Over thirty years ago, a woman with golden blonde hair stood gracefully, her locks weaving in the breeze. Her name was Kathleen Namru Granbell—renowned as the Sword Lance.
A boy, captivated by her elegance, stood at a distance. His wide eyes shimmered with admiration and gratitude for the woman who had unknowingly become his idol.
"Reinhard," Kathleen said, her voice as gentle as the wind. She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and turned to him. "Are you sure you want to marry me?"
Reinhard's eyes widened in surprise. He stammered before managing a response. "Y-Yes. Will you marry me?"
Kathleen smiled warmly, her expression soft and kind. "Yes, I will!" She lunged forward, wrapping her arms around him in an embrace filled with joy and hope.
But moments like these are fleeting.
---
"I can assist you with the demons from my lineage," Mino said, her hands clasped tightly to her chest as she bowed her head in earnest gratitude.
"Yeah, thanks," I replied curtly. My nails dug into my palm as I clenched my fists. Anger simmered beneath my calm façade, my thoughts consumed by vengeance. I'm going to kill him.
"But wait," I said, glancing at Mino. "What kind of demons are we talking about?"
Mino hesitated, her eyes darting away before she mumbled, "Succubi."
"What the actual—" I bit back my expletive and narrowed my eyes at her. "Are your kind even reliable in combat?"
Mino winced but quickly straightened up. "Yes, Master. Rest assured, we have two hundred succubi who are capable fighters," she said, her voice firm yet tinged with defensiveness.
Two hundred succubi? I couldn't help but question the feasibility of that. Succubi were notoriously weak compared to other demon races, and their susceptibility to being overpowered in battle made them a constant liability. But I nodded. "Fine. Prepare them at once."
"Understood, Master." A smug smile crept onto Mino's face as she spread her wings and flew off to make preparations.
Turning to Emilia, I gestured for her to follow me. "You're coming with me."
"Yes," Emilia replied without hesitation, her lips curling into a determined grin.
I crouched low, letting my claws extend as I prepared to transform. "Hop on," I instructed.
Emilia hesitated for a moment before climbing onto my back, her grip on my shoulders tight.
"Hold on," I warned, and with a powerful leap, I propelled us forward, the wind roaring past as I sprinted at breakneck speed. Each step carried us further from the bustling capital, the glow of its lights fading into the distance.
---
Suddenly, a deafening explosion erupted near my feet, throwing Emilia off my back.
"Ho? A Wolf-kin?" A sharp, taunting voice rang out. From the smoke emerged a woman clad in black, her crimson eyes glowing with excitement. Her dual swords gleamed menacingly in the dim light as she grinned, her expression one of exhilaration. "You're not leaving this city alive."
My gaze narrowed as I drew Excalibur from its sheath, its blade gleaming brilliantly. From my side, I activated the black cube, transforming it into a scythe. With Excalibur in my right hand and the scythe in my left, I stood ready.
The woman tilted her head, her grin widening. "As expected of Raiden Gleanford… wielding Excalibur, no less. My name is Maka Norwood. You may call me Maka."
Before I could respond, she lunged, her swords slicing through the air toward me.
"Emilia!" I barked. "Find a way to escape!"
Emilia nodded and darted off, her figure disappearing into the shadows.
I blocked Maka's strike with Excalibur, sparks flying as steel clashed against steel. My grin matched hers as I swung my scythe in retaliation.
Maka parried effortlessly, her second blade intercepting the scythe with a resounding clang. Her movements were precise, calculated.
"Fire Magic: Fireball!" Maka chanted, conjuring a blazing orb of fire.
The fireball hurtled toward me, but with a swift swing of Excalibur, I cleaved through the flames, scattering embers into the night. Smoke billowed around us, obscuring my vision.
As the smoke cleared, my heart sank. Emerging from the haze was not just Maka but an army of undead, their hollow eyes glowing with malevolent intent. Bones clicked, and rotting flesh exuded a stench that made the air heavy.
"Impressive, isn't it?" Maka taunted, her voice dripping with malice. "A thousand undead, ready to tear you apart."
I gritted my teeth, calculating my odds. A thousand against one. Damn it.
With a swing of my sword and scythe, I cut down the closest undead. But for every one I destroyed, two more seemed to rise in its place. My frustration mounted. If only I had ranged weapons.
As if responding to my desperation, the scythe began to glow, its form shifting. It levitated momentarily before transforming into a pair of sleek pistols, which fell into my hands.
"Well, that's new," I muttered, a grin spreading across my face.
Without wasting a moment, I pulled the triggers. Mana coursed through the pistols, sending bullets of pure energy ripping through the undead horde. The battlefield echoed with the staccato sound of gunfire.
Maka's eyes widened in disbelief. "What the hell is that?" she murmured before her grin returned, this time more unhinged. "Fascinating… truly fascinating!"
She laughed maniacally, her voice cutting through the chaos. "Let's see how you handle this, Raiden!" Maka raised her arms, her voice booming. "Come forth, my children!"
The ground trembled as more undead clawed their way to the surface, their numbers swelling to an overwhelming force. The clinking of bones and the rancid stench intensified.
I took a deep breath, my grip tightening on the pistols. My mana reserves were depleting fast, but retreat wasn't an option.
"Bring it on," I growled, determination burning in my eyes.
The swarm surged toward me, and I braced myself for the battle to come.