Yami No Machi (City of Darkness)

Prologue

The Imperial City—sanctuary of the Incarnates, those born with the gods' blessing. The unblessed remain mere humans, often longing for greater purpose. Some find it as adventurers, chasing glory in the Outer Lands.

Beneath the city lie wilds vast and untamed. Forgotten dungeons gouge the earth, and ancient ruins whisper forgotten legends. Among those legends is the Time Dial War—a battle over divine relics called time dials, which combined light and dark magic in ways forbidden by the gods.

The Dark Knight Order rose in that war, seeking to harness the dials' power through the White Dark Arts. According to legend, a Star Child, chosen by the White Order, recovered the White Rune from its Guardian. These runes—stones filled with magical liquid—bestow godlike powers on those who drink from them.

When peace came, the Time Dial was transformed into the Stargazing Tree, said to grant visions of time itself. Some believe the Dark Knight Order shaped its rebirth before vanishing into myth.

Now, young one, you may ask: What do you seek from the Tree? You needn't answer yet. First, let me tell you the story of the Time Dial...

⸻

5,000 Years Later...

Chapter One: The Outer Worlds

Shirakawa Village clings to the icy summit of Mount Fuyuki, its people devoted to the Ice Spirit, a divine force born from the Tree's power. Eternal winter blankets the landscape. Glacial winds whine through frost-carved ridges. Beneath the ice lie rare gems—magical and valuable.

Children of Shirakawa are born with an innate gift for ice magic. But only those blessed by the Spirit may leave the village. Rumor says a forgotten city, Yami no Machi—the City of Darkness—lies hidden eight hours' journey across jagged mountain trails. Despite Imperial expeditions, no one has found it.

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Chapter Two: Tavern Whispers

Daidus yawned, rising from the old man's tale.

"You're done?" he drawled.

The old man bristled. "I haven't finished. The Outer Worlds are dangerous."

"Then we'll be fine," Daidus replied, slinging a pack onto his shoulder. "Time to explore."

Hoshiko rolled her eyes, nudging Brielle. "One of the Ten Legendary Heroes, and she's drunk again."

Brielle hiccuped, grinning. "Step outside. I'll prove why they call me legendary."

Daidus smirked. "Listen, I have a route planned. We'll head toward Yami no Machi—history, treasure, answers."

Hoshiko scoffed. "That place is said to be a void... liberated by the Dark Knight Order."

Daidus tapped the hilt of Sheng Xie. "That's why it's perfect. This sword detects evil—if something's there, we'll feel it."

The pair exchanged amused glances. With that, the trio set off to the Silver Capital's Navigation District, where adventures begin.

⸻

Chapter Three: Path to Darkness

Beneath the Amethyst Gate, they set foot on the Azure Highway. Hoshiko frowned. "Why aren't we taking the main routes?"

Daidus shrugged. "I'm meeting Lady Straya. She's got insight on Yami no Machi."

Sheng Xie vibrated softly. Brielle grunted. "If it's reacting, we're heading toward something big."

"How strong?" Hoshiko asked.

Brielle smirked. "When evil's near—this thing screams."

They reached the Village of First Light and climbed to the Frost Tower Gate, where Lady Straya awaited. Snow fell like soft lantern light as her sky-blue eyes met Daidus's.

"Everything well?" she asked gently.

Daidus inhaled cold air. "Why did the Imperial City abandon Shirakawa?"

Straya's smile dimmed. "Yamata came seeking the Imperial Rune. I gave him sanctuary... but I didn't know who he was." She closed her eyes. "The city sent incarnates. I hid him."

Hoshiko's tone froze the air. "Because of your choice, your village suffers."

Straya sighed. "Maybe I was wrong."

Daidus rested a hand on her shoulder. "You did what you thought was right."

A hush fell. Lady Straya changed the subject. "Yami no Machi is more than a myth. Chronus's shadow servants hunt near its borders."

Brielle seized a flask. "Then give us the truth over dinner."

⸻

Chapter Four: The Awakening

At the tavern that night, Daidus leaned forward. "We're seeking the Shadow God Slayer. Rumor says Yami no Machi is his crypt."

Straya's eyes darkened. "He was an incarnate—until the darkness consumed him."

Their meal lay forgotten as Sheng Xie began to glow. Lights dimmed. Patrons hushed.

Across the room stood a figure: blue hair, a gray star tattoo imprinted on his forehead.

FLASHBACK (5 years ago)

Young Daidus stood in the frozen village square beside his mother, offering gifts to the Ice Spirit. The man with the star stepped forward... and killed her. Daidus attacked, but was beaten bloody. He was left for dead—until Straya found him and saved him.

PRESENT

A crackle like thunder. Daidus's hair sparked with violet energy; his eyes, vacant. Hoshiko and Brielle froze.

His voice was a whisper and a roar combined. "Your path ends here."

He spoke the incantation: "Narukami Shiō—Purple Exploding Cherry Blossom Clouds."

A violet storm of petals and power erupted, ripping through the tavern wall.

Daidus unleashed a second strike:

"Murasaki Raijin Yari—Purple Lightning God Spear."

A crackling spear of purple lightning formed in his hands. It stabbed true—throwing the man across the room with a thunderous boom.

Chapter 5: The Sacred Child

The Kikens were no ordinary bloodline. They were one of the few families directly blessed by the Stargazing Tree—an ancient, divine entity whose roots stretched between worlds. From the Tree, the Kikens inherited a gift as mysterious as it was powerful:

Beginning Dominance.

A sacred ability that allowed its wielder to control how and when something begins. A ripple of reality woven through time's first spark.

And within this lineage, a child unlike any before was born.

Daidus Kiken, blessed not once, but twice by the Tree itself. A miracle. A rarity. A demigod in the flesh.

His mother, Vesta Kiken, raised him alone at the very base of the Tree, where time whispered to those who dared listen. By the age of seven, Daidus could speak in languages he'd never been taught. He could calculate angles in motion, react to threats before they occurred. He had hypercognition—a mind blessed with impossible adaptability.

But all of that changed the day Vesta was murdered.

⸻

Lady Straya found him years later in a quiet orphanage deep within the Imperial City. No trace of the killer. No name. No justice.

Just silence.

Straya had been an adventurer, already skilled in divine arts, but something about Daidus—his stillness, his quiet power—drew her in. From that moment forward, they were inseparable. They explored the Outer Worlds together, uncovering ancient ruins, protecting villages, and slaying demons. He trusted her with everything.

But Straya had never seen him like this.

⸻

They had just arrived in a small mountain clearing outside Shirakawa, when Straya, Hoshiko, and Brielle fell into a tense silence. Daidus stood beneath the stars, gazing at the sky—motionless. Eyes glassy.

Brielle stepped forward. "Daidus, don't—!"

But he didn't move. He couldn't.

A voice called to him, faint and cold, carried on the wind like snow:

"Join me... Come to me..."

It sounded like his mother.

"Daidus... my son..."

He followed it, drawn to a cliff's edge. A shadow formed beside him—long, formless, and whispering.

Straya's face darkened. "That's not Vesta. It's a Shadaro. They feed on sorrow and grief, mimicking voices of the dead."

Daidus clenched his fists. "Then... who is he?"

A figure emerged from the shadow.

Straya took a sharp breath. "That's Yamata Hajime. The son of Chronus Hajima. He's... extremely dangerous."

Daidus's eyes widened, the grief twisting into fury. "Yamata... Hajime..."

The pieces fell together in his mind.

He grinned bitterly. "He's the one who killed my mom."

Hoshiko stepped forward. "This place isn't safe anymore. We should leave. He's trying to lure you somewhere."

Daidus shook his head, eyes still locked on the shadow.

"No," he said. "I'm going to kick his ass. Him and Chronus both."

Straya placed a hand on his shoulder. "There's something else you need to know. That shadow... it's linked to him. And what I've uncovered—about the Tree, the Colored Stars, the disappearances—it all connects."

Daidus didn't wait. He turned to the group.

"Then let's go. We're finding the City of Darkness."

⸻

Chapter 6: Into the Onyx Gateway

Straya now traveled with them, guiding the way back toward the Azure Highway—only this time, they took a detour.

"We're heading to the Onyx Gateway," she explained. "When we parted years ago, I followed another adventurer here. Though we separated, I never forgot the path."

Before them stood the black monolith. As they approached, a loud hiss of steam echoed across the mountain. The Onyx Gate groaned open, spilling a thick black fog into the air.

Inside stood a figure, clad in grey and silver, long white hair falling over his shoulders.

Kyte.

"Welcome to Yami no Machi," he said, bowing slightly. "I'll be your guide through the Shadowcaller District."

"Kyte..." Straya murmured. "They still haven't forgiven you, have they?"

He smiled without warmth. "After the incident with the first hero? No. The city remains sealed to outsiders... but I'll take you through the backroads."

Kyte handed Daidus a Shadowcaller Stone, its surface swirling with darkness.

"Use this if you get separated. It'll teleport you to me."

Daidus raised an eyebrow. "You survived here alone? With Chronus's goons running this place?"

"I go unnoticed," Kyte said simply.

Daidus narrowed his gaze. "Shadowbearer."

Kyte froze. "How did you know?"

"Hypercognition," Daidus replied. "And your body emits a similar presence... like him."

Kyte smirked. "A Sacred Child, huh? Haven't seen one of you in a long time."

Daidus explained their mission—to uncover the truth behind the Tree, the Rune, and the Shadow God Slayer. Kyte nodded and opened a dark portal.

"You'll want to avoid the Grey Serpent," he warned. "Chronus left it here to guard this land."

As they stepped through, lightning cracked overhead. The air trembled.

They had entered the Shadow Path.

⸻

Chapter 7: The Star Clans

Outside the city gates, they arrived at a ruined town, veiled in shadows.

"I've read about this place," Hoshiko said. "In old books... before they were censored."

Straya turned to Kyte. "Does the Shadow Legion still exist?"

"They do," Kyte said. "But they've been split into Star Clans, each marked by the Colored Stars."

"Crimson Stars... Grey Stars..." Brielle said, wide-eyed. "What about the Colorless?"

"No one's ever found them," Kyte replied. "Some say they were erased by higher powers in the Outer Worlds—trying to prevent them from reaching the Imperial City."

"I believe it," Daidus muttered. "The Imperial City's behind a lot more than they admit. They imprisoned entire clans... all because of their power."

"That's where I found Hoshiko," he added. "During a White Order raid. She had just escaped. We formed our faction that very night."

Straya's voice was low. "The Star Child... that's what they were after."

"Because they fear those blessed by the Stargazing Tree," Kyte whispered.

"And it won't be long before the rest of the legendary heroes get involved," Brielle said. "Then it's war."

⸻

From the shadows, two figures emerged.

One of them bore the familiar grey star tattoo.

Yamata Hajime.

He smirked, arms open.

"Shadowbearer," he said mockingly to Kyte. "We meet again."

Kyte scowled. "You've got a death wish."

"I've got business," Yamata replied. "With him."

He turned to Daidus. "Ahhh... and your mother. What a shame. Vesta could have birthed a dynasty—but she chose to run."

"You bastard," Daidus growled.

Yamata's grin widened. "Feels good, doesn't it? That fire? But all things... must end."

⸻

Lightning ripped through the sky.

Daidus vanished—reappearing beside Yamata in a burst of speed.

But Yamata was faster—Shadow-Stepping, slamming Daidus through a building.

Blood splattered across the stone.

"You really think you can change fate?" Yamata snarled. "Cute."

Daidus rose slowly. His eyes glowing, his voice low.

"You just reminded me of something."

A swirl of lightning and time gathered at his fingertips.

"Beginning Dominance—Activate."

The world flickered.

Yamata blinked. "What... what did you just do?"

Daidus grinned. "Rewound time. You're not escaping this time."

He called forth a move from his family's deepest lore.

Purple Lightning Technique: BEGINNING FLASH.

A blinding bolt erupted, reshaping into neon-pink spears. They slashed through the air in perfect sync—no time to dodge.

⸻

Chapter 8: Shadowbearer vs. Shadowbearer

As Yamata collapsed in the dust, another man stepped forward.

Dark-skinned, crimson-eyed, his aura reeked of shadow. He spoke softly.

"I am Kurayami, Shadowbearer of the Lesser Worlds. And you must be Kyte."

Kyte narrowed his eyes. "Then you already know what's coming."

Kurayami smiled. "Only if you impress me."

Kyte's form shimmered. He vanished into the fog.

Reappearing behind Kurayami, he unleashed a three-hit shadow combo—but the man barely flinched.

Kurayami's eyes glowed brighter. "So this is the power of the rogue Shadowbearer..."

⸻

Brielle stepped beside Kyte, Sheng Xie drawn and gleaming with white flame.

"This is just the beginning," she said.

And it was.

—End of Chapter 8—

Chapter 9: Legendary Hero

The wind howled low as the portal faded behind them. Brielle stepped through alone, following the trail Kyte had left moments earlier. Her grip on Sheng Xie was steady, the blade humming faintly in her hand like a heartbeat tied to another realm.

Kyte turned, surprised. "Brielle? Why the hell are you here?"

She didn't answer right away. Instead, she raised her sword. Its translucent steel shimmered with celestial hues, glowing brighter with each step she took.

"Sheng Xie was reacting to something off," she said at last. "That sword responds to evil, Kyte. It moves based on intent... and whatever's here, it's back. I felt it when you left."

Kyte's expression hardened. "So it's really starting then. Fine. You're a Legendary Hero—lead the way."

Brielle narrowed her eyes. "I don't lead for pride. I lead for the world."

She raised the blade.

"Let the one who triumphs be the voice of the forgotten, and let their blade ring through the heavens. Evil shall fall by the call of those blessed by the Stargazing Tree."

From the shadows, a voice echoed.

"How poetic," Kurayami drawled, stepping into view with crimson eyes glowing in the dark. "A real Legendary Hero in the flesh. I've been wanting to test one of you."

A second voice—soft and strange—filtered into the air, a girl's, but hollow like wind over cracked stone.

"No, Kurayami... Lord Chronus needs him alive."

Kurayami groaned. "I don't need you telling me what to do again. He can't be that dangerous."

The voice warned him again: "Yamata failed. This isn't just a child of fate. This is Daidus Kiken."

Kurayami's grin faded slightly, but the malice remained. "Then I'll finish the job next time."

"You won't get another chance," Brielle said coldly.

In a blur, she dashed forward, Sheng Xie glowing like a comet as she slashed upward. Kurayami barely dodged, a silver gash tearing across his shoulder. He hissed, black smoke trailing from the wound.

"So it sings after all..." he muttered, voice rasping.

Kyte joined her, striking with shadows, weaving between fog and stone.

Kurayami scowled. "This is too much trouble."

He pulled out a dial—an ancient relic engraved with Chronus's sigil. "Yamata!" he called. "We're done here."

From the smoke, Yamata appeared, bruised and limping. "Took you long enough."

Brielle launched another strike—but Kurayami vanished in a swirl of shadows, dragging Yamata into the portal's edge. As they slipped into the void, Kurayami looked back.

"Daidus Kiken is a problem," he muttered to Yamata. "If he grows any stronger, we'll need to send... the other one."

Yamata paused. "Vesta's second son... he's still alive?"

Kurayami didn't answer. The portal closed behind them.

⸻

Chapter 10: The Blade of Beginning

Far across the lands, Daidus stood over the remnants of a shattered temple, the corpse of the Shadow God Slayer at his feet. From its chest, a rune pulsed—a core of ancient darkness warped by divine corruption.

He reached out and gripped it.

A vision of flame and memory scorched through his mind. Screams. A broken sky. The echo of the Stargazing Tree crying out in silence.

He knew what to do.

He took the rune, placed it against the shattered hilt of a blade once lost, and called out.

"Beginning Dominance—Forge."

Lightning wrapped around the weapon, shaping it anew. A sword formed unlike any before, its edge laced with time, shadow, and light.

The Rune Blade of Beginning.

He sheathed it without a word.

Then he left—alone.