Isekai world destiny

Despite the fear and uncertainty coursing through her, Sasha mustered the courage to speak. Her voice, though trembling, managed to break the silence in the room. "What... what do you want from me?" she asked, her words filled with a mixture of defiance and trepidation.

Kanji, towering above Sasha, began to speak. His voice was cool and measured, laced with an air of authority. "You're one of those villagers who have been accused of selling your own loots and engaging in thuggish behavior, aren't you?" he inquired, his gaze fixed upon her.

The tension in the room heightened as Kanji continued, a hint of arrogance in his voice. "I couldn't care less about the fact that 100,000 gold coins went missing in my temple," he stated, his words carrying a tone of nonchalance.

Sasha, despite knowing that she had been the one to steal the gold coins, attempted to maintain her courage and defy him. Her voice trembled slightly as she responded, "And what are you going to do about it?"

The room seemed to grow darker as Kanji's words hung in the air, his gaze narrowing as he focused his intense gaze on her. "You want to see what hell looks like?" he asked, his voice a low, dangerous rumble. "Prepare yourself."

Sasha, though terrified, couldn't help but feel a shiver run down her spine as she heard his threat. The weight of his words and the certainty in his voice sent a ripple of fear through her, but she gathered her strength and met his glare with as much defiance as she could muster.

Sasha's world twisted and turned as she found herself enveloped in a surreal nightmare. Although it lasted only a moment in actual time, it felt like an eternity where she relived countless deaths in various gruesome ways. Each passing second in the nightmare was like reliving a lifetime of suffering, leaving her disoriented and shaken to the core.

Kanji, witnessing Sasha's state after the intense encounter, spoke, his voice a mix of authority and detachment. "You're weak," he stated, his words a stark contrast to the torment she had just endured in the dreamlike state.

As the haze of her nightmarish experience began to clear, Sasha's thoughts turned towards her sister, the reason behind her decision to steal the gold coins. She now understood that her actions had put her in a dangerous situation, especially considering the presence of an emperor as formidable as Kanji.

Sasha, with determination and a hint of remorse in her voice, spoke up. "I did it for my sister," she blurted out, her words laced with an odd mixture of guilt and justification.

Kanji, his interest piqued by her mention of her sister, inquired further, "Who is your sister?" He spoke with a cool tone, his gaze fixed on Sasha, awaiting her explanation.

Sasha, still tied up and feeling vulnerable, took a deep breath before responding. "My sister... she's ill," she began, her voice trembling slightly. "She's been sick for a long time, and we couldn't afford the treatment. That's why I stole the gold coins."

Sasha, with a mix of sadness and worry, finally revealed her sister's name. "Her name is Layla," she admitted, her voice tinged with a hint of guilt. "She's been suffering for so long, and the medical expenses were just too much for our family. That's why I did it..."

The tranquility of the temple was suddenly shattered as Kenta forcefully broke through an upper entrance, his arrival announcing itself with a resounding crash. Kenta, his eyes filled with determination, appeared before Kanji and Sasha in the room.

Kenta, upon recognizing the true identity of Kanji, quickly spoke to Sasha, urging her to escape. "Sasha, run!" he commanded, his voice filled with urgency. "Get out of here, now!"

Sasha, still bound and caught off guard by Kenta's sudden entrance, struggled to free herself from the ropes that restrained her. She frantically attempted to loosen the binding while glancing nervously at Kanji, who stood motionless in the room.

Kenta, seeing Sasha's struggle, wasted no time in moving towards her, his eyes darting warily towards Kanji. He quickly began helping to untie the ropes, his movements urgent and focused.

Kanji, his gaze fixated on Kenta, observed the two weapons, "Yami no Hikari" and "Hikari no Ha," clutched tightly in Kenta's hands. A flicker of recognition crossed his face as he regarded them, his expression guarded and wary.

As Sasha made her escape, Kanji's focus shifted to Kenta, who stood defiantly before him, wielding the two weapons with determination. Kanji spoke, his voice measured yet tinged with intrigue, "Are you a relative of Yami or Hikari?"

He posed the question, his eyes flickering with a mixture of curiosity and caution, as he addressed Kenta, awaiting his response.

Kenta, his expression resolute, met Kanji's gaze with defiance. "I am not a relative," he stated firmly, his voice carrying a hint of firmness. "But I am the wielder of these blades. And I won't hesitate to use them if necessary."

Kanji, his eyes narrowing skeptically, posed a question to Kenta. "And do you truly know how to wield those weapons?" he inquired, his skepticism thinly veiled.

Kenta, undeterred by the skepticism in Kanji's tone, replied with unwavering certainty. "I have trained extensively with these blades," he affirmed, his grip on the swords tightening. "I possess the skill and knowledge to utilize them effectively."

Kanji, his voice icy and cold, addressed Kenta with a firm warning. "You may have helped that girl escape," he began, his words laced with a hint of threat, "but you won't be leaving this place so easily yourself."

Kenta, his expression hardening in response to Kanji's demeanor, stood his ground. He held the weapons firmly, ready to defend himself if necessary. "I won't go down easily either," he retorted, his voice steady and resolute.

Kenta, his mind racing with thoughts, recognized the formidable reputation of Kanji. But deep down, he wondered if there was a chance that he, Kenta, could surpass the legacies of his masters, Yami and Hikari, in battle against Kanji. It was an intense inner dialogue, filled with both trepidation and ambition.

~Next chapter "Quick work"