Chronicle 56

Ninja’s target, Vengeance Nightblade, held his signature twelve-edged tri-blade in a hollow, winding cave underground. From the information N4H received, though not particularly interested to hear it, this swordsman was cast out from a legion of mercenaries when he grew more proficient with a blade than their leader. His weapon was custom built by a mysterious villain said to have been born not as flesh and blood, but of shimmering metal.

Vengeance Nightblade entered the center of the cavern, stood for a moment, and began to flourish his impressive blade.

“Come forth. You’ll see as my old master did. There is no defeating Vengeance Nightblade. Before I kill you, however, tell me… did the Hoza hire you? If they did, I shall cut all of their throats. The blood of my enemies will consume the world!” Vengeance Nightblade continued spinning and flipping with his blade, slamming it into the rock at his feet as well as a show of force.

Ninja watched the display for a little while, until Vengeance Nightblade started to speak again. Too edgy for his taste.

“You’ll face me in my element… DARKNESS! Now, let’s meet in glorious-”

Ninja For Hire’s soulblade hovered right behind Vengeance Nightblade, pointed just behind his head. Ninja tapped him on the shoulder twice in quick succession and ducked, zipping away to watch as Vengeance Nightblade confidently moved to swipe precisely where Ninja would have been standing. Instead, him turning in such a way did allow him to perform the strike, but what also happened was his face impaling on the floating odachi. 

All the bravado of his taunting slashes faded away as the blade glowed with the pleasure of a completed contract. A smell filled the air as Ninja realized Vengeance Nightblade soiled himself in his final moment, which was accompanied by a high pitched squeal that would have made even the odachi laugh if it could.

Ninja returned to the Hoza clan to collect his payment.

“Oh man, thank you.” said the Hoza leader, letting out a relieved breath. “We were going to leave him alone but he wouldn’t stop emailing me.”

“I brought his blade, if you want it.”

The Hoza leader grabbed the blade and looked it up and down. “This thing is ridiculous.” He then handed it off to a member, who carried it a short distance to be chucked into an incinerator.

Ninja smiled and vanished into the floor, returning to the realm below to await a new contract. His odachi flew to the fire before joining the body and bid farewell to Vengeance Nightblade’s blade. As a weapon, it admired the elaborate nature of the sword. It wasn’t ridiculous.