The freezing weather was intense. The mist grew thicker and colder, covering everything around in a white, oppressive layer. The air was suffocating. Nina's breathing was short; her lungs felt frozen inside. Her lips were completely white.
Her body lay on the ground. The tears rolling from her eyes turned into tiny ice crystals. Even so, her eyes stayed open, refusing to close. The image of her eight-year-old daughter remained alive in her mind.
— Daughter... daughter... — she whispered, her voice nearly inaudible, hoarse and broken.
The mist moved as if something was approaching.
— No matter how much you resist — the samurai's sarcastic voice echoed through the fog, unseen. — You will die, frozen within my technique.
His voice was cold. Arrogant. Ruthless.
Sora's body was already fully covered in ice, trembling from the cold. Silence dominated. Nothing could be heard but the sound of the cutting wind. Then Nina's eyes gave in. She closed them. And in doing so, she sank into a distant memory.
The room was decorated with roses. The sound of the TV echoed through the space, and the faint smell of gunpowder hung in the air. Nina, in pajamas, sat at a table with her hair tied up, cleaning her firearms.
— Mom, did you always want to be a soldier? — asked a little girl in blue pajamas, with slightly messy hair and a curious smile.
— No, sweetheart, of course not — Nina answered calmly and seriously, setting down the gun and holding her daughter's face gently. — I only became a soldier because it was the only thing I could do.
She smiled, caressing the girl's hair.
— Do you love being a soldier? — the girl asked, holding her mother's arms with the same sweetness, but filled with curiosity.
— If I said no, I'd be lying — Nina replied with a soft smile. — Because I love protecting the country where my daughter lives.
She looked into her daughter's eyes and kissed her forehead.
— What's it like being at war? — the girl asked, frowning now, serious.
— I give everything I have... just to come back alive to you — Nina answered, pulling her daughter into a tight hug.
— Then promise me... — the girl's voice nearly broke into sobs as tears streamed down her face — promise you'll always come back to me...
They embraced tightly. The promise was burned into her soul.
Back to reality, the cold seemed even harsher. But those words from her daughter echoed relentlessly in Nina's mind. Even with her arms frozen, she clenched her fists with strength. A golden light began to glow around her hands. The tears returned — and this time, they didn't freeze. Her eyes lit up intensely.
But before she could get up...
Slash!
The samurai emerged from the mist, his icy blade inches from her neck. Nina, weak and trembling with fury, whispered:
— Holy Light... First Stage.
Pum.
Light materialized into two long golden swords. The samurai's blade was just centimeters from her neck. In a flash of speed, Nina teleported between the blades of light and reappeared behind him. Without hesitation, she swung her sword with her left arm.
Slash!
The samurai's head was cut off — but it turned to mist.
— You really think you can...? — his voice echoed, filled with rage. — You can't win inside my spell! The more clones you destroy, the colder it gets.
It was impossible to tell where the voice was coming from. Nina, freeing herself from the ice, her wound healed by the light, kept her furious gaze. The golden glow around her pulsed brighter.
— This is all just a waste of time! — shouted the samurai arrogantly. — You're going to die! Stop resisting!
Sora heard the voice in his ears, but he couldn't move, frozen stiff.
Nina took a deep breath. Her expression was steady. Unshaken. She raised her arms. The swords vanished. Another breath.
— Holy Light... Tenth Stage.
Shlach!
Two even brighter golden swords appeared. She brought them together, and a clashing energy erupted.
BOOM!
A golden explosion surged, dispersing part of the mist. Nina screamed, separating the swords to contain the impact — then brought them together again.
Pum!
The second explosion was even more devastating. The blast launched the samurai into the ground, cracking the earth. The mist vanished completely. The air returned to normal.
On her knees, Nina breathed heavily. Her eyes turned to Sora, still partially frozen. She approached and, with a gentle touch of light, melted the ice from his body. Sora coughed, breathing again.
— Thank you... thank you... — he said, gasping.
But then...
Shlach!
The samurai appeared behind her. Pressure filled the air.
— Watch out! — Sora shouted. With no time to think, he crossed his fingers:
— Absolute Space... Switch!
BOOM!
Their positions switched. Sora was now holding Nina. The samurai was trapped inside the Absolute Space, surrounded by white energy.
— Saumon.
Pum.
The explosion launched the samurai into a building. But before he could crash, Nina teleported and delivered a brutal kick to his face. Two teeth flew. His body was dragged through the ground.
The samurai tried to stand, spitting more blood. Barely able to remain on his feet. Nina appeared in front of him, ready for another blow, but he plunged his sword into the ground — and a spike of ice pierced her abdomen.
She screamed. Blood spilled. Her body froze.
He raised his sword to finish her.
— Absolute Space... Switch! — Sora murmured from 14 meters away.
Pum.
They swapped places again. The samurai was returned to the space.
— Saumon.
BOOM!
Another explosion. Sora dropped to his knees, spitting blood. He was weak. The spell had taken its toll. His body had no more strength.
Nina touched the ice that impaled her and, with her light, melted it. The wound closed. She reappeared in front of the samurai and drove two golden swords into his abdomen. Then delivered a kick that sent him crashing into a wall.
The samurai's vision blurred. Dust filled the air. Blood dripped. In his mind... the past returned.
---
Three years earlier...
The samurai stood before Kratos. Four players behind him mocked.
— Hey, don't hog that NPC all to yourself!
— Shut up... and watch — said the samurai, serious.
— Frozen Tide.
BOOM!
The mist surrounded Kratos.
Snap!
Kratos snapped his fingers. The mist vanished. Ice shards pierced the other players. The samurai was thrown back.
Koloris appeared.
— My king, I've come to assist you.
— Do as you wish — Kratos said. — Oh, and finish off that human.
He vanished.
— Please... don't kill me! I'll do whatever you want! — the samurai begged.
— Everything? — Koloris smirked. — Perfect. I'll make you... my demon.
— I accept! Just let me live!
---
Back to the present...
The samurai bled, trembling.
— I'm a demon... — he said, teeth clenched. — Humans... can't defeat me!
He drew his sword. The ice began to spread again...
But a hand touched his shoulder.
The ground beneath his feet cracked from the pressure.
— Stop — said the figure.
He turned. And saw.
— Remove the demon title — said the distorted voice. — You need to be human... because I am the demon.
Sasuke.
Nina and Sora froze in shock.
Sasuke smiled. Twisted. Unstable.
— So... will you give the title back? Or do I have to rip it from you?
To be continued: Chapter 16 – Verbal Curses