Published at 17th of September 2024 6:23 pm

Chapter 95 The Queen’s Path: 3 The Shadows of the Past

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

The air crackled with energy, a palpable tension wrapping itself around the ruins of Rōran as Mukade’s voice echoed through the desolate landscape. Sāra’s heart raced, a cold dread spreading through her veins. She had hoped never to hear that voice again, never to face the terror that had once brought her kingdom to ruin. Yet here it was—alive, powerful, and somehow, Mukade had returned.

The figure that emerged from the blinding light stood tall, cloaked in shadows. His eyes glowed with the same malicious hunger for power that had consumed him years before. He was unmistakable. Mukade. But how could this be? He had been sealed away, his ambitions thwarted by Naruto and the power of the Ryuumyaku. How could he possibly be here?

Beside Sāra, Ryū gritted his teeth, his hand instinctively reaching for the hilt of his sword. "This can’t be real," he muttered. "We saw him die."

Sāra’s mind raced. Could Mukade have found a way to escape death? Or was this some remnant of his power, an echo of his former self? She could feel the Ryuumyaku pulsing beneath them, its energy swirling, alive in ways it hadn’t been since it was sealed. Whatever had awakened Mukade—or whatever this version of him was—it had to be connected to the Ryuumyaku.

"Sāra," Ryū said in a low voice, his eyes never leaving the figure before them, "we need to get out of here. This isn’t a fight we’re prepared for."

Sāra’s hand tightened around the necklace she still wore, the pendant that had once connected her to the Ryuumyaku’s immense power. "If we leave now, he’ll find a way to release the Ryuumyaku’s full potential," she whispered. "We can’t let that happen."

Mukade took a step forward, the ground beneath his feet cracking as his presence seemed to warp the very air around him. His voice was like a hiss, low and menacing. "I see you remember me, Sāra. You should have known that sealing the Ryuumyaku wouldn’t be enough to stop me."

Sāra’s eyes narrowed, her fear slowly transforming into defiance. "You’re a ghost, Mukade. You lost once, and you’ll lose again. This time, I won’t let you destroy what’s left of my people."

Mukade chuckled darkly, the sound sending a chill down her spine. "I lost nothing. You may have delayed my plans, but the power of the Ryuumyaku is eternal. You cannot stop what is inevitable." He raised a hand, and the air around him began to shimmer as energy gathered, raw and unbridled.

"Stand back!" Ryū shouted, drawing his sword and stepping in front of Sāra. "We have to regroup. We’re not ready for this."

Before Sāra could protest, a wave of energy shot toward them, the sheer force of it sending dust and debris flying through the air. Ryū blocked the attack with his blade, but the impact sent him staggering backward, barely managing to hold his ground.

"Ryū!" Sāra cried out, reaching for him as he struggled to regain his footing. Mukade was more powerful than they had imagined—far stronger than he had been when they last faced him. If they stayed here, they wouldn’t survive another attack.

Ryū shook his head, his face grim. "We have to fall back. Now!"

Sāra’s gaze flickered between Ryū and Mukade. The Ryuumyaku’s energy pulsed beneath her feet, beckoning her, urging her to act. She knew what she had to do, but it was a risk—a dangerous one. If she tapped into the Ryuumyaku again, she might not be able to control it. But if she didn’t, they were all as good as dead.

Before she could make a decision, Mukade struck again, sending another wave of energy crashing toward them. This time, it was Hana who stepped forward, her hands weaving seals as she summoned a wall of earth to block the attack. The barrier held for a moment before cracking under the strain, the force of Mukade’s power overwhelming even the most seasoned shinobi.

"We need to move!" Hana shouted, her voice strained from the effort of holding the barrier.

Sāra gritted her teeth, her heart pounding in her chest. They couldn’t stay here and fight, not like this. "Fall back!" she ordered, her voice steady despite the fear gnawing at her insides. "We’ll regroup and find a way to stop him."

Reluctantly, Ryū and the others began to retreat, their movements quick and calculated as they fell back through the ruins. Sāra followed close behind, her mind racing as she tried to formulate a plan. Mukade wasn’t just after the Ryuumyaku’s power—he wanted control. And if he succeeded, he would unleash a catastrophe far worse than what had befallen Rōran the first time.

As they fled, the air around them crackled with Mukade’s energy, the ground shaking with each pulse of power. The ruins of Rōran, already fragile and broken, seemed to groan under the strain, as if the city itself was on the verge of collapsing entirely.

After several tense minutes, they reached the outskirts of the ruins, where the land opened up into the barren desert. The group stopped to catch their breath, their faces pale and drenched in sweat. Ryū wiped a hand across his brow, his expression grim.

"He’s stronger than before," he said, his voice low. "Much stronger."

Sāra nodded, her mind still spinning with the implications of Mukade’s return. "He’s drawing power from the Ryuumyaku," she said. "The seal we placed on it must have weakened over time, and now he’s found a way to tap into it again."

Ryū looked at her, his eyes filled with concern. "What do we do now? We can’t fight him like this."

Sāra took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. She knew what needed to be done, but the thought of it terrified her. She had sworn never to use the Ryuumyaku’s power again, not after what had happened the last time. But now, it seemed she had no choice.

"We need to reseal the Ryuumyaku," she said, her voice quiet but firm. "Before Mukade can fully unbind it."

Ryū frowned. "But how? The seal we used last time was only possible because of Naruto. We don’t have that kind of power anymore."

Sāra clenched her fists, her thoughts turning to the pendant around her neck. It had been years since she had used it to control the Ryuumyaku’s power, but the connection was still there. She could feel the energy coursing through the land, waiting, calling to her. It wanted to be unleashed.

"I can do it," she said, her voice steady despite the fear in her heart. "I still have the pendant. If I can get close enough to the Ryuumyaku, I can use it to seal the energy again."

Ryū’s eyes widened. "Sāra, that’s too dangerous. The last time you used the Ryuumyaku’s power, it nearly consumed you. We can’t ask you to take that risk again."

Sāra shook her head. "We don’t have a choice, Ryū. If Mukade fully unleashes the Ryuumyaku, there won’t be anything left to protect. I have to try."

The group fell silent, the weight of Sāra’s words sinking in. Hana, who had been quiet until now, stepped forward, her expression resolute. "If you’re going to do this, we’ll make sure Mukade doesn’t stop you. But we need a plan. We can’t just rush in."

Sāra nodded, grateful for Hana’s support. "We’ll draw Mukade away from the tower, distract him long enough for me to get to the Ryuumyaku. Once I’m there, I’ll use the pendant to reseal the energy."

Ryū looked uncertain, but he nodded. "It’s risky, but it’s the best chance we have."

Sāra took a deep breath, her heart heavy with the weight of what was to come. She had faced darkness before, but this time it felt different. The stakes were higher, the danger more palpable. But she couldn’t let fear stop her. Her people were counting on her.

As they prepared to head back into the ruins, Sāra glanced at the pendant around her neck, feeling the familiar pull of the Ryuumyaku’s power. It was a dangerous force, one that had brought ruin to her kingdom once before. But if she could control it—if she could seal it once and for all—perhaps she could finally lay the ghosts of Rōran to rest.

With a final glance at her companions, Sāra steeled herself for the battle ahead. Mukade had returned, and this time, the fight would be to the end.

Share