Infinity, The Arcade Age

While Qin Ming busied himself upgrading his gear, far from the Shiranui Dojo, a lone figure stumbled through a dense forest. It was none other than Tsukimi Soukaku, the sole survivor of his clan.

Clutching his severed arm and desperately using his remaining spirit energy to stanch the bleeding, he appeared utterly disheveled. Every step he took was shaky, each movement a laborious struggle.

After covering some distance, his legs gave out, and he collapsed to his knees, tears streaming down his face.

It's all gone. Everything's gone!

His sect was destroyed. His brothers were all dead. Years of painstaking effort to rebuild Tsukimi's legacy had been obliterated in a single day. Now, Tsukimi Soukaku was once again the sole member of his clan.

How am I supposed to face my master in the afterlife? What will I say to him?

Overwhelmed with grief, Soukaku pounded the ground with his remaining fist, his cries echoing through the forest.

"Shiranui! SHIRANUI!!!"

As his roar reverberated, a faint rustling sound reached his ears, sending a chill down his spine.

Soukaku's eyes widened in panic. Without a second thought, he activated a skill.

Spirit energy surged from his body, summoning a spectral projection that darted toward the source of the noise.

Soukaku's nerves were frayed after barely escaping the Shiranui Dojo. He assumed the pursuer was one of Shiranui Hanzou's men.

However, the intruder wasn't affiliated with the Shiranui clan—but Soukaku's reaction wasn't entirely unwarranted.

The approaching figure was undoubtedly powerful.

As the spectral projection raced toward its target, a cold snort echoed from the shadows.

With an almost imperceptible movement, the intruder vanished. In the next instant, the spectral form collided with a tree, leaving deep cracks in its bark.

The stranger reappeared a heartbeat later, already standing face-to-face with the injured Soukaku.

Before the Tsukimi master could react, a hand shot out, gripping his neck like a vice and hoisting him into the air.

Struggling for breath, Soukaku tried to muster a counterattack, but an unseen force began spinning around him. A violent windstorm erupted, slashing his flesh and eliciting agonized screams.

C-Rank Skill: Dark Cry

Blood streamed from countless wounds as Soukaku's body was battered by the relentless wind. Before he could recover, the stranger flung him aside like a ragdoll. Soukaku's body tumbled across the forest floor.

Even as he attempted to rise, the assailant vanished again, leaving only a faint disturbance in the air.

B-Rank Skill: Glacier

Moving with an almost supernatural speed, the attacker—a man dressed in priestly garb with a handsome but ruthless visage—closed the distance to Soukaku in an instant. Raising his clawed hand, he prepared to strike.

"Stop it, Wind!" a stern voice called out. "No more toying with him—he might still be useful."

The man named Wind frowned, his hand hesitating in mid-air. Reluctantly, he stepped back, crossing his arms with a derisive snort.

Meanwhile, two more figures emerged from the shadows: a towering man with a powerful build and a graceful woman whose eyes were obscured by a black cloth.

The three individuals lined up, silently appraising Soukaku. After a moment, the blindfolded woman stepped forward, her smile unnervingly sweet.

"You must be Tsukimi Soukaku," she said, her voice honeyed yet chilling. "The one with a blood feud against the Shiranui clan. May I ask you a question?"

Soukaku, wary of the enigmatic group, struggled to his feet, his eyes darting between them. Finally, he responded, his tone cautious.

"Who are you? Were you sent by the Shiranui clan?"

"You misunderstand, sir. Right now, we're the ones asking the questions. Answer us first, and we'll answer yours later."

"…Fine. Ask."

"Have you ever seen this person?"

The woman reached into her pocket and pulled out a photograph, holding it up for Soukaku to see.

The image depicted a short-haired woman with a faint smile, cradling a spotted dog.

Frowning, Soukaku examined the photo before shaking his head.

"No, I don't recall seeing her."

The woman's brow furrowed slightly. She muttered under her breath before producing another photograph.

"That's strange… according to my abilities, she should be at the Shiranui Dojo. What about this man? Do you recognize him?"

When Soukaku's eyes fell upon the second photo, his pupils contracted. His face twisted with rage.

"It's him! Of course, I recognize him! Even if he were reduced to ashes, I'd still know his face! That bastard pretended to duel me fairly, only for Shiranui Hanzou to ambush me! Damn them both!"

The woman smirked, quickly tucking the photos away before turning to exchange glances with her companions. Of course, her blindfold rendered the act more theatrical than functional.

Returning her attention to Soukaku, she offered a warm smile.

"To be honest, Mr. Soukaku, we're not allies of the Shiranui clan. Far from it—we're here to kill those two as well."

"Kill them? You have a grudge against them?"

"Indeed. They killed six of our comrades—new recruits, but promising ones. We can't just let that slide, now can we? Our organization demands accountability."

The woman sighed melodramatically, shaking her head.

"Now, it seems we share a common enemy. What do you think? Shall we join forces to destroy the Shiranui Dojo?"

Soukaku hesitated, glancing down at his mangled body.

"Look at me," he said bitterly. "I'm in no condition to fight, let alone seek vengeance."

"Oh? Doesn't your clan possess a certain… relic? One that allows you to merge with spirits and gain immense power? Surely that could tip the scales."

"How do you know about that?" Soukaku's eyes widened in shock as he instinctively raised his guard.

The woman chuckled softly, waving her hands in a placating gesture.

"Relax. The relic's drawbacks are far too severe for us to covet it. We have no interest in taking it from you. Our intelligence sources are none of your concern."

"You…"

"We only want to know if you're willing to cooperate. If not, we'll deal with the Shiranui clan ourselves and be on our way. Your opportunity for revenge will slip away forever."

Soukaku's expression darkened as he mulled over her words.

After a long silence, he raised his head, his voice dripping with venom.

"Fine. I don't care why you want to help me. If you're offering your assistance, I'll accept it. But first, you'll have to guard me while I fuse with the spirits."

"Of course," the woman said with a radiant smile. "By the way, what should we call you?"

"What about you?" Soukaku asked warily.

"This gentleman here is Wind," she said, gesturing to the sharp-eyed man. "The big guy is Earth, and as for me? You can call me Eye."

She tapped the black cloth over her face playfully.

"No one escapes my sight. No one."