Episode 11 – “Paths of Fate: Naomi’s Truth and Midori’s Fall”
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[Opening Scene – Deep Jungle]
The forest is dim, filled with the sounds of chirping insects and rustling leaves. Tenzai is walking alone, his face cut and bruised, his breathing heavy.
Tenzai (thinking):
"The air is getting heavier... Did that monster poison the wind? I need to get back before it’s too late."
Suddenly, a shadow jumps down from the trees. Tenzai quickly spins and activates a small jolt of electricity in his palm.
Tenzai:
"Show yourself!"
A girl with short black hair, a crimson scarf, and intense eyes steps out. It’s Naomi, holding a curved dagger.
Naomi:
"Relax. If I wanted you dead, you’d already be ash."
Tenzai (keeping his guard up):
"Who are you?"
Naomi:
"The one who’s been tracking evil longer than you’ve been walking. Name’s Naomi."
Tenzai (sighs, lowering his hand):
"I don’t have time for this. My village was attacked—"
Naomi (interrupting):
"Let me guess. Demons? Black energy?"
Tenzai stops in his tracks.
Naomi (coldly):
"They're spreading. And at the center of it all… is the one I’m hunting."
Tenzai:
"...Who?"
Naomi (voice darkens):
"An upper-class monster who calls himself Mastermind. He doesn't fight himself. He sends monsters, demons... and humans he’s corrupted."
Tenzai’s eyes widen.
Tenzai:
"Rantaro...?"
Naomi:
"Exactly. That boy is his sword. Mastermind forged him with hatred. Trained him, fed him dark energy, and unleashed him on the world. Killing Rantaro won’t fix anything. We need to cut off the head of the snake."
Tenzai (fists clenched):
"...Then let's hunt him together."
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[Scene 2 – Forest Battlefield: Midori vs. Rantaro]
The jungle trembles as a massive shockwave rips through it. Trees collapse. Animals flee. The sky is grey with smoke.
Midori stands tall, her body scratched and bloodied, her aura glowing a deep green, mixing with brown earth energy. Before her, Rantaro floats above the ground, surrounded by swirling dark mist and hellfire.
Midori:
"You’ll pay for what you’ve done, monster!"
Rantaro (grinning):
"You really think your power of leaves and roots can touch me? You’re a bug in a wildfire."
Midori (gritting her teeth):
"We’ll see about that."
She raises both arms. The ground splits as massive thorny vines burst upward, swinging toward Rantaro with crushing speed.*
Midori:
"FURIOUS FORESTRY WRATH!!"
The vines slam into Rantaro, wrapping him, crushing, burning. For a second, there's silence.
Midori (panting):
"...Is it over?"
Suddenly, black energy pulses from the vines. Rantaro bursts out, eyes glowing blood red.
Rantaro:
"BLACK NOVA BLAZE!!"
He sends a wave of demonic fire exploding across the battlefield, consuming everything. Midori raises a wall of bark and earth.
Midori (screaming):
"NATURE FORTRESS!"
The fire crashes into her barrier. It holds—then cracks—then explodes.
Midori flies backward, slamming into a tree. She coughs blood, struggling to rise.
Midori (weakly):
"I… won’t give up…"
Rantaro (descending toward her):
"I’ll give you a mercy death."
He raises his hand, forming a dark blade.
Midori (muttering):
"...Father… Mother… Forgive me."
Just as Rantaro strikes, the earth shakes. Midori triggers a massive pulse from beneath her—her last defense.
Midori:
"EARTH PULSE: OVERGROWTH BURST!!"
Vines explode from the ground one last time, sending both her and Rantaro flying. But Midori crashes over the cliff edge.
Midori (falling):
"...Tenzai… Zetsuya… live…"
She vanishes into the roaring waterfall below.
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[Scene 3 – Near the Mountains: Zetsuya]
Zetsuya sits calmly under a tree, meditating with dark energy shadows dancing around him. A boy rushes to him, eyes wide with terror.
Messenger Boy:
"Zetsuya! It’s the village! It’s been attacked—Midori fought but—she fell—"
Zetsuya (eyes flash):
"What…?"
Messenger Boy:
"Rantaro is there… It’s chaos—"
Zetsuya stands slowly. The shadows around him start to ripple.
Zetsuya (voice deep, filled with fury):
"Rantaro…"
He summons his shadow beast and leaps onto its back.
Zetsuya:
"Don’t die, Midori. I’m on my way."
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[Ending Scene – Split Paths]
—Tenzai and Naomi are sprinting through the jungle, following black smoke on the horizon.
—Midori’s unconscious body floats down the river, bruised and barely breathing.
—Zetsuya rides the shadows, racing faster than the wind.
—Rantaro stands alone on a cliff, looking down at the village, eyes cold, power surging.
Rantaro (monologue):
"Let them come. Let them all come. One by one… I’ll watch their hope burn."
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[TO BE CONTINUED…]
