章 28: Chapter 28

"Please, don't hurt me!" a woman pleaded, tears streaming down her face. A few feet away, her beloved lay lifeless on the floor, his body decapitated, and blood pooling around him.

The man responsible for this gruesome act sneered, his grip tightening around the woman's trembling neck as he lifted her off the ground. "Naughty, naughty," he taunted with an eerie smile marking his face. "It's your fault for venturing out at this hour. Didn't your parents warn you? ", he teased as he lifts the woman's face closer to his, "The night is when the monsters come out."

Tears streaming down her face, the woman franticly tried to break free from the man's firm hold. "Help! Someone, please help!" she screamed, her voice echoing through the night.

The man chuckled sadistically; his amusement fueled by her terror. "That's it, scream! Scream until more people come running! I crave more victims!" he proclaimed, reveling in the chaos he had caused.

Luckily for the woman, a group of five vigilant Capital guards who were patrolling in the distance heard her cries and swiftly tracked them down. As they arrived at the scene, their eyes fell upon the decapitated corpse, causing their grips to tighten around their weapons.

"In the name of His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Makoto, I command you to release her!" The oldest member of the five guards declared, his voice quivering slightly as he unsheathed his gleaming blade. Despite his brave bravado, beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, a visible testament to the fear he felt.

As he saw the guard take out his blade, the man still had a sinister grin crept across his face as he declared in excitement, "Finally! More heads to be severed!". With a callous gesture, he flung the woman to the side, causing her to land awkwardly, her arm snapping upon impact to the ground.

"Ah!", the woman cried in pain.

Seeing this, one member of the Capital guard immediately rushed to the woman's side, assessing her injuries with urgency. "She needs immediate medical treatment," he stated, his voice tense with concern.

"Take her out of here! We'll handle this murderer" the oldest guard commanded, determined to protect the woman from any further harm. The three remaining guards unsheathed their blades, their faces etched with determination as they stepped forward to help the oldest guard apprehend the dangerous man in front of them.

However, before the fifth guard could even carry the injured woman to safety, the other four Capital guards found themselves thrust into a battle where their lives hung in the balance. The man with his katar blades gleamed with a sinister aura, he moved with unparalleled speed and skill. His wide, terrifying grin seemed to fuel a growing sense of madness within him, which manifested in his maniacal laughter echoing through the air.

"I know every move you're going to make! With my teigu, I am invincible!", the man shouted sadistically.

The man's agility was unmatched as he effortlessly dodged and parried the guard's every move. It was as if he danced with death, toying with the guards, leaving them unable to land a single blow that could subdue him. One by one, the Capital guards fell before him, their valiant efforts rendered futile against the unmatched prowess of their adversary. The maniacal laughter grew louder, mingling with the cries of anguish from the fallen guards, as the murderer stood victorious amidst the wreckage.

"This can't be happening," the last guard uttered, his voice trembling with a mix of disbelief and fear. He unsheathed his blade and pointed it towards the man responsible for the deaths of his comrades. His hands shook, but he steadied his grip, clutching the sword tightly with both hands.

The man, now drenched in the blood of his victims, locked eyes with the lone surviving guard. A chilling calmness washed over him as he stared back, his gaze filled with a sinister intensity. He spoke with a voice laced with a cold, menacing confidence, "Do you think you can stop me, boy?".

Slowly, deliberately, he began to advance towards the guard, each step calculated to unnerve his opponent.

As the man closed in on the guard, a wave of panic surged through his veins. The guard instinctively took multiple steps back, his movements betraying the fear that coursed through his entire being.

Then, suddenly, the man let out a thunderous bellow, "BO!".

The guard, startled and overcome by a surge of terror, abandoned his duty to protect the girl. In a moment of sheer instinct, he turned and began to sprint away, his heart pounding in his chest as the echoes of the man's voice reverberated in his mind.

The girl, left behind in the chaos, watched as the guard retreated, a sense of betrayal mingling with her own fear. The man, still grinning with a twisted satisfaction, stood momentarily triumphant amidst the chilling aftermath.

"I'll... do... anything... Please, don't hurt me... I'll do anything," the woman pleaded, her voice trembling with raw fear.

The man's grin widened at her desperate plea, relishing in the power he held over her. "Really? Anything?" he asked, his voice dripping with sadistic amusement.

With a glimmer of hope for her life, the woman mustered her courage and nodded frantically. "Yes! I'll do anything! Just spare me, please!"

A chilling silence hung in the air as the man contemplated his next move, savoring the woman's vulnerability. Suddenly, he broke the silence with a sinister question that froze the woman in her tracks. "What does it feel like to have your head severed from your body?"

The woman's mind struggled to comprehend the horrifying question, a mix of shock and terror washing over her. Before she could fully process the impending danger, the man swiftly and ruthlessly executed his macabre act. In one swift motion, her head was severed from her body, leaving her lifeless form crumpling to the ground.

EARLY THE LATER THE NEXT DAY:

"Damn it!" Captain Ogre exclaimed, his voice laced with frustration and anger, as his eyes took in the horrifying scene before him. The lifeless bodies of two civilians and four Capital guards lay on the ground, their heads severed from their bodies. It was a gruesome sight, one that had become all too familiar in recent days. He clench his fist in anger, annoyed that such a thing was currently happening on his watch.

Especially with the recent changes happening in the Capital, Ogre didn't want to be on the receiving end of General Budo's anger.

With a swift hand gesture, Captain Ogre signaled his troops to clear the area, urging the curious onlookers to step back from the macabre scene. It was important to preserve the integrity of the crime scene and protect the dignity of the fallen. His experienced soldiers efficiently moved to secure the perimeter, ensuring that no civilians would further disturb the investigation.

While the identities of the four slain guards were known to Captain Ogre, his primary concern was to identify the victims among the civilians, to inform their grieving families, and bring a semblance of closure to their loved ones.

Suddenly, a shadow descended upon the surroundings, catching Captain Ogre's attention. He instinctively looked up and his gaze fell upon a man with wings sprouting from his back, a clear indication of an Imperial Arms. The captain's mind quickly connected the dots, recognizing the individual before him as one of Emperor Makoto's chosen warriors.

As the blonde young man touched down, the crowd and Capital guards became instantly curious, their gazes fixed on this extraordinary figure. One guard moved to intercept him, but Captain Ogre swiftly intervened, his voice commanding, "Let him through!".

Captain Ogre's words silenced any resistance, allowing the winged warrior named Run to approach the scene. The captain approached him, a mix of relief and anticipation evident in his expression. "Did Emperor Makoto send you?" he inquired; his tone laced with urgency.

Run nodded in response, his eyes scanning the grim tableau of death with a mixture of sorrow and determination.

"Jaeger was tasked with eliminating the perpetrator responsible for these senseless killings. Unfortunately, our patrol took us elsewhere in the Capital last night", Run stated.

"We suspect that the individual responsible is none other than Zank the Beheader. The survivor from last night's incident provided the information," Captain Ogre explained, his voice laced with the weight of the situation.

Having close ties with Seryu, Captain Ogre had become aware of the group Emperor Makoto was assembling, and the expanding power of this organization made him reconsider his association with Chibul, the drug lord. The captain didn't want to find himself on the receiving end of the Emperor's forces.

"We share the same belief," Run acknowledged, his Imperial Arm expanding from his back.

"I must report this to His Majesty immediately," he declared, his voice resolute. With a swift motion, he took to the air, his wings propelling him towards the palace, leaving Captain Ogre to gather his forces and continue his efforts to bring an end to the reign of terror that had plagued the city.