Supernatural: Chronicles of the Order 4

Chapter 10: Tasks and Tides

(DISCLAIMER: No, I don't own Supernatural because it belongs to Eric Kripke and Warner Bros. So, enjoy the show! Rated M for graphic violence, adult content, and adult language.)

Shion was out of her ship as she was seeing Yock Island at a distance. Even though it was in the middle of the night, she was adamant into catching us here the moment she saw the Kurokage parked near the waters of the island that was in question. Even though it was nighttime, she was wanting to speak with us as she got word about my resurfacing that was about to spread like wildfire. By the time she was getting a boat set up, she saw Quintus emerge as he was suspicious of what went on since the passing of the Medical Corps' founder centuries ago. Both of them were ready to go towards the island as they were aware of what went on over there.

"It's been ages since Yock Island was once liveable," said Quintus as he was getting into the boat.

"Before Silas Yock ever set foot on this island, this place was once inhabited by the Draaza long before he came along to build the hospital there," said Shion.

"After what happened hours ago when the blast of raw power shot up from the sky, there had been news feeds about the return of Sam Winchester and his family after a six month absence in the Dabb Mountains on Shiganshina. In the end, we must secure the latter and his family before any further danger occurs in the form of Darbus Toller.

"Dean Winchester is highly capable of protecting his brother and his family while en route back to Alecrast, Quintus. In the end, let's hope that they return to stomp a mud hole in Ippei's killer."

Even if Dean manages to go home to Alecrast with Sam and his family in tow, he could attract the wrong attention from the Army of Cain that's gone into hiding after the failed attempt by Severin to cause mass slaughter on that planet."

"I put my trust in Dean in order to make sure that he gets the job done like everyone else. As for Darbus, he's as good as dead when he tries to put harm towards Sam and his family. Besides, Dean got the core engine from the Hinchcliffe installed in his ship, so there's no need to worry."

"I hope that you're right about this, Lady Shion, but if any danger is spotted on sight, we should have no other choice but to take Sam and his family away with us to Westeros where no harm shall come to them. We can't lose them after hearing all the trash that's coming from Darbus and his rising popularity, but we can't attract anything else following them like flies buzzing around a pile of shit on the ground. In due time, we can't let the Destiny of Worlds fall under the dangerous forces of those who are banking on them to fail so they can establish such danger for all of us who live in this entire Ashizoka System in the galaxy."

Shion never expected to hear such talk coming from Quintus before as she got into the boat and was ready to sail towards the island. With Quintus also getting in, he was sitting firm as he was most likely to be having his say on what would happen next the moment they would see all of us on the island. Even though it was only for a week, our stay was about to be interrupted the moment we see Shion and Quintus coming here to bring news about what was going on so far...

It was business as usual in the Alecrian town of Akatsuki as Crowley was managing the teahouse that was a hotspot for travellers and tourists who came and went. Still, it had been six months since I left this planet as the people around the teahouse were going about their business while having their tea and dumplings served to them on a daily basis. Life was good for Crowley as he steered clear out of everyone's way as he didn't want to get into the crossfire when it came to dealing with Milverton and his rise to his former spot in Hell. Still, his defiance against Darbus was mutual as he was wanting me and Reiko to come home right away very soon. In a bizarre sort of way, he was missing us as he also had work to do in the long run, for there were customers that needed to be served with their food to pay for.

When Crowley was ready to serve some of the customers, he saw someone enter as it was a young man with blond hair and blue eyes in which he fit the description of the typical male grunt of Darbus' artificial creations who were a complete nuisance. Just as he was about to usher the disturbance out of the teahouse, he saw the young man fish out a detonator device as he revealed a bomb strapped to his chest. Crowley remembered the suicide bombings during the Elder Days as he was too late to stop the one that came into the teahouse before he blew himself up in it. The impact of the explosion caused havoc as several customers have died from the blast except for Crowley, who was injured in the terrible mess that caused misery where he worked. By the time he got to his feet, he felt blood trickle from his arms and legs as he was staggering out of what was left of the teahouse. To his shock, he saw several more of Darbus' artificial creations coming as they were armed with guns in their hands. They were shooting at the people around him as they were fleeing the carnage that occurred earlier, for this incident was one for the record books since Severin's power trip last year.

The sounds of people screaming and wailing filled the air as Crowley was staggering in the street with blood staining his clothing. When he saw the manager of the teahouse on the floor, he noticed that she was already dead from the blast as it was too late to save her. Even though she was his boss, he cared about her as he vowed to get revenge against Darbus and his creations for coming here and causing harm to Akatsuki and its citizens. It was the only thing that was on his mind as he was even pondering on getting his demonic mojo back in order to not only go after Milverton, but to tear Darbus a new one after what he witnessed earlier. By the time the Medical Corps came on the scene, they noticed Crowley weakened from blood loss as they got out a stretcher to get him out of harm's way, for he wasn't about to go down that easily after what he saw earlier.

"That... bastard...," he said as he was coughing up blood. "That... arrogant..., smarmy, and conceited bastard!"

"Take it easy, sir," said Dunya as she was on the scene. "We're combing for survivors, so I suggest that you stay with us while we get you out of here."

"Darbus did this... He sent those... Ken Doll rejects to cause panic here..."

"We're getting you out of here, just hold tight." Dunya run towards Crowley as she carts him towards the stretcher and sets him down to rest. "Subject is suffering from hemorrhaging and multiple injuries in which he must have a transfusion and emergency surgery. He needs to be taken to the Order's main headquarters immediately to where the hospital unit is at."

"That... Darbus! He'll pay for what he did..."

"Calm down, we're getting you out of here as soon as possible, so I suggest that you rest for a little bit so we can airlift you out of the situation."

"He did this! He'll die for what he did in Akatsuki!"

"Sir, please calm down! A Medical Corps ship is on its way, so I suggest that you lie still while help is on the way for you to get you out of the way."

"I know that he did this! He'll die for sending those Ken doll rejects into Akatsuki in the first place and I'll make sure that he gets his due!"

A Medical Corps ship arrived as it landed near the remains of the teahouse in which several members of them were rushing towards Dunya and Crowley. When they all got him out of harm's way, they were in the ship as several more people were taken inside the moment they were found with multiple injuries. It was hell out there, but the incident of Darbus' creations causing havoc was more than enough to have a gag order issued to the aristocrat and his artificial dolls after what happened in Akatsuki earlier, for this incident will never be condoned, but it will also be condemed as well...

I was dressed in my nightclothes as I was in my room in the slug roe home. With the clock approaching towards one in the morning, I was most likely to be hearing from Shion directly as I got up from my bed and went outside towards the beach. When I noticed Dean sitting on the log, he was on watch as he was staring at the Order of Letters ship that landed next to the Kurokage in the ocean. Even though the mission still stood in bringing me and my family home, he was adamant into keeping all of us safe from harm as he was about to get an earful from whoever came out of the ship next to the Kurokage. To our surprise, we saw a boat coming from the ship next to ours as it had only Shion and Quintus in it, for they were most likely to be wanting to negotiate instead of seeking an audience with us on the sly.

"There's the Lady of Westeros all ready to come to the island," said Dean as he was seeing out of his binoculars. "From what I heard, she's a tough one, but she's also the head honcho of the Order here in this part of the Ashizoka System"

"Shion's no stranger of dealing with tough times, but coming here to Yock Island of all places is highly unlikely of her," I said. "Let's just hope that she doesn't have the gall to take me away from you to Westeros."

"And there she is..."

We saw the boat that carried Shion and Quintus land near the shore as they got out of it. To my assumptions, I sensed that she was no threat as there was nothing for me to worry about at this time. It may be a relief that she is here, but Dean's suspicions were climbing as he didn't want her to snag me or my family just yet after we were plucked from Shiganshina a few days ago. When we saw Shion and Quintus standing, they were adamant into deciding what was for the greater good as they were aware of what Darbus would end up pulling off next if we weren't careful.

"It's been six months since you dropped off the radar, Sam," said Shion.

"And I've returned from my exile in the Dabb Mountains on Shiganshina, but going home to Alecrast will be much harder than I thought," I said.

"We need you to come with us, Sam," said Quintus as he was adamant into plucking me away from Dean's watchfulness. "Even though you're safe with your brother, there's also the presence of Abaddon and her cronies that are watching your every move besides Darbus and his supporters."

"Hey, Sam's my responsibility, dumb-ass!" yelled Dean as he wasn't about to have me and my family forked over just yet. "You may have the gall to get him to Westeros without a moment's hesitation, but I got first dibs on securing my little brother and his family back to Alecrast where they belong!"

"And what would happen if Abaddon's forces spotted the Frankenstein ship you pilot, Dean? They are demons and they see through the cloaking devices of those who are willing to get away from the Army of Cain, just to end up getting blown into debris in space."

"That's enough," I said. "I know that you mean well, but I'm going home to Alecrast and that's a fact that stands. Once I return home with my family in tow, I'll even remove the warding spell from the room with the red ball if need be so I can travel without being stuck in space all the live long. As of now, I'm here to fulfill the twelve tasks I was put for and I'll maintain my sense of honor once again the moment I face off against Darbus for ousting me six months ago."

"We don't care what you do, but we're the better bet into protecting you and your family."

"Quintus, that's enough," said Shion. "As soon as we go inside of the slug roe home, we'll discuss what is really going on when we dish out the details about what we heard so far during our mission to Shiganshina, is that clear?"

And so, we escorted Shion and Quintus to the slug roe home as it was quiet so far. With the rest of us sleeping and the children in the sleeping bags in the empty room, everything was quiet as we all came towards the dining area and sat down. We were in a discussion that could shift the tide as the factor of what Darbus Toller truly stood for was weighing on us to the extreme. Still, every one of us loathed the arrogant aristocrat for what he did the moment he slew Ippei several months back as he was surging in popularity while mine was barely coming up for air as we speak.

"It's late, but we should discuss this in the morning with the wife and kids awake and alert," said Dean. "Besides, if we're on board to have Darbus canned, I'm up in arms into condemning that asshat for what he did 'cause he'll have more than just have a silver spoon in his mouth when it comes to having a silver foot shoved directly up his ass."

"There's no time to talk, Dean!" yelled Quintus. "There is time for action when your brother and his family have become targets of Darbus' smear campaign! You did see the surge of raw power blasting through the Draaza ruins, didn't you?"

"I saw it in the distance, but do you have to take it out of context?"

"Everyone saw it, not just you, Dean," said Shion. "From what I also heard, Darbus caught wind of it and he's not too happy with it. And furthermore, he'll stop at nothing to silence your brother and his family so they would never go home again. So far, we'll play it your way for now, but if there's any further danger, I'll have no other choice but to secure your brother and his family my way by keeping them on Westeros so they won't get killed."

"The mission to go home on Alecrast still stands, Shion, but I am going with my brother," I said as I wasn't about to allow another argument to commence. I know that my raw power was seen blasting through on this island, but I won't be put under the shadows anymore. I heard what Ginryu pulled the moment he tore up my letter of resignation up and he had his reasons for having hope in what is there for such a purpose like the Destiny of Worlds. I know that I was ousted by Darbus six months ago, but I won't be silenced or put away under the rug swept. I can't let myself get this bad again after what I heard the moment Darbus decided to have rockstar status written all over him."

"It's not just that, Sam. During my mission to Shiganshina, I saw a survivor of the attack force that was put on that planet where the Wintry Plain and the Dabb Mountains were situated in. He told me of his master's plans into shutting down the Order of Letters if we don't stop him. Besides, an old friend of yours is there with us in my crew, but he's in the ship I came in. Like you, he's adamant into restoring his own honor, but he's also got high hopes for you in which he'll even show support for your cause to put Darbus Toller in his place. I know of it very well the moment my familiars told me about his true plans to destroy us by shutting down the Order of Letters in his dangerous agenda."

"And that will never happen, Shion, I swear of it. I'll come back home, but I have so much to fulfill before going home to Alecrast as planned. If you ever heard of the twelve tasks, I'm taking one right now in which I'll pass it the week is up on Yock Island."

"What are you talkin' about, Sam?" said Dean. "You did pass the test when you got it on with Reiko in the ruins, didn't you?"

I was blushing as I began to feel embarrassed with what I had in me earlier. The very mentioning of me and Reiko's interlude in the ruins was more than enough for me to leave the room until I felt Dean's hand grab my wrist and set me back down. He didn't want me to leave in front of Shion and Quintus as it was deemed to be rude to do so, but I had to deal with it nonetheless in such times of crisis. In my moment, I was hearing about my popularity beginning to slowly climb up as I was most likely to be facing off against Darbus the moment I was going home to Alecrast. Still, I never forgot the arrogant aristocrat who smeared my reputation and caused my ouster as I was there in exile on Shiganshina six months ago. In due time, I would soon make a bigger impact as the time to return home with my family was finally at the masses at last.

"We'll leave Yock Island and resume our mission to go home as planned," I said.

"That's what I'm talkin' about, but we might come back here soon," said Dean.

"We'll gather up our stuff and everyone here so we can get them back to the Kurokage. We have work to do when we get back to Alecrast, for we can't fall under Darbus' machinations again."

"You're making a mistake, Sam," said Quintus. "Being under your brother's watchful eye will attract trouble if you don't be careful about it."

"And I'm no stranger to it. If there's a threat, then I have my raw power to save my friends and family from harm if need be. I did it before and there's no stopping me now, for I won't let Darbus or his cronies put further harm towards the people I care about dearly and don't you forget it."

I was brimming with enthusiasm as I was ready to leave Stohess and go towards Alecrast as planned during our journey home. Still, I had so much to do, but I couldn't let Darbus and his cronies get their way the moment their popularity runs out and fizzles on them. It was the most I could do as my reputation was gaining ground once again, for I was going hime and no one was going to stop me this time...

Kevin was up and alert as he saw all of us going towards our ships the moment we were all departing Stohess as planned. With the return towards Alecrast still standing, there was no way that we could be swayed by delays, but the remanining eleven tasks that were onto me had to be fulfilled the moment I would soon go back home and face off against Darbus. In the long run, we had to get going as Kevin saw me and everyone coming towards the Kurokage and the Order of Letters ship in boats. We were on our way out of Stohess as the long journey to Alecrast was still going, despite the detour we had here on the southern part of this planet. With all of us saying our goodbyes to Shion and Quintus, who were going to their own ship, we were going inside of the Kurokage as we were all leaving into space as planned. By the time we all got on the bridge with our things and families in tow, we took off from the ocean it was anchored in as we were leaving Stohessian airspace.

Even though I stayed there on Yock Island, I was missing it as I enjoyed the summer breeze in the southern part of the planet it was in at the very end of January. When we were out of Stohessian airspace, we were on our way home as the coordinates to Alecrast were unaltered on our journey home. With Dean at the helm in the captain's chair, he was sailing off as he was ready to take me and my family home towards our homeworld, for we had a score to settle with Darbus Toller before further troubles loomed on the horizon. By the time I was on the bridge, I was looking at the screen as I saw the various stars and meteors flashing by every step of the way. I was going home as I was ready to relish the task of of returning to the Council of Elders once again, for I wasn't about to fall under the cracks or shadows again.

"It's sure nice to be back in space again," said Dean as he was sitting in the captain's chair. "After this, we'll be ready to head back home to Alecrast like there's no tomorrow."

"I'll always have a soft spot for the places I was in, but there's the factor of Darbus that has to be settled soon enough," I said.

"It's ironic, but we can't let that asshat in question pull such a stunt like that on you again. I'm serious 'cause you're far more important than anything and everyone is determined to protect you and your family from such dangers you're going up against."

"Dean, even though you and everyone here in the Kurokage are on board to protect me and my family from danger, there's also a factor that those in Darbus' services would stop at nothing to put further harm on us in the long run, and that includes my reputation in mind."

"Dean, we have a problem!" cried Debbie over the intercom. "Something's hacking into the core engine!"

"Son-of-a-bitch...," he said as he left the bridge.

When he went towards the engine room, he saw Debbie trying to bypass the hack as the coordinates to Alecrast have been tampered with. When she reset the coordinates to our original destination, she saw them be replaced to the ones that are towards Albarn where it was still part of Shion's territory. From what was gathered. Albarn was a place of sin, gambling, and debauchery that kept tourists on their toes for what's in store for them. Dean didn't want to go there as he didn't have time to play around on that planet, for he had his mission to live up to until the end. Just as Debbie was about to reset the coordinates again to Alecrast, a current of electricity shocked her hands as it burned her very badly. Once again, the detour was in place as our coordinates to Albarn were already set for a while, for we were most likely to be dreading all the lewdness that came everywhere on that planet itself in mind.

"I can't believe that we're going to Albarn!" cried Debbie as she was reeling from the pain in her hands. "And I just kept the core engine from the Hinchcliffe in check, too!"

"Debbie, there's someone in the vents," said Dean as he spotted a stowaway inside.

"You gotta be kidding me! The only ones that hitched a ride with us are Yashamaru and that Draaza woman!"

"The only way to find out if there's an unwanted monster or demon is to say the magic word..." Dean was waiting for the right moment as he saw the stowaway in clear view. "Christo!"

In that moment, the stowaway came out of the vent as it was none other than a young woman who was actually a white demon that hid in there without recognition. Crafty and intuitive, she was not ready to let Dean go home to Alecrast as planned when she had her reasons to divert the Kurokage towards Albarn in the first place. The white demon herself was dressed in anime clothing from Tezuka as she had lavender hair and green eyes in which she was even busty from the start. Still, she had her reasons to bring the Kurokage to Albarn as there was something that wasn't about to be ignored anytime soon.

"Damn it," she said as she wasn't too happy with getting caught on the sly. "I divert this jalopy to Albarn and this is the thanks I get?"

"You're a demon, aren't you?"said Dean as he was suspicious about what was going on.

"Damn right, but I'm not the same smoky ones who parade around in a meatsuit all the live long. I'm a corporeal one that's got a beef with Ruby in the Elder Days for going with the plan with some angels and demons who got their Apocalypse in the end, only to fail miserably."

"Who are you and why the hell did you divert the coordinates to Alecrast?!" asked Debbie angrily.

"The name's Visenya and I'm not the type of person who follows either Lilith, Alistair, or even that slimeball, Crowley. I stayed in the Middle Ground and even lived there, but I'm not gonna let Sam shirk his tasks so readily when he's going home half-cocked."

"Consider yourself lucky that you're spared, but I suggest that you don't go into the vents again," said Dean. "As for the matter of going to Albarn, you said that there's a task for Sam, isn't there?"

"You may not know it, but Albarn is on the verge of a drought and the only way to save that planet is to have Sam and Reiko go there to make love and bring out their sensual energy to energize it again. I saw it before on Claudius twice in which that blast was more than enough to send the rains pouring all over the place. Even though Albarn is a bad place that is worse than what went on in the Kingdom by the River, the planet itself is in dire need of rain and the leaders there are taxing those who use the water for main reasons than swimming and taking baths with a profit that needs to be stopped."

"Okay, we'll play it your way for now, but after this, we're still going home to Alecrast, is that clear?"

"Smoke me a kipper, skipper, 'cause I'll be joining you for breakfast all day."

It was something that Dean didn't want to do as he saw Visenya stare at the core engine directly. The newcomer was someone that wasn't us as she was a white demon that was making sure that we all didn't shirk our remaining eleven tasks at hand before going home to Alecrast right away. It was a tough one, but we had no choice in the matter as the fate of Albarn was resting in the form of those that were chosen by destiny till the bitter end. Still, the remaining tasks were there at hand as there was no way that we can get out of them now, for saving Albarn went first before going home...

Ginryu was getting word about my returning presence as he was elated that I was brought back from exile. With the start of February around the corner, he was most likely to be resuming his meeting with the Council of Elders as they were awaiting my return home so far. When he went towards the assembly hall, he was seeing his friends there as they were grateful that I was coming home, but the factor of Darbus weighed heavily on their minds the moment they mentioned him in their discussion. Still, I was far away, but my presence would soon be felt as the time to welcome me was near the moment everyone saw the surge of raw power bursting in the air on Stohess yesterday. It was something that was on everyone's minds, for the time to see me coming home was beginning to be a breath of fresh air in the form of what would happen next.

"I heard that Sam Winchester and his family are coming home, thank the Maker," said the Orianthan delegate. "It's also a godsend that you sent Dean to retrieve him and his family from his exile on Shiganshina after being there for six months."

"The blast of raw power that was seen on Stohess yesterday was a prelude of what is yet to come," said Ginryu. "As for the issue with Darbus, we have every reason to be concerned when it comes to his popularity surging above us."

"And every day, we face harrassment since the killing of Dr. Ichinose at the hands of those soulless dolls that cause nothing but further harm to us," said the Rendilian delegate. "Darbus and his artificial creations have been a nuisance to us, but every time we mention Sam Winchester or his family, we end up either being harrassed, stalked, or even killed to speak up against that deranged bastard and his dolls."

"So far, there had been death threats to those who believed in the return of Sam and his family, but there's also the factor of what's been going on so far. According to Bobby, Darbus' true intentions are to shut down the Order of Letters and what it stands for when it comes to being perceptors, scholars, healers, and even hunters. This form of intimidation has even rattled the Alecrian Army and General Thorndike isn't going down quietly without a fight in mind against Darbus and his family. Still, there's the pressing hope that-"

"Ginryu!" yelled a familiar guard of the Order as she sprinted into the assembly hall. "There's been an incident in the Rokujo Plateau where the town of Akatsuki has been attacked!"

"Is this true, Toula?"

"Several eyewitnesses spotted some suspicious men with blond hair and blue eyes coming into the town in which several people ended up dead, including those that were near the teahouse in that town."

"Were there any survivors?"

"The Medical Corps have gone there and are treating the survivors of what happened there in Akatsuki, but the one that was in the teahouse had been taken here for treatment."

"What did he or she look like?"

"Some of the tourists and travellers that came and went to the teahouse in Akatsuki often call him by the name of Fergus and nothing more."

"Crowley..." Ginryu was ready to cancel the rest of the meeting with the delegates and Elders as he had to see the familiar person in question. "Ladies and gentlemen, this meeting is adjourned for now, but we have a crisis on our hands as we speak."

In that moment, Ginryu followed Toula out of the assembly hall as they were going towards the hospital unit where they spotted the Medical Corps taking in the survivors of the attack in Akatsuki not too long ago. The sight of what happened to those people was gut-wrenching to the extreme as Ginryu noticed a familiar face being wheeled into the emergency room for surgery. It was none other than Crowley in the flesh as he was injured without his demonic powers after what happened to him. It was a mess that became connected to Darbus and his artificial creations as it was also the last straw that broke the camel's back after what happened in the Rokujo Plateau. In that moment, Ginryu was ready to go against Darbus directly as this deliberate attack on innocent civilians was the icing on the cake of terror that was the calling card of the ones who followed the aristocrat in his service. Even Toula was appalled at what she saw as the time to stop the man in question was growing bigger than anticipated the moment the attack in Akatsuki occurred. It was the worst thing that happened since Severin's slaughter in the seven towns in his wake nearly a year ago as Darbus and his supporters were on the short end of the stick after what happened earlier.

"Toula, get me General Thorndike immediately," he said.

"But the General's in Chekiang right now," she said.

"Tell him to get his ass here before it gets further delayed. This incident in Akatsuki was Darbus' handiwork and it won't end here until he gets his way like a spoiled brat without his favorite toys."

"And what about the teahouse worker? What's gonna happen to him?"

"I'll speak to him after the Medical Corps work on him, but for now, we must rely on Dean to get Sam and his family back home before further harm comes to another town on this planet."

Toula left the hospital unit as Ginryu stayed behind to stand in front of the doors to the emergency room. With Crowley on life support and anesthesia, he saw the Medical Corps repair the latter's injuries in which they noticed the imprint of raw power protruding out of his back. The sight of it intrigued Ginryu as he had a feeling that the former King of Hell would be a target, despite the fact that the latter wasn't human for a long time now. It was hell when the survivors of the attack in Akatsuki were reeling from such dangerous creations that were conjured up by Darbus, who praised them for doing his dirty work, for they were his Master Race after all.

"What did you do to cause the ire of Darbus Toller and his Master Race, Crowley?" said Ginryu as he stared at what was going on in the emergency room. "What did you really say to him when he sent his soulless dolls to kill some of the townsfolk there in Akatsuki?"

Ginryu saw the Medical Corps finishing up on operating Crowley as they were ready to wheel him towards a hospital room. When he got out of the way, he saw the former King of Hell all bandaged up with an oxygen mask covering his face as he was injured from such a deliberate attack from the artificial dolls with blond hair, blue eyes, and porcelain skin. It was an act of cowardice that came from the arrogant aristocrat who was still on top with a reputation that was squeaky clean on the outside and rotten on the inside. It was the war on the Toller Family as it the prelude to it was beginning the moment Darbus' artificial dolls went in and caused havoc in Akatsuki in which Crowley was one of the injured in such a terrible tragedy to some who didn't make it. Juat as Ginryu was about to go and visit the former King of Hell, he heard his vidphone ring as he answered it, only to hear from a familiar nuisance that caused the attack in Akatsuki.

"Hello?" he said.

"Ginryu Ashizoka, I presume?" said Darbus over the phone. "I see that you didn't heed my warning too well, did you?"

"Your pride and joy of some soulless dolls went into Akatsuki and killed several innocent people down there, didn't they? What you instigated was an act of terrorism on a dangerous scale that is on the same level as Severin's attack on the seven towns here last year."

"That idiot at the teahouse, Fergus, should've kept his mouth shut about Sam coming back home and it's that tall moron's fault that so many innocent people had to die because of his resurgence."

"If Sam caused this, he would be here, but he's not. As for what your soulless dolls did in Akatsuki, it is the most despicable of all incidents that came here to this planet to do your dirty work."

"Keep talking tough, Ginryu, but in the end, I'll have my Master Race ruling the entire Ashizoka System and no one will stop me this time. And when I come to prominence, I'll shut down the Order of Letters so that no one will be under its yoke ever again."

"It was shut down once before during the Elder Slaughter back in 1958 and later resurfaced back in 2013. At that time, no one else heard from the Order of Letters again until it was brought to prominence after its return engagement towards what it is today. Are you willing to back off before you cause trouble the moment we are all gone?"

"You can't beat me, Ginryu. You never will... Sooner or later, there will be no Destiny of Worlds and I will rule everything with my Master Race, make no mistake about that. In the end, I win and my Master Race will rise up and cause slaughter to those who oppose me and even mention the Destiny of Worlds during my rule."

"It'll never happen, Darbus. Sooner or later, you'll end up being blackballed for your involvement of sending your soulless doll into Akatsuki and causing misery in that town. The blood of those people who fell are now on your hands after what happened yesterday and it doesn't end there when the Alecrian Army assess the situation in that town you caused havoc in."

Ginryu hung up his vidphone as he put it back into his pocket. He was worried about the future of the Order of Letters as he didn't want Darbus to rule the entire Ashizoka System with the Master Race that is now a threat to everyone that stood in its way. Still, he didn't want to be phased out by the aristocrat's words as he wasn't about to throw in the towel just yet, for my return home was just the catalyst of what was yet to come in the future...

The Kurokage was in Albarnian airspace as it was ready to land the moment it touched down somewhere on the planet. Inside of the ship, I was in my quarters as I was seeing the twins on the bed after getting a bath earlier due to their messiness at the dinner table. Both of them were a year old as I noticed Reiko holding one of them in her arms. Aora was the calm one as he was a spitting image of both me and Reiko due to the mixed blood in his veins, for he stared at everything that was in here that came and went. As for Ghimru, he was lively as he was laughing and giggling the moment I was busy playing with his feet. Both boys were a handful as we had our work cut out for us due to our status as both members of the Order and as parents. After hearing about having a detour towards Albarn earlier, I was unfazed as I was most likely to be completing a task there the moment I heard of it becoming dangerously edging towards a planetary drought in the making. Still, work was work as I had to abide by what was thrown at me, no matter what the risks that were taken.

"I see that we're going towards Albarn, but we can't let the children out of the ship while we're going there," said Reiko as she was concerned about what is going on down there on that planet. "That place is something that isn't suitable for children anyway, but I'm afraid to take our sons outside."

"Albarn will always be know for its sin and debauchery on the horizon," I said.

"Is it true that the planet is going towards a drought?"

"That's what Dean told me the moment he found that white demon hiding out in the vents without being detected earlier. Still, Debbie's not too happy with our new passenger after she saw the coordinates to Alecrast being hacked to what is now diverted to the galaxy's best answer to Sin City."

I turned on the t.v. as I saw something terrible on the news. There was a report in Alecrast as several townsfolk from the town of Akatsuki were being airlifted to the Order's main headquarters after an attack that rivaled Severin's power trip last year. To my shock, I saw several members of the Medical Corps carting a familiar person out of the teahouse as he was bleeding from his injuries. It was Crowley in the flesh as he had been attacked by the same people who tried to attack us on Shiganshina a few days ago. It was gut-wrenching, but I was concerned about what went on there on my homeworld as it was the most despicable of all incidents that occurred from the hands of Darbus Toller himself.

"...The death toll from yesterday's attack has now reached a hundred and forty-seven," said a newscaster on t.v. as the images of the wrath were broadcasted all over the galaxy. "From several eyewitnesses that fled the attack, the terrorists were described as soulless Terrans with blond hair, blue eyes, and porcelain skin in which they're the same folk that resembled the ones who killed Dr. Ichinose several days before. According to the Alecrian Army, General Hugh Thorndike has issued a gag order on businesses who do service to Darbus Toller, who is also the one who was responsible for the creation of his artificial dolls who did this carnage in the Alecrian town of Akatsuki where the wrath occurred. At this time, the popular celebrity who rose to meteoric status is now being bombarded by questions about his involvement in the disaster in Akatsuki, but we didn't get any answers from him so far. As for the situation about what happened, the Order of Letters president of the inner planetary branch, Ginryu Ashizoka, has also issued a directive to blackball Darbus Toller and those who rally towards him after yesterday's incident that caused terror in the town of Akatsuki. That's all for now, but first, here's today's weather..."

I turned off the t.v. screen as I was shocked to see what was on it. The images of the attack in Akatsuki was a simple taste of Darbus' wrath in the making as his machinations have gone too far this time. I was feeling guilty for leaving home on Alecrast as I should've been there for those who saw me as part of the Destiny of Worlds, for it was too horrible to bear so far. I was hoping that Crowley didn't get killed as he was valuable in his beef against Milverton, but he was without his demonic mojo, which made him both human and vulnerable at the same time. Even Reiko was concerned about what went on as the terrible news report was too much to bear, for it was also a wake-up call that was bringing us closer to our goal into going home on the sly.

"This can't be...," I heard her say. "Is this Darbus' handiwork?"

"It is, but we should've stood up to him when we had the chance," I said as I heard my voice breaking. "We should've stood firm six months ago and now it's too late."

"And that man from the teahouse..., was that Mr. Crowley?"

"It was, but he was the former King of Hell who got caught in the crossfire in all of this..."

"Sammy, he may have done horrible things long ago, but we can't let him fall yet. He's very much involved in what we have now more than anything. We can't let him suffer much longer like this, even after his nasty deals during the Elder Days."

"According to Shigeru and Futaba, he didn't want his mojo back due to the fact that Milverton would end up killing him if he was found, which could condemn him both ways. As for the rest of our friends and family, I just hope that they didn't fall in the carnage that is witnessed all across the galaxy... It's too much to bear, but we have to deal with it the moment we see such danger looming on our television screens. No matter how many times we shield the children's eyes, we can't ignore what is seen beyond our reach after what occurred. Darbus has took it too far this time and his popularity will fizzle after what we saw earlier, for he won't last a day without being under the microscope of scrutiny in the long run."

"I just hope that no one else got killed..."

The worries for the safety of everyone on Alecrast shook us to the core as the images of what happened in Akatsuki was sending plenty of shockwaves all over the place. Still, even though I had so much to do, I couldn't shake the fact that Darbus would pull something off like that as he was still on top, but it would soon fade the moment I would get home to face him after I completed the twelve tasks at hand soon enough...

Dunya was sitting in Crowley's hospital room as she noticed Ginryu approaching. Even though she spotted the former King of Hell injured, she didn't want to abandon him as she didn't want him to fall farther after what she saw yesterday. Even Ginryu was concerned as he saw Crowley in a hospital bed with an oxygen mask over his face and an i.v. drip inserted into his arm. It was terrible to see the former King of Hell like that as the incident in Akatsuki was still on the minds of those that were on the scene of the disaster in the teahouse yesterday.

"So, how is our former King of Hell doing?" asked Ginryu.

"He's stable, but it's a miracle that he's alive after withstanding a blast like that in the teahouse yesterday," said Dunya. "For hours, he kept rambling about Darbus being responsible for sending those artificial creations there in that town to do his dirty work, but sending in a suicide bomber to destroy the teahouse there was in such new lows already the moment that guy kept complaining about the celebrity who can't dodge anything this time."

"Darbus will get it coming the moment he lets his guard down, but for now, we must focus on tending to the patients who arrived here after yesterday's incident in Akatsuki."

"I bet that you're itching to rip a new one in Darbus after what he's been doing to make chumps out of us in the Order of Letters. Even the indigenous population here isn't too fond of him after he ousted Sam and his family six months ago."

"Dunya..., Darbus Toller is not the role model that everyone perceives him to be. He killed a close friend of mine, along with having his dolls kill Dr. Ichinose in front of his clinic. The bastard even had Sam ousted in which he ended up living in exile on Shiganshina for six months. He's crafty that he could be on top, but sooner or later, the worm will turn the moment he realizes that there will be those that will rally up with Sam and Reiko to put him in his place once and for all."

"I bet that Darbus' fans don't know the real deal yet... All everyone sees from him is his interviews and rockstar status that's been popping up from time to time already."

"They won't, but the rest of us do after what has happened in the past six months due to that prick's meteoric rise to celebrity status and the smear campaign that he had against Sam. It won't be condoned anymore because of the fact that enough is enough already."

"Speaking of Sam and Reiko..., are they alright?"

"They are..., but they're far away for now. As for Darbus and his supporters, they will feel the wrath of all of us as a whole the moment the arrogant aristocrat is exposed as the monster that we saw him to be the moment he killed Ippei Mitani and sicced his dolls on Dr. Ichinose. His actions won't go away quietly as his crimes won't be washed away so easily, for he'll feel the wrath of those who desire his ouster after what he did, for we are not just part of the Order of Letters, but a part of the entire Ashizoka System as well."

Ginryu wasn't ready to throw in the towel yet as he was getting fed up with Darbus and his artificial dolls causing problems to those who were in and out of the Order of Letters. In due time, he would welcome me and my family home the moment we were coming back as the time of welcoming us to our homeworld would soon be a somber one if Darbus wasn't stopped soon enough...

"This isn't over, Darbus," he said as he saw Crowley still incapacitated in his hospital bed. "Sooner or later, you will lose your status and everyone will see the true you in the end..."

To be continued...