Zin was a beautifully, carved city in the mountain wall high above the clouds. Intricate ruins showed the immense grandeur of Zin and how advanced the design was overall. However, the city was abandoned long ago after a war of the gods devastated the world at one point. Slowly, but surly it was abandoned. Only a handful of monks to the Sky God remained. They protected the legendary sword of the thunder god. The sword was placed deep into stone platform out in the open in a mini amphitheater structure around it. This was done so that the sword could be covered on all sides by arrows and cross bows. Now, a small legion of devoted Demons and imps controlled the city ruins under the leadership of Sagran.

  The demons remained in the city away from everyone in order to protect the sword from any mortal. It was the Demon King’s last orders to prevent anyone from grabbing the sword. No demon was allowed to touch it due to divine law from the gods. There was a second ancient weapon hidden in the Western Empire. It was similar to the sword, but it was glowing red. It was a more harsh looking sword deep inside a volcanic mountain. Another legion of demon knights protected that sword as well. That was the sword of fire from the god of war. The Sword of Hell it was called.

  Why both weapons were left on the mortal plain was a mystery to all. The meaning of the two were lost to time. However, as time changed so did the worth of the weapons. They were originally saw as a lost legend one tells to children. However, they were discovered by brave explorers and miners. Once both empires learned of the weapons. Both immediately sent SF units to get them. Naga squad was not the first one sent to attempt to grab the Sword of Zin.

  Shoyo crept just over a small boulder overlooking the stepped pathway into the expansive city. He was looking for Demon sentries. He saw none. This bothered him. He slid down to everyone crouched down waiting. He said quietly, “No sentries from what I can tell. You can look if you want. All I can say is… It’s a massive city in ruins. So multiple hiding spots.”

  “Damn. I’ll look,” Clara said as she crawled up.

  She pulled out a looking glass trying to spot any movement. She noticed a feint red glow and some small traces of steam flowing upwards. The mountain winds whistled loudly as she smiled.

  She slid down and said to everyone, “There’s a red glow and some feint traces of camp fire smoke… So… We got company.”

  “Lovely,” Remi said as he grasped his great axe tightly. “I can’t wait any longer.”

  “You just want to get passed the stairs so that you can sit for a minute?”

  “Shut up,” Remi retorted back in an angry whisper.

  Shoyo put his hand up to silence everyone. Ren slowly crept over the boulder with her hood over her head. She motioned for Clara’s looking glass and peered through. She saw a large shadow move across one of the ruined walls of a building. For the briefest of moments, Ren could have sworn she saw a feint blue light shine for a second.

  Shoyo laid next to Ren and whispered, “It’s there?”

  “It’s there.”

  Okay. Good,” Shoyo said turning around.

  He made a hand motion to Gil who in turn changed his skin color to match the background. He took off his helmet and put a charcoal colored head wrap on as he scurried ahead.

  Ren noted to Shoyo, “His armor is still somewhat visible if you pay attention.”

  “That’s why he’s fast… Okay. Everyone. Follow me. Two meter spread. Eyes up no matter what,” Shoyo said as he adjusted his helmet and cloak.

  Everyone slowly and methodically followed after Shoyo as Gil scouted ahead. The agonizingly long stepped, pathway was a challenge for any experienced climber or endurance athlete. Remi powered through but had to sit out for a few minutes to catch his breath once he finally reached the top. He sat behind a large pillar and motioned with his head for everyone else to move on ahead. Shoyo nodded and Clara patted his arm. Ren took a quick look at Remi and winked. Remi was surprised and weirdly inspired.

  The ruins of Zin were a mishmash of art deco design with an emphasis on columns and grandeur mixed beautifully with the rocks of the mountains to be an almost organically made in design. Windy pathways and buildings and walkways stacked on top of one another. Shoyo was concerned by how silent this place was. Only the wind and the squad’s feint footsteps were heard.

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  Shoyo noticed Gil hiding behind a short wall with multiple skeletons of past adventurers there along with burn marks and harsh slashes in the buildings and ground. Everyone else peered behind a wall corner with Shoyo’s eye just barely cresting the edge of the corner. Gil was back to his normal skin tone and was covering his mouth to dampen his breathing. His right eyed slid back noticing Shoyo. With his right hand he hand signaled that he sees the sword, but there is one demon kneeling next to it. Shoyo relayed the message back to Clara and Ren. Soon Remi crept up with better breath and Clara whispered in his ear what Gil saw. Shoyo crouched forward towards and peered over the wall to see the sword and the demon. His eyes widened in shock by what he saw.

  It was not an amphitheater. It was depressed circle with a diameter of 40 feet. There was a large set of marbled stairs that lead down into the circle right in front of Shoyo. In the center of the circle on a square, granite platform about the size of a box was a shining, silver sword with no hand guard. Its handle was intricately engraved with Elvish runes. A thin line of white ran down the center of the sword. For the faintest of moments, a blue shine appeared as if the sword was breathing slowly. Shoyo was mesmerized instantly.

  He quickly snapped back to reality upon seeing the being kneeling next to the sword. There was a 6’5” tall demon in intricately made, jet black armor with two horns on the helmet. A thin visor hid the face of the being. Only his glowing, green eyes shined out of the helmet. Next to him was black great sword. He was burning incense as he prayed in demonic speech.

  Shoyo looked back at everyone trying to figure out what to do. There had to be a demon legion in this ruined city somewhere. There were multiple skeletons of past adventurers of all species riddled about the place as well. Everyone in the squad felt it. However, a lingering sense of imminent doom loomed inside everyone. Ren unsheathed her katana sensing that they were being watched. Clara sensed it too and was darting her eyes around trying to find something.

  Suddenly. An unnervingly calm voiced echoed from the area of the ancient sword, “You are wise to remain hiding.”

  Shoyo looked at everyone trying to see who made noise. No one said a thing.

  “I know you are behind that wall and building. Come forward. I won’t attack,” the voice said.

  Shoyo took a large gulp and stood up as calmly as he could. He motioned for everyone to follow his lead. Soon everyone else stood to either side of him waiting anxiously for something to happen.

  The demon stood up and cracked its neck. He rolled his ankles and picked up the black great sword. He rested the sword on his right shoulder. He turned around seeing Naga squad. He didn’t say a word. He stared deep into everyone’s souls. He sensed the fear and doubt in all of them.

  However, Ren was the most curious to the demon. He sensed fear, but also something he had not sensed in a long time: anger. The demon tilted his head curiously at her. Ren sensed that the demon was staring felt deeply bothered.

  Shoyo walked forward and asked aloud, “Sagran… What are you waiting for?”

  “Curious,” Sagran said. “She has anger in her… Ah! That is why.”

  “Why,” Ren asked tersely.

  “Your clan was killed by a demon hoard not long ago… Since then your hatred for us demons has grown since… You’re the one who killed my brother in the central lands along with the other pockets of demon knights scattered to the four winds, eh? Are you the one who killed my brother without mercy or remorse?"

  “Yes,” Ren replied coldly.

  “Most exquisite! Did you cry when your village and clan were eviscerated from the earth? Did you scream seeing a hoard of demons destroy the lands of the Kenji clan? Did you sob when you heard your mother be torn apart? Did you?”

  Ren remained silent in anger.

  She remembered her town being set on fire as a large demon was tearing through the human warriors of her clan. She was only 12 years old at the time. Her mother gave her the katana she wields now and told her to run and never look back. Her mother stayed behind as she stood her ground holding an axe. Her mother ordered the warriors to charge. Ren cried as she ran hearing the demonic screams and her clans people dying. The last thing she ever heard was her mother yelling.

  “Deliciously curious… Tell me, leader,” Sagran said to Shoyo turning his head towards him. “You know the price of this sword?”

  “I do.”

  “And why I cannot allow any of you to touch it?”

  “Yes.”

  “You at least have honor… Unlike the past fools who've tried… I at least know this of you now.”

  “What do you know?”

  “You’re not going run like cowards. Your deaths will be most enticing!”

  “Spare me,” Shoyo said drawing his sword. “Wanna fight or talk?”

  “I was killing time,” Sagran said as he sat down in lotus position.

  Soon, multiple demon knights and imps appeared around the squad from every direction. All had assorted weapons. All had glowing red eyes and black armor.

  Shoyo smiled and said, “Of course. Well played, Sagran… Well played.”

  “Good luck,” Sagran replied calmly.