Author's Notes: This chapter took a while. Blame Easter vacation and me having trouble with writing engaging action scenes. I'm still working on that for the story's endgame. If you ever feel like updates are taking too long, rest assured the story will not be dropped and will be completed since I have the entire plot drafted and ready to go. Some modifications are being made along the way accordingly just to stay in-line with the original canon, but that won't be the case for long since we have to reach an end eventually. Anyway, don't want to overload this section so, just know that I appreciate all the feedback and reviews greatly and they fuel me to keep writing. Enjoy the chapter :)
The moment Kiana and Fu Hua stepped foot inside the Village, a deathly aura seemingly took hold of their surroundings. The cool breeze that moved through the treeline stopped and the clouds darkened as their shadows cast a vast darkness over the girls' heads. Sakura Guards then revealed themselves as they circled the Valkyries with practiced efficiency.
«Say, Fu Hua, these look a bit different than the average zombies…» Kiana called out as she lowered herself into a defensive stance. Fu Hua proceeded to do the same, however in a relatively more relaxed manner.
«Indeed. They appear to be coordinated as well. This could be a rare opportunity to practice my skills.»
«Well, don't let me stop you.»
With that said, the Valkyrie Duo rushed at the Sakura Guards as Kiana shot at the one furthest from them. It dodged the bullets with ease and raised it's swords in response.
«This'll be tricky.» Kiana then loaded a magazine of Ice-type bullets into her twin pistols, shooting the ground near the agile zombie and limiting it's movements.
Meanwhile, Fu Hua had rushed the Scythe-wielding guards with a fierce kick, dropping down to avoid a swift slice but managing to grab the weapon, snapping it in half in the process. The now disarmed zombie paid no attention to it's exposed state as it recklessly leapt at Fu Hua, grabbing her from behind and immobilising her. The surrounding zombies that had, until then, held their formation around the girls, now seized the opportunity to overwhelm the Class Monitor.
«You're persistent. Ki Impact!» Fu Hua called out as she momentarily freed one of her arms, using it to blow a hole through her captor's torso. The Sakura Guard, instead of dropping dead in a heap of rotting flesh, looked up to the girl and grinned, further strengthening it's hold on Fu Hua. The others chose that moment to attack as well.
«Fu Hua!» Kiana was distracted from her fight when she heard the other Valkyrie's pained grunts as she struggled to overpower the zombies that surrounded her. However the Ninja-like Guard that rushed the young Kaslana, prevented her from assisting the girl, slicing and dicing away as Kiana was forced to go on the defensive.
«Damn it. I haven't had the chance to recover my full strength yet. But desperate times call for desperate measures.» Fu Hua exclaimed as a pillar of flame erupted from beneath her feet, blasting away the surrounding guards and torching the wounded zombie's arms. They dropped to the ground, breaking down and sizzling away into ashes as Fu Hua exhaled to relax her breathing. She looked up at the zombie with an icy glare, raising her fist so that it was on the same level with the guard's head.
With a single one-inch punch, a blast of fire pierced the zombie's head like a laser beam, making it explode in the process. Satisfied with her work, Fu Hua diverted her attention to the few remaining guards, moving quickly and destroying every single one.
Kiana dodged and fired another volley of shots from her pistols, but the Ninja blocked and deflected them all.
«Well if this isn't working, close quarters gun-kata it is!»
Leaping towards the zombie, she dive-kicked her enemy, however missing as it's speed yet again remained superior. Landing on her feet, she used a sweep kick to unbalance her opponent and used the butt of her pistols to smack it's face and stunning it in the process.
Seizing the opportunity, Kiana used her guns to punch and jab at her opponent relentlessly, it's speed now rendered useless. Backflipping away, she leapt up in the air and summoned Gugnir, blasting the Ninja away as it's body disintegrated. Kiana then landed on the ground and immediately rushed to Fu Hua.
As the Class Monitor punched the last of the Sakura Guards away in a fiery blaze, Kiana already stood next to her. With a final exhale, Fu Hua let her embers rest, not realising how little strength she had left before collapsing.
«Easy there, I gotcha.» Kiana said as she caught Fu Hua before her body hit the ground, motioning for the girl to lean on her for support.
«Thank you. I hadn't realised that I was so exhausted. Perhaps the trip took more out of me than I anticipated.» Fu Hua explained as Kiana examined her for any serious injuries.
«You look okay for the most part. Couple of spots will bruise for sure… What was that anyway?»
«I don't know. I've never seen Zombies intelligent enough to understand and use their immunity to pain to that extent. Much less coordinate an ambush of that scale…»
«And that Ninja, it was the fastest Zombie I've ever seen…» Kiana pondered as Fu Hua looked sceptical.
«You don't think anyone in this village is still alive right? With those things running around…
«Unfortunately, I doubt it. Unless they had a Valkyrie or some kind of guardian to protect them, then the people living here are long gone.»
Kiana looked around as she examined their location. It would appear that the deeper they went into the Village grounds, the closer they got to that Castle.
«We should get a move on. Are you ok?»
«For now. If we were to run into more of those zombies, then I fear I wouldn't be able to assist you until I recover some strength.» Fu Hua explained and Kiana offered her a hand to get up.
In the main Village Area, things looked even worse. The stone buildings were in desperate need of repairs and most of the stands outside of would-be shops appeared ready to fall apart. Kiana cringed as she noticed a pile of skeletons stacked in a dark corner. She still had not gotten used to that kind of thing and hoped she never would. Fu Hua on the other hand silently examined the scene before deciding to move on.
Soon enough, they arrived at the Celestial Castle, one of the only, if not the only place in the Village that didn't look worse for wear.
«It's taller in person…» Kiana murmured as Fu Hua looked surprised.
«What do you mean?»
«Well you see, there was this digital space that simulated a couple of stories, none of them true so it didn't matter much. Long story short, I've had to fight my way to the top of this thing to defeat a demon hiding in a sword.»
«And… you're hoping the sword is still here? After all this time?»
«Bingo! Now hold on.» Kiana said as she took Fu Hua's hand and activated Knight Moonbeam once again. It's wings fluttered as they brightened up momentarily. Kiana then grinned as she took flight, Fu Hua in hand, ascending the Celestial Castle from the outside. After a minute or two, they reached the top of the building and Kiana used the S.W.O.L system to blast a hole in the wall.
Putting down Fu Hua and then proceeding to land as well, Kiana looked around the top floor's hall once more. It was still the same as she remembered. The shrine in the far back of the room looked as if not a single day had passed, and Jizo Mitama still stood proudly on display above it.
As the two Valkyries slowly approached the weapon, a dark mist began to swirl around behind them, slowly taking the form of the demon held within the sword, Jizo Mitama.
With a loud, echoing roar, it revealed it's presence to the Valkyries before moving to slice them in two. Fu Hua dodged the sweep by jumping over the blade and moving towards her foe. Kiana dodged the other blade with ease and decided to load a clip of lightning-type bullets into her pistols. Waiting for her opening, she took aim at the demon.
Fu Hua, steadily reducing the distance between herself and the possessed armor, slowly charged her fist with energy, the dim glow around it getting brighter with every second. Jumping over an attack that came from the floorboards, the demon was determined to halt her advance as it began to charge a blast that would be devastating on hit.
Noticing it's attacks slowing down, Fu Hua picked up the pace until she was right in front of the demon. With a booming cry, she unleashed her punch and struck the armor in the chest, the blow so decisive, it's armor was destroyed and it's form was exposed.
«There…» Kiana then immediately shot the blast she had been charging and the hit struck true between Jizo Mitama's defence, stunning the giant. She walked to Fu Hua with a grin on her face and Fu Hua nodded silently in response, a small smile on her features as well. The Class Monitor then moved to deliver the finishing blow but Kiana stopped her, moving in front of her.
«What is it, why did you stop me?» she asked, surprised.
Kiana turned around to poke at the immobilised demon's head.
«Helloooo. Higokumaru! Are you in there? I just want to talk!»
The armored giant then stopped trying to resist as it looked surprised. A moment later and the rest of it's armor fell off as the dark cloud that possessed it faded away, revealing a small, teenage looking girl with fox ears and a bushy tail laying on the ground.
«You have a minute to explain yourself… Start with your names. Who are you?» Higokumaru said, standing up as she examined the two girls closely.
«This here is Fu Hua and my name is Kiana Kaslana. We're not here to fight or anything. We just-
«Wait a second… Kiana Kaslana? You mean Kaslana like the house of Knights from centuries ago?»
«Yeah, that's the one. You probably met a Kallen Kaslana all those years ago, right?»
«I did…»
«Yeah, as I was saying, we're here for the sword, not to fight or anything.»
Fu Hua moved closer to Kiana as she whispered in her ear.
«This is too weird, even for me.»
Kiana sushed her and turned to look at Higokumaru again who now looked mad.
«I can't give you Jizo Mitama.»
«Eh? Why not?»
«I've been fighting to keep this sword from falling into the hands of you Valkyries for years. Schicksal always sent squads of your lot to steal it for your Overseer. This form you fought, wasn't originally mine. But it is what's allowed me to protect the one thing Big Sis Sakura left behind before she…» Higokumaru explained as tears threatened to spill from her eyes. She held them back and now looked at the girls with a fierce glare.
«That sword is more important than you pawns know. It's fearsome powers aren't meant for mortals and I'd be damned to just give it away. Even to a noble Knight who knew my name!»
Kiana now looked determined as she dropped to her knees to take hold of Higokumaru's hands in her own.
«Higo, please listen to me. I'm not with Schicksal. And the man who sent those Valkyries to steal away the sword, aims to do terrible things with it. I need to get it as far away from here as possible so that it never falls into his hands. Do you understand?»
«I've been protecting the sword for years on my own. What makes you think it's not safe here?»
«Because I fear that whatever he sends to get it next, will be too much for anyone to hold back. That way, you'll be safe too. So just give it to me.» Kiana explained as she held Higo's hands close to her. After a minute of consideration, Higokumaru responded.
«...Y'know, I've been on my own for so long I've forgotten what it feels like when someone cares for something more than themselves. I guess that's also something passed along in your family.» Higokumaru said, smiling softly. Kiana smiled back.
«Thank you Higo. Really. I promise you won't-
«Now hold on a sec!»
Kiana and Fu Hua were surprised at the sudden outburst as they looked at Higokumaru with confused glances.
«What is it?» Fu Hua asked.
«I never said I'd give it to you!»
«Huh?! But you said-
«I know what I said.»
Kiana studied the exchange between the two as she turned to Higo again.
«Higokumaru. Please tell us what you mean.» she asked the girl politely and Higo turned to respond.
«I'll trust you girls to hang on to the sword. On one condition!»
Fu Hua and Kiana looked to eachother and Kiana shrugged in silent agreement. Fu Hua then nodded and asked.
«What are your terms?»
«I get to come with you.»
«What?!» Kiana asked surprised at the request.
«Explain.» Fu Hua motioned for Higo to do as told.
«If I come with you, I can make sure you won't do any bad stuff with it. And even if you try, I'll be there to stop you!»
«I recall we beat you not too long ago. What could you do if we were to-
Kiana then comically nudged Fu Hua in the shoulder to shut her up, smiling sweetly in the process.
«I told you the form I fought you with wasn't my own. I'd hate to resort to it, but I have one more form I can use that I think would be able to stop you if you did anything bad.» Higokumaru explained and Kiana seemed skeptical. After a moment she nodded.
«Fine, you can tag along. But promise to give us a hand if we run into trouble along the way?»
«Sure. Then it's settled!» Higokumaru excitedly exclaimed as she moved to high five Kiana and the girl returned the gesture. Fu Hua sighed.
«Great, just what I needed. Another airhead to look out for…» she silently mumbled before moving towards the other two girls.
«Sorry to rain on your parade, but we need to get going before it gets dark.»
«Sure thing! Higo, you don't happen to have anything you need to take with you?» Kiana asked and Higokumaru shook her head.
«No, not really. I don't need anything in particular to make it through the day. I don't even need to eat or drink. But I still do when I can since food tastes good, hehe…» the Fox-girl replied while sheepishly rubbing the back of her head with an awkward smile.
«I guess that will be cost-efficient at least…» Fu Hua responded and Kiana sushed her again.
«If you like eating, we'll get you something to eat. You probably haven't had a meal in forever…» Kiana said to the girl as she patted her head and Higokumaru awkwardly moved to hug her.
«I like you. You're cool.» she said before moving her head to look at Fu Hua, still hugging Kiana.
«You still need some work…» Higokumaru said, pouting and Fu Hua stared at her in disbelief.
«Unbelievable…»
The two girls let go of eachother and Kiana turned to look at the shrine of Jizo Mitama. She slowly walked towards the blade and after a moment, moved to lower it from it's display. She held it in her hands for a while before moving to fasten it's sheathe to her bagpack, the sheathed blade now hanging on Kiana's back.
«Ok then. Let's get going.»