The atmosphere became thick with tension as we sat around the wooden table. The dimly lit room was silent except for the occasional crackling of the lantern hanging above us. Shadows danced along the walls, flickering with each wavering flame, setting the mood for the conversation that followed.
"So, what's the plan?" Yahiko asked, his voice low and serious.
"Hmm," Kuno hummed, crossing his arms. "Why not attack them first while their guard is down?"
"Yes! We should," Yahiko quickly agreed, nodding.
"No," I interjected firmly, making them both turn to look at me.
Yahiko raised both eyebrows. "Why not?"
"They wouldn't keep their guard down," I explained. "And don't forget my brother, Yamato. He's not the kind of person to let his guard down. If we attack first, it's risky. Instead, we let them make the first move." A smirk played on my lips. "I have a plan."
Yahiko's eyes widened. "What?!"
I leaned back, my fingers tapping lightly on the table. "It's simple. If we attack first, we put ourselves at a disadvantage. But if they attack us first, we control the battlefield."
Yahiko let out a frustrated sigh, rubbing the back of his head. "I never understand you."
Rin, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke up. "Let's all get some rest. We have a lot to do tomorrow."
"She's right," I agreed, standing up. "We should be well-rested for what's coming."
"But there are only two beds," Yahiko pointed out, glancing around the small room. "What should we do?"
Yuno smirked. "Yahiko and I can share."
Yahiko turned to her with a deadpan expression. "Why should I sleep with an old hag?"
A loud thwack echoed through the room as Yuno's fist landed squarely on Yahiko's head.
"OW! What was that for?!" Yahiko grumbled, rubbing the sore spot.
"You should have some respect for your elders, foolish child," Yuno scolded, crossing his arms.
"Tch. Whatever," Yahiko muttered under his breath.
I sighed. "Alright, Rin, take the kid and share a bed with him."
"What about you?" she asked.
"I'll sleep on the floor. No worries."
Rin hesitated before replying, her cheeks slightly flushed. "I don't mind sleeping together. The bed is big enough."
I felt a small heat rise to my face but nodded. "You're not wrong."
Ahem. Yuno cleared his throat.
"Ehh? Look at this sweet couple, sleeping with their child," Yahiko teased with a smirk.
"Shut up, Yahiko," I snapped.
As the night deepened, the room fell into silence. Yahiko's light snores filled the air, while Kuno was already deep in sleep.
"Are you awake?" Rin's soft voice broke the silence.
"Yeah," I replied, staring at the ceiling. "I can't sleep… thinking about tomorrow. I'm worried."
"Don't worry, Haruto," she said gently. "Everything will be okay."
I turned to look at her. "I hope so."
There was a brief pause before I
whispered, "Rin…?"
"Yes?"
I hesitated.
"Never mind. I'll tell you after this is all over," I said.
She gave a small nod. "Okay."
Morning arrived
"Oi, Yahiko, wake up. Are you hibernating?" I called, shaking him.
"Yawn. Let me sleep a little more, Haruto."
"Wake up, Yahiko," I said, louder this time.
"Okay, okay, my so-called mom," he grumbled, sitting up.
Knock, knock.
"Rin, open the door," I said.
As she pulled the door open, a young soldier stood there, bowing. "Good morning, ma'am."
"Good morning," Rin replied.
I stepped forward. "Oh, hey, Kerin. Morning."
"Haruto-sama, the elders wish to meet you," Kerin said respectfully.
I exhaled. "Alright, lead the way."
We followed him through a maze of narrow underground tunnels. Eventually, we entered a large chamber, where an elderly man with a cane stood waiting. His posture was slightly hunched, but his eyes held wisdom and strength.
"Nice to meet you, our hero," he greeted, bowing slightly.
"Please, sit down," he gestured. "sorry for the trouble I made you come all this way.
My name is Onori Yumir, he said gravely.
Ans wanted to met you do talk about the koronji
The atmosphere became tense
I folded my arms. "Explain."
"There are three underground shelters South, North, and East. After you vanished, the Koronji destroyed everything. We built these shelters to survive, and for years, we lived without trouble. But three days ago, a Koronji attacked the South Shelter. Our sources say a massive force is moving in that direction. I've come to ask for your help."
He suddenly bowed. "Please, help us, our hero!"
"Hey, don't bow," I said quickly, stepping forward. "You're older than me, sir. Of course, I'll help. That's not even a question." I smiled. "It's my duty as a Holy Knight."
Relief washed over his face. "Thank you… our hero."
I sighed. "Just call me Haruto, sir."
Onori chuckled. "Alright, Haruto. We'll move out today."
As he left, I turned to my team.
"Kuno, take care of the kid. We still haven't found his parents."
"Got it," he nodded.
"Yahiko, Rin prepare for battle."
"Understood," they responded.
By midday, we reached the assembly point, where hundreds of warriors stood ready.
Onori stepped up on a platform and raised his voice. "My greetings, warriors! Today, we stand alongside Haruto-sama, our hero, and his friends!"
A thunderous cheer erupted.
I sighed. "That wasn't necessary."
"It boosts morale," Onori smiled.
I stepped forward. "Everyone, listen! My friends and I will hold the front line. Your job is to stop any Koronji from escaping into the South Shelter. Please help us?"
"YES, OUR HERO!" they roared.
"...They won't stop calling me that, huh?" I muttered.
Yahiko smirked. "Our hero~"
I shot him a glare. "Shut up."
Rin giggled.
"Let's move."
With our spirits burning, we departed.
When we arrived at the battlefield, the wind carried the scent of earth and steel. Dark figures moved in the distance.
"Yahiko, keep an eye out," I ordered.
"Tch, obviously," he replied.
"Haruto," Rin pointed ahead. "They're moving."
In the distance, a massive force emerged fifty low-level Koronji, ten generals, and one high-ranking Koronji.
I exhaled. "This won't be easy."
I unsheathed my sword, its steel glinting under the dim sunlight.
"My comrades!" I roared. "They are here. Let's protect our home with everything we have!"
A chorus of battle cries erupted behind me, swords raised high.
"Yahiko! Rin!"
"Tch, don't slow me down," Yahiko smirked.
"Alright, hero," Rin teased.
I tightened my grip on my sword. The Koronji charged.
The air crackled with energy as the Koronji horde surged forward, their monstrous forms illuminated by the flickering torches. Their glowing red eyes burned with hunger, claws scraping against the stone floor.
I tightened my grip on my Holy Sword, feeling the divine energy coursing through it. "Yahiko, take the left! Rin, cover the right with your arrows!"
"On it!" Yahiko raised his Holy Shield, its golden surface gleaming, and braced himself against the first wave of enemies. The moment the Koronji lunged, he met them head-on.
BOOM!
The impact sent shockwaves through the cavern as Yahiko's shield pulsed with holy light, repelling the creatures with raw force. He followed up, stepping forward and swinging his Holy Sword in a powerful arc. A golden slash cleaved through multiple enemies, their bodies disintegrating into light upon contact.
From above, Rin took her stance. She drew back the string of her Holy Bow, a radiant arrow forming between her fingers.
"Divine Shot!"
She released.
The golden arrow pierced straight through three Koronji, the holy energy inside it exploding on impact. The creatures let out agonized shrieks before bursting into particles of light. Rin didn't pause she fired another, and another, each shot striking true.
One Koronji managed to evade her arrows and leaped toward her its claws outstretched, ready to rip her apart.
"You're not touching her!"
I flashed forward, my Holy Sword igniting in white flames. I slashed clean through the beast mid-air, cutting it in half before it could reach her. The corpse dissolved in an instant.
Rin exhaled. "Thanks, Haruto."
I nodded, then turned back to the battlefield. The Koronji were relentless, but we were holding them back. Until
A deafening roar shook the cavern.
The Generals Koronji stepped forward. It was massive, standing nearly three times my height, its body covered in dark, jagged armor that pulsed with cursed energy. Its glowing yellow eyes locked onto me.
The ground beneath us cracked as it raised one enormous claw and swung
BOOOOM!
I barely managed to dodge, rolling to the side as the impact shattered the stone floor. The sheer force of its attack sent debris flying.
"Yahiko, cover me! Rin, aim for its weak spots!"
"Got it!" Yahiko charged forward, raising his Holy Shield just in time to block the next devastating strike. A massive golden barrier expanded outward, stopping the monster's claws inches from his face. The force sent cracks through the floor, but Yahiko held firm, his shield glowing brighter.
"Tch it's strong, but not enough to break me!" He pushed forward, forcing the beast back.
"Now, Rin!"
Rin fired an enchanted arrow straight at the monster's eye. It hit. The beast howled in pain, staggering backward as holy energy burned through its skull.
I saw my chance.
Summoning my powers I, I raised my Holy Sword, its radiant glow intensifying. The cavern itself seemed to tremble in response.
"Divine Judgment!" I roared.
I leaped high into the air, my sword shining like a star, then brought it down with all my strength. A colossal golden slash tore through the general-Class Koronji, splitting its massive body clean in half.
For a moment, silence.
Then BOOOOM!
The monster exploded into radiant light, its cursed energy vanishing. The battlefield was still. The remaining Koronji, let out screeches and scattered the darkness.
"So… the so-called 'Holy Knight' finally shows himself."
The High Koronji towered over us, its massive, armored body radiating dark energy. Its crimson eyes burned with amusement as it stepped forward, each footfall cracking the stone beneath it.
I tightened my grip on my Holy Sword, its golden glow illuminating the cavern. "
You wouldn't escape "
The Koronji chuckled, a deep, guttural sound. "Escape? Oh, you mere human… I have already won."
It raised a clawed hand and before I could react, a shockwave of cursed energy exploded from its body. The force sent me flying backward, slamming into a rock wall. "Gah!" I coughed, struggling to regain my balance.
"Haruto!" Rin shouted, immediately drawing her Holy Bow. "Divine Pierce!" She released an arrow, its radiant energy ripping through the air toward the Koronji's heart.
The monster grinned . The divine energy crackled against its flesh but failed to penetrate. It snapped the arrow in half.
"Holy magic? Pathetic." It vanished.
My eyes widened. "RIN, MOVE!"
But it was too late.
The Koronji reappeared right in front of her, swinging a clawed hand at her throat.
CLANG!
A golden barrier erupted between them Yahiko's Holy Shield!
"Tch Not on my watch, bastard!" Yahiko roared, pushing the shield forward. The Koronji staggered slightly but recovered instantly.
"You think a mere shield will protect you?"
The monster raised both hands and slammed them down.
BOOOOM!
The sheer force shattered Yahiko's defense, sending him skidding across the battlefield. He gritted his teeth, using his sword to stop himself from crashing into a wall. "Damn… this guy's a monster."
I forced myself up, my Holy Sword burning brighter than ever. "Then we'll fight like monsters."
The Koronji turned toward me, smirking. "Ah… you're still standing? Good. I was worried you had died too easily."
I exhaled sharply. "Enough talk."
I vanished in an instant, reappearing behind the Koronji with my sword already swinging.
"Divine Slash!"
A massive arc of golden light tore through the air, aimed straight for its neck.
CLANG!
The Koronji blocked it with its arm, though the divine energy burned against its flesh. It snarled in pain.
I twisted my body, flipping mid-air, and unleashed another strike from above.
"Holy Judgment!"
This time, the attack pierced through its shoulder, causing blackened blood to spill onto the stone floor.
The Koronji roared in fury.
It unleashed a shockwave of pure malice, forcing me to retreat.
"Haruto!"
Rin fired three consecutive Holy Arrows, each one aiming for the Koronji's joints. This time, the monster was slower to react the arrows hit, bursting into divine explosions.
The Koronji staggered, its armor cracking.
Yahiko saw the opening. "Now's our chance!" He charged forward, his Holy Shield radiating blinding golden light.
"Holy Impact!"
He slammed his shield into the Koronji's chest, sending it skidding back. The impact left a deep dent in its armor.
The monster gasped, clutching its wound. "You… wretched pests…!"
I didn't let it recover.
I raised my sword high, channeling every ounce of my remaining holy energy into it. The entire battlefield glowed with golden light.
"Rin, Yahiko cover me!"
"Got it!" Rin fired a barrage of arrows, forcing the Koronji to stay in place.
"Take this, bastard!" Yahiko charged, slamming his shield against the ground. A golden barrier rose around us, trapping the enemy inside.
I took a deep breath.
"Holy Excalibur—FINAL JUDGMENT!"
I descended like a comet, my sword burning with divine flames. The moment my blade connected
BOOOOOOOM!
A colossal explosion of holy energy erupted, shaking the entire underground cavern. The Koronji let out a final, agonized roar as its body was consumed by light, its cursed energy purged in an instant.
When the dust cleared, nothing remained of the High Koronji.
Silence.
Then
A roar of victory erupted from the soldiers behind us.
I staggered slightly, catching my breath.
Rin ran over, eyes wide. "Haruto, are you okay?!"
I nodded, exhaustion washing over me. "Yeah… it's over."
Yahiko smirked, leaning on his shield. "Damn… I am tired ."
I let out a tired chuckle. "Yeah…good work all of you ."