TALES OF THE WARRIORS: NABIKI

Zolton did not flinch as the body of yet another innocent drops down in front of him. The empty eyes of the male swan stares back at him, unseeing his look of disgust. The Lin Quay leader turned his gaze back up to his master, the leader of the Black Demon Clan. The cloaked figure proceeds to devour the heart, releasing a silent air of satisfaction. The other demon clan members around them were also finishing up their "meals" as the Lin Quay watched uncomfortably.

Having had his fill, the Demon Clan leader turned to look at Zolton.

"Anything to report?"

Zolton bowed. "Master. Our spies have reported that the samurai and ninja are forming an alliance to counter us."

"So they think that by repeating history they can put a stop to us once more. I must say they are as determined as I thought."

"Would our combined forces be able to defeat them?" Zolton asked.

"I will be honest. This era of warriors are a lot stronger than they were many years ago. But then again so is your tribe. Our main advantage would be our numbers, which grows more by the day."

"Will it be enough?"

"Young Zolton. The old Demon clan had made mistakes that caused their destruction. This time will be different."

Zolton nods. "Because you have a different strategy yes?"

"Indeed. One they would not automatically suspect. For now we have to let them think we are following the old ways of the last Demon Clan with the only difference being we have you, the master assassins who could defeat even a master level martial artist."

Zolton bows again before speaking. "We've also learned that the wolves that are part of the clans have decided to leave. They do not wish to battle fellow wolves."

"Does the same apply for your tribe?"

There was a brief silence before Zolton spoke again. "We are wolves as well. We may not be friends with them, but we still honor the promise we made to our ancestors."

"I understand completely. Know that I am not angry with any of you fornsticking to your dear traditions. Do not forget that the original Demon Clan had wolves who left to avoid fighting against their kind in the great war. Because they survived, their descendants, you and Lin Quay, have thrived since then. And it pleases me to have you fight on our side."

Indeed Zolton can agree on that. The opportunity for the Lin Quay to fight alongside the clan they are descended from was a great honor and privilege. This leader had promised them that they will achieve great glory and power from conquering Japan, and possibly the rest of the world. The Lin Quay tribes had spent many years serving as killers for hire and that was a tough life. They were hated, and many refused to fear them. Ninjas had looked down on them, and even the samurai refused to acknowledge them as anything more than mere killers.

Not this time. This time will be different. With the help of the Black Demon Clan, they will show the world just how fearsome they really were. Zolton was snapped out of his thoughts as he saw the Demon Leader eating yet another heart, this time of a young female goat. The wolf was slightly surprised he didn't even hear her death cry.

"If you have a another question, you can ask me Zolton. We are not strangers anymore."

The Lin Quay leader shakes his head. "It's nothing master. Actually my lord, I have been curious, why do you and your followers devour the hearts of these people?"

"You are aware that chi is stored in the body of every living being. The main source of the chi is centered around the hearts of every living creature. That chi can be affected by the strong emotions of those who have never been taught any martial arts to control them. Fear is a powerful emotion, and by devoring the heart, we gain an increase in power from the chi now affected by that emotion. That is why we inspire fear in these regular beings. So that their hearts will be ripe for the harvest."

"And that's why you're so powerful." Said Zolton.

"Strong yes, but unlike the others, I would need emotions of other kinds to devour. All I can do at this point is inspire fear, and that is enough to suffice me."

So the Demon Clan attack and kill to eat the chi stored in a person to gain power. The Lin Quay have only stolen things from people they killed or did not kill. He hasn't forgotten when several female members of his tribe had attacked a female sheep one night just to steal her clothes and precious items. Unfortunately that made people suspicious and why they ended up dealing with the ninja several times by now.

Zolton reminded himself that such details were unimportant right now. The main focus was following the plan, and giving his master exactly what he needed. He would have to admit that he has no idea what the true plan is, nor would he ask.

After all, some secrets of the Black Demon clan were better left alone.