A/N: So PoH hasn't gotten a lot of time to himself :P gonna fix that real quick! Welcome to Souls of Fire, villains get screen time too! Sadly for you Crow, I found a way to return packages to sender WITHOUT losing limbs.
Don't worry, I paid shipping fees. My reviewers have been the best! ItsjustCrow, Theawesomess1, Thunderwolf, Azure, blazepanzer24, alla amazing supporters. Love you all :D...don't kill me.
To Azure: Hope you found the evidence you needed x3 Lisbeth is actually the hidden gem~ (No I don't make sweet love to that, promise DX)
Enjoy guys! :D
The dimly lit corridors of the Fallen Elf fortress held no mobs at this time. The owner of the Malishard had arrived, taking the cold, desolate spaces as his own. PoH leaned back in the chair, looking to his lieutenants as they continued their suggestions.
We have to make a decision soon, the monkey's making his way to us. Not sure exactly what's slowing his progress, but we have to capitalize on any time we have.
"I will say it again," Xaxa proclaimed, "I think you should at least try it."
"But the old ways are the exact reason we got here!" PoH argued, "What good would it be for me if I simply preach to such bygone ideals?"
"It'd be a matter of addressing your audience, wouldn't it?"
PoH stopped, looking down at the wooden surface between them. His eyelids drooped, heavy and without break.
Ugh...Xaxa's right. It's so obvious, the people were always bogged with the notions of superstition and preposterous prudence. I just feel so stressed! Got a big speech to deliver and I have to get it right!
"Look at it this way," Nobel proposed, "Many of these kids you're speaking to have been told to worship their ancestors."
"So if I use that," PoH perked, "I could appeal to a much larger percentage of the population!"
"Precisely!" Xaxa smiled, "We know you're nervous, man. But don't worry, we know you can do it."
"Besides," Nobel grinned, "I've already set an arrangement with your little pest. Don't worry about him."
Nobel giggled softly, fiddling with a knife in his fingers. PoH's told me everything. The curse, the pain absorber, everything! His target reminds me of my bullies from school, the ones who humiliated me.
Ugh, all I need to do is catch him and he'll be all mine! Finally, someone who feels real pain! It's nothing like playing knife drawing on someone's stomach when they feel nothing!
What should I do first when I catch him? Blood Eagle? Thousand cuts? Judas Cradle? Lead Sprinkler? Ugh, I have to really be creative, this game won't let me create certain historical pieces!
PoH looked blankly at his obese comrade, who seemed utterly ecstatic to the task of dealing with his 'issue'. Xaxa cringed, looking away from the morbid figure, who laughed as he fidgeted.
Xaxa's told me the guy's a bit of a nut job. To be honest though, he helped me a ton with getting new recruits. Could use all the allies I can get, I mean he's gathering!
PoH sighed, rising from his chair. The clock struck three pm, it was time to address his followers, his troops. He felt sweat gather on his palms, his body shaking with excitement.
Smiling softly, Nobel joined him, followed by Xaxa. The red cloaked Xaxa kept an eye on Nobel, a look of worry on his face.
What if he goes overboard with it? I've told PoH we don't want a guy like this, would ruin any hopes of a reputation! If this Nobel does anything to him, I'll kill him myself!
Looking back to his nervous speaker, Xaxa blinked with concern.
"Remember," Xaxa patted PoH's shoulder, "Johnny's coming to hear you. You've gathered a crowd from the passion of your heart alone. Let them hear it!"
PoH nodded, patting Xaxa back as he left the room. Where Xaxa wore red and PoH wore black, Nobel wore yellow, a contrast even the blind couldn't miss. Rubbing his hands together, the speaker cleared his throat.
Entering a new room, PoH's eyes widened with surprise.
Sitting in the castle amphitheater were roughly fifty five people! Their eyes shot his direction, the crowd smiling and waving his direction. Their cheers echoed through the chamber, the welcoming of a hero. Boys and girls, all ranging in age sat before him, ready to hear him preach.
Nervous, PoH stepped before them all, his stage free of all obstructions, anything that could hide him.
Jeezus, PoH blinked, friends weren't kidding when they said they've gathered new recruits.
"Reapers, rise." Nobel called.
A group of fifteen rose from the left aisle, the children's eyes filled with joy at their leader's presence. PoH's heart filled with pride, their energy rubbing off on him like a campfire in a cold night.
The best way to change a society is to get to the young. Malleable and naive, you can teach a kid anything...from how to speak different languages...to how to cut a man's head off. It is the rule of all change, manipulate the young.
"You may be seated," PoH nodded.
The Reapers sat back down. While PoH's face was straight, he had an issue with their position.
Nobel wants these kids to serve as frontline fighters, saying they're just as energetic as he is. I need spies though, we've got plenty of older, less malleable bodies to do the fighting for the future.
"Peace," PoH began, "Some of the most peaceful places of the world come under a single name. A graveyard."
"To what do we the people of Japan have to say? When we have all but given our ports, the very jugular of our existence to foreign powers?"
The crowd grumbled, their eyes furrowing in disgust.
"What do we say when our culture is forced to submit," PoH scoffed, "All under the boot of the so called UN?"
"What are we told? Oh, they're our friends. What ever became of the glory that came with a Japanese name?"
Some voices hollered in agreement, the stone pillar held room heating with their collective disobedience.
"Throughout the last half century, this proud country...one that had a shot at ruling the entire world, was put to its knees. Now? Now we're the servant of the world."
"And what do we get in exchange for our courtesy?"
"Foreigners!" an older man shouted.
"Nay," PoH dissuaded, "Not only, my friends. Far worse."
"What we have, are people unwilling to embrace what it truly means to be Japanese. How would your ancestors feel now? The proud warriors that conquered whole continents feel if they saw us now?"
"Dishonorable," a boy grumbled.
"A disgrace!" a girl roared.
The crowd's energy peaked, eyes ablaze with indignant stares.
"Your hearts know the truth," PoH growled, "You know a truly powerful Japan needs true descendants of its people. To not have to answer to some desk resting bureaucrat in another country!"
"It is the year 2022," he shook his head, "The nations who would've addressed us as servant states have abandoned us...left us to fend against the dogs of China at our doorstep."
"A China...who's running out of clean space." He furrowed his brow, "Will we just sit and let these irresponsible children walk over us? Just like the Americans? Or do we put our fists forward and say 'enough'!?"
The venomous vindictive vitriol of the crowd only encouraged PoH, warming him with their calls of solidarity.
"I go to you on one knee, myself."
PoH dropped on a knee, splaying his arms to all.
"I was not given the prestige of being born Japanese," he lowered his head, "but even I...can see a broken system."
Rising back before them, he pointed to the door.
"I have a solution to our woes," he smiled, "One that will set this proud nation back to the throne it deserves! The return of pride and honor in Japan!"
Johnny Black sat amongst the crowd, listening closely to PoH's verbose litany. Smiling, he himself found power in the speaker's breath, truth in his voice and soul.
"We," PoH held his hands up, as if holding a bowl, "Must find the answer through the ways of our forefathers. The ways of the old blood, the way of a once proud Emperor."
"Today is Emperor's Day," PoH held his chin high as he lowered his hands, "A day to celebrate the old ways of life. To give veneration for the sacrifice of our mothers and fathers."
"The Royal family is a mere husk of what was once our way of life," he decried, "tainted from outside influence. Desecrated by Western ideals!"
"So how do we come about this? How do we fix half a century's worth of wrongs? Simple."
"The way of Bushido," he snarled, "Is a hard path, but an honest one. With it, we apologize to no one! Order will return to our streets. We bow to no man, only the Emperor!"
The crowd roared in delight, raising hands in praise! Letting his people cheer, PoH let his hands go behind his back, his chin high. His smile was shallow, but firm in his convictions.
If only father could see me now, that lazy piece of booze hogging shit. Mother would be proud...watching me let go of that primitive streak...
As the crowd's cheer died down, PoH sighed, still nervous as could be.
"When we as people see the Aincrad Liberation Force," he splayed hands, pacing the stage, "What comes to mind?"
"Bullies!" one shouted, "Robbing me and my sister of our earnings!"
"Pigs!" another exclaimed, "Demanding I give them 'favors' for simple acts of kindness!"
"All completely true," PoH furrowed his brow, "They are who we would call the misguided."
The crowd fell silent, PoH frowning as their passion died to a dull roar.
"By misguided," he assured, "We must remember, they are our brothers. Fellow citizens of a future Rising Sun."
"What you must do as people of this new ideal, isn't to fight first, but to spread the word! I want the spirits of our ancestors to flow from our words, spilling the truth like a fountain for all to hear and taste!"
"Through work and obedience," PoH prescribed, "I can show you the way. Back to the glory of Old Japan, to days where you can find work and support your family! To a dawn where you find the youth of our future at play, free of fear from outsiders."
"Lend me your hands!" he shouted, "Let me offer myself as a sacrifice, a simple cog of the new machine!"
"Hail the new sun," PoH proclaimed, "For too long have we as a people slumbered beneath the tides of business and economic conquest!"
Erupting from the pits of silence, his followers burst to applause. Cheers and cries of excitement filled the grey amphitheater.
Turning away, PoH wiped the sweat from his brow, rejoining his wingmen to the hallway.
"That was fantastic, PoH!" Xaxa smiled, "You practically had them eating your words!"
"I killed it," PoH boasted, "Though I felt it lacked the finesse of practice..."
"I loved it," Nobel patted his leader's back, "The Reapers I'm sure took greatly to your proposal."
"They'll make great spies," PoH nodded, "Children won't be suspected of coercion nearly as much as we."
Nobel sighed, feeling the sting of rejection.
"So PoH," Xaxa pressed further, "Was everything you said true?"
"Most of it," he admitted, "The only controversy's the mentioning of the Emperor's "Glory Days". Couldn't have been farther from the truth."
"The emperor's power was always mere show," PoH grumbled, "something I will change. Could you imagine the Roman emperor without such power? What a disaster!"
"Ah," Xaxa shrugged, "Never paid much attention in history class. Was boring as frack and I had other classes to mind."
"The mistake of the last war," PoH brushed his long black hair, "was pride. Had we simply kept our gains in Asia and Germany not been led by an emotional wreck, we would've had it all."
"You should've put yourself to be Emperor," Nobel nudged, "They'd practically trip themselves to give you the crown."
"I'd rather not," PoH shrugged, "I'm not Japanese."
"Wow," Xaxa's eyes glimmered, "So not only are you willing to lead, but you'll even sacrifice yourself for a proper leader?"
"Humility is a plain, but healthy drink."
PoH smiled, looking straight down the hall they marched. The Emperor of Japan's never held power...the Shoguns and other military elite held that privilege. I myself am no military genius...but I know my economics. If I take such command, I will be the one who truly wins.
He's not going far enough, Nobel looked to his boss, he should be focusing his efforts on eliminating all sources that have record of his deeds. Instead he focuses on this one guy.
"I wanted the Reapers on the front lines of our issue," Nobel argued, "Why are you putting us aside?"
"I'm not," PoH directed, "I'm saying I need spies. Plus, I don't feel that sending children to do the fighting is sporting. We've got older, expendable assets to our cause."
"They're all children though," Nobel disagreed, "Just because one's shorter than the other doesn't give them special privilege."
"I said no," PoH growled, "That is final."
Nobel sighed, bowing his head in submission.
"How old are you, Nobel?"
"Twenty nine," Nobel replied.
"Fair enough," PoH shook his head, "Listen, I have to ask you something...Xaxa? Would you leave us for a minute?"
Xaxa nodded, breaking off from the pair. His mind wracked with dissonance, feeling no desire to leave his leader with whom he felt was a madman. His steps were slow at first, his ears perked for any sound of discomfort.
"Actually," PoH held a hand up, "Could you get Johnny to wait for me? Wanna speak to him after this."
"Sure thing, sire!"
Xaxa left quickly, his red robes fanning out behind him. If I get him quick enough, we can act as PoH's insurance. I'm not letting this guy get a free shot!
Left in the dark, lonely corridors of the Fallen Elf fortress, PoH turned his gaze to Nobel.
"I've been meaning to ask," PoH tilted his head, "what got you separated from the last group you worked with?"
Nobel grimaced, brushing his brown hair aside.
"I need men I can trust," PoH dictated, "If you do this for me...I may entrust you with greater power than you can imagine."
"Well," Nobel grinded his shoes, "I...may have gotten a bit carried away."
"Don't smokescreen me," PoH snapped, "Just tell me."
"I got a bit excited," Nobel grumbled, "you see I was raised my whole life to be a surgeon and...I get passionate about the act."
"I...was practicing how to cut someone open..."
PoH grimaced slightly, but quickly swept his own expression aside. He's a sadist, gotcha.
"Okay," PoH smiled, "Well...you said you had a plan for dealing with 'him'. I've got something that can help you out."
Nobel's expression softened, unsure what PoH meant by that. Opening his inventory, PoH opened his Malishard's menu. Cycling through the options, he found one labeled [Divide].
"Here," PoH handed Nobel a piece of the white crystal.
The minute Nobel took it, his eyes widened with curiosity.
"This is a piece of an item I found a while back," PoH directed, "With it, you gain the ability to summon and mind-control some of the tougher mobs you may find out here."
"Wow," Nobel smiled, "You're entrusting me with this?"
"Like I said," PoH smiled, "I need allies. While Xaxa may complain about your demeanor, we mustn't judge. I find you consistent, making this a two front war will end matters quickly."
"That being said," PoH pointed, "Understand something. That piece holds only a fraction of the [Mother Shard's] power."
"Ah so it's a team effort then," Nobel nodded, "I can work with that. We should use this to eliminate everyone who knows about you."
"No," PoH stated, "We're to only use it against the Hunter."
"Why won't you say his name?" Nobel raised a brow, "It sounds strange."
"Because," PoH mumbled, "I'm unsure if we ourselves have any spies among us. Info brokers pay a lot of money to get their leads. I'm not taking that chance."
"Once that thing's out of the way?" he exclaimed, "The carrot and the stick method will serve us the rest of the way."
"And what if someone speaks out?" Nobel crossed his arms.
"Well then I'm sure your Reapers can do clandestine, right?"
Nobel smiled, finally finding the affirmation he wanted.
"Easily," Nobel bowed his head, "By the way...I think you'll wanna know this."
PoH stopped, looking to his new apprentice.
"Have you by chance seen a little brunette following him around?"
"Only once so far," PoH shrugged, "the Hunter's got plenty of pets."
"Oooh that little thing's more than that for him," Nobel grinned, "Much more."
"Oh?"
"Yup, the steroid junkie's...intimate with her."
PoH's eyes glowed, his smile wider.
"How do I know? The guy told me so!" Nobel laughed, "Went up to the idiot while he was helping with her business. Asked him and he openly said it."
"Good to know," PoH nodded, stroking his chin.
"There's the person we should-"
"Don't even think about it." PoH declared, "kidnapping's a stupid idea...on its face. It's all how you do it."
"But that...is for another day," he chuckled, "Go back to your Reapers, tell them they're to train and ready for my call."
Nobel nodded, leaving the dark hallway quickly. PoH watched as the Reapers' leader left his line of sight.
It doesn't even matter if he tries betraying me with the piece I gave him...I have a command to recall any piece I want. Long as I possess the Mother shard, the leash is mine to control.
Soon Xaxa reemerged, with a brown cloaked Johnny Black strolling beside him. PoH smiled openly, extending a hand for Johnny as he approached.
"It's been a while, Black."
"Likewise," Johnny smiled, "Gotta say PoH, that speech was inspiring. You've got quite the voice."
The two shook hands, departing to a new room. An empty throne, its ceiling as tall as some trees. A grand fireplace burned brightly, lighting the saturated hues of carpet and painting.
"So how goes it with Bale?"
"He's...losing it." Johnny chuckled, "He's been chasing his tail trying to find my "accomplice". Brilliant move on your part."
"The best part of psychological warfare," PoH laughed, "Is the fact your opponent practically GIVES you the ammunition to fight him with. You're aware of the objective, yes?"
"Kill him?"
"No, no." PoH shook his head, "I need him indebted to me. You've told me he's had great success climbing the ladder of the Divine Dragon Alliance, yes?"
"Heck ya," Johnny shrugged, "He's risen to Lead Tactician now."
"Well having a key to the skeletons in his closet's would benefit me." PoH tapped his hand, "There's a mini boss up in Floor Four, a fire breathing bear."
"You will let your most emotional comrade know the things Bale's going to do. I think you can handle the rest."
"Should be fun," Johnny looked smug, "Once that's done, I take my leave, right?"
"If you wish to join us," PoH shrugged, "Just remember to use this."
He passed Johnny a [Streaming Crystal], its blue and green speckled exterior opal-like in appearance.
"We need evidence," PoH blinked, "Once we have it? We'll have him answering to us."
"Ha!" Johnny took the item, "Even better!"
"With that," PoH waved, "You're free to do as you please. Unlessss..."
Xaxa drew some playing cards.
"You're up for some Poker? Xaxa's betting a rare item today!"
Johnny simply smiled, nodding as he joined the others around the table.
Excellent, PoH watched Xaxa shuffle, everything is going to plan. Besides, I've got a new trick up my sleeve.
A/N: The corruption spreads, infecting yet another soul with the promise of power.
Alright folks, sorry if this was a bit short of a chapter. Had to make sure PoH got some loving before moving on, because villains rarely get time. Feed me reviews, I'm starvinnnnng D:
Thanks for reading guys and I'll see you all later!
