The morning sun hung high over the Wellko Kingdom, casting long shadows across the cobblestone streets.
Fude moved through the city with a quiet dignity, his translucent form shimmering in the light. He wasn't alone; the air around him hummed with the presence of Welfcone and his elite pack of demons, their eyes scanning every alleyway for threats.
Behind them, Ongo and Oberko walked with measured steps, acting as the final line of defense for their King.
As they navigated the bustling market, Fude's eyes were drawn to a shop that radiated an aura of ancient power. This was the "Pride of Wellko," a forge whispered about in legends, famous for crafting high-rank weapons that could change the tide of history.
Fude entered the shop, the smell of coal and heated iron filling his senses. His gaze immediately locked onto a weapon displayed on a pedestal of deep crimson velvet.
It was a katana, its blade a haunting, matte grey—the exact same length and weight as his beloved blue katana, Blu.
"That blade," Fude said, his voice vibrating with a strange attraction. "Maker, may I see that grey katana? I find myself drawn to it."
The shopkeeper, a man whose skin was toughened by years at the forge, bowed low. "For you, King Fude, it is an honor. Many have looked, but few have dared to touch." He carefully lifted the weapon and placed it into Fude's grasp.
The blade felt cold, almost alive.
"Be warned, Sir Fude," the maker whispered, his voice trembling slightly.
"This katana was forged from the calcified marrow of an Orkurus Dragon. It is a cursed masterpiece. In its long history, it has rejected fifteen masters, shattering their spirits or refusing to draw its edge when called. It is a sword that seeks a king, not a user."
Fude looked at the grey steel, thinking deeply. He felt the dragon's spirit within the metal testing his resolve, a cold malice creeping into his mana. Do I truly want to bind myself to such a temperamental soul? he wondered. But as he gripped the hilt tighter, he felt a spark of recognition.
"I want this katana," Fude declared firmly.
"As you wish, Sir Fude. It is yours to keep," the maker replied.
Fude gestured to his companions and produced four heavy gold coins. "Take these. For the craft and the dragon's soul."
The shopkeeper stepped back, waving his hands in protest. "Sir Fude, I cannot! You are the hero who saved us from certain doom. To take gold from you would be a stain on my soul."
Fude's form shifted, his tone becoming sharp and regal. "Don't speak such rubbish. I am not a 'hero.' I am a King, and it was my sacred responsibility to protect my friend Felko. If a King's right hand—which I am—does not strike to save his brother, then it would be a shame for me to even exist. Take the coins.
I will not have my weapons gifted out of pity. I do not want more arguments."
Stunned by Fude's honor, the smith accepted the gold. Fude sheathed both katanas—the blue and the grey—side by side. "Now, it is perfect," he muttered, stepping back out into the light.
He spent the next hour visiting the market, his curiosity piqued by the strange items on display. He stopped at a stall selling magical artifacts and spotted a shimmering, translucent fabric.
"Is this... an invisible cape?" Fude asked.
"You have a keen eye, King Fude," the seller replied. "One of the finest in the land."
Fude purchased it for five gold coins and turned to Ongo.
"Ongo, I am giving you a grave responsibility. Select our most elite spy. They must use this cape to infiltrate Seriko's territory. I want to know every single move he takes, every breath he draws. We must not be caught off guard again. Do you understand?"
"As you command, my King," Ongo replied, bowing. "Once we return to the kingdom, I will find the perfect shadow for this task."
Fude spent the rest of the afternoon
enjoying the simple pleasures of the city—eating sweets, drinking tea, and laughing with his friends.
It was a rare moment of peace. But as evening approached, the sky turned a deep, bruised purple.
"It is time," Fude said, his expression sobering. "I must bid King Felko farewell so we may march for our own lands. Ongo, inform the others."
Fude turned to his guardian. "Welfcone, you have done well. You may return to my shadow for now. I will walk the final stretch to the palace with Oberko."
Welfcone nodded, his massive form dissolving into a pool of darkness that flowed into Fude's shadow. As Fude and Oberko walked toward the palace, Fude broke the silence.
"Oberko, you told me there are five ranks among the Demon Kings. I know of Leobarko, Seriko, and yourself. I am the fifth... but who is the fourth? Who holds that position?"
Oberko's face clouded with concern. "I know him. He is... in many ways, a copy of Seriko. He is calculating and cruel, but unlike Seriko, he thinks ten times before taking a single step. He is a ghost in the political world. I will tell you his name later, when the time is right."
They arrived at King Felko's chambers, where the sound of shouting could be heard from behind the doors. Felko was in the midst of scolding Commander Geo for failing to properly scout the northern borders.
Fude entered quietly. "What has happened, King Felko? Is something wrong?"
Felko turned, his face flushed with frustration.
"Oh, Fude! My apologies. I was so caught up in duty that I couldn't join you on your visit. How was my kingdom?"
"It is beautiful," Fude said warmly. "And your people are honest. Not a single seller tried to take an extra coin from me." His tone then shifted. "But I have come to say goodbye. I must return to my territory. You know as well as I do—if a King stays away too long, the dogs get a chance to attack the base. I must appear before my people."
"I know it all too well," Felko sighed, reaching out to shake Fude's hand. "I am eternally thankful to you, Fude. You saved us from a darkness we couldn't face alone."
"Don't thank me, Felko. I am your friend. Your kingdom is my kingdom."
Felko turned to Geo. "Commander, ensure King Fude and his members reach their borders safely. I want no accidents."
"Don't worry, Felko," Fude said with a wink. "I've survived worse than a walk home."
Fude and Oberko met the rest of their party at a nearby restaurant.
Everyone was packed and ready, their faces lit with the excitement of returning home.
"Everyone looks ready to see their own beds," Fude laughed.
"We are, Master Fude!" Dazzley exclaimed, her eyes bright.
Fude called Welfcone back out from the shadows. The massive demon and his pack prepared their backs for the travelers. Fude took his place at the front of the line, leading the march. As they left the city, the citizens of Wellko lined the streets, shouting their thanks and begging the "Jelly King" to return soon.
The Massacre and the MartyrWhile Fude marched toward home, General Nokaro and his troop of monsters reached the bridge leading to the Holy Church. The journey had been long, but the demons showed no exhaustion.
"We are here," Nokaro growled. "Today, we tear down the sanctuary. Destroy the buildings. When the Guild arrives to protect them, we vanish. And remember—leave the weak one behind to tell our 'story.'"
They stormed the church like a plague. The sacred halls were filled with the sound of breaking stone and dying screams.
The demons spared no one. They killed ten men, six women, and five priests, their blood staining the white marble floors. A little girl huddled in the corner, watching in silent, broken horror as her mother was cut down.
Minutes later, word reached the Guild of Knights.
The Guild Master, Volpora, summoned his elite squad: Kaze, Umi, Taro, and Zen. Their uniforms—a striking mix of black, white, and brown—shimmered as they mounted their horses.
"Protect the people! Stop the monsters!" Volpora ordered.
Kaze, a prodigy of only seventeen years, led the charge. But when they arrived, the church was already a pyre of flames. Nokaro saw them coming.
"The knights have arrived," Nokaro smirked. "Throw the weakling down. Use the smoke!"
Nokaro tossed a sickly, terrified demon onto the floor and detonated magical smoke orbs. The area was plunged into a blinding grey fog.
"Keep your eyes open!" Kaze screamed, his voice cracking with rage. "Don't let them escape!"
But when the smoke cleared, Nokaro and his troops were gone. The only things left were the dead and the one trembling demon prisoner.
Kaze walked through the carnage. He found the little girl, Aki, shaking her mother's lifeless body. "Please woke up, mom... mom..."
Kaze knelt beside her, his heart breaking. "What is your name, child? This is no place for you."
"They killed everyone," the girl sobbed. "Why am I the only one left? I am an orphan now."
Kaze pulled her into a fierce hug. "You are not an orphan, Aki. From this day, you are my daughter. I promise you, those who did this will pay in blood."
He handed the girl to Umi. "Take her. I have work to do." He turned his gaze toward the surviving demon.
"Bring him to me," Kaze hissed. Zen dragged the creature forward and threw it at Kaze's feet.
"Tell me who ordered this," Kaze commanded, his voice a low, terrifying growl. "Who is your King?"
"I will never tell you!" the demon shrieked. "My King will destroy you all!"
Kaze didn't blink. He drew his katana and systematically began to torture the creature, cutting into its limbs and slamming its head into the blood-soaked floor.
"If you want a quick death, speak. If not, I will take hours."
The demon finally broke under the agony. "Stop! I'll tell you! It was... it was King Fude! He ordered us to destroy the Church! He wants to rule everything! Please, let me go!"
Kaze's eyes turned cold as he severed the demon's head.
"Fude. I knew the Demon Kings were monsters, but to attack a holy place... I will kill every last one of them. I will burn their world down."
He turned to his team. "Check for survivors. If anyone breathes, get them to the base."
"Leader... everyone is dead," Zen whispered after a moment.
"Then we burn them," Kaze said, his voice hollow. "Collect the bodies. We will bury them in the church's graveyard. They died in a holy place; they deserve a holy rest."
One by one, the knights carried the fallen to the graveyard, burying them deep within the soil. Kaze stood over the fresh graves and offered a silent prayer to the Creator. "Give them peace. Because I am going to bring war."
The King's Return
As Kaze swore his vengeance, Fude and his party finally crossed the threshold into their own kingdom. The lights of the village were a welcoming sight.
Relko and the rest of the council rushed to meet them. "My King! You've returned! We have handled everything in your absence, but the kingdom feels empty without its crown."
Fude looked at his people, his heart swelling with pride. "You all did excellently. You followed your duties and kept the peace. I am happy with everyone."
He felt the weight of the day pressing down on him. "But for now, everyone must rest. Tomorrow, I want a full briefing on our progress. Go to your homes."
The crowd dispersed, and Fude retreated to his private quarters.
He lay in his bed, the new grey katana resting within reach. He fell into a deep, dreamless sleep, unaware that a hundred kilometers away, a young man named Kaze was looking at the stars and whispering a promise of death to the name "Fude."