First off, happy holidays!

So, here is third chapter! Bit more wait this time. More action oriented, some of my original plot exposed, and finally starting with Faery ( my invention/interpretation of it). There may be some ( or many) grammar mistakes, English isn't my first language, so if you notice anything please freely tell me.

Information on sacred souls ( seirei class) spirits is completely taken from manga and wiki. God/kami class is more of my headcanon, since we have spirits such as Badbh ( has reiryoku of 2100), god class spirit, and on the other hand Azazel, who is seirei class spirit (but has reiryoku of 470000). I tried to fit it in with topics of ego and sense of identity that is so present in Shaman King.

Earth creating metal is part of generating or enhancing cycle of Wu Xing, name for cosmology system of omnyodo that Hao was master of and whose five element he was capable of using and transforming. Same goes for metal creating water.

In same cycle, water is capable of creating plants, and fire of creating earth, so here Hao reverses process of creation. We have no idea how this system works in canon, having only one instance of Hao using this ability in manga and anime, turning Spirit of Fire into water during fight with X-laws ( though under slightly different circumstances). But given that Spirit of Fire is greatest fire spirit ( or he actually is fire itself), changing him, albeit temporary, into water surely requires great amount of skill.

In controlling cycle, or destruction star as it is called in manga, metal defeats wood. Which is obvious, as lot of sharp metal is going to cut wood into pieces.

In weakening or insulting cycle, water defeats/insults earth, as too much of water will wash away earth. Since Wu Xing is more than simple elemental system, dealing with philosophy, medicine and energy, I suppose that you could interpret elements contain spiritual energy that could block and weaken spirits of opposing elements.

Just to mention, small planet Hao and Spirit of Fire are currently on doesn't have animals, and since Hao is too complex for microbe, land god present here decides that Hao is obviously plant. Said god is also animalistic and genderlless, but singular individual ( and not collection of souls like Spirit of Fire), and since it is sentient in some way, I use they for them ( as in English they can sometimes be sued when we do not determine subject's gender).

That is all. Read and review, enjoy, and once again happy holidays!


First one was spirit, they were sure of that. It's power was smaller yet brighter than their own, and tasted of light and flame. But second one... second one was something else. Something they never encountered. They supposed it could be compared to plants. Rhythm of it's soul was as active as that of plants and microbes, but even more complex, full of energy.

Nameless god of nameless planet rose, seeped through rock and water, traveled, seeking presence. Song got stronger, high, long series of booming, deep tones and quiet, fast pitches. It changed constantly, going from something resembling earthquake to soft dribble. As if this thing, this creature was something between plant and god.

They arose from ground, faced air and light. For moment, they stopped and stared, unmoving like stones it commanded.

And then screamed, sound of rockslide, of mountain torn in half, of mighty tree torn apart by wind.

Their land, their meadow was turned into black desert. Waste was laid to their home, earth stripped bare of smallest hint of green, it's shame covered only by thin layer of black ash. They knew what happened, expected it, but seeing was completely different. This-this paradise was destroyed, turned into desert, all life destroyed. It was sacrilege, a crime, abomination to nature!

God of land stalked towards dome in center of destruction, dome made of dark rock. There was second presence, and sound of it's soul was as strong as roar of hurricane, clear as rain, sharp as shiny, translucent rocks that were hidden under earth's surface. It rose and fell and coiled, so many sounds, so different. They thought it impossible for such different things to exist within one being, yet they did, and they were arranged in perfect harmony.

Under it's power, rock broke and slid back in earth, opening like flower to reveal treasure at it's center. God lowered, to look at strange being from vicinity.

It's appearance was even more curious that they expected. It's core was red and golden brown, with few dashes of yellow, green, beige and silver. Trunk was short and neither round or even, with strange bumps all over it and pink line that cut it into half. There were four objects that could be either roots or branches, two growing from top and two from bottom of trunk.

Ones at top had small, thin twigs at end, five on each protrusion. Big part of it was covered by two different types of tissues, soft and hard one, that left only small part of twigs uncovered. Bottom ones however were completely covered by strange tissues.

Hard ones could be some type of protective system. That surely meant that bottom ones weren't roots- hard material, almost rock like, looked like it would prevent absorption of minerals and water. It was also possible that those weren't being's own tissues- they seemed to be attached to, but not part of being's body. They could be separate organisms that lived in symbiosis, either mutualistic or parasitic one.

The again, being wasn't attached to earth. And core of it's trunk was as soft and thin as leaf. Perhaps it was responsible for absorption of nutrients, and for photosynthesis too. It would explain trunk being soft and filled with liquid. It also seemed that there was some hard material underneath soft ones, probably serving for support and storage. Tissues could be some form of algae-like leaves, with dominant carotene instead of chlorophylle.

Then they noticed flower. It was giant, growing on fat stem right out of trunk. It was vaguely round, containing big amounts of supportive/storage material, covered only by thin layer of core., and extremely detailed, with miniature formations on it. On sides, red and silver material ( fruits?) grew right out of small forms of core. Petals were long and thin and brown, longer than flower and trunk combined and there were so many. Truly most curious plant.

And then-wonder of wonders- a small crack opened on flower, and with subtle shift of surface, it drew in air! Upper part of torso rose then fell, and crack opened again, releasing air. But this wasn't same air, no. It lacked oxygen, had something else, something different.

For a moment, they considered letting strange plant live. Maybe it would procreate, and mix with other plants, or could be studied. But they know that this strange plant, with it's singing soul and complicated body is responsible for death of so many other plants and they must make it pay.

They will pry it open, they decide, and eat it's soul and know what it truly is. And then, maybe they will remake it. They raise branch, pull it towards plant and tug at it's soul.


His peace is broken. Again.

Caution is first, dark and velvet soft, driven by sharp, focused will. Images and sounds flood his head-dark earth and black ashes, mournful symphony and horrible scream.

There is cold shock and sudden surprise. And then anger. Horrible, all-consuming anger, kind that makes men dismember themselves just to express it. Next is calm, chilly surprise. It pokes and questions and stings.

Images change and form landscape around him, thousand windows showing different angles, different seconds, and he sees his own body, sleeping and torn, laid under globe of rock. He sees as creature's gaze focuses on different parts of body, as it oversees and inspects.

There are no words, no sounds. Thoughts come across only as deep meanings. He knows that this creature ( some spirit, he would say) thinks him a plant, and is eager to tear him apart to find out how his body functions.

He doesn't know whether to be insulted or to burst out laughing.

And then another decision swims through his mind, and spirit's soul reaches out to his, sharp as thorn, cold as stone, scratching his very being. It isn't painful, not in way, but it feels terribly wrong, wrong in ways he cannot even begin describing. As if he is being violated, in all senses of word, body, mind and heart ( and he knows all three of this feelings well).

Rage courses through him, burning as magma, quick as lighting. He clenches teeth and closes fists and roars, not as a human but as a lion and images round him wobble and tear apart with might of his anger.

He decides. Insulted it is.

He locates feeling, locates source and hits back tenfold. There. Maybe it learns. Maybe it doesn't. No matter.

There is always more pain to come.


Soul is tugged. Soul shifts and swells and grows, it's power as deep and wide as tumultuous sea, thrashing around madly. For moment it seems as if it will envelope them, erode them until they are nothing but dust.

And then it stretches, hungry and hollow like death itself and bites.

They scream, scream as this mad soul sinks in them, in their very essence, soul as hot as magma and as mighty as tidal wave, power almost heavy as earth itself, almost strong as strongest metal, spirit adaptable and ever-thriving as greatest tree. It tears and snaps and consumes bit of god's essence, before retreating into body, as small as raindrop.

That insolence! That ego! This thing is obviously nothing but parasite! And there is only one thing you do with parasite: you kill them!

God raises it's branch, ready to tear horrible plant apart, and then something small and red and burning hits them.


Of course something had to go wrong. Everything turning out just as he planned it would be too much to ask for. Fate had to throw in some problem, some complication.

It did make some sense, he supposed. They did assault Progenitor and try to take their power. But this was petty of them. It's not as if they were going to do something bad with that power...

All started so well. He snuck in blood bank on Earth. Small one in Finland- they didn't have enemies there ( or at least no noteworthy ones). Arose from radiator, melted camera, got six- seven bags filled with master's blood type.

And what did he find? Mad, deranged spirit of soil and wood attempting to tear apart a master. And of course, it couldn't be just any nature spirit. Oh no, they had to be a god class. What a bother.

Many thought that spirit's class was determined by level of reiryoku. Fools. Class was more than question of power. Spirit could be impossibly weak ( as was he now) and still be considered a god.

Spirits of sacred soul class have shed physical attachment, ascended beyond their ego, achieved their purest form, enabling them to take almost any shape or form. But they too were far behind gods. Gods were ancient spirits without any personal attachment to physical world, spirits whose understanding of world was almost bottomless, who could comprehend things that would drive all else insane. Unbound by time, unstoppable in their purpose, they were beings of pure power, in whom divine spark of Progenitor was greatest, who held dominion over nature and concepts ( and most often, were those things), they controlled seasons and spun planets, judged dead and ruled soul societies, wrote mortal's laws and gave unto them intelligence.

They could consume souls, destroy being's psyche and turn them in pure power that would become part of gods themselves. But it was hard to eat other gods, for rarely they had delusion, doubts, sure of their nature and with almost unstoppable wills.

And Spirit of Fire had to go against currently much more powerful god, that sort of primal deities who were shaped from him and his siblings, lacking greater cognitive functions, existing for sole goal of protecting their domain. What a joy.

He jumps and flies forward, to shining brown and green creature. Great rock from which roots emerge, branches as paws, beak like spike growing from orb of mud and dust, mane of leaves and vines growing on it, screams as Spirit of Fire hits them. Moment of distraction is all he needs to get master and get him away from attacker.

Spirit turned. Spike on it's ''head'' was wide open, and when it screamed, hundreds of the leaves, small and sharp emerged forth. Flurry of emerald, and they all strike towards master.

Fool would have stood. Leaves are small and soft, what damage could they do? But at that speed they could be lethal. God likely could control pressure leaves exhibit. Spirit of Fire has seen master and many forest spirits tear people to ribbons with petals.

Jump, avoid, run, escape. Leaves fly, whips of green intent on tearing master apart. They are all too fast, too fast to see, so they rely on their sixth sense. Spirit of Fire ducked and dodged whenever he heard crushing stone, felt grown foliage, tasted fertile dust. God followed them, followed lament of master's soul and impossible shine and heat of Spirit of Fire.

Few leaves flew too close, almost hitting master. Spirit of Fire reached, touched them before it was too late and turned them to ash. God screamed ( it seemed that they were only capable of that), for Spirit of Fire consumed bit of their essence with leaves. Beautiful.

For moment ground shook and then it tore apart as dozen of roots came out of ground. Like tentacles, they twisted and chased, to capture and crush. Too big, thick and fast were they for the flame to consume them. He could only run.

Curses. Master's wounds could open again. They needed to finish this soon.

Root passed them, almost driving itself through master's forehead. Spirit of Fire lowered them and then noticed that root remained there. Quick glance told him that it was same with other roots- they grew and grew, but aside from tip that was guiding them, they remained in same position.

Made sense- apical meristems, cells responsible for growth of plant's length were located at top in roots. God as simple as this couldn't think of breaking that law- root can only grow, not change position so easily.

And so Spirit of Fire run, roots following him. Three were aiming for him, and he flew towards four nearby. When he got near, he flew upwards and seven roots followed him. He flew and twisted and swirled, roots replicating his movements till they were tangled together.

Rinse and repeat. Two left, one right, one north and one south. All twelve tangled and woven together. Two times six birds ( master would have stared and sighed at this joke. Then laughed). He reached forwards growing roots with crimson claw and caught tip. It attempted to grow, to extend, but heat was too much. They wriggled and jerked as flames licked them, and all that was left were blackened embers.

So tasty, divine essence. At least something good came out of this.

God of course screamed ( just how did they have enough voice for that amount of clamor) and from it's mouth came barrage of pebbles. Rock and stone and sand, each enough to cause significant damage were master in top form. But he stands and smirks. After consuming bits of spirit's essence, he finally has enough reiryoku to use bit of his true power. Only a glimpse, but enough for this.

Wave of clawed hand, and heat courses through air, melting projectiles, drops falling like rain. More and more come, and he avoids them, of course, but there is no need for urgency. Not now, when all those weapons do is fall, worthless and useless.

Land god stopped and retreated. Minutes passed and they did nothing, so finally Spirit of Fire flew down and put master on ground. God likely realized that they couldn't defeat Spirit of Fire, so they stopped. It was always wise to listen to survival instincts. Now he just needed to get blood bags...

Ground exploded. Wave of earth and stone, hundreds of metres tall, arose, aiming to bury them alive. Roots and vines and tree trunks followed, each tall and strong as building. Spirit of Fire looked and turned, but there was no escape. Earth was everywhere-they couldn't teleport, this spirit would just follow them.

Broken laugh escaped him. So this was how they were going to end? How their legend was to be erased? Master killed by nature he so loved, for which he sacrificed so much because of his spirit's stupidity, spirit that would either be summoned and confined to deepest chambers of Progenitor or left to wander world powerless, formless for rest of time?

This must be their punishment. Punishment for their failure. He deserved it. How was he supposed to protect master, save his siblings when he couldn't protect himself?

Earth and wood advanced, unstoppable, unconquerable. It came closer and closer and when it was less than half metre away, when it towered over them, like jaws ready to consume them... it stopped.

God stood there, dumbfounded. It stretched and pulled and growled, but nothing happened. It's attack didn't move for a millimetre, as if time has frozen for it.

Grunt. Cough. Spirit of Fire turned and saw master, eyes half open, hair floating in air, hand raised.

Movement of fingers. Spark of white light and earth hardens, sharpens, sunlight starts reflecting of it. Giant metal fragments arise and fly towards roots and vines, cutting them apart.

New movement. Black and blue dots surround master's hand, and severed plants and metal melt and grow transparent. Wave forms and flows towards hostile spirit. Land god is consumed by water, and no matter how much they fight, they cannot use their powers. Too much water will erode even the strongest rock.

Another wave of hand, another hand sign, flash of blood red light and earth becomes him, and he follows water, wraps himself around land god who is drowning and burning. Water neutralizes their power and fire rains down on them, water turning to steam and spirit burning as master's furyoku allows him to join with newly made flames, and in the end, spirit exits stones and plants they possessed to form body, which quickly turn to ash as they are drained of reiryoku.

Master's hair stops floating . Hair and hand fall and spirits floats to him, bursting with rage and vengeance, filled with just enough power to drive few stones through master's brain.

Flames dissipate and turn back to earth. Spirit of Fire follows, claws outstretched, jaws wide open, but he isn't fast enough. Spirit arrives and raises stone from planet's bowels, positions it over master's head, lowers it.

Master tenses and focuses spinning eyes on rock. Grunts and tries to move but can't. he opens mouth as if to say something but starts coughing.

Rock is almost there, almost hits master when his power comes unbidden, wild and snarling and desperate, thrashing everything around before it focuses over master's body, enveloping him in thick, white shell that is thrumming and humming, barely held together.

Rock falls. Spirit of Fire screams. Master's eyes widen. Shell explodes.

And world breaks in pieces.


'' First condition for breaking barrier is: when one who wields our power is defeated by mortals, in martial combat, dealt lethal injury, first seals will fail and barrier will start coming down. Some of you will awake from slumber you will enter. Some will even be capable of moving between worlds.'' Current Shaman King says.

He looks upon them, Kings and Queens of Oblivion. Monarchs of Gentry. Rulers of impossible. Now is decisive moment. It was unbelievable that they even agreed to gamble in the first place. Their pride runs deep, but agreeing on this conditions- it is stupidity. Shaman King becomes one with Great Spirits, becomes omnipotent. Such person cannot be defeated by mere mortals, nor by greatest gods. But it is all or nothing now.

Abominations stand and confer among themselves. In the end fourth one steps out, one who wears almost human guise. No fluidity, no change in standing, no relaxation, straight as arrow and rigid as statue

It's empty, soulless eyes, masked, blank face turn towards Shaman King and he almost (almost!) steps back, almost turns down gaze from revulsion and amazement that courses through his entire being ( he doesn't have body, doesn't have feelings it brings, but still feels need to puke), almost squeals when trillions of voices whisper warnings in his mind.

We will accept the terms. It says, without voice, without moving lips. Words simply appear in his mind ( he tries not to think about fact that it means it can enter mind of Great Spirits too, and what it could take from there).

But we ask for terms of our own. Such is law. Such are our rights. You can not have anything against that.

''Of course not.'' Those terms better be worth it if they are willing to perform such sacrifice.

First is that we will choose if we will awaken from our stupor. Second is that we will be allowed to work towards completion of other conditions. Third is that we will be allowed to bargain. Fourth is that the first portal will open three days after completion of the first condition. Fifth is that it will open around one who wielded your power but was defeated by mortals, in martial combat, dealt lethal injury.

So that was their endgame? They hoped to catch Shaman King and make bargain with them? Now it made sense. Still foolish, but not senseless.

''Very well. I accept that.'' It gives no suggestion that it is pleased ( and maybe it isn't, maybe it can't), for it remains stoic and emotionless as before. It simply remains there, empty and unfeeling, and it makes it much sentient then other three. Then sentient battlefield on which armies war till they are reduced to atoms, than giant tree composed of animals that hunt each other, then many headed dragon made of dark and cold with too many mouths and eyes ( and fangs, of course), though it looks human save for few small details. Ears and teeth and claws.

'' Now shall we move on second condition?''


Space breaks. It isn't something simple as ground being torn apart or atmosphere being unmade, but rather space itself is torn apart by wild, dangerous power that swirls around master. Not his, but something ancient, something eldritch and alien. Cracks appear over air and sky and ground and both shatter like mirror. Hole appears in world- a pure lack of anything, void filled by master's flying body. Mountains and clouds fade away, and Spirit of Fire feels space growing smaller, tighter

Land god crawls away, but master remains and Spirit of Fire follows him. He catches him, by ankles and shows, holding on him tight, as if his existence depends on master ( and in way, it does). But force unleashed is too great, drawing them deeper and deeper no matter how much they struggle. And in end it is worthless. They fly in, as they flew in Gate of Babylon days ago, but this time there will be no escape.

They are consumed, and reality patches itself. Not a single trace of them left, only bewildered god that soon crawls away to their abode.

He can't see. He can't touch. Can't hear, can't smell, because there is nothing for his senses to notice. No colours, no shapes, no sounds. Not even darkness. Just void.

He can't sense other parts of himself. Can't reunite with them. Can't teleport. Can't sense any of his siblings.

Even his sixth sense is silent. Even in deepest pits of universe, where there are only dark and cold, he could feel soul of world, could feel power of Progenitor. But even that is lacking here.

And there is master. But there isn't good enough adverb, because far and near don't exist here, in this... '' place'' that is neither small nor big. Master is...somewhere around him, looking exactly same as he looked moments before he was sucked here. Limbs and head and hair placed same way, clothes crumpled same way, expression of surprise and fatigue frozen on his face.

Every colour on him looks same, for there are no shadows, no light. Spirit of Fire reaches out, to feel master, to inspect, only to realize that master is neither well nor bad. Song of his soul has stopped, one note repeating in eternity, his life static but not snuffed out. He doesn't breathe, his heart doesn't beat, his blood doesn't flow. He could bet on his soul and true name that same holds for his mind.

Spirit of Fire too can't move and he burns but doesn't consume anything, caught in moment.

No time, no space, no life, no soul, no nature. There is only one explanation.

They have exited the world of Great Spirits. Been banished to oblivion. Entered Faery.

They should have went to hell when they had chance.


Finished third chapter! I hope you enjoyed it. Please review!