Blaze: The Hero

Chapter 2

*THIRD PERSON’s POV*

In the middle of the night, at the center of the green forest, a man is lying down on the cold ground, covered with grass. The man was unconscious, and not breathing anymore. Then, out of nowhere, a sudden light shone upon the man’s face, it‘s just a small light, like a firefly. After a few seconds, the light faded and the unconscious man gasped, opened his eyes, and started breathing heavily, as he chase his breath. The man laid down on the ground until he has finally stabilized his breathing.

The man pushed himself by using his right hand so that he could sit up properly, even though his body is still unstable and shaky. The man looked around him, squinting his eyes as he tries to see in the darkness.

Where the hell am I? And am I still alive or is this the place they call hell? The man asked himself as he looked at where he is sitting right now. Good thing some moon light can still pass through the forest and the place where he is sitting right now is lighted by some moon light.

“What’s this?” the man uttered as he saw a long black sheathed katana. The man picked up the katana and was shocked when he saw a red spark as he touches the handle of the katana. He tried to grab the katana’s handle again and was surprised that it doesn't feel hot nor painful at all. He then pulled the blade out of its sheath and watch in amazement as the full blade burns with fire. He put the blade back to its sheath and the fire was gone. Even though the man wanted to check the katana’s details more, he still could not afford to waste more time sitting on the cold ground.

Cool. The man thought to himself as he smirked at the katana in his left hand. He used the katana to help him stand up and walk his way out of the forest.

If only I have some flashlight with me. The man thought then an idea came to him. He looked at the katana in his hand and pulled out the sword, which instantly covered its blade with fire, and gave light to his surroundings.

“I’m in a forest? I thought hell was just pure fires and sufferings and sh*t?” the man uttered as he takes a good look at his surroundings then he realized his body has stopped shaking already and that he could walk properly now. By using the katana’s fire, he decided to checked his body for his injuries but he was surprised to see nothing at all, as if his whole body was completely healed and renewed.

The man used the light from the sword to observe the katana’s sheath, it's a black sheath. Then the man looked over at his right hand who’s holding the sword. He saw a black fabric that wraps the handle of the sword. The scabbard and sheath are made with such preciseness that the trained eye may find it hard to sense any flaws in them. The blade is estimated at 26 inches made of steel.

This katana looks good but how about its sharpness and quality? The man thought and drop the sheath on the ground before facing a big tree then he holds the katana with two hands and raises the sword upwards.

Let’s see how sharp you are. The man thought as a grin crept on his lips before swinging the sword towards the tree which instantly cut it down, then fires sprouted on the fallen tree.

I can use this. The man said and picked up the sheath on the ground then walked past the burning tree.

I’ll make you pay for what you did to me, Kitty. You and Marco will pay for it with your life. I’ll make you witness how I, Blaze, the famous assassin, finish my preys. The man thought to himself as he tightened his grip on the sheath of the katana at his left hand and the sword itself at his right hand, serving as his light in the dark forest.

Blaze continued walking until he heard thunderstorms, followed by raindrops so he stopped on his walk and decided to take shelter in one of the trees with huge leaves. He tried to avoid the sword from the raindrops but it won’t do anything at all, however, the fire from the blade is did fade or falter.

What the hell? Blaze thought to himself so he tried to drench the blade out in the rain and the fire did not dissipate at all.

“Good, ” Blaze uttered as he continued walking out of the dark forest, his body now drenched, while the sword’s blade is still burning in his right hand. After almost half an hour, Blaze reached the end of the forest where he found a hut. Blaze slowly walked towards the hut then observed his surroundings before going inside. Blaze checked every corner of the place for anyone who might be living inside however the place was covered in dust and might have been inhabited for years already.

I’ll stay here for a while, until I can go back to where those traitors are. Blaze thought to himself as he closed the wooden door and looked for a gas lamp.

*BLAZE’s POV*

This place is a mess but it’s better than nothing. I have to secure my plans first before I strike those two.

I saw a gas lamp on top of a wooden drawer so I walked towards it and used the fire from the sword to light it up, good thing there is still some gas left inside. I put the sword back to the sheath and use the lamp instead to light up the whole place then I put the katana on top of the wooden table before walking around the place.

“What the hell is this?” I asked myself as I noticed a black beating balloon-like object inside a transparent jar. I grab the jar and observe the black object inside it.

Is this...a heart? For f*cks sake who would have a black heart? And the size of this is enormous. Ah, never mind, it’s probably from some random animal around the forest.

I put the jar back on the shelf and went inside the only room available in this small hut. I noticed the room is even messier than what’s outside. There’s an old single bed made of bamboo, one broken window, papers and clothes are scattered on the floor, spider webs and dust all over the place, and a part of the wall made of bamboo is painted with a dark red color.

What happened here?

I took a step closer towards the wall where I saw the dark red color and as soon as I am face to face with it, I have confirmed that it is blood, not paint. I looked around the room to find the corpse but I found nothing, then I noticed the papers have something written on it so I placed the gas lamp on the bed and started picking up the scattered papers.

“The hell is this? I can’t even understand it,” I said as I tried to read what’s written on the papers but I noticed the numbers written on the top-left side of the paper.

02•24•143

What does it mean? Is this the date? But that’s impossible, today is February 24, 2021.

I grab another paper and read the numbers outloud.

“01•15•143...what the f*ck?” I uttered and read all the numbers in every paper my hands landed on. Then I noticed that all of these numbers end with 143.

“Are you f*cking kidding me?” I whispered then I noticed a red ink at the paper that I am currently holding on.

“Demons. Demons? What does—“ I read the word written on it but then I heard a rustle outside the hut so I quickly put out the light from the gas lamp and run out of the room then I grab the katana on top of the table and hid myself. I silently observed the surrounding area. The whole place is too dark yet the moonlight helps me to see what’s outside of this hut.

I heard another noise from the forest so I slowly backed away but I did not notice an old wood on the floor, and as soon as I stepped on it, it made a loud breaking noise.

“Tch, ” I uttered as I looked at the broken wood at my right foot then I heard a low but loud growl just outside this place so I squinted my eyes and saw a shadow walking outside of this hut made of bamboo. It’s a huge man with muscles, a big round stomach, a belt or something long is dangling behind the man, and a hat with two pointy ends.

“What sh*tty outfit, you have mister, ” I couldn't help myself to whisper in a very quiet sound. Even though I did not speak that loud, this man might have a very good hearing since it instantly stopped by in front of the door. I grab the handle of the katana as I prepared myself to launch at this man and kill it once it steps inside this place.

I’ll kill you once you step inside this hut.

The wooden door slowly creaks as the man outside pushed it open while I patiently wait for the chance to kill this man. As soon as the door opens, I completely saw how stupid and terrifying this man is. The arms I thought to be muscles are actually folded wings. The thing that is dangling behind him which I thought to be a belt or rope turns out to be a red tail and the pointy hat is actually black horns.

“What...the..hell, ” I silently mumbled as I stare at the monster in looking down at me, its pointy teeth giving me shivers while its mouth hangs open as the monster drools itself.

For a moment, I literally have no idea how to kill this thing, I do not even know what it is until I remembered the words I read on the paper inside the room.

Demons...So this monster is a demon? Base on its physical appearance, it does look like a demon.

I slowly grab the handle of the katana while keeping my eyes on the demon in front of me but the monster noticed my movements so it quickly roared a loud and deep voice as it swung its right hand to attack me. I quickly grab the katana and pulled out the blade the used it to slice off the hand of the demon.

As soon as I have cut off its arms, the demon roared even more because of pain, and it became more violent and attacked me again so I used the katana to finish the demon’s life completely. As the corpse of the demon dropped down on the ground, its body is still burning due to the katana’s fire.

“This is insane, ” I commented as I looked down on the dead demon in front of me.

Where the hell am I and what the f*ck is this demon doing here? Is this truly hell? Then how come I have a weapon to kill these monsters? What is this, a game?

Lots and lots of questions are bombarding inside my head right now and I know I couldn't get any answers just by standing here. I have to ask someone and investigate this place or else, I might get another surprise attack from these demons.

I watched as the demon’s corpse slowly turned to ashes then I saw the tip of the weird that I am currently holding. I moved it closer to me and did a stupid thing. I tried to touch the fire coming from the sword itself, I am prepared for the painful heat but surprisingly, it does not hurt at all.

“Sh*tty life giving me more sh*tty turn of events, ” I uttered as I looked at the katana’s blade before I decided to put it back to its sheath and the darkness once again, covered the whole place.