Moon Blade City stood at the foot of the northern mountains, a medium-sized city when measured against the capitals of the great kingdoms, yet it carried a prestige that cities many times its size and population could not match. Its ancient stone alleys, its cracked walls that had been restored countless times, and its watchtowers overlooking the surrounding plains were all silent witnesses to a glorious history that stretched across long centuries. And this great history was not born by chance, but was the legacy left behind by one man alone, a man who shook the very foundations of that era, the one who became known among the people as the "Golden Moon Swordsman."
No one knew with certainty the extent of the power that legendary swordsman had reached, for the tales about him conflicted and became intertwined with fantasy until speaking of him became closer to the legends told to children before sleep than to the events of history. But what everyone agreed upon, elders and youths alike, commoners and nobles, was that he was among the strongest who had ever walked this land in his time, and perhaps in every age that followed.
When the swordsman sensed that his end was near, and that the conclusion of his long journey through this vast world had drawn close, he did not choose to die wandering between kingdoms as he had lived. Instead, he returned to his homeland, to Moon Blade City, which bore the name of his legendary weapon. There, in the place where his story had begun, he decided to leave behind his legacy, that immense treasure of power, knowledge, and secrets that he had gathered throughout his eventful life.
The news of this legacy was not kept secret, but spread like wildfire across the regions and kingdoms, drawing the ambitious from every direction; lords hiding their ambitions behind smiles, clan leaders dreaming of absolute dominion, and warriors who had spent their lives searching for ultimate power. They all came to Moon Blade City, each carrying within his heart the hope that he would be the chosen one, the one to inherit the legend.
But days after days, and years after years, passed as they crashed against an invisible wall, a mysterious obstacle that prevented every one of them without exception from reaching that coveted legacy. The strong failed just as the weak failed, and the lords returned empty-handed just as the smallest dreamer did. As failure repeated itself, the light of hope gradually faded, until the entire world, or nearly so, forgot the existence of that precious legacy. The name of the Golden Moon Swordsman transformed from a historical truth into nothing more than a legend told in gatherings, a great legend indeed, but nothing more than a legend, in this vast world that shows no mercy to forgetfulness.
As for Moon Blade City itself, it remained under the uncontested control of a single clan, the "Wei" Clan. Although the city and its surrounding lands were home to many other clans, each bearing its own history and pride, all of them had submitted, willingly or unwillingly, to the authority and unmatched influence of the Wei Clan. This superiority was not merely the result of military strength or immense wealth, but was, at its core, an extension of the swordsman's own legacy, for the Golden Moon Swordsman, that unrivaled great man, originally descended from the Wei Clan.
Among what the swordsman left to his clan was another treasure, less significant than his greater hidden legacy, yet sufficient on its own to grant the Wei Clan its lofty status among the clans: the "Moon Blade Manuscript," the manuscript that the swordsman had personally written, recording within it some of his combat arts and secrets. Despite all the power contained within that manuscript, and all the prestige it granted to those of the Wei Clan who possessed it, it was, in truth, worth almost nothing when compared to the swordsman's true legacy, that legacy which still, until that very moment, waited in silence for the one worthy of it, hidden somewhere within Moon Blade City, slumbering until destiny awakened it.
Moon Blade City occupied a distinguished strategic location within the Kingdom of Darkness, a location that alone was enough to make it one of the greatest and most prosperous cities. Yet what had weakened it throughout the years was neither a lack of location nor resources, but the grip of one of the three great sects that held the city firmly in its grasp: the "Starry Night Sect." This sect maintained its control over the city and suppressed every attempt to revive it because of an ancient secret that rested within the city's heart: the legacy of the Golden Moon Swordsman.
During those days, the streets of Moon Blade City were crowded with strangers and newcomers from every direction, until it seemed as though it were one of the kingdom's great capitals. The reason behind this gathering was that same legendary legacy. Despite the passing of many years, no one had been able to reach it or uncover its secret. The "Wei" Clan, the true ruler of the city, had never cared about this legacy. On the contrary, it continuously spread news and rumors about it, knowing that this was what attracted small and ambitious forces to its lands. This policy proved effective, for the news did not remain among the common people alone, but even reached the ears of the Starry Night Sect itself. Although the sect had long since lost hope of finding the legacy, something deep within it continued to drive it to pursue it, as though hope, no matter how faint, never truly dies.
---
A man entered through the city's southern gate, wearing a loose black cloak and a straw hat that concealed his facial features, making it impossible to tell whether he was a man or a woman. The only thing that was clearly visible was his long black hair flowing from beneath the hat.
He stopped for a moment, looking at the crowd surrounding him, then muttered in a low voice,
"Why is there such a crowd? It's as if this were one of the great cities..."
Walking beside him was a neatly dressed young man whose blue eyes shone even in broad daylight. Without fully turning toward him, he replied,
"Because of the Golden Moon Tournament." Then, after a brief pause, as though remembering something else, he added, "And also... the Princess of the Kingdom of the Sun is here."
The man removed his hat and sat on one of the nearby benches, revealing his long black hair, black eyes, and fair skin clearly for the first time. He was undoubtedly a man.
"The princess? The one they call the Devil? Is this tournament really that important?"
The young man sighed as he explained, then added,
"Yes, Ryu. This tournament is for the legacy of the Golden Moon Swordsman."
Ryu suddenly smiled, as though something inside him had awakened.
"The Golden Moon Swordsman... Hmm, that's interesting. Let's register our names in the tournament, and if we obtain something, we'll exchange it for that necklace."
---
On the opposite side of the city, at the eastern gate, three men entered together: Baran, Narvik, and Suleiman, their eyes cautiously moving across the faces of the surrounding crowd.
Narvik said as he surveyed the area,
"This place... many forces have gathered here. We must be careful."
Suleiman muttered, his attention caught by one of the nearby restaurants,
"Hmm... This is the city where the Devil lives? And what's with this enormous number of people? Has it become one of the great cities?"
Without hesitation, he headed toward the restaurant, with Baran and Narvik quickly following behind him.
"We must not split up," Narvik warned.
Baran immediately objected,
"Now isn't the time for restaurants. We need to head to the market. I want to buy a new spear."
Narvik stood between them, trying to settle the argument.
"We should find a place to stay first. It's neither the time for restaurants nor weapons."
The three argued for several moments before, as usual, ending up going to the restaurant first, then buying a house to stay in, naturally at Narvik's expense.
After they had settled in, Suleiman eagerly asked,
"Shall we go to the market now?"
He wanted to buy a scythe, but Baran refused to go with him, for his attention had been drawn to a notice hanging in the square announcing a grand auction that would be held ten days later.
Baran stopped before it, studying it, then said,
"Look... there's going to be an auction in ten days."
That auction was nothing more than another creation of the "Wei" Clan. With such a massive number of newcomers flooding the city, the clan saw an excellent opportunity to sell its precious goods at prices far above their true value. And, in the end, this was the benefit the clan gained from holding such auctions.