Midnight's Reign

Chapter 2

Green forest stretches on for miles. The ancient trees stand tall, reaching towards the pale blue sky. Sunlight streams through the branches; the warm rays reach Asami as the light dances on her face.

The Master, Kagaya Ubuyashiki, had given her a new mission. There were reports of people going missing in the Yume forest. She was sent to investigate; the information provided told her that it was a lesser demon. With no signs of it being one of the twelve Kizuke, she was sent alone.

She goes over her mental checklist as she walks, the grass softening her footsteps. It's broad daylight, so the demon won't be out in the open. It's most likely hiding in a cave or perhaps an abandoned cabin. Being that the forest mostly consists of flat terrain, it shouldn't be difficult to find either of those.

She quickens her pace and sets off in a sprint, eyes scanning her surroundings. She's silent as she flies past the trees, her dark hair streaming behind her. She jumps upward, landing on a branch high up. The height will allow her a better view. If she can find the demon while it's still light out, she'll have an easier time dispatching it. Bounding from branch to branch, she balances with ease as she runs through the canopy.

To her right, she notices the terrain become rocky. She turns, deciding to follow the new lead. There's bound to be a cave nearby if she follows it.

Bingo.

She stops as she finally spots a small cave. Its opening is dark and ominous. Lowering herself, she crouches on the branch and closes her eyes.

Using Total Concentration Breathing, she strains her ears, listening for any signs of movement within the black cavern. Sure enough, her ears pick up the muted sounds of shuffling.

She leaps to the ground, agile as a cat and stalks towards the entrance. Keeping a readied hand on the black handle of her sword, she lets her eyes adjust to the darkness. The uneven ground gently slopes downward. The arched ceiling is covered with jagged stone spikes as if she were inside the mouth of a monster, sharp teeth baring down at her.

She proceeds forward. The ground grows damp as she heads deeper into the cave. The quiet sound of water droplets drip down from the ceiling onto the stone floor. She spotted old, dry bones lying here and there; if they were human or animal she couldn't tell.

The stench of death wafted towards her; she was getting close.

The stone passage opens up to a bigger chamber. Before her lay more bones, this time covered in blood and pieces of flesh. She spots the demon kneeling on the ground, hunched over as it eats the flesh of the severed leg it's holding. It snaps its head up in her direction, it's sickly yellow eyes landing on her. It stands upright, tossing the leg aside.

It smiles, exposing jagged teeth as it says, "Well well, what do we have here? Another stupid human wandering in my territory?" Its gravelly voice reverberates off the walls.

She unsheathes her sword as she takes in his appearance. His skin is a pale, mottled green with thick veins branching up its naked body like lightning bolts. He has no hair, curved horns protrude where his ears should be, and long claws extend from the tips of his gangly fingers.

"I'm here to free this forest and its people from your vile grasp. You're a stain on this earth." She states calmly, her tone serious.

He howls with laughter. "I'd like to see you try!"

His body starts to convulse, his arms opening wide as his body splits in half. Both halves fall to the ground, skin bubbling and muscles growing. Each half grows upward, forming two new bodies. It replicated itself.