Full truth of the immortal river

Chapter 23

Deep inside the ever shifting castle, fate has brought Mizuki to the chamber of Upper rank 1, Kokushibo. Seperated from kurogane, hope seems lost as she stands before a threat that rivals Salem in power.

Mizuki, still reeling from being separated from Kurogane, steadies herself as she finds her footing. She raises her guard, her eyes fixed on Kokushibo, the Upper Rank 1 Grimm who stands before her. His presence exudes a palpable aura of power and darkness.

Kokushibo's piercing gaze assesses Mizuki with an unsettling calmness. His voice, smooth and seductive, cuts through the silence. "Well, well, another lost soul wandering these labyrinthine halls. What brings you to this place, young one?"

Mizuki's grip on her blade tightens as she responds, her voice resolute. "I seek to protect the innocent and put an end to the atrocities committed by creatures like you. No more lives shall be lost to the darkness you represent."

Kokushibo looks at Mizuki with a mix of curiosity and intrigue. "Tell me, young warrior, where can I find the one who possesses immense strength and wields a unique power? The Hunter known as Sanemi Shinazugawa. Our encounter is inevitable, and I am eager to face him."

Mizuki's gaze remains steady as she regards Kokushibo. "Sanemi is not here, and I have no intention of revealing his whereabouts to you. Your motives are shrouded in darkness, and I will not allow you to harm my comrades. Leave this place and seek your battles elsewhere."

Mizuki's misty techniques swirl and envelop the area, creating an ethereal atmosphere. She unleashes her Malevolent Mist, Eight Layered Mist, directing the mist towards Kokushibo. However, with remarkable agility and precision, Kokushibo evades the attack effortlessly, leaving Mizuki momentarily surprised.

Kokushibo's gaze narrows, his eyes locked on Mizuki. "Impressive, to think I would encounter a wielder of mist powers after all these years. Your techniques hold remnants of a forgotten era." His voice carries a mix of admiration and nostalgia.

Undeterred, Mizuki gathers her resolve and summons her Malevolent Mist once more, this time unleashing the Malevolent Mist, Sea of Clouds and Haze. The mist expands and thickens, covering the battlefield in an obscuring veil. But to her dismay, Kokushibo swiftly evades yet again, his movements graceful and precise.

Kokushibo chuckles lightly, his voice resonating through the mist. "Your mist may cloud the vision, but it cannot conceal the disparity in our power, young warrior."

Mizuki's body momentarily convulses with an intense pain that courses through her veins. A searing sensation engulfs her, causing her to grit her teeth and clutch her chest. As the pain subsides, she instinctively reaches up to touch her cheek, where an ominous mark in the shape of a cloud has materialized.

Kokushibo's eyes narrow as he observes the mark on Mizuki's face. A faint smile curls on his lips as he speaks with a chilling calmness. "Ah, the mark of death," he states, his voice laced with an eerie resonance. "It appears you have been chosen by the castle itself. Those who bear the mark are destined to meet their demise before the sun rises."

Mizuki's heart races, a mix of fear and determination filling her being. She stares at the mark, its ominous presence a stark reminder of the peril she now faces. "What... What does it mean?" she manages to utter, her voice quivering with unease.

Kokushibo's gaze remains fixed upon Mizuki, his eyes gleaming with an otherworldly wisdom. "It is a curse, a warning from the castle that your time is limited," he explains. "Inside these walls, death lurks at every corner, and those who are marked are destined to succumb to its embrace."

Mizuki's breath catches in her throat as the weight of the curse settles upon her. The gravity of the situation becomes clear – every moment she spends within the castle brings her closer to her own demise. Yet, she refuses to yield to despair. Her determination flickers like a defiant flame, fueling her resolve to fight on.