Earth,
Japan,
It was an isolated place. A place where the true power of Japan breathed.
Home of the Japanese Sorcery Society.
It was situated inside a mountain that opened a hidden path to the Society.
While the mountain itself was small and hidden deep within a forest, the Society inside stretched endlessly.
Rivers of clean water, fresh Aura, countless animals, and dense Dark Energy embraced this place.
The outskirts of the mountain were guarded by Sorcerer Class Cop Branch sorcerers.
It was a living heaven for Japanese sorcerers.
The Cop Branch sorcerers were discussing the recent monster attack among themselves when a person wearing a black hoodie suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
The sorcerers immediately raised their guard against the intruder.
[Sorcerer 1]: Who are you, intruder?!
[Sorcerer 2]: Are you some kind of tourist?
The intruder removed the hood covering his face, and the sorcerers instantly recognized him.
Blue hair and that charming face—one of the Big Three of the Immortalus Society, Arun.
The sorcerers immediately lowered their weapons and bowed respectfully.
[Sorcerer 1]: How may we assist you, Sir Arun?
Arun smiled gently. He seemed to be in a good mood.
[Arun]: I merely wished to meet Sir Shang. Sir Krishna desired to exchange some information regarding the monster attack that occurred in Shinjuku.
[Sorcerer 2]: We apologize for our behavior. We would be honored to guide you there.
Arun laughed it off casually.
[Arun]: No need. I already tracked the place, so I shall head there myself.
Saying that, Arun disappeared into the mountain.
The sorcerers were left dumbfounded.
[Sorcerer 1[: Since when did he even track the place?
[Sorcerer 2]: If it's Sir Arun, then it's possible. He probably assessed the entire Society before even speaking to us. Isn't he generous?
An old man who looked to be in his early fifties was brewing tea.
He had a lean, tall build, white hair, and several scars on his face.
He was the legendary Shang.
And no, despite the name, he was Japanese.
[Shang]: How long do you intend to keep hiding?
At his words, a figure stepped out of a portal into the room.
[Arun]: Haha, Mr. Shang is as sharp as ever.
[Shang]: You flatter me, young man. I am but an old relic.
[Arun]: Really? In a profession where men die young, old men are usually the most dangerous.
[Shang]: You certainly prepare your answers beforehand, I presume.
Arun and Shang shared a small laugh before the atmosphere turned serious.
[Arun]: About the monster attack on you... I felt bad about it.
[Shang]: Do not concern yourself. They could not even perceive my movements and died rather easily. I was barely trying.
[Arun]: I meant I felt bad for those monsters for having to face you.
[Shang]: Regarding the information...
[Arun]: Yes. Your warning about a mission breach was correct. Pratik and his team were indeed attacked by a monster named Serag during their previous mission. According to the information Krishna shared with me, the civilization on that planet was attempting to summon some sort of entity. Serag should have been one of those involved in the attack on Pratik. However...
Arun narrowed his eyes.
[Arun]: Krishna stated that Serag was not from the same species. Neither was there any contract with another species, nor any record of such a summoning ritual.
[Shang]: I see. So Krishna suspects that someone else is deliberately targeting the leaders of every Sorcery Society?
[Arun]: Yes, that should be the case. However, sending monsters incapable of even perceiving sorcerers of your caliber... this feels like something else entirely. I believe they are attempting to study the techniques and combat styles we use.
Shang sank deep into thought.
[Shang]: What course of action do you propose? Interrogating future attackers would be futile since they carry a curse that destroys their tongues the moment they attempt to speak of their ruler, correct?
[Arun]: That is certainly true. In my opinion, we should avoid using our signature techniques while fighting these monsters whenever possible. At the same time, we should organize a team dedicated to tracing the hierarchy behind these attacks.
[Shang]: Hmm... understood. I shall contact Nayaka and arrange a meeting among all Society Leaders. This matter is dangerous. If mishandled, such an enemy could become a catastrophic threat.
*
Monster Realm,
Kae walked down the endless stairs.
This was his own palace, yet deep beneath it lay an isolated prison hidden within the depths of the realm itself.
The prison was enormous.
No ray of sunlight had ever entered this place.
There was only one prisoner in the entire prison.
He was locked away on the lowest floor.
How many years had it been since his imprisonment?
One hundred years?
Two hundred?
Three hundred?
No.
The prisoner had endured this punishment for over fifteen hundred years.
And Kae himself had been the one delivering that punishment, savoring every scream and every fragment of despair.
Kae opened the cell door.
There it was—the prisoner.
A horribly disfigured monster head, endlessly bleeding.
Still alive only because of a complex technique cast by Kae himself.
The body no longer existed. It had long since vanished under centuries of torment.
Kae stepped into the cell, smiling as always.
[Kae]: Ah... punishment time again. You must have been feeling lonely down here, right?
Kae spoke those words every single time he entered the cell.
"Please... no... please... so many years have passed... forgive me... grant me death... I cannot endure this anymore... I feel guilt for all the sins I committed... please... show mercy..."
The monster begged desperately.
Yet Kae still wore that calm, innocent smile.
In this moment, however, that smile looked terrifying.
[Kae]: How unfortunate. You still misunderstand your own emotions after all these years. What you feel is not guilt... it is regret. You regret leaving me alive. You regret not destroying me completely before I destroyed you. That is how emotions work, Bakiyo.
Kae activated a horrifying spell upon the monster.
"ARGHHHHH!! IT HURTS!! IT HURTS!! I TRULY REGRET EVERYTHING! PLEASE SHOW MERCY!!"
[Kae]: Hmm... and now you accuse me of misunderstanding you? You truly were always a selfish child.
Kae spoke with the same gentle smile.
It was horrifying.
The monster's name was Bakiyo.
After some time, Kae finally exited the prison while continuing to speak casually with Bakiyo.
His clothes were stained with Bakiyo's blood.
[Kae]: Do not worry. Five years from now, I shall wage war against the sorcerers. On that day... I will finally grant you the mercy called death.
With those words, Kae closed the prison gate and walked away, his smile never fading.
"Not only you... my suffering too shall finally come to an end. I will meet them again soon. Ah... I truly look forward to that war."
Muttering those words to himself, Kae returned to his throne and quietly fell asleep upon it.