The Sorcerer King's hand loosened around his throat. And for a moment, his mind refused to process what he was seeing.
"…You," he murmured.
Sasaki collapsed to the ground, folding in on himself. But of course, not wanting to stay on the ground too long, he quickly pushed himself upright.
"Are you satisfied now? Because there's a lot happening in Kyoto, we shouldn't be wasting time here."
Riko stepped forward, her voice coming out small.
"Father… who is he?"
She kept her eyes locked on Sasaki, trying to make sense of him. All this time, Riko assumed he was just another demon, like that silent woman always by his side. But the way her father was looking at him it was like he was staring at something much worse.
Of course, Yuki stayed quiet. This was her chance to finally find out who or what he was, and for once she didn't want to ruin it with her voice. She just watched with narrowed eyes, thinking she'd drag the truth out of him herself if it didn't come out now.
King Daigo finally spoke, as he looked down at Sasaki.
"I must admit, you almost fooled me with your little performance. But…"
Sasaki adjusted his suit, as he met the king's gaze.
"I will not be fooled by an imposter. The man I knew would have never gotten his throat taken by me."
He reached down and pulled his stylized seven-toothed sword from where it was buried. And with a single swing, he slashed the air in a wide arc.
Luckily, Sasaki managed to summon his scythe just in time to block, but the impact was so strong it tore the weapon from his hands and sent it flying behind him.
His eyes shot to his fallen weapon. Heart pounding, he bolted for it, snatched up his scythe, and hurled it at the Sorcerer King.
King Daigo shifted to the side effortlessly, not even blinking.
"Your throwing skills are as pathetic as your lies."
A smirk curled at the edge of Sasaki's lips.
"I wasn't aiming at you."
In that same breath, Sasaki vanished into the fog. And before anyone could react, he reappeared next to Riko, his scythe pressed against her throat.
King Daigo turned, rage flashing across his face.
"You bastard!"
Riko struggled against Sasaki's grip, the blade hovering under her neck.
"Let go of me! Damn it, I'll kill you!"
Yuki couldn't stand by any longer. Her friend was right there, being held hostage. The king's command spell had worn off; she could move again. Before she knew it, she stepped forward, raising her hand behind Sasaki's back. She knew it had to be done, but this was also the perfect opportunity to finally dig up his secrets.
I have to use my Deathmark on him.
"Let death rem—"
Something sharp pressed against her throat, and when she shifted her eyes, Sayuri was standing there, silent as ever, her long and sharp fingernails digging into her throat. Yuki swallowed her saliva as Sayuri's nail cut her a little, a drop of blood sliding down her neck. Of course, Yuki knew she'd be stopped by her. But, it was worth a try.
Sasaki turned, with a smile on his face as he met Yuki's gaze before shifting back to King Daigo.
"Well, what a surprise. Looks like we're in a bit of a stalemate, aren't we, King Daigo? So tell me, how do you plan to resolve this little problem?"
"Father, forget about me! As soon as he cuts me down, kill him where he stands!"
Yuki still had her hand raised behind Sasaki, prepared to unleash her Deathmark on him if he dared to kill Riko, even if it meant facing her own death by Sayuri's hand.
That's when the Sorcerer King's eyes darkened. Veins bulged across his forehead, throbbing with silent rage. Then, after what felt like minutes, he sighed heavily.
"Alright. Here is what we shall do. Answer this question I have in mind. And If you speak true, it will clear your name, for this knowledge is not easily gained. It is your weakness, after all."
"Go ahead, Sorcerer King. I'm all ears."
King Daigo's sword shifted. The holes lining the seven-toothed blade closed one by one, sealing off the fog as it stopped pouring out.
"What is your First Law?"
As soon as those words left his mouth, everyone's attention snapped to Sasaki. If this 'First Law' thing was his weakness, she needed to know. Since, if he ever turned on her, she at least had a way to defend herself against him. Of course, It sounded crazy to say something like that, especially about the person who had saved her life a couple of times now. And she wasn't denying that her paranoia trait was probably the reason she was acting like this. But, she didn't care.
Sasaki's grin faded.
"Very well. If that's what it takes for you to believe me, however, I won't tell you the description of my 'First Law'. Nobody wants their weakness out there to be used against them, right?"
The Sorcerer King nodded in agreement.
"The title of the 'First Law' will do. Speak already. You're wasting my precious time."
Yuki's fist tightened in anger.
"Damn it," she murmured under her breath.
Sasaki closed his eyes, and when they opened again, there was nothing human left in them.
"My First Law is… The Law of Human Sanctity."
The Sorcerer King stared at him, his brow twitching down as confusion darkened his gaze.
"It's you….why...why have you come back after all these years?!"
What the hell is 'The Law of Human Sanctity?' Yuki thought.
Riko's gaze flicked between her father and Sasaki.
"Father… who is he…?"
King Daigo's grip tightened around the hilt of his sword.
"We stand in the presence of one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse."
Riko inhaled sharply, while Sayuri Kanzaki lowered her head, bowing to Sasaki Shin after the King's words left his mouth.
Meanwhile, Yuki blinked in recognition. The Horsemen of the Apocalypse. She remembered learning about them back in history class. And how that term is found in biblical references. She could almost see the page in her mind, listing their names one by one: So, out of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse there was Pestilence, War, Famine… and…
King Daigo sheathed his sword behind his back as he spoke.
"Before us stands the oldest concept in human history… The Horseman of Death."
The words he spoke struck the air like thunder.
Yuki's knees gave out, but she forced herself to stay standing. Her mind raced, as fragments of every offhand comment or every time he spoke about spirits and demons all came crashing down on her.
Death… He's… actually Death!!
Sasaki tilted his head, his eyes meeting hers with a detached look of indifference.
Riko took a step back, her mouth trembling.
"D-Death! Father, are you sure? That can't be right, he looks more like a lesser demon to me."
"There's no mistake. We're in the presence of Death itself."
This was the first time Yuki saw a hint of fear across the Sorcerer King's face. Of course, she didn't know him well enough to read him like that, but from her first impression of him, he seemed like the kind of person who wouldn't be intimidated so easily.
Sasaki straightened his suit and slipped his hands into his pockets.
"Well then… since my identity has been revealed, how about we go get breakfast? I'm starving."
The fog curled tighter around them, and in that moment, Yuki realized—
This man…is the end of all things.