The morning air was too still. The wind that usually teased the dojo curtains dared to move.
Aki's laughter echoed faintly from the training field. But even that sound felt...Distant.
Ten years had passed. Years that taught children how to smile. Those same years gave birth to a bond between them.
Rauchi came to his feet. And then, he proceeded to step toward the dojo's door. His head rose to the sky, observing the sun rays. "Unusual...we're in winter..." He wore a jacket and gloves. He understood the assignment, knowing that danger was nearby.
"They're coming...!" Rauchi spilled those words as he widened his eyes.
-
Running soldiers in the castle of Soul Brigade, forcing their way toward the meeting room.
One of them kept bumping into others, reaching for the meeting room first.
He burst through the closed door, to his surprise, all of the supreme leaders and their vanguard were there. They stood in order by the carpet. The soldier was catching his breath, unable to speak.
He stopped breathing for a second, "The-...THE DEMONS OPENED A MASSIVE GATE TO OUR DIMENSION!" Shouted in a high voice.
The vanguard officers who stood behind the supreme leaders trembled, showing fear of the current situation.
Introduction to the supreme leaders :
1. Head Supreme Commander, Kazuhito Hosinomiya.
"..." Anger shown on his face. Spikes of Reikonryoku were almost destroying the throne.
2. Supreme Commander, Assault Division "Bladefront", Naomasa Fujiwara.
"Ahh...one of those times where all of you bad-smelling leaders gather?"
3. Supreme Commander, Long Reach Division "Skyward Edge", Reika Minamoto.
"I've been taking care of my beauty...you can't assume I'm having a bad smell, can you?"
4. Supreme Commander, Stealth "Shadow Talon", Kiyomi Sazanami.
"...Annoying..."
5. Supreme Commander, Forbidden Techniques "Eclipse Ward", Haruto Fushigami.
"I don't see Kaien here...?"
6. Supreme Commander, Support & Healing "Sanctum Guard", Ayame Shirakawa.
"May god bless everyone gathered."
7. Supreme Commander, Speed & Mobility "Storm Striders", Ryunosuke Hayashi.
"Darn him, causing trouble for us, then leaving casually?"
8. Supreme Commander, Tactical Analysis "Crystal Eye", Masumi Ootori.
"..."
9. Supreme Commander, Special Operations "Iron Fangs", Toru Kurogane.
"Ay! This war should bring me some fun; my students are thirsty for a battle!"
10. Supreme Commander, Last Resort "Darkness group", Kaien Ranzaki.
No traces of the said commander.
They all changed their gazes to the Head Commander, waiting for an order.
Head Commander twisted his head, gazing at every corner, waiting for the arrival of the last captain. "..." With no patience, he started the speech.
"May all divisions see their own paths. Protect the city, no instruction required. Though in order, Assault Division Front. Long Reach above the gates. Stealth assist Assault, never let your enemy see through you. Forbidden Techniques, study their techniques and inform soldiers of the drawbacks. Sanctum Guards support those who are in need. Speed, assist Sanctum Guards, yet assist in the main fight. Tactical Analysis, analyze their plans, and move the soldiers at your order. And finally...Iron fangs, never hold back, show your strength." The supreme commander spoke as everyone kneeled in respect.
"May...the victorious war begin." As he spilled those words, everyone in the meeting vanished.
-
"Info...Info...Info..." A man walks the path of a certain dojo, holding a paper. "News..." He bragged nonsensically till he reached Rauchi, who stood at the front door of the dojo.
"Something is really happening..." Rauchi vanished, reappearing in front of the mailman, taking the paper by force. "A tragedy will face upon all creations in this dimension...Prepare Rauchi"
"God damnit, i knew these demons set a trap for Kaien just not to interfere!" The paper was cut in half as Rauchi's anger increased.
The cold breeze passing over the students in the training ground has conflicted with a warm one. "Aki...do you feel what i feel?" An uneasy feeling cast upon the 3 students. Erak leapt to his feet, "We have to make our move...and discover what's happening." He stepped forward.
-
Red rifts tore open above the wastelands beyond the Soul Brigade's walls. Light died in their wake. From each portal poured a tide of demons, thousands at once, while a hulking figure raised its arms to the sky. "Come out, my creations." the Plague Hierarch intoned. Night fell like a curtain.
The demons hovered out of the portals, and each step made the imbalance of the dimension even greater. Thousands of demons left the portal, while the hierarch stood ordering.
Immediately, the leaving demons formed forces. Bowing under the standing hierarch.
"Here they come..." Four figures stepped into the dimension, causing tremors around them.
The vanishing figures appeared behind the hierarch, showing respect by kneeling. "My dear creations, don't disappoint me in this bloodshedding event." He licked his lips, "I'm thirsty...already..."
Thousands of demons formed their alliances to destroy the soul brigade. They all came for one objective...And take over.
Morbus stepped forward, "Heh..." He threw his cape upward, shouting, "LETS SHED THE BLOOD OF THOSE WHOSE INNOCENT!" Suddenly, all of the demons cheered.
"EVERYONE GO INTO THEIR DIRECTIONS!" As those words were spilled, every single demon vanished, reappearing in various areas and surrounding the direction of the soul brigade community.
"My master...you're not afraid of the individual called Kaien...?" One of the kneeling figures spoke.
"Heh, he is sealed in the human world..." He muttered, then laughed with his lungs out. His eyebrows rose. "Mmmm...and what kind of question is that? Aren't one of you supposed to trick him into going to the human dimension...?" He lifts his leg, twisting backward.
"Otomo...Trusa...Jakis...Utomo..." His eyes widened, "Warlus hasn't returned...?"
"I'm afraid not, my master." Otomo came to his feet as Jakis continued, "I must respect him for his sacrifice; at least we're able to perform our missions peacefully."
Morbus, "I spent all of my Reikonryoku on forming him...such a loss, i couldn't care less anyway." He shed his hair, while purple Reikonryoku was pouring into his palm.
His face became serious, "Otomo...Jakis, assist the demons in the soul brigade. Trusa, Utomo, follow me to fulfill our lord's order...and retrieve this kid." He twirled, facing a certain direction.
"Master...give us permission to go all out." Otomo bowed once again. Morbus waved his hand in carelessness, "Do whatever you please."
The terrifying smile on the demons' faces shone as each one of their eyes glared a different sort of color. "May...THE MISSION BEGINS!" They all darted to their destination, vanishing from sight.
-
"We should go..." - Erak
All of the students sprang up, following Erak.
"!" As they made their first step, explosions erupted in front. Shockwaves and destroyed logs that flew in their direction. The sound of steel clashing and fists slamming was audible from their place. "Just...What the hell is going on!"
"Careful!!" A shouting voice from behind Erak, "Hey...Corrupted Child." Morbus' appearance was introduced on Erak's face. "Damn!" Erak slammed his fist toward the hierarch. The blow was caught by Trusa, who appeared in between.
"Gotchu..." Utomo's blade forced its way toward Katako's neck at a fast pace.
"Reality distortion...Paralyze movement"
Rauchi was falling down the sky, freezing mid-air, paralyzing Utomo's movement.
"My chance!" Katako twisted his feet, turning around with a punch slamming through Utomo's face. The ground shattered, sparks of Reikonryoku flew, and shockwaves.
The opponent flew backward, then came to his feet, "Tsh." Spat blood. "Now...I am prepared." Unsheathed steel echoed. Katako raised his katana toward his opponent.
Rauchi landed, "Thanks, Rauchi..." Katako's thumb was up. "No time for thanking."
Wind gathered, surrounding Katako's blade. "Don't worry. My wind never sells me."
Trusa held Erak's fist, rotating him, with force, sending him into the sky. "Tsk!" Immediately, Erak unsheathed his katana mid-air. Trusa darted toward him, while Reikonryoku spiked with sparks around her fist.
Clashing steel echoed through the sky. Metal sparks fell off, with rapid clashing in the air.
The angry Erak's expression was the calmest on Trusa's face, "So we're having an air fight now!?"
Trusa ignored his words, continuing with her strikes. Erak rapidly swung, parrying and clashing with her bare fist. Damn it...what kind of skin she has!?
Below, Rauchi faced the hierarch. "Look who we have here? The traitor of the gama's family."
"Hey Aki...go help them, and never get close to this area." He tilted his head at her, ordering.
"Understood!" She ran toward Katako to help.
The hierarch vanished, "You're not going anywhere!" appearing midair, lunging toward Aki.
Suddenly, a clash occurred behind her. "GO NOW!" Rauchi's katana met with the hierarch's fist, causing a tremor that shook the area. Aki continued running.
"Tch...you're really a burden..." Morbus landed his right foot on the ground, dashing backward. "Says the one who caused a war over childish reasons." Rauchi's palm formed a triangle of Reikonryoku. Forcing his katana into ushi state.
"Dear gama kid...don't you think it's beautiful?" Morbus smirked.
"What is beautiful? Your face is ugly." Rauchi smiled.
"You can't anger me...i'm the happiest at this moment. Look at this destruction, and gaze upon this wild night that lost a moon. Suffering and agony are occurring everywhere...That's all i need to fulfill my dream desires." As he spoke, the explosion rate increased. The dimension kept trembling, ceasing to exist due to the imbalance between two illegal species within.
"I hate to copy Kaien's words..." Rauchi muttered, "But...i also hate to break it to you. You'll die here and now before seeing your wish come true!" Rauchi left traces of shockwaves behind as he vanished toward Morbus.
Morbus let out a sigh. "You think you can beat me..."
"LET US SEE WILL THE WEAKEST IN THE GAMA FAMILY KILL AN HIERARCH!?"
Rauchi appeared behind Morbus, in a failed attempt to pierce his blade through Morbus' neck. Morbus already indicated his arrival, ducking while twisting a kick, spinning to his back. Catching Rauchi in his kidney, allowing him to be sent flying.
The appearance of Morbus occurred on the flying Rauchi's face, "HEH!" Morbus laughed like a manic, sending a Reikonryoku blow, slamming it upon Rauchi's face. Unexpectedly, Rauchi's katana had already pierced through Morbus's gut.
"W-What..." Morbus's fist stopped midway, due to the pain in his gut. My chance! The flying Rauchi landed one foot on the ground, forcing his other knee upward, pummeling it at Morbus' jaw, causing his katana to pierce out of the opponent's gut.
Rauchi lunged backward, throwing his back against a tree, catching his breath slowly.
"GR..H..*KH*" Morbus fell on his knees, coughing blood. He lowered his palm to the fatal ripped area, then he raised his hand to see the massive amount of blood. "You...brat..."
As Rauchi caught his breath, a wide smirk appeared on his face. "I doubt this will kill you..."
"Figuration...."
Morbus purple Reikonryoku poured on his palm, reshaping a new color, leading a black force to combine with the purple one. "Gap...*KH*...Closure" The fatal wound closed disgustingly, as if his body formed new flesh. His gut forced extending forward, then dextending toward its original place, creating new flesh, reversing his pain.
He proceeded to wipe the blood on his face, standing up. "Interesting tactic..."
This bastard can heal himself in a matter of seconds. If he can overdo it...i can't do anything about him. Rauchi's eyebrows raised, showing the results in front of him.
"Kaien, can..."
-
Erak's blade rapidly struck with Trusa's fists, creating shockwaves in the midst of the sky. Trusa spun, forcing his leg toward Erak's face. Immediate action, Erak evaded the strike, twisting to his right. Then, he struck a swing toward Trusa's face.
"Perfect reflexes..." Trusa raised his head, twirling it backward using his demon's reflexes.
"For a mere human!" His fist already slammed onto Erak's stomach, causing him to spit blood.
The impact paralyzed him for a second, allowing Trusa to spark another fist toward his face, sending him flying upward.
Erak twisted in the midst of flying, rotating to cause the force to stop him. We're breaking the psychics...There should be no way for such an air fight. He held his stomach. His fist is destructive, i can't bear the pain... Trusa vanished from sight. "!" Erak narrowed his eyes, trying to find him, "BEHIND!" Upon spinning, a fist encountered his raised blade, allowing him to parry the attacker.
"How...did you get this strong?" Erak asked while they rapidly clashed once again, "If you're looking for strength. We still have the deal to bring you back with us."
"Heh... THERE IS NO WAY I'M ALLYING WITH DEMONS!" His Reikonryoku spiked, astonishing Trusa. With a fast motion, his leg moved on its own, sending Trusa flying backward. He lunged himself mid-air, flying toward the sent Trusa. He rushed mid-air, toward the sent opponent.
"Even if i don't have a specific technique, i will fight with my raw power!" He reached Trusa, "!" As Trusa raised both of his arms in an attempt to block the coming strike, the blade already pierced through his arm. Splashing his black blood around.
His blade is going through my fists...but how! Trusa ignored the pain, using his other arm, forcing the blade out of his arm. Then grabbed Erak by his neck, pulling him closer while raising his knee, slamming his jaw at it, causing shockwaves and sparks of the strike to spike. As blood splashed from Erak's nose, Trusa already formed another three knee strikes.
Letting go of him, with a hammering spinning kick, smashing his head, forcing sounds of cracked bones and flesh tearing. After those strikes, Erak flew down, crashing into the ground.
Trusa rushed with his leg forward, reaching the fallen Erak in no time, slamming his foot on his heart. With a swift, slow movement, he landed backward. "GHHHHHH!!!!!" Erak's voice disappeared slowly.
"ERAK!" Aki came running, kneeling at Erak's heart, "Please..don't..." His heart kept skipping beats.
"What, DID YOU DO TO ERAK!" She sprang to her feet, raising her wands at the demon, as lightning flashed and struck down upon the skies. Trusa vanished, introducing his appearance next to the strike. "Lightning..." His eyes narrowed to katako, "Storm..."
"We're fighting the elements of weather disasters?" He smiled, laughing hilariously at them.
"I swear to god...i will BRING YOUR DOWNFALL!" Aki screamed as wind gathered around her, flowing in an order.
"A-k...i....run..." Erak almost spilled those words.
"I WILL....KILL YOUUU!" Her eyes kept glaring, while the wind range expanded, her tears flew up instead of falling. Trusa lunged backward. Where did this disastrous power...come from!?
"WEATHER ORDER...LIGHTNING ERASURE!" A lightning struck the woman, causing the wind around her to emit sparks. The shockwaves trembled the area.
"Tremendous power..." Utomo caught Katako by the face, sending him flying backward. Without sweating, he stared at the scene.
Oh my lord...if i get caught by that, i will be nothing but dust! Trusa surveyed the surroundings, looking for a place to escape. "I can run...I CAN RUN!" He spun, running at his highest speed. "I CAN'T DIE NOW!!"
"You're...as dead." Her hand rose upward, "Thunder...STRIKE!"
Aki's hand lowered, when a thunder came in the speed of light from upon the skies. When Trusa raised his head, the thunder had already struck him. Turning him to absolute dust.
She then fell at Erak's chest, crying. "Erak...ERAKK!" His heart stopped beating.
-
"HA!" Rauchi appeared in front of Morbus, with a swing catching the wind. Morbus already ducked, raising with multiple blows at Morbus' stomach, till he reached the face. He then grabbed him by the neck, "Weakling...Instead of gaining strength in the midst of the battle, you lose more." He charged him backward, sending him into the tree. "GRH!" Rauchi spat more blood.
Morbus vanished, with another multiple strikes at Rauchi. He kept punching him, over and over, repeating "Weakling...WEAKLING...WEAKLING!" With the last strike, he plummered his fist on his face.
"Heh..HAH..AHAHAHA!" Morbus slowly walked toward the falling Rauchi.
The wall of the dojo held him, leaving him sitting on the ground with his head down. Unable to move, nor can he lift his head. Blood spilling around his head.
"Kaien...You always saved me. I never helped myself once. " He coughed blood.
"But...When it came to saving you. I always failed... " His smirk widened on his face.
"I can't even cry even in this moment... You've told me multiple times, crying is a solution to most situations... " Morbus foot was getting closer.
Morbus lowered to Rauchi's phase, "Hey Kaien... My friend... Forgive me... "
"Farewell...Gama weakest member." Morbus opened his fist, presenting his long nails. As his arm pierced through Rauchi's gut, a tear fell from Rauchi's face. "Forgive...me Kaien..." His head faced the ground once again.
"Welp, i didn't kill you. You can return if you're worthy of living...Anyway!" Morbus twisted, walking toward the fighting area.
-
Destruction brought the downfall of many soldiers, many families. The hated act of society and the selfishness of supreme leaders led to the destruction to spread. Every forest was burned, though they kept their ground against the demons in front of the gates.
"That's such ignorance...sending to us weak demons? Where are the strong ones!" Supreme Leader number 9 stood on the ground. "Welp...time to slice up some demons!" As demons ran toward him, he kept going through every single one of them, cutting their heads one by one, with his bare katana.
Both of the demons, Otomo and Jakis. Kept their gazes at the supreme leaders, studying their abilities for an unknown reason. "We've got enough information, let's report everything to our lord.", Otomo and Jakis disappeared from their places. As the supreme leader number 4 watched them closely.
They kept jumping from tree to tree. Suddenly, Jakis heard a spark of metal. "?"
He gazed at Otomo, who blocked a Supreme Leader's attack with his bare fist.
"Stealth...I knew you were watching." As Otomo spoke, the supreme leader vanished, reappearing behind. "I came here to ask you a question...What are your intentions?"
"Heh. As if i were to tell you instantly." Otomo got into a stance.
"I will force you then!" The supreme leader's dagger shone, rushing at him, causing multiple clashes at once.
-
The tragic scene of the fallen students and Rauchi's blood scent haunted the place. Aki, who was crying on Erak's chest, wished for his return. Katako, who had no power against the demon, kept trying. He swung...and again...sent back and returned...with his glaring silent eyes.
Suddenly, Aki heard someone calling for her behind. "Aki...Run...Please...Sis...live." Katako floated, as Aki raised her gaze. "KATAKO!" The demon's blade pierced his heart.
Morbus appeared behind her, with a kick on her forehead, sending her backward.
"Annoying insect..."
Blood fell down her head, "I won't...let...you..." She fell on her face, then crawled.
"Won't let who?" He appeared in front of her once again, with a kick on her head from above.
"I SAID...DIE!!" He kept slamming his feet on her head from above, crushing her into the ground. Morbus laughter roamed, echoing all around the place. He knee'd to her, grabbing her by the hair, raising Aki. "Woman...you had a beautiful face...Look at you now." Morbus spoke slowly, touching her face.
Aki could not open her eyes anymore. Morbus laughed, clenching his fist, slamming it on her face.
"Alright...Accomplishment is guaranteed." Morbus came to his feet, stepped toward the fallen Erak. Utomo appeared, kneeling to his master.
Upon his arrival to Erak, "This stupid guy actually killed him...alright, i need a sacrifice to revive him with no memories." Utomo sprang to his feet, accepting his fate as a sacrifice.
"I...Can't...Allow...you..."
Aki crawled slowly toward them. "Shall i kill her, my master?"
"No, i have the perfect idea.." Morbus stepped toward Utomo, lifted his finger, then hovered it on Utomo's chest.
Suddenly, Utomo's size unexpectedly shrank in Morbus's finger, then he transformed into a liquid, passing through Morbus's finger.
While Aki crawled slowly, Morbus spun and stepped toward Erak. "Figuration..."
"Return by my order...wish to exist under me!"
His finger touched Erak's chest, his purple Reikonryoku kept pouring in, letting the purple liquid spill from his finger. "Stand!"
Erak's heart was beating once again, his eyes glared wide open. He got up, then came to his feet as Morphus did. Then, he kneeled, "My master...wish...me anything."
"Oh? Look at this beautiful face. I love it..." Morbus lowered to Erak's level and kept observing his eyes. "Soon, you'll become the strongest by my order. Your corrupted Reikonryoku will exceed the world's expectations!"
Aki stopped crawling, looking at Erak. "Erak ...?...No, this is not Erak..."
He stood up once again, "First order, kill this annoying woman."
"Understood, my master." Erak vanished, reappearing with his katana in hand.
"Erak...?"
Erak stepped toward her slowly, raising his katana upward. Suddenly, the space was silent.
The sight went blank.
Time stopped. The wind refused to move. Even the flames seemed to wait.
Showing the scene back slowly.
Erak's katana was through Aki's heart, "Worthless..woman, no one defies my master."
Her tears fell as she watched Erak's face. She then tried to raise her hand to take a last touch of his face.
"Get your stinky hands away from me." He let the blade out, kicked her face, sending her into the tree behind.
"TRULY FASCINATING!! THIS IS THE MOST LOYAL SERVANTT!!" Morbus kept trembling, having shivers down his spine.
"Shall we return my master?"
"We accomplished our mission here; there is no reason to keep standing." He spun around.
We have to hurry...the living dimension gates will start working soon, and this so-called Kaien will return. Morbus thought, then he screamed.
"MAY ALL LIVING SOLDIERS RETURN!!" He raised both arms in both directions as a massive amount of liquid started passing through his fingers.
-
"What!?" The supreme leaders observed the scene, as every soldier became a liquid. Then floated away.
"We were fighting illusions..." One of the tactical vanguards stood behind his supreme leader. The leader immediately screamed, "TCH! YOU SHOULD'VE TOLD ME SOONER!" He started running toward where the liquid was flying. However, the traces left him clueless.
-
"Jakis, we have to return now." Otomo said, vanishing from the stealth leader's sight.
"As if i will allow that!" He rushed toward them, but in an instant, they disappeared.
"I lost track..."
-
Jakis and Otomo appeared before their lord, kneeling. "We're here..."
They then stared at the new pawn.
"Then, we shall return!" He raised his finger when a gate distorted in the midst of the air, opening widely. Morbus smiled as he entered the gate, spinning around. "The trembling stopped, but the destruction is still severe. Great, that's my real desires!"
After all of the pawns entered, he fell backward to the gate.
Gate closed, case dismissed. The war tragedy ended. Though the consequences remained severe.
"God damnit i'm late!!" Kaien's gate opened in the Soul Brigade. He stepped forward slowly, widening his eyes. "W...What happened...here" His gaze caught the fire; the place was already destroyed. Nothing remained of the beautiful forests.
He spun all around, then he saw Rauchi fallen with blood pouring everywhere from him.
"RAUCHI!" He ran toward him. He observed the blood, "He is still alive...!" Kaien then carried Rauchi on his back.
Immediately, a thought crossed his mind. "The children!" He kept running as fast as he could forward. Upon reaching the area, he saw nothing but blood and fallen corpses.
"What...Happened...Here..."
He let Rauchi on the ground. Clenching his fist in anger, his eyes kept glaring black.
His Reikonryoku allowed black flames to rise in the skies.
"DAMNIT!" He fell to his knees, punching the ground in rage. "WHYYY!" His flames rose higher. Suddenly, he became silent. Watching the burned grass.
"This is my fault..."
"I taught them to fight the fire. I never imagined the fire would learn to bite back."
His lips trembled as he spoke slowly, "But..."
"I swear..."
"On...Anything..."
"I WILL AVENGE YOU!!!" His black flames consumed the area, almost reaching the town.
Chapter End.