Return Through Magic

CHAPTER 14 - BLACK MAGIC

“You?!” The village elder and innkeeper were shocked when Yuki and Aira burst into her hideout. “How did you get here?” she asked again, her voice filled with disbelief.

No wonder the old woman was surprised by their presence. She had expected Aira and Yuki to be unconscious from the drugged tea they were given.

“Let them go!” Yuki demanded, trying to remain respectful despite facing someone older. However, his polite demeanor only seemed to enrage him further.

“Pah! A mere child dares to command me?! You should have stayed quietly in your room, waiting for your turn to be sold. Your lives hold no value other than as commodities for the slave market.” The innkeeper spat on the floor, glaring at Yuki with contempt.

“Why you…!” Yuki's expression twisted with anger. His grip tightened on the Seiryū no Inazuma in his hand.

Aira, standing beside Yuki, was taken aback. She had never seen him so furious before.

“Yuki….” Aira called out softly, sensing the intense emotion radiating from her partner.

“Aira, free them. Leave the rest to me.” Yuki spoke calmly, struggling to contain his rage.

“But…you…” Aira started to protest, but she hesitated when she saw Yuki's eyes had turned a deep blue, matching the gem in the hilt of his sword. She could feel an immense power beginning to flow through him.

“Move now or you’ll be caught in the crossfire.” Yuki’s tone was cold and unyielding.

Swallowing hard, Aira nodded and quickly moved away from Yuki, finding a way to free the captives.

Meanwhile, the smug innkeeper ordered her largest henchman to attack Yuki and Aira.

“Bon! Capture that boy! You can rough him up, but don’t kill him. He’s valuable merchandise for the black market,” she commanded her whip-wielding henchman.

“Yes, Boss.” Bon charged at Yuki without hesitation.

Without wasting time, Yuki slashed at Bon’s whip with his sword, cutting it in half. Bon staggered back, shocked at Yuki’s speed and strength.

“Fool! Why are you retreating?! Everyone, attack that wretch at once!” the innkeeper barked, ordering her ten burly henchmen to swarm Yuki.

They rushed Yuki simultaneously, but he was too quick and powerful, defeating them swiftly. However, not all the guards were easily overcome. Some were more skilled and began attacking Yuki more aggressively. One managed to wound Yuki’s arm with his sword, forcing him to retreat momentarily.

The battle intensified. A particularly large guard wielding a greatsword attacked Yuki with full force, sending him staggering back and nearly off balance. The greatsword tore through Yuki’s clothes, leaving a deep gash across his chest.

“Ugh….” Yuki winced in pain, struggling to stay upright.

“Ha-ha-ha, die already!” The innkeeper laughed maniacally.

“Kill him! Kill that scum!” she ordered her henchmen to finish off the injured Yuki.

Aira, torn between helping Yuki and maintaining her cover as a mere herbalist, hesitated. She knew using her magic would reveal her true identity as a mage, complicating their situation.

While Aira was grappling with her decision, another henchman leaped towards Yuki, ready to deliver a fatal blow. At that critical moment, Yuki channeled his inner strength, gripping his sword tightly.

“Thunderbolt!” Yuki shouted, swinging his sword. A powerful blue lightning bolt erupted from the blade, striking the attacking henchman and sending him crashing into the wall with such force that it cracked, causing him to cough up blood.

Despite his victory, Yuki was not unscathed. Blood dripped from his wounds, and his breathing was labored.

“Damn you! How could you possibly win?! You’re just a mere child!” The innkeeper was furious.

“Surrender. I will spare your life,” Yuki pointed his sword at the innkeeper.

“Ha? Ha-ha-ha!” The innkeeper laughed hysterically. “You! A mere child, dare to teach me?! I’ll show you who I am!” She sneered, uttering incantations under her breath.

Suddenly, a dark, swirling wind enveloped the old woman.

Aira, busy freeing the captives, felt a sense of dread and shouted a warning to Yuki. “Yuki! That’s black magic!”

But it was too late. The dark whirlwind had already consumed the innkeeper. Moments later, she emerged, her frail form replaced by a towering, muscular figure over two meters tall, bristling with menacing energy.

"Your life will be my feast!" Even her voice had transformed, now deep and monstrous.

“Aira, what is that?” Yuki asked, his eyes wide with shock.

“The innkeeper has made a pact with a demon. That’s black magic, the most vicious form of sorcery born from demonic power!” Aira replied urgently.

Yuki gritted his teeth, feeling the sinister magic permeating the air around him. He raised his sword, preparing for a much tougher fight.

The transformed innkeeper lunged at Yuki with terrifying speed. He barely managed to block the first strike, but the sheer force of it sent him skidding backward. She attacked again, each blow reinforced by dark magic, making them nearly unbearable.

Yuki struggled to hold his ground, his injuries weakening him further. Every strike from the innkeeper felt like a hammer blow. He knew he couldn’t last much longer under such relentless assault.

“Yuki, hold on! I’ll try to assist you from here!” Aira called out, attempting to cast healing spells while still freeing the captives.

But the innkeeper didn’t give her the chance. With a brutal strike, she knocked Yuki to the ground. Pain radiated through his body as blood pooled beneath him.

“Now you die!” The monstrous innkeeper raised her fist, ready to deliver the final blow.

Yuki, his body battered and bloodied, couldn’t move. The innkeeper’s hand wrapped around his throat, lifting him effortlessly into the air. Her grip tightened, cutting off his air supply.

“Ha-ha-ha! Die! Die! Your soul will be offered to the master of the dead!” The innkeeper cackled, her grip tightening around Yuki’s neck.

“Ugh….” Yuki struggled, trying to break free, but her strength was overwhelming. His vision began to blur as he felt himself slipping into unconsciousness.

Just as Yuki’s vision was fading, a fierce determination ignited within him. He couldn’t let it end like this. With the last of his strength, he summoned the power of his lightning magic.

“Seiryū no Inazuma…unleash!” he gasped, channeling all his remaining energy into his sword. The blade glowed brilliantly before discharging a massive surge of blue lightning.