"JAMES!"
The scream echoed through the burning corridor.
Every guard stopped at once.
Blue flames hissed along the walls, and the rain outside struck the stained-glass windows like thousands of nails. The soldiers slowly turned toward the figure standing in the center of the blood-soaked hall.
Mil.
Inside the body of the guard named James.
A captain stepped forward, sword trembling in his hand.
"How can you do this to us?!"
The blue fire reflected in his tear-filled eyes.
"You're killing our people…"
His voice cracked.
"You're hurting the very people we swore to protect."
Another guard shouted from behind him.
"You're fighting your own brothers!"
The corridor fell silent except for the crackle of fire and the distant thunder.
Far away, inside the hidden monitoring chamber, Organization X watched through the castle cameras.
One of the masked members frowned.
"Why is that guard attacking the others?"
Another leaned closer to the screen.
"Weren't they all close?"
On the screen, James stood motionless while blood dripped from Yoru no Kiba.
The captain screamed again.
"JAMES! WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?!"
UNDERGROUND PRISON
Deep beneath the castle, Junyu collapsed onto the cold stone floor.
His breath came in ragged gasps.
Sweat mixed with dust across his face as the blue prison flame flickered weakly beyond the bars.
"I tried my best…"
He clenched his fist.
"I tried to control my devil powers better…"
The invisible seal around the cell pulsed faintly.
"But they don't work here."
Junyu slowly pushed himself upright.
"Maybe…"
His crimson eyes narrowed.
"Maybe I need the King form."
The prison seemed to listen.
Junyu inhaled.
Dark red energy began to rise from his body.
The air vibrated.
Then—
CRACK.
The wall beside him split open.
Junyu froze.
Another crack raced across the ceiling.
Stone turned to dust and drifted through the air.
The floor trembled beneath his feet.
"What…?"
Junyu stepped back in shock.
"This shouldn't be happening."
The transformation deepened.
Horns emerged.
His aura surged.
The entire prison reacted violently.
Walls twisted outward.
Chains rattled.
The floor beneath him sank several inches.
Dust spiraled around his body like a storm.
Junyu stared at the cell in disbelief.
"It's reacting to me…"
He reached out and touched the wall.
Instantly the stone stretched outward like liquid, forming a long spear before snapping back into place.
Junyu's eyes widened.
The seal still surrounded the cell, but the prison itself obeyed him.
"This prison…"
His voice echoed through the underground.
"…is reacting as if it was created for my power."
The blue flame burned brighter.
Junyu slowly smiled.
"If I can control the prison, then I can turn it against the guards."
He looked upward, toward the distant castle.
"Why is this happening to me?"
His aura pulsed again.
"And how is this happening?"
Far above, the stone ceiling groaned.
THE CORRIDORS ABOVE
"JAMES, ANSWER US!"
The guards advanced cautiously.
Mil lowered his head.
When he finally spoke, it was through James's voice.
"I hate all of you."
The words cut deeper than a blade.
"You never understood me."
Blue flames flickered across the soldiers' faces.
"You always hated me."
A murmur spread through the line.
Mil took another step forward.
"You knew my wife and I needed money…"
His voice shook with bitterness.
"And none of you helped me."
Several guards looked away in shame.
Everything he said was true.
Inside the borrowed body, Mil thought calmly:
I chose James for a reason.
He already had a reason to betray them.
That makes this lie believable.
Mil raised Yoru no Kiba.
"I need money."
Thunder roared.
"And the only people rich enough to give it to me are the nobles sleeping in this castle."
The captain whispered,
"James…"
Mil's eyes darkened.
"So I'll take it myself."
Shadows suddenly rose around him like black smoke.
The guards stumbled backward.
"Get ready!"
The darkness swallowed James's body completely.
He vanished.
A member of Organization X pointed at the screen in alarm.
"Wait…"
The image zoomed in on the blade.
"That sword…"
The room went cold.
"He has the legendary blade Yoru no Kiba."
Silence.
Then the shadows exploded apart.
Mil emerged behind the front line.
CUT.
A guard's armor split open.
SLASH.
Blood sprayed across the wall.
Mil disappeared again.
CUT.
Another body fell.
SLASH.
A spear snapped in half.
The corridor became a nightmare.
Blue flames reflected in rivers of blood.
Windows turned crimson as blood streaked across the glass.
Guards collapsed one after another like falling cards.
Screams echoed through the royal wing.
Some soldiers swung wildly at empty air.
Others fled.
None of them could predict where the next strike would come from.
THE SECRET ROOM
Hidden behind the walls of the castle, a masked figure stood before a rack of ceremonial robes.
Morgan lifted the black mask of the host.
One by one, he fastened the straps.
The smiling golden mask covered his face.
He picked up a dark blade and turned toward the door.
Outside, the screams continued.
Morgan's voice became low and cold.
"The masked man is ready."
Blue fire reflected across the mask.
He opened the secret door.
"Bring it on."