The Dawn of Resolve

Haruto sprinted through the dense forest, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he carried Ryuji’s unconscious body on his back. The moonlight barely penetrated the thick canopy above, casting eerie shadows that seemed to reach out and grab at them. Haruto's heart pounded in his chest, each beat a reminder of the dire situation they were in.

His teammates ran beside him, their faces grim and determined. They knew Rayas was close behind, his abnormal speed allowing him to almost catch up to them. The sound of snapping branches and heavy footfalls grew louder with each passing second.

"Haruto! Just keep running and don't look back!" Sora shouted, her voice cutting through the night.

Haruto, drenched in sweat, glanced over her shoulder. "Wait! You're not fighting him, are you?""There’s no other option, Haruto!" Akira yelled. "Just keep running. We’ll buy you time and make sure you protect Ryuji."

Haruto’s heart clenched. He knew they were right, but the thought of leaving them to face Rayas alone was unbearable. "Just don't die! I don't want to lose anyone else!" he called out, his voice cracking with emotion.

Everyone smiled, a bittersweet expression of camaraderie and resolve. Then, they turned and rushed towards Rayas, determination burning in their eyes.

Rayas emerged from the shadows, a menacing figure clad in dark armor that seemed to absorb the light. His eyes glowed with an unnatural hue, and his grin was filled with malevolent glee. "Fools," he muttered. "You think you can stop me?"

Sora was the first to strike, drawing upon the power of the Azure Serpent. He summoned a powerful gust of wind, forming deadly wind scythes that cut through the air. "Wind Scythe!" he shouted, sending the slicing winds towards Rayas.

Rayas moved with blinding speed, dodging the attack with ease. "Pathetic," he sneered.Hana stepped forward, her eyes glowing with the icy power of Fuji. She thrust her hands forward, creating a massive ice barrier to slow Rayas down. "Frozen Fortress!"

Rayas punched through the ice with a single blow, shards flying in all directions. "Is that all you've got?" he taunted.

Akira, channeling the strength of Arakaza, charged at Rayas with a roar. His fists glowed with raw power as he delivered a series of devastating punches. "Earth Shaker!"

Rayas blocked each blow with ease, his grin never faltering. "Impressive, but not enough."Takeshi melded into the shadows, his body becoming nearly invisible. He created a web of illusions to confuse Rayas, striking from the darkness with precision. "Shadow Strike!"

Rayas laughed, dispelling the illusions with a wave of his hand. "You can't hide from me."

Yumi, her fiery curse from Kagutsuchi burning brightly, unleashed a torrent of flames. Fiery whips lashed out, and fireballs rained down upon Rayas. "Inferno Dance!"

Rayas raised a hand, absorbing the flames into his armor. "Nice try, but fire won’t harm me."Haruto, still running with Ryuji on his back, could hear the sounds of battle fading behind him. He knew his friends were giving their all, sacrificing themselves to buy him time. Tears stung his eyes, but he pushed on, determined to keep Ryuji safe.

Rayas, with a final burst of speed, overpowered the group, striking each of them down with brutal efficiency. They fell one by one, their bodies hitting the ground with heavy thuds. Rayas stood over them, a victorious grin on his face. "Who cares if he ran away? I'll make sure to use you all in a good way," he said, his voice dripping with malice as he cuffed their hands.

Meanwhile, in the stronghold of Kurei-Kage, Kenjiro knelt before Oniroshi. "We have returned, Oniroshi-sama, but we have failed to retrieve the broken horn."

Oniroshi, an elderly man with bulked-up muscles and carrying two oversized katanas, stepped into the light. His presence was imposing, a testament to his power and experience. "How unfortunate. But who is the cause of this mess?"

Kenjiro bowed his head. "I've never seen or heard of him. He was an elderly man with a sharp hat and a wooden staff. With one attack, he nearly defeated all of our comrades. If I hadn't used my illusionary move, I would have been defeated too, my lord."

Oniroshi's eyes narrowed. "In my fifty-seven years, I've never heard of such a person. That must have been an unfortunate outcome. Don't worry about it. Now, since everyone has gathered, let’s start our meeting."

The leaders reported the size of their divisions, each numbering between two hundred and four hundred soldiers. Oniroshi nodded approvingly. "Well, it’s a great achievement for us. Now to the main point of this meeting. In six days, we will declare war on the Demon Lord at the Akumagahara battlefield. With this, the meeting ends. Go and prepare for war. Recruit and march towards Akumagahara within four days!"

"Hail Oniroshi-sama!" Kenjiro and the others echoed, their voices filled with fervor.In a village under the Demon Lord's territory, whispers of the impending war spread among the people.

"Have you heard about the war at Akumagahara battlefield?" one person asked."Yes! I’m sure the Demon Lord is preparing vastly for it. They plan to crush Kurei-Kage entirely this time," another replied.

"Hmm! I wonder why this led to a war."

"Who knows? I trust the Demon Lord, though. He’s generous and helped our continent from starving."

Ryuji awoke from a nightmare, drenched in sweat. He saw Haruto tending a campfire nearby.

 "Woke up? Are you alright? You’ve been asleep for two days," Haruto said.

"Where are the others?" Ryuji asked, panic rising in his chest.

"They’ve been held captive inside the Kulova Fortress," Haruto replied, his voice heavy with sorrow.

Ryuji's heart sank. "We can't just leave them there."

Haruto placed a reassuring hand on Ryuji's shoulder. "Listen, it’s not time to be broken or depressed. They ensured I could escape Rayas and protect you. And I will not stay quiet. I will get them back from the fortress."

"Yes, me too! I don’t want to lose anyone else. I’ve lost enough close ones already," Ryuji said, determination hardening his voice.

Haruto nodded. "We may have a chance then. While I was searching for food in a nearby village, I heard about a war breaking out in four days between Kurei-Kage and the Demon Lord. We have three days to come up with a plan to free our teammates."

In the Demon Lord's Castle, named Oblivion, the sector commanders and vice commanders knelt before the throne. One commander spoke up, "My Lord, we are ready for the war meeting."

"Good," the Demon Lord replied, his voice echoing through the grand hall. "Prepare for war."

“My Lord! We are ready for the war meeting!” one of the commanders announced.