The eel monster's disposal process was still ongoing and required meticulous attention to detail. Not only did the ODW Disposal Team need to ensure the complete elimination of the creature, but they also aimed to extract every possible piece of information and sample from its remains. From the hardness of its skin to the composition of its saliva, nothing escaped their thorough investigation.

Accompanying the Disposal Team and safeguarding their operation were four highly skilled soldiers: Delta, Suzune, Chisaki, and Rikuya. Their presence provided an impenetrable shield, ensuring the team's safety as they carefully handled the formidable remains of the eel monster.

With a smirk, Rikuya watched a man struggle to extract a monster's tooth. Pointing at him, he playfully asked Suzune: "Suze, how much do you think that tooth will fetch once this outbreak ends?"

Suzune sighed, disinterested in Rikuya's banter. Her mind raced back to her recent battle, contemplating the monster's whereabouts. Meanwhile, Rikuya stretched and glanced at Chisaki and Delta.

Only Chisaki met his gaze, returning the smirk.

"You're not really my type..." Chisaki said softly, getting up. Rikuya shrugged.

"Ah, c'mon...the way you looked at me said otherwise..." Rikuya said, approaching her.

Delta stepped in front of the both of them.

"I recommend you two leave it for now. We're supposed to be watching over the Disposal Team..." Delta said.

Rikuya grunted.

"Blah-blah-blah, all they're doing is disposing and taking whatever shit's down here, like you just said. This is boring. Can't I at least practice my flirting skills?" Rikuya said.

Chisaki laughed as she leaned forward and put a hand on Delta's shoulders, staring at Rikuya.

"Flirting skills? You call that flirting? My grandpa could do better than that..." Chisaki said, getting a little serious.

Rikuya frowned and made a smug face.

"You're bluffing..." Rikuya said, grinning.

Suzune pitched in and said: "No, she's right. Even my grandpa could flirt better..."

Rikuya quickly turned around and stared at Suzune, a little heated.

"Hey, you take that back.." Rikuya threatened.

Delta had already left the dispute. It sounded like a waste of her time anyway.

"No...she doesn't need to. Go back and practice flirting with your imaginary girlfriend before you even start with us..." Chisaki said, leaping towards Suzune, who was chilling while sitting on a railing. Rikuya frowned again and put up the middle finger at Chisaki.

"Fine. Suit yourself chicks...I'll be showing off these nice guns somewhere else..." Rikuya said, smirking. He launched himself away from the disposal site, leaving the team and the soldiers.

When Rikuya had left, Chisaki turned to Suzune, smirking a bit.

"That dick's annoying, right? Can't say I blame him. Anyway, you've been a little quiet...hmm?" Chisaki said, leaning closer. She was chewing bubblegum.

Suzune sighed and leaned up.

"I've been thinking about the battle I had with this monster—the one with the higher monsterification..." Suzune started.

"Oh, I would've thought a meathead like you would've been able to smash their brains out..." Chisaki said, smiling.

Suzune quickly tried to punch her, but Chisaki caught her fist.

"Ooo, feisty. Could you save that for later?" Chisaki replied, smirking. She let go of Suzune's fists and cracked her knuckles.

"I know you like me...and no...I won't go out with you..." Suzune said, smirking.

Chisaki sighed. She was a little disappointed, but it wasn't like she could force things anyway. She batted her eyelashes.

"Ah...it was worth the try for a sweet, kind, and LOVING person like you, right?" Chisaki asked, clearly sarcastic.

Suzune smirked. Before she could reply, Delta had appeared in front of both of them, interrupting the little thing they had going on.

"Oh, Ms. Four Eyes, look, we're bus—-"

"The workers, it appears that they need us to take a look at something..." Delta said, pointing to the workers below who were gesturing to the soldiers to come on down. Chisaki sighed and shook her hair back. Suzune stood up.

"Way to spoil the fun...alright, let's head on down and see what those tards are crying about ..." Chisaki said, getting up as well.

By the time Delta, Chisaki, and Suzune had arrived in front of the giant eel monster's head, which lay slumped on the ground, Rikuya was already there, kneeling and smirking.

"Guys, seriously, I might just snatch a couple of these teeth to make a buck or to..." Rikuya said, glancing back at the other soldiers. Chisaki crossed her arms.

"Great idea. You could use it to afford a good dentist." Chisaki replied.

Rikuya shrugged, acting as if he were immune to her insults.

"So, what's the problem?" Delta asked. The workers were about to respond to her question, but stopped and looked at the eel monster's skin coming off one by one. Delta raised her eyebrows. This didn't necessarily make any sense. Why did the skin of the eel monster suddenly start coming off?

Chisaki noticed Delta's change in demeanor.

"Four eyes, can you explain this?" Chisaki said, blowing up another bubblegum.

Delta casually jumped and landed on the eel monster's neck. Once she analyzed the monster's body with her robotic eyes, the results were staggering.

"It appears the monsterification level of this monster is decreasing exponentially..." Delta declared, taking another measure just to be sure. Rikuya kicked the eye of the monster in the furry.

"Seriously? There goes the buck I was trying to make..." Rikuya said. He turned around and started walking away.

"And where the hell do you think you're off to?" Chisaki asked.

Rikuya glanced back.

"This is dumb. You guys got this, I'm outta here Chicky..." Rikuya said, leeping away.

"What did you call me?" Chisaki said, stepping forward and watching him leave.

Suzune approached Delta.

"I can't stop thinking about that monster I encountered last night. It couldn't have gone too far. After we head back to regroup, do you wanna partner with me to find it?" Suzune asked.

Delta looked up.

"It would be wise of you to stop reminiscing about the encounter because if you do encounter that monster again, you might not be able to take it on..and, no, I won't be partnering. I have other things to complete. Ask Chisaki..." Delta advised, walking past Suzune.

Suzune hesitantly approached Chisaki, who turned around and blew her a kiss.

"Let me guess, you need my help? Hmmm...I don't know. You kinda turned me down..." Chisaki said sarcastically, smirking.

Suzune shrugged.

"...Ok...fine...I'll go out with you...but I need you to help me catch a particular monster. Deal?" Suzune asked, extending her hand.

Chisaki giggled.

"Hehehe...of course...." Chisaki replied, shaking on the deal.

For the remainder of the time, Suzune, Chisaki, and Delta helped the Disposal Team collect the remains of the giant eel monster.

...

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

Harlow should've known from the moment that Kregg had smirked that something was wrong. Either way, he wasn't sure he would've noticed the figure entering the room anyway due to its uncanny stealth. He watched as Kregg slowly backed away, its hand in the air.

"She—or may I say he—is all yours boss..." Kregg said, keeping his distance.

"Damn, you guys are such jerks—interuppting me on such shor—" Harlow began, but the figure had cut him off.

"Why is your skin so tough?" The figure said.

Before the figure could say anything else, Harlow quickly dashed forward and dodged the slice, which had cut the entire couch in half. Harlow landed on the side of the wall and leaped away, dodging another slash.

He's like some sort of ninja...

Harlow landed in front of the door, staring at both the figure and Kregg. He frowned.

"C'mon, I'm just trying to relax here and get some rest. Last night, I was attacked by some people in battle suits...I think—anyway, the point is—" Harlow started, but the figure wasted no time.

He dashed towards Harlow so fast that Harlow didn't even notice until it was a moment later. The katana had hit the side of Harlow's neck, but it wouldn't even cut. The figure—which Harlow now realized was probably Shadow, raised his eyebrows.

"Just as I thought—you are abnormal..." Shadow said, leaning back, still holding his katana.

Harlow shrugged.

"You're not gonna cut me with that puny katana thing—" Harlow said nonchalantly.

Shadow smirked. The katana, which was now black, had turned red. Harlow stared at it, raising his eyebrows a little bit.

The katana changed color?

Shadow slashed at Harlow again and Harlow dodged, the slash nearly cutting all the walls in half. Harlow leaped back, crashing through the front door, and landed on the street, breathing a little heavy.

That slash...why was I afraid of it?

In the midst of the dust and debris within the building he had crashed out of, Shadow was nowhere to be seen. Harlow frowned. He tried to look all around him to get a sense of where this ninja could've gone—but he had gotten nothing, then, he felt blood trickle down the side of his neck.

Harlow's eyes were bulging. He wanted to scream but decided to hold the reaction back. For the first time in his life, he felt the pain that normal humans had experienced. It felt...odd, and it hurt. Harlow put the palm of his hand and the side of his neck and put it in front of his face to see. Blood—there was no denying it.

But...I thought gods don't bleed...isn't that what Knight Blackburne is...a god?

His entire image of what he thought he was had been shattered this very moment. He wanted to deny it. He wanted to say that the only reason why he was bleeding had been because he switched bodies—but he knew all too well that that couldn't be the case.

In the corner of his eyes, Shadow stood upright, his face pitch black. It was almost impossible to tell what facial expression Shadow made.

"Based on your reaction, this was the first time you've bled, right? I get it...I've got the same reactions from many monsters, but alas, none of it really mattered...you wanna know what's funny?" Shadow asked, slowly approaching him.

Harlow took a step back, his heart pounding, somewhat afraid.

Is he going to decapitate me? Am I really ready to die? Wait...if I die...won't Kyoufu die too?

Shadow dashed at Harlow again and slashed, but Harlow narrowly escaped with only a small cut on the side of his face as he landed on top of a car.

In that case...I guess I'll just...

An idea came to mind. He made a glimpse to the left and saw a manhole. That was it—that would be his sole opportunity to escape this situation. Shadow had met Harlow's eyes and knew exactly what he had planned to do.

"You have 100% monsterification, don't you? That's why you're so tough, but I'm also 100% monsterized. Isn't it ironic how the more monsterized we become, the more we look like normal humans?" Shadow had explained.

Harlow tried to tune him out, but he couldn't. Nonetheless, he started to put more of his focus on staring at the manhole, preparing to leap towards it whenever he was ready. Shadow continued to approach Harlow.

"I usually don't talk this much, but after finding someone else like me, I couldn't help myself. Well, besides that, it doesn't change the fact that I'm going to make you my slave.." Shadow said, and with that, he moved so fast that he had disappeared.

Harlow, already knowing that he's coming from behind, predicts Shadow's slash by ducking and leaping towards the manhole. Shadow tries to grab him, but fails. Harlow had already shot through the manhole and landed inside of the sewer tunnels, the gray water splashing all over him.

EWWW...disgusting...I think I'm gonna throw up...

Harlow, having half of his body covered in gray water, quickly treaded away from the light coming from the manhole. He had no idea where he was going next.

Shadow, staring at the sewers from above the surface, decided not to pursue Harlow. After all, there were plenty of other monsters roaming down there, and his katana wouldn't be bright enough to see them. At this point, Harlow was a lost cause.

...

Knight Blackburne had arrived at the palace gates, feeling a bit hungry. The guards, who were eyeing him with a great deal of respect, nodded.

"Greetings, holy knight. Have you come to pay a visit to the Princess again?" The guards ask, already parting ways. The Knight nodded and started walking forward.

"Yes, it is a very urgent matter indeed." Knight Blackburne replied, strolling past the guards.

The knight continued to make his way through the palace grounds. Eventually, he had ended up walking past the garden and found a couple of men sparring with each other. As he continued walking, he was surprised to see Princess Elysia sparring with one of the soldiers near the back.

She's better with the sword than I thought.

Knight Blackburne patiently watched as Elysia continued to spar. Once the spar was over, the knight had met Elysia's gaze and smirked.

"Have you come to give it thought?" Elysia asked.

Knight Blackburne shrugged.

"I have come for another matter, one that is very dear to me. My companion, my dragon, is missing..." Knight Blackburne said.

Elysia put down her sword and approached the knight.

"Beg your pardon?" Elysia asked.

Knight Blackburne sighed.

"Missing...gone with the wind I suppose." Knight Blackburne clarified. Elysia frowned.

"I will send some of my men to be on the lookout for it, if that helps—I'm sorry—if you want, I could spare some horses for you." Elysia said, feeling a bit sorry.

Knight Blackburne nodded.

"That would be great." The knight replied. As Elysia led Knight Blackburne to the royal stables, the knight had wanted to ask her a question.

"So...I see you were sparring. Since when did you take an interest in swordsmanship?" Knight Blackburne asked as they arrived at the stables.

Elysia graciously turned around to face him.

"I've always had an interest in it, and now that you're here, unless you have anything else to do...how about teaching me a trick or two?" Elysia said, getting up close. She put the palm of her hand on his chest.

"Please...would you teach me...?" Elysia said softly.

Knight Blackburne shrugged.

"Of course, when do you want to start?" Knight Blackburne asked, but Elysia quickly pulled a dagger from the side of her thigh and tried to strike the knight. The knight had easily sidestepped and caught her hand.

"Impressive..." Knight Blackburne said, smirking.

Elysia frowned.

"Your reflexes are fast. How did you train them like that?" Elysia asked as the knight let go of her hand. Knight Blackburne pondered the question.

"I was always like this...as you know, the blood of the gods runs through me. I've told you the story of my mother, Gaia, many times." Knight Blackburne started. Elysia nodded.

"Yes, Gaia...the goddess that ruled over this earth. But, I never quite understood why a god would mate with a mortal. A pure god at least. Not to say that we couldn't be a thing..." Elysia said, leaning back against the wooden fence.

Knight Blackburne brushed his hair.

"It is a complex origin to say the least. I don't know what became of my father, but I'm glad this kingdom decided to take me in." Knight Blackburne replied.

"Indeed—we've won many wars because of that decision. Say, if you're ever gone, O knight, who would be the main defense of this kingdom? My men have grown drunk, weak, and lazy due to your constant protection. I'm afraid if anything were to happen to you, this kingdom..." Elysia started, staring at the horizon.

Knight Blackburne stood by her side.

"I pray we won't have another Azurath, or another Black Death if that ever happens. Until then, I'll be on the lookout for my dragon." Knight Blackburne said.

He leaned back and walked over to the training grounds. There, he picked up a sword, played around with it for a little, and got in a stance. Elysia noticed this and smirked.

"I see you've chosen not to use your Sword of Perfection. I know I'm not a god, but, could I try and wield it?" Elysia asked, stepping closer to the knight. Knight Blackburne unsheathed the Sword of Perfection and handed it to Elysia, who took it with great satisfaction. She smirked as she tried using different sword techniques with the weapon.

"This feels...nice." Elysia said.

"Indeed it should." Knight Blackburne replied, smirking.

...

At the Start of the Outbreak

It is sunrise. The light is illuminating the place of the holy shrine as Shadow makes his way past the torii gate. He's surrounded by mother-nature, taking in all the lush and greenery he can get before he lasts to leave for another meeting with his clan.

At last, I can have some time to myself. I'll definitely be using it to practice on perfecting my creation.

Shadow was pleased at the thought, pleased about making more progress towards something that he actually cared about, rather than sitting down and listening to useless gossip and family business.

As Shadow finally reached the shrine, he noticed that the atmosphere felt a bit different. Was something or someone spying on him? He didn't think so. If it had been the children spying on him, he would've noticed by now, but after looking around and listening to the distinct sound of each animal within his range, he decided that there were no children around.

At last, Shadow knelt down in front of the shrine and began to pray. After praying, he stood up and went towards a fountain where he washed his hands. He definitely knew that something was watching him, but he couldn't figure out what. Nevertheless, he decided to stay calm. After all, this was a sacred space, and no one or thing was going to change that for him.

After taking the time to organize the materials laid out before him: the scroll, brush, and pain, he thought of Musashi Miyamoto—his idol. Oh, how he had a long history of reading countless stories and biographies all surrounding that one man. Saying Miyamoto was his idol might have even been an understatement, but still, he played a big role in Shadow's life as an aspiring samurai.

I've longed to follow in his footsteps, to maybe even become like him, but the reality is, I'll never become like him, no matter how much I try or how much I train—he's simply a blessing in itself...his work...

Shadow began painting, fully aware that the presence of something lurking in the distance was growing. He frowned. He continued to paint images and possible correlations between his kenjutsu and Miyamoto's.

When he was finished painting his first piece, he was about to move on when he felt the presence of something lurking had gotten too strong. He sighed and looked up. It was a ginormous eye covered in veins that had eight arachnid-like limbs attached to the center, holding it up. Shadow gulped.

Is that a demon? Could I unsheeth my katana faster than it can pounce?

Shadow continued to think about it as the demon—monster, or whatever it was, was drawing closer. He soon noticed that more of its kind was also showing up out of the bushes. As Shadow closed his eyes, he imagined how Miyamoto would control this situation. Even though Shadow didn't have Miyamoto's infamous Kaneshige Koshirae, his katana should do the trick.

As soon as the demon shot out a limb at Shadow, Shadow casually sliced the limb into 20 pieces so fast that it looked like he did it in one slice. The rest of the demons attacked, only to end up in a pile of blood, guts, and chopped limbs.

Where did I gain this power from? Why do I feel so much like Miyamoto? Or even...stronger...

No—Miyamoto was still human, but what Shadow had done had far surpassed anything he's ever known or seen in his entire life. Such speed and reflexes didn't even put a strain on his muscles. He smirked and he wiped the blood from his katana.

"These demons aren't even worth sharpening my blade. Time to move on and warn the clan..." Shadow had said.