Prologue

Ria found herself standing in front of her adversary, enduring numerous blows but refusing to surrender. Gripping her weapon tightly, a sword forged from the breath of a dragon, she knew that she only needed to land one decisive strike. However, exhaustion weighed heavily upon her, a result of the relentless battles she had just emerged victorious from. It had been over a year since she was acknowledged as the Ryuu. Now, she stood face to face with the man responsible for the tragedy that befell her family a year ago.

“Have you had enough?” the man taunted.

“Never, not after what you’ve done to my family. I will end you,” Ria declared fiercely, raising her weapon and charging towards her enemy with the intent to kill. Yet, all she could perceive was darkness, unsure of her surroundings as she confronted him for the last time. She couldn’t allow herself to die now. She simply couldn’t.

“Prepare to meet your demise. Rubber technique: Seventh piercing arrow,” he proclaimed.

Unable to evade or even discern where to defend herself, Ria began thinking back to how she had become entangled in this perilous situation in the first place.