Chapter Eight
The Ragau Coast
Military Bunker
The Golem was a hideous creature indeed and Toya released that this creature wouldn't fall so easily. Atsuma was the first to attack as he charged up his EX gauge to release the ability he learned upon first facing the Queen of Ice. Raising his hand in the air fire shot out and created a spiral around his body.
The symbol of fire appeared behind Atsuma and a large bird emerged from the flames. The Phoenix's body was made completely from fire. Its wings were spread out and a roar escaped from its pointed golden beak. Atsuma aimed the fiery bird at the Golem and moved his arm so that the Phoenix flew towards its target. Fire sprang up from the ground and consumed the Golem. When the Phoenix vanished the Golem was screaming out as flames licked at its shell-like body.
Toya wasted no time in delaying the next attack. He charged ahead with his spear and drove the blade tip into the fleshy part of the Golem. Amber somersaulted into the air then drove his twin daggers into the head of the creature.
The Golem roared again and lashed out with its tentacles at Atsuma and Karin. The tentacles were laced with poison and Karin quickly used her Hi-Cure Dance on both herself and Atsuma. Raigar attacked the Golem, effectively slicing one of its tentacles off. Atsuma attacked forward and drove his fist into the creature's body.
The Golem opened its mouth and green slime sprang out from its mouth to hit Toya and Amber. Both men yelled as the poison seeped into their skin. Amber twirled his daggers in his hands before throwing them at the Golem. He then jumped forward and pulled the daggers out with a rough twist. Toya jumped back when the creature lashed out again. Raigar cut into the Golem one final time and the monster slumped to the ground. The Golem shivered a few times then fell still as its body dissolved away leaving behind the Golem Core.
"That was quite an impressive EX." Toya commented when the fight was over.
"Yeah that was pretty awesome." Atsuma grinned.
"When did you learn it?" Amber asked.
"I remember feeling a surge of power after the Queen of Ice..." he trailed off. Toya and Amber nodded their understanding.
"Let's move on." Raigar suggested.
"I wonder how many Golems were left behind after the war." Karin muttered.
"Maybe we'll get lucky and we won't run into anything else." Atsuma said helpfully.
"Always the optimist." Toya said with a smile.
"Quit that talking and let's go." Karin barked.
Amber made a guttural noise when Karin turned her back to them but he followed after her and Raigar. Atsuma and Toya stayed close together as they travelled through another tunnel until they came to a room with a metal ladder. Raigar led them up the ladder and onto a pathway into the forest.
The land around them seemed to be empty but at the same time Toya felt a deep uneasiness about this place. Since Yokohama he felt an uneasiness settling in his heart that was growing steadily. The pathway through the forest took them out onto a cobbled road that ran directly ahead of them towards the coast and the fork in the road.
Atsuma had never been out of Yokohama in his life and the land before him was like a place out of a fairytale. The green landscape was pure and untouched and there was an oddly shaped mountain that, according to Toya, was the landmark to Yokohama.
On either side of the cobbled road were fields that stretched as far as the eye could see. Karin and Raigar seemed unimpressed with the whole scene as they quickly walked along the pathway. Amber, like Atsuma, was taken by the sheer beauty of this part of the world. Toya, because he was from Kyoto City, had already seen this part of the world but he was still impressed by the simple tranquillity around him.
Eventually Atsuma and Amber had to start walking towards the fork at the other end of the cobbled road. According to Raigar there would be a river at the fork and all they had to do was follow that river until they reached the bridge.
After a few minutes of walking they reached the fork and Atsuma spotted a sign up ahead. To the west was Yokohama and to the east was Kyoto. They were almost home. Toya took the lead this time as he approached the bridge not far from the sign. He stopped however when he saw a group of Knights from London City standing at the entrance to the bridge. There was one man not dressed in the armour of the Knights.
"Are the charges set up?" he asked tersely.
"Yes Lord Ooka." One Knight replied. "But why are we destroying the bridge to Yokohama?"
"King Caliban doesn't want the Golems spreading into London. Thanks to those Yokohama idiots the Queen of Ice has been revived." Ooka scowled angrily. "How blow the bridge."
"Lord Ooka..." the Knight asked once the charges went off, completely destroying the bridge. "What if they're survivors in the city?"
"It won't matter. If anyone survived the Devil Golem's attack they're probably dead by now. Good riddance I say."
"My Lord!" the Knight gasped.
"You don't wish to speak ill of the dead?" Ooka laughed. "It doesn't matter. They're still dead."
"But my Lord..." the Knight stammered.
"Shut up." Ooka demanded. "If those Yokohama idiots had managed to keep their Devil Golem sealed then this wouldn't have happened." They deserved what they got."
"How dare you!" Atsuma screamed. He had stood and listened to this man but that last remark was too much.
"Who are you?" Ooka scowled at the boy.
"Don't you dare insult anyone from Yokohama!" Atsuma raged.
"Atsuma what are you doing?" Karin yelled.
"So Lady Karin is with you." Ooka crossed his arms.
"He's right though. You shouldn't speak ill of the dead." Toya spoke in an icy tone.
"Just who are you anyway?" Ooka demanded.
"We're from Yokohama." Amber snarled angrily. "You have no right to talk about them like that."
"I can talk anyway I like." Ooka laughed. "The Queen of Ice will no longer be a threat once the Emperor is revived."
"Ooka..." Raigar called. "You call the Yokohama people fools for not taking better care of the Devil Golem and yet you approve of Caliban's plan to revive the Emperor of Fire?"
"Unlike those idiots in Yokohama the King will be able to control the Devil Golem." Ooka proclaimed.
"No one can control a Devil Golem. It's just folly to try." Toya stated.
"I'm done talking to you." Ooka waved them off. "Go and serve Lady Karin like the good lap dog you are Raigar. Men, return to London City."
"What a fucking jerk." Amber hissed in outrage when Ooka and his men left.
"I can't believe they'd say those things about Yokohama." Atsuma murmured painfully.
"So how are we going to cross the river now?" Karin crossed her arms.
"Let's go down to the river bank." Toya suggested. "We could always swim across."
"Are you mad?" Karin's eyes went as big as saucers. "That water could be absolutely filthy for all you know."
"Nobody asked you to come." Amber bit out.
"Toya is correct. We must cross the river if you wish to reach Yokohama." Raigar interrupted.
"Let's go then." Atsuma ran along the small pathway leading down to the clear river.
The river bank was clear of any Golems thankfully and Atsuma could see ancient remains of statues long ago toppled. The head of the statue was in the water, one stone eye still visible above the crystal clear waves. It was a hot day so maybe the water would be warm.
Atsuma approached the bank's edge then eased into the water. The waves lapped around his body and a chill coursed up his skin. He gritted his teeth against the cold then fell into the water and began to swim along the bank. Toya shouted at him to swim until he reached the farthest bank across the river.
Atsuma coughed up water when he swallowed some of it. He gagged against the taste left in his mouth but he grinned when he spotted the bank. Swimming faster Atsuma reached the muddy bank and he pulled his cold body out of the river.
He heard the others swimming onto the bank and when they were gathered together Atsuma used his fire Enchantment to dry them off as best he could. Karin was muttering something about having to degrade herself by swimming in lakes while Raigar rolled his eyes. Amber and Toya were already walking up the slope towards the remains of the bridge they were supposed to have crossed.
"We should be able to reach Yokohama now." Toya pointed to a marble archway not far ahead.
"Do you think we'll find Makoto there?" Amber whispered.
"I hope so." Toya murmured then he started walking.
"Be on your guard. There could be more London Knights near the city." Raigar warned.
"The sooner we get this over with the sooner we can stop Caliban from reviving the Devil Golem." Karin interjected.
"I'll keep our promise Karin." Atsuma nodded.
"Good now let's get moving." The brunette took off after Toya.
"I really dislike that woman." Amber muttered darkly.
"But she's probably really nice." Atsuma pointed out.
Amber said nothing and instead followed Atsuma through the marble archway along with a silent Raigar. The archway led into a small white bridge that connected the small pathways along the cliff side.
If Toya remembered correctly from his studies there would be three small bridges and then a small slope that would take them down towards the docks of Yokohama City. The group passed through the first two archways and stopped when they came to the third one. Despite the sun shining down across the landscape and bathing the place in its warmth the area around the third bridge was bitterly cold.
"Is it me or is it really cold?" Karin chattered her teeth.
"This was how it was before the Queen of Ice attacked. Snow began to fall in the city." Toya explained.
"If it's snowing then that can only mean one thing." Amber muttered.
"Follow me..." Toya motioned for the others to follow him across the third bridge. As they walked through the bridge that saw a man standing at the other side.
"Excuse me..." Atsuma ran towards the man. "But are you from Yokohama?"
"No..." the man choked. He looked terrible and haggard. "But my friend lived in the city. I've been trying to find him but the place is crawling with Golems."
"Why don't you get help?" Amber asked.
"No one will come near the city anymore." The man replied.
"You shouldn't be around here. The Golems could start moving out of the city." Raigar said.
"I know...but if you're going down there please be careful. The place is just an icy wasteland now." The man sighed sadly.
