Rain fell in cold sheets across the city of Vaelstrom, turning cobbled streets into rivers of mud and ash. Atop a ruined spire, silhouetted by lightning, stood a lone figure. White hair slicked back, the long silver trim of his coat dripping like ink, Kagetsu no Jōka gazed out over the chaos with his ever-smiling porcelain mask.
And he laughed.
Not out of joy.
Not out of madness.
But out of something deeper—certainty.
The world had broken. Faith had shattered. And he, the eternal jester, had returned to dance upon the grave of hope itself.
Then they appeared.
Through the storm and silence came five figures, cutting through the downpour with divine purpose. Golden light shimmered from their armor, warding the dark like the sun parting a nightmare.
The Hero, Marin, stood at the front.
Cloaked in silver, eyes burning with resolve. Her white blade—Sunpiercer—radiated holy magic. Behind her stood her companions: Rovan and Kall, twin swordsmen born of fire and storm. Lia, a high priestess bathed in divine aura. And Selene, an archer whose arrows never missed their mark.
They were the Hero's Party.
The last hope of the world.
"Enough," Marin said, stepping forward. "This ends now."
Kagetsu turned to face them slowly, hands clasped behind his back. His mask tilted in amusement.
"You shine brightly," he said softly, voice dripping with contempt. "Like dying stars clinging to relevance."
"You've killed thousands," Marin snarled. "Corrupted souls. Broken minds. You think we'll just stand by?"
He took one step closer.
And with a single glance, the air froze.
Every member of the party stiffened, as if unseen hands had wrapped around their throats. Their knees buckled. The bravest warriors in the world now trembled like cornered prey.
That was the truth of Kagetsu.
He didn't need to raise a weapon.
His mere presence devoured courage.
Marin forced herself upright, pushing against the weight of dread that pressed on her chest like iron chains. Her companions followed her lead, drawing their weapons, breathing prayers through clenched teeth.
They attacked.
Lightning clashed. Arrows split the storm. Holy fire surged toward the jester in a storm of righteous fury.
But Kagetsu did not move.
Not even a flicker.
And then—
Bang.
Rovan's head exploded mid-sprint, his body crumpling like a doll dropped from a great height.
A split second later, Bang.
Kall followed.
Bang. Selene's skull split open, her arrow never loosed.
Bang. Lia didn't even get to scream.
Their bodies hit the stone one by one.
Thunder rolled across the rooftops.
Marin stood alone.
Her sword fell from her hands.
"No… no, no—please—" she whispered, knees buckling.
She dropped to the ground beside her fallen comrades, blood mixing with the rain. Her hands shook as she reached out to touch Lia's hand—but it was already cold.
Kagetsu still stood in place.
Unmoving.
Untouched.
Laughing.
"That was disappointing," he said, walking slowly toward her.
Marin didn't look up. Her body shook with quiet sobs.
"I—I was chosen…" she stammered. "By the gods… I was supposed to…"
"Save the world?" he finished, crouching down to her level.
His mask hovered just inches from her face.
"No," he said coldly. "You were born to fail."
And then, without ceremony, he drove his fist into her stomach.
Marin's body jolted as air and blood burst from her lips. She collapsed, gasping, clutching her abdomen in agony.
But he wasn't done.
He leaned in close, whispering through the mask's smile.
"You believed in destiny. In light. In meaning."
His hand rose.
Two fingers extended.
And with a casual flick, he tapped her forehead.
Crack.
Her skull caved inward with an audible snap, and a moment later—
Boom.
Her head erupted like shattered glass.
Rain continued to fall.
Kagetsu stood.
The Hero's Party—the greatest warriors in the world—lay dead around him.
He looked to the sky, arms outstretched.
"This is your last hope?" he asked the heavens. "This is your champion?"
Lightning flashed.
There was no answer.
Only silence.
The world had gambled everything on a final hand.
And Kagetsu had burned the table.
He turned and walked into the rain, laughter echoing behind him like the tolling of a funeral bell.
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To Be Continued...