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  Chapter 16: Luna Alcali**

  The silence in the room was broken only by the sound of the wind whistling through the balcony door and the occasional muffled noise of Chagas in the distance. Yuzuki watched Gotier, attentive and absorbed in the story the priest was telling. He had never imagined that the man he knew as a spiritual guide had lived such a dark and bloody life.

  Picking up the whiskey bottle again, Yuzuki took another swig, lit a cigarette, and exhaled the smoke slowly, as if trying to ease the tension swelling in his chest.

  — The Church of the Holy Faith is widely known across the continent of Pangea — Gotier continued, never taking his eyes off the city. — They are seen as saviors, liberators of poor towns, redeemers of misery. And for a time, even I believed it. I thought it was a good opportunity to make money.

  Gotier paused, his gaze drifting to a distant memory.

  — What I did not know at first was that the Church accepted me not in spite of my cruelty, but because of it. They needed Gotier the murderer, the predator. My city was a hell, Yuzuki. There were only two types of people: the hunter and the hunted. I was the hunter, and they knew that to grow stronger, they needed someone like me.

  He took another swallow of whiskey, as though the alcohol were a shield for his courage.

  — At first, I only thought about the money. I allowed them to build temples in the city and use my influence to expand their power. Meanwhile, anyone who opposed the Church was eliminated. I hunted down those who resisted, Yuzuki. Literally. — Gotier's eyes grew heavy. — The streets ran red with blood.

  Yuzuki remained silent, absorbing every word.

  — Gradually, the city prospered. What was once a dump turned into a wealthy metropolis full of opportunity. People convert quickly when they are afraid. And at thirty, I was officially ordained a priest. But I was not just any priest.

  Gotier raised an eyebrow, offering a bitter smile.

  — I was a Blood Priest, Yuzuki—a rank above ordinary priests. My job was simple: to expand the Church's dominion. Towns and villages that refused the Red Eclipse God were razed to the ground. Men were killed. Women enslaved. Children turned into soldiers or priests.

  Yuzuki gripped the bottle tightly but said nothing.

  — And I loved every second of it — Gotier confessed in a low, cutting voice. — The blood, the chaos, the power. It felt like the life I was meant to lead. The people we killed became sacrifices for the Red Eclipse God's rituals. And I believed it all made sense.

  ***

  ### **The Song in the Darkness**

  Gotier paused for a long moment before continuing. His eyes, once filled with rage and painful memories, softened slightly.

  — Over time, my power grew. I commanded many priests and influenced dozens of churches. But something unexpected happened.

  He took another sip of whiskey and glanced up at the clouded sky.

  — Among the Church's slaves was a woman... she used to sing. Not a cheerful song, but not a sad one either. It was a melody of hope—something that seemed absent from that place.

  Gotier let out a humorless laugh.

  — She would sing from a monastery balcony. I used to think she would jump one day. But she never did. She would sit there, gazing at something only she could see. Over time, I found myself waiting for her voice. It... brought me peace.

  He paused before revealing her name.

  — Her name was Lili. She had a daughter, Mila, just four years old. A joyful child who seemed oblivious to the horror around her. Lili had dark hair, brown eyes, silky hair that shone even in the gloom. But it was not her beauty that captivated me. It was her song. Her faith in something no one else in the monastery believed.

  Yuzuki remained silent, the cigarette almost forgotten between his fingers.

  — To have a slave like Lili, you had to pay in coins. And I had plenty. I did not buy her to use her as others did. I only wanted to hear her music. And over time, I befriended Mila too.

  Gotier closed his eyes, recalling moments that felt like a different life.

  — The little girl made me feel something I had not felt in years, Yuzuki. Something I thought was dead inside me. Mila played with me as if I were ordinary. And Lili... she began to trust me. A woman and a child, Yuzuki... they changed me. Even a monster like me.

  Gotier fixed his gaze on Chagas's horizon.

  — Lili and Mila were everything to me. For the first time in my life, I felt human. But it was an illusion, Yuzuki. A man like me has no right to happiness... not without a price. And the Church of the Holy Faith is merciless. If they discovered I had a family, they would kill not only me but them as well.

  Yuzuki inhaled on his cigarette, watching Gotier's hands tremble ever so slightly, then exhaled a cloud of smoke into the frigid air.

  — You knew the Church would find out, did you not? — Yuzuki asked softly.

  Gotier nodded, his eyes fixed on nothing.

  — I knew. And when the Eclipse God began speaking to me through the mark on my chest, I realized something terrible was coming. The pain... was unbearable. It was as if something was burning my soul.

  Yuzuki narrowed his eyes.

  — And what did he say?

  Gotier laughed—a dry, bitter sound.

  — He gave me a choice: sacrifice the entire city in his name in exchange for freedom for me, Lili, and Mila. It was a pact... but for me, there was no other way.

  Yuzuki met his gaze, expression solemn.

  — And you accepted.

  Gotier turned to Yuzuki, his look cold and intense.

  — I did not hesitate, Yuzuki. Because a man without family is already dead. And I was willing to destroy everything to save them.

  ***

  ### **A Blood Moon**

  That night, the sky opened in a red eclipse, bathing the streets in an infernal light. The city, once vibrant, was silent, as if death hovered over it.

  Gotier walked the streets in his blood-priest's robes—red and black vestments billowing in the wind. He began at the church, where priests and faithful had gathered for an evening prayer.

  — Father Gotier! — called a deacon, smiling. — We have come to give thanks for the miracle you have brought to our city.

  Gotier studied him for a moment before whispering:

  — The miracle is not yet complete.

  Before the deacon could react, Gotier slid his ceremonial dagger across the man's throat, from ear to ear. Hot blood spattered across the altar. Panic erupted. Worshippers screamed, scrambling for the exits, but the church doors slammed shut, barred by Gotier's soldiers. The slaughter began.

  Mothers pressed their children to their chests. Men rushed toward Gotier, pleading for mercy.

  — Why?! — cried a woman, terror in her wide eyes. — You saved us! You were our hero!

  Gotier stared at her, expressionless.

  — There are no heroes. Only survivors.

  His blade glittered again. Silence descended upon the church.

  Soon the streets became a hunting ground. The elderly ran in desperation. Children wept as their mothers begged for mercy. Their cries echoed like a macabre symphony through the very streets Gotier had helped build.

  — Father Gotier! Please, spare us! We are your family!

  — Family? — Gotier echoed, irony heavy in his voice. — I have no family. Not while the Eclipse God demands everything.

  The city transformed into a living nightmare. Houses were set aflame; people fled in every direction, their screams mingling with the crackle of burning wood. An old man knelt before him, eyes brimming with tears.

  — Father Gotier, please... my granddaughter—she is only a child...

  Gotier looked down at the girl's lifeless body beside him. He could not recall having slain her.

  — Compassion is weakness.

  A young woman was dragged by two church soldiers before Gotier.

  — Please! — she cried. — I never denied the faith! I have always served the Eclipse God!

  Gotier stared through her.

  — Then serve him in death.

  With a single precise strike, he drove his blade into her heart.

  A child clung to her mother's corpse, pleading with Gotier in trembling whispers.

  — You said you would protect us...

  Gotier hesitated—but only for an instant. He knew any sign of weakness would earn the God's wrath.

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  — Protection is a lie.

  With one blow, he silenced the child and turned away, leaving the body to lie in the blood-soaked mud.

  ***

  ### **Crimson under Moonlight**

  At dawn, there was no one left. Three hundred thousand souls had been sacrificed in the name of the Red Eclipse God. Gotier drew a deep breath. His God was pleased.

  With the city consumed by massacre, Gotier raced to his home, where Lili and Mila slept. He woke them gently, silencing their protests and cradling them in his arms. He mounted the horse waiting at his doorstep.

  — Do not ask questions — he told Lili, his eyes fierce. — Just hold Mila and trust me.

  They rode away, leaving the city they once called home to burn beneath the fading red eclipse.

  Gotier never looked back.

  ***

  Luna Alcali**

  Gotier turned to Yuzuki, who stared at him with an inscrutable expression.

  — Are you shocked?

  Yuzuki took a drag from his cigarette without breaking eye contact.

  — No. I am not. You are a monster, Gotier. But you are not the only one here.

  Gotier laughed—a bitter, painful laugh.

  — Monsters are all that remain in this world, Yuzuki. And only monsters survive.

  Kaien, nestled on the floor beside Yuzuki, finally broke the silence.

  — Perhaps, Father Gotier, you are still human... but the line between you and the monster is so thin it is almost gone.

  The silence settled over them. The whiskey bottle lay empty, yet the weight of Gotier's confession still hung in the air. In that moment, Yuzuki realized that Gotier's revenge was more than justice—it was emotional survival, the last effort to justify the horror he had unleashed.

  Yuzuki knew Gotier's story was not over. And deep down, he wondered if his own ever would be.

  ***

  The hour was late—well past midnight—when Yuzuki found himself unable to sleep in the hotel room. Akari, Zeke, and even Gotier lay in slumber, oblivious to the turmoil in his mind. With a sigh, Yuzuki murmured to himself,

  — *I know what I must do, yet I feel so guilty...*

  He stroked Kaien's head, the loyal guardian curled at his side, and felt a bittersweet pang of loneliness. Restlessness drove him from the room in search of a beer at the bar next door.

  He entered a sparse, melancholic tavern: weathered wooden chairs, a simple countertop with tall stools, and the barman quietly washing a glass while savoring his own whiskey.

  Moments later, the door creaked open and Akari stumbled inside, still drowsy, Kaien perched on her shoulder wearing a disgruntled scowl—a silent reproach for being left behind.

  — I am your guardian; you cannot leave without me! — Kaien grumbled.

  Yuzuki gently patted Kaien's head, a small sign of relief that his friends were near, even amid his inner storm.

  Akari, sleep still in her eyes, shot back with irony:

  — If you wanted to drink, you could have asked me! Do you really think I would miss a sip?

  Wasting no time, she addressed the barman:

  — Give me something to wake me up, please.

  Yuzuki did not hesitate—he ordered one for Kaien too—then the three silently toasted the company that, despite the chaos, warmed their souls.

  Staring at their glasses in the soft yellow light, Yuzuki confided in a low, empathetic tone,

  — You deserve better... Every night I think of my little brother, and this bond with you terrifies me—afraid of losing what I still have: my anger and my will.

  Akari, startled by the rare display of emotion, let out a short laugh as she downed her whiskey. Kaien, already a bit tipsy, roared with a mixture of humor and melancholy, as if he instinctively felt the weight they shared.

  The tone shifted to promises and revolt. Akari fixed her gaze on the shimmering liquid and declared:

  — Kaien and I will look after you, you old grump—we love you anyway. Our mission to kill the king of our island is not over. I will transform this filthy place. I will be the queen who reshapes the clans so our families are never sacrificed by idiotic rituals again. I owe you so much, Yuzuki, for believing in me. I discovered Zyon, my power, my memories... And Kaien, even though he is a hatchling, will soon become our great battle ally, right?

  Amid laughter and Kaien's roar, the bar briefly glowed with camaraderie and hope. But the warmth shattered. Gradually, the air grew heavy and cold, a negative aura enveloping the room. In the ensuing hush, a voiceless whisper invaded Akari's mind—it was Zyon, the Kugutsu within:

  — *Daughter, someone approaches. Their aura is strong, aggressive, violent... be cautious.*

  Instinctively, Akari turned to the tall window where the waning moon and distant stars clashed with the rising sense of danger. The door creaked again, opening slowly. And then she entered: a tall woman in black leather with a crow-feathered cloak trailing the floor—each movement froze the room. Her short black hair framed lupine eyes and an enigmatic smile as she greeted them coolly:

  — Good evening.

  After a charged silence, she approached the counter and ordered:

  — A whiskey with ice and pepper, please.

  Her eyes swept the room before locking onto Yuzuki.

  — My name is Luna. Pleased to meet you. Kanji Yuzuki, I will be direct: you had best all watch closely. I know you are at the hotel—the owner told me—and that Gotier remains there. My objective is to kill Gotier. But on sensing the scent of Kugutsu Island's people, I could not resist greeting my own kind. I am Luna of the Alcali clan.

  At that moment, Akari—herself Alcali—shuddered. In a tense voice, she asked:

  — Luna, why do you work for the church?

  Yuzuki and Kaien exchanged uneasy glances. Luna—unfazed—took a sip and continued:

  — You are Kugutsus like me—traitors from the island who fled. We have much in common. Personally, I prefer not to fight my own people. We must unite against the island's king. The Santa Fé Church commands enough military might to overthrow the island and reshape everything. If we pool our power and knowledge, we can invade Kugutsu and be free!

  Akari could hardly believe it.

  — Us? Betray our own people!?

  Luna fixed her gaze on Akari.

  — Akari, be smart. The island is ruled by a dictator king; the people have become nothing but livestock. The clans are corrupted; the golden age is gone. Today, the Kanji era is reality, and the Lepra King of Pangeia—ally of Santa Fé—already eyes Kugutsu's throne. And yet you continue defending that island, after all you have done.

  Before Akari could reply, Yuzuki raised his hand for silence. Kaien positioned himself in the doorway, vigilant.

  Luna smiled sideways, mock-admiration in her voice:

  — I like you, Yuzuki. You are not like most men—so dull, so blind to what lies beneath.

  The tension edged higher as Luna's voice dropped:

  — Akari, Yuzuki... you have seen the horrors: Kubo enslaving our own; leaders abusing children, using our women to mix our blood with Pangeia's. Our knowledge is being diluted. We have no choice but to feign loyalty to those in power.

  Her words struck Akari and Yuzuki like blades—a painful, undeniable truth. Yuzuki drew a breath, his reply thick with memory and melancholy:

  — Luna, every time I gaze at the Golden Tree—the immense, luminous hope of all Pangeia—I am awed. It towers over the land, lighting up the night. It is beautiful, but wandering the forest, it terrifies me. The fear of ignorance consumed me for years; I lost everything... But somehow, each time I behold it, I find peace—a fleeting happiness. In the end, living in ignorance is like being a caged bird without flight. And when I look at you, Luna, I see both that captivity and the possibility of soaring free.

  The soft moonlight reflected in Luna's eyes, which for a moment seemed to absorb every word. Then, with a deep sigh, she declared:

  — Yuzuki, Akari, you are truly fascinating.

  Hearing those words, Akari cast a look of surprise and admiration at Yuzuki, while Kaien, his eyes half-lidded by intoxication, seemed to grasp the deeper meaning of that speech. Without delay, Luna rose from her chair and, with firm steps, approached Yuzuki. Instinctively, Akari moved her hand toward the hilt of her sword, and Kaien stayed by the door, ready to act.

  Without preamble, Luna leaned in and pressed a firm kiss to Yuzuki's lips, gently holding his neck as she deepened the kiss. The bar, once full of conversation and laughter, fell completely silent.

  Luna ran her fingers along Yuzuki's neck, her warm breath whispering in his ear:

  — You speak of cages, yet you carry the demon in your mind and the burden on your back. Who is more imprisoned?

  Her lips nearly met his, but she stopped suddenly, leaving the space between them loaded with desire and threat. With a half-threatening smile, she continued, her voice dropping into a whisper filled with dark promises:

  — I could tear that guilt from your heart... or tear the heart itself. The choice is yours.

  The dry scrape of Luna's chair sliding back was the last whisper of peace in that cursed bar.

  Akari did not hesitate. In an instant, her sword was in hand. The metallic hiss of steel cutting through the air preceded her movement—a swift lunge, a precise spin. Her strike came in horizontally, aiming at Luna's abdomen. But the woman in the crow cloak did not step back.

  With her bare feet on the wooden floor, Luna twirled her body in a fluid motion, letting the blade pass mere millimeters from her skin. Her left leg whipped up like a viper's lash, and her iced heel struck Akari's wrist, forcing her to drop the sword.

  — You are underestimating me, Akari — Luna murmured, her eyes aglow with an icy blue-gray hue.

  Akari spun in the air and, as she landed, delivered a spinning elbow strike to Luna's ribs, regaining her posture as she retreated.

  — Do not think you can intimidate me just because we share the same blood! — Akari snarled, her eyes blazing.

  She unleashed a flurry of rapid strikes, her fists hammering like thunder: a straight jab to the jaw, a spinning kick to the torso, and a swift thrust with a closed fist like a spear. Luna blocked each blow with her open palm, her forearm wrapped in ice. Each impact sent tremors through the floor. With a snap of her fingers, she froze the moisture in the air, forming three sharp ice stakes that lunged directly at Akari's flank.

  Akari leapt, twisting her body midair to evade the frigid blades, but a fourth stake shot up from below. The ice sliced into her thigh. She fell to her knees, gasping.

  Yuzuki rose, the giant sword in his hands, his gaze as hard as stone.

  — Amok! — he shouted, summoning his Kugutsu.

  Nothing happened.

  — Zyon! — Akari cried out, desperate.

  Silence.

  Luna smiled, spreading her arms slowly like a dark priestess.

  — **Shinkō...** — she whispered. — You have lost your bonds. I cut them.

  Yuzuki's eyes widened. He clenched the sword hilt with tremendous force.

  — She masters the *Y?g?*... — he murmured, almost in a trance. — She... has total control over the Kugutsu. She is not merely a user... she is a perfect fusion...

  Before he could do anything, the floor beneath his feet glowed with runes carved into the wood. A whirlwind of earth and shadow engulfed him.

  — **Dankai—Earth's Tomb** — Luna said, coldly.

  Yuzuki was swallowed, his sword scoring the side of the pit in a last act of resistance.

  — YUZUKI! — Akari shouted.

  Inside, in the darkness, he breathed heavily, sweat beading his brow. Yet there was something more terrifying than the seal: fear. His eyes were wide open, staring in shock at the truth he had just witnessed.