Chapter 135

Chapter 135: The Gathering – Part 1

The clearing was filled with the presence of powerful executioners, each one exuding an aura of strength and determination. The air was thick with anticipation as they awaited the start of the meeting. The sun had just begun to rise, casting a golden hue over the assembled warriors.

At the center of the clearing stood Commander Korosu, a large, middle-aged man with a booming voice and a boastful demeanor. His presence commanded attention, and his confidence was palpable.

“Nōburu! You have answered my summons!” Commander Korosu yelled, his voice echoing through the clearing. He stood tall, his chest puffed out with pride as he surveyed the gathered executioners.

The Nōburu, a group of ten elite executioners, stood in respectful silence, their eyes fixed on their commander. Each one knew the significance of this meeting, and the weight of the situation was not lost on them.

Commander Korosu continued, his voice filled with authority. “We face a threat unlike any we have encountered before. The events of the past night have shown us that we must be prepared for anything. Our strength, our unity, will be our greatest weapons.”

Commander Korosu scanned the assembled Nōburu, his eyes narrowing as he took stock of who was present. His gaze lingered on the empty space where one particular executioner should have been standing. His anger was palpable, his jaw tightening as he addressed the group.

“Kurenai isn’t here yet,” he remarked, his voice laced with irritation. “The Scarlet Moon should know better than to be late to a summons of this importance.”

The other executioners exchanged uneasy glances, aware of Kurenai’s reputation and the potential consequences of her tardiness. Commander Korosu’s frustration was evident, his usual boastful demeanor giving way to a simmering rage.

“We cannot afford delays,” he continued, his voice rising. “Every moment counts, and we need all our strength united against the threats we face.”

Commander Korosu turned to Kasumi, his face dropping ever so slightly at the news he was about to deliver. The weight of the situation was evident in his eyes, and the usual bravado in his voice was replaced with a somber tone.

“Kasumi, there’s something you need to know—” he began, but before he could continue, the sound of rustling leaves interrupted him.

Both Ryūkiba and Haruto broke through the treeline and into the clearing, their presence immediately drawing the attention of the gathered executioners. The urgency in their movements was palpable, and the tension in the air grew even thicker.

Commander Korosu’s eyes widened as he took in the sight of the two newcomers. He didn’t recognize them, but he could immediately sense Haruto’s soul. The realization hit him like a bolt of lightning—Haruto’s soul resonated with a familiar power, one he had not felt in years.

His bravado dropped entirely, replaced by a look of shock and recognition. “That soul… it can’t be,” he muttered to himself, his voice barely audible. Memories of Haruto’s father, whom he believed was the last remaining manipulator of the azure sky, flooded his mind.

As the tension in the clearing grew, Kosai Seji, the nature Noburu known as the Forest Spirit, stood quietly among her peers. At 19 years old, with dark brown hair tipped in purple and a deep purple haori worn over her black uniform, she was arguably the quietest of all the Noburu. Her presence was serene, her connection to nature evident in her calm demeanor.

Beside her stood her 13-year-old sister, Chikyū Seji, who shared the same dark brown hair but with a more youthful innocence in her eyes. Chikyū leaned over to Kosai, her voice barely above a whisper. “Who are those people?.. and where is Kurenai?”

Kosai glanced at her sister, her expression thoughtful. “I’m not sure who they are,” she replied softly, her eyes returning to the newcomers. “But Commander Korosu seems to recognize something about them.”

Chikyū’s eyes widened with curiosity and concern. “And Kurenai? She should be here by now.”

Kosai nodded, her mind racing with the implications of Kurenai’s absence and the arrival of the strangers. “We’ll find out soon enough,” she said, her voice calm but filled with determination. “Stay close, Chikyū.”

Kosai’s sharp eyes picked up on the sudden shift in Commander Korosu’s demeanor. His bravado had dropped entirely, replaced by a look of shock and recognition as he sensed Haruto’s soul. The change was subtle, but Kosai’s keen senses detected it immediately.

She watched Commander Korosu closely, her curiosity piqued by his reaction. “What could have caused such a shift?” she wondered, her mind racing with possibilities. “Who are these newcomers, and why do they affect him so deeply?”

Takashi, the darkness Noburu, referred to as the Grim Reaper, stood with his arms crossed, his expression one of clear annoyance. The professional meeting had been disrupted by the sudden arrival of two strangers, and his patience was wearing thin.

His dark eyes narrowed as he watched Ryūkiba and Haruto break through the treeline and into the clearing. The tension in the air was palpable, and Takashi’s irritation was evident in the way he clenched his jaw.

“Who are these people, and why are they interrupting our meeting?” he thought, his annoyance growing with each passing second. “This is supposed to be a gathering of the elite, not a place for uninvited guests.”

Takashi’s gaze shifted to Commander Korosu, who seemed to recognize something significant about the newcomers. The change in the commander’s demeanor only added to Takashi’s frustration. “What is going on here?” he wondered, his mind racing with questions.

Kasumi’s jaw literally dropped as he recognized Haruto. The sight of his friend, gravely wounded but stitched up, filled him with a mix of shock and concern. He could see the pain etched on Haruto’s face, the toll of his injuries evident in every step he took.

Before Kasumi could react, he felt a tug on his sleeve. Kori, trying to get his attention, pointed sheepishly behind the group. Kasumi followed her gaze and his eyes widened in disbelief.

Approaching the meeting, skipping with an almost eerie glee, was a figure covered in blood from head to toe. The Scarlet Moon, Kurenai Tsukushi, made her entrance, her presence a stark contrast to the tension in the clearing.

As the tension in the clearing reached its peak, Kurenai Tsukushi, the Scarlet Moon, approached from behind Zuku Otsu, the crystal Noburu known as the Sapphire Shield. Zuku, a 12-year-old girl with pure white hair kept in a bun, wore a white uniform with a light pink haori overtop. Her presence was usually serene, but the sudden arrival of Kurenai shattered that calm.

Without warning, Kurenai placed her blood-soaked hands on Zuku’s shoulders, leaving behind two bloody handprints. Zuku’s body tensed, and she began to shake with fear, her usual composure replaced by a palpable sense of dread.

Kurenai leaned in close, her voice dripping with playful malice. “What did I miss?” she asked, her tone light and almost sing-song, a stark contrast to the blood that covered her from head to toe.

Before Kurenai could continue, Commander Korosu spoke up, his voice booming and snapping everyone back to attention. “Noburu!” he started, his tone commanding and urgent. “The situation has changed yet again! Our answer has arrived!” He gestured towards Haruto, his eyes filled with a mix of relief and determination.

Kurenai licked her lips in anticipation, her mind racing with curiosity and excitement. “An answer?” she thought, struggling to imagine someone the leader would refer to as an “answer” over herself. The idea intrigued her, and she couldn’t wait to see what made this newcomer so special.

Ryūkiba, her voice steady and firm, spoke up for the first time. “Commander Korosu, Haruto needs advanced healing. He is dying. The situation is urgent.”

The urgency in her tone cut through the tension in the clearing, drawing the attention of all the executioners. Haruto’s condition was dire, and there was no time to waste.

Commander Korosu’s expression shifted, his concern for Haruto evident. “Tamashi, Kenko!” he called out, his voice commanding. The two soul healers, both 18-year-old boys with black hair and a golden hue in their eyes, stepped forward immediately.

“Haruto needs your help,” Commander Korosu continued. “Do whatever it takes to save him.”

Tamashi and Kenko nodded in unison, their expressions serious and focused. They moved quickly to Haruto’s side, their hands already glowing with the healing energy they would use to mend his wounds.

Haruto’s mind flickered in and out of consciousness, the exhaustion from the journey to the meeting taking its toll on his fragile body. The soul healers, Tamashi and Kenko, worked tirelessly, their hands glowing with healing energy as they tried to mend his wounds.

Time passed slowly, the group waiting in tense silence as the healers did their work. The air was thick with anticipation, each executioner acutely aware of the gravity of the situation.

Haruto’s thoughts drifted in the haze of his exhaustion, his mind a blur of memories and sensations. The pain was a constant presence, but somewhere in the depths of his consciousness, a familiar voice began to emerge.

“Wake up,” the voice said, clear and commanding. It was his father’s voice, a beacon of strength and determination that cut through the fog of his mind.