Chapter 6
As the temple shook, rocks began to fall from the ceiling. As Kantanshi and Shadow-Blade dodged the falling rocks, they noticed the voices coming from the swords were getting louder.
"…..feat…..first…de….self…"
Soon, they were entering the arena they noticed earlier. As they entered, two demons appeared in the center, one facing each of the assassins. When the assassins entered the arena, the temple suddenly stopped shaking. As Kantanshi and Shadow-Blade moved to the center of the arena, they did not see the demons standing there. Instead they saw themselves, both with weapons drawn.
"Before….you……enemy…….yourself….."
"Any idea what these swords are trying to say?" Shadow-Blade called to Kantanshi.
"No clue. But I think we have other issues to deal with first," Kantanshi replied.
Before Shadow-Blade could reply, the demons attacked. The assassins were able to easily avoid their initial attack, but were soon forced onto the defensive. As the assassins fought, the voices in the swords were steadily growing louder. With the demons attacking so ferociously, the assassins had almost no time to react.
"Before you defeat your enemy, you must first defeat yourself."
The assassins realized they could hear the swords clearly. Both of them instantly began to wonder how that statement related to their situation. Shadow-Blade soon noticed that many of the attacks that the demon he was facing used were familiar to him. Kantanshi also began to
notice the demon he was facing seemed to focus more on trying to disarm him and fight hand-to-hand.
"Is it just me or is there something similar about the way these demons are fighting?" Shadow-Blade asked.
"Yeah, there is," replied Kantanshi.
"So I'm not going crazy. You don't think these demons are trying to copy us do you?"
"Considering what the swords said, I wouldn't doubt it."
"I say we show them what the real thing can do then."
"Works for me."
The assassins began to fight more viciously. Soon, it was the demons on the defensive. However, it wasn't long before the demons began to match the assassins in ferocity. There seemed to be a stalemate between them. The assassins knew they had to end this soon; both of them were beginning to get tired.
"I don't think I've ever had this much difficulty with an enemy, except maybe for you," Kantanshi said after a while.
"Same. Not even when I was a kid training with the soldiers under my father did I have this much difficulty."
Before either of them could say more, the demons attacked. Even though Shadow-Blade was able to block the demon's sword, he didn't expect him to swing at him with his claws. He was able to block the attack, but ended with four slashes in his arm from it. Kantanshi, momentarily distracted from seeing Shadow-Blade hit, was cut across the arm from the other demon's attack. The assassins jumped back a bit to check their wounds. After seeing that neither of them we very serious, they turned their attention back to the fight.
The assassins knew that they wouldn't be able to keep fighting like this for much longer. They needed to think of a way to kill the demons soon.
"I don't remember being this good with a sword," Kantanshi said.
"You're not. I can kick your ass almost every time when it comes to sword fighting," replied Shadow-Blade.
"But don't forget who can kick your ass in unarmed combat."
"Yeah well……."
"Something wrong?" asked Kantanshi when he saw Shadow-Blade's face.
"No. I just thought of a way we could kill there demons."
"Well I'm open to suggestions."
"We switch opponents."
When Kantanshi thought about it and what they just talked about, it made perfect sense. And so without warning, the assassins charged at each other. The demons were confused as to what was going on with them. When Kantanshi and Shadow-Blade passed each other, the demons were unprepared for what came next. Kantanshi quickly disarmed the demon Shadow-Blade had been fighting and throw him to the ground after breaking his neck. Shadow-Blade effortlessly deflected the other demon's attack and within a few swings of his sword, ran the demon through. To make sure the demon was dead; Kantanshi ran his sword through the demon's head.
"Now that those two are dead, now what?" asked Shadow-Blade.
Before Kantanshi could answer both demons began screeching loudly. The assassins covered their ears against the sound and started backing away from the demons. The temple seemed to tremble from the screech of the demons. When the sound finally subsided, the
assassins saw the swords sticking in the ground where the demons were and that the swords looked completely different. Both swords looked as though they had never seen a single battle, as if they had just come right out of the forge. Kantanshi and Shadow-Blade retrieved the sword they had been wielding during the fight.
"To the conquerors of Pain and Torment, be warned: a weak soul is easily consumed."
The assassins noticed a loud rumbling and realized it was a door opening somewhere. They turned to see the entrance to the temple opening.
"So what do you think that voice meant by that?" asked Kantanshi as they walked out.
"No idea. So where do you think we should go next?" replied Shadow-Blade.
"Not sure. I guess we should start trying to find out where Satan's hiding."
"Good idea."
"Satan is usually in his castle at this time," said a voice from behind them.
The assassins turned around and drew their new swords ready to fight.
"Peace Angelic Demons, I mean you no harm," said the old man.
"You again? What do you want this time?" asked Shadow-Blade.
"I see you were able to conquer Pain and Torment. It's been a while since the last time anyone was able to defeat them. It's a shame you two contracted Hell's Disease though," replied the old man.
"What's Hell's Disease?" asked Kantanshi.
"A disease that's actually quite common here in Hell. Although it's occasionally found on Earth as well. It takes one of two forms: on Earth you would refer to them as werewolves or vampires."
"You're joking right?" asked Shadow-Blade.
"I'm afraid not. However, there is a cure," said the old man.
"Let me guess, Satan has it," said Kantanshi.
"Correct."
"Just one more reason to kick his ass," Shadow-Blade said to Kantanshi.
When they turned, the old man was gone.
"Damn, looks like he's gone."
"Yeah, but I think that was the longest we've ever seen him though…and the most helpful."
"I think you're right. So what are we going to about this Hell's Disease?"
"Kick Satan's ass and get the cure, what else?"
"Simple and easy to remember, I love those kinds of plans. I think we might want to try and figure out what form of the disease we have."
"We can worry about that later. It seems we have company."
Shadow-Blade looked in the direction Kantanshi was pointing and saw a group of demons approaching. As the demons got closer, the assassins prepared themselves for a fight if they attacked. As the demons approached, the assassins realized that they were werewolves that were approaching them.
"Shadow-Blade, we are here to escort you to our leader," said the leader of the group.
"Who are you, why should I go with you, and why should I care?" asked Shadow-Blade.
"You and your friend here have both been infected with Hell's Disease. Your strain will eventually make you a werewolf," replied the leader.
"What makes you so sure?"
"We can sense when someone is going to become one of us."
"What about me then?" asked Kantanshi.
"You have the stink of a vampire," the leader replied with a growl.
"I guess we know what forms of the disease we have then," Shadow-Blade said to Kantanshi. "You still haven't told me why I should go with you to see your leader."
"He's very interested in meeting you."
"Most are usually afraid of that. What if I refuse to go?"
"We were told to bring by force if necessary," replied the leader with a sly grin.
"Good luck with that one," Kantanshi replied.
"Oh what the hell, why not? Besides, I might be able to get some useful information out him," replied Shadow-Blade thoughtfully.
"Ok," Kantanshi said with a shrug. "You wouldn't happen to know where the vampires are hiding would you?"
"That way," said a werewolf from among the rest of the group, pointing in a Northeastern direction.
"Thanks, furball. Meet back here when we get a chance then?" Kantanshi asked Shadow-Blade.
"Sure. See ya later then."
With that, the assassins went their separate ways for the time being. Shadow-Blade followed the werewolves back to their camp, while Kantanshi went off in search of the vampires. He didn't go far before a small group of them showed up to escort him.
"You are Kantanshi, are you not?" asked a rather muscular demon at the head of the group.
Reaching for his sword Kantanshi replied, "Yes, what of it?"
"We were told that you would be here, follow us to our leader he as an…interesting proposition for you," the vampire replied.
"and if I refuse?" ask Kantanshi itching for a fight.
"Then that would be the most unwise decision you could make," replied a vampire dressed in rich robes with an ornate sword on his hip, "for I am the vampire leader, Shubuo, I am the greatest sword fighter that to ever walk through hell, now will you join us?"
Kantanshi thinking it a good idea, decide to follow. "When we get there, I'd like to test my skill against yours, just to see how good you truly are." With that the group left the temple and headed to the northern area of hell, through a wasteland that you could only navigate if you knew the way.