The race for the five keys of the world was no longer a secret. As Krishenmaru's team marched toward the high peaks, the Kaiju army had already taken to the sea. The world was splitting at the seams, and every second counted.
The Whale of the Water Katana
Kenji and his horde stood on the edge of a jagged cliff, looking out at a small, lush island in the middle of a swirling ocean. According to their half of the scroll, this was the resting place of the Water Katana.
"Go," Kenji barked, pointing at a scout. "Take it and return."
The Kaiju swam to the island and found the blade fixed deep within a mossy stone. But as soon as his claws gripped the hilt, the "island" groaned. The ground tilted forty-five degrees, and a massive, barnacle-encrusted tail rose from the depths, smashing the scout into a cloud of red mist.
"It's not an island," Kenji realized, his eyes narrowing. "It's a Deep-Sea Whale, asleep for centuries. The katana is keeping it pinned to the surface."
After several more Kaiju were crushed, Kenji used a dark Portal Bracelet—stolen from a magician's corpse—to warp his soldiers directly onto the whale's blowhole. With a collective heave, they wrenched the Water Katana free. The whale let out a mournful cry and dove into the abyss, creating a massive tidal wave that nearly swallowed the Kaiju fleet.
The Dual Mortis: The Fire Katana
While the Kaiju battled the sea, Krishenmaru's team reached the base of a towering, angry peak. "That isn't a mountain," Kairen whispered, his skin slick with sweat. "That's a volcano."
"The Violent Volcano," Fujiko corrected, checking her half of the scroll. "The Fire Katana lies at the heart of the crater."
They climbed for hours, the air growing thick with sulfur and ash. At the summit, they found a board carved with ancient characters: ALL THE BEST FOR YOUR DEATH. DUEL MORTIS IS WAITING.
Before anyone could react, Akimato, the retired Samurai, grabbed Kairen by the collar and shoved him into the bubbling magma.
"What have you done?!" Mikato screamed, reaching for his dagger.
"Wait," Arashi said, pointing downward.
The magma was gone. It was a Mirage Jitsu, an illusion created by the Ancestor to scare away the faint of heart. Kairen stood on the solid, cool floor of the inactive inner vent, the Fire Katana glowing at his feet.
"I found it!" Kairen shouted. But as he lifted the blade, the ground began to tremble. The "illusion" was fading, and the real tectonic pressure was building.
"Run!" Akuma roared.
Kairen used his Electric Squid Kemeno to propel himself up the rocky walls just as a pillar of real fire erupted from the depths, obliterating the entrance they had just used. They stood at the edge of the crater, the Fire Katana finally in their possession.
The Tally of War
As the sun began to set over the charred landscape, both sides took stock of their progress.
Chapter 7: The Island Dive and the Fire Katana
The race for the five keys of the world was no longer a secret. As Krishenmaru's team marched toward the high peaks, the Kaiju army had already taken to the sea. The world was splitting at the seams, and every second counted.
The Whale of the Water Katana
Kenji and his horde stood on the edge of a jagged cliff, looking out at a small, lush island in the middle of a swirling ocean. According to their half of the scroll, this was the resting place of the Water Katana.
"Go," Kenji barked, pointing at a scout. "Take it and return."
The Kaiju swam to the island and found the blade fixed deep within a mossy stone. But as soon as his claws gripped the hilt, the "island" groaned. The ground tilted forty-five degrees, and a massive, barnacle-encrusted tail rose from the depths, smashing the scout into a cloud of red mist.
"It's not an island," Kenji realized, his eyes narrowing. "It's a Deep-Sea Whale, asleep for centuries. The katana is keeping it pinned to the surface."
After several more Kaiju were crushed, Kenji used a dark Portal Bracelet—stolen from a magician's corpse—to warp his soldiers directly onto the whale's blowhole. With a collective heave, they wrenched the Water Katana free. The whale let out a mournful cry and dove into the abyss, creating a massive tidal wave that nearly swallowed the Kaiju fleet.
The Dual Mortis: The Fire Katana
While the Kaiju battled the sea, Krishenmaru's team reached the base of a towering, angry peak. "That isn't a mountain," Kairen whispered, his skin slick with sweat. "That's a volcano."
"The Violent Volcano," Fujiko corrected, checking her half of the scroll. "The Fire Katana lies at the heart of the crater."
They climbed for hours, the air growing thick with sulfur and ash. At the summit, they found a board carved with ancient characters: ALL THE BEST FOR YOUR DEATH. DUEL MORTIS IS WAITING.
Before anyone could react, Akimato, the retired Samurai, grabbed Kairen by the collar and shoved him into the bubbling magma.
"What have you done?!" Mikato screamed, reaching for his dagger.
"Wait," Arashi said, pointing downward.
The magma was gone. It was a Mirage Jitsu, an illusion created by the Ancestor to scare away the faint of heart. Kairen stood on the solid, cool floor of the inactive inner vent, the Fire Katana glowing at his feet.
"I found it!" Kairen shouted. But as he lifted the blade, the ground began to tremble. The "illusion" was fading, and the real tectonic pressure was building.
"Run!" Akuma roared.
Kairen used his Electric Squid Kemeno to propel himself up the rocky walls just as a pillar of real fire erupted from the depths, obliterating the entrance they had just used. They stood at the edge of the crater, the Fire Katana finally in their possession.
The Tally of War
As the sun began to set over the charred landscape, both sides took stock of their progress."We have one," Krishenmaru said, his eyes fixed on the horizon. "But the Kaiju are fast. We need the Land Katana next. And according to the scroll... we're going into a maze where even our spirits aren't safe."