It took hours to explain the situation the mom, so awkwardly she helped us by book a flight to the South America Amazons to find Ikkou without further questions. Nikondo, Aroma and Rawshe had kidnapped Ikkou and taken him South America. Chitose still held her worried face on Ikkou's sake. And I knew deep down Chitose was still concerned about Ikkou despite their differences.
A Necromancer, I thought it was only a legend. But then again we encountered ghosts and spiritual demons, so anything was possible. I was more determined to get to the bottom of this. I wanted to find out what's really going on. I only hope we we're not too late.
The sun was bright and birds chirped as we walked through the Amazon jungle, in our hiking gear. Due to my English speaking and me being half America, I asked a lead of people about the whereabouts of Ikkou Satonaka, but we only received little leads.
We pushed away branches and bushes as we continued to make our way through the forest. Along the way we passed toucans and parrots squawking throughout the day. Sumi had even asked for assistances from the decreased animals for help on Ikkou's whereabouts.
Suddenly, I heard rustle in bushes and advised everyone to be on guard. Maybe it was wild animal or one of the three foes, either way they had to know we were coming. As we continued to walk the rustle grew louder as I sense they were closing in.
We stopped at our tracks and my hands glowed with power. Yuko cracked her knuckles anticipating a fight. "All right you bastards, show yourself, instead of trying to sneak up on us." She said.
We greeted by a group our tribal warriors with large mask and armed with sharp spears. The mask covered up their body, so it was hard to tell their genders.
"It's not every day we get visitors, and by the looks of you and your friends I'd say you're not from around here." One of the warriors said.
"Easy man, we don't want any trouble." I replied. "We're here to find a friend of ours that's been taken by three people."
Another warrior pointed a spear directly at me. "Unlikely story intruder, but your kind isn't welcome here, no matter what lies you tell."
"We're telling you the truth. We're looking for Ikkou, he's been taken, and we're here to find him and bring him back to the Saienji temple."
It only made the warriors come closer, because of their rough history with Japan's monks. "Perhaps you heard, Ikkou's power is Arayashiki, you know descendant of Saizen." Sakura reminded them holding back Hinata's demon from attacking.
The warriors froze in place and glanced at each other as they took Sakura's word into consideration. One warrior took off his mask to reveal an old man, who I calculate in his sixties or seventies. He stroked his bread up and down, "Arayashiki, I was afraid of this coming."
"So do you know what's going on here?" Sakura inquired.
"Indeed child, the beginning of a vicious threat. An evil like no other." The old man explained. He poured ash into the fire. "Over those hundred years, we were a still a small culture recovery from our wounds. We were rebuilding our village and stumbled across an infant abandon out in jungle to die. So my great grandfather decided to take her into our care. We taught her our ways, our abilities naming her Tsukiko, meaning moon child. Tsukiko was kind and caring person always looking out for the weak ones and jumping to help in any way possible." He sipped his drink.
"So what caused her change?" I inquired.
"At one point, he took her to Japan for an assignment and met a couple of monks and priestess." He continued. "Tsukiko and my grandfather we're on good terms with the Head Temple, and started building back up our relationship. She became proud member of our clan. Pretty soon, her power begin to increase exponentially, so much that even the monks and priestess started to fear her much less grow jealous of her. Even we were heavy on edge about her strength. She began to manipulate the deceased against their will even if they were not ghost. She had the power of death itself. Then tragedy had struck, she was accused attacking one of her allies with her new powers and locked in solitary confinement. My grandfather did everything he could to have her released, but they intended to keep her there in isolation. "
"What happened after that?" Sakura asked again.
"All those times she waited patiently, he never came for her and neither did the others. While being locked up she started to perfect her newfound powers and eventually mastering them. Soon after, Tsukiko's kind and caring nature had disappeared, and she became cold and heartless taking revenge on the ones who put her in there. The spirits of the decreased were at her command full of emptiness and hate, even manipulating the bodies of the decreased. She was in direct control now changing her name to Fira to spread fear in her enemies."
"After that, she was sealed away thanks to the power of Saizen, it would seem like only his abilities could defeat her. It finds out that my great grandfather had passed away before he could return to her, even if the others forgotten about her, he didn't." the wise warrior concluded.
"You're saying that they are trying to resurrect her from being sealed." I asked.
"Yes, and they need the soul of Arayashiki to do it, which would explain why your friend had been taken. Don't worry; I have my troops scouting the area, we will find him until then, you all a free to stay here for tonight."
"Thank you very much." Sakura and other bowed their heads.
Just then, a fellow warrior informed the old man by ear on the situation. "It would seem like most of our troops were knocked out while in pursuit. But we did manage to find your friend; he's being taken at the Tikal temple, the largest pyramid in South America, and the place where Fira is sealed. I had warriors guarding that place for centuries. If we don't act now, I fear the worst is yet to come, let's move."
Nikondo and Rawshe had just set up the ritual inside the Tikal temple as Ikkou was tied down. It went from a historic landmark to base for the three servants of Fira. Candles surrounded the entire dark empty room as the ceremony was about to begin. They couldn't wait to bring back Fira, the suspense was killing them.
"Is everything set in place?" Ninondo inquired.
"Yes it is competed Nikondo." Rawshe replied placing the last candle. "Soon our mistress will be free, and everyone will bow down before her, or suffer."
"I just received a report that the Shaman Tribe Warriors and those nun brats are heading this way." Aroma alerted.
Ninondo gritted his teeth. "Hold them off as long as you can, no matter what it cannot be interrupted."
With half of Fira's power, Aroma summoned a legion of undead army at her commanded. They were the spirits of the deceased Shaman Warriors, monks and priests. The sky was now black as they patrolled all over outside. Yuko and I took out couple of the undead with few drop kicks.
"You will not interfere!" Aroma announced. "Attack!" she ordered her undead legion to strike.
The old warrior ordered. "Go get your friend; we will hold them back as long as we can, just make sure they don't finish the ritual."
A huge army charged at the nun and Shaman Warriors. No matter what, saving Ikkou was the first of the priority, no army was about to stop them. Using our combined abilities we cut down, half of the legion army, yet they continued to come back up.
Each of the undead legion reeked of the darkest power that had been forbidden for years. All of them were emotionless and completely soulless, neither of them had conscious. This was unlike what the girls had felt before, but the worrying came later.
While the others held off the invading army, Chitose, Yuko and I snuck inside the temple of Tikal. Immediately, we spotted Ninondo and Rawshe nearly competition.
"Ikkou," Chitose shouted with concern. It didn't take us long to know we were already spotted. Rawshe grabbed a couple odd looking dolls from his pouch. When he tried to charge at him, we suddenly fell to our knees as our stomachs began to twist and turn.
"Silly children, this is one of my many techniques, the ancient art of voodoo. With sample of your hair combined with my dolls, I'm able to blend your will at my command." Rawshe reminded twitching his fingers.
Yuko grunted trying to stand back up. "Damn you bastard!"
Rawshe grinned, "With that being said, its time I finish you off once and for all, but don't worry you shall be in a better place."
I grabbed rock and tossed it at Rawshe even if my body was feeling a bit strained. However, I was a millisecond late as Ninondo finished the ritual as we we're blown away by dark purple light. It shined across the skies, the same as Ikkou's power.
We sensed dark sinister force at work; its energy was beyond any ghost of demon we've ever faced. She appeared before us, a former priest wearing a half-dress with one leg exposed, torn hood, bare feet, violet lipstick like the color of grapes, and vicious scowl on her face that makes anyone cringe. She felt a surge of power coursing through her veins.
"Welcome back to the land of the living mistress." Ninondo greeted kissing her hand bowing down to her as Rawshe and Aroma did the same.
"No. We are too late." the Shaman Warrior leader exclaimed.
Yuko leaped up for a jump kick at Fira, but it was not hard for Fira to slam her to the ground. Hinata's demon made the second move by blasting a intense flamethrower at Fira.
"My turn," Fira hissed. With stuck of her arm, she released a powerful projectile stream that blew everyone away. We were all down for the count; it was more that we can handle all of us we're covered in bruises and cuts.
Fira grabbed Ikkou by the neck. "I have been waiting for this for decades. My revenge will finally be compete."
But before her claw could connect, Ikkou power shocked her despite being completely unconscious. "Impressive, even if you're not Saizen, his power still protects you boy, but don't worry I have way around it."
Aroma pulled out a military combat knife. "I will finish off this brat ma'am."
Even if we were injured, we quickly took Ikkou and retreated, while Hinata's demon blasted fire wall to cover our escape. Before Aroma can pursue, Fira told her to stand down. I knew for sure we we're going to see them again. And that this battle was only the beginning.
"It would seem like our greatest nightmares have come to past." I said.
To be continued…
