I realize it in that moment, having one of my eyes pierced through did not lower a veil towards my sight. My constant wish was a dream, dreamt by someone who could no less grasp at it or even attain it. Having lost what I desired the most, I lost sight of myself. Even so, a piercing sensation from my chest prompted for my immediate wake.

He peered into a sickening sight. Where a dismembered arm laid to the street, blood spilled from it. Another dismembered finger, several meters away. A head rolled to the street. The decapitated head was with eyes, eyes that peered to the vast depths of the sky with a cold gaze.

The buildings were dyed with a bright red and as a result of his anger, something wrapped about his skin.

***

Giente forest.

A mass slaughter of a remote village at the outskirts of the nation was always the norm in these war times, and the village hidden in the forest of giant trees named “Ivory,” was the latest to fall to the Abyss. With it being outside the protection of the Knights even though clearly it was a place still under their watch, a considerable distance was evident.

However, a surprise attack from enemy forces will always cause an imminent retaliation.

The larger the population was, the larger the number of Legions located to the land. If a Abyss horde appeared, all its units could be exterminated within minutes to the sighting, but a sighting of a Abyss horde has never be witnessed, that is in cities or towns closer to the hustle and bustle. 

But, a village not quite as adapt with technologies as other underlying areas, though suitable communication could be achieved if danger lurked. Still, a call urging for help and assistance with enemies of a demon-like nature, would reach the Legions comprised of Knights instantaneously but having gotten that message, the Knights would take a considerable amount of time before ever reaching.

The distance was clear to both sides even when proceeding with haste. Nevertheless the Knights would come.

To counter the invasion, the Legion of “Shadow” went forth. Led by a valiant heroine, in a different league of her own both in skill and tactical ability, one of the few S-rank Knight, her name being, Isui Setra.

In quick haste, the main attack force of the Legion was deployed to the village. Prior to it, a unit comprised of five Knights was sent to assess the situation, reported a horde that simultaneously attacked the village.

***

Upon arriving, dead silence, then, war was issued and the Legion rained down upon the enemy.

The outcome of the battle was already decided when Isui stepped upon the battlefield.

***

A silent cry disappeared with the wind. 

“Someone… help me.”

Speaking with a rather calmed tone, a wounded boy made his way towards anywhere, but there.

Walking across a street, stained with the tone of deep red due to endless streams of blood, which darkened. The overall stench of mangled corpses was overwhelming but that was not the most unpleasant experience out of all.

With a full moon illuminating the way, something was apparent. As a reality of an impending death loomed and finally settled, the only thing in front of him was the giant face of monster. As if amused, that horrid thing proceeded to stretch an arm towards cowering prey, with a smiling expression.

And fear enveloped the boy to the point of silencing his voice. As such, no cries spilled forth.

However! Before reaching contact, it was in that moment, the monster’s head fell from the body, rolling onto the earth steadily. 

Suddenly, a silent figure covered in red, appeared before him from thin air. 

That person touched his forehead with a finger gently.

Within a second, almost to milliseconds, they were atop a cliff to the north of the village.

“Stay here, alright?”

The figure then spoke, but disappeared as fast as it appeared before. And behind him, was a group of these unknown individuals, clad in armor of a red shade with a small number of the villagers. 

At the end of that concentration of people, a massive shadow which loomed, generated by a metallic structure floating in the air.  

With the next words uttered to him, the boy’s gaze shifted.

“Are you… injured?”

***

Landing abruptly to the earth, the Master of the Legion of Shadow came crashing down the battlefield with glowing crimson red eyes and unsheathed a pair of swords from their individual sheaths.

‘Scorch Art: Slaying Moon!’

Those swords were immediately coated by black flames that flared and wavered ceaselessly, but a moment later, then the blades were stained by a shade purple.

Apparent as it were, she landed at the center of all of it. The largest concentration of Abyss, lay in wait. Unlike previous Abyss, these ones were of a smaller size, though they utilized their numerous numbers for an additional advantage. With the eyes of a predator sizing up prey, Hunter Isui proceeded to move her gaze from one soldier to the next.

As soon as those horrid creatures noticed her presence, they began to throw themselves at the Hunter.

Still that was futile. Without notice or even grasping her movements, Isui swiftly maneuvered past three soldiers which stepped up in front first, cleanly slicing their necks entirely and decapitated them.

Three down, more to go.

With both swords tightly gripped, she kicked the ground and charged forward.

Another two pounced at the exact time to intercept the enemy, as they reared ugly heads at her.

These types of Abyss soldiers’ were distinctively “born” with claws riddled for disemboweling and mangling. Thankfully, the Hunter’s armor was of sturdy feature, able to ward off and withstand the sharpness of those claws as her movements from swaying from left to right made the enemies’ attack futile.

Up front, a surge of raw power and unmatched speed was released in quick succession from the Hunter while thrusting her left leg, aiming for the knee joint of a soldier to the left.

The Abyss yelped but quickly began to heal, at a miniscule rate, though.

An approaching slash from a Abyss to the right managed to strike the Knight. However that was not the case as an afterimage was the only thing it grasped. Quicker reflexes prompted Isui to evade but to also launch a counterattack, when it eventually lost momentum.

As predicted, that one fatal flaw in its attack caused an opening to appear. Noticing this, Isui’s foot met the soldier’s chin. Strangely, the trees began to spin around the soldier’s line of sight, it shot into the air. Only bad luck followed as the onslaught still continued. With one leap, a sword clashed with its neck, slicing entirely.

In that same moment, the gathered momentum was further held on. Isui furiously spun down to the earth, decapitating the knee injured soldier beneath. 

And, ultimately created flames wheels in the air.

“…”

After a light landing, her eyes gawked at the remaining number that seemed to surround her from each side. Not in a panicked state, Isui sharpened her focus on each of their movement.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

As they approached, time began to slow down. Isui crouched down slightly, swaying from each direction, with a swift movement of the feet each time silent in approach.

Her eyes narrowed even more, cleanly cutting down the numbers, one head after the other, in a process of who was more bloodthirsty. 

Speed was relative.

Even when met with overwhelming enemies, she fought without being inflicted injuries to note of. As such, the agitated Abyss plunged into a state of shock and panic, causing a more desirable effect for the Hunter.

Pale faces that saw death looming a distance away, had the single intention of focusing. Right now, additional soldiers stepped forward in a frenzy.

Regardless of strength, they noticed that their numbers were far more superior. Perhaps if all jumped in at the exact moment, that could overwhelm the enemy. Concluding that she would not await for a counterattack, another soldier met an untimely end with the confrontation pressing to the final stage. 

When following the rule of gravity, the decapitated bodies fell to the ground with a thud.

“…”

Weaving between each soldier, red blood splattered out profusely with every successful strike.

The Knight’s sword embedded into another soldier’s neck. No scream for help or signs of anguish came out, and the other, impaled into another soldier from the chin, exiting horizontally out the cranium of the skull.

The slicing of flesh followed once more and she added to the body count. 

Agile movements, complimented by her fighting style. twenty of the surrounding enemies had already fallen. Standing no chance, not even the sliver of hope grasped them and they finally understood that.

However, amongst a remaining few, one boasted a larger physique and cried furiously. With a determined gaze, it threw the far smaller ones to the air in front and then, grabbed another two to guard itself, ultimately creating a shield. The current objective, create a blindspot in order to hamper the enemy’s vision with the first launch but also protect itself, as it neared closer.

For an unsightly creature, that plan was above average for its kind, but the execution was poor since that meat shield was far less an obstacle in the Hunter’s way.

After coming in close distance, her frightening quick reflexes allowed for a deadly response.

‘Scorch Art: Silent Blaze!’

A flash of light appeared in tenths of a second. A single motion from her quickdraw generated a blinding slash, searing hot in wake that a mark of black flames coated the air in front.

Having dealt a lethal strike, the aftermath was clear. The last remnants of the large soldier and whatever support it used, was burned into sheer nothingness, completely incinerating upon activation of the attack.

Scorched and decapitated, the soldiers’ existence was steadily being erased but not be surprised, that was their duty. The prolific “soldiers” of a horde were “born” as the lowest in the hierarchy. Being the lowest meant that they also were the weakest of the bunch.

Still, Hunter Isui never wavered as the rate of movement decreased, finally laying waste to all of them.

***

Blood ran down that ground as a gaze caught fragmenting bodies. Not a single emotion of remorse was left, leaving an impression to the Knight. Those nerves of steels never allowed for a weakened state of vulnerability towards the sight of a massacre. However the main objective still remained, “find and dispose of the horde’s head, the boss.”

Isui promptly swung both swords, cutting through air to remove pungent blood off the blades. The blades’ durability would not be ruined by filth.

’Thirty one. Weren’t there thirty two of them?’

In that moment, slight movement was noticed when Isui made eye contact with another Abyss soldier, hiding in the large bushes near the trees. 

It probably was the sole survivor. Having caught that glowing light from the eyes, made all of its instincts skyrocket to a nervous state to sheer terror. Even if it could not speak the same language, it could understand the concept of fear from a single glance. 

In tenths of a second, before it could even make an attempt at fleeing, a launched sword impaled its head, blowing a hole into the brain and released blood that splattered following that as the whites of the eyes were revealed. 

Regardless of how frightened, her method however cruel urged the complete annihilation of all.

A cold stare was emitted from the eyes with leaves that soon fell down the ground, branches rustled and the sword flew back to the Hunter’s palm as if commanded by waving her hand.

The boss still was not to be forgotten. 

With one powerful step, she focused all strength into her legs and dashed forth unimpeded. Quickly swerving through, wind would blow at her black hair.

The boss was the target. It being the most powerful proved a threat and through heading a distance into the forest, it would show itself. Still, even if the main target of the assault was located, other Abyss could not be forgotten and ignored when seen and the closer into the forest she went, a spike in danger was evident. But having thought so, the difficulty of the task never fazed Isui. 

Suddenly, Isui’s trusted instincts rang once more. 

In those split moments, the murky bushes rustled.

And suddenly, without warning, a fist almost able of covering her body in its embrace, a giant clenched fist came hurling down with great speed to the Knight.

Immediately, a loud bang shook the ground as the assault made contact. 

Dust and pieces of the ground were blown flew in all directions like rain. Even the nearest trees shook from their foundations.

Silence crept all over. Steadily, dust settled. With that, she was probably crushed by a massive fist, since no signs of her escaping were not shown, Isui would lay to the ground in a bloody pulp. The large Abyss, being a “guard” rammed a thick fist at the enemy and defeated her. But that was not the case.

Miraculously, the sneak attack was stopped, not to mention, with only a finger to the clenched fist from Isui’s left hand.

Isui immediately cast a glance at the guard’s face.

‘Did this thing… just punch me?’

A contest of strength of power. The counterattack began shortly and she gripped ahold of the arm with her left hand. The muscles located across her left arm and upper body began to pulsate throughout and she pulled down the guard as if it were a child.

With a lightning quick reaction, she aimed her right fist and would thrust it to the middle of the guard’s chest, punching it from point-blank range. 

A powerful strike generated by the one of strongest Knights cut through the air. When reaching the intended target, a loud bang that deafened everything near could be heard. Her fist created a almost crater-like wound into the Abyss’ chest. 

With that, the large guard was immediately thrown into the air, flying a great distance until violently landing to the ground with a noticeable thud. 

Isui still poised in a stance, her left hand clutched upon the thick arm. Strangely enough, upon striking the large Abyss, its right hand was ripped off as her grip never released the arm.

With a single punch, the confrontation ended and she threw away the large arm. Therefore, she proceeded with the prior objective, setting in further into the forest.

But, the intended target was closer than expected. Suddenly, with no traces of sound being generated, something was fired. A sharp projectile was launched from the darkness of the forest.

Reacting to it, Isui parried the projectile, striking it with the blade of the sword.

Isui passed a glance at a now falling object and peered into the darkness.

Strength once more gathered into her legs and she dashed forth, in the direction of the attacker.

However, not allowing the Knight for a rather easy approach, additional projectiles would be thrown although the barrage was quickly evaded with gracious and agile steps.

And finally, she could see it. Atop a branch, the boss ceaselessly threw more projectiles.

When noticing the enemy’s approach, the agitated boss leapt onto another tree’s branches, then another, obviously attempting to flee in the opposite direction.

It was understandable. Its underlings were wiped out, so to were the guards and finally, the strongest enemy came crashing through. No choice but to run away.

That plan of escape was simply a failure though since the Knight was already in striking distance. Strangely enough, she never retaliated, only leaping up a few meters below it. 

The boss gave off an expression of pure shock and in disbelief, threw more sharp projectiles from its hardened skin.

Atop the trees’ branches was a danger zone. As such, it prompted to sprint on the ground after landed lightly.

A single glance was passed behind but nothing other than air and falling branches could be seen.

It was in that moment, something felt odd. The movement of its body no longer quickened and came to a halt. It was alarmed and to that surprise, its arm was pinned down to the bark of a tree, an arm impaled by a sword.

‘Scorch Art: Fang of Tar.’

It noticed too late. 

Isui coated her other sword in hand while falling, with a pitch black substance and swung.

Immediately, blade met neck, relieving the head off the body, thus decapitating it.

And the boss’ head landed onto the ground.

Following the final strike, a large creak resounded. Isui caught the motion of a tree falling down. Not only was the boss cut down but also the tree it was pinned on and in quick succession, the massive tree was uprooted.

A colossal tree lost equilibrium, thereby, descending to the earth.

It was large. As such quite a lengthy amount of time would pass until it reached to the ground. However before that, she would not let it fall.

Swiftly gliding through the air, up to the middle of the tree, Hunter Isui clutched ahold at the tree’s massive trunk. Once again, with pulsating muscles all over the body, she flanged it into the sky.

A feat too great and a testament to the Knight’s strength, a colossal tree launched upwards. As witnessed before, Isui utilized no reinforment method or anything of the sorts. Her overall pure strength of prior swift slashes of the sword, a monumental punch and clenching a grip to a massive creation, that was only thanks to her physical capabilities. Unlike of normal Knight, not even elite Knight could boast such power, using it with effort as there being no repercussions whatsoever.

After launching the massive tree, Isui pointed one of her swords at the tree from the sky. 

Focusing Ethereal energy into the very tip of the blade, a spark was generated.

The spark immediately grew in size and light, was emitted.

‘Scorch Art: Dark Star!’

Suddenly, a loud bang capable of toppling any mountain, was heard throughout the entire forest, blewing tree branches from afar with hurls of wind. A flash of light with a shade of purple from that spark of light which grew in size, then, exploded into a monstrous display could also be seen, accompanied with the wind pressure generated by the explosion.

***

The villagers and distant Knights sighted the massive explosion that completely incinerated a colossal tree.

Suddenly, Isui emerged in front of the same boy as before from thin air. In those moments, he gazed with blinking as those fleeting moments seemed like an eternity. 

Her eyes pierced passed at the vast horizon.

***

The village was ravaged. More than 85% of the residents were deceased. Dismembered limbs and other parts of the body laid across the village as well as the vast amount of blood.

Another peaceful village was once again recorded in history, only to be spoken of having the cruelest of fates descend upon them due to bloodlust.