Country of Ponaj, near the Baih Highlands.

  The morning was cold, damp, and wrapped in that heavy silence nature creates when it tries to warn of something. Even so, Gonzo walked ahead with an infectious enthusiasm.

  “Alright, boys, you’ve rested long enough. Today we’re going to explore this wonderful place!” he said with a broad smile.

  “I hope the language won’t be a problem…” Mason muttered nervously.

  “I don’t think we’ll be talking to many people anyway,” Albert added mockingly. “And Master Gonzo deals with the folks at the inn, so stop worrying, dummy.”

  Gonzo let out a quiet laugh.

  “That’s true, but it would be good for you to learn the language. You never know when you might have to come back here.”

  “Where exactly are we going, Master Gonzo?” Mason asked, curious.

  “Our final destination is the summit of the Baih Highlands… but first we’ll visit a small forest known as Saigo no Iki no Michi. In our language, it means ‘Path of the Last Breath.’”

  The atmosphere changed with those words. Even the wind seemed to stop.

  “Sounds like the kind of place where people go to get killed,” Albert said with a shiver.

  “You could say that,” Gonzo replied. “But they die by their own hand, if you understand what I mean.”

  Mason frowned.

  “With a name like that… I’m guessing a lot of people go there, right? But why?”

  “Stress, despair, suffocating routines… many reasons. And that forest has a supernatural aura that affects people with problems much faster. But since you two don’t have any, it shouldn’t affect you.”

  Mason still didn’t seem convinced.

  “So… what exactly are we going for? If it’s part of the culture here, shouldn’t we leave it alone?”

  “The problem,” Gonzo said, suddenly serious, “is that creatures have also begun going there to do the same. That has never happened. It seems something is manipulating the forest’s energy. You two are going to stop it. This is your first real mission.”

  Albert let out a shaky laugh.

  “Master, great joke. Like Mason and I could handle something like that.”

  “It’s not a joke,” Gonzo replied without a hint of humor.

  “But Master… those creatures must be way stronger than us. How are we supposed to do it without you?” Mason asked.

  “By working together. That’s your biggest problem. You two are the weakest in the group because you always fight alone. You’re the first to fall… wasn’t that the case with Simon?” Gonzo said bluntly.

  Albert clicked his tongue.

  “What? I’m not weak. I probably hit the hardest of the whole group. And my brother passed out too.”

  “Master, I think it’s a little unfair to call us the weakest just because of that fight,” Mason said in frustration.

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  “And what good is it if you hit hard when a single blow knocks you out? Your brother hit Simon before falling. Thanks to him, all of you passed the test. You can’t compare the two situations,” Gonzo replied. “Mason… I expect you both to prove you’re up to the task.”

  A heavy silence accompanied them until Gonzo stopped.

  “We’re here. Activate your Nature Koa before entering.”

  All three surrounded themselves with energy. The air inside the forest was different—heavy, dim, as if light avoided touching the ground.

  “It doesn’t emit strong energy… but it definitely feels eerie,” Mason said, scanning the surroundings.

  “Yeah… like something is watching us,” Albert added.

  Despite his stern words earlier, Gonzo knew the boys had improved. But we’re only just beginning, he thought.

  Then he heard something. Ragged breathing. A crack.

  The creature emerged from between the trees—half a human torso dragging itself, with scissors instead of hands.

  “What the hell is that?!” Mason yelled, dodging.

  “Kete Kete? That makes no sense! They only appear near train stations,” Gonzo said, startled.

  “That thing’s a cryptid? It’s using Beast Koa,” Albert noted.

  “No… it was emanating Legend Koa,” Mason said.

  “It’s a demon. They can use the same class system as humans. Be careful,” Gonzo warned.

  The creature zigzagged with inhuman speed.

  “It’s fast, but… it doesn’t seem that strong,” Mason analyzed.

  “I’ve got a plan. Wish me luck,” Albert said, leaping forward.

  “Don’t do anything stupid, boy!” Gonzo barked.

  Kete Kete brought its scissors down with brutal force.

  Albert activated his technique just in time:

  “Defend.”

  His skin hardened like stone. The scissors hit—and shattered against the Nature Koa.

  “Now, Mason!”

  “Cerberus Judgment!”

  He used Koa Beast to deliver three powerful blows; jaw-shaped strikes materialized and tore the demon apart.

  The creature collapsed into scattered pieces.

  “For someone that was half a body… you ended up even less,” Albert joked.

  “Idiot, stop risking yourself like that,” Mason grumbled.

  “Well done, but… something doesn’t add up,” Gonzo muttered, examining the remains. “What is one of these doing here?”

  Mason crouched down.

  “Master… it has a weird wound on its neck. Are they all like this?”

  Albert snorted.

  “You probably did that without realizing. Who cares?”

  “We move,” Gonzo ordered. “Something is very wrong.”

  Gonzo walked a few steps ahead, deep in thought. And then the forest changed.

  It became colder, denser… hostile.

  The trees creaked and a figure dropped from above. Wrapped in mist. Long brown hair. A medical mask covering half her face.

  Her eyes, red. Empty. Hungry.

  “Watashi… kirei?” she asked with a broken, unnatural voice.

  Albert stepped back.

  “Sorry, sweetheart, I don’t understand a single word you’re saying.”

  Gonzo spun around instantly.

  “Impossible…”

  The woman tore off her mask. The wound splitting her mouth almost to her ear was grotesque.

  “Watashi kirei?” she repeated.

  Mason rushed in.

  “Cerberus Judgment!”

  But the creature vanished. She reappeared behind him.

  “Watashi kirei?” she whispered, manifesting a dagger aimed at Mason’s throat.

  “Defend!” Albert blocked with his hand. The dagger pierced partially, injuring him.

  “Damn it! She can pierce even my hardened Koa…”

  “Get back! I’ll handle the Kuchihagi Onna,” Gonzo commanded.

  “Watashi kirei?” she repeated—now summoning two sharp katanas.

  “You’re not my type, sweetheart,” Gonzo muttered as he released his Beast Koa. Silver eagle wings formed around him.

  “Etón.”

  Feather-blades shot out like projectiles. The demon dodged most, but the ones that touched her sank into her skin without injuring her.

  “Master… it’s not working,” Mason said.

  “I’ve got you now,” Gonzo clasped his hands. “Eagle of the Caucasus.”

  The feathers transformed into heavy chains that wrapped around the demon, restraining her. She howled in fury.

  “Incredible…” Mason whispered.

  “Prometheus’ Punishment,” Gonzo declared.

  His fists glowed. He struck twice—exactly where the heart and liver should be. Two perfect holes pierced through the Kuchihagi Onna’s body.

  She collapsed, lifeless.

  Mason approached, tense.

  “Master… she also has a wound on her neck.”

  Albert took a shaky breath.

  “That thing was insanely strong, and you beat it like nothing.”

  Gonzo’s expression hardened.

  “She was a zombie. If she were the real one, she would’ve ripped your hand off. The Kuchihagi Onna is a Mega-class demon.”

  The boys went pale.

  “A demon zombie?” Mason asked.

  “Yes. And now I know why Kete Kete couldn’t cut you, Albert. They were both dead… their bodies being controlled. Still deadly to normal humans. But to Taumaturges like us, the risk drops considerably. Even so… I didn’t expect this.”

  Mason swallowed dryly.

  “Who can zombify demons that strong?”

  Gonzo turned slowly, rage and concern mixing in his eyes.

  “A necromancer.

  A cursed Taumaturge… who sold himself to his own ambitions.”

  And this is where we stop for now.

  A zombified Kete Kete…

  A zombified Kuchihagi Onna…

  Both turned into puppets…

  And then a single word from Gonzo changes everything:

  Necromancer.

  What other creatures await them further along their path?

  If you enjoyed the chapter, leave a comment or a rating—your support helps me immensely to keep writing!

  See you in the next one.