Demon Eyes

Chapter 5: Danger!

The moon hangs high above the peaceful sleeping town of Kawazumi. Faint lights from the street lanterns illuminate the city, although only the bugs circling the orange glow seem to need them.

Beyond the lanterns' reach, the figure cloaked in black walks the empty streets. He turns into an alley, where a group of five is waiting for him. Their faces are impossible to make out in the darkness, and their bodies are hidden under cloaks. Despite this, their strong muscles are visible even through the fabric.

"Fascinating..." the assassin notes, as he inspects the five in front of him. "You are all well-trained, I see. As to be expected from that tribe." He walks around the group slowly and continues talking. "You'll strike when the sun rises. I will assign each of you one of the targets. Take them all out, without fail."

Night turns to day as a ray of sunlight infiltrates Noreyu's cave, sneaking past the curtains. "Oh... morning already?" he yawns as he gets up from his mattress. He approaches the golden light coming from outside and pulls his curtains to the side. He flinches a little as the blinding light of the sun bathes the cave in gold.

Noreyu steps out of the cave and into the forest. The wind blows through his hair.
"There's a strong breeze today," he says to himself. "I like it."
Suddenly, he notices a noise coming from the tree next to him. A rustling sound in the leaves - there's someone here.

But before he can even inspect the tree, he notices someone in the distance rushing towards him. The person leaps into the air, eight small rocks orbiting them as they dash at Noreyu. The rocks shoot ahead of them, flying towards Noreyu, who quickly pushes them all away with a sudden release of Wind energy. Both combatants already have their Demon Eyes open, one teal, one brown.

As he sees another volley of rocks, Noreyu quickly jumps backward into his cave. The rocks rush through the air like bullets, but as they are about to hit, Noreyu pulls the curtains shut. They fly into the soft material, which gives in from the impact but doesn't break.

Noreyu dramatically pulls the curtains open, which throws the rocks to the ground. But when he attempts to jump out of the cave, a large, brown pillar that wasn't there before blocks the entrance. He attempts to break it with a punch, but it doesn't give in even slightly.

Through the gap between the pillar and the cave walls, Noreyu can barely make out a man outside approaching him. His body is broad and muscular, most of his skin is exposed except for a few parts covered by brown cloths draped over him. There are two black lines on his face, under the eyes.

The man's Demon Eye has a brown glow and three black markings that go through the eye. The outer two have an inward curvature.

"Who are you?" Noreyu shouts. "The third guy of that burglar duo?"
The man continues his slow approach as he begins to speak. "I am a warrior of the earth. And I am here to eliminate you, Noreyu."
"How do you know my name?" Noreyu continues asking, still stuck behind the pillar.
"That does not concern you. All that matters is that you must die."

His voice is deep and stern, resolve evident in his words. Noreyu can tell that the only way out is a fight.
"Before we kill each other, can I have your name?" Noreyu asks, his voice calm while he rests his right hand on the side of the pillar. "You know mine, so it's only fair."

"My people do not need names," the man responds. "All that matters is my rank. Iwa-Ni."
"Iwa-Ni?" Noreyu repeats. "Weird name. Eh, whatever." He grins, and energy flares up in his eye.

His fingers, coated in Shredding Wind, drill through the pillar, carving countless tiny cuts into the rock. With a sudden glow of teal energy, it bursts into pieces. Noreyu jumps out of the cave and lunges at Iwa-Ni, who raises a mass of rocks from the ground.