Hero of Darkness

The world seemed to have stopped around Ryuken. At midnight, a sudden attack on their residence occurred after they returned to the main castle after spending a relaxing evening at the mountainside.

The Shogun's palace was one of the most well-defended and fortified places in the country. It had three layers of defense, and every one must pass through a single big gate to enter the last region. One could not even scale the 10-meter-tall walls without being noticed.

However, just half an hour ago, unknown people clad in black Shinobi attires infiltrated from nowhere using the darkness of the night.

Their first target was the watchtower guards, then palace workers as well as soldiers who stood on the night watch.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Throw~

Stab!

These assassins in black used shurikens and kunai to take down everyone that came in sight, not even missing a single mark, showcasing their impeccable skills during the dark of the night, skills that were honed over the decades.

But the biggest surprise was that all these actions took place in the final layer of defense while the first two layers of security had no idea what was happening inside. It's as if things were set into motion days ago.

"Mhmm~" hummed Ryuken as he embraced the warmth of the futon he was sleeping on.

Thud!

"URRGGHHH!!!"

Suddenly, he heard a loud noise followed by a groan.

Outside his residence, one of the samurai guards was stabbed in the throat by a kunai that appeared out of nowhere.

"Intruders!" shouted the other samurai.

Woosh!

But without even realizing it, a black shadow emerged from the darkness behind him, making no sound.

Slash!

Before the samurai could even take out his katana, his neck was slashed from behind by an assassin.

These killers didn't even have an aura and neither could their heartbeat be sensed let alone their presence be heard.

"Arrh!!"

"Run!!"

"Help!!"

Soon, the screams begging for help echoed around the palace.

Ryuken, who slept in a different residence of his own as per their rules where the heir to the Shogun was always safeguarded in a different place, quickly woke up.

Slid!

He slid the door open and saw the fallen guard.

Swoosh!

But before he could grasp the situation, a black figure emerged from the shadows nearby and a man with lifeless cold eyes stared at him.

"Who.. who are you?" said Ryuken, stuttering due to surprise.

Shing!

In response, the assassin took out a tanto (japanese shortsword) from the back of his waist and walked toward Ryuken.

Thud!

Ryuken's legs stumbled as he tried to run but fell flat on the floor.

Step!

Step!

But the assassin kept approaching him with the usual lifeless eyes, watching the young boy with a cold murderous gaze.

Throw~

The intruder didn't waste another moment and threw the tanto, aiming at Ryuken's heart.

Clang!

But it was right then, that a sudden wall made of stones quickly appeared between Ryuken and the assailant, deflecting the tanto.

"Get away from him!"

BOOM!!

A burst of brown aura erupted as a tall elderly bearded samurai, clad in black and golden armor, dashed towards Ryuken, who was now surrounded by multiple assassins.

Soon, a 5-meter-tall grizzly bear adorning emerald armor and a crown on its head appeared beside this samurai.

ROARR!!!

It let out an ear-deafening roar and charged at the assassins.

Slash!

Meanwhile, the tall samurai quickly appeared in front of one of the assassins and slashed his body from the chest, instantly cutting him apart.

The bear, on the other hand, jumped and started mauling the other assailants.

This bear with the emerald crown was the Divine Spirit of this samurai who seemed familiar to Ryuken.

"Tadayori-sama…" muttered Ryuken, his body shaking from fear.

"Young lord!" said the old samurai and quickly cradled the frightened Ryuken.

"We have to go." he said and picked up Ryuken.

It was then, that Ryuken saw that the old samurai, one of his father's most trusted vassals, was injured and bleeding from the left side of his stomach.

The black armored samurai didn't spare a moment and looked back at the massive bear fighting against the assassins who were using various techniques of their own.

Nod~

Both the bear and the samurai nodded at each other as if affirming what they had to do.

Run~

The old man started running away frantically, desperately trying to take away young Ryuken from the impending threat on his life.

"W-where's father?" asked Ryuken.

"He's fighting in the main hall with others. This was an ambush by those traitorous Daiymos!

He ordered me to keep you safe." said Tadayori and kept sprinting with all his might.

"Wait! Where's Okaa-san? And where's Hina-chan?" asked Ryuken, baffled.

However…

The old samurai didn't reply, only having a contorted and regretful face…

"I'm sorry… I was too late." he spoke with an indigent expression.

Shock!

Ryuken's eyes lost their luster as his body froze with shock.

"No, that can't be right. We have to go back!!

We have to get Okaa-san and Hina-chan!!" roared Ryuken in disbelief.

Huff!

Experience tales at empire

Ryuken, who was still stunned, unable to grasp the situation about his mother and sister.

"No! Let me go! I'm not leaving without them!" said Ryuken, denying reality.

ROAR!!

A loud and pained cry resounded in the surroundings as the grizzly bear fell to the ground, its breathing turning slow as it killed the last of the assassins.

Yet its expression revealed a sense of accomplishment, that it had succeeded in creating enough time for Tadayori and Ryuken to escape.

On the other side of the castle, the old samurai sensed that his lifelong companion had fallen. Yet, he controlled his grief and focused on escaping.

The old man kept running until they reached a mote. There was a Chrysanthemum flower bed at the side.

"Tadayori-sama! Here!" shouted a servant who opened a door that matched the appearance of the wall, a hidden pathway for escape.

Huff!

Lord Tadayori stopped and let Ryuken down. He clenched his fist over the wound over his stomach that now bled profusely.

"I saw it myself… they're gone. I killed all those bastards myself and got injured.

Those assassins came for them first and then attacked you. I'm sorry, young Lord.

I have failed you… I have failed my Shogun." spoke the old samurai, his face full of remorse.

No one had expected such an ambush at this crucial time, at the very center of their most fortified castle, hence their response came a bit late.

However, that apology fell on deaf ears.

At this moment, an image of his mother and sister flashed in his mind… his mother's kind and gentle warmth, and his 4-year-old adorable and lively sister's bright smile; that's all Ryuken could think about.

That night… a part of his soul died.