" he replied, making Shikari smile briefly before turning his attention forward. He began to walk, and Gakushin followed, feeling an odd sensation in his surroundings. The smile vanished from his face as they disappeared into the distance.

At the top of the Mountain of Zigaria, half a day had passed. Five swordsmen lay scattered across the floor. One was being dragged by a dark mob, separated from the group. The swordsman appeared to be alive, but unconscious and heavily wounded.

The dark mob had his left hand on the swordsman's right foot, dragging him along. In his right hand, he held a sword with bloodstains on the blade.

The swordsman he was dragging wore a bright black kimono and a black coat, but half of his kimono on his body was torn apart. Half of his face was covered in blood, presenting a grim and battered appearance.

"Weak humans. Even this man who just arrived, he's the sixth. He tried to save them, but he's just too weak," sneered the Unknown Dark mob, his thoughts dripping with contempt. Halting, he callously released the foot he was holding, pivoted, and raised his sword, the metallic glint of malice reflecting in his eyes. The air tightened with the impending strike.

He was about to thrust his sword onto the swordsmans head when, all of a sudden, the unconscious swordsman on the ground grabbed the blade with his right hand, stopping it right before meeting his demise.

His palm was left bleeding as the dark mob appeared to be shocked. He suddenly saw furious widened eyes, the unconscious swordsman refusing to accept his fate, adamant that he should not die.

The swordsman lying on the floor immediately raised his left leg, lifted his lower body with his right leg, and kicked the back of the dark mob's head, making him grunt.

The swordsman lifted his left arm to the ground behind his shoulders, touched the dirt with his palm, and jumped up with his right foot. He executed a backflip and snapped half of the blade of his sword. Landing on the ground with both feet, he immediately distanced himself from him and stood tall breathing.

He glanced at the dark mob in the distance and saw the sword he was holding. The blade that he had just snapped was growing on its own, magically turning itself back into a new, unbroken blade.

"I guess I'm wrong! You're still very much alive! You even sliced me with that broken blade," the dark mob furiously said, touching his neck with his left hand. Dark blood flowed from his neck down to the ground.

"You both will pay for what you've done, it's only you and me now," the unknown swordsman stated menacingly. Throwing the snapped blade to his right, he lowered his upper body, seemingly emotionless despite the pain he endured.

"Pay? Do you think you're strong? You lost your sword in our fight. I threw it away in a three-dimensional dark world. That sword is long gone, boy," the Dark mob taunted menacingly, stroking his own blade.

Suddenly, the swordsman drew the sheath of his sword gently from his left waist, taking a deep breath. Pointing the tip of the sheath toward the Dark mob, he exclaimed, "This is funny!" and flew towards him with great speed. Sliding on the ground, he swung his sword blade, aiming to cut him in half. However, the Dark mob swiftly jumped, avoiding the blade.

Rotating sideways in the air, the swordsman swung the sheath with his right hand towards the back of the Dark mob's head. The impact caused the Dark mob to kneel on the ground, struggling to stand. Meanwhile, the swordsman, coughing and struggling to breathe, lay flat on the floor.

"Death is what's next... I won't live to see another light," the swordsman thought hopelessly. As his vision darkened, he smiled when he saw the Dark mob experiencing pain from the sheath strike.

"You fry! You even have the nerve to smile?! You failed on your mission yet you smile!? What a ridiculous, hopeless swordsman!" The Dark mob furiously stabbed his sword behind the swordsman's back, ending his life. The Dark mob stood at ease, no longer feeling pain, and smiled after accomplishing the kill.

"Now, for the darkening procedure," he reached his left hand towards his back and was about to grab him while smiling, when, all of a sudden, his left hand got cut. A dark shadow flew from the right to the left in front of him, cutting his hand and then his arm. His eyes widened in terror as he saw his left hand get cut and next was his arm.

Turning to his left, he saw a long black-haired swordsman land on the ground, holding a bright white blade. Also wearing a kimono and a dark coat, the unknown swordsman had an intimidating presence.

"That man. It scares me. What is he?" thought the Dark mob as his left arm regenerated on its own, turning dark like a humanoid smoke from a distance. Suddenly, he sensed another presence behind him and quickly turned.

Another swordsman was calmly walking towards him, gently drawing his sword with his right hand and pointing it down to his right. Reaching him, the Dark mob raised his sword and swung it down towards the swordsmans neck, but the swordsman effortlessly dodged and sliced the Dark mob's neck.

Frozen in place, the Dark mob's head slid down from his neck to the ground. His lower body kneeled and fell to the ground. The swordsman resheathed his sword and sighed, standing tall. Glancing at the other swordsman in the distance, who also resheathed his sword and stood tall, he spoke, "We arrived late, I guess they're all dead, by a single Dark Mob. Unfortunate people, rest in peace."

Gakushin Gakure thought to himself, taking a deep breath and clearing his throat. Turning around slowly, he observed the Dark mob's body slowly decaying.

"Y-you?! And you?! You've got to be kidding me! The two deadliest swordsmen to ever be born in this Era! I should've killed you both!" exclaimed the Dark mob. Suddenly, Shikari appeared above him, thrusting the blade of his sword towards his head and turning him into ashes completely.

Shikari raised his sword with an angry expression, silently resheathed it, and sighed. He turned to his right, glancing at the swordsman lying on the floor, and rolled him onto his back. A rolled scroll emerged from his pocket, tied with a small rope. Kneeling, Shikari grabbed the scroll with his left hand, removed the rope, and unrolled it to read the contents.

After understanding the mission, he stood and sighed, then turned to Gakushin, who was patiently waiting. "This is it, this is the mission. Now, we've got to continue it and get this thing done with," Shikari said menacingly as he rolled the scroll and handed it to Gakushin.

Taking the scroll, Gakushin spoke, "We're only seeing one team here. We should find the other team before proceeding and find out what happened. We can't just straight up act out in the blue without knowing what happened." Unrolling the scroll, he read its contents, and what he discovered widened his eyes.

"Let's go, we're going further to the north of this mountain, and soon it will be cold, winter is coming after all. Our mission has started, we will be fighting Deities," Shikari stated while stretching his arms. He began to run, followed by Gakushin, who rolled the scroll and put it in his pocket.

As they run in the forest, they sensed Dark mobs around, prompting Gakushin to draw his sword. Suddenly, a scythe blade with a chain attached to its handle flew towards them from the right, and a pack of arrows rained from all directions. Shikari, quick on his feet, stopped and grabbed Gakushin's right arm with his left hand. They both vanished, avoiding the arrows and the scythe.

As they fell through the air, a thunderous crack echoed above, drawing their attention to a massive ball of lightning hurtling toward them. Shikari, with determination in his eyes, swung his sword at the approaching lightning, causing both his weapon and himself to be engulfed in electrifying energy. He gritted his teeth and endured the shock.

"Shikari!" Gakushin's furious shout filled the air. Simultaneously, a colossal root, resembling a hand, materialized and seized Gakushin, hurling him downward. Breaking through a giant tree branch, he landed on the ground with a painful thud, coughing up blood as he stood.

Witnessing a massive explosion in the sky, Gakushin observed as the towering trees of the forest and the giant root-hand were blown out of the ground. The shockwave and fierce wind swept through the entire forest, leaving devastation in its wake. Gakushin, though battered, withstood the force.

As Shimodo Rou savored his coffee, the weight of the mission he entrusted to Gakushin Gakure and Shikari Gakure lingered in his thoughts. Alone in his head office, he contemplated the challenges ahead, knowing that the success of the mission rested on the shoulders of these two skilled swordsmen.

Amidst the rubble, Gakushin Gakure's eyes widened at the sight of a colossal crate that had obliterated a significant portion of the forest. Coughing, he tightened his grip on his sword, a lone figure in the aftermath of a mysterious and destructive event. The absence of Shikari heightened the tension, leaving Gakushin to grapple with the unknown and the unfolding chaos.

Gakushin Gakure thought furiously, "What the hell happened here?" He turned around, scanning the dark forest. In the middle of the night, he couldn't sense Shikari's presence. Suddenly, a scythe emerged from the forest, chain attached.

With a swift and practiced motion, Gakushin Gakure raised his sword upward, intercepting the scythe. Crouching low, he slid forward, gripping the scythe's handle with his left hand. He thrust it into the ground and stepped onto the chain with his left foot. The chain, now anchored, pulled taut from the distant forest.

In a sudden and decisive move, Gakushin Gakure raised his sword with his right hand, unleashing a powerful swing that created a wind slash. The slash soared through the air, slicing a giant tree in half. As the tree fell, an unknown person emerged, holding a chain.

"A woman? She's wearing a hood and a dark cloak. I can't see her properly, but she must be pretty skilled. Now what?" Gakushin Gakure thought, his attention momentarily drawn to the mysterious figure.

Suddenly, a distant giant explosion erupted behind him, compelling him to turn around and glance at the chaos unfolding. A giant mushroom cloud, flames ascending to the sky, and sword slashes cutting through the air painted a picture of escalating turmoil.

"Shikari! We need to leave! We can't stay here any longer! The mission! We need to complete it as soon as possible or else-" Gakushin's urgent thoughts echoed as he turned around to locate the mysterious woman. Glancing into the distance, he realized she had vanished. Quickly shifting his gaze to the left, he caught sight of her swiftly running.

Suddenly, the unknown woman appeared above him. Gakushin reacted swiftly, raising his right arm with the sword, but she kicked him forcefully, sending him tumbling across the floor. Feeling the impact, he quickly regained his feet, now at least fifty feet away from her. The woman retrieved her scythe, sighing, and positioned it above her right shoulder as she fixed her gaze upon him.

"You're gonna help your friend, swordsman? You're vulnerable and skilled, I wonder how long you will last," she said menacingly. With a forceful step, she shattered the ground beneath her, creating a zigzag line racing towards Gakushin. Swiftly, he leaped to his right, evading the destructive path, and closed the distance, sprinting towards her with great speed.

On the other hand, Shikari landed on the ground, smoking and grunting. Abruptly, he kneeled on his right knee, coughing out smoke. As he raised his head, he observed someone flying in the air, holding two lightning balls on top of his palms, an electrifying display of power against the backdrop of the unfolding chaos.

"You endured those thunder-lightning explosions? You're just a normal human, how could you accomplish such a feat?" An unknown man inquired, hovering in the air with an expression of curiosity. Shikari, undeterred, stood firm, his resilience in the face of extraordinary challenges defying the expectations of the mysterious figure.

"That damn hurt!" Shikari exclaimed, his resilience echoing through the aftermath. The unknown man in the air maintained an expressionless face, observing as Shikari stood undeterred, casually stroking his sword in his right hand, fully prepared for the impending battle.

"I admire you for a human, that kind of training you have at such a young age is unbelievable," the unknown said menacingly. With a flick of his left hand, another giant lightning ball hurtled toward Shikari.

Shikari's blade began to glow, turning yellow as lightning surged across its length. With both hands gripping the sword, he swung it upward just as the lightning ball reached him. In a stunning display of skill, the ball split in half, leaving the unknown figure airborne and shocked. As the divided lightning ball streaked in opposite directions, devastation ensued, with two simultaneous explosions tearing through different parts of the forest.

"Oh my! Those lightning-energized balls are twice bigger than a human, and you split it in half? That deadly precision and focus! That's very admirable! You're very impressive!" exclaimed the unknown, who descended to the ground, still holding the other giant lightning ball on top of his palm in his right hand.

"I've got a mission to do. So I may suggest, let's end it here," Shikari remarked menacingly, raising his sword with both hands and pointing it towards the unknown.

"Hmm? End it here? My apologies, but I'm a Deity. You can't just simply kill a deity. In fact, I know what you're trying to accomplish. And that's not happening," the unknown Deity asserted. Shikari took a step back, sensing a formidable aura that sent a chill down his spine.

"You're trying to stop him from escaping. That seal is cracking, and now is the time for our return, but are you fixing it? Oh, no no, that is a no-no, Sir," the Deity smiled at Shikari. Suddenly, the giant lightning ball in his right hand transformed into a colossal lightning spear, illuminating Shikari's surroundings in the darkness. Though frightened, Shikari stood tall, resolute in the face of the looming threat.

"You talk too much, you know that very well, right?" Shikari asked confidently as he resheathed his blade. Comfortable and at ease, he started walking towards the unknown Deity, who seemed confused, thinking Shikari had accepted defeat. The deity smiled, grabbed the lightning spear with his right hand, and hurled it towards Shikari.

The thrown lightning spear grew into a bright light, striking the ground where Shikari stood. A blinding flash illuminated the area, accompanied by a colossal thunder strike that shattered the entire ground. The mountain trembled, as did the surrounding forest, leaving a massive crater in its wake. The force of the explosion threw Gakushin Gakure away, teetering on the edge of a cliff.

Amidst the lingering echoes of thunder and lightning, the unknown Deity continued to smile and giggle. Glancing around, he saw only the scattered lightning particles on the ground, failing to detect anybody nearby. Assuming victory, he smiled brightly, sighed in relief, and shook his head from side to side, convinced that his opponent had been reduced to ashes by the formidable attack.

"What a foolish man, I don't know what he's thinking but okay," the Deity said out loud as he turned around. Suddenly, he saw Shikari standing, poised to decapitate him with his glowing sword. Shikari swung his sword towards the Deity's neck, but before the strike landed, another thunder strike occurred, hitting Shikari in the arm and electrocuting him. The Deity stared, eyes widened, his right hand raised in front of him with two fingers twisted together.

Despite the continuous strikes of thunder, Shikari knelt under the relentless assault. In a sudden twist, he vanished from where he was kneeling, reappearing behind the Deity at the speed of light.

As Shikari prepared to thrust his sword towards the Deity's face, a sudden turn of events unfolded. The Deity, struck by his own thunder, vanished abruptly. Another thunder echoed in the distance, and magically, the Deity reappeared at a new location.

Shikari kneeled on the ground with both of his knees coughing out blood and catching his breath. He immediately wiped the blood in the corner of his mouth and stood. He struggles to stand properly as he glances and sees that the Deity is shocked that he is still alive.

"A human that can use teleportation, hmn. The seems new," the Deity said. His right hand began smoking and his right eye began glowing bright yellow. He began to walk towards Shikari while smiling thinking his coming to his end.

"Die peacefully, admirable human!" The unknown Deity shouted. Suddenly, a bow crafted from lightning and thunder materialized in his left hand. In his right hand, a white lightning arrow appeared. He equipped the arrow to his bow, aiming with intent as he pulled the string, composed of crackling lightning.

Shikari's eyes widened, and his life flashed before his eyes. Acting on instinct, he drew his sword without a second thought and thrust it into the ground in front of him. A half-demon mask materialized on the right side of his face, and his right eye glowed bright white. The Deity, observing this transformation, showed concern in his widened eyes. Despite this, he released the string of the bow, sending the lightning arrow hurtling towards Shikari at incredible speed, breaking the sound barrier.

A colossal lightning strike illuminated the entire mountain, casting an eerie glow on the surroundings. The trees and the ambiance fell into sudden silence. Gakushin, startled by the abrupt stillness, felt a chill down his spine. Frozen in the moment, both he and his enemy shared a pause.

The lightning arrow was on the verge of striking Shikari directly in the chest when, unexpectedly, his sword was thrust into the ground. Instantaneously, a giant, bright white barrier materialized, emanating from the sword. Despite the formidable defense, the lightning arrow pierced through the barrier.

Reacting swiftly, Shikari raised both of his hands towards the path of the incoming arrow. Forming a circle in front of his chest, a white-darkening blue portal materialized in thin air precisely where the arrow was headed.

Another white-darkening blue portal materialized behind Shikari. Through this mystical gateway, the lightning arrow, originally targeted at Shikari, was mysteriously redirected. Emerging from the second portal, the arrow charted a new course, hurtling towards the vicinity where Gakushin Gakure and his adversary stood.

Gakushin swiftly dashed to his right, narrowly avoiding the trajectory of the lightning arrow. However, in the haste to evade the electrifying projectile, he collided with a tree, the impact resonating with the fear of the impending strike. Meanwhile, the lightning arrow continued its course, catching the other unknown enemy off guard. Unaware of the imminent danger, the arrow struck her directly in the face, delivering a fatal blow that went unnoticed in the chaos of the battleground.

Her violent scream echoed through the air as she transformed into a bright white figure, erupting into a violent explosion that illuminated the surroundings. Gakushin, quick on his feet, ran away and sought refuge behind a colossal tree, distancing himself from the impending blast. Prior to the explosion, another moment of eerie silence enveloped the area, only to be shattered by a deafening noise as the explosion not only reverberated through the mountain but also sent shockwaves through its surroundings.

Shikari Gakure kneeled on the ground coughing out blood. Both of his hands turned red and the half-demon mask on his face vanished all of a sudden. He suddenly lost consciousness falling forward to his sword. His head leaned forward to the sword while the unknown Deity can be heard clapping.

The wind and shockwave were still going. A few giant trees were removed from the ground same as the giant tree that Gakushin Gakure is hiding on. He didn't have a choice but to move into another but as he moved he got a glance of Shikari who had lost consciousness and a Deity approaching him.

"Shikari! No! Wake up! Shikari!" Gakushin exclaimed as he ran towards him. Suddenly, he tripped and fell. He hit his face on the ground as he realized he couldn't make it because of how far he was from them.

He immediately stood and saw the reason why he tripped. It was because of the scythe. He immediately grabbed the scythe's handle cut the chain with his blade and threw it towards the Deity in the far distance.

"Good thing I didn't get to taste my own medicine. You made me kill one of my allies. Ugh, this is painful, wait no. I shouldn't kill you but use you," the Deity stated as he grabbed Shikari's neck and lifted him with his left hand. He then pointed his right hand to his right and a dark spiral portal began opening.

He was about to walk in when all of a sudden, his right arm was cut by a scythe. That made him turn to his left and see Gakushin screaming running like hell towards him. He smirked at Gakushin's angry face and walked into the portal. He then saw his right arm healed immediately.

Then the Deity waved at Gakushin with his right hand and vanished along the portal. Gakushin threw his sword towards the portal but the portal closed and his sword didn't reach it. He reached the portal and his sword that he threw and kneeled to the ground.

"NOO!" He screamed violently while grabbing his sword with both of his hands and swinging it to the dirt in front of him where they vanished. He screamed and screamed while tears started coming into his eyes. Then his own sword accidentally hit his left hand making it bleed. That made him stop as he screamed one more time violently and let go of his sword and bowed his head to the ground.

Tears kept flowing down in his eyes as the mood in his surroundings changed into silence and agony. He grabbed the dirt and punched it with both of his hands while keeping his head in touch with the earth.

"I-i'm. Sorry. I was. Weak," he whispered while in pain losing his friend Shikari. He screamed again and punched the dirt in front of him as he cried.

In the morning. Shimodo Rou kept going back in forth in the side of his round table unease. Hiruki Rou was there, a young head of the east and the fifth General of the army. They were both sitting in their chair. They stare at Shimodo Rou also unease because of his actions. Suddenly, the fifth General stood and spoke.

"Do you mind sitting on your chair, Mr. Shido? Your every action since you arrived here is so uncomfortable! This is not helping!" exclaimed the General as he resumed his seat. Shimodo Rou promptly sat back down in silence, and Hiruki Rou observed the tense tableau, playing with a pen in his right hand.

"General, this is all wrong. Seems wrong, they haven't teleported a message or sent a bird since last night! I don't know what's going on and what's next! If they are lost, we've lost three groups! Three groups! Remember that!" Shimodo Rou exclaimed as he cleared his throat and compressed his hands together unease and trembling.

"Well, we can't do anything, can we? You should've sent scouts instead of them so they know what they're fighting," Hiruki Rou remarked as he sighed in frustration and took a nap. He leaned his head forward to the table and began to snore.

Shimodo Rou and the General stare at Hiruki Rou in silence. They both seemed to be pissed but he was right. Shimodo Rou then shakes his head left and right realizing his wrong actions that could cost their lives.

"Look, Shido. You know second opinion is also sometimes important. You can't just ignore it," the General remarked as he sighed. Shimodo Rou stood from his chair and turned around. He approached the window and looked out. He saw the light of the sun and the blue sky same as the birds flying in the sky freely.

"We can't send scouts in that area, General. It's too far risky. Shikari and Gakushin know what to do, they know they need to scout the area first before advancing. Gakushin Gakure has senses that it's on a different level yet he couldn't sense powerful beings far stronger than him. While Shikari, is also powerful his senses are dull because of the last fight, his current advantage is teleportation, a sorcerer's ability," Shimodo Rou replied worriedly. He sighed once more. He looked into the sky and saw that the clouds were covering the sky.

At a Dark dimension. Shikari Gakure was being dragged by the Deity he fought. He still doesn't have consciousness and the Deity is nearing him in a wall that has chains. As soon as he reached it, he tied Shikari's hands and feet and his upper body making him unable to move.

The Deity then smiled as he turned around smiling. He sees five unknowns staring at him menacingly in the shadow. He glared at them as each of them opened a Darkening Portal and left the dimension they were on. The dimension they were on was weird, it had spiral dark energy all over the place flying.

The Deity began to walk while everywhere he looked there were hundreds more swordsmen tied up in a chain like Shikari. They were scattered all over the dimension as the Deity stopped and heard Shikari grunting behind him.

"You're alive? I thought you were gonna die, but you're still breathing," he remarked, approaching Shikari menacingly. Glaring at him, his earlier smile vanished, replaced by a stern expression as he noticed Shikari's eyes beginning to open.

"You ba-bastard!" Shikari whispered, blood dripping from the side of his mouth. His hands and legs rendered numb, he lay in a vulnerable state, the toll of the battle evident in his weakened condition.

"My apologies for taking you down that early. I didn't know you had the shadow demon mask. I know you're strong, and you're just hiding your true color. Now, do you mind showing me that again? The demon mask?" he asked menacingly as Shikari grunted in pain. Surveying his surroundings, Shikari was puzzled to find himself in an obscure dimension, with the pitch-black sky devoid of stars and clouds.

"Who the hell do you think you are? My boss?" Shikari retorted, taunting his adversary. The Deity chuckled at the response, turning around to survey the peculiar dimension. As he looked around, a sigh escaped him.

"Take a look around, swordsman. I could either kill you or make another one like you and infiltrate your home like nothing and kill everyone you love, same as your friend. I remember him shouting your name, Shikari, am I right? I wonder what's your last name and what clan are you from," he said, his words carrying a sinister weight. Turning around with the whimsy of a child.

"Do I look like I have someone to love? Keeping that out of the talk, you need to leave my friend out of this or you'll see what I can do!" Shikari exclaimed. Suddenly, he started feeling his right hand and slowly began moving his fingers, realizing that he hadn't fully recovered his strength.

"How sad, my apologies once again for not realizing. Your eyes, you must be a cold man. And once again I'd like to apologize, I had to kill your friend," the Deity threatened his friend, igniting a spark of anger in Shikari. His expression turned furious, and in response to the intense emotions, his right hand recovered its strength all of a sudden.

"You stay him out of this!" Shikari Gakure exclaimed, and suddenly, the mood in the air around them changed. The Deity turned around to stare at him, recognizing that Shikari's anger had intensified and the pain inflicted had only made him stronger.

"You haven't realized a single thing yet? Oh come on, do I need t-" he stopped speaking, noticing that Shikari's senses were far from dulled. With a mere glance, Shikari perceived the flow of blood within his own body, and the Deity realized that his opponent was rapidly regaining strength in a surprisingly short amount of time.

"What fight did you get into? Your senses, it's dull, yet you're still here, can fight, and teleport? Unbelievable!" The Deity exclaimed, shocked and unable to comprehend Shikari's capabilities. Shikari raised his hand and glared at the Deity. Suddenly, his widened eyes caught sight of another being behind the Deity.

He heard a growl that sent shivers down his spine, inducing fear and making him break into a sweat. For a moment, he realized he wasn't breathing due to the intensity of his fear. Clearing his throat, he shifted his gaze to the far distance, while the Deity in front of him began stepping aside.

He glanced into the far distance and saw a dark wall. A part of it looked like broken glass, though it appeared small, and from a distance, the creature beyond it emanated fear, sending shivers down Shikari's entire body.

"What the hell is that?! What are you trying to unleash upon us?" Shikari exclaimed furiously, pulling the chain in his right hand and almost punching the Deity in the face, but the chain was too short.

"That's what we call a Seal. It's the thing you humans call a barrier," the Deity raised his right hand, pointed his index finger toward Shikari, and smiled menacingly. "Pardon me, Shikari, but that is my lord. Put in a cage by humans who once stood above him, yet now, no humans can withstand him. Once we get what we want, we will be able to free him once again."

At a woods near the Mountain of Zigaria, Gakushin Gakure could be seen walking, holding a sword without a sheath in his right hand. Behind him were giant craters, and above him, clouds blocked the sunlight. He stared at the sword, feeling lost and empty, his eyes reflecting sadness, and the air around him weighed heavy with darkness. He walked in silence.

Suddenly, he heard someone walking, prompting him to come to a halt. Raising his head, he glanced in the direction of the sound, spotting an unknown swordsman wearing a dark hood. The unknown swordsman slowly removed the hood, revealing an old-looking face. A strange sword on his left waist caught Gakushin Gakure's attention, prompting him to raise his own sword in response.

"Looks like something terrible happened here. Terrible that I didn't even expect it to happen one day. Swordsman, do you mind saying what exactly happened here?" The unknown swordsman asked as Gakushin stroked the sword he was holding, which happened to be Shikari's sword.

"Who are you first? This is a strange place for a swordsman to travel, and you're old. You're a Deity, aren't you? Disguised as humans!" Gakushin exclaimed furiously as he began approaching him.

"That's a mistake, and to be real, I'm not that old. I have a wife and a son, yet also doesn't mean I'm that quite old. And what do you mean by Deities? Oh wait, don't tell me they came for the seal and those shiny stones," the swordsman said, making Gakushin fall silent, standing tall.

"You know what they're after?" He asked. Suddenly, Gakushin realized that the swordsman in front of him wasn't normal. He didn't think of him as a Deity but just a powerful human. He felt his presence that was hiding all along. He began sweating as he stared into his eyes, sensing a deep connection.

"I am quite disappointed that you don't know me. But I guess your friend does. Let me guess, his name is Shikari Gakure?" He replied. As soon as he heard his friend's name coming out of his mouth, he took a step back, realizing that he might have met the man he's currently looking at before, but he couldn't recall where.

"You're a chief, a high-ranking swordsman at a very young age. For that kind of age, being a chief, I am impressed," the unknown swordsman said menacingly as he began to approach Gakushin, who remained at his ground.

"Impossible! Only high-ranking swordsmen know me. Who are you?!" He exclaimed. Gakushin was taken aback, holding his sword tightly as he saw the man giggling all of a sudden.

"I'm Kiyoroshi Rigakure, a former Hashira of the East. I've heard, the east heads have orders, and I'm just passing by. I've recovered six dead bodies and have already finished burying their bodies; I hope they may rest in peace," he introduced himself, speaking menacingly as Gakushin started sweating intensely after hearing his name.

"Kiyo?! A friend of Hiroshi Gakure?!" He exclaimed. He immediately approached and shook hands with him. After they both shook hands, Gakushin set aside Shikari's sword and stood firmly.

"You on point, swordsman. Anyways, why are you alone? I saw countless swordsmen on your list that are capable and have the potential to become a Hashira," he asked in confusion as Gakushin Gakure shook his head left and right and closed his eyes. He sighed and took a step back.

"They don't have... What it takes, Kiyo, those swordsmen lack determination and mindset to go forward," Gakushin stated. That made Kiyoroshi take a step back, and a sudden silence occurred. He turned around and lowered his head while Kiyo noticed his sadness.

"You losing someone?" Kiyo asked, it startled Gakushin. He began taking steps forward, and Kiyo immediately followed him from behind in concern. He saw his fist closing and noticed anger in his presence.

"They got Shikari!" He said. "I was weak! That may have cost him his life! And now that will be unacceptable! I won't show any mercy to any single one of them!" He exclaimed furiously as all of a sudden, Kiyo tapped him on the shoulder, making him stop from walking.

"Anger, you're it. It's eating you, don't let it consume you. Anger doesn't take you anywhere but the void of pitch black. Watch yourself and calm dow-" Kiyo said in a low voice. Suddenly, he was interrupted when Gakushin shouted.

"How can I calm down?! They got him! He got him! He could be dead!" He exclaimed furiously. Kiyo looked at his face and saw tears dripping down his cheeks.

"Yet that anger you have, the rage, it's not good, and getting consumed by it. It's rising, you know the consequences of it and so is Shikari, he would know better. And he wouldn't like to see his friend turned into a violent beast," Kiyo remarked. His words calmed him down, and it made him sit on the ground.

Suddenly, a giant scythe came flying towards them at great speed. Kiyoroshi Rigakure turned around, drew his sword with his right hand, and swung it down. His sword's blade collided with the scythe's blade, making a great impact and destroying the ground he's standing on.

He was shocked by the force of how heavy the scythe was. It is also shocking that it's managing to push him back. Gakushin suddenly came to his side for aid and also swung down his sword. They pinned the scythe to the ground. They both glanced and saw no one in the distance.

"Whoever threw that scythe is gotta be big. Be wary, if we can't see its-" Kiyo said as all of a sudden the ground he's standing on began having giant cracks. Their ground began rising with them. An earthquake occurred, they looked into the ground and saw the earth splitting. They both immediately jumped up and landed on a giant tree branch.

Gakushin felt the magical presence intensifying as he looked around. He saw the ground where they had pinned down the giant scythe, but it was now gone. His eyes widened in realization. Glancing towards Kiyoroshi Rigakure, he noticed the intense sweat, a sign of terror. The earthquake continued to split the ground, creating a ravine as if the end of the world was unfolding before them.

"Gakushin! Get out of here!" He exclaimed as soon as he raised his head and saw Gakushin. Suddenly, a giant root of a giant tree rose towards Kiyo at great speed, grabbed one of his feet, and pulled him down to the ground. He grunts as he tries to swing his sword towards the root, but he can't reach it. He slammed to the ground and made a loud noise and giant rock debris scattered in the air.

"Kiyo!" He immediately jumped down towards him while showing an angry face. All of a sudden, a giant root came from behind him, surrounded his waist, and grabbed him. It then pulled him down to the ground upside down and hit his head on the ground, making him unconscious for a moment.

He opened his eyes and all of a sudden he was free from the giant roots and saw Kiyoroshi grabbing his arm and dragging him. He dragged him behind a giant tree while the earthquake still occurring and the earth was still splitting apart.

"Hey! Wake up! This is no place to die! Get a grip of yourself! Gakushin!" He shouted furiously as all of a sudden, the giant tree on their side was cut in half. That made his eyes widen as all of a sudden, countless giant sharp roots came from all directions towards them. A sudden darkness occurred, Kiyo realized that there was no way out, and his life flashed before his eyes seeing that there was no way out.

Suddenly, Gakushin stood and gripped his sword tightly. Blood was dripping on the left side of his forehead. He stood motionless as all of a sudden, he breathed in and widened his eyes. He positioned his sword to his left and swung his sword towards the right with great force.

A sudden silence occurred. Kiyo looked around and saw the giant roots had stopped. Suddenly, the countless roots were sliced into countless pieces. It falls to the ground like ashes. Kiyo immediately grabbed Gakushin who had lost consciousness and flew away from the ground he was on away from the giant ravine that was made.

He then touched down both of his feet to the ground and began running. For a moment, he sensed someone standing behind him in the far distance which gave chills to his spine. Gakushin was still gripping his sword in his right hand while Kiyo carried him.

In the midst of his run, Kiyo pushed himself until the distant tremors subsided, leaving him in the calm embrace of the untouched wilderness. Gazing at the serene landscape of grass and towering trees, he breathed a sigh of relief.

"That earthquake... A part of the seal is broken. That's what caused this entire upheaval. But those giant roots, I've never seen anything like it. Probably dark magic, but from whom?" His thoughts raced as he resheathed his sword, still carrying the unconscious Gakushin. An unsettling sensation surrounded him, sending shivers down his spine.

As he continued his journey, deep within an underground cave, an unknown being stirred from a stone throne. Rising with a measured grace, the being surveyed the surroundings, witnessing a white barrier with ominous cracks enclosing a mysterious purple-dark cube. The echoes of the earthquake reverberated through the cave.

The unknown being's expression shifted to a solemn determination as he approached the sealed purple-dark cube. Raising his left hand, a glowing white gem materialized atop his palm. Advancing toward the cube encased in the fading white barrier, he gently raised his right hand and pointed toward it.

"Seal of the Gods. You will be locked here forever. You caused these tremors, and now it won't happen again," he declared. A flow of white energy surged towards the sealed cube, causing the cracks in the barrier to vanish, and the earthquake came to a halt.

Satisfied, he sighed in relief. The gem on his palm disappeared, revealing bright white eyes and a lifeless black crown. Settling back on his throne, a radiant white sword behind him awaited its sheathing, emanating a glow akin to the vanished gem.

He stared at a sealed purple-dark cube in the distance. Suddenly, he felt something strange around him that bothers him. It was the silence. He thought that the silence wasn't sound always like it.

He tried to grab his sword behind his throne with his left hand but he realized it was gone. That made him stand tall and take a better look behind his throne. That's when he realized that it was missing. That made his eyes widen in terror.

He turned around and was about to scream when all of a sudden. He was stabbed by his own sword. He got raised violently by an unknown behind him with his own sword. He was stabbed in the back piercing through his chest making him grunt in pain.

He grasped his blade tightly with both of his hands as blood began to drip on the side of his face. All of a sudden, he screamed violently, and starting from his back, he turned into ashes.

He dropped his crown same as the white gem. His ashes were blown in the air. The unknown who stabbed him from the back dropped his sword and its sheath. He kneeled to the ground and grabbed the gem. He threw away the crown and growls menacingly.

The unknown has red glowing eyes and fangs. The unknown gripped the gem tightly as it glowed brightly in his palms. He turned around and began approaching the sealed purple dark cube. He began smiling menacingly. The unknown appeared to be wearing a hood and a long dark coat that made him barely seen in the dark.

He reached the sealed purple-dark cube. He put his hand on top of it and gripped the white gem in his left hand. Suddenly, the white barrier began to dissolve. The white gem was absorbing the barrier. As it slowly disintegrated, the purple dark cube inside began vibrating. The white barrier was gone and only the purple dark cube was left.

The unknown lifted the purple dark cube and let go of the white gem. Suddenly, a shadowy violet monster came out of it screaming violently and went straight for him. The shadowy violet monster went in his mouth and black particles began appearing all around his body.

He got choked on his own and he was moving like having epilepsy. Suddenly, he stood tall, possessed by some kind of demon. His appearance changes all of a sudden. The purple dark cube vanished in his palms like energy flowing in his veins. He began giggling menacingly like a psychopath. A horn grew in the side of his forehead.