Chapter 12 — Flames of the Blue Realm
The forest was silent.
Only the sound of footsteps echoed beneath the thick canopy as Jin Yuan slowly unsheathed his giant katana. The blade gleamed faintly under the moonlight, reflecting the tension in the air.
Beside him, Musukoni drew his twin daggers — both connected by a glimmering chain that rattled softly.
And Yusikuna, grinning as usual, pulled his bow from his back, his arrows tipped with a strange black liquid. One spark, and they'd burn like wildfire.
Jin Yuan's calm voice broke the silence.
> "Why are you taking humans?"
For a moment, there was only the crackle of wind. Then one of the towering, inhuman figures stepped forward. His skin shimmered faintly blue under the moonlight.
> "We're from the Blue Realm," the creature said, his voice deep and mechanical.
Jin Yuan's eyes narrowed — flashes of memory struck him. The blue-lit city, the strange gates, and Emily falling through the air beside him.
> "...So?"
> "We are a highly evolved civilization beneath your world," the creature continued. "But we cannot remain below forever. Our bodies crave the upper air. So… we harvest humans. For experiments."
The words twisted the air cold.
Yusikuna didn't hesitate.
> "Then die."
He released three arrows at once — each struck the earth and exploded in flame. The forest ignited instantly, burning orange and gold.
Musukoni lunged, his daggers spinning through the air like silver snakes, cutting through the smoke.
Jin Yuan clashed with the largest of the three. Their blades met, sparks bursting with each strike. Every swing shook the ground, and firelight danced across their faces — human and inhuman.
The festival beyond the trees descended into chaos. Civilians screamed and scattered as the night sky turned crimson.
Musukoni spun, striking again and again — until a sudden flash of blue light pierced his ribs.
> "Tch—!"
He fell to his knees, blood soaking his shirt. His daggers dropped, clattering against the burning ground.
> "Musukoni!!"
Yusikuna fired another volley of flaming arrows, covering Jin Yuan as he rushed forward, fury blazing in his dark eyes.
The whole forest roared in flame.
And amid the inferno, Jin Yuan's voice echoed cold and sharp—
> "You said you needed air…? Then breathe fire."