Sky Domain—-
Zaria pulled on the bars of her cage, frantically attempting to escape. She kicked at the bars, but they wouldn't budge. In the far corner of the room, a pair of glowing, bird-like eyes carefully watched her.
"Yo! Hey! Let me out, bird!"
The eyes narrowed, but no noise occurred. Beside her were Rei, Nonoka, and Sōshin, each of whom slowly woke up. Nonoka rubbed her head, staring at the bars.
"Eh? Zaria? What is this?"
Zaria turned toward her. "This damn thing's trapped us! Master and Rika are gone!"
She refocused on the glowing eyes. "What did you do to them? Tell me right now, before I shove my foot up your—-!"
"Thou will be silent," the beast ordered.
A powerful shock rang through Zaria's body, and when she tried to protest, she found herself unable to open her mouth. Zaria grabbed at her throat.
"Z!" Nonoka called out. "You okay?"
Zaria attempted to respond, but she couldn't utter a word. The regal, firm voice in the corner echoed throughout the room.
"Children should know their places," the voice hissed. "Thou should not dishonor their elders."
Sōshin attempted to vibrate the bars, but they absorbed his energy and repelled it back at him. Nonoka attempted to make a dent in the floor, but nothing worked.
"Stuck," she muttered. "Just my lucky day."
Rei attempted to reach out and touch one of the bars, and moonlight briefly dazzled around it before dissipating. The bird's eyes watched her for but a moment, before the door leading into the domain opened.
"Ah. Thou hast received guests."
Omariro and Rika flew into the area, with Aurelia landing in the center of the room. The throne that stood above the cages was abandoned, while the eyes that peered from the corner vanished. Omariro and Rika got off the Queen's back.
The second the kids saw him, they grabbed onto the bars, signaling to get his attention.
"Master!" Nonoka called out. "Up here!"
"We're trapped!" Rei shouted.
"Be careful, Friend Omariro!" Sōshin warned. "There's a giant monster waiting for you!"
Zaria tried to speak, but nothing happened. With a flash of lightning, the other kids were silenced as well, as a regal, booming voice cut through the air.
"Thou's master has returned once more," he noted. "And thou hast brought my former consort. How amusing."
"Show thou's face, coward!" Aurelia ordered.
"Thou's wish is my command."
BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.
Loud footsteps shook the room as a gigantic griffin-like bird emerged from the corner, standing even taller than Aurelia. He wore a golden crown on his head, and his wings spanned the entire room as he examined Omariro.
"Master," Ziz noted. "A delight."
Omariro looked Ziz in the eyes. "Ziz. Beast will let go of children. Beast will come to face Land Beast."
Ziz puffed his wings. "Thou hast made oneself comfortable in this domain. Beautiful women, endless fruit, and total freedom. Why would one return to the land of humans?"
"Land in danger," Omariro told him. "Beast will wreck all. Beasts have job of protecting Japan."
Ziz flew up to his throne and perched atop it. "Hmm. And what of Leviathan? Has thou already been convinced?"
"Sea Beast in waiting," Omariro explained. "Sky Beast must come and lend aid. Land Beast a danger. Student in trouble."
Ziz looked at Aurelia. "Thou would be more inclined to accept the offer of the Master if one did not bring such a beast to my house."
He pointed a talon at her. "Once the traitor has been dealt with, one will consider helping you once more."
Aurelia beat her wings. "Thou dares to talk to me in such a manner?"
"Thou shall know one's place."
Without hesitation, Aurelia flew up and lunged at Ziz, who matched her speed. The two birds collided in the air, emitting powerful shockwaves of lightning off their bodies. Rika ran behind Omariro as a chunk of the roof came flying down, which Omariro slashed into pieces.
The kids watched as the giant birds flew through the ceiling, shattering the entire roof into pieces. In the process, the cages fell to the floor. Omariro touched the bars of the cages, and they disappeared, freeing the kids.
They wasted no time surrounding him.
"Master, you saved us!" Zaria said, relieved.
"Wait…" Nonoka noted. "Did you get older, sir?"
"What happened out there, Mr. Omariro?" Rei asked.
Sōshin pointed him. "Look! Birds are having fun!"
The birds tore through a wall of the building, and Ziz tossed Aurelia into the throne, dropping it. She fired a beam of dark lightning at him, but he responded by forming a shield of pure golden lightning around his body.
"Feeble woman," Ziz mocked. "Thou shalt not leave this place alive. One has made a grave mistake coming here."
He extended his wings, and a powerful tornado began to swirl around the room. The kids all began to fly, but Omariro held out a hand.
"Jugen-Sōunsha: Nendō Tensō!"
The kids all slammed back into the ground as Omariro stabbed his blade into the ground to anchor himself. Ziz flapped his wings forward, firing the tornado directly at Aurelia, which sent her flying out of the domain.
Ziz turned his attention to Omariro. "Now then. I believe it's time we negotiate my terms—-"
A dark lightning blast struck his beak, temporarily stunning him. He shrugged it off, forming a lightning bolt in his talons and chucking it at her.
"Sir, why are they fighting?" Zaria asked.
"Forget that!" Nonoka interrupted. "They're gonna kill us all!"
"Beasts are at odds," Omariro told them. "Must solve."
The two birds angrily flapped their wings as wind arose from their bodies. Aurelia scratched Ziz in the face. "Thou would dare banish me? One will suffer for eternity!"
Ziz pushed her off. "Begone, foul creature!"
She spun around and whacked him with her wings, causing him to stumble back. Ziz brought his wings together and unleashed a powerful blast of lightning that put her on the ground. Aurelia weakly got up, hissing at him, but Omariro stepped in between the two.
"Enough. Beasts will stop."
As both beasts moved to clash with each other, Omariro extended his hands. "Jugen-Kōbisha: Kamigami no Kōsoku."
Golden whips restrained the two beasts, temporarily quelling their anger. Ziz quickly broke out of his restraints, while Aurelia took a bit longer to break out of hers.
"Thou bindings have gotten weaker, Master," Ziz remarked. "Your age is really showing, no?"
"Hmm."
Omariro turned to Aurelia. "Beast must honor deal."
Aurelia narrowed her eyes, looking from Omariro to her husband, a skeptical look in her eye. "Thou hast no wish to help this pompous fool. But thou will allow you to continue your business, God-King."
"Leave thou at once," Ziz ordered. "One's prison will be your portion."
Aurelia furiously beat her wings, but stopped with a glare from Omariro. "Beasts will solve issue another day. World in danger."
Ziz folded his wings. "How would such a thing be? One has no knowledge of the outside world."
"Land Beast freed," Omariro informed him. "Abyss attack undid seal. Mujinsha took advantage."
"Abyss?" Ziz questioned. "Mujinsha? These are names thou hast not heard in decades. But say one decides to help, what is the compensation?"
"Beast's job is to help," Omariro reminded him. "When beast does job, beast can return to business."
Ziz paused, considering. "Hmm. Thou does not leave this domain lightly. Thou has to inform servants. And one's throne must be repaired."
He straightened up. "Thou will help you, but under the circumstances that Master will repair the damage, and find thou a new wife."
Aurelia screeched at him.
"Beast must adhere to deal."
Ziz gave a nod.
"Then thou will seek a new husband," Aurelia interrupted, turning to Omariro. "One will make for a good replacement, no?"
Zaria stepped in front of Omariro. "Ahem. Is all the fighting and crazy shit over, now?"
"For now," Ziz replied. "This disgrace to one's domain shall remain here. I will take you all back."
Aurelia grumbled and began to fly away. "I shall be in the garden. Do one a favor and don't return soon."
She rubbed a wing on Omariro's head. "A pleasure, God-King."
Aurelia turned on her heel and flew away, leaving Ziz to stare after her. "Thou will be handled accordingly."
Ziz approached the center of the room, repeating a strange chant that the kids couldn't understand. His eyes and body began to glow, and a large dungeon gate emerged from the floor.
"This has not been used in quite some time," Ziz pointed out. "Thou art unaware if it still works."
"Let's go, let's go!" Sōshin insisted. "We must save Friend Han!"
"Who is this Han you speak of?" Ziz questioned.
"Complicated," Nonoka replied. "Very."
Ziz turned back toward the portal, exiting through it. One by one, the kids began to walk up to the portal door, following. Zaria and Omariro were last.
"Do you think we still have time, sir?" Zaria asked. "That beast's one helluva tall task!"
"Land Beast reckless," Omariro assured her. "Will make mistakes."
Zaria helped him into the portal, and they both exited through it together.
Nakashibetsu, Japan—-
Zaria exited the gate, where the others were waiting. Ziz was flying in the sky, examining the area around him.
"Hmm," he noted. "This land has changed. Fewer farmers. More machinery. Thou wonders what other advancements have been made."
Nonoka helped Zaria through the portal. "Zaria? Where's our Master?"
"What do you mean? He's right here—-!"
Zaria looked beside her, but there was nobody to be found. She immediately whirled around, frantically searching. "What? Hell no! He was just with me!"
Rika began to sweat. "Wait, he couldn't be stuck in there, could he?"
"We've got to go inside and save Friend Omariro!" Sōshin declared.
Just then…
BOOM.
Omariro's body went flying out of the gate as a slimy entity emerged, shifting into a humanoid form. Omariro crashed into a tractor, grabbing his back.
"Master!" the kids called out, rushing toward him.
Ziz's eyes looked down, and he saw Emerald emerging from the portal. "Mujinsha…"
Emerald stepped out of the portal, eyes glowing green. "Finally. Come and face me, old man."
Zaria, Nonoka, and Rei immediately took up defensive stances, but Omariro got up, stopping them. "No! Foe too dangerous!"
Zaria chucked her spear at Emerald, but it passed through his flesh. He pulled it out, throwing it back twice as hard and impaling her in the leg.
Zaria dropped to the ground, gritting her teeth.
"Zaria!" Rika worried. "Stay still, I'll heal you!"
Rika went to work on Zaria, while Nonoka and Rei stood in front of Omariro, and Sōshin got into a running stance.
"Jugen-Mahōshi: Tsuki no Megenka!"
"Jugen-Sōunsha: Ningensei Tōki!"
Rei and Nonoka both attacked Emerald at the same time, but the latter rolled into a slime ball, immediately appearing between the two and knocking them clean out with his fists.
Sōshin zipped around Emerald, who followed the boy with his eyes. "Slime hurt friends! Bad slime!"
Sōshin tried to punch Emerald, but Emerald easily backhanded him aside, turning back to Omariro.
"Now…"
Omariro moved in a blur, and so did Emerald, matching his speed. The two collided so hard that they knocked both the kids and Ziz back.
Omariro delivered a blow to Emerald's jaw, which tore it off, but the latter easily regenerated, punching Omariro in the chest hard enough to blow a hole through it.
Omariro remained standing.
"You live?" Emerald questioned.
He took a closer look at Omariro, and memories of a burning civilization began to crowd his mind, including a dark figure holding a greatsword. "Wait. You. You're the God-King. I remember you. God of Destruction, they call you?"
His arm formed a massive warhammer, and he dug it into the ground. "You should've been wiped out with the rest of them!"
The hammer burst from the ground, nearly crushing Omariro, but he sliced it in two, healing his wound in the process as his body aged.
Emerald appeared behind Omariro, who blocked the slime's attack with his forearm. "Now, give me back my sister!"
"Slime a problem. Slime will be solved."
Omariro clapped his hands, attempting to erase Emerald, but Emerald's body absorbed the Jugen, erasing both of Omariro's arms.
Ziz flew overhead, firing bolts of lightning from his wings as Emerald dodged, swinging around a tractor for support. "That bird is a pain. Luckily I've got the painkiller."
"One would dare talk so confidently?"
BOOM.
A large creature slammed into Ziz, sending him sprawling back. As soon as the Sky Beast recovered, he noticed a gargantuan beast staring him down.
"Behemoth."
"Ziz," the beast replied. "Fitting that you showed up."
Behemoth stomped the ground, causing mountains to erupt across the battlefield.
"Just in time to die."
——