The Eminence in Shadow

Chapter 2

Storming the Crimson Tower!

There are three forces rushing toward the Crimson Tower.

One is the Tyrant on a violent rampage.

The man is like a tanned goliath. His weapon is a massive, billhook-shaped slab of iron, and he uses it in conjunction with his raw brute strength to cleave through the ghouls.

Nobody dares get near him. The moment they do, they’re bound to be reduced to mincemeat.

The next force is the Spirit Fox, prancing toward the tower.

She’s a foxwoman with bewitching beauty and fur the color of snow. Nine tails shine in the moonlight. Each of her hands holds an iron-ribbed folding fan, and she weaves an elegant dance as she slices through ghoul after ghoul.

The moment their eyes are led astray by the alluring skin peeking out from within her kimono, she brings them to their eternal slumber.

As they massacre their way through the creatures, the two forces crash into each other.

“Screw you, vixen!”

“What a positively troublesome man you are.” The Spirit Fox skillfully repels the Tyrant’s billhook.

When it smashes into the ground, a large cloud of dust flies up.

“Been a while, Spirit Fox.” A fiendish smile spreads across Juggernaut’s face.

Yukime sighs in annoyance. “I, personally, would have preferred not to see you at all.”

“Hey, I’m just here for the bloodsuckers. But I’m happy to put your

ass in the ground, too.” Juggernaut brandishes his gigantic weapon like it’s a toy.

“Nobody likes a persistent man, you know.” Yukime readies her fans in turn.

But the moment the two of them are about to attack, the final force converges on their position.

A man wearing a jet-black longcoat silently descends through the night.

Then, in the blink of an eye, he vivisects his three vampiric pursuers.

Seeing the man’s agility stuns the Tyrant. His movements are smooth, explosive, overwhelmingly powerful. Even the Tyrant finds himself forced to admit the man is strong.

What impresses the Spirit Fox is the way he handles his sword.

She’s lived a long time, but she’s never seen such beautiful swordplay or such efficient, economical technique. His sword dance is practically an art, to the point that it amazes even Yukime.

The two speak in unison.

“Who the hell’re you…?”

“And who might this be…?”

The man in black turns to look at them as he shakes the blood clean from his sword.

“My name is Shadow. I lurk in the darkness and hunt down shadows…”

And with that, the three forces collide.

Each of them tries to stare the others down.

Yukime’s eyes are like pools of still water, Juggernaut’s are black and have a falcon-like glint in them, and Shadow’s are red, glowing, and inhuman.

“Shadow…? I feel like I’ve heard of ya before.”

“Rumor has it that there lies a mysterious armed group called the Shadow Garden outside the city. Its leader goes by the same name, it would seem.”

“Oh, so he’s

that

Shadow.”

“The rumors were of questionable veracity, but the man has the skills to support these claims, it seems.”