IN THE CURSED FORGE – GRIN'S SHOP
The air trembles. Glass cases rattle as one sword pulses—black-steel with glowing red veins. Its whispers pierce Shin-Ri's mind.
WHISPER (in his head):
Shin-Ri... I know what you lost.
Let me help you take it back.
SHIN-RI (whispers):
You feel... like me.
His hand touches the case. The glass cracks and shatters. A burst of black smoke wraps around his arm.
MAEN (alarmed):
Shin-Ri! Don't!
SYLDEN:
Too late.
*Shin-Ri grips the hilt. His eyes flash with black-red light. The sword hums in sync with his heartbeat. Then—silence.
GRIN (grinning with sharpened teeth):
It has chosen... and entered.
OUTSIDE – MOMENTS LATER
Sylden tosses a small golden coin to Grin, grabs Shin-Ri's shoulder, and rushes him and Maen through burning streets.
SYLDEN:
No time. Kazu's energy just surged.
He's waking up.
SHIN-RI (still dazed):
The sword... whispered names.
My mother's. My father's. Mine.
SYLDEN (grim):
Cursed blades always come with memory.
DEMON PRISON – CENTER OF THE UNDERWORLD
Smoke spirals from a black tower. Inside—Kazu grips his sword. Chains lie shattered. His chest rises and falls like a wild beast. His back scorches from newly sprouted horns.
He stands. His sword pulses. It burns like hellfire, now twisted and jagged.
DEMON GUARD (terrified):
He's changed—kill him!
Kazu lets out a scream—a sonic blast that collapses the stone around him.
KAZU (low growl):
I'm not your prey.
I'm your punishment.
He rushes forward and impales the demon, cleaving it in half. Flames erupt in a spiral behind him.
OUTSIDE THE PRISON – SHIN-RI, MAEN, AND SYLDEN ARRIVE
They skid to a stop. At the steps of the ruined prison stands DAISO, now fully cloaked in Underworld smoke, the Underblade pulsing in his hand.
MAEN (gasps):
Daiso...?
SHIN-RI:
You... poisoned Nyari. Why?
DAISO (calmly):
To awaken the gate. Her blood held old fire.
SYLDEN:
You've become a monster.
DAISO:
No... I've become what the world needs.
SHIN-RI:
You betrayed everything!
DAISO (smiling faintly):
You'll understand soon.
This world doesn't need swordsmen.
It needs executioners.
BATTLE ERUPTS – LIGHT VS SHADOW
Sylden draws his celestial blade. Shin-Ri's new cursed sword screeches in his hand.
DAISO (to Shin-Ri):
Let me show you what your sword truly is.
Daiso lunges. Swords clash—holy light vs demonic pulse. The Underblade and Shin-Ri's cursed blade cry with every strike.
Demons swarm in from the shadows. Maen flashes forward, punching four in a second, blades flying. She flips between rubble with blazing speed.
MAEN (shouting):
These guys don't stop!!
KAZU ENTERS – DEMONIC ASCENT
A massive explosion. Flames spiral out of the tower as Kazu leaps into the battlefield. He lands hard—horns gleaming, sword ablaze with black fire.
KAZU (snarling):
Daiso...
DAISO (surprised):
You awakened?
KAZU:
You brought me here.
He slashes through two demons instantly. The flames follow his sword like a dragon's tail.
SYLDEN (watching):
Two cursed blades... side by side.
MAEN:
Are we even the good guys anymore...?
SWORD CLASHES – DAISO VS SHIN-RI & KAZU
Daiso leaps high. Shin-Ri counters low. Kazu follows from behind—three swords colliding, shaking the entire block.
SHIN-RI (V.O.):
He betrayed us.
KAZU (V.O.):
He awakened something in me.
DAISO (V.O.):
They'll never understand...
But they will inherit this war.
FINAL SCENE – STANDOFF
Dust clears. Shin-Ri's cursed blade glows faintly, as if smiling. Kazu pants, blood on his cheek. Daiso, bleeding, retreats into the shadows of a deeper portal.
DAISO (fading):
This was only the first whisper.
Soon, even your names will burn.
He vanishes.
SHIN-RI (V.O.):
We didn't win.
We didn't lose.
But the world we left behind...
Isn't waiting for us anymore.
TO BE CONTINUED...