Eyes Of Broken Lilies

Kuradome was beyond mad at that unknown figure. His eyes, glowing like molten gold mixed into red wine...screamed hate and anger without even a word. The guards surrounded the black figure in a tight circle, swords raised, each breath tense as a bowstring.

"Your Highness! Please stay back! We can handle this alone!"

Yurei shouted, his voice sharp from fear and loyalty. But Kuradome refused.

This was his palace… his kingdom… built from decades of blood, sweat, tears, and uncountable silent nights. Every brick carried his memory, every pillar whispered of his scars. How dare anyone trespass?

"I refuse to step back! Kings never walk backwards...only forward !"

His voice echoed, like fire crackling through dry leaves.

"Catch that intruder before he causes harm in my kingdom!"

The burning sword in his grip pulsed, alive, veins of lava swirling inside the blade.

The black figure didn't flinch, didn't take a single step away...even as the five Yin Lans raised their swords too, faces drawn tight. The hall smelled of steel, ash, and something colder: fear.

One of Kuradome's guards shouted, breath ragged:

"That man was spying on the meeting Ribbon Prince attended! He was trying to steal information!"

Kyoren stood slightly apart, shadows gathering around his tall form. His golden eyes were wide...caught between fear, suspicion, and something even darker.

The figure turned, as if sensing Kyoren's stare. The unseen gaze through the owl mask felt like it pierced skin and bone, whispering silent words only Kyoren could hear. Kyoren swallowed hard, throat dry.

Kuradome's eyes narrowed, tracking every breath and twitch of the figure's body. His muscles coiled, ready to strike.

Then...without warning..the figure lunged for Kuradome's throat, sword glinting in the firelight.

Kuradome met the strike head-on, sparks flying from the clash. His robes whipped around him like bloodstained wings.

The figure's movement was like water...fluid, unstoppable...and Kuradome's face twisted in faint disgust at the Yin Lans, as if silently cursing them for being here… for needing to see him fight.

Kyoren moved forward instinctively,..his hands trumbling while another battle in his mind already echoing...his worry was hard to read or tell that its the worry for his father's safety while he's the most weakest one right here or something else...

but Yurei grabbed his shoulder, his grip firm, the leather of his glove warm but iron-strong.

"Kyoren-sama! Stay back! You can't heal yourself if you get hurt this badly again..your health is already weakening. Please… this time, His Highness is fighting too. Let us handle it."

Kyoren's jaw tightened, eyes burning with frustration...but the pain at his neck and arm was the reminder how weak and pathetic he'd became..so he stayed...watching, breath shallow.

The black figure's sword flashed again...aiming for Kuradome's throat. Kuradome swayed aside, the tip grazing terrifyingly close to the royal mark etched on his neck by ancient rituals.

Suddenly, the figure's fingers twisted into a dark seal. Shadows bled from beneath his feet, swirling into shape.

"Kagetsu Jutsu…"

Shadow Moon Technique . It's an ability to make thousands of same yet fake Shadow copy of any person or object to confuse prople and non stop attack...

So..Ten exact copies of the intruder split from him, eyes empty and cold, blades raised. The air turned thick as midnight ink.

They attacked without hesitation...two lunging at Kyoren.

Yurei's breath caught, and his silver sword, now burning with gray fire, crashed against theirs, shielding Kyoren by inches.

"Don't you dare touch him!" Yurei spat, sweat and blood dripping down his cheek.

The room became a battlefield of steel and flame. Kuradome's sword, Jinyi.."Golden Wings"...sliced through shadow clones, molten veins flaring with each swing. Sparks danced around his form, reflected in his furious red eyes.

But the real figure didn't stop. His blade met Kuradome's in a loud, ringing clash that vibrated the marble floor. Kuradome's sword flew from his grip, burying itself in the tiles before dissolving in flames.

Pain shot through Kuradome's right wrist; blood trickled down, pattering softly onto the polished floor.

"Shit…" he hissed under his breath, jaw clenched. "That bastard… he's reading my moves…"

He flexed his injured wrist, the ache biting into his pride. Even as Crown Ribbon, even with a mind like a blade itself, he had underestimated this stranger...but he refocused to believe it..how could he while he was always the idol among yokais in many names..one of them was " The perfect Beauty with brain "..and now..all felt like a slap on his face...

Across the hall, the real figure turned briefly to glare at Kyoren again...unnoticed by everyone..that moment was short...too quick for anyone else to catch while everyone was busy at the battle...

but Kyoren felt it like ice against his spine...he's silently desperate inside..for something unknown..maybe even yurei and his father kuradome doesn't even knows it..

Kuradome's expression darkened further. His breathing deepened, each breath burning in his chest. He wasn't a spacial grade yokai...his wounds didn't heal instantly. Every drop of blood falling felt heavier than the last. He needs to pause to let his wound heal yet he can't stop for a single second..

Then the real figure lunged again...this time, aiming straight for Kuradome's chest...

Kuradome's breath caught, feet braced to dodge. But unexpected...who knows why ?

No…But yes...

A blur of silver and gold moved faster than thought.

Kyoren stepped forward.

The blade buried itself halfway into the right side of Kyoren's chest. His body jerked as the steel cut through flesh and cloth, blood blooming like crimson petals.

Kuradome's world seemed to shatter into ringing silence. His heart cracked wide open . Like the blade digged into kyoren's body....but pieced Kuradome's heart...

" KYOREN !!! "

Same goes to yurrei..too much horrified then a nobel right hand should be..like..it was something deeper...

His scream followed, raw and horrified:

"KYOREN-SAMA!!!"

For a heartbeat, the world paused. The firelight trembled on the walls, smoke curling toward the high ceiling like lost

Then, chaos returned. The shadows moved again, swords raised, the sound of fighting crashing back into Kuradome's ears.

The palace of Kazomaki shook with the fury of a king, and the echo of a prince's unexpected move...or maybe..sacrifice. ?

[ End of Chapter 20 🥀🖤