Kyler's Odyssey: How I became the last seal of a Demon King.

Crimson Vanguard – The Entrance Gate

The Crimson Vanguard, standing on the far side of Ashford, lay almost completely outside the city—secluded, silent, and ominous.

At its entrance, Alpha Squad stood on guard, their presence a silent deterrent to any would-be intruders. The night was still, the air thick with tension. Then, out of the darkness, a voice echoed.

"Hey, Dante."

Kagetsu's voice broke the silence, laced with impatience.

"Why do you think Jinzo made us wait until the second years left? Does he think we couldn't take them all at once?" he asked lazily, his tone carrying a hint of irritation.

Dante remained unfazed. His voice, calm and calculated, formed a perfect contrast to Kagetsu's.

"It's not about that. Jinzo knows exactly how strong we are. But he wanted to increase our chances—from ninety percent to ninety-seven. The fewer enemies we face, the less time we spend here. And the less time we spend here, the smoother this mission goes."

Kagetsu blinked before letting out a surprised hum.

"Ohhhh… so that's why he held us back earlier." His voice rose slightly, realization settling in.

Then, with a grin, he added, "Gotta give it to you, Dante—you're a smart one. Sometimes I wish I was as smart as you, y'know?"

Alpha Squad remained motionless, their eyes scanning the shadows.

The only thing visible—two crimson eyes, glowing eerily in the dark. The only sound—metal scraping against concrete, followed by small sparks flickering behind it.

A shiver ran through Krillan as he narrowed his eyes.

"Who the hell are those people?" he muttered. His purple hair fell slightly over his face, framing his sharp features, his irises sharing the same unsettling violet hue.

"Don't let your guard down. Not even for a second."

Landon's voice was firm, his hands gripping the hilt of his sword tightly.

Then, from the blackness, two figures emerged.

Dante and Kagetsu.

They were like night and day, two forces in perfect contrast.

Dante—rigid, composed, unreadable. His armor, dark yet distinct, separated him from the night, its unnatural sheen making him stand out even in the shadows.

Kagetsu—wild, unpredictable, unsettling. His crimson eyes burned with something far more dangerous than simple bloodlust. Unlike Dante, who came dressed for war, armored and sword in hand, Kagetsu wore nothing but a black singlet, his body light and unburdened, his loosely tied hair cascading over his face.

And then there were his tattoos—dragons, inked across his arms, their serpentine bodies alive with crimson eyes that matched his own.

A terrible feeling settled over Alpha Squad.

They weren't just facing enemies.

They were standing before monsters in human skin.

"Remind me why we came here again ?" Kagetsu muttered his voice laced with boredom.

"To retrieve the last seal of Alzarel" Dante replied unfazed as if his comrade forgetting the mission's purpose was nothing new.

"I don't know what you guys are up to, but I'm gonna have to ask you to stand down" Zara ordered, an average girl with long white hair running down her back, dressed in black like the other students and a black skirt ending slightly above her knees.

"Damn, your hot" Kagetsu complimented.

"What d'you say, if you survive this we can grab a bite together sometime" Kagetsu asked, his voice charming and evil at the same time.

The air was thick with tension, the students unsure of whether they should attack or not

"Good evening" Dante said, his calm voice grabbing all the attention.

"My name is Dante, and this is my comrade, Kagetsu. We've come to retrieve the final seal of Alzarel. Honestly, I respect this futile attempt to stop us… but I'm not in the mood to decapitate anyone tonight. So, do us both a favor—step aside." Dante said his voice calm yet laced with quiet menace –like a blade ready to be drawn.

He stood silently, waiting for them to decide. The aura he exuded was overwhelming—undeniable. It was the true embodiment of Effortless Dominance.

The air grew thick with tension, every eye locked on the two monsters before them. Then, without hesitation, Krillan thrust his arm forward—a blazing blue wave tore through the air, distorting reality itself. Everything in its path froze in time, locked in an eerie stillness. The ground. The buildings. And finally—Dante and Kagetsu.

"Landon, now!" Krillan's voice shattered the silence, his command echoing through the streets.

Landon's wings snapped back with explosive force as he shot into the air, his form a black blur against the night. In an instant, he closed the gap between himself and his targets. He didn't hesitate—he struck.

His instincts screamed at him, pointing to the greater threat—Dante.

With all his strength, he brought his massive black blade down, aiming to carve through Dante in a single decisive blow. His attack landed.

A deafening metallic clang rang through the streets.

Landon reappeared behind them, already past his target. His breath was sharp, his muscles tense.

Yet, as the sound of his strike faded, Dante remained unmoved.

Not a single scratch.

Fear gripped Landon, his eyes widened in pure shock.

With that one move Dante had his answer. He exhaled slowly, his voice devoid of motion

"Violence it is."

With a single stomp he closed the gap between himself and Krillan. His silver blade flashed–a single, precise swing through the air, the blade swiftly passed through Krillan's neck not even leaving a single line to talk more of blood.

A clean cut. Not a drop of blood marred the shimmering steel

Before Krillan's head could even fall, Dante shifted his gaze to Zara. No hesitation. No pause. He raised his foot once more preparing to stomp the ground.

"Hey, the pretty girl's mine, pick on someone else" Kagetsu's voice rang out laced with annoyance.

At that moment Krillan's severed head finally slipped free.

Thud!

It struck the ground.

Decapitating Krillan in a fraction of a second was one thing. Acting like it was nothing? That was another.

They didn't even know which was more terrifying.

Fear gripped them, their bodies frozen, eyes widened in pure shock.

At that moment, the truth hit them like a hammer.

This mission… was far bigger than them.

On hearing Kagetsu's words, Dante shifted his gaze to Ragnar.

The sheer size of the man set him apart from the rest, his towering build reminiscent of Dax. His high, spiky hair bristled in the cold night air.

The moment Ragnar met Dante's eyes, the fear that gripped him earlier tripled. His breath hitched, he was staring into the abyss itself. The monster before him wasn't just a warrior, he was death incarnate.

Even his ability, to transform his skin into any material he touched, felt useless.

With a single step, Dante closed the distance. His silver blade flashed, slicing through the air toward Ragnar's neck. Time itself seemed to crawl, the gleam of the blade reflecting in Ragnar's terrified eyes.

Then, in a blur of movement—Landon appeared.

His dark blade rushed toward Dante's sword, intercepting the strike in a desperate attempt to block. But the unexpected happened.

Dante didn't flinch.

His focus remained unshaken, his target unchanged. Landon was merely an obstacle.

The moment their blades met, Dante's sword cleaved through Landon's weapon like a knife through butter.

Landon's eyes widened in horror. His sword a weapon he had trusted with his life, was split apart in an instant. And then, it was his turn.

Instinct screamed at him to move. He threw his weight to the left, twisting mid-air.

But it was too late.

The tip of Dante's blade sliced cleanly through his side before continuing forward severing Ragnar's neck in a single, fluid motion.