LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 4: white space
The once-infamous Sun Rise Bandits fled from the village, their spirits battered and their numbers dwindled. Led by their leader, One Eye, the remaining members clutched tightly to the stolen food they had managed to gather during their chaotic retreat.
One Eye's face twisted in frustration as he rode, his mind replaying the disastrous encounter with the soldier who had torn through their ranks. "Damn it! We didn't even get the women and girls," he muttered bitterly, gripping the reins of his horse as if it would somehow ease his anger.
The sun had dipped below the horizon, casting the grassy plains in an eerie twilight. The evening air was cool, but tension hung thick among the group. They rode in silence, their eyes darting nervously across the open field.
Suddenly, One Eye noticed something strange. The grassy field around them grew unnaturally dark, the shadows spreading like ink across the ground. It wasn't the nightfall—it was something else entirely. His heart sank as he recognized the ominous phenomenon.
"It's… it's Demon Art," he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper.
His horse neighed in protest, its movements slowing as if struggling against an unseen force. The other bandits, noticing the same, began to murmur anxiously among themselves. Despite their steeds galloping furiously, they weren't making any progress. The horses were moving, but the world around them remained still, like a nightmare where escape was impossible.
One Eye's instincts kicked in. He pulled hard on the reins, bringing his horse to an abrupt halt. "Stop!" he barked, his voice sharp with fear. The remaining bandits obeyed, reining in their horses as they cast worried glances at their leader.
Silence engulfed them. The only sound was the faint rustle of the wind through the grass, now seeming louder in the oppressive quiet. One Eye scanned the horizon, his single good eye darting wildly. The oppressive darkness crept closer, swallowing the light and tightening its grip on the world around them.
"Show yourself!" One Eye shouted into the void, his voice echoing unnaturally. His hand gripped the hilt of his sword, sweat dripping from his brow. "I know you're there! Whoever—or whatever—you are!"
In the distance, a low, rumbling chuckle resonated through the darkness, chilling the bandits to their cores.
"Well, isn't it surprising that a human knows the name of Demon Art?"
The voice sent shivers down their spines, each syllable dripping with an eerie charisma. From the shadows stepped a man, his presence commanding and unnatural. His dark, shining black hair framed his pale, flawless face, and his piercing red eyes seemed to glow faintly in the oppressive darkness. The pupils of his crimson eyes were jet black, making them all the more unsettling. He was dressed simply, in black clothes that blended seamlessly with the surrounding darkness, yet everything about him screamed danger.
The bandits froze. None of them dared to speak, their courage obliterated by the overwhelming aura radiating from this man. Even One Eye, known for his bravado, felt his heart pound in terror.
"Wh...who...who are you?" One Eye managed to stammer, his voice trembling.
The man tilted his head slightly, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "Me? I'm Baldwin Katz, ruler of Red Prime… no, that's not right. The Red Moon Empire. As you can see, I'm not like the other late kings." He paused for a moment, his smirk widening. "And to answer your question in simpler terms—I'm the Demon King."
The weight of his words struck like a hammer. The bandits' reactions were immediate and visceral. One of them fainted on the spot, collapsing into the dirt. Another, unable to control himself, soiled his pants. Even One Eye, who had faced countless battles and horrors, dropped his weapon, his face twisted in sheer terror. His hands trembled as he tried to steady himself, but his legs refused to hold his weight.
The Demon King.
Not just any demon, but the Demon King. The figure who was feared even in the darkest tales. They had expected trouble, but this... this was a nightmare made real.
Baldwin chuckled softly, his tone almost playful. "Oh, come now. Don't you want me to prove that I am who I say I am? You're fortunate, really. I've sealed away the majority of my power, so you can even look at me without disintegrating. But even then, I'm sure you can feel it, can't you? The truth of who I am?"
The air seemed to thicken as Baldwin's words lingered. The oppressive darkness pressed down on the bandits like an invisible weight. He raised his hand casually, as if addressing an old friend. "Well, thank you for helping me out. Now, it's time for your favorite part… divine judgment."
One Eye's voice caught in his throat as he tried to speak. Failing that, he began crawling backward, his trembling hands clawing at the ground in a desperate attempt to escape.
Baldwin watched him with mild amusement, shaking his head. "Oh, no. I expected a response, but I suppose my shadow power is making that difficult for you. It's quite the problem, isn't it?"
Before One Eye could comprehend his fate, the shadows surrounding Baldwin surged forward. The inky blackness swallowed him and his remaining companions whole, their screams muffled as they were dragged into the abyss. The grassy field returned to its normal state, the oppressive darkness vanishing as quickly as it had appeared.
Baldwin stood alone, surveying the now-empty field. His expression shifted, the playfulness fading into cold calculation.
"Time for some answers," he muttered, stepping into the same shadows that had claimed the bandits. His form disappeared into the void, leaving nothing but the rustling grass behind.
In the dimly lit hut, Olivia paced back and forth, her face drawn with worry. For some inexplicable reason, her thoughts kept returning to Baldwin. Guilt gnawed at her as she replayed their conversation before he left.
"Why am I so stupid? Baldwin was right—the villagers will never change. And what if… what if something happened to him?" she thought, biting her lip anxiously.
Her musings were interrupted by the sudden creak of the door. She spun around to see Baldwin stepping inside, his arms laden with supplies and food.
"Baldwin! You're back!" Olivia exclaimed, relief washing over her. She hurried to his side. "So, what happened? Are you alright?"
Baldwin nodded, putting on an air of exhaustion as he began his performance. "It was tough, Olivia. The bandits were relentless. But then—" he paused for effect, "a soldier from the Rance Republic showed up. You wouldn't believe how strong he was! He fought them off single-handedly, and the bandits fled like cowards. Thanks to him, I managed to grab some food supplies for us."
Olivia let out a soft sigh, her lips curving into a weary smile. "I see... Thank goodness," she said, her voice tinged with relief and disbelief.
She reached for the supplies, eager to help him. "Let me take this to the kitchen and prepare dinner," she said, moving outside to start cooking.
Once Olivia left, Baldwin turned his attention to Olivia's mother, who lay resting in the corner of the hut. Her frail form looked even more delicate under the faint light. Baldwin approached her quietly, his crimson eyes narrowing with recognition.
Placing a hand gently on her forehead, he muttered under his breath, "I remember you… the ex-queen of the Fallen Hero Kingdom."
He closed his eyes and focused, pouring his energy into her. Unlike the last time, he was precise, his power honed and controlled. In an instant, the world around him shifted.
Suddenly, Baldwin found himself in an unfamiliar place—a vast white expanse that stretched endlessly in every direction. The architecture was reminiscent of a human church, but it was eerie and surreal. There were no windows or doors, only towering white walls that seemed to pulse faintly.
Before Baldwin could fully comprehend his surroundings, a deep, resonant voice echoed throughout the space, vibrating through his very core.
"Oh, welcome, little creature. But you are not welcome here," the voice boomed, its tone both mocking and ominous.
Baldwin's crimson eyes narrowed. He straightened his posture, his aura flaring