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Nervous chatter arose from the guild’s encampment. Fighters in battle-worn armor carried burning torches around the perimeter as they continued their nightly patrols.
In the center of the camp were the captains, Shu and Shoto. Their heads were lowered in deep conversation.
(They had trained together ever since they were children. Inseparable, their bond started as friendship eventually blossomed into love.)
Quietly discussed the day’s plan. They were to ambush the cold blooded demon, Vox Akuma, and his army of demons. After a momentary pause, Shu reached out to hold Shoto’s hand. “What’s on your mind?” His voice was rough but reassuring. Shoto looked at the ring on his hand. It was from him. “I don’t think we should take the mountain path tomorrow. It’s too dangerous.” Shu shook his head. “Akuma wasn't expecting us to attack such a fortified position. This is our only chance of finally capturing him.”
——
It was the hour before the dawn. Clouds of dust boiled into the twilight sky as Shu’s yaminions and Shoto’s guildies raced across the badlands into enemy territory. Circling through the mountain pass, they briskly climbed the rocky, slithering path towards the enemy, who would be fast asleep and vulnerable. “Halt, men!” Shu threw his hand up and slowed his yaminions. Shoto ceased movement as well.
In the distance was a deserted camp, full of burned fires and discarded weapons. “They’re gone!” Shoto gasped. “We’ve been exposed.” Dark shadows emerged from the cliffs nearby, as a war horn sounded out. “Behind you!” Cloak figures leaped into their midst with the clash of swords, and all sorts of sorcery magic engaged through the crowd. Immediately, the fight broke out with the cries of rage.
Shu barely dodged the masked demon who lunged at him from the side. But some of his yaminions were not as lucky, many of them screaming in pain. Shoto struck down an enemy spearman, and his headless body toppled over. Blood saturated the mountain as countless yaminions and guildies slaughtered demons.
For a second, it seemed they had the upper hand. “They’re running!” Shoto yelled. “Don’t let them escape!” A deafening explosion caused the rock underneath to break. Some guildies at the edge screamed as they fell off the mountain.
“Explosives! Find cover!!” But it was too late. All yaminions and guildies trampled over each other trying to take cover, as huge chunks of rock exploded across the sky and below their feet.
Suddenly a tall shadowy figure appeared in front of Shoto. “Y-you!” His eyes widened. Dark, red energy emanated from the figure as he raised his hands. He screamed in pain. Shu’s blood froze. He scrambled towards the direction of the voice he knew better than his own. “NO! SHOU!” Shu watched the cloaked shadowy figure leap off the edge into a dark ravine next to the mountain. His lieutenants rushed to chase, but they halted at the ravine’s entrance. “Sir, this place is cursed.” Shu pushed past them, his blood boiling in anger. “Akuma has Shoto. I will rescue him at all costs.”
——
His eyes opened, but they completely shut again. His entire body ached, and his memory was hazy. He put a palm at his aching head and tried to remember what had happened. Hazy memories of a battle... explosions... red energy... Why was he now lying under blankets in a cave?
A fire flickered on the side of the cave. A man sat with his back to her, cooking two chunks of meat over a fire. Propped against the wall was a set of battle-worn cloak, stained with blood. Shoto’s eyes lit up as he realized the demon at the fire was completely defenseless. His mind began to race. This was the moment he had been waiting for for years. Vox Akuma was completely vulnerable to attack. His dagger was next to his cloak. If he could just grab it without being noticed... He wouldn't expect him to be awake so soon...
His heart began to thump out of his chest. Shoto slipped out from beneath his blankets and slowly crawled across the cave floor. His hand perfectly fit around the hilt of the dagger. The blade felt familiar in his hands. He continued to approach, quietly, cautiously.
He turned abruptly. Had he heard him? Shoto leaped to his feet and used his weight to drive the blade into his neck. “What are you doing?!” The demon shouted. “What you deserve!” Shoto yelled. He pulled the dagger and drove it into his shoulder. A maniacal laugher left his throat. “Fight back!” He taunted as he stabbed him again and again. Vox Akuma fell over, life draining from his eyes. The floor became slick with the said demon's blood. Shoto felt a wave of bloodlust and pleasure as he watched the demon’s body crumple to the floor. After so many years of evil...
But something didn’t feel right...
As his body settled on the floor something gleamed on his finger. “It can’t be...” The ring was too familiar. He looked up, and suddenly he was looking into Shu’s bright purple, but now pale eyes.
“NO, No! Shu! Why are you here?!” Shoto rushed to cradle his head. But his eyes were lifeless. The color vanished from his face as he tried to rouse Shu. He pressed his palms over Shu’s wounds to try to staunch the flow of blood. But it was too late. He stared at his love's lifeless body. Guilt consumed him.
He sank to the floor in agony. That filthy demon would not wear a sorcerer's cloak! And the dagger was his own, it was from Ether! That’s why it felt so familiar... He tore at his hair. “No... baby... what was I thinking? WHY?”
A chaotic haze enveloped his mind. Akuma... it must have been him. He must have cursed him, breaking his reality. He must have abandoned him for Shu to find, knowing he would chase.
And now Shu was gone.
His gentle touch was nothing but a cold caress, his voice silent as the grave. He cradled his head, embracing him as tightly as he could. His clothes were soaked. Whether by blood or tears, he could not tell. He cried out. The pain... it was overwhelming. He would never get over this. Cursed or not, he could never forgive himself.
He stood, dripping in Shu's warm blood, and picked the dagger off the floor. Maybe there was a time to mourn, but it was not now. “Vox Akuma... I will find you.” A rather dark purple, maniacal energy began to seep through him, taking over Ether's pure, green light mana.
He emerged from the cave into the dark ravine. The sky was barely visible, because of the dense growth of forests and jagged rock cliffs. He was in deep territory. But he no longer felt fear. He stepped forward. Either he would avenge Shu’s death, or he would die trying.
Nothing else would mattered.