The Boy with the Cursed Boar's Head

Chapter 10 - Light vs Darkness

Back at Eden Castle, Queen Kotoha stared hopelessly at the dark sky wondering what Setsuna is doing on her mission right now. A few days have passed and not a word from her, she thought. A struck of lightning creates a big flash of light. Then, Kotoha couldn't wait for news any longer.

"Butler, could you pass a message to Sakonji Urokodaki and tell him to come to the palace at once?" She said.

"That will have to wait for matters are much worse, Your Majesty." A voice replied.

The moment she turned around, she screams in horror as Kotoha witnesses Muzan drilling his finger into his forehead, pumping him with so much of his blood that his cells melt. And in one arm, Muzan has captured Setsuna who was struck unconscious.

"Oh, my God. Wh-What did you do to her?" She asked, trembling in fear.

"Only a little scratch, that's all. She won't stop fidgeting." He replied, smirking.

"Guards! Guards!"

"You don't have to worry about them, Kotoha. They're already been taken care of."

Kotoha didn't know what to say or do to this. She shrunk back to her throne and looked at Setsuna.

"The Spirit of Dawn's crystal dagger. Where is it?" Muzan demands.

"You won't find it here." She lied.

"I've looked everywhere for it for too long, Kotoha! Now, tell me where it is?"

"I've told you, and I'll tell you again. I don't have it."

"Fine. Witness my true power!"

~

Inosuke ran as fast as he could to get to Eden Castle in time to stop Muzan. He couldn't waste any more time than he already has. In the sky, it grew a lot darker than ever. Then, a crow caws and Inosuke realises that it is the Kasugai crow that Setsuna had with her; he stops to let it land on his hands.

"You're Setsuna's crow!" He said.

"Inosuke! Eden Castle is in danger! You have to get there fast! Muzan has kept the whole kingdom captive in war! And not just that, he's taken your mother and Setsuna hostage in the castle. You have to save them to break the curse Muzan placed upon you!" It explained.

"I don't think I can get there on time. I have the Spirit of Dawn's crystal dagger, and if I don't give it to Muzan, he'll kill Setsuna at sunrise!"

"Then we have to hurry! You've got three hours! I have an idea! Put me down on the ground!"

Inosuke does so, and with that, the Kasugai crow begins to grow no taller than a tree. Inosuke gasps. This crow has magical powers! He thought, excited.

"Climb on, Inosuke! Running to the palace will take over a day! If you get on me, it'll be faster transportation!" The Kasugai crow caws.

Inosuke jumps onto the crown and makes himself comfortable.

"Hold on tight! This may be bumpy!" It said.

Without hesitation, the crow flapped its wings and soars high into the sky and turned in the direction of Eden Castle.

~

Setsuna wakes up to find herself at the top of Eden Castle strung up midair and upside down by Muzan's threads, with the threads digging into her skin, badly wounding her. She tries to move, but the threads were tight, even against her own throat. Her vision sees a figure and once the blur is clear, it showed Muzan making Setsuna gasp.