The zombie's teeth sank deep into Rex's neck.
Executioner froze, eyes wide as blood sprayed out, painting the ground in red. Rex's body jerked once, then went limp, crashing to the dirt with a heavy thud.
Executioner reached him too late.
He dropped to his knees beside the boy, shaking. His hand hovered over Rex's chest, but there was no movement. No breath. No life.
His heart thudded once. Then again.
"No…"
His scream tore through the sky.
"RAAAAGH!!"
The air trembled around him as the sound echoed far into the forest.
The zombies were coming closer now. Dozens of them, dragging their limbs across the dirt, their moans growing louder.
But Executioner didn't move.
Then something shifted. Rex's body twitched. Bones cracked, fingers curled into claws.
Executioner's eyes widened. His mouth opened slightly.
"No… please…"
But the boy's eyes opened. Black. Soulless.
Executioner stared, unable to look away. His face twisted in pain.
"You monster," he said to the thing rising up. "You… you killed him…"
But Rex was already gone.
A wave of zombies swarmed Executioner. Hands clawed at his arms, tearing his cloak. One of them reached for his face—
And then—
His heart stopped.
His eyes turned red.
He grinned. A slow, crooked, wicked grin.
A pulse of energy burst from him in every direction, flinging the zombies back like ragdolls. They flew through the air, crashing into walls, trees, and each other.
He stood, sword in hand, laughter spilling out from his chest like thunder. His gaze locked onto the boy—onto what was once Rex.
His voice dropped low, dark, and hungry.
"RAAAAVEN... The world is yours. Darkness will reign. Our name... they'll fear it."
The undead froze. Every one of them. His voice held power now. Something old. Something foul.
Executioner charged into them like a storm. His blade slashed through rotting flesh, slicing arms, necks, and legs with terrifying speed. Blood and black ooze sprayed through the air.
Elves stood frozen at the edge of the village. Their faces pale. Their bodies shaking.
He turned to them, face soaked in blood, and smiled like a demon wearing human skin.
The voice in his head whispered again.
"Kill them all. They're useless."
He stepped forward, dragging his sword behind him. The screech of metal on stone filled the silence.
Austin took a step toward him, raising a hand.
"Wait, we—"
Executioner didn't wait.
His blade swung once.
Austin's head rolled across the ground. Blood sprayed like a fountain.
The screams came next.
The elves tried to run. Tried to hide. But it didn't matter.
He hunted them down, one by one.
They cried. They begged. Some tried to fight back.
None survived.
When it was over, he stood in the middle of their corpses, soaked in blood, panting, smiling like nothing had happened.
He whispered again, this time softer.
"Raaaven… the world is yours."
He walked to the gate. Step by step. His feet dragged. His sword hung low.
Then he punched the gate.
It shattered.
Outside, eighty-seven zombies waited in silence.
They didn't move.
They just watched.
Executioner cracked his thumb. A click echoed. His sword floated up, glowing red. It spun slowly in the air.
He raised a finger and pointed.
The sword shot forward.
It flew through the horde, slicing heads, arms, legs. Blood sprayed. Bodies dropped. Some tried to crawl. Others tried to run. None got far.
When the last one fell, Executioner walked through them. Quiet. Calm. His blade scratched the ground behind him.
Then—one zombie grabbed his leg. Its hand was torn. Half its face gone.
He didn't flinch.
He stabbed it through the skull, crushed its head under his boot, and kept walking.
Blood dripped from his mouth. His steps wobbled, but his smile stayed.
Then someone appeared.
A man.
He wore a blue jacket, a sword on his back. A white mask covered his face.
Executioner froze.
The man turned.
Green eyes.
Long hair, just like his.
Executioner growled low and charged.
Their swords clashed, metal ringing sharp through the air.
Executioner aimed a strike at the man's head.
The man dodged. Barely.
He moved quick, jumping over Executioner and slicing at his back.
Executioner laughed. Not even hurt.
The man landed, breathing hard.
Executioner hurled his sword. It spun fast—hit the man's mask—shattered it.
Executioner rushed in. Fist to the jaw.
The man stumbled. Then looked up.
"Do I know you?"
Executioner stared at him. Voice small now.
"…It's me. Executioner."
The man's eyes widened.
"Executioner? No way… You've changed. I've been looking for you all day."
Executioner stepped closer.
"Bryce… I thought you were dead."
Bryce blinked, trying to find words.
"I'll explain later. Right now, you're hurt. Let's go."
They walked out of the ruined village. No tunnels. Just open road, straight toward Tennou-ji, Japan.
The city was quiet at night. Lights on. Shops closing. People stared at Executioner's blood-soaked body but didn't say a word.
Executioner looked over. "Where are we going?"
"My house," Bryce said. "You'll stay there. It's safe."
They reached a mansion-sized home. Big doors. White stone walls.
Inside, Executioner sat down, still breathing heavy.
"Bryce," he asked again. "How did you survive?"
Bryce's face grew serious.
"The octopus woman… she attacked the academy. Broke our bones. Wrapped us up. I thought I was dead."
He paused.
"But then… I saw her. A woman. Long black hair. Blue eyes. She healed me. Next thing I knew, I was in a hospital."
Executioner's eyes narrowed.
"Who is she?"
Bryce shook his head.
"I don't know… I'll tell you more later. For now, go clean up. You look like hell."
Executioner walked to the bathroom.
One minute.
Two.
Three.
He came out clean. White shirt. Dry pants. Tired eyes.
As he walked down the hall, he froze.
A man stood in a black suit.
A hannya mask on his face.
Executioner followed him into a room.
Inside—four men. Guns drawn. Bryce on the ground.
A barrel pressed to his head.
The masked man smiled.
"Well, well… what do we have here?"
Executioner's rage exploded.
He charged, punched one of them so hard the man flew back.
Gunfire rang out.
Executioner stumbled, pain burning through his head.
He hit the floor hard.
"You ruined my drug factory," the leader said. "Killed my men. Now, you pay."
Bryce laughed through blood.
"You think I'll go down easy?"
The man narrowed his eyes.
"You're a real problem."
He fired.
A bullet went through Bryce's skull.
Executioner screamed.
"NOOO!!!"
He rushed forward, tearing through two of them.
Another shot rang out.
His head burned. His vision shook.
He dropped.
He grabbed the last man's leg, eyes filled with blood and hate.
"You… will… die…"
He dragged a finger through his own blood, drew a small symbol.
The leader stepped on his hand. Pointed the gun down.
Fired again.
This time… Executioner didn't move.