ℂℍ𝔸ℙ𝕋𝔼ℝ 1: 𝕂ℕ𝕀𝔾ℍ𝕋 𝔹𝕃𝔸ℂ𝕂𝔹𝕌ℝℕ𝔼
𝐊𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐊𝐁𝐔𝐑𝐍𝐄, his black cape billowing behind him, soared towards the fallen kingdom on the back of his dragon, Kokusho, his sights fixed on the horizon. A smirk played on his lips—the kind of confidence earned from a lifetime of slaying demons and supernatural creatures. As they flew closer, he noticed a skull and scattered bones near a hill. The air grew thick. Was a storm brewing?
He shielded his face from the dust, his vision only slightly obscured. Looking up from Kokusho’s saddle, he saw a massive flock of crows circling the kingdom’s heart like a tornado. No—it was far worse than that...
Princess Elysia. I...I’m going to make it...I know I am.
Knight Blackburne’s brow furrowed, but he clung to hope. If he kept going, he had to at least try. The kingdom loomed larger as he approached. With a pat on her dark scales, he urged his dragon to greater speed. Kokusho huffed, a wisp of smoke escaping her nostrils, as they landed and navigated the scattered bones and entrails near the palace entrance.
Inside the palace walls, everything was ablaze. Houses, trees, even corpses burned. Blackburne frowned again and guided Kokusho into the capital at a steady, heavy-footed pace. As far as he could tell, only chaos remained.
He spotted a blood trail leading from the alley’s entrance. With a sigh, he followed the gruesome path, which seemed almost cursed, as if it were spewing radioactive spores.
Um...okay. I’m still confused.
This wasn’t new. Knight Blackburne was often confused, but this was sorcery on another level. He continued down the alley until something caught his eye. It wasn’t the broken glass reflecting his dark armor and black cape—it was a bloody symbol on the wall. He slid off Kokusho’s back and approached the symbol, studying it intently.
Oh...uh...I think it’s in another language—is it?
Frustrated, he sat down and crossed his arms. If he couldn’t read the symbol, how could he hope to find Princess Elysia? He scratched his head, but no ideas came. He was stuck.
He remained on the ground, waiting for something to happen, until a distant scream jolted him into action. He leaped back onto Kokusho.
“GO!” He shouted, gripping her harness. The dragon bolted in the direction of the screams, leaving the alley for the cobblestone road. Blackburne followed the sound, his mind racing.
That must have been Elysia. I think. Wait...what was the blood on the wall for?
Confusion gnawed at him again. As he followed the screams, he neared the epicenter of the crow-formed tornado. In the distance, he saw three figures before the palace: a crimson-clad figure, Princess Elysia, and a black ogre. Blackburne’s frown deepened.
The crimson figure held Princess Elysia hostage, a sword at her throat, the ogre standing beside him.
As Blackburne drew closer, the crows still swirling above, he dismounted Kokusho once more and clenched his fists.
“Knight Blackburne...you’re so predictable,” the crimson figure sneered. Blackburne cracked his neck.
“Is that so?” he replied, advancing cautiously. The ogre tensed. If he got too close, the crimson figure would surely kill Elysia...
“What have you done while I was away? All this destruction—for what?” Blackburne demanded.
The crimson figure grinned.
“You should have never left your post, Knight. Soon, the entire globe will be under my reign. I plan to use the Princess as a vessel for my queen. Once the ritual is complete, we’ll be unstoppable!”
Blackburne sighed.
“And your name was?”
The crimson figure recoiled, deeply offended. He gripped Elysia tighter.
“You’ve got to be kidding me...I’m the world’s most powerful being, and you can’t even REMEMBER MY NAME!?”
Blackburne’s expression remained unchanged.
“Nope. Not at all.”
The crimson figure, enraged, could bear it no longer.
“FINE! FUCK YOU THEN! PRINCESS, PREPARE TO DIE!” He raised the knife.
Blackburne lunged forward, but before he could reach them, a cloud of dust and smoke engulfed the pair. The force of the blast knocked Blackburne back, sending him tumbling to the ground.
Huh?
He was dazed, surrounded by dust and smoke. Slowly, he pushed himself up and looked around. At first, the crimson figure and Elysia were nowhere to be seen. Then, Blackburne felt a hot gust of air on his back and smirked.
He turned and saw Kokusho, who had leaped through the dust to shield Princess Elysia. Even better, Kokusho had snatched the Sword of Perfection, holding it firmly in her mouth.
Knight Blackburne glanced around and finally spotted the crimson figure. The figure gradually pushed himself up, his face a mask of shock and disappointment when he realized the Princess was no longer in his grasp.
“NO! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!” the crimson figure raged. Knight Blackburne took the Sword of Perfection from Kokusho.
“Thank you, girl,” Blackburne said, turning back to the crimson figure.
“The Sword of Perfection?! But only gods can utilize its power...” the figure sputtered, terrified.
“Your reign of terror ends here. I will banish you from this world. It seems you have been mistaken. You are not a god. I am. Now, the whole world shall know that gods don’t bleed...” Knight Blackburne declared, moving into a fighting stance.
The crimson figure grunted, drawing his malevolent sword and mirroring Blackburne’s stance.
“I am Azurath! I don’t need you to bleed to defeat you. I’ve killed gods before, and you will be no different. Draw your last breath, knight. Relish it!” Azurath snarled, charging.
The kingdom trembled under the magnitude of their power. Knight Blackburne charged forward.
“I SHALL NOT BLEED!” Blackburne roared, positioning his sword to cleave Azurath in two. Before the Sword of Perfection could connect, Blackburne heard a man screaming at him from the back of his mind. Time seemed to stop for a moment, then snapped back into focus.
Knight Blackburne—or in reality, Harlow—was standing in a kendo stance, pretending to hold a sword. He was in the middle of his cell, lost in the world of his manga once again. Daydreaming about saving princesses, fighting demons...
He sighed and walked to the cell door, answering the voice that had called him.
“Huh?” Harlow asked, confused as he looked at the door.
“357. Get up right now. Hurry up. We don’t have all day. Don’t make me come in there,” the officer barked.
Harlow frowned. He glanced at his manga and then back at the door.
“Can I finish my manga first? Please?” Harlow asked. The officer banged on the door.
“357! IF YOU DON’T GET READY IN FIVE MINUTES I’M COMING IN THERE!”
Harlow glanced back at his manga. Maybe he could read it another time. Just maybe.
