Black Sun: Nightfall

Part 1
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Somewhere in the nightmarish ditch which constituted that peculiar dimension drowned in eternal darkness, there was a being who should not be there.

Sitting cross-legged with his Karadawaru rested on his thighs, Hikari Maebure was holding his arms lifted and outstretched to the sides; he was holding three glowing chains of energy attached to the walls of the ditch in each palm. He had taken off the top of his attire, exposing his sleek but extremely well toned physique. Apart for several rather insignificant scars interspersed in various places, there was a large, slightly diagonal burn scar running through most of his torso and ending at his sternum.

In addition, there was a number of more or less fresh wounds, some reduced to barely visible marks, and others opened not long ago. Several smudges stained him, and streaks of blood and sweat were flowing on Maebure's exposed body. His hands were trembling almost imperceptibly, the muscles flexed and veins pulsating.

He was sitting there, his eyes closed and face stiff in an expression of absolute concentration, for many months. At least, that would be accurate according to his local perception of the flow of time, because for anyone outside the Precipice World it had been merely several hours.

Then, his face twitched momentarily. A new wound abruptly opened on his chest, a few drops of blood fell to the ground. Afterward, he swiftly returned to his motionless state, and for a long period of time stayed in it undisturbed.

All of a sudden, his grey lips outstretched in a cold smile. His eyes opened slowly, gleaming scarlet in the darkness of the Dangai. The energy chains he had been holding detached themselves from the slime-like walls and dispersed into spiritual particles. Hikari took several heavy breaths and stood up without hurry.

He lifted his Karadawaru and looked upon its ornate guard. In the ultimate downfall I reach out toward the Sky, spelled out the engraving he had carved on its surface. Then, he sheathed the sabre and wore the top of his kimono and the black, hooded cape. Subsequently, he glanced backward.

Not that far away from him there was a single, strong light shining in the distance. He walked toward it unhurriedly, surrounded by the sludge flowing on the walls of the endless trench. At last, he approached the source of the light: the Kōtotsu he had trapped when he came here.

"Pardon my intrusion", he said calmly.

Without a warning blue flames burst into existence behind the Tsumikami. Then they opened like a maw, revealing a red portal with several chains visible inside.

"You may return to your duties", added Maebure as he waved his hand.

Consequently, the glittering mist that had been enveloping the Kōtotsu vanished in an instant, freeing the entity from its constraints. Hikari took a step backward and sunk into the portal he had summoned, disappearing right before the massive being could crush him as it sped forward.

***