The sea split before me, endless and black beneath the rising sun.
Wind screamed in the sails. The ship creaked and groaned like it knew where I was going.
I didn't.
But I knew why.
There was something out there. Something powerful. Something like me.
New prey. New kills.
More power.
I stood at the helm, my hands gripped the wood as the ship surged forward. Salt in my lungs. Sunlight in my eyes.
The jungle was gone. The ocean was bleeding behind me. My belly was full. My scars were many. And my strength was growing.
Ahead, the land of Nihon awaited. A new world. New island. New jungle. And I smiled.
Yumi stood beside me, her cloak pulled tight against the spray. Hair wild in the wind. Eyes fixed on the east.
She didn't talk often unless I made her.
Today, she spoke first.
"Nihon," she said softly. "The Land of the Nine Clans."
I grunted. "Nine."
She nodded.
"Each ruled by an immortal."
I turned.
"Like me?"
Her mouth twisted.
"Not exactly."
She tried to explain.
The land. The people. The wars.
How the nine immortals were gods among men. Untouchable, unstoppable, ageless. Each one tied to a god-dragon. Each one able to summon powers beyond imagination.
"Immortals can't die," she said. "Unless another immortal kills them."
I squinted. "Then… they die."
She hesitated.
"No. Not like you. If they're killed, they're gone forever."
I frowned. I didn't like that. That was too easy. Too soft.
"If I die," I said slowly, "I come back."
She nodded.
"That's what makes you different."
I liked that.
Yumi sat cross-legged beside the helm, eyes on the sea.
She talked while I listened, half-interested, half-distracted by the horizon.
She told me of old wars. Of armies in golden armor, banners blazing like fire. Of immortal warlords who rode beasts the size of houses. Of firestorms that melted cities. Of swords that could slice wind. Of warriors who could speak to lightning. Of assassins who walked through walls. Of entire valleys turning to dust beneath a single scream.
I leaned closer, enthralled.
She spoke of power beyond reason.
Beyond understanding.
And it wasn't mine.
Not yet.
"More," I growled.
She gave me more.
Tales of the Moon Clan, who vanished in mist. The Sun Clan, who burned their enemies alive with a whisper. The Earth Clan, who couldn't be pierced by blade or fire. The Storm Clan, who could bring typhoons with their anger.
Each immortal stronger than the last.
Each one, a legend.
Each one…
Prey.
I licked my lips. "Where?"
Yumi pointed to the map nailed near the helm.
"There," she said. "All across the continent."
I jabbed a finger. "This one. Name."
She smiled faintly.
"Kasunagi. Lord of Steel. Immortal of the Iron Mountain Clan."
I liked the name.
Strong.
Hard.
Worthy.
"More," I barked.
She gave me more.
Tales of Lord Kasunagi's armor that could stop falling stars. Of his sword, sharp enough to split atoms. Of how he hadn't spoken in a hundred years. Of how he sat in a silent throne, unmoving, planning, waiting.
"Why wait?" I growled.
She shrugged.
"Because war is forbidden."
I blinked. "Forbidden?"
She nodded. "The nine made a pact. No more wars. Only rules. Treaties. Skirmishes."
I stared at her.
Then laughed.
Hard.
Loud.
Long.
"No wars?" I bared my teeth. "Weak."
She didn't laugh. She looked down.
"I think… you will change that."
I grinned.
Silence stretched long after that.
The waves whispered.
Clouds rolled by.
Then I felt her eyes on me.
I turned.
She was kneeling.
Head bowed. Voice soft.
"I want to be part of it."
I blinked.
"Part?"
"The change. The storm. You. Whatever you're planning to do. I want to help you."
I tilted my head.
"You are death," she whispered. "But not just death. You are something new. I…. need something new. I'be died too. Not… really. But… I've seen things. They've done things to me… I'm nothing. Just a slave-girl. Just a toy..."
I said nothing.
"I want to go with you. Be like you. I want to fight. I want to kill."
I studied her.
Tiny. Soft. No power. But her eyes had iron. Like mine. Her spine didn't bend when others would break.
"You're meat," I said.
She smiled sadly. "Then use me."
A long silence.
Then I stepped closer.
I grabbed her by the collar. Lifted her with one hand.
She didn't scream.
Didn't cry.
Just waited.
I pulled her close, lips almost touching her ear.
"Kill or be killed," I whispered.
Her breath caught.
Then something shifted in her eyes.
And in an instant, she understood.
She knew.
She snarled.
Actually snarled.
And in one motion, fast as lightning, she pulled a knife from her sash and rammed it through my skull. Right through my ear and into my brain.
Pain.
Shock.
Then the darkness came.
My body slumped.
Yumi stumbled back, gasping.
Blood sprayed across the deck.
The wind stilled.
The world fell quiet.
Riku ran up from below, saw me lying there with a blade sticking out of my head, and screamed.
"YUMI!"
He lunged at her.
"What did you do!?"
She didn't answer.
She just stood over my corpse.
Breathing heavy.
Eyes wide.
Blood dripping from her hand.
She was shaking.
But not with fear.
With slow-growing understanding.
She stepped forward and knelt beside me.
Leaned down, lips close to mine.
"Come back," she whispered.
"Come back and remember."
She pulled the blade free.
And waited.