The Witch of Tyranny
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[Panel 1 – Midnight Ride Through the Misty Forest]
Moonlight flickers over twisted trees. The sound of hooves echoes through the night.
Arata (carrying Poisoned Emilia on his horse):
Tochiro, this map isn't even that precise!
Tochiro (on horseback beside him):
That's the best I could find. Be grateful it's not upside down.
Arata:
I never imagined you'd save a demon. Like—she isn't human, Tochiro. She's not one of us.
Tochiro:
If not for her, I'd be dead. She literally saved my life. I owe her that much.
And her brother helped us hold Roku off—we owe him too.
And speaking of "human," Arata… we're not exactly that either.
Arata:
sighs You've got a point.
Let's just ride before she fades completely.
Tochiro:
For once, I agree! Faster!
Their horses thunder through the fog as dawn faintly glows behind the mountains.
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[Panel 2 – The Dead End Barrier]
Hours later. They arrive at a massive glowing barrier blocking the mountain pass.
Tochiro:
Please tell me this map is right.
Arata:
Of course it's right! I'm not stupid.
Tochiro:
Then explain the magical death wall in front of us!
Arata (dry):
Maybe… we cut it?
Arata channels magatama energy into his sword. It glows red—then shatters the moment it touches the barrier.
Tochiro (deadpan):
Wow. Genius move. You just broke your sword and my confidence.
Arata:
Then show me how it's done, oh wise one.
Tochiro cracks his neck, aura rising. Magatama energy floods his limbs, glowing blue-red.
Tochiro:
Watch and learn.
He dashes forward—BOOM!—ricochets off the barrier like a bullet, crashing flat on the ground.
Arata:
(looking down at him) You really don't understand what "take it slow" means, huh?
He nudges Tochiro with his boot.
Arata: Wake up, tough guy. You're not dying before me.
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[Panel 3 – The Witch's Courtroom]
Tochiro wakes up tied to a chair inside a glowing red chamber. A long table sits before him, like a courtroom made of magic.
Tochiro (confused):
Where… am I? Why am I tied up!?
Arata:
Calm down. She found us.
A woman with long silver hair and piercing red eyes sits on a throne, twirling a glass of glowing blood.
Yureina (smirking):
Welcome. I'm Yureina—the Witch of Tyranny.
And you two geniuses tried to break into my home.
Tochiro (desperate):
Please! My friend Emilia's dying—she's been poisoned!
Yureina (mocking laugh):
Hahaha! You humans, devils, demons—it's all the same. You come crawling when you need something.
Arata (bowing):
Please—we're begging.
Yureina:
Fine.
She snaps her fingers—a cup of blood materializes in her hand.
Yureina:
Give this to your friend. It'll heal her instantly.
Arata stares suspiciously. He cuts his palm, drinks it—and the wound heals slowly.
Tochiro (hopeful):
It's working! Now give it to Emilia!
Arata (grim):
No… it's not the blood. It's my magatama.
She said instantly. She's lying.
Yureina (grinning):
Looks like someone's clever.
Arata:
What did you— passes out
Tochiro (furious):
What did you do to him!? If Emilia drank that, she'd be dead!
Yureina (shrugging):
Just a tiny bit of poison. Builds character.
She drops a sleek, black sword. Its blade hums with dormant power.
Yureina:
That sword can kill a witch.
If you can scratch me with it, I'll heal your friends.
Tochiro:
The poison's spreading through Emilia's body!
Yureina (smiling):
Then you'd better move fast.
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[Panel 4 – The Domain of Tyranny]
Yureina snaps her fingers—the walls explode outward. A massive red battlefield forms beneath them, surrounded by floating runes and glowing chains.
Yureina:
Let's have some fun.
Domain: Chamber of Tyranny.
Tochiro grips the witch-killing sword tightly. Magatama energy flares through him, synchronizing with the blade.
Tochiro (grinning):
Feels powerful… and alive.
Yureina (mocking):
Let's test that theory, hero.
She vanishes—then reappears behind him, tapping his chest with a single finger.
💥BOOM! Tochiro flies backward, crashing into the ground.*
Tochiro (groaning):
This pressure… I've never felt magic like this before.
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[Panel 5 – Clash of Power]
He stands again, veins glowing with magatama energy.
Tochiro (smirking):
I can harden my body with magatama now. Not bad.
He dashes forward in a blur, slashing. Yureina dodges lazily, almost bored.
Yureina:
You're too slow.
She flicks his forehead—he spits blood, stumbling.
Yureina:
You're strong for a mortal. But not nearly strong enough.
Tochiro (gritting teeth):
Then let's fix that.
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[Panel 6 – Raizen's Power Awakens]
Lightning starts to spark from Tochiro's fingertips. Blue electricity crackles around his body, fusing with the magatama energy.
Yureina (eyes widening slightly):
Oh? That's new.
Tochiro (thinking):
This… blue lightning—Raizen's power! The one he gave me before we escaped!
The blue arcs dance violently across his sword.
Tochiro:
Raizen… lend me your strength just once more!
He explodes forward—his movements now blinding, leaving trails of blue light. His blade hums like thunder.
Yureina (laughing):
Now that's interesting. Show me more!
She teleports, deflects each strike with two fingers, sparks flying with each hit.
Tochiro (thinking):
She's reading every move! I can't land a hit!
Yureina:
Lightning, magatama, devil tricks—you're a walking confusion, boy!
Tochiro:
And still standing!
He slams the sword down—BOOM!—the shockwave cracks the floor. Yureina flips back, smiling like a predator.
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[Panel 7 – The Witch Slows Time]
Yureina raises her hand. Everything slows—the lightning, dust, even Tochiro's heartbeat.
Yureina (softly):
Even with that blue lightning… you're still too slow.
Tochiro (frozen, thinking):
I… can't… move…
Yureina walks up, whispers beside his ear.
Yureina:
Let's make a game of it. If you can move while time is slowed—and cut me—you win.
Tochiro (thinking):
She's mocking me. But I can't fail. Arata… Emilia…
His magatama begins to glow violently—cracking the slowed time around him.
Tochiro (roaring):
HAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!
Black aura erupts from him, piercing through the frozen air. Time shatters like glass.
Yureina (eyes widening):
Impossible—!
Tochiro vanishes in a flash of black light
SLASH!
A faint red line appears on Yureina's cheek.
Yureina (touching it, smiling):
Heh. Looks like you won.
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[Panel 8 – Aftermath]
The domain fades. Tochiro collapses to one knee, smoke rising from his body. Yureina stands tall, amused and bleeding slightly.
Yureina:
You've got spirit. take my blood from this cup You've earned them.
Tochiro (panting):
. I fought for my friends Not for your entertainment
Yureina (grinning):
How heroic. How dull.
She waves her hand—Emilia and Arata appear beside him, healed.
Tochiro: one more thing how did you get that scar on your hands
Yureina: from someone called Zoro the strongest demon Alive
Yureina:
Now go… before I change my mind.
Tochiro (grinning tiredly):
You really love acting like a god, huh?
Yureina (turning away, amused):
God? Oh, please. Gods kneel when I wake up.
As Tochiro carries Emilia out, Yureina traces her cheek—the scar glowing faintly blue.
Yureina (smiling to herself):
That black aura… huh? I remember that
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