Alkaraz's Declaration
Alkaraz raised a hand. His deep, firm voice echoed, drowning out even the thunder:
"No one leaves this room." He looked around, his green eye gleaming like a predator's, the other white and vacant as if piercing the souls of all present. "Anyone who tries to leave will die."
The ensuing silence was terrifying. A man near the door took a hesitant step back, but Yuri's piercing laugh froze him in place.
"You heard the boss," Yuri snapped, his tone as sharp as a thunderclap. "Drink. Smile. Have fun. That's an order."
With deliberate slowness, Alkaraz drew back his hood, revealing his face. His bronze skin glowed under the bar's flickering lamps, marked by deep scars that told tales of countless battles. His nearly-shaved white hair caught the flashes of lightning, and the Alcali-emblem earrings swung gently as he moved.
Yuri followed suit, pulling down his own hood. His golden hair, streaked with silver, was tied in a ponytail that fell down his back. His blood-red eyes burned with near-animal frenzy, and the cruel smile on his lips left no doubt of his danger.
The room seemed to shrink around them. Fear grew almost tangible, tightening with every heartbeat. The patrons who had been lively moments before now avoided meeting their eyes. Even the normally composed bartender trembled as he wiped the counter.
In Yuzuki's mind, Mao cackled:
"Look at them, Kanji. Two monsters in the flesh. Enough to drive anyone mad. And you? You look calm… or are you simply resigned to your death?"
Yuzuki said nothing. His gaze stayed fixed on his drink, though every muscle in his body was taut. His hand hovered near the sword propped against the table.
Alkaraz advanced slowly, stopping just a few paces from Yuzuki. He grabbed a chair, turned it around, and sat facing him, arms resting on its back.
"Yuzuki." He spoke the name like a verdict, his voice as heavy as the storm outside. "You know why I'm here, don't you?"
Yuzuki lifted his eyes slowly, expression controlled.
"I imagine it isn't for a drink."
Yuri laughed, a grotesque sound that made several patrons flinch.
"Look at him, boss—pretending he isn't scared. How quaint."
Alkaraz ignored the jibe and continued:
"I came for something that belongs to the Alcali clan. Something that was stolen…" He paused, leaning forward. "After you killed my father."
The bar, already silent, seemed to hold even the sound of the rain at bay. All eyes fixed on Yuzuki, who remained unmoving.
"He deserved it." Yuzuki finally spoke, his voice steady but weighted. "Your father sacrificed lives as if they were nothing. He was no leader—he was a tyrant."
Alkaraz smiled, but it never reached his eyes.
"My father was the most powerful man on the island. And you, an insignificant Kanji, dared to take that from him?"
Yuri stepped closer, eyes alight with excitement.
"Do you think you can get away with this, Yuzuki? Survive after challenging the Alcali clan?"
The Story of Fausto and the Forbidden Book
Alkaraz rose slowly, filling the space with his presence.
"My father, Fausto, was the greatest ritualist the island has ever known. He devoted his life to the clan and to the king. And you killed him in his sleep, like a coward."
He stepped forward, the light catching the sheen of his armor.
"But you didn't kill him for revenge, did you? No. You wanted the book."
A low, sinister laugh from Mao shattered the silence.
"Oh, this is getting interesting…"
Alkaraz pointed directly at Yuzuki, his eyes blazing.
"The black-and-gold book. The most important tome in Alcali history and on Kugutsu Island. That's why I'm here—to retrieve it."
A Tense Finale
Yuzuki gripped his bottle but stayed silent. The tension was unbearable; everyone in the bar held their breath.
Alkaraz closed the final distance, standing face-to-face with Yuzuki.
"You will return the book to me… or I will destroy everything and everyone around you until I get what I want."
In Yuzuki's mind, Mao whispered with malicious glee:
"Well, Kanji, it seems you're the star of a most delightful show. Ready to dance with death?"
The Dance....
The bar, once a haven of joy, had slowly transformed into a stage of tension. Laughter turned to uneasy whispers, and glances flicked between Alkaraz and Yuri.
Alkaraz raised his calm, menacing voice, slicing the air like a blade:
"No one leaves this bar. If anyone tries, it will be the last mistake of their life. Drink, enjoy, sing. This is an order."
The bartender, hands shaking, served their drinks. Yuri exuded repressed madness and violence as he spoke:
"I've always liked bars. So many scents—alcohol, sweat, blood… Fascinating, isn't it?" He laughed while the patrons averted their eyes.
Alkaraz drew a deep breath and, without looking at anyone in particular, spoke again:
"My mother—sacrificed as part of a ritual, all to create a powerful kugutsu for the king. I led her to the altar with my own hands." He paused, savoring the memory as the bar fell silent. "I did it without remorse. Because it is the destiny of the strong to decide who lives and who dies."
The bartender, sweating profusely, tried to break the tension:
"A-and your father? He was a great man—I've heard many stories about him." His voice trembled, and he immediately regretted speaking.
Alkaraz slowly turned his head toward him, a grim smile revealing his sharp teeth:
"My father, Fausto, was the greatest ritualist on the island—feared even by the king. He always carried one book… the book. Black, with golden details and the emblem of a blood tree. The greatest treasure of our clan." His tone grew colder. "That book holds secrets that could drive anyone mad—forbidden knowledge of kugutsus and absolute power. And that is why I am here."
Yuri laughed, his voice rolling through the hall like thunder:
"That book—surely already touched by unworthy hands, right, Alkaraz?"
Alkaraz nodded, fixing the bartender with his gaze until the man looked away.
"It's out there somewhere. And I will find it." He addressed the entire bar, his voice ringing out: "Enjoy this night. Because tomorrow, many of you may not be alive." The threat alone sent chills through everyone present.
Meanwhile, Mao howled in Yuzuki's mind:
"What a marvelous play, Yuzuki! See the fear in their eyes—they're like rats, waiting for the final blow." He paused, then added more quietly: "But tell me, what will you do? Sit there like a fool, or will you act?"
Yuzuki remained motionless, eyes on the two men. The weight of the rain and the storm outside mirrored the tension within. Lightning highlighted his serious expression under the hood. He knew the moment to strike was close—but for now, he waited, still as stone, for his enemies' next move.
Alkaraz raised his beer mug and, without breaking eye contact, whispered:
"The night is only beginning. I hope you're ready."