📕 Chapter 16: Even Kings Fall
Moon of the Fallen King
The wind was silent.
The sky hung heavy.
And the Master fell — through clouds, through light, through everything.
Blood trailed behind his body like a red comet.
The world held its breath.
Far below, buried deep in memory, the Master's past flickered to life.
Rain poured over his younger self — bruised, alone, swinging a wooden sword with broken hands.
> "A blade carves best when it has suffered…"
"…like the hands that hold it."
Back in the present—
"STOP!!" Lucius screamed.
He sprinted forward, eyes wide, breath ragged, tears flowing.
"Somebody help him!!"
But no one moved.
The Gojo and Zenin Clan Leaders stood at the edge, unmoved, watching the place where the Master had fallen.
"One less thorn," Gojo muttered coldly.
Lucius's sorrow turned to fury.
His cursed energy flared — a deep, wild red.
He charged toward them without thinking.
But before he could reach them —
She appeared.
The Demon Girl landed gracefully, her feet barely touching the ground.
"You'll die too, little one," she said with a half-smile.
Suddenly, the mountain trembled.
> KRRRRRRK!
Everyone froze.
The sky darkened unnaturally — as if the clouds themselves were being torn apart.
An ancient, suffocating aura blanketed the land.
And from the shadows… he came.
A tall figure, cloaked in flowing black robes, stepped forward.
His cloak shimmered with ancient cursed symbols — each glowing with ominous energy.
His face remained hidden in shadow…
But his eyes — twin burning red stars — pierced the air like swords.
> "W-What is this presence…?" Lucius thought, stunned.
The Demon Girl dropped to one knee instantly.
Her voice was barely a whisper.
"My king…"
Zenin and Gojo exchanged alarmed glances.
"Who the hell…?" Zenin muttered.
The figure raised one hand — silent, effortless.
The air cracked.
Gojo's body jolted.
Blood poured from his eyes.
"W-What's… happening… to me…?!" he gasped.
And then —
He disintegrated into ash.
> SSSSSHHHHHH…
Not even a scream. Just silence.
Zenin roared in rage.
He unsheathed his blade and lunged forward, cursed energy exploding from his limbs.
"You think I'll fall that easily?!"
The figure didn't blink.
He spoke a single word:
> "Begone."
A wave of cursed darkness burst from him —
Zenin was obliterated mid-air.
No scream. No trace.
Only a whisper of destruction.
Lucius collapsed to his knees.
> "They're… dead… both of them… in seconds…"
The Demon King walked past the ashes of the mighty as if stepping through morning mist.
He looked down at Lucius, who was frozen in fear.
"You've walked close to death," the King said in a deep, haunting voice.
"But you're still not ready."
He knelt beside him — face still unseen — and placed a hand on Lucius's shoulder.
> "He saved you.
Now… remember his pain."
Far below, among broken rocks, the Master's body lay still.
Blood spread around him in thick pools.
But then— a twitch.
A single eye opened slowly.
He coughed. His voice was weak, almost a whisper.
> "He… came… back…"
Above, the Demon King vanished into the mist without a word.
Lucius dropped to the ground, exhausted.
Emotionally destroyed.
Ash began to fall from the sky like black snow — soft, gentle… like mourning.
> "The kings who stand…"
"…are born from the ashes of those who fell."
Days passed.
Far away, deep within a hidden forest temple, Lucius sat alone.
The world had grown quieter, but not calmer.
His gaze rested on his hands.
A faint, burning mark glowed softly in his palm.
Behind him, a voice spoke gently:
"The storm has passed…
But the war has just begun."
📘 To be continued in Chapter 17…
✅ End of Chapter 16