The cold moonlight spilled over the ancient forest outside the Hogosura Clan's stronghold.
Mist clung to the ground like a warning. Every branch, every shadow, seemed to be watching.
Shin crouched behind a moss-covered boulder, his eyes fixed on the flickering lights in the fortress ahead. Beside him, Aojin tightened his grip on the hilt of his twin blades, his jaw set. Umei, her breathing steady but hands trembling, kept glancing between the two boys.
Aojin: "We go in fast, take out the guards, and find Jirou before Lord Hogosura realizes we're here."
Shin: "…No. He already knows we're coming. I can feel it."
Umei: "Feel it? How—?"
Shin: "His magic… it's leaking through the air like poison."
The sound of distant chanting echoed from within the fortress walls. A sharp, cold pain lanced through Shin's head. He clenched his fists.
Shin: "…He's using the parasite again… controlling Jirou."
---
The Infiltration
They moved like shadows, slipping past patrols with the help of Umei's concealment spell—weak, but enough to distort their silhouettes in the moonlight.
At the fortress gates, two armored guards stood firm.
Guard 1: "Halt! No one passes—"
Before he could finish, Aojin's blades flashed, knocking both unconscious in a single, fluid motion.
Umei: "…You make it look too easy."
Aojin smirked, "Stay close. It gets worse inside."
---
The Mind Control
They reached the inner hall—a cavernous room lit by floating lanterns, the walls inscribed with runes pulsing in a sickly green light.
There, chained to a massive obsidian pillar, was Jirou Akehara. His eyes glowed an unnatural emerald hue, veins crawling up his neck like black roots.
Shin: "Jirou… it's me."
Jirou (voice cold, unfamiliar): "You… should not have come, Shin."
From the shadows, Lord Hogosura emerged, tall and draped in robes embroidered with gold threads of power.
Lord Hogosura: "Ah… the prodigal brother. You're just in time to witness Jirou become my perfect vessel."
Shin: "Let him go!"
Lord Hogosura chuckled. "Break the parasite, if you can. But remember—he will fight you with everything he has."
---
The Elite Guard Arrives
The heavy doors slammed open, and three elite guards stepped in—each radiating lethal magic. Their armor shimmered with enchantments, and their weapons were forged with soulsteel.
Elite Guard #1: "Permission to eliminate the intruders, my lord."
Lord Hogosura: "Granted. Make it painful."
The battle erupted.
Aojin clashed with two guards at once, sparks flying with each strike. Umei, heart pounding, hurled wave after wave of fire magic, forcing the third guard back—but her control faltered.
Haya's voice echoed in Umei's mind, mocking her weakness—memories of being bullied flashing in her head. She bit her lip, forced the images away, and pushed harder.
Umei (shouting): "I'm not weak anymore!" Her flames intensified, sending the guard sprawling.
---
Shin vs. Jirou
Shin dashed forward, his blade glowing white-hot with pure mana. He slashed at the chains, but Jirou's body twisted unnaturally, intercepting the blow.
Jirou: "You're my enemy now, Shin!"
Shin: "No—you're my brother!"
Every strike from Jirou carried killing intent, his movements sharp and inhuman. Shin blocked, parried, and dodged, all while looking for an opening.
Shin: "I'm ending this, Jirou! Hold on!"
---
Breaking the Parasite
As Shin locked blades with his brother, he closed his eyes briefly—feeling the parasite's foul energy. Channeling every drop of his magic into a single point, Shin struck, not at Jirou's body, but directly into the magic root of the parasite.
A deafening scream—Jirou's and the parasite's—shattered the air. Green light exploded from his head, the runes on the walls dimming to nothing.
Jirou collapsed, unconscious but breathing.
---
Lord Hogosura snarled. "You… will regret this, Shin."
Shin (panting, blade raised): "Come for me whenever you want… I'll be ready."
But before they could fight, a massive surge of magic forced the group back—Hogosura disappearing into the shadows.
---
They escaped under the fading moonlight, carrying Jirou between them. The battle was over, but Shin knew… this was only the beginning.