Chapter 49: Chinese Man-Eater

Amidst the eerie silence of the moonlit night, the chilling winds whispered tales of warriors long gone. Kuroyama Minamoto, guided by the luminous glow of the full moon, strides into a cemetery.

Kuroyama adjusted his black coat, revealing the striking red and black kimono beneath. His raven hair was tied in a precise topknot that added a touch of kingship. By his side, the metallic glint of dual swords hinted at battles past and the conflicts that awaited him.

Gin Kagiri stood like a statue. His bamboo hat casting a shadow over his features, the white of his kimono contrasting the dark night. The wooden sword, sheathed at his side. But it was Yoritomo Minamoto's grave that he gazed upon, a link to a war long past, a beacon that had drawn Kuroyama tonight.

Their eyes met. "I knew you would come," Gin's voice broke the silence.

Kuroyama's smirk held no warmth. "So, you lurk amongst the dead, hoping to add me to their number? Do you really believe you can present Emperor Jimmu with my severed head?"

From within the folds of his pristine kimono, Gin produced a rope. Its presence made Kuroyama chuckle with a mix of amusement and derision. "A rope? Perhaps I've overestimated you," he quipped, drawing his flaming twin blades.

Gin paused for a moment, choosing his words carefully. "Kuroyama, your quest for power isn't just a whim, is it? It's rooted in a deep-seated vendetta, fueled by betrayal."

Kuroyama's piercing gaze held steady, compelling Gin to continue.

Clearing his throat, Gin began, "The history books tell a tale, Kuroyama. Your father, Yoritomo, and Tokugawa Ieyasu were more than just rival clan leaders. They locked horns on the battlefield repeatedly until—"

Kuroyama’s blade came to life, flames erupting along its edge, cutting through the air and silencing Gin mid-sentence. "Enough!" His voice, sharp and cutting, echoed ominously through the graveyard. The moonlight cast an eerie glow on his face, accentuating the anger etched into his features. "I didn’t come here to be lectured on history, especially not by you."

Gin’s eyes, steady and unyielding, bore into Kuroyama’s. "You may not want to hear it, but the past is as much a part of you as the sword at your side. Ignoring it won’t change the truths you have to face."

A painful silence enveloped them as Kuroyama's laughter, cold and mocking, echoed through the graveyard. "Spare me your cryptic nonsense. I need no history lesson from you."

Drawing himself up, Kuroyama's voice dripped with scorn. "So, Gin," he sneered, his eyes flicking towards the place where Gin’s arm used to be. "Are you still the legend they speak of, or has losing that arm taken more than just your strength?"

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Gin's horns sprouted, electricity crackling around his wooden sword. "I hoped for reconciliation, but it seems we're past that now."

Kuroyama smirked, the tension in the air palpable, charged with the electricity of the impending storm of their clash.

As the tension between Kuroyama and Gin reached a crescendo, far from the cemetery, another warrior was on a mission.

The moon hung low over Kyoto, casting the city in an ethereal glow. Kaze stalked the streets below, his movements precise and calculated like pieces on a vast chessboard. He was on a mission - searching for signs of the emperor's army in this labyrinth of alleys and courtyards.

Suddenly, a commotion arose from a narrow street ahead. Screams pierced the quiet night. Kaze quickened his pace, his hand tightening around his staff. As he drew nearer, the cries grew louder, more desperate. His pulse raced in anticipation of confrontation.

When Kaze turned the corner, the crowd parted before him like a receding wave. In the center lay Hina Minamoto, her body sliced up and bloody. The gruesome sight ignited a fire in Kaze's chest.

"Who is responsible for this?" His voice thundered, seeking the culprit amidst the sea of evasive gazes. "Answer me!"

A timid voice whispered, "The Chinese man-eater..."

Kaze's stomach dropped. Not him - the mythical killer from his dead father's chilling tales. It couldn't be...

The woman's whimpers refocused Kaze's attention. He had to reach the castle before the man-eater struck again.

Kaze turned his gaze skyward. "Fujin, god of wind, grant me speed by letting me fuse with you!"

The air swirled around him, carrying an ancient voice. "This power you seek comes at a price - twenty years of your life."

Kaze gritted his teeth, hand resting on his staff. The Young Shogun had to be protected, no matter the cost.

"So be it."

Kaze's body began to transform as the essence of the wind god fused into his mortal frame. Muscles rippled and grew, back arching as raw power flooded his veins and his skin turned green. A bestial roar erupted from his throat as the changes reached completion.

With feline grace, Kaze dropped to all fours. He reached for the pouch at his belt, removing a handful of dried leaves. Crushing them, he inhaled deeply. The scent filled his enhanced senses with the purity of mountain gales.

Kaze crouched, body coiling like a spring. His clawed fingers dug furrows in the dirt road. A rumbling growl built in his chest as he prepared to launch himself toward the castle.

With explosive force, Kaze shot forward, a blur tearing through the streets. The gust left in his wake flung people against walls, snapping bones. He paid no mind, focused only on his goal.

Kaze's heart hammered against his ribs, carrying him ever faster and faster. He would not fail his lord. The man-eater's reign of terror would end tonight, even if Kaze had to tear the villain apart with his bare hands.

Kaze raced through the twisting streets, his enhanced senses guiding him unerringly toward the castle. His ears picked up startled cries as people scrambled to avoid the roaring cyclone barreling past. He bounded effortlessly over obstacles, barely breaking stride.

As he neared the castle gates, the scent of blood grew thick in the air. Fear spiked through him, lending his paws even greater speed. Had he arrived too late?