The Moonlight Swordsman



"I am coming with you too," Daisy suddenly said.

"No, you should go with them," Aizel replied.

"But..

"They need your help more than me, Daisy.

"And besides, this idiot will keep you safe," he said, slapping Soren's back at the same time.

"Without a doubt, you will be safe when I am around," Soren replied and nodded.

"Okay," she replied with a sigh.

"Now buddy, shall we head on our way?"

"Y-yes," the captive person replied.

Leaving the shelter of the cave behind, both of them embarked on a journey toward the bustling town of Triton's.

Their path led them through winding trails, thick foliage, and a myriad of natural wonders.

"Why are you helping me?" the person asked.

"Even I don't know why? I guess I am bored," Aizel replied.

"No, your reaction inside the cave was something else."

"What do you want me to say then, that I took pity on you?" Aizel asked, raising his eyebrow a little.

"No, that's not what I meant."

"You know you are just useless scum in this world who can't do shit.

"You are weak. You let them take away your wife and child without even putting up a fight.

"Here, you just gave away the information to a stranger just for a false promise."

"IF ONLY I WAS STRONGER, IT WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED," the person shouted angrily.

"Look at you; you only bark like a dog."

"How could I even put up a fight when I can't even form a magic core?" the person said, calming his tone down a little in front of Aizel.

"And who said that?"

"I tried many times, but I can't do it. It seems I am not destined to become a mage,"

"And who decided that?" Aizel asked again.

"Uh..."

The person just stood there, completely at a loss for words, in response to Aizel's inquiry.

The truth was that there was no external force or authority that had decided he couldn't form a magic core.

It was a self-imposed limitation; born out of a lack of motivation and a belief that he wasn't destined to become a mage.

Every time he fell short, self-doubt crept in and whispered that his potential was limited, smothering his drive.

"If you can't do it for yourself, then do it for the ones you love. And even then, if you can't do it, go and rot in some corner of the street, SCUM."

From that point on until they reached Triton's town, Aizel barely exchanged a word with the man.

Upon reaching the outskirts of the town, Aizel broke the silence that had enveloped them throughout the journey.

"Be prepared for the worst. Whatever happens to your wife and child, you will carry the sin and blame for the rest of your life."

Silently taking the lead, the man wordlessly guided Aizel into the heart of the town.

His actions spoke louder than words as he navigated through the bustling streets with a sense of purpose.

Aizel followed in his footsteps, taking in the sights and surroundings of Triton's village as he went.

"So many seafolk members,"

[Master, are you prepared?]

Yeah, I am."

"That's the mansion where a small squad leader of the follower group stays. He has held my wife and child in the mansion," the man said.

"So, what are you going to do? Are you going to stay behind like scum or are you going to kill them with me?" Aizel asked.

"I am already prepared to die now; I will die killing those fuckers," he said in rage.

"Good, then come with me."

[Master, are you really going to do that?]

Yes Sekki, even if it's a small start, it's better than nothing. Let the world of Xelgar witness what a true Devil actually looks like."

Aizel's magic armor, previously in the possession of Daisy, encased him once again, adorning his body with its formidable presence.

A Japanese hannya mask, with its creepy features offering a shroud of secrecy, emerged in his hands.

The man accompanying Aizel watched in astonishment, his expression frozen in disbelief, as they advanced towards the mansion with purposeful strides.

Curiosity and confusion rippled through the crowd as Aizel and the man passed by.

The crowd around Aizel looked perplexed and murmured to one another as they tried to make sense of his appearance.

The sight of the mysterious people wandering through the busy streets couldn't help but amuse some onlookers.

"Hey look, who is that weird person?" one of the human guards notified the seafolk guards around the mansion.

Aizel stopped just outside the mansion's main entrance.

With a sharp awareness, he noticed the seafolk and human guards swiftly emerging, their eyes filled with hostility and suspicion.

The commotion quickly drew a crowd around, and they gathered with their eyes fixed on the strange scene playing out in front of them.

*Tsk*

Too many eyes," Aizel said, raising his hands, and a dense black veil materialized around him and the mansion.

Surprised bystanders outside suddenly lost their ability to see or hear what was going on inside. Some of them, out of curiosity, tried to penetrate the veil, but they all reported feeling uneasy the instant their hands touched it.

Their life energy began to dwindle, drained away by the mysterious power of the enchanted barrier.

"Hey, who the fuck are you, joker…"

"What are you doing creating a barrier around…"

"Are you getting tired of living..."

"MY NAME IS...Ahem sorry....

"MY NAME IS SATAN," Aizel said in a deep voice this time.

"Who is this person?

"Never heard of him…"

"I think he is just showing off, trying to impress the boss..."

"Where are you from Satan?"

"I COME FROM THE PLACE CALLED HELL,"

"What the fuck is hell?"

"For quite some time, I have been seeing scums like you more and more in this world.

"You all are doing sins without considering the consequences. I have arrived to eradicate and take your souls with me back to hell," Aizel finished speaking.

"The fuck is he saying..."

"This all sounds like bullshit, let's just get rid of this guy..."

The two seafolk who had just talked met a terrible end, which came as a shock to everyone.

Their heads exploded violently, akin to the bursting of a ripe watermelon, sending a spray of gore and fragments in all directions.

The rest of them stared on in startled silence, their expressions etched with a mixture of terror and disbelief.

"I see you all are still ignorant. Not that I expected anything from scumbags like you.

"Let me tell you something."

A devilish blue smile appeared on the mask in the form of fire as Aizel spoke.

"I don't grant easy deaths. I torture people and their souls for eternity, and now this world shall know hell."