As I awoke the next day I was more focused and ready for anything then I had ever been. I put on my armor and equipped myself and then reported to Garus who was waiting in the tavern near by. As I was walking towards the tavern I could hear some trouble in the distance it was a woman's scream. She was being mugged by the normal thief's you'd see every day he was running my way so I tripped him and then held him down until the authorities came and got him. For some reason the woman was still there as if she was waiting on me "um... Thank you for what you did could you walk me home?" Even though I was suppose to meet Garus for my hunt I couldn't say no to such a pretty girl "ok I'll accompany you" her face lit up even blushed at that something I never saw from girls " th..thank you um what is your name?" My name is Karyudo and who is the fair lady I am accompanying today" yet another blush on her face came " My...my... My name is Ayana". " hmm pretty name you have well shall we get moving?" She nodded her head in agreement I couldn't help but look at her the entire walk there she was a fair skinned girl about my age blond hair and what really draws me to her red and blue eyes one eye is different from the other. She was also wearing a dress blue with a purple trim I thought she looked cute and i found myself in love already but, my mission is more important and as we approached her house it was time to part ways " oh Karyudo would you come inside get you a small reward and a glass of water". I felt myself saying yes but I quickly changed my mind " it was no need you were in trouble I helped no reward is needed I'm afraid I must be going". "Wait do you...." I kept listening to her as I really liked her company and voice it was like the heavens sent me an angel" do you maybe want to go out sometime". "Im Afraid I can't Ayana I'm going on a trip outside the city and won't be back for a long time". Her face grew saddened and with a disappointed tone " oh I see well maybe when you come back for the trip we can then" "I would gladly do it then". I turned to walk towards the tavern like I originally was headed and after another hour I made my way back and Garus was drinking a beer waiting where he said " your late Karyudo" "I'm sorry I was helping a girl home after she was mugged stopped the mugger too". "Ahh so you gone and found yourself a woman have you." I blushed and got flustered" i...it's not like that was just helping her home" Garus quickly switched from a joking mood to serious "ok Karyudo it's time for your first hunt" he slid me a map and a picture of the demon in question. "His name is Zant the executioner and he has killed more than 200 of our best men and that map will lead you right to him" I quickly turned from excited to downright despair "if...if he's killed 200 men how...how...how the hell am I suppose to kill him I'm just a new hunter". Garus quickly replied "because you have a power deep inside you have become so strong in such a small amount of time you have mastered everything I've taught you you can beat Zant" even though I know Zant is more powerful than I ever will be I needed to win if I wanted to get to my father no my mothers killer. "When do I leave?" "I have a horse ready for you near the main gate into town the guards know your coming so leaving won't be a problem mKe sure your potions array and your stocked on supplies here's some gold to keep you alive for the time you are gone". As I stood up to leave after thanking Garus for the gold I proceeded towards the main gate i recognized one of the guards on patrol and I was Paska was a long time friend of my mothers and he was basically like family he was a burly man about 6'5 and was clad in guards armor which had the family crest of the nobles of this city "hey karyu!" His nickname for me that I hated anyone but him to call me " God it's been what 2 years since I saw you last look at you your all grown up now! " "hi uncle Paska I didn't know you were on duty here" actually Garus asked me to guard here and wait for you said he sending you out hunting and that you would need a horse". Puzzled I asked "you know Garus?" He let out a grand laugh " oh boy me and Garus go way back we were war buddies and he also trained me on hunting demons but I wasn't cut out for hunting so I became a guard instead." Uncle Paska went on for what seemed like an eternity before he finally said the words I was dreading "Karyudo I heard about your mother and of what your father did I can't believe it happened they always seemed so happy together I'm sorry for your loss". "It's not your fault Paska it's that damn demons fault! If I have to kill every last demon to get to him I will". Paska seemed disheartened by my words "listen Karyu I know how you feel but don't let revenge consume you as it will be your downfall I can't see you end up like your mother and my wife". I said my goodbyes to Paska and set out on my adventure it had been a day of travel before I arrived in Mistran ,a little country town before the marshes of Zant, I was tired and needed rest. There was a tavern and a store but no inn by the looks of things so I asked some of the towns folks and i finally came up to this wooden cabin near the edge of the marsh. The couple inside were very nice and gave me room and meal "thank you very much" I reached for the pouch of coins and pulled out 40 gold which is a decent sum "oh you don't have to pay us young man it was no trouble" I put my pouch away and they asked "what brings you out so far from the city?" I couldn't they'll them the true nature of my work so I answered "I'm scouting out the marsh for training grounds for my students you see I'm a swordmaster". "But your so young how can you possibly be a swordmaster" "if you would like I could show some of my skill if that would suffice" I proceeded to walk outside and set up a wooden dummy and with a helmet and shield and wood sword took me 40 minutes to make. "Ok y'all can come out its ready" they came outside with the widest of eyes as they sat in awe as I cut the dummy down within 20 seconds' fastest I've done it in too' they apologized for not believing me and I bid them fair well as I left for the marsh but, not after slipping the 40 gold for the hospitality . The marsh was thick with fog and hard to trek it would be a good day before I got to Zant. as I traveled through the marsh all sorts of smaller demons greeted me as I slew them all. after 19 hours I made it within distance of Zant and I decided to set up a bonfire and started brew up potions and sharpening my sword. I figured the thunderbird potion and crescent dews would suffice but just in case a dose of blizzard works wonders for reflexes. As dawn approaches I began the final trek down to Zants lair it smelled of rotting flesh and there were bodies hanging from trees and many other horrors it made me furious. To think that demons could do such horrors and that they enjoy it. Just as I stepped into the circle Zant himself came out the cave he was a large demon with a cleaver sword and his teeth were like a sharks he had three horns oh his head and his skin was bloodshot red. "Well well well if it isn't the son of Zaridon come to kill me have you" " you deserve a fate worse than death but I can't deliver that so" I draw my sword " die monster you don't belong in this world". Zant himself with a devilish smile drew his cleaver"hahahahaha the son of Zaridon thinks he can kill a purebred devil while he is only half". His smile quickly went away and went into pure rage so much so I got shivers " it's time to put you in your place". Zant charged me with a speed I hand not seen before elbowing me so hard I got sent flying into the tree. I coughed up blood upon impact the force of the strike "heh that all you got Zant" noticing his tendency to only charge I started flipping out the way. On the final flip I struck my silver sword through the demons monstrous head thinking to myself that I got him I turned away to go home. "Hahahahaha hahahahaha you thought that would kill me such insolence" Zant slashed my side with his cleaver the cut wasn't too deep thanks to the armor but, I was bleeding pretty badly I ran into a tree to drink a crescent dew potion speeding up my healing. With all I had I kept attacking Zant the clash of sword to cleaver left sparks in the air that were best described like the starry sky. His stamina seemed endless as I kept clashing with the cleaver but never him I chose to attempt something risky I left into the air and with all my might I swung directly on the cleavers weak point shattering the blade and then promptly stabbed Zant through his demon heart. Then Zant grabbed me and broke my ribs and shoulder he began to over power me as he reveled his massive claws. " I'll admit you have entertained me but now you have to die" only death awaited me as I thought "my life is finished" as I closed my eyes expecting death I suddenly heard a groan of agony. I opened my eyes and I was covered in an etherial Fire and in my hand through Zants heart once more was a demonic claymore 'the Handel was made of a steel I was unfamiliar with same with the blade the hand guards were pointed with a skull in the middle the blade was long about 50cm, and finally Zants last words. " so....it's true zar....Zaridon completed that project of his" and with a last gasp for air Zant laid there dead. As the fire disappointed from me the sword still remained I was puzzled by this and I wrapped the sword up in rags I found amongst the dead here. I felt terrible that I did that to the dead but the sword pulsates when I touch it and i can hear words going succumb. After wrapping up the blade I got on my horse then badly wounded I went back into town. The doctors there treated me in a matter of hours stitches of about 200" you need to rest 3 weeks before you set out for the city" the doctors then left my room and I laid there exhausted I had never been so close to death before then. I kept thinking of why I was covered in fire and why that sword appeared and of Zants finally words. But not after long I passed out sleeping for a long time.
Editors notes: etherial Fire that covers Karyudo will be explained more in the next chapter and the same for the sword there are many things being explained in that chapter as well as flashbacks so we will be seeing more into another characters point of view and the chapter itself won't focus on Karyudo but on a charter we have heard and met expect that chapter in a few weeks it will also be a mini chapter of about 500 to 1000 words so very short
