Executioner's League-Chapter 60: The Dragon Descendent

The battle began the

moment the assassin dropped from the speeding Urban Runner, landing

gracefully on the rooftop beside the neon-lit highway. His eyes glowed with a

sinister energy, and a twisted smirk formed on his lips.

"Oi, punk! Get ready

to die!" he sneered, gripping

the dark blade infused with Abyssal Craven Flux. The weapon pulsed

with raw, unstable energy, crackling in the dim light of Neo-Shinkoku's

skyline.

Kairen, standing a few

meters away, remained calm and composed. His golden aura flickered

around him like a raging storm, the remnants of his Stormborn Instinct still

surging through his body.

With an air of absolute

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confidence, Kairen tilted his head slightly. "The King never backs

down. And besides..." He cracked his knuckles. "Fools

like you aren't even worthy of fighting me. But I don't have a choice."

The assassin laughed

mockingly. "Oh well! Let's see if your arrogance can save

you."

Without another word, the

assassin lunged forward, his dark blade slicing through the

air as he aimed straight for Kairen's chest.

But Kairen barely moved.

Just as the blade was

about to pierce him, he whispered under his breath—

"Primal Instinct

Combat."

In an instant, the

battlefield shifted.

The assassin's perception

warped, and for a fleeting moment, it felt as if time had stopped.

He blinked, convinced that his blade had already stabbed through Kairen's

heart—

Only to realize that it

was his own chest that had been pierced.

Kairen stood motionless,

his right hand thrust deep into the assassin's torso, golden energy

surging through his fingertips. The assassin gasped in shock, his

body trembling as the realization dawned on him.

"H-How is this

possible...?" he choked, his voice

weak.

Kairen's golden eyes

burned fiercely as he pulled his hand back, leaving a gaping hole where the

assassin's core had once been.

"The King's Instinct

has never been defeated," Kairen said coldly.

The assassin's body

convulsed as cracks of dark energy spread across his form, his

Abyssal Craven Flux rapidly destabilizing. Within seconds, his entire body disintegrated

into black mist, leaving behind nothing but the fading echoes of his

defeat.

Kairen exhaled, shaking

off the remaining traces of dark energy. "Pathetic."

With the assassin gone, he

turned his focus back to Sylvia, who was still inside the Urban

Runner. Kicking the door open, he found her tied up in the backseat,

her violet eyes filled with defiance despite the situation.

"You took your

time," she muttered,

glancing up at him.

Kairen smirked. "Didn't

want to make it too easy for myself."

With a flick of his wrist,

he sliced through her restraints, and she immediately sat up,

rubbing her wrists. "Let's get out of here before more of those

freaks show up."

Kairen nodded. "Hold

on tight."

Scooping her up

effortlessly, he leapt off the car, landing with perfect balance

before dashing toward the waiting black vehicle where Senjuro

and Syvian were anxiously waiting.

The moment they reached

the car; Kairen threw open the door and helped Sylvia in.

Senjuro, gripping the

steering wheel, looked at them through the rearview mirror. "You

two alright?"

Sylvia rolled her

shoulders. "I could use a shower and a sword to stab someone, but

yeah, I'm fine."

Syvian, still recovering

from his earlier injury, groaned. "You always bring trouble, don't

you, Sylvia?"

She smirked. "And

you never stop whining, do you, Syvian?"

Kairen, meanwhile, slid

into the passenger seat beside Senjuro and turned to him. "Drive.

Let's get out of here before we attract more attention."

Senjuro didn't need to be

told twice. He slammed his foot on the accelerator, and the car

sped off, disappearing into the labyrinth of Neo-Shinkoku's high-speed

lanes.

The ride back to the Kurogiri

Mansion was tense but quiet. The team remained on high alert, checking

their surroundings for any signs of pursuers. But it seemed the enemy had

backed off—for now.

As the city lights blurred

past, Syvian finally broke the silence. "Who were those guys? And

why did they go after Sylvia?"

Kairen's eyes remained

focused ahead. "They weren't just random assassins. That man I

fought—he had training. He wasn't a low-tier mercenary."

Senjuro frowned. "You

think they were sent by Lord Z?"

Sylvia, her usual playful

demeanor momentarily replaced by seriousness, crossed her arms. "If

they were, that means he knows more about our movements than we thought."

Kairen nodded. "That's

what worries me. This wasn't just a kidnapping attempt—it was a test. Someone

out there wanted to see how strong we are."

The weight of his words

settled over the group. If this was only a test, then the real

threat had yet to reveal itself.

The car soon pulled into

the Kurogiri estate, its towering traditional-meets-modern

architecture standing tall under the moonlit sky. Guards stationed at

the gate immediately recognized them, bowing as they entered.

The moment they parked,

Raizen Kurogiri—was already waiting for them at the entrance, arms crossed.

His sharp silver

eyes studied each of them, lingering slightly on Sylvia before he

finally spoke.

"You all did

well."

Syvian raised an eyebrow. "You

knew this was going to happen, didn't you?"

Raizen sighed. "Let's

discuss inside. This is bigger than just a simple attack."

With that, the team

followed him inside the mansion, the weight of new uncertainties hanging

over them.

The battle had ended.

But the real war was

just beginning.

The room was dimly lit by the flickering glow of

lanterns as Syvian, Senjuro, Kairen, Sylvia, and the rest of

the team assembled. They had just returned from a brutal

confrontation, yet the weight of something far greater hung in the air.

At the center of the

room stood Raizen Kurogiri, the patriarch of the

Kurogiri Clan, his presence commanding silence. His piercing silver

eyes scanned the group

before he finally spoke.

"The reason I asked all of you to stay here... is

because of Sylvia's return."

Syvian, still

nursing the pain from his earlier battle, furrowed his brows. "Why

did she even come back now?"

Raizen sighed,

rubbing his temples. "Have you forgotten what's coming in nine

days?"

Syvian's eyes

widened slightly as realization dawned on him. "Wait...

you mean the Dragon Descendant Festival?"

Senjuro, unfamiliar

with the tradition, crossed his arms. "Sir Raizen, what exactly is this Dragon

Descendant Festival?"

Raizen

straightened his stance. His voice was calm, yet firm, as he began to explain.

"Our clan's spiritual protector is the Divine Gold Dragon.

Every generation, the dragon chooses a descendant from our clan to inherit its

blessings. That chosen one is responsible for carrying out a sacred ritual to

ensure our well-being. If the ritual is not completed, the Divine Gold Dragon

will turn its wrath upon us."

The weight of his

words filled the room.

"This generation's Dragon Descendant is Sylvia."

All eyes turned to

Sylvia, who leaned casually against the wall with her arms crossed, though

there was a flicker of unease in her gaze.

"Tch. Guess there's no keeping secrets in this

house," she muttered.

Raizen ignored her

remark and continued. "In nine days, Sylvia must ascend to the Dragon Shrine at

the peak of the Celestial Mountain. There, she will need to light

the Four Lantern Posts—sacred beacons that unlock the

shrine's inner sanctum. Inside lies the Dragon Lantern, an artifact containing the purest form of the

Divine Gold Dragon's energy. She must hang the Dragon Lantern at the shrine's peak, completing the ritual and reaffirming our clan's

bond with the dragon."

Senjuro, deep in

thought, spoke up. "And if she fails?"

Raizen's

expression darkened. "Then the Divine Gold Dragon will see it as

a betrayal... and its fury will be upon us."

A heavy silence

followed.

Finally, Kairen

broke the quiet. "That explains the reason for the

attack."

Raizen nodded. "The

Dragon Lantern is unlike any other artifact in existence. It produces an infinite source

of Divine Gold Dragon Energy—the purest energy known

to man. But it can only be lit by Sylvia. That is why someone wants to take

her... because controlling the Dragon Lantern means controlling an unstoppable power."

Senjuro exhaled

sharply. "That explains everything."

The realization

hit them all at once. The attack wasn't random. The enemy

knew about Sylvia's role

and wanted the Dragon Lantern for themselves.

And they wouldn't

stop until they had it.

Raizen looked at

each of them with solemn resolve. "This will not be an easy journey. Sylvia

will be targeted at every step. I need all of you to protect her."

Syvian clenched

his fists. "Of course, we will."

Senjuro nodded. "We

won't let them take her."

Kairen smirked. "They'll

have to get through the 'Stormborn King' first."

Sylvia rolled her

eyes. "I swear, you guys are acting like I'm some fragile

porcelain doll."

Syvian smirked. "You

might be strong, but this is bigger than a simple fight. Someone wants that

Lantern, and they're not going to stop. You can't do this alone."

Sylvia clicked her

tongue but said nothing. She knew they were right.

With the Dragon

Descendant Festival only days away, their mission was clear—

Protect Sylvia. Protect the Dragon Lantern. Prevent a

catastrophe.

And deep down,

they all knew one thing—

This

battle was just beginning.