I look around. Hundreds of thousands of arrows begin rising along the horizon.
The archers stand tightly behind the lines of soldiers. Their bows are fully drawn. The bowstrings tighten at the same time.
"RELEASE!"
TWANG—TWANG—TWANG—
The sky immediately darkens.
Thousands—no, even hundreds of thousands—of arrows shoot forward at once, completely covering the sunlight.
SHHHHHHHHH—
A long whistling sound stretches across the air like a storm and rain falling from the sky.
I tilt my head slightly upward, then form a faint smile.
"Here it comes," I murmur quietly.
My eyes close.
My foot steps half a step forward.
My hand raises the sword.
The wind from the descending arrows begins brushing against my face.
SHHHHHHH—
The arrowheads are already visible.
They fall fast.
Very fast.
I begin to move.
CLING—
The first slash strikes the arrowhead just before it reaches my head.
The iron shaft splits into two pieces.
CLANG—
The second arrow shatters in midair.
SKLASH—
The third slash cuts three arrows at once.
My hand continues moving.
The sword spins through the air at a speed that is difficult even for the eye to follow.
Jiza Technique.
A movement that never stops.
CLING—CLANG—SKASH—SHK—
The first dozens of arrows fall to the ground as broken fragments of iron.
Yet the sky remains full.
Thousands of other arrows continue descending.
SHHHHHHH—
I step once to the right.
My sword spins again.
SKLASH!
Five arrows break at once.
CLANG!
Three others shatter before touching the ground.
The blade of my sword moves faster and faster.
I slash upward.
Slash to the side.
Slash behind me.
The motion repeats continuously.
Dozens of arrows fall.
Hundreds follow.
Fragments of iron begin falling like a small rain around me.
TING—TING—TING—
The ground begins filling with broken arrow shafts.
Yet the first wave has not ended.
Arrows still fall from the sky.
Thousands.
Without pause.
My hand continues moving.
CLING—CLANG—SKLASH—CLANG—
My sword spins faster.
An arrow nearing my shoulder splits in half.
An arrow aimed at my leg breaks before reaching it.
An arrow aimed at my back is cut while still in the air.
Not a single one comes closer than an inch.
Dozens more arrows fall.
Hundreds follow.
The first wave finally begins to run out.
The sound of arrows in the air begins to decrease.
But not for long.
TWANG—TWANG—TWANG—
The second wave is released.
Thousands—even hundreds of thousands—of arrows shoot forward again, completely blocking the sunlight once more.
SHHHHHHHHH—
Their number is greater.
Denser.
Faster.
I draw a slow breath.
My hand moves again.
SKLASH!
Ten arrows are cut in a single rotation of the sword.
CLANG!
Six arrows shatter before reaching the ground.
I step to the left.
My sword sweeps through the air.
CLING—CLANG—SKASH—
Dozens of arrows break again.
Fragments of iron scatter through the air before falling around me.
The sky remains full.
The second wave does not stop.
Arrows continue descending without pause.
I continue moving.
Slash after slash emerges without interruption.
Dozens of arrows break.
Hundreds fall.
Thousands shatter before touching the ground.
SHK—CLANG—SKLASH—CLING—
The ground around me is now covered with fragments of arrows.
Yet not a single one touches my body.
The second wave finally begins to end.
The sky opens slightly.
But before the light returns—
TWANG—TWANG—TWANG—
The third wave is released.
All archers fire at the same time.
The sky is completely sealed now.
Not thousands anymore.
Tens of thousands.
Hundreds of thousands of arrows descend from the sky, completely covering the sunlight again and again.
SHHHHHHHHHHH—
The air fills with the whistling sound.
A rain of arrows like a violent storm falling from the sky.
I remain standing in the same place.
My sword moves again.
Jiza Technique.
A movement that never stops.
SKLASH!
Ten arrows break.
CLANG!
Fifteen arrows shatter.
My sword spins faster.
CLING—CLANG—SKASH—CLING—
Dozens of arrows break within a single second.
Hundreds follow.
I step half a step backward.
My sword sweeps through the air above my head.
SKLASH!
Twenty arrows split apart.
CLANG!
Dozens more break.
My movements grow faster.
My sword is almost no longer visible.
Only the sound of iron constantly breaking in the air remains.
CLING—CLANG—SKLASH—CLANG—CLING—
Dozens of arrows fall.
Hundreds follow.
Thousands shatter before they can approach.
Broken iron rains down like metal rain.
TING—TING—TING—
The ground around me is now covered with shattered arrow shafts.
At last, the sky begins to empty.
The whistling sound slowly disappears.
The final arrow falls to the ground in two pieces.
CLING—
I slowly lower my sword.
My eyes open.
The rain of arrows has stopped.
Not one touches me.
Yet… the sky does not grow bright again.
Dark clouds begin covering the light.
I slowly look upward.
Something appears in the distance.
A dark light moves downward from the sky.
At first it is small.
But it grows larger.
Like a meteor.
Its color is dark.
Thick clouds are pulled along behind that light.
The sky that was once bright is now completely covered.
The dark light comes closer.
Larger.
Faster.
G-DAAAMMM!!!
The ground trembles violently. Dust and wind sweep across the field. Someone lands on the ground not far in front of me.
His body is massive.
Wide.
Extremely tall.
His skin is dark red.
Two horns rise from his head with sharp tips.
He grips a long staff as his weapon.
He stands still for a few seconds.
Then begins walking closer.
His steps are heavy.
THUD.
THUD.
THUD.
I remain standing in my place.
Unshaken. I recognize him now.
Lucifer.
Lucifer stops several steps away from me and turns his head toward the horizon.
"Do you hear that?!" he asks.
The sound of marching armies still approaching can be heard far along the horizon.
He forms a faint smile.
"They just keep coming, don't they?!"
The long staff in his hand swings slightly as he looks at me.
A thin smile appears on his face.
"This time, the show is mine, child."
SKLASH—
His body disappears in a single blink.
I blink once.
He is already gone.
"What the—?!" I mutter.
---
Johan walks calmly among the people moving through the kingdom of Gaelvorn.
A wig covers his head.
Thin glasses rest on his face.
His clothing is simple like that of an ordinary visitor.
No one pays attention to him.
His steps continue toward the inner part of the palace.
His destination is clear.
The King's chamber.
At last he arrives before two massive doors rising high above.
Johan stops.
His hand moves slowly.
The wig is removed.
The glasses are lowered.
His red hair becomes visible again.
Wind from the palace corridor gently moves it.
He steps closer.
TOK.
TOK.
TOK.
The knocking sound echoes across the large door.
"Come in," a voice answers from inside.
Johan slowly pushes the doors open.
CREEEAK—
The doors open.
He steps into the room.
Inside, Krieger sits behind a large desk.
Stacks of documents fill the surface.
His hand still moves with a pen, writing something on the papers.
Johan stops several steps away from the desk.
He looks at Krieger.
A cynical smile appears on his face.
"Is there something you need?!" Krieger asks without turning.
His hand continues writing.
The room remains silent.
No answer.
Krieger stops writing.
"Hmph?"
He finally turns.
His eyes immediately fall upon the figure standing before the desk.
His expression changes.
His body slowly rises from the chair.
"W-WHO ARE…" he says quietly.
His voice grows tense.
"YOU?!"
Johan takes a slow breath.
Then exhales.
"Me?" he says casually.
The cynical smile returns.
"Nobody."
Krieger stares at him more sharply.
His eyes widen.
"J-JOHAN?!"