"Home sweet home," the young demon said as he approached his family's dwelling on the outskirts. He had planned this trip to the city mainly to find demon chorus members, and now they had recruited at least a few who agreed to return with him. The thought of introducing them to his family filled him with pride. He smiled as he knocked on the door.
No one answered.
That's strange, the young demon thought. His smile faded. He knocked again, harder this time. Still no answer. Perhaps they're all asleep? But no, that couldn't be right—it was midday, the sun high overhead. His mother would be preparing lunch by now, and Mia would be practicing her scales. His stomach tightened with unease. Nothing could have happened to them. Nothing could have happened to my family, right? The Black Knight always protects us, even from threats within the outskirts themselves.
He knocked once more, his knuckles rapping insistently against the wood. When silence greeted him for the third time, he stepped back and forcefully kicked the door. It exploded into splinters, wood chips scattering across the threshold.
What he saw inside made his blood run cold.
His sister lay dead on the ground, her body withered as though her very life force had been drained completely away. Mia, who had been so full of laughter just days ago, now looked like a husk. His mother sprawled nearby in the same horrifying state, her face frozen in an expression of terror, her hands reaching toward where Mia had fallen. His older brother Leo lay crumpled against the far wall, breathing but barely conscious, his skin ashen and drawn.
"Leo!" The demon rushed forward, tears streaming down his face. His legs nearly gave out beneath him. "What happened here? Who did this?"
Leo looked up slowly, his eyes struggling to focus. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. His voice came in ragged gasps. "Something came... looked like a shadow... killed both Mia and Mom." Each word seemed to cost him tremendous effort. "Couldn't stop it... tried..."
"Something killed Mom and Mia?" The young demon's eyes widened in horror. His hands trembled as he reached for his brother. "But who? What was it? Did you see its face?"
"Like I said... I don't know," Leo whispered, remaining on the ground, unable to meet his brother's gaze. His breathing grew more labored. "I tried to fight it... got some damage in... but I can barely move now. Everything hurts. I just need to rest. You wouldn't mind that, would you, brother? Just... let me rest..."
Fear seized the young demon's heart. Terrified that Leo might slip away, he grabbed his brother's shoulders and shook him gently. "Don't doze off! I don't want you to die on me, okay? Please, Leo, stay with me! We'll get help. The Black Knight will know what to do."
Leo managed a tired, weak smile. The same smile he'd given when teaching his younger brother to fight. "Please, brother... just let me rest. Can't a guy get some peace and quiet? So tired..."
Suddenly, a shadow materialized behind Leo. Before the young demon could cry out a warning, it engulfed his brother completely, sucking the remaining life from his body. Leo's eyes closed, and he collapsed fully to the ground, joining their mother and sister in death. The smile faded from his lips.
"You just killed them!" The demon's voice cracked with rage and grief. Tears blurred his vision. "You monster! I'll end you for this—for killing my entire family! I swear I'll make you pay! I'll—"
Before he could finish, he felt his own energy draining away, pulled from his body like water through a sieve. His legs buckled. "No! I won't let you do to me what you did to them! I won't—" He swayed on his feet, vision blurring. The faces of his family flashed before his eyes. "I won't let you..." He fell to the ground, darkness claiming him. His eyes closed, and soon he lay as dead as every other member of his family.
The house stood silent, everyone within it sucked dry.
A man emerged from the shadows, surveying the bodies littering the floor. He wore crimson armor that gleamed even in the dim light, his dark hair framing a face with pitch-black eyes devoid of mercy. In his hand, he held a silver blade that seemed to pulse with stolen life, veins of dark energy running along its length.
"Cultivating in this world is remarkably easy," Lane said, studying the weapon with satisfaction. He ran his finger along the blade's edge. "This will be my most precious artifact—a blade that steals energy from people and makes it my own. Every kill strengthens me further."
His laughter echoed through the empty house, careless and cruel. "I shall rise above the Demon Lord himself! I shall rule the demons and become the strongest!" He sheathed the blade and strode toward the door, already contemplating his next victims. The family had given him considerable power, but he needed more. Who's next? he wondered. Perhaps the household three doors down.
A figure materialized before him, blocking his path.
The newcomer had black hair, dark armor, and a gleaming red sword at his side. The Black Knight stood motionless, radiating quiet menace.
Lane's confidence evaporated. His heart hammered against his ribs. "No... I couldn't have attracted that much attention. I've only killed a few people out here, barely anyone in the city. How did I draw him to me? Hardly anyone knows about these deaths yet." Panic crept into his voice.
The Black Knight raised his sword, his voice cold and final. "You have killed too many people in the place I protect. It's time for your execution, Lane."
When Lane heard his own name spoken aloud, he shivered. Ice flooded his veins. He knows who I am. This man is far too powerful for me to fight. I'd need at least a hundred more kills under my belt to face someone at this level. The only option is escape.
Lane's hand darted to his pocket. He threw a smoke bomb at the ground, and thick gray clouds billowed up around them. Using the cover, he fled as fast as his legs could carry him, putting as much distance as possible between himself and the Black Knight. His armor clanked with each desperate stride.
"That was too close," Lane gasped once he'd reached what he hoped was safety. He pressed his back against a tree, struggling to catch his breath. His heart hammered in his chest. "Far too close. I could have been dead right there. One strike from that sword and I'd be finished." He checked his pockets, taking inventory. "Thankfully, I have several smoke bombs to spare." He counted them carefully—only four remained. "I'll have to make each one count. No more careless encounters."
With that grim thought, he set off toward the next house, his silver blade hungry for more souls. The power called to him, intoxicating and irresistible.
The Black Knight stood motionless as the smoke surrounded him. He dropped a smoke bomb? Doesn't he know that my perception is extremely high? The Black Knight's eyes tracked Lane's movements through the dissipating clouds. You won't be killing people for long, Lane.
He moved toward Lane's location, holding his red sword. His steps produced no sound whatsoever. My stealth skill serves me well in this situation. Even though I might be able to take Lane down in direct combat, I have no idea what that sword can do. After all, it is the Life-Taking Sword. Anyone who possesses that weapon is extremely blessed with power, and the people who wielded it before are long gone. This one is going to join the list of those who died wielding that cursed blade.
The Black Knight continued walking throughout the outskirts. The area was silent, mostly because everyone remained in their homes, too scared to venture outside. They feared the murderer would strike them down in the streets. But they wouldn't expect him to come to them, especially to kill them in their own homes. That was Lane's method—he hunted where people felt safest.
This is your downfall, killer, the Black Knight said silently as he walked through the grass. When I kill you, I'm taking that blade and burying it where no one can ever find it. This will be the end of that weapon's reign of terror. I'll make sure no one will be able to wield it again. Its properties are too destructive, too corrupting. He made his vow clear as he moved through the distance, his resolve hardening with each step. Too many had died already. No more.