Morning arrived without mercy.
The sun rose over the Demon Clan estate, but there was no peace in the air—only tension.
Nobu and Malvek were already at work, moving silently as they continued their duties. Their hands cleaned the stone paths, but their minds were elsewhere.
Today—
Everything would change.
Then—
Footsteps.
The prince approached them, his expression serious.
"…They're ready."
Nobu stopped.
That was all he needed to hear.
He straightened up, his eyes calm yet sharp.
"Then there's no need to waste time."
Moments later—
A carriage rolled out of the clan gates.
Behind it, armed men mounted on horses followed closely, their armor clinking with each movement.
The air felt heavy.
The mission had begun.
Inside the carriage—
Silence lingered.
The prince finally spoke, his voice uneasy.
"…What exactly are we going to do?"
Nobu didn't even look at him.
"Trust me."
The prince clenched his fists. "If we make one mistake… they'll kill her."
Nobu's gaze remained forward.
"They won't."
A pause.
Then Nobu added, "Send one of your men to Misashi."
Malvek glanced at him, understanding immediately.
"Tell him to go to this location," Nobu continued, giving precise directions—Malvek's house.
"And from there… bring him to Misashi Palace."
The prince frowned slightly, confused—but he nodded.
"…Do it," he ordered one of his men.
The rider broke away instantly.
Time passed.
The road grew quieter.
And then—
They arrived.
The Misashi Palace.
A massive structure made entirely of stone stood before them. Its towering walls carried both beauty and dread.
It wasn't just a palace.
It was a fortress.
Nobu's eyes scanned it.
"…Beautiful."
Malvek looked at him like he was crazy. "This isn't the time to admire buildings."
Nobu smirked faintly. "Relax."
Then he stepped forward.
"Let's go inside."
The moment they approached—
Bandits surrounded them.
Weapons drawn.
Eyes filled with hostility.
"Not all of you go in," one of them growled.
The prince raised his hand.
"…Stay here," he ordered his men.
Only three entered.
The prince.
Nobu.
Malvek.
Inside—
The atmosphere was suffocating.
Bandits filled the halls, their presence thick like poison.
At the center—
Sat a man.
Relaxed.
Smiling.
Dangerous.
Kuro.
The leader.
He laughed the moment he saw the prince.
"So… you came back."
His grin widened.
"…Did you bring what I asked for?"
The prince's expression hardened.
"I came to take my wife back."
Silence.
Then—
Laughter.
"You know the condition," Kuro said mockingly.
Before the prince could respond—
Nobu stepped forward.
"If you don't return his wife…"
His voice was calm.
Cold.
"…then the consequences will be very unpleasant."
For a second—
Everything went still.
Then—
The entire hall erupted in laughter.
Kuro leaned forward, amused.
"…And who are you?"
Nobu looked directly into his eyes.
"…Your death."
Malvek's heart dropped.
We're dead.
That single sentence—
Sealed everything.
Kuro's smile disappeared.
"…Kill him."
One bandit stepped forward instantly.
Without hesitation—
He attacked.
Fast.
Brutal.
But—
Nobu moved.
Effortlessly.
He dodged.
And in the next moment—
BOOM.
His fist drove straight into the man's stomach.
Not stopping.
Not slowing.
His arm pierced through the body—
And came out the other side.
Blood sprayed across the floor.
The body collapsed.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Everyone froze.
The prince's eyes widened.
Malvek couldn't breathe.
That wasn't a fight.
That was—
A massacre.
"…Kill him."
Kuro's voice turned cold.
This time—
All of them moved.
Dozens of bandits rushed forward.
Even the ones outside were called in.
The hall turned chaotic.
Weapons raised.
Killing intent everywhere.
But then—
A figure walked in from the entrance.
Slowly.
Covered in blood.
Misashi.
Kuro's eyes widened. "…You—?!"
He wasn't supposed to be here.
He wasn't supposed to be alive.
Nobu smiled.
"…Perfect timing."
And then—
He moved.
What followed—
Was not a battle.
It was slaughter.
Nobu's body blurred.
Each movement precise.
Each strike fatal.
Bodies fell one after another.
Screams filled the hall.
Blood painted the walls.
Misashi joined in, cutting down enemies without hesitation.
Together—
They became death itself.
Meanwhile—
Malvek grabbed the prince.
"Come!"
They ran.
Away from the chaos.
Through the corridors.
Searching.
Then—
They found it.
A hidden door.
"…Strange," Malvek muttered.
They opened it.
A dark path revealed itself.
They entered.
The air grew colder.
Heavier.
And then—
They reached the end.
Cells.
Prisoners.
Dozens of them.
Weak.
Broken.
Among them—
"…!"
The prince froze.
"…Her…"
His wife.
He ran.
Faster than ever before.
"Are you okay?!"
She looked up—
And the moment she saw him—
Tears fell instantly.
"…You came…"
They embraced.
Crying.
Shaking.
Alive.
But Malvek—
Didn't relax.
Something felt wrong.
Too easy.
"…Where's the guard—"
Before he could finish—
Stab.
Pain exploded in his back.
He froze.
A man stood behind him.
"You can't let them escape."
Malvek's vision blurred.
His body trembled.
Fear.
Pain.
Weakness.
Then—
A memory.
Nobu.
Standing strong.
Unstoppable.
I… can't stay weak.
Malvek's eyes sharpened.
In an instant—
He bit the man's hand.
Hard.
The man screamed.
Malvek grabbed the knife.
And without hesitation—
Slash.
The blade cut through the man's neck.
Blood spilled.
The body dropped.
Silence.
Malvek stood there.
Shaking.
His hands covered in blood.
"…I…"
It was his first kill.
He stared at his hands.
"…I did this…"
The prince rushed to him.
"Hold still!"
He tore cloth and tied it around Malvek's wound.
"Don't die on me now."
Malvek nodded weakly.
The keys.
They found them.
Unlocked every cell.
"Go," the prince ordered. "One by one."
The prisoners escaped.
Hope returned.
Finally—
It was their turn.
They walked back.
Up.
Toward the battlefield.
And then—
They saw it.
The hall was destroyed.
Bodies everywhere.
Blood covering the ground.
Misashi—
Lying on the floor.
Unmoving.
Kuro—
Also down.
Bleeding.
Broken.
And in the center—
A giant man.
Towering.
Monstrous.
Holding—
Nobu.
By the neck.
Lifted in the air.
Malvek's eyes widened in horror.
"…NOBU!"