Star-Lore

Lyra and ayoto hiding behind a tree.

A man or something like a man, walked into the dim light. His body was covered in dark armor that shimmered like stars. His arms were long… and glowing. And from his wrists, blades of pure light stretched out, humming gently like they were alive.

Ayoto pulled Lyra behind a tree.

The figure kept walking. Calm. Steady. Almost like he didn't even care someone was watching.

Then…

he stopped, And turned. Slowly… he raised his hand.

Not to attack.

Just… to motion.

A silent wave. A warning. A gesture.

Almost as if saying "Stay out of this."

Ayoto didn't care. He stepped out.

Pulsar gun in hand.

"I SAID STOP!" he shouted.

Nothing.

Then, In a blink

The figure was gone.

Lyra's eyes widened. "Wh...where?"

CRACK!

The figure was now in front of Ayoto, face-to-face.

Ayoto fired the gun,

ZRAAAAKK!!

The laser beam screamed forward

But

The glowing blade cut the beam in half like slicing a paper stream.

BOOM!

The energy exploded behind them as the figure drove his glowing palm into Ayoto's chest, sending him flying backward into a tree.

Lyra screamed.

Ayoto groaned, blood on his lip.

The figure didn't chase.He simply turned.

And began walking…

toward the city.

"Ayoto… stay with me!"

Lyra shouted, her voice shaky as she knelt beside him.

Ayoto groaned, gripping his side. Blood dripped from the cut across his armor. His eyes blinked fast, like he was trying to stay awake.

"I'll… I'll be fine… go warn them" he whispered.

But Lyra shook her head. "No way. We're going together."

She grabbed his arm and pulled with all her strength, dragging him across the forest floor.

Leaves crushed. Twigs snapped.

She looked back every two seconds, afraid that glowing-blade figure might appear again from the trees.

But the forest remained dead silent.

Too silent.

Back in the city…

Sharmitha burst from the edge of the forest, panting, hair wild, face pale with panic.

She looked around, but the streets were empty.

Everyone had gone to the temple.

Every single soul.

She looked left, then right

And saw someone.

A tall figure, walking from a nearby path.

His long coat swung gently as he walked. He held a half-eaten nutstick in one hand, looking around with confusion.

Sakudara.

"SAKU!!" she screamed.

He looked up fast. "Sharmi?! What?!"

She ran up to him, gasping for air. "The… the ship! The black ship! The one from the invisible zone, it followed us here!"

Sakudara's face changed in an instant.

From confused… to serious.

"You're sure?"

Sharmitha nodded quickly. "It's in the forest. Lyra and Ayoto are still there! We need to find Spriggan, now!"

But suddenly…

Saku's body froze.

His eyes widened, not at Sharmitha.

At something behind her.

Sharmitha noticed his face turn pale.

She turned too.

And her heart stopped.

Someone was walking out of the forest.

The trees seemed to bend and sway around him, like they were afraid to block his path.

A tall figure.

Wearing black armor.

His face hidden behind a cracked silver mask.

His body wrapped in dark blue rags and wires.

His very steps echoed.

Saku squinted.

His heart beating louder than ever before.

No. It couldn't be.

But as the figure stepped closer into the light of the city's lantern roots…

It was.

The tattoos on the armor.

The glowing patterns.

Sakudara whispered the name.

"Borarah…"

The Revolutionary of the Second Universe.

The man who burned a planet alive in a single night.

The Ghost King.

Sharmitha gasped. "Wait… what did you say…?"

Sakudara clenched his fists.

"That's Borarah."

The street suddenly felt too small.

Too quiet.

Too dangerous.

Sakudara stepped forward slowly, placing Sharmitha behind him.

Borarah didn't run. He didn't shout. He didn't even draw a weapon.He just looked at them.

Like two bugs on the road.

His silver mask gleamed in the night.

And then…

He smiled.

Just a little.

Enough to send a chill down their bones.

Sharmitha's lips trembled. "What is he doing here…?"

Saku didn't answer.

He slowly slid the small blade from his belt.

"Run to the temple," he said under his breath.

"Tell Spriggan. Now."

Sharmitha stepped back, then turned and ran,

Borarah didn't stop her.

He didn't move fast. He didn't speak.

He simply turned his head slightly and began to walk toward the city,

Ignoring Sakudara completely.

Like he wasn't even worth the trouble.

Saku's eyes filled with fire. And he's walking away.

Saku rushed forward.

Blade in hand. Heart racing.

He swung with all the power he had, the metal cutting through the air,

But

Whoosh.

Borarah… stepped aside.

One simple step. No effort.

Saku didn't even touch his cloak.

He gritted his teeth and slashed again

And again

And again.

Every strike was fast. Every strike was furious. Every strike… missed.

Borarah didn't block.

He didn't parry.

He just walked forward calmly as if he was dodging rain.

To him, Sakudara's attacks were nothing.

Like a child swinging at a ghost.