Shadows of War & A New Home
Yukato's Castle – The Gathering of Shadows
The grand hall of Yukato's dark castle stood shrouded in silence. The air was thick with tension, and the only movement came from the flickering candlelight, casting eerie shadows across the stone walls.
At the center, a massive throne carved from obsidian loomed like a dark omen. Surrounding it were figures of pure shadow—faceless, still, their presence ominous.
A deep, slow creak echoed as the castle gates opened.
A tall figure stepped inside.
Yukato had arrived.
His long cloak flowed behind him, his piercing red eyes gleaming like burning embers. His presence alone made the very shadows writhe and twist in obedience.
Hoketsu, his right-hand enforcer, stepped forward and bowed his head.
"Master… You have arrived."
Yukato said nothing. He simply sat. The moment he did, the entire hall seemed to sink into even deeper darkness.
His cold voice echoed. "Conan."
From the center of the room, Conan fell to his knees.
"Yes, Master."
Yukato's gaze burned into him. "Did you find Ayu?"
Conan lowered his head. "No, Master… He escaped."
A suffocating silence filled the room.
Yukato's fingers tapped against the armrest of his throne. His voice, calm yet lethal:
"You all are useless."
The words hung in the air like a death sentence.
Nobody moved. Nobody breathed.
Then, after a long pause, Yukato's lips curled into a sinister smirk.
"Send an army to Kuroshin." His voice dripped with cruelty. "Burn the village to the ground. If Ayu isn't there, then…" His red eyes flashed. "…Make sure no one is left alive."
The shadows trembled. The order had been given.
---
Above the Skies – A New Beginning
The next morning arrived beautifully.
The sky was painted in soft shades of orange and pink, the first golden rays of the sun breaking through the clouds. The wind was crisp and fresh, carrying the scent of forests and rivers below.
From the skies, the view was breathtaking.
Below them stretched Kyoto—a kingdom lost in time.
From above, they could see a vast, overgrown landscape. Towering trees surrounded the castle ruins, their branches reaching like skeletal fingers toward the sky. The castle itself stood tall, yet worn by time—its once-proud walls now cracked, vines crawling over them like nature's reclaiming touch.
The entire scene felt like something out of a forgotten legend.
Rai, who had been guiding the dragon, turned back and called out:
"Wake up, guys! We've arrived at Kyoto!"
One by one, the others stirred from their sleep.
Kento rubbed his eyes, then blinked at the sight before them.
"Damn… This place is huge."
Ayu's eyes sparkled with awe. "Guys, look at this… What a beautiful sight."
The dragon descended slowly, its massive wings stirring up dust as it landed just outside the ancient castle gates.
Kento stretched. "Alright. Time to check this place out."
---
Inside the Castle – The Forgotten Past
The moment they stepped inside, a thick layer of dust greeted them. The air was heavy with the scent of old wood, forgotten memories, and time itself.
Kaito ran his fingers along the wall. "It's been abandoned for ages. Feels like nobody's been here for decades."
Rai nodded. "That's because no one has."
She stepped forward, brushing aside cobwebs as she spoke.
"My father told me that after my grandmother died, our entire family moved to a different castle in Okotsu. The people of the village believe this place is… cursed."
Ayu smirked. "Cursed, huh?" He clapped his hands together. "First things first—we need to clean this place up."
Rai nodded. "Agreed."
Kento grinned. "Fine, you guys clean up, and once you're done, I'll use my powers to decorate it the way I want."
Kaito sighed. "Alright, alright. Let's get to work."
---
Back at Yukato's Castle – The March to Destruction
Outside Yukato's dark fortress, the ground trembled as an army gathered.
Thousands of Shinobi warriors stood in formation, their dark armor reflecting the flickering torches that lined the path. Swords, spears, and war banners rose high, waiting for the command to move.
At the front of the army stood a single warrior.
Daisuke.
A man with blazing speed and a sword so sharp it could cut light itself. Known across the lands as Light Killer, he was Yukato's finest swordsman.
A cocky grin played on his lips as he looked down at Conan.
"I feel so damn proud today." He smirked. "The Master finally believes in me enough to entrust me with this mission."
Then he chuckled. "I feel bad for you, though, Conan. You got replaced."
Conan's gaze darkened. "Tch. Don't get ahead of yourself. You may lead the soldiers, but you don't lead us."
Daisuke shrugged, laughing. "Relax, I was just messing with you."
Conan's expression remained cold. "Don't joke with me."
Daisuke's smirk widened. He turned toward the troops, drawing his sword.
"Listen up! Today, we march toward the greatest kingdom of Kuroshin. Our mission—find the successor of the legendary swords." His voice sharpened. "And remember this—NO ONE leaves alive."
A gust of wind swept through the battlefield.
Daisuke raised his blade high, his voice roaring:
"Now, warriors… LET'S SAIL TO DESTRUCTION!"
The army roared back in unison.
The march had begun.
---
Back at Rai's Castle – A Mysterious Discovery
Meanwhile, back at the abandoned castle, the group was still dusting off centuries of neglect.
Kento, coughing through the dust, grumbled. "Damn, this is worse than I thought."
As he wiped away dirt from an old wooden table, his fingers brushed against something… odd.
Something hidden beneath the dust.
His eyes widened.
"Guys… Look at this."
The others turned.
In the middle of the old hall, buried under layers of time, was something unexpected.
Something that wasn't supposed to be there.