After the brutal battle with the Tengu, the samurai gather in the village to discuss how to confront the growing threat of the yokai. These dark creatures seem to be growing stronger and their attacks are becoming more frequent. Takeshi, the strategist, suggests seeking outside help. The village is on the verge of being overwhelmed, and although the samurai are honorable and skilled, they begin to doubt their ability to defend themselves alone.

“We need allies,” Takeshi says, looking at Haruto. “We have fought valiantly, but the yokai are unpredictable. If we don’t do something, we won’t survive the next attack.”

Kaede, the young warrior, quickly stands up. “Allies? Who else could help us against these monsters? We are the defenders of this land!”

Haruto, thoughtful, responds with solemn calm. “There are others who fight in the shadows. The Shinigami—legendary assassins who master stealth and death like no one else. However, they do not interfere in the affairs of others. They prefer to operate from the shadows and rarely answer calls for help.”

Despite their resistance, the samurai decide to send an emissary to the Shinigamis’ hideout, hoping that, in the face of the growing threat, the assassins might be persuaded to join the battle.

Days pass without a response, until finally the emissary returns, dejected.

“They have rejected us,” he informs them with a weary voice. “The Shinigami will not join our cause. They don’t see this as their fight.”

The mood in the village plummets. The news seems to seal the fate of the samurai, who now must face the darkness alone. But just when despair begins to set in, something unexpected happens.

One night, as the protagonists and the samurai prepare for the next battle, a solitary figure appears at the village gate, shrouded in shadows. The stranger moves with a silent, terrifying grace, as if gliding through the very air. His face is hidden under a black hood, and his presence makes the samurai instantly grip the hilts of their swords.

Haruto cautiously steps toward the figure. “Who are you?” he asks, keeping his eyes locked on the stranger.

The figure slowly pulls back his hood, revealing the face of a young man, but with a gaze hardened by experience. His eyes have a cold, calculating gleam, but his voice is calm when he speaks.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

“My name is Carlos. I am a Shinigami... but not like the others.”

The samurai, shocked by his appearance, exchange confused glances. Haruto, however, does not lower his guard.

“Why are you here, Carlos?” Haruto asks. “Your people have rejected us.”

Carlos shrugs, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings. “They don’t want to get involved. They believe this fight isn’t their concern. But I think differently. The yokai are growing in number and strength, and they won’t stop. If they aren’t stopped now, darkness will cover all of Japan. So I came on my own.”

The protagonists, who have been watching from the background, feel intrigued by this new warrior. Carlos radiates a skill set that feels very different from the samurai. Where the samurai fight with honor and in the open, Carlos exudes a darker, more concealed energy. He is a warrior of the shadows, one who prefers to eliminate his enemies before they even see him coming.

Kaede steps forward, a mixture of distrust and curiosity in her voice. “And why should we trust you? You are not like us. The Shinigami have their own code, and they don’t fight for noble causes.”

Carlos looks at her intently, his expression emotionless. “I don’t care what you think of me. I’m not here for you. I’m here because I know that if these yokai aren’t stopped, there will be nothing left of what we know. Fighting in the shadows or in the open doesn’t matter. The result is all that matters.”

Takeshi, observing the interaction, speaks up. “If you are as powerful as they say the Shinigami are, you could change the course of this battle. But you must know, we fight with honor here.”

Carlos smiles, a cold, humorless smile. “Honor doesn’t win wars. But that’s fine. I’ll fight my way, and you fight yours. Just remember, it’s not always the most honorable warrior who survives, but the smartest.”

Despite the initial tension, Haruto decides to allow Carlos to join them. He knows the Shinigami’s skill could make a difference in the upcoming battle against the yokai. Although Carlos’ methods don’t follow the way of Bushido, his presence gives them a chance.

As the group prepares for the next yokai offensive, Carlos begins to demonstrate his skills. His knowledge of shadows and stealth is unparalleled, and soon he teaches the protagonists and some samurai tactics they had never considered before: how to move undetected, how to use the environment to their advantage, and how to defeat an enemy before they have the chance to strike.

Carlos, though solitary and somewhat distant, begins to show unexpected camaraderie with the protagonists, especially with the boy who has no magic. In him, Carlos sees a spark of determination he respects. Though Carlos lives by his own rules, his experience and skill begin to influence the group’s strategy.

The next yokai attack is near, and with Carlos at their side, the samurai and the protagonists have a new weapon in their arsenal. The battle against the yokai is about to begin, and the lone Shinigami, with his dark past and lethal style, will be crucial in the confrontation to come.