The cave still shimmered faintly with traces of crimson light.Crimson stood there in silence, staring at the blade resting in his palm. It pulsed faintly, like a living heart — quiet, but steady.
He could still feel the echo of that other world — the red sky, the roses, the voice.It felt both real and unreal, like a half-remembered dream burned into his soul.
Then, he remembered."Ren…"
Crimson's eyes widened. He turned and sprinted back toward the cave entrance.
The Return
Ren was still there, lying near the rocks. His chest moved faintly — he was alive, but weak. Blood stained his sleeve, and the faint scorch marks on his clothes told Crimson the bear had found him again while he was gone.
"Damn it…" Crimson knelt beside him, clutching the boy's shoulder. "Hold on. You're not dying here."
Ren's lips moved weakly. "You… came back…"
"Of course I did," Crimson said softly, his red eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. "You're not leaving me behind yet."
Then came the sound — low, guttural, and near.
The cave trembled.
From the shadows, the fiery bear emerged once again — eyes blazing like molten gold, fur rippling with heat. Each breath it took released smoke, and with every step, the ground cracked.
It had found them.
The Clash
Crimson rose slowly, the Crimson Katana humming faintly at his side.
The beast roared, shaking the air. Crimson didn't flinch.
"Last time… you chased us," he said softly. "This time, it's my turn."
The sword shimmered as he drew it. The crimson glow illuminated the entire cavern, reflecting in his eyes.
When the bear lunged, Crimson moved.
It wasn't a strike of rage — it was a strike of clarity. The blade flashed once, cutting through the heat, its edge meeting the bear's flaming claws in a burst of sparks.
The impact sent waves of pressure through the cave. Stones cracked, fire scattered, and Crimson was pushed back, his boots sliding through the dust — but he didn't fall.
The bear growled and struck again.
Crimson sidestepped, letting the katana guide him. The weapon moved as if it knew the dance already, its crimson light tracing perfect arcs in the air.
A third strike — he parried, twisted, and then drove the blunt side of his sword into the bear's chest.
The beast stumbled back, roaring in pain.
But Crimson didn't press the attack. He stood there, breathing hard, watching the creature's eyes.
There was something… wrong.
It wasn't just rage. It was pain.
The creature's flames flickered unevenly, as if burning from within.
The Bond
Crimson lowered his blade. "You're not my enemy, are you?"
The bear froze, confused.
The katana pulsed again — faint, rhythmic, like a heartbeat echoing Crimson's own.
And suddenly, he understood.
This wasn't just a beast. It was a guardian of the realm — a being bound to protect something greater. But it had been corrupted by the realm's imbalance, by the energy bleeding from the fissure between worlds.
The sword whispered faintly in Crimson's mind.
If you strike it down, you will end its pain.If you reach out, you might save it.
Crimson closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and sheathed the blade.
The bear growled, flames flaring — but then hesitated.
Crimson stepped forward. "I won't fight you anymore."
He raised his left hand — the one marked with the rose sigil. It began to glow faintly, like embers catching fire.
Heat surrounded him, gentle this time — not burning, but soothing.
And then… it changed.
Flames began to swirl around his palm — golden-crimson flames — soft, calm, beautiful. They didn't destroy; they healed.
The bear roared in confusion, but as the light spread, its wounds began to close. The fire in its eyes softened.
Crimson smiled faintly. "It's okay… you're free now."
The flames enveloped the creature completely, and then — slowly — faded.
When the light vanished, the bear knelt before him. The glow in its fur dimmed to a warm ember-like aura, its eyes calm and loyal.
Crimson blinked. "You… want to follow me?"
The beast let out a low, rumbling sound — not of anger, but of submission.
A faint light pulsed again from the rose mark on Crimson's hand.
And in that moment, the bond was made.
The Fiery Guardian Bear — now bound to Crimson as his first companion.
The Healing Flames
Ren stirred faintly. Crimson turned quickly, kneeling beside him.
His hand still glowed with the same warmth. Without thinking, he touched Ren's arm.
The golden-crimson light spread over the boy's wounds, and before Crimson's eyes, the burns began to fade.
Ren groaned softly, then blinked open his eyes. "Crimson… what did you just…?"
"I don't know," Crimson said, staring at his hand in awe. "But… it feels like I awakened something."
The Crimson Katana pulsed faintly in agreement, as if approving.
Crimson smiled a little. "Healing Flames, huh? Guess it's not just a sword for battle."
Ren laughed weakly. "You really are something else…"
Under the Night Sky
Later that night, they camped near the cave's edge. The bear slept nearby, its flames flickering softly like a campfire.
Crimson sat against a rock, gazing up at the blood-red moon. The sword rested beside him, reflecting the faint light of the stars.
Ren was asleep. The jungle had gone quiet.
Crimson sighed, tilting his head back.
He thought about everything that had happened — the secret realm, the garden of roses, the sword's voice.
And that man.
The one covered in darkness.
He could still see that silhouette — motionless, watching him when he'd first entered the realm.
"Who are you?" he whispered to the sky. "And why did you let me live?"
The wind offered no answer.
Only the whisper of the leaves, the hum of the sword, and the heartbeat of a destiny still hidden.
Crimson closed his eyes, a faint smile on his lips.
"Whatever you are… I'll find you one day."
The sword pulsed softly beside him, its crimson light steady and calm — almost reassuring.
The red moon hung high above them, bathing the sleeping jungle in its silent glow.
And in the heart of Swords Paradise, under that eternal moon, the legend of Crimson the Chosen quietly deepened — one flame at a time.
End of Chapter 10