Nightfall at the Samurai Academy

Moonlight blanketed the Samurai Academy in silver, the still night air carrying the faint whisper of wind through the courtyard. The once-lively grounds were now silent — eerily so — as though the night itself held its breath.

Beyond the eastern walls, the forest loomed like a sleeping beast, its trees bending under shadows deeper than darkness.

A lone samurai tore through the forest paths, his breath ragged, his uniform shredded and streaked with blood. Each heartbeat felt heavier than the last. Behind him, low, guttural growls echoed — faint but unmistakable. The shadows moved unnaturally, twisting with malicious life.

He dared to glance over his shoulder—only to catch a glimpse of two glowing red eyes, glimmering through the mist like embers in hellfire.“...No…” he gasped, stumbling. “It can’t be… demons?!”

He tripped over a root, crashing to the cold ground. Pain shot through his leg, but fear numbed it. The sound of something crawling — fast, animalistic — drew closer. With a desperate burst of strength, he pushed himself up and sprinted toward the distant glow of the academy’s lanterns, his breath coming out in terrified sobs.

- Jinzo’s Quarters

The flicker of candlelight cast long shadows across the polished wood of Jinzo Takasugi’s quarters. The Head Captain sat with unshakable posture before a table scattered with scrolls. His eyes — sharp, cold, and deliberate — scanned over reports of discipline, training schedules, and border patrols.

In the far corners of the room, The Obsidian Fangs, his elite commanders, had gathered.

Kenshiro “The Black Wolf” Mibu leaned against the wall, arms folded loosely across his chest. His long black hair hung carelessly over one shoulder, and a lazy, almost indifferent gaze hid the sharpness beneath.

Renmaru “Venom Fang” Kirishima straddled a backward chair, spinning a kunai between his fingers, his sly grin betraying excitement.

Ayaka “Crimson Talon” Fujiwara stood near the window, the breeze toying with her dark hair. Her crimson-trimmed kimono shimmered faintly in the candlelight, the dragon emblem on her back seeming to slither when she moved. 

Gorota “Iron Fist” Sakaki sat cross-legged on the floor, his thick arms scarred from countless battles, a low chuckle rumbling in his chest.And in the farthest corner, half-submerged in shadow, sat Hideo “The Phantom Current”, his dark-blue kimono unremarkable, his gaze razor-sharp. He said nothing, observing everything.

The room’s quiet tension broke with the sound of shattering urgency — the door burst open.

A bloodied samurai stumbled inside, panting, barely upright. All eyes turned toward him. Jinzo didn’t move, his steady gaze alone commanding silence.“Speak,” he said, his tone calm and cold as steel.

The samurai collapsed to his knees. “C-Captain…! There’s—there’s a demon in the east forest!” he gasped. “It… it slaughtered my entire squad! No human could—no human could do that!”

The room froze. The only sound was his trembling breath.

Kenshiro exhaled softly. “A demon, huh?” His tone carried mild amusement. “Sounds like trouble.”Renmaru’s grin widened. “Heh… or entertainment.”Gorota cracked his knuckles, the sound echoing like a drumbeat. “Finally,” he growled. “Something worth fighting.”

Ayaka’s gaze remained steady, though her hand rested lightly on her sword. “Demons… this might complicate things.”

Only Hideo stayed perfectly still, his expression unreadable.

Jinzo’s gaze shifted toward him. “Hideo,” he said. “Take your squad. Confirm the situation.”

The shadowed man inclined his head, eyes glinting faintly in the candlelight.“Understood,” he replied softly, rising with effortless grace. The Obsidian Fangs watched in silence as he disappeared into the corridor, his footsteps vanishing like mist.

-The Eastern Forest

Dawn’s first light broke weakly over the eastern forest, seeping through a heavy veil of mist. The air was damp, thick with the scent of blood and earth.

Hideo and his unit moved silently through the haze — their discipline perfect, every step measured, every breath controlled. The forest bore the scars of violence: splintered bark, torn ground, and faint streaks of blood leading nowhere.

Hideo knelt beside a claw mark gouged deep into a tree trunk. His fingers brushed the edge.“No footprints,” he murmured. “It’s gliding through the trees. Silent predator.”

A faint rustle to his left — one of his men gestured forward. Instantly, the squad froze. Hideo raised his hand slowly.

The forest held its breath.

Then came a low growl — not from one throat, but many.

Through the mist, pairs of glowing red eyes emerged, one after another, until the forest seemed alive with them. The creatures crept into view — twisted humanoid forms with blackened skin, elongated limbs, and claws like obsidian blades. Their movements were smooth, unnatural, like predators playing with prey.

Hideo’s eyes narrowed slightly, his calm unbroken. “So,” he whispered. “It wasn’t just one.”


-The Report

By the time the sun reached the academy, the mist still hadn’t lifted.Inside Jinzo’s quarters, Hideo knelt once again before his captain.

“Multiple demons confirmed,” he said evenly. “More than we anticipated. They’re organized.”

Jinzo’s hand tightened subtly around his sword hilt. His eyes, usually composed, darkened.

“So…” he said slowly, his voice heavy with the weight of old memories. “The age of demons has returned.”

Outside, the wind howled softly through the academy’s halls.And in the distant forest, countless red eyes flickered beneath the dying light of dawn.

To be continue...