Location: After Kuri-Yama, known as The Mountain of Sighs — a forgotten place beyond time, where souls melt and moments freeze.
Musayuki, accompanied by Hana and Igris, had reached the mountain's gate.
The wind howled with human voices — some screaming in pain… others laughing in madness.
---
Hana (clutching her trembling pendant):
"This place... obeys no law. Time twists, the soul splits… and the shadow, may betray."
Musayuki gripped his scepter,
The runes carved upon it began to glow with a mysterious violet hue — as if responding to the call of an ancient entity dwelling within the mountain.
---
Igris:
"Zu-Ken… if he has lost his loyalty, he'll try to erase you before he even sees you."
Musayuki (in a deep voice):
"If he still lives… I'll bring him back.
And if he's turned traitor… I'll bury him myself."
---
Upon entering the mountain...
They found themselves in an inverted forest: trees hanging from the sky, the ground coated in frozen ash, and screams flowing like rivers.
Suddenly, the ground split open —
And before them rose a massive shadow, bearing two crossed swords on his back.
His body was cracked with ancient energies, and a single eye blazed red with fury.
---
Zu-Ken – The Broken Shadow Blade
Once the closest brother to Musayuki,
He lost himself when imprisoned within this mountain…
He forgot loyalty, forgot his name — and only "rage" remained.
---
Zu-Ken (with a thunderous, terrifying voice):
"Who are you to wake me?
Did you come so I could split you in two?"
Musayuki (with quiet deadliness):
"I'm the one who promised you'd never break…
Forgive me — I was late."
---
Zu-Ken charged like a rabid beast,
He struck with both blades — the mountains cracked, the air trembled.
But Musayuki held firm… the shadows behind him forming a moving shield to guard him.
Hana began chanting an ancient spell,
And Igris lunged from behind, his sword ablaze.
---
The battle was fiery.
Zu-Ken was no longer what he once was… he had grown stronger.
But Musayuki activated The Shadow Heart,
A rare ability that allows him to pierce the minds of leaders — and embrace their essence.
In a critical moment,
Musayuki placed his hand on Zu-Ken's forehead, whispering:
"I did not come to fight you…
I came to bring you back."
---
Inside Zu-Ken's mind…
Broken fragments of a distant past: battles, laughter, their old vow:
"We lose everything… but stay together."
Zu-Ken began to return to himself,
His swords vanished, his energy calmed,
And his eye once again glowed violet.
Zu-Ken (kneeling):
"I… am sorry, brother."
---
Hana (tears in her eyes):
"He's back… the second commander has returned."
But from the depths of the mountain… the earth began to quake…
A voice of an ancient demon, who had been watching the battle, echoed through:
"You took Zu-Ken?… Then come take him from me completely!"
---
End of Chapter Six