CHAPTER THREE

ANACRUSIS OF RISING DARKNESS


It had been two days since that meeting. Scath had spent the time going over the reports that Hikari had made to Ienzo regarding this world, in particular the report regarding the Hero Killer. He focused on the connection he had to the school and specifically the class via the hero Ingenium who's younger brother was in the class that Hikari was attending in this world. He'd decided to make his way to Hosu, given that that was the Hero Killers last known location.

Ienzo assured him that the girl was nowhere near the danger zone, but all the same he couldn't help but worry. That and it would give him something to do besides hanging around with Giran waiting for him to sort out this damned meeting with whoever he was recruiting him for.

Scath could have made a portal to get there, either with his Keyblade or with the powers of Darkness but the former had to be kept hidden in case Giran was spying on him in the apartment, and the latter… The less contact he had with that realm the better. And he didn't want to risk leaking any Heartless into this world if the Corridor didn't seal properly. That and there was something relaxing about travelling by something elses power than his own, and when one puts them so close to the darkness, a moment to relax here and there are moments to be treasured.

"This train won't arrive until night, is that alright?" came a voice from a seat in front of him. Scath could just about make out a tuft of green hair over the top of the seat. Sounded like a school kid, or someone about that age.

"There'll be more skirmishes then, so it'll be more fun!" came a reply from the seat next to the green-hairs, a much older voice. Scath could just make out the end of a cane on the floor, so probably an old man, perhaps the kids grandfather? The kids voice when he responded made the brown-haired youth chuckle.

"Just keep your grandpa's training in mind kid, and I'm sure you'll be fine." Scath called over to the seats in front, the elder chuckling as the green tuft of hair pulled out of Scath's sight. The kid was probably embarrassed on someone calling him out about the whole thing, but stuff like that's good for keeping ego's in check. He leaned back in his chair and watched the scenery passing them by, letting the conversation in front of him sift into background noise.

This world was definitely worth seeing… It had been so long since he'd seen an intact world like this. The last time he'd seen trees and hills like this, was the fractured remnants of a consumed world in the Realm Of Darkness. It was heartening to see a non-corrupted version of that same kind of scenery. Especially without any monsters randomly striking from nowhere.

Almost right on cue the opposite wall of the train burst open, and some kind of four-eyed creature with an exposed brain revealed itself in the gap of shredded and broken metal, a hero of this world pinned down in its hand. The kid in front of him called out a name, Nomu, which brought Scath back to his reality of the situation and where he was. He glanced down at his right hand where his Keyblade had already been brought into being, a subconscious and instinctual response at this point, and he quickly dismissed it. A quick scan showed that all eyes were on the strange creature and not in his direction. Thankfully. But now there was the question of how to respond to this creatures attack… He had to maintain his cover as a villain recruit, but this beast needed to be dealt with here and now.

The dilemma was resolved for him though by the actions of another. "Not bad for an old man." He mused as the elder from before slammed into the beast after bouncing around the train like a jet-propelled ball knocking it out of the train, a green haired kid in a similar coloured suit looking at him and nodding nervously. "Grand Torino, my internship teacher." Green-hair quickly explained to Scath as they both looked out through the hole in the train.

The city of Hosu was on fire… The train conductor was calling for everyone to remain in their seats, to wait for the heroes to arrive on the scene and handle the situation. Under any normal circumstances Scath would be inclined to agree with the man, but the green-haired kid had the right idea and was already on the move off of the train.

Scath looked over at the conductor and gave an apologetic shrug before following suit. If these creatures, these Nomu as the kid had called them were causing all this ruckus and chaos, then it was logical to presume that there would be those who'd take advantage of the destruction. Namely those who specialised in killing Heroes and not being caught in the act. But all the same, best to check out the fires as well just in case the chaos there brought about opportunities for multiple hero killings. That and he had no clue where Hikari's internship was taking place and given that she was Sora's sister she'd no doubt be drawn to the most damaged areas if Riku's description of her brother was anything to go by.

As he ran he looked over at his armoured left arm and shoulder, sighing as he slammed his right hand into the pauldron. In a burst of light he was garbed in a set of faded gold armour, lined with violet, a foxes head stylised upon his face-plate helmet. The armour would give him the appearance of a hero, and the glass-pane that was the helmets front would hide his face from anyone looking his way. Scath snorted as he leaped from one roof to the next. The armour he'd fought in and died in in a senseless war, now being used to disguise himself as a hero... the irony did not escape him.

He soon found himself standing atop one of the cities high rises watching the creatures cause their wake of destruction, and the heroes battling desperately against them. One of them was ground based whilst the other was a flyer. He couldn't recognise any of the heroes but there was one down there that even he could guess the identity of. The Number Two Hero Endeavour… Now that was a sight he wasn't expecting to see this soon in this world. As much as he'd like to see what this fire-wielding powerhouse could accomplish, he had a different task to keep in mind. Making sure Hikari wasn't here in this hell hole of carnage.

He couldn't make out anyone that could match the description of "Sora's Sister" amidst the heroes fighting the other two brain-beasts, but then again a few of them were wearing helmets which made identification from a distance a bit of a trickier subject. When the flyer snatched up one of the heroes and took to the skies, it flew right by the brown-haired youth's spot on the rooftop affording him a closer look at the creature. Instead of a mouth it had a gasmask that looked like it was literally grown into the things face, and it definitely looked like something grown rather than born… Its proportions were all wrong for anything that was naturally born, even in a world full of oddities and shapes from Quirks.

His eyes caught those of the Number Two Hero as he pursued the creature, and Scath gave the illustrious hero a nod of respect as he took off after the beast. He observed the remaining heroes as they handled damage control for the creature that Endeavour had blasted the head off of, looking at their organisational skills, delegation of duties and their response times to any outcries from trapped civilians.

They were definitely efficient, and well-practiced. That part concerned him. If attacks like this were a natural occurrence in these heroes lives, then Xehanort would have reached this conclusion as well when he first came here. Which means trying to locate any report pages here would be trickier… an item like that would probably be stored in a high security site that would secure them from accidental damage or destruction. Most likely in the hands of the villains, since they were the best lead so far regarding any and all encounter information.

He looked over at the damage that just a couple of these brain-beasts had wrought, and what it had taken to bring them down… If he got discovered as not being an actual villain by the League, he could maybe handle one of these creatures without the Keyblade. But more than one, and he'd have to out himself as a wielder, and even then it might be pushing things.

And Hikari was in a school that was being targeted by these people.

Scath closed his eyes and took in a slow breath before releasing it. He could feel the darkness responding to his anger at the situation, and he could not allow himself to be consumed by the power. But given all that was going on here, how could Ienzo condone this operation? Why would someone dare to continue involving a child, no matter how accomplished, in a life or death situation on a constant basis?! Scath's breathing became laboured as his mind conjured the sounds of a war long ended, the thoughts of children risking their lives for the whims of another causing the darkness to rise up within and around his form.

The whirring sound of a helicopter's rotors broke the memories grip and drew his attention to a distant building, with two individuals standing atop it. No doubt watching the destruction unfold. From this distance he couldn't quite make them out besides the fact there were two of them, but for now that information would have to suffice. How they left though definitely gave him a cause for concern.

A dark portal.

Was it one of the pairs Quirks, or a Corridor of Darkness? But it was definitely time for him to take his leave, before the helicopter turned its focus on him instead. It would look strange for a golden armoured hero to not take part in the city's recovery operations, and the less that saw it the better. Just in case Xehanort had told anyone about more than just Keyblades. Once more he was tempted to call up a portal, but since records showed him taking the train to this city, he'd have to make sure that there were records of him leaving as well. Maybe by the time he got back, Giran would have sorted out that meeting with the League. "Time to find a hotel or something." Scath mused to himself as he left the rooftop, the armour receding back to its "stored" form in a twinkle of star shaped light motes.