Kage/Shadow is Kira – but on this particular Arc, and to capitalize the fact that this is a Kira-Lacus fic… I'm writing him as Kira, but others will still call him Kage/Shadow.

And with this, I've moved this chapter to the M-rate. As to the reason of why… well… just read to the last scene.

And put it this way. If Kira and Lacus in Gundam Seed is match made in Heaven (and no mistake, I love it) so now, I'm making Kira and Lacus, Match made in Hell. Reason: it's more fun and challenging for me that way. And let's admit it: some of you guys might actually love it.

NOTE:

"Doryaaaaaaaaaa!": normal talking

"Charge!": special case

'Darn!': thoughts

GWA HA HA HA! : Giant creature speech

DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING!

Please… read and review

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A while before Goud Veia's fleet even departed to Japan… some time right after the Zaft knights retreat after the Inferno (Chapter 3)…

In the port of Carpentaria, Zaft Battle Barges sail in and out every now and then. Knights lined up to embark their ships, while some others disembark. Several battle barges are on dry dock, having much needed maintenance. Others are being armed as cannons being carried down to their decks. Several workers roll around barrels of gunpowder and packages of cannonballs into the Ship's magazine. Provisions and dried food are being carried into the ships and some life animals (food for the captains and commanding officers on board) were also taken in. There are also cohorts of Bladebanes here and there lining up or just walking around the port. All this are happening within the vast military complex of Carpentaria naval base. Carpentaria was unique and an architectural marvel: 70% of their constructions were floating atop the ocean. Yet it was sturdy and strong enough to hold multiple battle barges on its dry dock without sinking by a millimeter. Many of Zaft's naval creations were designed to carry a lot of weight. The Battle Barge for example, was able to support large number of armored knights, while still carrying some heavy firepower of its own. They say Carpentaria is considered the crown jewel of Zaft's naval prowess. But one Hakutenkun, the very master of this naval base would beg to differ.

Veia observed all this activity from the highest tower of his fortress, the Gamoff. His eyes were half closed in a bore. Veia is an ancient warrior. He could probably date back his time during before the Collapse! How many centuries has it been? And being ancient, he had seen his share of harbors. A LOT of harbors. Harbors that are far more grandiose and mind baffling than these, such as the submerged network citadels of Atlantis, destroyed during the collapse, or the city sized mobile dockyard ship, the Naval City Water Seven, swept by a gargantuan tsunami and sucked into the vortex, never seen again. If the current Zaft scientists saw the things their ancestors had built, they'll be wallowing in shame. Yet he can hear some engineers bragging that their creation surpassed their predecessors. An improvement or whatever… Mankind does love taking a great amount of satisfaction over a few little achievements. Such it was with this war. They gain small, and they celebrate like their lives depend on it. They loss small, and they mourn and raged endlessly for it. But in the end… it changes nothing. 'We're still at war.'

And then, the door behind him opened up and a man came in.

"The more things change… the more they stay the same. Don't you agree Andy?"

Waltfeldt nodded in silence and stood there.

Veia turned around and looked at his fellow Hakutenkun. "Your permit is on the table."

Andy looked at the table and saw a small parchment with Veia's seal on it. Andy examines it for a moment and then turn to Veia, who looked at him with a sorrowful smile. "Don't give me that look."

The white haired immortal warrior chuckled. "Sorry. What kind of look?"

"Looking at someone as if he's already dead." Andy groaned playfully. But he couldn't blame him. He's going to Junius. This will be a rather risky move, a Hakutenkun leaving his post and embarked on what could possibly be a one way trip. Especially with the fact that Waltfeldt was supposed to guard Zaft's territories in Africa.

"Oh. I'm sorry. But this is my normal look. This is how I usually see people." Veia chuckled. "You live as long as I do Andy, you start seeing deaths everywhere. People you knew passed on, while you live on."

Andy snorted. Veia's a swell guy. If it weren't for his MPD syndrome which left him with somewhat of a nihilist point of view. "So that's your normal look? I honestly couldn't tell. You always wear that masked helmet…"

Veia, seemingly offended, glared at Andy and barked angrily. "It's not just a Helmet. This is an archaic and genuine Japanese Samurai Kabuto. A real collector's item!"

Andy laughed and raised his hands in defeat. "Alright, alright already. Sheesh. You and that princess are a bunch of Nippon Otaku nut!"

"The Princess? You mean Lacus-chan?" Veia's glare turned to a kind smile. "I like that girl. She would often sing for me every time I can spare the time to visit and then in return I had to tell her stories about Japan."

"Tell me again how did you two suddenly ended up becoming BFF?"

"Not exactly a favorable memory." Veia remembered that day all too well. A few cups of too much wine, and Goud went off a little crazier than usual. The waiters got it first. Then the butlers, then the knights. And then suddenly the girl just came to his field of vision and Goud went nuts. The girl's only response is to sing, and a moment later, Goud scurry back and Veia came out, as tame as a kitten. "The first and only woman who had ever forced me back to normal without lifting finger, just her voice." Veia laughed. That's one hell of record that won't be beaten anytime soon. Ever since then, Veia swore to only drink water (when necessary). Also, she would often come to Lacus for medical check up in regards to his worst half. Come to think of it, ever since she quit being a doctor, Veia seems to be the only patient she had left. But then, Veia remembered a little detail that Andy added in his request. The list of names of the pilgrims is still imprinted all too well in his mind. Andy asked for his permit to enter Junius' waters. It normally only took him barely an hour to finish the administration, but that name… that one name, delayed the simple administrative formality by a week. "What madness drove her in there?"

"I wish I had the answer. Lamia was hysterical when she finds out that it was her sister going to Junius."

"Now this world is lesser for her loss." Veia looked on to the view of Carpentaria with empty sorrowful eyes. "And I'll be alone again."

Andy felt really bad. "Come on. It ain't so bad? You still have your students?"

Veia nodded. "Yzak's doing just fine without me. I've taught him all he needed to know. Shiho's… well, all she needs is just a confidence issue. And don't get me started on Viral!" Veia glared and pointed at Andy who quickly snickered. That former Fangrider is always getting on his nerves. Not the attitude. Hell no. He loved his attitude. What he do take issue, is the mountain of protest coming from his other students regarding to his horrible personal hygiene that comes in some of the canine type Zoan: the fleas are murder. "…but all in all… it's just a relationship between master and student. I would go to say our relationships had even come close to father and children… but… it's not the same. I never could find someone whom I can truly relate to. And even if we try to understand one another… there are limits of how deep our understanding can go."

Andy took a moment of silence to allow his immortal friend a moment of grievance.

"Lacus and I… well I suppose our mutual fondness of the Country of the Rising Sun is what bonds us together… if only in shared liking to something often misunderstood."

"Misunderstood… Lacus said that too." And suddenly, even Andy found himself curious. What exactly is so interesting with these…Japanese Samurais? "Mind if I press you what exactly interest you about these people… other than the fact according to history… they are the first recorded race of men who managed to defy the Great Empire and stand unconquered for centuries? And finally forced the Empire to compromise at that!"

"Interest huh… well… I guess I could say that… they are the only race of human in which I can feel some form of kinship." Veia looked at Andy. "Andy… you ever heard of the Sengoku Period? Otherwise known as the Warring States era?"

"Yeah. It's a period of a long civil war, lasted for a 1000 generations in Japan. It's what made the Japanese so infamous." Andy recounted what little he remembered of his history lesson. "At that time, the Oni clan is starting to disappear and we humans were entrusted to the running of the Great Empire. Of all the lands we ruled, there's one that continue to defy us and was ravaged by an endless streak of turmoil. That is the Country of the Rising Sun, Japan. The Empire tried to send several envoys to broker peace, but they were all brutally murdered. The last envoy even included an Oni, for intimidation. They send them back in pieces."

"After which, the Empire decided, in order so that their war did not spread anywhere else, we perform a systematic total blockade of the entire island." Veia finished the tale. "The blockade lasted for 1000 generations." The self styled samurai snorted. "The idea was so that the Japanese will kill themselves out. But in the end… they survived. And even thrived."

"And the Onis decided to broker a peace, take things into their own hands. The history didn't note how they did it but they did it."

"And made all of us, the Oni's supposed inheritor looked like an ass. But you're missing the point, Andy." Veia added.

"The point?"

"1000 generations of perpetual war. I can only just about imagine the kind of hell its people went through. I mean… think about it. The war they went through, it's not just a war like today, between Naturals and Advanced where the lines are drawn. This is a war where everywhere you look, everyone is either your enemy or they will be in the future. We've only went through a paltry 72 years of war. Yet they've endured its concentrated form for 1000 generations!"

"Concentrated." Waltfeldt noted the word.

"Our war is a world-wide war. As bad as it may sound, the war is at least dispersed allover the country. Soldiers are being moved constantly. Say one area is having a fight, some area will be left unattended, though they will leave behind some destruction, there are at least places that people can go to avoid the danger. Not to mention the fact there's Orb. People who don't want to fight can look for safe haven there. But Japan… Japan is just a small island. These warriors fought brutally in a land barely fit to support them all. There's no safe haven: every inch of that land is stained by the blood of hundreds of warriors fighting desperately for it. Everywhere you turn there's no safe place. And to survive an age of death like that, even civilians learn how to kill to survive. Either you fight or you die. Mark my words, the battle these samurais went through are far worse than what we had endured."

"Your point Veia?" Andy looked at the white haired Hakutenkun.

Veia laughed. "My point is… We had it easy. It wasn't fair what we did to them. We isolated them because we don't want them to fight outside their own lands. But instead of stopping the fight we intensify them and they survived. Do you understand Andy? They lived in age where their only business for the last several millennia, is war and death. Their race lived for several millennia where everywhere you look, everywhere you see, death and carnage is all you can find. Every day, every second could be your last. They had to fight, pitted against nature's fury, and even kill to scratch a living off rocks. And they survived living like that for 1000 generations. The crystallized end result to that? A caste of elite super warriors which later were adapted into the Oni's and now, Orb's official Military Arms: the Samurais."

Waltfeldt shuddered at the mention of the terrifying super soldiers. Currently, they are being used exclusively by the United Emirates of Orb, the one and only super power of this age that still capable of employing as well as training these powerful warriors. The reason why Alliance and Zaft dare not to interfere into Orb's territory was mainly due to the fear of a retaliation strike by an army of these Samurais.

"Most of people think… that the samurais were powerful because of their advanced secret training. But not so." Veia gently rubbed his Antler horn Kabuto. "If the samurais only had their skills and powers, the Onis would've simply lay waste of them a long time ago. No. What made them so terrifying is their unflinching code of honor and conduct. They fear not death having lived side by side with it for millennia. Do you know why Samurais carry this?" Veia pointed at his Wakizashi.

Waltfeldt gulped, not sure if he wanted to know the answer.

"It's to disembowel their own guts if they are dishonored or defeated. To them, either give them honorably life or give them death in agony. It's not power, or skills, or whatever that make the Samurai so terrifying. It's the way they see life and death. Warped, twisted, and brutalized from generation to generation, to them… their bodies, their life, every part of their being exist to be sacrificed for victory. And this is not just exclusively to Samurais." Veia smiled sadistically. "Everyone, everyone from the highest lords to the lowliest peasants from that country had developed that sort of mental attitude. And they've passed it on by teachings… and by blood."

Waltfeldt is now sweating buckets. He's a hakutenkun and he had seen things that will make people flood their pants. But Veia has a talent of spinning history into one freaky horror tale. "B… But… it's been a long time… I mean… I've met my share of Japanese before! And they're nice… even Lacus showed me some good stuff about them."

Veia chuckled and then flicked his finger. All the sweat from Waltfeldt's skin floated up and was gathered into a single ball the size of a man's fist in front Veia and gathered at the point of his finger, showing just how much the Hakutenkun was sweating out of fright. "That's because she's a kind and cute girl who wouldn't want to scare you with all the 'ugly' little details. We've both discussed and debated on about this topic in length. And believe me when I say this… please don't think of her as an idiot. I mean… for God's sake, she was even trained as a Kunoichi! A ninja! The Assassins from which our own Hassassin was based on!" Veia laughed as he threw away the sweat out of the window. (followed by a howl of scream from Viral down below: Alright! Who had the gall to throw this shit on me!)

Waltfeldt blushed in embarrassment at the amount of sweat he had poured out.

"Let's count: Sengoku Period… where they fight against each other for 1000 generations… and then a few short centuries after that, the Holocaust, where they fight for survival or hunting our kind… and then the war of the founding of Zaft… where they fought against the perpetrators of the holocaust or fight against George of Glenn, or even fought both sides… and after that? The Collapse, where they have to fight the merciless moody mother nature for several centuries… and now? The Bloody Valentine. The history of their race can be defined with a single word: War. A profession they continue to embrace and perfected, having never ran out of practice." Veia shook his head. "No other army on earth, Alliance Regulars, Scandinavian Berserkers, Mongolian Archers or whatever… no other race can boast to have that much experience in war, save the Samurais." As he said this, Veia's eyes glowed in…admiration?

The Desert Tiger noticed this. "You actually admire them?"

"Admire them? I told you. They're probably the only race of people I actually felt kinship with." Veia snickered. "I've survived the Holocaust… I even survived the Battle of Demongate where we lost our great founder… I got 300 years of relative peace during the Cold War to rest, recover and prepare… and yet, within 50 years into this Bloody Valentine war and I already gave birth to my own demons…"

Waltfeldt eyed Veia.

"A thousand generations of warfare and bloodshed… A person… no… a race won't survive something like that… not without developing some inherent insanity that are rooted down to the very core of their race." Veia concluded with a sad chuckle. "It's not that they don't fear death. They know what fear is… and there was a time when they too fear death, like the rest of us mortals. It's just… they've known it long and well enough for them to moved past beyond fear… to them… death is like their livelong partner. One they are ready to welcome when they depart this world… as equals. Now you see how I relate?" Veia the man who seeks death, the Japanese, the race who walked side by side WITH death, instinctively ready to kill and be killed at any time. "Coincidentally, I'll be leaving for Japan soon."

"Japan? To Archangel?"

"Yes…" Veia took his helmet and start putting it on. "I sent a sizable contingent of my knights led by Raww's other protégé, Miguel Aiman to reinforce him. Remember that Super Weapons case? It seems the Alliance had the gall to actually bring it to an Orb city."

"Oh? And this matter necessitates your priceless personal attention, why?"

"Because they already done massacred my men, along with most of Raww's supplies and troops. All in a single night if reports to be believed." Finished with the helmet, Veia moved next to a small sanctuary. His two regalia of Ice and Water, the Hyomaen and Ensui were enshrined there. Waltfeldt whistled in awe at such loss. "Reports suggest it was the work of Raww's arch nemesis, the infamous Eagle of Endiminion, Mwu la Flagga, but…"

"But…?"

"Reports indicate… Mwu received a local aid. You might suggest I entrust this to a senior Water Knight but… I had a feeling things won't be that simple." Waltfeldt smiled in understanding. Veia is a man of action. He preferred to be down there in the battle, in the fight, not just sit back and watch. Another plus for his better half. Veia finished arming himself and turned to Waltfeldt. "Who knows? Maybe one day, I'll get killed by a Japanese."

Waltfeldt chuckled. 'As if anyone can kill you when your whole body is made of water…'

Flashback end.

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Waltfeldt jerked back to the real world as Kira and Lacus emerged out of the ravine, with Lacus look inexplicable happier than ever when she stepped down from the shinobi's arms, and Kira, in stark contrast, look more pissed-and murderous- than ever. Seeing that look gave an instant clarification for the other onlookers that a deal has been made. One that favor Lacus at that.

"So… what's the verdict, pardner?" Lowe asked nervously.

Kira just couldn't stop growling. "Alright. We continue."

Everyone sighed exasperatedly. So even the Shadow couldn't convince the girl to change her mind.

"At any rate Princess, before you changed your mind after all the shit we went through, you better purify this sanctuary, pronto." Kira pointed his thumb at the shining pillar of the Sanctuary.

"Riighto!" Lacus then pouted rather angrily. "And I told you to stop calling me Princess! Call me Lacus!"

"EEEEEEEEEEHHH?" Lowe shrieked in horror. "Since when did you two get into first name basis?"

"Since she blackmailed me to." Kira turned to Ms. Pink floating nervously up in the air. "Give me back my partner please?"

Ms. Pink looked at Lacus who nodded with a smile, and the Shikigami floated down and handed Shiki back to its master. 'I'm gonna need to figure out a way to prevent that witch from stealing you again and again.' Meanwhile, Lowe was still a bit rattled and incredibly annoyed to the core. Shadow had not only managed to get into first name basis with the Princess, she even allowed him to carry her in that legendary style!

"What is it Lowe?" Kira looked awkwardly at the annoyed Lowe.

"Oh nothin. Nothin at all… I'm just SO freakin' JEALOUS of you right now!" Lowe rummaged his spiky hair in anxiety. "You get to carry the Princess in that legendary style!"

"Don't be." Kira growled as he looked at his hands. He got a good measure of a little something about Lacus…

"…she's FATTER than she looks."

And has no qualms of nonchalantly (and insensitively) declaring it in public in front of everyone. Completely oblivious to its repercussion to a woman.

First, the meteor hit Pluto, sending it plummeting into the inner circle of the Solar system, where it went pinball on the Asteroid Field. Then, the meteor burst through Neptune, Uranus, overshot Saturn and hit Jupiter, the explosion of these three giants however, blew up Saturn, whose ring sprinkled the surrounding moons with debris, blasting them all to kingdom come. The meteor overshot Mars and plow through the asteroid field, bypassing Mercury and Venus until eventually collided with the Sun, causing Supernova. The blast of the Supernova blow all planets (what's left of them) off orbit, with Venus and Mercury were fried in an instant due to their proximity, and the Asteroid Field were shot outward, turning what's left of the outer rim planets to Swiss cheese. And finally, the Supernova engulfed beloved Earth, and the bolt of Armageddon descended upon Princess Lacus Clyne-hime-sama's world.

And Lacus fainted while standing up with an empty horrified smile locked in place.

Lamia looked murderously at an oblivious Kira, who still had the gall to, ever so casually, comment: "What did I say?"

Waltfeldt watched all this with a cold giant sweat dropping at the back of his head. 'Well… Veia, you're right. These Japanese definitely fears not death. But… like this I can't even tell if Shadow-kun here is just doing this on purpose… or he's just an idiot at heart when it comes to these things.'

Chapter 28:

Slaughter all Creation

The condition of the Third Sanctuary is serene and divine, just like the previous sanctuary bar one difference: whereas the previous Sanctuary are covered by a natural made citadel, a portion of the 3rd sanctuary's citadel were torn apart as the result of the violent crash landing of the pilgrims atop the big rock. This resulted in the Sanctuary lake became partially exposed.

"May the Gods forgive us… we have desecrated one of the Holy Temples of the Gods…!" One of the Exorcists wailed in horror and start ruffling his hair in panic. "We have desecrated their Holy Edifice!" The Exorcists began wailing and moaning, gnashing their teeth.

The knights weren't as hysterical as the Exorcists, but they too felt nothing but horror and grief. They too are followers of the Church and so they can understand the Exorcists horror. To them, anything that was deemed to be created by the Gods is to be worshipped and preserved.

So it is to everyone's complete horror… when they saw Kira nonchalantly trudged through the ruins of the Sanctuary's citadel, occasionally kicking a few pebbles out of the way and even flip and brazenly tossed rocks away haphazardly.

"Y-y-y-y-Y-Y-YOU HEATHEN HERETIC! W… What are you doing over there!" One of the horrified exorcist gaped at such a blatant mistreatment while pointing his trembling finger to Kira's black form.

"What am I doing? Making preparations for the Purifications. These rocks and stuff are in the way." Kira explained the obvious. The ruins littered everywhere; this is no longer resembles a place fit for purification. "Lacus-san is performing her preparation right now. Preparing to do her job. Would you want her purification to be interrupted by her tripping on some pebble in the way?"

"EVERY GRAIN OF DUST IN THIS PLACE IS SACRED!"

"So I'm told. I was also told that they're gonna be stuck in your hair for months to come." Kira came across a particularly large pebble. He took out Shiki, charged it slightly, and then fired a potshot that blew the rock away, creating a clear pathway into the Sanctuary Lake. Kira gleamed at the lake in awe. Its water is unlike anything he had ever seen. Glowing brightly, clearer than even seeing through window… he can see all the way to the bottom of the pool. But the bottom was so deep, Kira couldn't see the end of the bottom, but he can see the hole all the way down. There's no depth that the light can't reach. "That's interesting." And then, Kira pull out a vial and took a small amount of the said water. The water remained glowing and transparent even in the vial, signifying that the water is the source of the light. Putting a stopper on it, Kira then walk away from the lake, holding the glowing vial in his hands.

"W… What are you doing! How dare you desecrate the holy sanctuary…!"

"Zip it. I just need one vial." Kira ignored the protest. "Oh, if you guys still have the strength to scream, surely you guys can walk away from the premise a little bit?"

"What?" Everyone incredulously looked at the shinobi. Now he began performing a series of handseals. Standing next to him was Liam Garfield, Junk Guild's cartographer.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Liam nervously looked at Kira as he can feel the angry glares of the Exorcists. "They're looking at us as if we committed some sin…"

"Well I hauled in a gigantic rock that smashed apart the holy temple. I think they had the right to be pissed. But way I see it, I'm damned anyway. This is the right seals?"

"Right… which reminds me, how did you managed to gain the four cardinal seals?" Likewise, Liam also made a series of his own seals.

"I'll tell you some other time." The seals finished, both Kira and Liam slammed both of their palms to the ground: "DOTON, ISHI YOSAI! (Stone Fortress)"

Gigantic slabs of solid stone rose up and enclosed the lake. The Knights who did not heed Kira's warning earlier ran away in fear as the very grounds rose up beneath them, creating fortifications made of rock all around, encircling the Sanctuary. Finally, an enormous blocky structure stood tall, and every non shinobi in vicinity stare wide eyed, mouth aghast. Liam was slightly amazed. Add four seals… and the difference in results was so obvious. If he had done this the way he usually did, the result would be a misshapen mass of stones piled on top of each other that can barely stand. But this… wow. This is a true solid fortress of rock.

The Exorcists just flabbergasted at the act of creation that Kira had just performed on a whim. And they thought he was only capable of creating fiery constructs. But one of the Exorcists continued to protest. "Y-y-y-you! As it not enough you destroyed the temple of the God, you even defiled it with your heretical creation? Y-y-y-you heathen!"

"Bark to someone who cares." Kira spat. "As I understand it, when Lacus-san performed her purification, she told me her condition will be… 'immodest'." Kira made quotation mark.

"Immodest?" The protesting Exorcists repeated in confusion.

"She'll be naked." Kira explained more blatantly. And he can clearly see some knights and Exorcists began to stir and their minds were filled with their wild fantasies, just as Kira had suspected. "So as you can imagine, we don't want any sexual harassment accidents during the Purification that may have lethal repercussions coming from an angry little sister and an overzealous royal guard."

The knights blushed in embarrassment beneath the visors of their helmet but they quickly reassert themselves as they can feel the murderous glare of the angry looking Lamia and heard the sound of Hilda menacingly sharpening her great spear at the background.

"B-B-b-but still!" The Exorcists still trying to protest, but Kira has no time for some religious rhetorical protest.

"Enough! I don't have time for this. Lacus-san almost finished her preparation and I still have a lot to do, so I'll make this short: I'm the guy who sent that rock into the sanctuary, I'm the guy who torn it down, desecrate it, ransack it, I'm the guy who had taken a vial of sanctuary water. If God has issues, then he knows that issue will be with me, and me alone, not you. God can send me whatever Divine Wrath or Retribution he saw fit to give me and I'll accept it. So if retribution fell upon you as well, no need to worry. Because that's definitely not because of the sin committed today, satisfied?" Kira concluded the discussion without waiting another reply and left immediately, leaving the stunned Exorcist.

Kira left the perimeter of the sanctuary and goes up to meet Lowe, who had again managed to perform the impossible: he had set up a makeshift working forge. It has furnace, it has molds, it has the anvil, it even came complete with the water filled with some chunks of ice for cooling down the forged steel. Kira looked at the icy water, and then he pulled out the vial containing the water of the Sanctuary.

"I'm surprised they let you take that from the Sanctuary."

"They don't." Kira answered short and poured the contents of the vial into the cooling water. The moment the first drop of the Sanctuary water touched the normal water, the transformation began and the water inside the basket changed into the same glowing water of the sanctuary. Lowe gulped. Kira's idea was so simple… yet so hard to do.

Just then, Waltfeldt also joined the two bringing with him a pack of 15 swords, 10 spears, and 5 axes belonging to the 30 best melee expert Exorcists in his arms, and a few of their bewildered owners followed behind him to help him carry these weapons, Lamia, Hilda also included their own weapons a sword and a great spear. Kira and Lowe is still working on whatever it is they're up to, when an Exorcist, who happened to be among those who witness how Kira performed the Doton Jutsu, approached him somewhat timidly.

"Yes?" Sensing an onlooker, Kira continue his work and turn around slightly to see the speaker.

A blond teen, slightly older than him, by his twenties, with his hair tied to a short braid. "Lord Shadow… urm… my name is Gino. Gino Weinberg."

Kira nodded but he still showed his back. However, he quickly replied to show that he heard him. "How can I help you?"

Gino looked and realized Kira and Lowe is on an errand so urgent, Kira can't allow himself to turn around and face him. But he knew that Kira's is all ears, so… "You… do you have something against the Church, lord Shadow?"

Kira stopped for a second to digest the question and then chuckled. "Well… I'm not exactly a member of the church. I highly doubt the way we pray is the same with the way you people pray."

"We Exorcists were taught to always respect and fear the Gods. Not only because it is our duty, but also because it is right to praise the Gods." Gino replied. "Praise be to God, it is right to do so."

"I see. Well, if that's the case, that does sounds a lot like our prayers." Kira replied flatly.

"Then do you have any prayer?"

Kira chuckled. "Don't have any. Never needed any."

Gino frowned in confusion and disapproval. "Then our prayers are different."

Kira took a deep breath before he turned slightly and looked at Gino, face to face. Unlike the other Exorcists, this one seems to be a lot more cold headed and less overzealous than the image of the Exorcists as extremist he had heard so much about. This is further signified by his clothing: whereas other Exorcists have red and metallic charred black burnt scheme with skulls and torches, this one wears feathery blue and white suit, but still has the same design feel with the other exorcists with flaming blue color on the edges of his robe and some torches here and there on his armor piece. He turned for a moment to Lowe. "Lowe? Can you handle this?"

"Aye. I'll be alright pardner."

"Okay." Now Kira redirect his full attention to Gino. "Master Weinberg… I was raised in a family of academics. Many members of that family are… scientifically genius. Some are genius in warfare the other genius in mechanics… living amongst these geniuses, I dare say I've become a good academic on my own."

"No kidding." Gino nodded in agreement. To came up with a plan to shove a Babylon into the Sanctuary in an instant. If that's not genius, Gino don't know what is.

"The thing about us Academics… to take things in sentimental value and not pursue any further… is a big taboo." Kira spoke the truth and simply regale his own share of experience, remembering the time when he had to help with a LOT of Athrun's childhood experiments. Often with disastrous results from Athrun's part. "I was taught to never see things at face value, but for what they truly are. Water is water, earth is earth. A prayer is a prayer. What difference does it make if it's recited in words… or simply the heart or the actions that praised the God in silence? You tell me that desecrating the creation of God is blasphemous… then wouldn't that means the entire human race is equally sinful?"

"The entire human race?"

"We cut trees to build our homes. We kill animals to eat, we dried wells to drink. The trees in the forest, the water in the well, the animals in the wilds… are they not God's creation?"

"They are but…"

"Then how is it be any different with how I used the water from the Sanctuary to forge, how I used the earth of the Sanctuary to fortify the lake, or how you Exorcists used your so called Holy Fire to fight? How am I so different with what we all have been doing? So this water is usable but this water is not because there's the moniker of God's property on it? This earth is touchable and that earth is not because you claim them to belong to God? You differentiate things with the denomination of God when they are in fact the same, and then you lay claim on it. That's why I call it ridiculous."

Gino nodded in silence, accepting Kira's logic. "But… do you believe it? Do truly believe in God, Lord Shadow?"

"The question that has been hanging at the tip of your tongue." Kira stated flatly and Gino blushed slightly in embarrassment. But that blush vanished as soon as he looked at Shadow's dark eyes. "Like I said, I'm an academic… and my head will tell me that… I will never understand if that's true. And my heart… trusts me I'm not meant to. Simply believe that was the work of some higher power. God, as you would call it. After all… humanity had to come from something… or someone."

"Does God make you the desecrater of his holy creations?"

"Does God give birth to people with the express purpose for them to summon demons into the human world?"

Upon hearing Kira's reply, the thunderstruck Gino jawdropped. Kira clearly referred to the heathen demon summoners who brought about the Bloody Valentine in the first place.

Kira continued with a dark look. "If God saw the atrocity committed here, then He clearly doesn't mind. Otherwise, why did He let it happened?"

"I don't believe God will be that cruel!"

"I agree." Kira nodded, much to Gino's surprise. "Whatever plan God had for us… I doubt what happened here is one of His bright ideas. If God truly created the world and everything in it, this is definitely not what He had in mind." Kira jerked his thumb towards the hellish Junius. "God didn't make the world this way. We do."

Gino's eyes widened in shock as he continued to process and understand Shadow's point of view.

"I believed that some higher power beyond our understanding created us. But I don't believe that fact must determine our actions. What to do and what not to do. God may have created me, left His mark on me… but God will never rule my free will. My will is my own. As are its consequences. But as far as my sin against God goes…I will answer them before God, not to you or any other mortals, and that's where the list ends." Kira added menacingly to say that, if he had to answer for his so called divine sins, he will allow only God to judge him. If the Exorcists would try to take the divine law to their own hands, they'll have to fight for their lives for it. Kira calmly approached the awestruck Gino and gently tapped his shoulder. "When you must answer for your actions, you cannot say I was told by others to do thus. Your soul and your will is your keeping alone, not even God can lay claim to it."

And with that, Kira left Gino to his thoughts and returned back to his work with Lowe.

Gino, still conflicted but more to himself rather to Kira, felt a large hand tugged him by the back. He turned around and saw Waltfeldt smiled kindly.

"Give that guy a different outfit… and you won't find him out of place teaching philosophy or art in university." Gino sighed in awe. "I guess the question is not why an assassin like him knew stuff like that."

"The more appropriate question will be… why is a guy like that is an assassin."

Kira looked at Lamia. "Is she ready?"

"Just about…" Lamia nodded, but then she saw Lacus and the other Priestess had begun the procession. "It has begun."

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Lacus walked serenely towards the sanctuary. She took note of the makeshift earthly fortress that Kira had made and chuckled. But that small chuckle did not decrease her concentration not even by the slightest. She then entered the fortress and went straight to the lake. She looked around the inner walls of the rock fortress and smiled. It's over 50 meters in height, not a single peeking window or even the smallest chink. Kira really made sure that this fortification is perfectly pervert-proof. Not that she and her sister didn't trust the knights that came with them but… well, you know what they say: boys will be boys. And so, Lacus slowly undo her clothes one by one.

Perhaps because Kira's fortification, solid and sturdy as they may, are not as tightly packed as the previous citadel, the illumination from the lake is brighter here, giving Lacus a better view of her own body. She looked at her breast and blushed. She never realized it up until now: Miasma or not… she does have a beautiful body. Many courters sing poems describing her to be beautiful and all that… she never really took attention. And never really cared at all.

"She's fatter than she looks."

Lacus twitched again and massaged her slender stomach. 'Me? Fat? He must be off his…' But then, suddenly, Lacus felt incredibly nervous. Slowly and gently Lacus pinched her stomach and blushed all the way to her ears when she was hammered with the cosmic truth. 'On second thought, maybe he was right.' Lacus blushed in annoyance. "And why should I care what he thinks?" She accidentally spoke the last part out loud.

"Milady? Is something wrong?" One of the assisting priestess clearly heard what she just said.

"Nothing! Nothing wrong, tee, hee…" Lacus laughed nervously as she clasped her mouth. She cleared her throat. "I will begin now…"

"Yes, milady."

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The Junk Guild chief quickly heated up the furnace and once they reached the needed heat, Waltfeldt, following Lowe's supervision and Kira's request, placed the weapons into the furnace. Lowe raised the heat until the weapons were red smoldering hot and partially melted, but still solid enough to retain their shape as weapons.

"Hey what are you doing? Those are family heirlooms!" One of the knights protested.

Kira seemingly ignored the protest and stood over the red hot weapons, all lined up in front of him. Kira raised a kunai with his left hand and placed his right arm ominously on top of the flaming weapons on the furnace.

Waltfeldt, who's been having his suspicion about Kira, saw this and realized that what he had suspected was true. And the shinobi realized this as well - hence his peculiar request. Kira waited for focus. And as soon as his ears caught the first syllable of Lacus' song, he began.

konna ni tsumetai tobari no fukaku de

And before anyone can stop him, Kira stabbed the palm of his right hand with his kunai.

anata wa hitori de nemutteru

Lowe winced painfully.

inori no utagoe sabishii nohara wo

Hilda and Lamia also gaped in shock.

chiisa na hikari ga terashiteta

Fresh blood burst out of Kira's hand and sprayed unto the weapons.

anata no yume wo miteta

Kira let the blood flow as he moved to each and every weapon, ensuring enough of his blood to seep into each of the partially melted weapon's structure.

kodomo no you ni waratteta

Red vapor burst out from each drop of Kira's blood that fell into the surface of the red hot weapons. Meanwhile, the light of the Purification engulfed them all.

natsukashiku mada tooku

"Hey! How dare you desecrate our inheritance?" One of the knights tried to rush forward to stop Kira from 'desecrating' their weapon. But Waltfeldt stopped him.

sore wa mirai no yakusoku

"Quiet yourself. He's turning your pathetic family heirloom into what could possibly be the most precious weapon of all creation. Probably on par with Regalia." Waltfeldt's eyes widened in realization.

itsuka midori no asa ni

Lowe quickly grabbed the blades and hammered them quickly in order to fuse Kira's blood into these weapons.

itsuka tadoritsukeru to

Gino watched in horrified awe as Kira continuously and fearlessly let his blood drop to each of their weapons (including Gino's).

fuyugareta kono sora wo

And then, for a moment, Kira felt that the blood from just his right hand isn't enough.

shinjiteiru kara

Without a moment of hesitation, he grabbed a kunai and stabbed the other hand as well, letting the blood flow.

Fields of hope

With the amount Kira is giving per second from both his hands, he won't have enough blood to stay alive at this rate.

umarete kita hi ni dakishimete kureta

Kira grew paler and paler as more of his blood flow out of his hands while he struggled to finish all the way to the thirtieth weapon.

yasashii ano te wo sagashiteru

"Lowe… your Gerbera. Put that one here too."

inori no utagoe hitotsu kiete mata hajimaru

"B… But… pardner… Are you sure you had enough blood?"

tayorinaku setsunaku tsuzuku

"Do it!" Kira barked.

itsuka midori no asa e

He needed to make sure that Zaft isn't the only one who has these weapons.

subete no yoru wo koete

Lowe was a bit reluctant, but he finally unsheathed the Gerbera and placed it on the furnace.

sore wa tada hitori zutsu

Once Kira gave his blood to the thirtieth weapon, the said katana is already burning red hot, and Kira poured plenty of his blood to the tiger striped nodachi.

mitsukete yuku basho dakara

As he did this, Kira had practically lost a LOT of his blood-nearly half, judging by his paling complexion, and he's rapidly losing more to a dangerous level.

ima wa tada kono mune de

Lowe continued to hammer and forged these weapons while they are still being bathed by the light of the sanctuary.

anata wo atatametai

Kisato and Liam worked faster than they've ever been, turning, hammering, adjusting the heat, and cooling off the weapons… all at a very rapid pace.

natsukashiku mada tooi

They're trying to finish this while the focus is still in progress in order to ensure that the weapons also receive the blessings of the Purification.

yasuragi no tame ni

Now not only they contain the Genma killing blood from Kira, they also being blessed by the light of the Sanctuary's holy power. Kira smirked behind his mask. "Lowe… is this enough?"

Fields of hope

The nervous and gulping Lowe nodded.

natsukashiku mada tooi

And then quickly, they cooled all the re-forged weapons into the Water filled with the Sanctuary water.

yakusoku no nohara

The result: a pitch black bladed weapons.

Fields of hope

And with the deed is done, Kira collapsed to the ground on his knees, with his bleeding hands lifelessly stretched on the floor, and the person in question is dangerously close to death by massive blood loss himself.

Fields of hope

As soon as the song was over, so is the purification and everyone can hear the sound of loud rumbling coming from where they came. Everyone looked at the field of floating mountains behind them and watched as the floating mountains, purified at last, fell off one by one and filled the chasm until it finally became a rocky plain. Everyone cheered.

As Kira watched all this, he also looked as Lowe finished the last batch of weapons at record speed. His job is done, he quickly slipped to darkness…

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The next thing he knew, Kira woke up in a bed, gazing at the insides of a tent. He recognized the pattern of the said tent as the same tent meant for Lacus' personal use. He raised one hand and saw it has been expertly bandaged. He raised the other hand, and found it weighted down. Kira turned around and saw Lacus lying down, sleeping on top of his other bandaged arm. And Kira's heart slightly skipped a beat… at how cute she is when she's sleeping like that. Almost like an angel. 'Wait… wait… Don't be fooled Kira… her father must've married a scorpion to have her daughter with that sort of tongue.' Kira gulped nervously and calmed himself down and start trying to figure things out. Namely, what's his current situation?

Kira quickly reached for his face. His mask is still on. But then… how long was he out?

"Nng…" Lacus began to wake up and finally rose her head up. She lightly rubbed her sleepy eyes and looked at Kira's purple eyes but everything is still blurry. As her sight began to focus, she quickly saw the masked ninja was staring at her in bewilderment. Her lips parted in surprise.

"Erm…" Kira felt a bit awkward… until Lacus suddenly slapped him by the face.

"BAKABAKABAKABAKABAKABAKA! You're a TOTAL BAKA!" Lacus hysterically beat up Kira in any way she can.

"Wh… Whoa! W… Wait a sec! Wait a sec! OI! WOUNDED PEOPLE HERE!" Kira had to block Lacus' onslaught of punches with his wounded arms. And it hurts.

Lacus finally calmed down. But as she did so, Kira quickly noticed tears flowing endlessly from her eyes. "You… baka…" She threw one last weak punch which Kira didn't block. Lacus paused for a moment to look at the masked man before him.

As soon as she finished her purification she managed to somehow walk out of the sanctuary on her own. She was ready to get some good rest, only to hear the news of Kage collapsed, near death losing almost over half of his blood. For some reason, she went ballistic and hysterical about that fact. Ignoring her own rest, she desperately rushed to Kage's side and quickly took care of his wound. Fortunately, or rather like, strangely, Kage didn't need any blood transfusion. As soon as she finished closing his wounds with bandages, Kage's condition rapidly stabilized. Once she determined Kage's life is no longer in immediate danger, that's when Lacus decided to collapse. Remembering everything she went through, Lacus trembled before she exploded and unleashed a second dose of her angry shouts while grabbing Kira's collar and shook it back and forth. "YOU CRAZY MORON! What were you thinking, trying to bleed yourself dry? You stupid suicidal moron!"

Kira twitched and roared back. "And you're the LAST person I wanna hear that from! Need I remind you I'm doing that to fulfill your request?"

"But I had no idea that you'll… you'll…" Lacus stop shaking Kira and her eyes began tearing up again.

"What is it with girls and freeflowing waterworks?" Kira tucked his head as he looked at Lacus' tearful blushing face. Lacus too were eying his purple eyes. Closely. Their faces were but inches apart…

"I thought something like this might happened as soon as I heard screaming…" Lamia suddenly appeared from the tent's entrance, surprising both man and woman. Lacus, out of reflex, smacked Kira's face back to the bed, hard. "Sis, you hate his guts, I understand that now… but can't I leave you both alone for five minutes without you two try to kill each other as soon as you lay eyes on one another?"

"Huh? Kill each other? I…" Lacus, blushing furiously, looked at Lamia and then to her own situation. That's when she realized she just slammed Kira unconsciousness with her arms still on his collar around his neck. To ignorant bystander, she looked like she was choking Kira halfway to death. Lacus quickly let go of her grip, and gently tapped Kira's unconscious forehead several times to make sure he's okay and that he's just unconscious. "He's okay. He's definitely okay now. Yeah!" Lacus added nervously. Oh boy, Kage-san won't be happy when he wakes up…

"Yeah, well… after losing more than half of his blood and he still has enough power to scream back after only three hours of sleep." Lamia sighed and took a seat. "That healing power of his… I almost thought he was Zoan… But he's definitely one of us… he's an Advanced alright."

Lacus looked at her sister suspiciously. She was holding a peculiar black bladed sword with red blood hue in her hand. Upon seeing the weapon and remembering the 'materials' which composed it, Lacus nervously swallowed a gulp.

"Anyway… that Lowe said that once he woke up, he needs the two of you outside."

"Well… I think he just lost his consciousness again." Lacus nervously commented. "But I'm sure he'll come around in a minute."

"Actually, I'm around right the hell now!" Kira barked suddenly, to the shock of the sisters.

"Ah!" Lacus clasped her hands in relief.

Kira woke up and rubbed the bump at the back of his head. "Ow… is this your idea of treating your patient? By slamming their heads to bed to create major concussions?" He groaned. "Did Lowe finish it?"

"Yeah… it looked like a monstrosity…"

"Oh, your sister will beg to differ." Kira grinned.

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No sooner than that, a call was made by Waltfeldt. All Knights who had given up their weapons to be reforged were told to gather around and follow Waltfeldt to a… weapon demonstration. But what welcomed them was a sight they never thought possible:

Three Genmas. One, a Hunter, the other an evolved Knight… the two were stapled to the ground by their limbs; both are still very much 'alive' and squirming. The other Genma is the giant Hulk, but strapped to the wall with chains nailed through their body. God knows how.

Standing near them, was Shadow, Lowe and… "Who's that freak in a gas mask?" One of the Exorcists pointed at a figure standing between Kira and Lowe, but he's speaking what crossed everyone's minds. The person is wearing a thick baggy suit, with layered armor plates covering the body, the shoulders, and the waist area. The suit was made of patchwork, composed of patchwork after patchwork… but it was completely sealed off, there is no opening whatsoever. And to top it off, the person is wearing a freaky gas mask, connected by a hose to a small bag on its back. They can hear elaborate breathing from inside the mask (AN: think the sound made by Darth Vader).

"That freak…" Waltfeldt chose his words carefully. "Is Shadow's associate. You do well to guard your tongue."

"Why should we guard our tongue when he didn't guard his?" The Exorcists groaned.

"Because what we're about to say will save your life." Kira finished. "Now… everyone please pay attention. Class is now in session, welcome to Genma 101." The Knights looked at each other and then to the Genmas that they will obviously be studying.

"Now… the 30 of you had given your weapons… and as you can see… we've made some improvements to it." Kira directed their attention to the weapon rack. Everyone gulped and somewhat unnerved seeing their family heirlooms now supported a black coloration. "Now I need a volunteer."

"In your dreams!" "Yeah right!" "You must be crazy!" "Why don't you do it?"

Kira chuckled and hissed. "Pussies. If I do it, there won't be any point!"

Finally, one Exorcists, a man a little past his thirties with teal hair walked in. He timidly approached Kira while nervously eying at the Genmas squirming on the ground. The Gasmask freak approached him and seemingly observed every inch of him from close proximity, much to the Exorcist's discomfort.

"Name?" The Gasmask freak asked in a raspy deep voice.

"J… Jeremiah Gottwald." Jeremiah introduced himself.

"Jeremiah Gottwald eh?" Kira recognized the Knight. This is the Knight who had been protesting his so called blasphemous actions and arguing about the religious and their whatnot. "Which one is your weapon Master Gottwald?"

"That one." Jeremiah pointed at what, at first glance, seems to be an enormous buckler, almost as big as Jeremiah himself. It's plain and simple, but the shield is strangely thick. It's colored in orange with green linings, and the head of a roaring green dragon at the center.

"Oh. That one. I see. Break some of Lowe's bones to forge it, right Lowe?"

Lowe, his arm in a sling, grinned in satisfaction. "But worth it."

"I can see that. In that case, Master Gottwald, you'll be the first volunteer for this first demonstration."

Jeremiah nervously took his weapon, wondering what kind of demonstration they will ask of him.

"Okay, first… this is the Genma Hunter… the most basic kind of demon, yes? We all know this; we've all fought this before? Yes?" Everyone nodded. "Right. Then, Lord Jerremiah, if you be so kind and kill him for us, if you please?"

"Kill him? But I can't…"

"You couldn't… before." Kira pointed at the weapon in Jeremiah's hands. Jeremiah looked at his peculiar shield and blinked. He looked at the Hunter, squirming on the ground. Jeremiah flicked a switch, and four enormous and identical blades, each the size of a zweihander slides out from the shield's underneath pointing to four direction, creating the shape of the cross, with the buckler at the center, the reason it was so thick. Jeremiah gulped seeing the blade of his weapon had turned pitch black. He approached the demon and then raised his blade-shield atop the demon… and then brought the weapon down, stabbing the hunter by the chest. The Hunter screamed… before it turned to dust soon after.

Every knight gasped in shock. Hilda and Lamia, although they've tested it and confirmed it themselves, were also still in slight disbelief of what they've acquired… what they've discovered. Jeremiah plucked his sword out and gaze upon it with renewed sense of awe and astonishment. And then he looked at the other black bladed weapons and realized: "…Genma Killing Armaments?"

"Forged with my blood in it… and then twice blessed with the purification light and the sanctuary water in the cooling process." Kira explained short. Everyone who heard this also looked at Shadow's hands, finally realizing that, in a stark contrast to his black attire, Kira had both of his hands bandaged in white, with bits of his red blood marring it.

Everyone gaped in awe. Family heirloom be damned… a weapon that can kill Genma? They certainly don't get that from the local store or some dusty old warehouse!

"With these weapons you guys should be able to kill Genma easily… but things are not that sample." Kira nodded to the Gasmask freak.

The Freak nodded and then began explaining in raspy distorted voice. "Hunters and lesser kind of Genmas are easy to deal with."

"Pay attention all of you. This is important." Waltfeldt glared them to silence. The Exorcists, finally seeing the value in this lesson, gave the freak their undivided attention.

"Knights, normal Genma Knights… are just Hunters with weapons and armor… But all this gimmicks aside… they are easily dealt with by some well placed attack, as Shadow-san had demonstrated all morning. Cut their heads, stab their heart, bisect them… anything that is humanly lethal will kill them. But these Evolved Knights… and other subsequent demons… are somewhat tricky." The Freak pulled out a small curvy knife. Doctors would recognize it immediately as scalpel. The Gasmasked Freak turned to Kira and asked. "Shadow-san, if you be so kind and cut off its head please."

Kira turned to Jeremiah. "You do it."

Jeremiah nodded more confidently. He raised his sword, and then quickly beheaded the Evolved Knight with a stroke. The head turned to dust… but the rest of the body did not, much to the shock of Jeremiah and everyone.

"As you can see… beheading and random bisection just won't cut it anymore. You may severely injure them… but not kill them outright." And with that the Freak went to work and plunged the scalpel to the side of its chest, circularly cutting the demon abdomen apart, vivisecting its dorsal area. The Knights were given a nauseating scene as the Freak literally remove the dorsal area of the undead, giving them an eyeful of the knight's warped innards.

What they saw was no longer the insides of a human's body with ribs and lungs and etc. Instead, what they saw are a mass of bones that looked like interconnected spinal cords and skulls. The skulls bear slight resemblance to human cranium, except with the additional of some carapace scales and spikes, encasing the brains inside; each cranium supported a pair of fully functioning and half rotten eyeballs. All of these are tightly packed and some of them are either merged or shrunk accordingly, forming the shape of a chest cavity made of jumbled crisscrossing spinal cord. That was too much, and some knights vomited.

The other knights who managed to hold up their composure barked angrily. "Hey Freak! What do you think you're doing, showing shit like that to us?"

"This is to keep you guys alive." The Freak ignored the protest and began explaining. "Now as you guys can see here… the cerebellum of the main head no longer function properly. Morelike… they've become expendable. You cut off one head… they still have other redundant brains right here in their chest cavity… and in some other parts of their body." The Freak circled his hand around the exposed chest area of the Undead. The Knights had to fight their disgust to continue watching. "And as you can see, their others brains are protected by a pretty tough cranium. Swords and spears will bounce off. And the brains also worked together. This gives them faster, and stronger reactions and skills." The Freak tapped one of the craniums in the chest cavity.

"And between these skull construction, the extra brains… and the demonized armors… these knights are one tough son of a bitch to put down… whether you guys can kill Genma… or not." Kira continued. "These guys… had only one weakness." Kira pointed at another Exorcist which turned out to be Gino. "Master Weinberg, your turn. Which one is your weapon?"

"That one." Gino took back his weapon: a double headed Pickaxe pole arm. Gino took his weapon back and momentarily marveled at the black gleam of his weapon before he returned back to the lesson.

"Now, as I was saying… this guy… has one weakness." Kira turned to Gino. "Weinberg-san… if you be so kind… and plant your sickle to its chest if you please."

"Yes, my lord!" Gino raised his pickaxe and smashed it through the Knight's chest. First, black blood burst out from where the Heart was punctured, but they quickly turned to ash. The Knight screamed as their veins are burning and their body rapidly turned to ash, starting from the bloodstream. Until finally, only an empty set of misshapen knight armor remained.

"Pierce their heart with these weapons, and it'll be like sending poison straight into their bloodstream. That'll spread to their entire body within seconds. Anywhere else other than the heart, and it's on your ass." Kira gave them a fair warning.

The knights nodded. And then finally, they moved to the last demonstration of the day: the Hulk.

"Now, the Hulk is even tougher to put down. You can blow off a limb…" Kira snapped his finger, and the explosive tag on the Hulk's massive arm blown off, taking an upper quarter of the demon's body with it, and still the demon lived and roared, trashing about in obvious rage. "And this monster is still 78 percent combat effective. So, here's the tip."

Kira looked at Gino and Jeremiah. "Fire Jacket. On your blades. Now."

Gino and Jeremiah looked at each other and nodded. Jeremiah held a fireball at the palm of his hand, and then shoved it to the dragon's head. The Dragon's eyes lit up, literally, and then the four blades were on fire. Gino simply split his pole arm into a chain licked twin pickaxe and then clashed the two weapons until they create sparks. The next instant, both weapons were alight with white flame, much to the surprise of the two Exorcists. They looked at their weapon and then to Kira, who gave them the go ahead.

The two exorcists charged and then slammed the two flaming weapons into the Hulk's chest cavity, right where its heart lies. The Hulk roared as the flame burned it inside out. Jeremiah and Gino keep their weapons stabbed deeply into the demon to keep the flame burning on and on… until there's nothing left but ash and dust.

"The tip is… leave absolutely NOTHING behind." Kira finished his explanation before the shocked audience.

Kira looked at the smiling Gino and the flabbergasting Jeremiah and nodded. Gino nodded and announced. "Alright guys! Step forward and take back your weapons!" And so the two knights began redistributing the new Genma Slaying weapons back to their original owners. Everyone marveled at the miracle their new weapon capable of performing.

But Kira has a few last cautionary notes. "Now before you guys went blade crazy and murder every Genma you see… I have a few words of provisionary note."

The Exorcists stop chattering and gave the black clad ninja their undivided attention.

"First… place that sword on your chest… and made the resolve to plunge them into your own heart if you feel that you're turning into one of them."

The knights listened in silence and with understanding. They pointed the sharp edge of their weapons to their heart and pushed it slightly, as a sign of resolution. That goes without saying. They were trained to be ready to do that. With these black bladed weapons in hand, that resolve was ever stronger.

"Second, know that from this point onward… you have gained the ability to not just stall the Undead… but to completely destroy them. Remember that these undead was once one of you: they were your brothers, sisters, lovers, fathers, sons, daughters… they were your people. Do this… and be ready to kill your own loved ones with your own hands."

At this, the Knights grew somewhat unsettled and nervous, suddenly they realized the sheer magnitude of the burden they're about to commit. But reluctantly, they nodded. Kira wasn't sure if they really are ready for what they're about to do. Unlike him, they are all self-proclaimed patriots who loved their people and country. Regardless of that they claimed they are ready, but Kira was all too familiar with the horrors of murdering your own kind, undead or not, and so for now, he will keep them on short leash.

"Third… this weapon can no longer be used as a normal weapon of war." The Exorcists were a bit confused at this. Kira explained. "These weapons now possess 1 purpose and 1 ONLY: to destroy Genma. Use it in any other capacity… point and use it against any other enemy… well… let's just say I fear its power will disappear."

"EHh?" Some of the Exorcists gasped. Which means they can no longer use this for any other targets other than Genma. "Why? Was the holy power forbid us to use this to spill the blood of our enemies!"

"No. There's more of a scientific explanation to that." Kira groaned and shook his head. "The materials which are laced and fused into your weapons are mostly liquid and abstract substances: the sanctuary water, the light of Purification… and mostly my blood." Kira raised his bandaged hands for everyone to see. Jeremiah gasped in shock while others winced in horror. "To use it on any other enemy will chip the blade away. Even if that's a good sword or no matter how well you wield them, bit by bit, living human blood of your enemies will also permeate into that sword, causing rust, and quite possibly corrode my blood as well. When that happens, the weapons may lose its power."

"So you're saying the blood of naturals will corrupt it?" One of the Exorcists surmised.

"Or any living human blood, for that matter." Kira explained short.

"Very well then. We will guard these weapons with our life!"

"You better. In this land, your life depends on it." Kira nodded and then moved to his final point. "And one last thing…"

Everyone waited with held breath for Kira's final tip.

"…don't breathe a word to anyone about how these blades came to be, the materials which composed it, or even the process of its creation." Everyone blinked in confusion. Everyone but Kira and Lowe. "No. Seriously. Don't tell anyone anything about these blades."

"Why?" Gino protested. "These blades were your masterpieces! You pour your blood, your life into it… we're holding half of your life in our hands! God, you nearly died making these mighty gifts!"

"I'll tell you why…" Lowe explained. "Swordsmiths are very secretive about their work and method of forging. They won't hesitate to punish, and even kill anyone who dared to try and steal the secrets of their art. Seriously, if any of you tell anyone, we'll find you, and kill you. You and the rest of your families as well as anyone related to you."

"And another thing…" Kira added. "As Mr. Jeremiah Gottwald had loudly pointed out: I'm what you guys would call first class heretics. I've desecrated various edifices of the Onis, commit various horrible act you guys couldn't even imagine. And judging by the way things going, I will do them again and again. You think your people; your family would appreciate it if their heirloom now contains the blood of a heretic, even if that's a Genma Slayer?"

"ERh…" Jeremiah felt really awkward now.

"If anyone ended up asking… Just… lie. Make something up. Use your imagination." Kira concluded. He's not going to give them an example of a lie. He's a terrible liar after all.

"A lie? You're asking us men of faith to lie…?" The Exorcists were a bit confused and unnerved. They were trained NOT to lie.

"Thou shalt not tell lies." The Freak added gleefully.

"SHUT UP FREAK!" One of the scared shitless Exorcists screeched in horror. The Gasmasked freak jerked in surprise but then, they can all hear the freak start giggling, much to everyone's surprise. The Exorcist, now pissed, made his way towards the freak, intending to do the masked person harm, but then Hilda bar his way. "Lady Hilda! Let me through! He…"

"She." Hilda remarked back. "He… is a she."

"She?"

Kira groaned. "I think that's enough joke for one day… Princess."

Everyone stopped dead upon hearing the moniker. They knew Shadow only call ONE person with that moniker. The Gas masked freak sighed in disappointment. Disappointment because the fun is over. And slowly, she undid her gasmask by first removing the hose, releasing a burst of air. And then, placing both hands on the face, she pulled away the freakish helmet, unleashing a furl of pink hair, revealing the face of a sweat covered, blushing, laughing face of one happy Lacus Clyne before the horrified faces of the Exorcists who had thought or called her Freak at least once that day. And as soon as her physical body is out in the open, even if it's just the head, the miasma began to spread once again.

Hilda quickly pushed the stupefied and horrified Exorcists away from Lacus before the Miasma get to him.

"P-p-p-p-p-princess LACUS?" The Exorcists grasped their mouths in horror. They just called their beloved princess, the idol of every men, the envy of every maiden in Zaft… freak? They turned to the people who weren't surprised: namely Waltfeldt who replied "Didn't I tell you to guard your tongue?", Hilda and Lamia who were at loss and resignation over Lacus' newly found taste for mischievous antics, Shadow, the one who clearly came up with the idea and looked at them with pity as if saying you brought this on yourself, and finally the creator of the said insulation suit, Lowe… who had gone ROTFL six ways to Sunday on their expense.

The Exorcists looked at each other with pale and fright. Some of them even fainted while standing up with foaming mouth out of sheer horror.

"Oh my God. It was a blast." Lacus snickered uncontrollably. "And why are you still calling me Princess?"

"Just for the heck of it Prin… Lacus…san." Kira couldn't help to pity the poor knights who looked up/had a crush on the princess and they just got ridiculed – big time. Hopefully, now they'll understand his plight of having to deal with this deviousness incarnate.

Kira cleared his throat to regain their attention and get back to the important topic. "Uh-hum! Anyway. You don't have to lie completely. Just make sure you didn't tell anyone of who, how, or what made those weapons. Though undoubtedly people would want to know the How part…"

"Well…" Gino murmured. "We could always say the Sanctuary spit them out or something. It's not exactly a lie. There is some sanctuary water in it, right?"

Kira pointed at Gino, marking it as a good example of a story. But the person in question still felt a bit reluctant about this. "Though… you disapprove?"

"I will do it, because you asked of me. Anybody else asked this, I'll kick his ass. But… it's just doesn't feel fair." Gino looked at Shadow. "I mean… you're one of us!"

Most of them were slightly shocked at Gino's statement, and then turned to Kira. One of us… that means… Shadow is…

"You're an advanced aren't you? A paramecia. I saw you. Back when you fought Babylon, your eyes… they changed!" Gino stated. "You… You're one of us… Why do you want us to hate you so much?"

Kira narrowed his eyes in sorrow and replied in a quiet, sad tone: "Because I'm not 'one' of you. I never was." Kira raised his head and looked at the Exorcists. "I will never be a friend of the Empire. And in my line of work… being famous is hazardous." Kira had made his military career by being INfamous. "Trust me. Don't start liking me or respecting me. You'll just going to regret it." Kira turned around and walk away, and was about to leave the depressed Gino and the bewildered Exorcists. Lacus in particular, looked at Kira's retreating back sadly.

Once Kira is out of the earshot, Waltfeldt took the chance to explain his findings. "But with this… we've made one thing absolutely clear." Waltfeldt motioned at the Black bladed weapons in the Exorcist' hands. "It wasn't the super weapon after all… it was the user."

"The user…" Everyone looked at each other with realization.

Lamia gulped tensely. "That's the reason why he was able to kill Genma… that's the reason why these weapons; forged in his blood carried the same effect, and that's the reason why the Genmas CAN'T INFECT or even touch him… everything he touches, spells casted by him, and weapons created by him… all possess the capacity to kill Genma… it's because he is their antithesis… the Yang of the Genma's Yin… the only creature in the entire universe… that is the exact opposing counterforce of the Genmas."

"The most precious bloodline limit of all creation is flowing in his veins…" one of the Exorcists whispered in hushed silence.

"That's why he asked us to keep the creation of these weapons secret." Waltfeldt remarked as everyone looked at the Hakutenkun. "The Alliance had spies everywhere. Imagine if they got wind of these weapons were being made by someone… instead of something… his life will be in great danger. Forget the pilgrimage… the value of Lord Shadow's life had just gone up… astronomically too."

The Exorcists looked at each other. "What would you have us do?"

"We'll continue with this Pilgrimage… but we must make sure he survive and leave this island, no matter what. Let him return to Orb… then see if we can petition an official request to Orb asking for his invaluable aid, no matter what the price might be." The Exorcists agreed and nodded, particularly Gino, who had clearly grew fond and looked up to Shadow, despite his warning not to.

But Lacus and Lamia doesn't feel as optimistic as others.

"I HATE Zaft and all of its nobles. The Empire may rot for all I care."

'Even if he did survive… would he be willing to give us his aid?' Lamia couldn't forget that little outburst she witnessed back then. 'And yet… if he hates us so much… why would he do so much to help us?'

Lacus can somewhat guess what her sister's thinking as she too was thinking the same thing… but considering everything that has been going on, considering the way Shadow had behaved himself, her train of thought slightly went on to a different direction. 'No… Kage-san wouldn't hate us because of a simple reason… something happened. It wasn't because of what he did to us, or it's his personality to hate something so passionately, no… it's because what we've done to him. Something that had rattled him to the core…' Lacus frowned.

'…Kage-san had helped us… but who exactly here is in need of bigger help?'

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Soon, the pilgrims continued their journey and left the confines of the Sanctuary. This time, a massive change of formation which, according to Waltfeldt, is far more practical: the circle of protection system is abolished. Now Lamia, Hilda and a small contingent of Lady Knights can freely protect Lacus directly at her side. The Male Knights formed the second line of defenses right after the lady knights, and the Exorcists… the 30 Exorcists who had gained the black weapons now stand at the frontline, eager to fight any opposition that will come to them. Lamia doesn't have any protest… except the fact that her sister is wearing that abominable Insulation suit at all times.

"At least the suit had proven itself." Kira gave the laughing Lowe an approval nod.

"Ha-ha… Yeah. It worked." Lowe held his hurting stomach while his eyes shed a few last tears. The look on the knights' faces earlier is just priceless.

"It's AMAZING! I've never been that close to other people!" Lacus cheerfully lifted her fists to the sky. Her voice was completely distorted due to the helmet. "I was that close to Jeremiah-san! THAT close!"

"But… but must the suit be so… monstrously ugly?" Lamia felt somewhat nauseated upon the prospect of her sister wearing that suit 24/7. That is one way to give children nightmares!

"I'm sorry about that Lady Lamia, but that's the best I can do with what I have." Lowe explained.

"It's a stopgap… for now." Kira emphasize this point. "Lowe even went so far to make it looked like Samurai Armor…"

Lacus' eyes widened in shock and looked at her monstrous insulation suit in an entirely different light. "You're saying… I'm clad in an armor worn by Samurais?" Sparkles flying out.

"I've made some adjustment to ensure that armor is insulated, so it's a bit baggy and bloated, but it's significantly lighter than the original… but visually… Yes. That's modified version of the armor of the Samurais. Uglier with all the patchwork and not exactly for combat…"

Lacus' eyes gleamed in pure happiness and bliss. For a consummate Japanese otaku like her, wearing an armor of Samurais, if only visually similar, is like getting an early Christmas dream present. She's like a commoner dressed in the garments of an emperor. And with that she cuddle hugged herself with lots of love and sugar.

"That's awkward… I've seen Samurai Armor before…" Andy remembered Veia's self-stylized Samurai Armor and various other armor pieces in his collection. "And they seem more… well… less monstrous."

"Those armors you saw were archaic armors. They were given various tidbits and decorations to symbolize status, ranks, and for terror effects. Warriors of old mark themselves with the blood of their kill, carving and decorating their armor as a testament to their life and achievement. They were also designed to emulate the Onis… in some way." Kira explained what he knew of the Samurais based on what he learned from Orb's History lesson. "They were no longer used due to impracticality and being obsolete. Nowadays, armors like that are only used for decoration. I'd imagine you guys get it from old abandoned warzone, archeological digs… or second hand auction?"

Lamia nodded. Half of the stuff in Lacus' collection came from buying used items from merchants of the Far East.

"They updated them from time to time. Shift the preference from fashion to function. Streamlining, simplify things, lessen the decoration, make it relatively easier to maintain and produce while also improving its design and quality." Lowe also explained. "The Gas Mask was added ages ago, to deal with poison gas often used by assassins in battle."

Lacus turned to Kira and Lowe and looked at them with puppy dog eyes – which unfortunately are not very clearly seeable due to the helmet. "Can I keep this?"

The lovestruck Lowe answered with dreamy tone. "Syuuuree… It kinda defy 5 to 10 state laws but-"

The stonecold Kira replied: "Baka. I said it's a stopgap, not a solution. Besides, that's an armor made of scraps. Eventually it'll fell apart. You had to burn it then, since it's been contaminated."

Lacus' puppy dog eyes vanished into an angry glare. The other knights also try to regain some favor by glaring angrily as well to Kira. But the Shinobi was undaunted and barked back to the Knights. "Don't be ridiculous guys. Do you actually want your princess to spend the rest of her life confined to a gasbag of a suit?"

The knights jerked back to reality, imagining the sight of their beloved princess doing various stuff with that monstrous patchwork suit. Dining, playing, reading, dancing, taking a bath… all while wearing that god-damn monster fatso suit. And they all ceremoniously agreed: that's bad. That's really, really bad.

"…B… But…"

"Using that suit isn't dealing with the problem, it's running away from it. But, it's a start." Kira approached Lacus and stood up to her, face to mask. "Now that you can start interacting stuff without infecting them, now find a permanent solution. Find the cure!"

"Eh?" Lacus blinked and looked at Kira's purple eyes through her visor.

"Find the permanent cure. Free yourself!" Kira barked before Lacus. "If you keep running, you'll regret it forever!"

"Free… myself…" Lacus' head suddenly filled with imaginations of her life without a suit, without worrying of killing anyone, walking freely, bathing in the sun with other people, and feeling the wind blowing. It's nice. Lacus smiled dreamily behind her helmet.

Sensing Lacus had grasped his message, Kira nodded. But then, he felt movements coming from the front. Lots of it. "Genmas!"

The Exorcists quickly went to full alert and ready their new weapons. Now that they can kill them, genmas are no more different than just some tough enemy they need to overcome.

"However, from here on out, to make the cure you have to stay alive first." Kira turned around and prepare to first. "So, please for the love of God, stay right where you are and let us do our job keeping you alive. Savvy?"

Lacus nodded, smiling cheerfully behind her mask. A smile she had never let out in years… a smile of hope. Too bad because of the mask no one was able to see it.

Meanwhile, the Genma Army came to view, charging, roaring. The Genmas Hunters rushed upon them on all fours, behind them, the Genma Knights charged with swords and shields in hand. And behind that, the Hulk followed in a slower pace, coupled with a couple of Archer Hostesses at the far back.

All in all… a 'basic' genma rush. "Well, this should be easy…" Kira began unsheathing his katana, but then he felt a firm hand grabbed hold of his, preventing him to complete the deed. Kira looked questioningly at Waltfeldt.

"Please. You've helped us all the way here. If these kids don't do something they'll forget everything they've learned." The large man grinned. "Besides… some of these men had trained all their lives not to be protected by some kid."

Kira had to admit, he do want to see how things will proceed WITHOUT him. He'd seen the might of the Exorcists during the Archangel Crisis against naturals. But they were originally trained as a counter to Genma… albeit not exactly effective. Now, how will they fare against their supposed mortal enemy, the Undead in this condition? Kira nodded and sheathed back Shiki and crossed his arms to watch.

Gino noticed that Shadow had decided to leave the fight to them. "Alright guys! We may not have a chance to get into spotlight a little earlier… but now is our chance! All those trainings… all those preparations that we've done till we spill our guts for it… let's see the fruits of our labor!"

"YEAAAAAHH!" The 30 Exorcists cheered and raised their new anti-Genma weapons, lifting it to the sky, all of them with jet black blades.

The Genmas charged towards the pilgrims.

"FOR THE LIVING!" And with that last warcry, the Exorcists lit themselves on fire. The flame in their torches burst out wildly, and their armor was completely engulfed in flickering red flames. Not. As soon as these flames touched the black blade, the blade pulsed, and the flames turned white.

"The flames! This is…!" Jeremiah stared at the white flame engulfing his body in awe and slight disbelief. It's warm. Unlike the harmful red flame, this white flame did not hurt them.

"Yeah." Gino remembered this flame well. This is the same flame that healed Shadow from his Genma infection. Now he bestowed this upon them too. The other knights who stand guard at the rear pointed and awed at the sight of their knights engulfed in white flame. "Come on brothers! With this Shadowforged weapon we shall prevail!"

"Shadowforged?" Kira looked at the smirking Waltfeldt.

"We came up with that name on the spot. Not very original, I know."

The Exorcists charged forward on in a triangle formation, like a white hot burning arrow. The Exorcists are experts of shock and awe tactics, arrow formation as to maximize penetration power. Strike as deeply as you can and wreak as much destruction as you can. In the Exorcists' hands the arrow is a very big risk big damage strategy, relying on causing the biggest damage possible on the enemy during the initial strike to save one from being overwhelmed later on. Normally, against Genma who can't die, such a seemingly reckless strategy is a big no no. But that only applies before the Exorcists gained the ability to kill the undead.

The flaming arrow pierced through the horde of Genma, even being grazed by a small flicker of the white flame was enough to turn a Hunter to dust. Jeremiah roared as he spin his body at blinding speed, his massive circular bladed weapon in hand as a pivot, creating a whirlwind of blades that rip apart every enemy in vicinity. Gino planted one of his pickaxes at a knight's heart, slammed the knight away as it turned to dust and beheaded another knight and then slammed his pickaxe through the exposed stump. One knight slithered around like snake underneath the Genma's legs, slitting their legs with his axe.

The Archer hostess at the rear shot a rain of arrows upon the bladestorm, but the blades cut them all out. Gino noticed the archers are a threat and screeched. His voice changed into something closer to a bird screech, his eyes turned yellow, hair turned to feathers, arms to wings, legs to claws; grasping the pickaxes, lips to beaks, and an instant later, Gino the eagle took off to the air.

"He's a zoan?" Kira's eyes widened in shock.

"Zoan, Carnivorous Avian type, the Eagle. Though, in part due to him choose to be an exorcist, the amber Fangriders in my place had this nickname for him:" Waltfeldt grinned.

Like his human form, in his animal form, Gino is still engulfed in white fire from beak to tail. Every feather and down to the tip of its talon were engulfed in flames. This looks like…

"Gino the Phoenix Knight."

Gino screeched and fly past the onslaught of arrows of the Archer Hostess and then descended rapidly towards them, his pickaxe ablaze creating the shape of an oversized talon. The flaming talon scratched the ground, setting out a line of brilliant explosions that engulfed the Archers, taking them all out of the equation. The Hulks roared and tore a chunk of the ground and tossed it to Gino, but the flaming bird merely dodged the clumsy throw. Gino descended and slashed the Hulk. Alas, the flaming pickaxe only left a scratch. That's when Gino noticed that now; not only the Knights, the Hulk and even some of the hunters had also begun to evolve, with some additional carapace as defense. 'Damn… they've gotten tougher again…'

"FOR! THE! LIVING!" Jeremiah roared and lifted his enormous weapon. The Zweihander blades on his orange shield are ablaze. Roaring, Jeremiah threw the enormous flaming weapon in a spin. The spinning bladeshield created a white wheel of flame that plow through the knights and even went through a hulk. The weapon's sheer weight, with flame and all, coupled with Kira's Genma slaying effect was too much for the Hulk's thick armor, and the wheel of flame plow through and crushed everything in its way in a circular pattern. The flaming blade returned back to Jeremiah after finishing its orbit of destruction and yet its speed and destructive power didn't slow down any.

Kira frowned. "uhh… is he gonna be okay?"

"Jeremiah the Fafnir. That was his nickname…"

The blade stopped in an instant, Jeremiah caught his enormous weapon by the blade, its sharp flaming edges didn't even get through his skin… which has an eerie bright orange color… the color of steel being heated up to the point of melting point.

"…for having red hot scaly skin of steel." Waltfeldt finished the explanation.

And that was not all. Kira watched as the Exorcists, no longer fearing the effects of the Genma, began to use their bloodline limits in impunity. Exorcists carrying his double headed glaive transformed into a flaming ball of rock and charged through the Knights on a roll. Another can jump and bounce allover the place at high speed, slicing targets here and there. Another one grew a pimple the size of a tennis ball on its skin (yeah, no joke), plucked it out, and then throw them as bombs over long distance, exploding violently. The other breath a cloud of hot ashes, another excrete gas from all of its pores and then blow them up.

As he watched them use their inborn skills and strength, Kira was once again reminded of the kind of enemy he had been facing up until now. The reason their kind has been called monsters and demons. 'And I've been killing these monsters and demons… so what does that make me?'

The Genmas keep coming and coming, but the Exorcists easily dispatched them until it finally just stopped.

The Exorcists remained on stand by for a few moments and looked at each other with a smirk. They do a quick headcount: ZERO casualties.

The knights looked at each other with big grin on their faces. That's a hell of a record. They returned back to the other pilgrims where they cheered and gave each other some pat in the back, having a little celebration party. Gino and Jeremiah went to Shadow to report and some evaluation. "What do you think?"

"One thing for sure…" Wlatfeldt grinned. "We're well on our way to establish the world record of surviving in Junius."

Gino smirked and Jeremiah smiled lightly. But Gino looked at Shadow, who doesn't share everyone's positive optimism. "Something bother you, My Lord?"

Kira blinked and looked at Gino's concerned look. The shinobi sighed. "Well… let's not count your eggs before they hatched. Yeah. I just have two points of concern regarding your performance."

Jeremiah and Gino looked questioningly at Shadow. Jeremiah doesn't look to happy about it, while Gino enthusiastically await any critics that can improve their performance.

"Point no 1… which isn't really a big deal… but you guys can cut down on the warcry and the yells and the roars… was that really necessary?'

"Warcries makes us braver!" Jeremiah protested.

"How brave you are when you are dead?" Kira retorted back. "Warcries are used for morale. To encourage one's spirit… and for intimidation effect. Yes I understand that too. But against an enemy such as genma… the dead has no emotion. No morale. They feel no fear, they feel no pain. Shouting at them will do you as much good as shouting to a wall. Rather, it's counter-productive. What you're doing is simply calling more of them towards us. Though killing them is now far easier, but to kill someone is still a tiresome endeavor. Our stamina is not limitless, no?"

Again, Jeremiah tried to retort but he settle with merely let out a spit to the ground.

"And the second problem?" Gino asked Kira to go on.

"The second problem… the one I think we all should be concerned with." Kira looked at the field of ashes where the battle took place earlier on. "Early on, I only need 10 minutes to take down a rush. Now, they were 30 of you… and it took you guys 15 minutes."

"Well forgive our ineptitude-"

"I'm not saying about your skills. I'm saying that the enemy's strength has increased again. Dramatically." Kira frowned tensely and everyone also fell silent. "…there were 30 of you… each of you is trained elite… and yet, even with the ability to kill Genma at your disposal…" A gleam of suspicion flashed on Kira's eyes and looked at Jeremiah. "You killed an armored Hulk… yes? It's not just their skills that have increased… their numbers as well! You guys just beat down a genma rush over twice as large as the one Lowe and I handled previously… and we barely started on our way to the next sanctuary… had we continued on the way we were before… I might be dead by now."

Everyone looked at Kira with intense and fearful stare. Even Shadow himself admitted that he might not stand a chance?

"And there's another thing… they're getting smarter." Kira pointed out. "Just now, they attack with Hunters, the expendable pawn at the front, knights followed right on their backs, hulks on the rear, protecting the archers on the way back." Kira pointed at the field. "Just now… you guys used the arrow formation right? The piercing formation."

"Yes." Gino nodded.

"Look at the shape of the accumulated ashes."

Everyone looked at the field of ashes more carefully. Waltfeldt and Hilda, the veteran commanders were the first one to see what Kira saw: the remains of the genma showed that the Genma's were positioned at the centerfield area, they massed up at the center, while its flanks are tightly closed to the center formation. The position when they died gave sign to where they last stand. And the shape, to strategic general like Waltfeldt, Hilda and Kira, greatly resemble…

"The Wall formation." The three echoed one another. The Wall formation is the exact counter of the Arrow formation. A battalion of soldiers are tightly packed together in a lines of 2 or 3, depending on the number of troops, and behind them there's another battalion backing them up in another line of defense, and then there's another, and another… creating a layered defensive formation. The units are also massed up at the center creating a rectangular shape at the center, with the front lines which collided to attackers are curved inward. The arrow formation would've slammed against the lines of shield and get whittled down at the center, until the momentum is finally and forcibly stopped… and then they would've get slaughtered at the center. Thank goodness for the white flame of the new Shadowforged weapons.

The other pilgrims gasped and once again gripped in horror and disbelief. "The Genmas can perform strategic moves now?"

"And it's still crude and single minded…" A clever commander would've adapted to the situation when they realized their strategy didn't work. "…but we know they have brains… more than one… I guess it's only a matter of time until they learn how to use it. In fact… I won't be surprised if they have scouts swarming allover the place."

"Scouts?" Everyone looked incredulously at Kira.

"To report on their masters, whoever that may be, on our strength and capabilities. Now they know that we have weapons that can kill Genmas, and now they know there are only limited numbers of it." Kira looked at the environments, particularly those which one can use as vantage point. True enough, Kira noticed several signs that something was there… watching the battle. And then took off a few moments earlier. "That Genma rush? They were just… expendable pawns… used to measure our strength. Now they know our strength, and God forbid… our weakness… and the next time they'll come again… they'll be ready."

The celebration from that small victory had died down completely. Everyone looked with horrified eyes to Kira.

"Pfft… come now!" One of the Exorcists nervously laughed. "I think… you overestimate them, master Shadow."

"Pray to God… you were right, knight." Kira glared darkly back at the unnerved knight in all seriousness. "Pray to God you were right."

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And unfortunately, Gods weren't exactly at the Pilgrims' side at the time. A few hundred leagues above the sky…

A creature had just flew past over the Pilgrims without them took notice. First glance, the creature looked like a bird, a raven. Except that, the Raven has no eyes on its head. Rather, it has hundreds of eyes littered allover the surface of its body. Its skeletal wings did not flap like normal birds do, and there are no feathers, and the tails are a single serpentine spinal cord. The demonic raven was covered in black gaseous substance made of uncountable numbers of flying demonic insects swarming in a black mass which act as a substitute of feathers and its body.

The Raven just took a single glance, and all of its eyes scanned everything, noting important targets: Gino, Jeremiah, the 30 Exorcists armed with Black Shadowforged Weapons, the other knights, Lowe, his crew, Lamia, Lacus, Hilda, Waltfeldt… and finally… Kira. Having identified all targets, the raven fly ahead of the pilgrim towards the Sanctuary. Not a moment too soon, the bird began to descend and finally… landed on the shoulder of its master, waiting on a throne made of skulls and flesh. The raven screeched several times as its claw fused with its master's flesh. The Master jerked as everything its raven saw were transferred to him.

When the last image of Kira had been transferred, the raven flew off as his master rose. Mounting dust was instantly scattered from the being's figure. It seems the said being has been there for quite some time. At first glance, the being looked like a normal kingly knight, with large built and full body armor, completely enclosing what becomes of its wearer inside the armor. But he's different. His pitch black armor is thicker, clearly of different design with that of the other Emerald Knights, in that it's far more elaborate and kingly, far more demonic, what's with its tattered black robe over its shoulder. Parts of the robe are covered in withering armor hexagonal plates that are falling apart, but the few that remained are glowing with red hot glowing markings. The Knight's spaulders are larger and wider, with spires of branching spikes jutting upward decorating the surface and its edges. The Chest area was composed of multiple layered thick spiked plates, outlining the shape of a man's chest. Both of his arms were covered in massive layered and spiky armor, his left clawed hand grasped a large broadsword upside down by its handle, so that the right arm can pull it out with ease, like unsheathing a blade. Various parts of the demon Knight's armor have skeletal demonic faces: The left part of its chest, both shoulders, the fore arm guards, and the rear arm armors, all had a face of a demon. The thigh guards also had a demon designs, as are its knee guard and legs. The armors are also decorated with runes, large and small, all glowing with evil red glow, fuming wailing evil spirits and dark energy. The Helmet, with its blank faceplate and a few holes and a pair of slits for eyes, was crowned in jutting spikes pointing upward, creating a crown like design. Just like a King… a Lifeless Lord.

The Lifeless Lord took a deep breath, and then exhaled a flock of black air out of the holes of the helmet, remembering the masked face of Kira. "Finally… an enemy worth killing…" The Lifeless Lord began to walk away from his throne; his every step cracked the ground with corruption. Step after step, he arrived before his ride: a giant chariot, pulled by 4 skeletal demonic horses, laying still and completely frozen solid as if suspended in time. But as soon as the Lifeless Lord stepped into the chariot, veins of evil energy, the same energy brimming on the Lifeless Lord's armor, were infused into the chariot and the demonic horses, and in unison, all roared to unholy life.

The horses were composed of mish mashes of bones, merged with muscles, forming and make up its body. Instead of a skeletal horse, it is more appropriate to call it a mechanical horse made of bones and muscle, and their heads supported blades, and the blackish red tendrils of the Genmas are bursting out as their manes. The Chariot is made of fused rotten and diseased corpses and framed with merged bones. The whole set is heavily armed: with scything blades at each side, dripping malignant liquid, and its enormous wheels supported large shanks at the center and around the sides of the wheel, capable of tearing apart flesh and bone. Its crews, undead knights and several archers were fused to the chariot itself. The personal escorts of the Lifeless Lord had the honor of becoming a part of the Lifeless Lord's transport becoming not just some twisted decoration, but with weapons and shield in arms, bows and arrows at the ready, a part of the chariot's arsenal as well. The Driver was no exception, and it was fused to the frontal side of the chariot, holding down large sinews of muscles tying down fused spinal cord connected to the bony armored hide of the 4 stallions. A throne was set up on top of the Chariot and the Lifeless Lord to sit upon it. Two more of such poor souls were fused to the rear, just behind the Lifeless Lord's throne; holding aloft the Lifeless Lord's withered battle standards made of human skin.

The Lifeless Lord sat on his throne, and with a slam of his feet, the driver whipped the horses and the chariot of death set forth from its stables, out into the open… where thousands and thousands of the Undead army rose up and yelled as the Lifeless Lord joined their ranks in his Corpse Chariot.

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The pilgrims continued, but at a significantly slower pace. Even though they now possess the means to fight the Genmas on even ground, Kira's words of warning had rattled them all to the core. An army of the dead who knew how to strategize and execute military maneuvers? As if it weren't bad enough that they can't be killed by normal means and they are far more powerful than when they were alive. The knights huddled together now and are on high alert, fidgeting and would react to the slightest of movements of their surroundings.

Even the ever cheerful Lacus didn't whisper a peep out of her suit.

And then suddenly, a rock fell off. Everyone turned towards the direction, weapons and shields rise up. Silence as every pair of eyes strained themselves, eying any enemy that may stalk behind cover. They waited tensely; their trembling grip shook the armaments they're carrying.

A few moments later, and still nothing…

"Just a rock falling!" And the knights ease up again. "Sheesh… calm down people! I know we're supposed to be vigilant but do we have to react to every single-" and an arrow pierced through his heart. "…thing?" And that was his last words.

The Shadowforged Exorcists quickly stabbed their infected comrade, turning him to dust as he died.

"INCOMING!" A knight screeched. There at the distance, dust rose up as the ground trembled. Yet another Genma rush, and this time, it's mostly composed of Knights, evolved and unevolved. The normal Genma Knights now served the same role as the Hunters, charging at the front line… in packs of 4, each led by an Evolved Knight. Behind them, the Archer Hostesses can be seen shooting arrows after arrows. No Hulk in sight.

"Alrighty. Let's get these bastards the usual way." Hilda, leading Gino and the other Exorcists, backed by the Emerald Knights charged straight ahead, the Zaft knights created a large arrow formation, with the Exorcists at the front line. The two forces of the living and the dead collided as Lacus watched in the distance.

Just like before, the Exorcists charged head on and meet the genma knights. But unlike before, the Genma knights had adapted. Instead of defending the arrow charge head on, the Genma knights in small groups of five spread out and let the arrow pass through. Once the arrow is in the center, the Knights merged back into a single mass, effectively trapping the exorcists at the center. Suddenly the exorcists found themselves surrounded in a halo.

"What the…"

"Break through! Break through!" The Exorcists assumed the arrow formation again and try to charge ahead. However, instead of defending, the Genma retreated and move around accordingly, following the movements of the arrow at the center, not letting the arrow to pierce anything. The Exorcists were trapped in the center, and the Genmas ensured that the Arrow Formation did not hit anything by continuously moving, retreating and moving forward accordingly, ensuring the Exorcists stay within the circle. The Exorcists were trapped. As if that weren't enough trouble, the rain of arrows from the archer Hostess suddenly intensified. The arrows showered the trapped exorcists, knights and the surrounding Genma Knights with impunity. The Exorcists had to use their fire jacket to block all the arrows, and the emerald knights assume their tortoise formation but the Genma Knights simply let them come and wouldn't care less even when an arrow hit their head. After all, the arrows are only harmful to non Genma. Lacus held her breath upon seeing the scene. This is Kira's worst fear: the Genmas had organized themselves.

And while the Exorcists and the Knights were busy defending themselves, that's when the Genma knights decided to attack from every direction, massing up and tightened the encirclement, closing all gaps, ensuring no escapees. The Exorcists light their red and orange fire flared ever brighter…

Wait… Red and orange? The trapped exorcists were mostly composed of normal exorcists. The only Shadowforged Exorcists were a small team of 10 men, including Gino who were armed with the said armament – specifically: spear type Shadowforged weapons. The rest are just normal knights and Exorcists. As for the remainder…

From the Archer's back, Waltfeldt suddenly charged in with a wave of his gigantic Tigra Espada that blow the Archers apart in one blast, followed closely by half of the rest of the Exorcists (Shadowforged ones) and other knights right behind him. And from behind Lacus, Lowe, together with the remaining half of Exorcists and his Junk Guild team also charged into the scene. At the same time, as if pre-arranged, the 'trapped' knights at the center changed their formation; the Exorcists retreated to the center, and the Knights moved forward and lifted their shields, creating a small, but very tight circular tortoise formation, with spears jutting out – no arrows will get through. Some of them are black colored. The two flankers then began spinning around the Genma encirclement and close in by occasionally killing and burning Genmas. The Genma Knights tried to disperse, but it was too late.

The Pilgrims, with the aid of the Shadowforged Exorcists, Waltfeldt's over the top brute strength, and Lowe's enhanced Gerbera fire techniques had completely surrounded the Genma. The Human encirclement began to close in, coiling tighter around the trapped Genma knights, pressing, squeezing the Genma Encirclement to the center. At the center, the initial team didn't remain idle either. The circular conjoined shields began to spin, as are the spears, creating a whirlwind of blades which the Genma Knights, being pushed from the front, forcing them to back away to the torrent of spears which either tear them apart, or turn them to dust… or both.

Finally, the last Undead knight turned to dust under Gino's Pickaxe. And it was over. Everyone cheered at their victory.

"But… it's exactly as Lord Shadow had warned… wasn't it? They grew not just tougher… but smarter too…"

"Yeah. But he made sure we're prepared accordingly. Right, Lord Shadow?" Everyone turned to the mastermind, Kira who stand guard right next to Lacus.

Kira nodded silently with a smile behind his mask. He looked at Lacus and nodded. Lacus also nodded and they move to join the others.

When a Hulk literally burst out from right behind them and, in rapid succession, smashed Kira away and grabbed Lacus. The Pilgrims quickly tried to return, but all the sudden, Genma Tyrants-enhanced version burst out from the ground and completely surrounded the Pilgrims. Not to mention the fact they quickly unleashed an army of Genmas from their guts. The Pilgrims were completely surrounded once again in an instant, with numbers over twice the previous army. Eerily enough, the Genma stopped and waited.

"What are they waiting for?"

Everyone held their breath, and then, from the distance, a chariot arrived. Waltfeldt frowned as he looked at the demonic shape of the said chariot. The Chariot descended and approached the pilgrims. As the said chariot drew closer, everyone start to get a better look of the demonic chariot in all its gory detail. Some of the knights swallowed a gulp. The Genma Knights quickly spread around and make way for their supposed leader. Seeing obedience from the thoughtless Undead, Waltfeldt quickly translate the one coming towards them was the one who led this army.

The Lifeless Lord sit on his throne as his Chariot approached the survivors. The Lifeless Lord quickly noted Waltfeldt, recognizing him as among the top warriors among this group. The Lifeless Lord sighed a black cloud out of his helmet, and then turned to the far distance where Lacus in her insulation suit were being held tight in the hand of the Hulk, and then to a black figure, grunting and plastered on the wall.

The Lord ignored the pilgrims and went straight to Kira who had regained consciousness enough to look at the Lifeless Lord in the eye. "You're the one who's been giving my warriors no end of trouble?"

Everyone gasped. The Genma. Just. SPOKE. The sound is whispery and flat yet distorted: like a mixture of voices, whispers, and screams, jumbled together to form the words. Jumbled, distorted, and mixed, and yet the voice is as clear as day with raspy high pitched tone.

Kira merely grunted inaudibly and didn't move from his spot.

"Tsk. I had expected more…" The Lord turned his attention away from moved closer to the Hulk who's holding Lacus. The Hulk lowered his hand, allowing the Lord a better look of the captive Lacus, adorned in that monstrous suit. But once he get to a close look…

A Katana burst out of the said suit and split it apart to two.

"TETSUGA TENSHOU!" A massive razor sharp shockwave exploded in a ring of destruction, engulfing the Lord and one of the Hulk's arms. The Hulk roared as he let go the black clad Kira, who flipped out of the wrecked insulation suit.

On the other hand, the 'Shadow' on the wall finally removed his… her mask… revealing herself to be none other than Lamia. "How do you breathe inside this thing?"

"It's a matter of habit I guess…" Kira chuckled and scratched his masked mouth.

The Hulk roared behind Kira and lunged at him with its one arm. In a flash of black, Kira moved to his underbelly and swing horizontally at its belly, effectively ripping out its guts. Black blood splattered out the torn belly and showered Kira for a moment before they burn to ashes in a flash of white flame. The Hulk roared painfully, but the still ablaze Kira jumped and bisected the monster with one stroke. The Hulk quickly turned to ashes.

Landing on his feet, Kira prepare himself to deal with the Tyrants… but then, the sound of clapping reached his ears.

Kira turned around and saw the Lord, standing without scratch atop his devastated war chariot, clapping his hands several times, making clanking sound every time his gauntlets clashed. "Impressive… most impressive… so you knew that there will be an ambush?"

"I noticed your 'scout' a little while later." Kira pointed to a direction, and the Lord knew that Kira was pointing straight to his raven scout. "You must be off your bonkers if you think we'll leave our charge unattended!"

"Which makes me wonder… where is she?"

"Like I'll tell you." Kira smirked.

Amidst the trapped knights and exorcists, one particular Emerald knight wearing a gas mask shifted uncomfortably.

"No matter. I have no interest in devouring priestess. She was never my target in the first place."

"A genma with a taste?"

"My target was you." The Lifeless Lord pointed his finger to Kira. "And you do not disappoint."

Kira readied himself and hold his Katana with both hands while the Lifeless Lord pulled out a sword. But the sword had two blades jutting out of the single handle. The blades were set up in a parallel, with the distance between each blade is set up in such a way, a single slash will cause two wounds too close with each other that they cannot be stitched up or healed… thus the wound will rot and fester.

Kira roared and rapidly charged forward towards the Genma. The Lifeless Lord raised his double bladed sword and with a loud ringing sound; the two weapons clashed one another, marking the beginning of the battle. Kira gritted his teeth as went face to face with the Genma Lord.

They broke off the clash and Kira quickly back away. Now it's the Lord's turn to close the distance, bringing down his sword. Kira blocked the sword with both hands, but a moment later, he tilted his sword diagonally, causing the blade to slide. Once the blade landed with a thud, Kira quickly changed his motion and swing his sword towards the demon lord. A moment it looked like he was aiming at the lord's neck, but ultimately, his true target was the bigger one, the chest. Reading the Attack, the Lord reacted by tilting his upper body backward and swing his other arm, catching Shiki by the blade.

"Close but no cigar."

"Need a light?" Kira growled as he quickly made a series of handseals. His mouth began to swell. "Katon: GOUKYAKU NO JUTSU!" A super condensed fireball erupted from Kira's lips and Kira was quick to spit it towards the Lifeless Lord, at point blank range. The bright light of the said fire engulf everything, and the fireball carved the ground as it plow through everything to oblivion.

But Kira knew he missed. The Lifeless Lord unburrowed out of his back, and brought his double bladed sword down. Kira thrust Shiki upward a little late, and the Blade stopped just inches away from Kira's shoulder.

The Lifeless Lord's eyes widened. Kira had stopped his twin blade by shoving Shiki right on the space in-between the two blades. His sword was blocked by Shiki's handguard, but the katana's blade locked the twin blade in place. Kira hold shiki with one hand while his other hand reached up and hold Shiki's blade just above the Lifeless Lord's interlocked dual bladed sword. "What the…"

Before the Lifeless Lord can do anything, Kira grunted and twisted his katana clockwise. The dual blade quickly cracked, and with another circular yank, Kira shattered the twin bladed sword to pieces.

The Lifeless Lord gasped and back away. But before he can do anything, Kira swiftly turned around and with a roar, thrust his katana to the demon's heart, piercing through his armor.

The Pilgrims cheered loudly. "YEAAAH!"

But Kira does not share that sentiment. Something's off. The Lifeless Lord did not disintegrate to ashes. Sure he pierced through the demon's armor… but he didn't feel his blade piercing any heart. Kira looked in horror to the still 'alive' Lifeless Lord. "Sorry."

The Lord suddenly grabbed hold of Kira by the face tightly and lifted him off the ground, his Shiki is still stuck on his chest. The cheer instantly replaced with gasps of horror as everyone watched helplessly on Shadow's dangerous predicament.

"I'm a HEARTLESS wretch. Kinda like YOU."

Tendrils burst out of the Lifeless Lord's hand and instantly engulfed Kira's head. Soon, the Lifeless Lord's one hand and Kira's hand was cocooned in a sphere of tentacles, which began to pulsate… as if it was sucking out something.

"LORD SHADOW!"

"Pardner!"

Gino and Lowe yelled in horror and, ignoring their surroundings, they break ranks and charged towards the Lifeless Lord, Genma Killing weapons in hand.

The Tyrants and the Knights, eerily enough, ignored the runaway and let the two approached their undead master. Lowe and Gino raised their weapons and quickly brought it down upon the monster.

A muscle mass burst out of the Lord's other hand, and in an instant, the Lord yelled:

"TETSUGA TENSHOU!"

"Wha…" The white shockwave burst out in an arc towards the two attackers. Gino and Lowe managed to brought their weapon up in time, but the razor sharp shockwave still plow through them and send them flying all the way back.

Gino grinded to a halt after he smashed away a rock. Lowe had to use his Gerbera to stop himself from getting thrown farther. The two looked at the Lord in disbelief. That technique…

And then, lo and behold, the Lord was holding a demonic replica of the Shiki in his hand. An exact copy down to the last detail… albeit with a few additional monstrous detail here and there.

"Isn't that… Lord Shadow's technique?"

"How the hell…"

"Interesting…" The Lord marveled at his new weapon for a moment, and then he unleashed another Tetsuga Tenshou at the Pilgrims. Lamia chose that time to act: jumping out of her crater and landed right in front of the incoming shockwave and screeched.

"DISPERSE!" Her voice turned into physical explosive energy and collided with the shockwave. The two forces exploded and negated one another. But the aftershock of the blast sis till enough to smash her off her feet, sending her flying back to the other pilgrims with a crash. "Gah!" Lamia coughed up blood. Her throat was injured due to the blast.

"I see… I was right to pick you. You sure have some nasty tricks." Even his voice was distorted and now it sounds very similar with Kira.Except that it was completely emotionless. Cold. Lifeless. Different with Kira's usual cold tone which belies some humanity inside.

Hearing that, Kira's body moved. His other arm reached for a kunai on his pouch and quickly stabbed it to the Lord's tentacle arm. At the same time, Kira's other arm plunged Shiki deeper and then muffled a roar: "TETSUGA TENSHOU!"

Shiki glowed white for an instant, and then, before the Lord can do anything, exploded a fresh Tetsuga Tenshou right on the spot. The white shockwave blast engulf them both and throw Kira away, ripping apart the Lord's one arm still attached to his head while blowing up the Lord's armor inside out. Kira landed with a crash and rolled several times before finally stopping. But he quickly get back on his feet, and with his kunai, he tear apart the tentacles engulfing his head and finally rid the disgusting appendage off his head. Kira gasped and wheezed for some much needed fresh air.

Gino and Lowe let a small sigh of relief seeing Kira was okay. But they quickly focused back on the main foe.

The dust settled and from the smoke, a black figure emerged. Everyone gasped.

Removing the pieces from his shattered armor, another Kira emerged, to the shock of everyone.

The copycat Kira walked out of the cloud of dust wielding a copy Shiki in his hand. He looked exactly just like Kira, dressed up just like him, minus the battle damage. The only visible difference is the noticeably darker pale skin tone, and a completely blackened eye. And this doppel-Kira's coat also emanates the same dark evil aura of wailing spirits, just like the Lifeless Lord armor.

"Blimey…" Lowe gaped as he looked between this Kira and the other Kira.

"Oh… my…" Gino gripped his spear tightly.

Kira was the only one not amused. "So that's what you really are." Kira gritted his teeth. "You're a Doppelganger… a Pretender demon."

"Not just any doppelganger." The Doppel-Kira pointed his Shiki to Kira. "Shall we?"

Kira raise his sword and so did the other Kira. The two echoed: "TETSUGA TENSHOU!"

The two white shockwaves burst out and collide one another, resulting in a massive explosion. Before the dust of the explosion settle, the two Kiras were already at each other's throat, literally. The two shikis grinded one another as they narrowly missed their masters' necks by an inch. Pulling back their swords, they clashed again with a vertical slash. The two Kiras looked at each other as their blades grind one another. The Blades clashed back and Kira slashed horizontally, aiming at the lower body, and then the blade retracted and Kira send another vertical slash to the neck. But the doppel-Kira silently and coldly matched and copied Kira's exact movements, blow by blow. Needless to say, all of Kira's attacks were blocked in the exact same manner of the actual attack. Kira accelerated his attacks, creating a flurry of bladestorm. But no matter how fast Kira move, no matter what kind of attack he performed, his replica copied them all with the exact same precision and lethality. The two Kiras furiously trade slashes and stabs with such strength, the dust around the two were lifted, trailing behind each slash, outlining their combat. Until after a furious trade of slashes, the two ended their swordfight with a loud clashing of two Shikis. The shockwave of the collision pushed away all the dust.

"Oh my God… that monster is matching lord Shadow blow by blow!" Gino swallowed a gulp.

"No…" Lowe was more worried than ever. "He didn't."

"Yes. That monster didn't match Shadow blow by blow…" Waltfeldt sweated.

Lacus also frowned in restlessness.

Kira quickly switched to fist to fist and launched a kick to the doppel, but the doppel also matched it and launched his own kick. The two kicks crossed mid air. Not giving up, Kira and his doppel continue to trade kicks, and then Kira spin and launched a straight kick. Likewise, his doppel replied with a straight kick of his own. The two feet meet, its shockwave pushed away some of the dust. Their feet still connected, Kira slightly tilted his knee and then, used the opponents' feet as a launching pad for him to perform a shunshin. Unfortunately, the opponent also had a same idea, and thus the two disappeared to a puff of smoke.

Everyone's eyes widened in shock. And then, all the sudden, two Kiras appeared out of thin air, clashed, and then disappeared, and then reappeared somewhere. And again and again. Sometimes they clashed midair, sometimes on the ground, sometimes they clashed vertically, sometimes diagonally, their clashes were allover the place as deep slashes and gashes marred the place near where they clashed. They rapidly perform one shunshin after another without so much of a pause in-between clashes. A few dozen of such clashes occurred, and then it escalates as both sides accelerate their attacks, hoping to outpace their opponent. Lowe and Gino quickly moved away from the battle zone when some slashes almost hit them. The two Kiras fought so hard to the point where they no longer recognize where they clashed.

Until finally, the two clashed once more and once again their blades, now red hot due to over friction of the hundreds of their slashes, are locked together. The spectators can now clearly see the difference on which is Kira and which is the doppel. They can noticeably see Kira panting with sweat covering his temple, whilst the copycat remained undaunted and didn't even break a sweat.

"I know your every move."

"Really…" Kira jumped back, but before he landed, he had another surprise: "KNOW THIS!" In an instant, Shiki turned into her blue form. An ornate long bladeless archaic pole arm that is really a gigantic katana handle.

Terrifyingly enough, the doppel-Kira's Shiki also did the same, and His Shiki also transformed into an enormous bladeless katana handle, but with slightly more demonic design than the original.

"Ao… MANGETSUGA (Blue Full Moon Fang)!" Kira threw the Aoiro Shiki and the blade extended out, creating a gigantic katana spinning around. Midflight, the back of the katana blade burst out in explosive blue fire that propel the blue blade to spin blindingly faster, the spin created a sharp disc like projectile, in the similar appearance of a full moon.

Likewise, the other Kira also chant, albeit in a monotonous tone, "Ao Mangetsuga." Likewise, the Doppler also send the same moon-like projectile albeit with darker, more purplish color. The two giant moon slash clashed mid air and in an instant, the two titanic katana stopped midair upon clashing. The Spectators had to cover their eyes from the sudden force of wind of the collision. The two Aoiro Shikis spin back to their masters who both caught it with the gauntlet in their left arms.

Without pause, Kira transform Shiki again. This time, to the Green Midori Shiki. The heavy padded armor on his right arm generated an arrow, which Kira quickly launched. "Agni Kai!"

Again, the Doppelganger Kira also unleashed his own demonic Midori Shiki arrow. "Agni Kai."

The two green arrows rapidly closed the distance, and at the moment of impact, the two unleashed their payload: two lions made of green fire and teal fire, roaring and fighting one another over dominance. The one that came from the doppelganger was slightly demonic in design, with a pair of horns on its head. But eventually, the two lions collided one another and exploded. Kira and his Doppel landed on the ground, and Kira had just finished a series of handseals, as did his copy.

"KATON, KARYUU ENDAN NO JUTSU!" The two send forth a flaming dragon that engulf and incinerate everything in its path. Once again, the two fire dragon collided evenly, and exploded, negating each other.

Seeing yet another tie, Kira decided to stop attacking for a moment and recover his strength. Likewise, the fake Kira also stood at the ready as the dust finally given the chance to settle. Kira's clothes were full of tear marks, revealing the chain mail underneath. Similarly, the fake Kira also has hem, but they were quickly repaired by the Genmas' regeneration ability, thus it seems only the Fake Kira landed any hit.

"That was one of your strongest Jutsu, Karyuu Endan. Slightly weaker than Goukyaku no jutsu, but far more versatile and maneuverable."

Kira stood silent.

"You don't seem surprised I copied that as well. And here I am copying every move you make the instant you made them."

"The instant? Then what the hell that head sucking of yours?"

"I took in your memories. Your battle history. Your knowledge. Your combat experience. Quite a meteoric military record, boy. But even absorbing some of your memories and experiences were not enough to perfectly copy all your techniques." The Doppel tilted his head. "Knowing a technique is one thing, performing it is another. You need real life combat information. Information you just provided."

Kira glared angrily at his fake. But the said Fake did not show any emotion at all: no jeer, no snide sarcasm, no insults or arrogant gloating… no nothing. He's completely emotionless. He's not mocking him… he's just… All he's saying are just cold hard facts. Nothing more. God this will be so much easier if he just show some emotion that would make Kira a lot easier to hate him. But he didn't.

"All those techniques of yours… I've performed them for the first time… and yet I was able to match you blow by blow… even though I should've need some time to adjust. Do you know what that means, boy?"

Kira gripped his katana tightly.

"That means, I'm carrying out your techniques a TAD faster than you. You're good. I'm better. A very thin line… but I'm better."

The Pilgrims let out a horrified gasp. But Kira remained still.

"All in all… I can do everything you do. In fact… I can do them a little better than you in everything: strength, speed, precision… my skills… which is your skills… is slightly superior to yours in every way." The fake Kira pointed his Shiki again to the real Kira. "Now, I will attack. See if you can keep up with me."

The Doppel Kira vanished in a puff of smoke and Kira also barely able to perform a shunshin himself when his doppelganger appeared right in front of him. Their swords clashed again, and this time, Kira was pushed back. The Doppel launched a kick, and Kira had barely liftd his leg when the foot meet his chest and knocked him far away. The Doppelganger was right. He was slightly faster than Kira… as well as slightly stronger… he's practically slightly better than everything Kira does. But that slight difference made all the difference in the world. Pretty soon, Kira's clothes were riddled with cuts and slashes. His chain mail was being torn apart one shred at a time. Preventing the attack from cutting his neck off was all Kira could do to block his doppelganger's attack with Shiki.

After a furious of attacks, the doppel ended it with a powerful slash across Kira's chest that sent him flying. Kira landed to the ground, creating a small shallow crater upon impact. Panting and wheezing Kira struggled to get back up while his doppelganger stood before him, apparently waiting for him to get back on his feet. Kira looked at his doppelganger and suddenly crossed his mind. "You said… you're SLIGHTLY better than everything I do?"

"Yes."

"Slightly faster, slightly stronger… slightly… well… slightly above my parameter, is that what you're trying to say?"

"Yes."

At this, Kira chuckled. "Slightly better you say… and THAT'S IT?"

The fake Kira tilted his head in confusion and nodded.

Kira laughed coarsely. "There are two writers… creating a masterpiece book." Kira gently took off his armguard.

"?"

"Now… one writer wrote a story, and the other wrote a story. Now the problem is, the two stories are exactly the same." Then he took off the other armguard, as well as taking off his coat. "Both lay claim to the said masterpiece. Claiming that they wrote the said story. When one writer says: 'I wrote it!' the other one also declared: 'No! I wrote it.'" Kira took off his leg guards, and finally took off his jacket but he held it hanging by his hand slightly above the ground. "So… how did you find out who's the real writer?"

The Fake Kira didn't answer. But a hand stuck out from amidst the Pilgrims, the owner of the said hand giddily jumped up and down. Kira turned to look at the answerer, the eager Lacus. "Yes?"

"The answer is…" Lacus paused for a moment and then answered confidently: "Have the two writers continue writing that story. The fake one won't be able to do it!"

Kira smiled. "Correct." And with that, Kira vanished without a trace, leaving his jacket falling. And before the said heavy jacket fell to the ground and made a crater upon impact, the Fake Kira was suddenly granted the heaviest straight punch he had ever felt (if he can feel at all) that went straight through his abdomen.

"W… What…"

"Your memory reading was incomplete I see…" Kira choked the Doppelganger by the neck and lifted him up off the ground. He pulled out his bloodied fist from the Doppelganger's holed abdomen and punched his fake self across the face, sending him flying in a straight shot. But before he can stop, Kira disappear and reappeared again right behind him and kicked him by the spine, earning a sickening crack. The fake Kira was sent rolling on the ground and stopped after a few meters. But before he can retaliate, Kira appeared right in front of him in a batoujutsu stance. The Fake Kira raised his sword just as Kira swing upward at blinding speed. The sound of the deafening clank between the two weapons masked the sound of the Fake Shiki blade cracked and the blade surface shattered. The Fake Kira had to hold the now broken sword with both hands while his body is being propelled backward.

"You think I wear those suits for fun or protection?" Kira was referring to his super heavy weight suit. "One of those sucker weigh 50 kilos a limb. I've been carrying weight worth over 5 times my own weight. And now I took them off. Do you know what that means, Genma?"

The Fake Kira's black eyes slightly widened.

Kira reappeared right behind the shocked Doppelganger. "That means, all this time, my speed and strength was only ONE FIFTH of my real parameter."

The Doppelganger turned around just as Kira unleashed his strongest two handed vertical slash, five times the speed and strength of the previous slashes throughout the battle times two (since it's a two hand slash). And the result was devastating, to say the least. The fake shiki was shattered, the blade cleaved through the fake Kira. The slash was halted by the dense bone of the said doppelganger, but the force was enough to push the demon to the ground, slamming him to the ground, creating a crater and effectively pulverized the said demon's limbs. "Which also means… slightly better than me in every way… ISN'T gonna cut it anymore."

Lowe's eyes twitched uncontrollably. "You're saying…"

Gino was jawhung. "He did… that… ALL THAT…" he remembered the slaughtering Genma rushes, the blowing up of the Tyrant tower, the blindingly fast movements, the head disintegration of the Babylon… all that…

Hilda flabbergasted. "…was just at one fifth strength…?"

Kira back away from the crater where his fake lay half crushed and created a series of handseals. "Katon…"

"Katon…"

"GOUKYAKU NO JUTSU!"

"Goukyaku no jutsu."

The two sent a large fireball to each other. But the instant after his fireball launched, with incredible speed, Kira finished another handseals, its process was concealed by the giant fireball he just sent, hence his doppelganger can't copy it. "Katon, KARYUU ENDAN NO JUTSU!" A fire dragon, larger than even the first fireball burst out, swallowed the Goukyaku and grew larger as the result and completely engulfed the opposition. The Fire Dragon charged on and finally swallowed the Fake Kira to oblivion.

Everyone looked in awe as Kira now completely dominated the battle. In strength, speed, and even spell casting.

A flaming fist burst out from the ablaze site where the Genma Doppelganger struggled to get up, his body is completely ablaze with dust pouring out of every wound.

Kira spit. "Damn. This is a tough one…"

The Fake Kira finally put out the fire with great difficulty. But by that time, his whole body is covered in ashes and burnt marks. But they too, rapidly vanished without a trace as all his wounds were closed down and the burnt marks disappeared without a trace. If this was human, he would be bathing in his own blood with charred skin. "Do not put me in the same class with all those small fries you've taken down."

"So it seems."

"You're weird."

Kira tilted his head in confusion. "Weird?"

"When I tasted your memory, I knew right from the start that you are… different." The Fake Kira looked at the other Pilrgims.

Tasted his memory… that means… the Genma KNOWS. "Which is why you call me a heartless wretch just like you. In figurative sense."

"You deny this."

"NO." Kira replied calmly. "I AM a heartless wretch. The shit I've done to my own race. I feel no regret, no pity, no remorse… no. My heart has been blackened too far to feel that."

Everyone was greatly unnerved at this announcement. The shit he's done to his own race? What on earth has he done?

"Are you sure that statement is not false?" the fake Kira pointed at Kira. "I sense great rage in you. A vast amount of hatred. A dark all consuming fury that can destroy all your enemies… yet you do not use them."

"I've learned to fight with this." Kira pointed his head. "Not this." He pointed his chest.

"And yet you keep all that fury locked away inside you. I can see it. One spark of kindness that's keeping all that fury and hatred… all that… raw destructive force of nature locked away inside you. Wasted." The Fake Kira clenched his fist tightly. "You have no idea the power you command if you simply unleash it. Erase that last spark of kindness, and be rid of your weakness and none can stand in your way."

"NO!" A shriek caught their attentions. It was Lacus, who quickly rushed forward and removed her helmet to join the conversation. "Do not listen to him Shadow! If it's true that there's one spark of kindness inside you, then don't. Don't erase that kindness. That's not a weakness. It's what separates you from him."

"Talking is easy, Princess. You do not know the Hell this one had gone through. I do."

"YOU ARE NOT what he's going to BE!" Lacus retorted. "You are everything he's NOT!"

"Will you two idiots shut up?" Kira snapped. He looked at Lacus. "Princess, he's right. You don't know a damn thing of what I've gone through. The things I've done. I'm not as much as good guy as you think."

"Then why help us? Everything you've done so far. Why…?"

"Because your existence… is WRONG." Kira glared at his doppelganger. "I've seen how much suffering immortality can give you, and lo and behold, I'm standing in an island filled with a whole lot of immortals. Undead."

The Doppel Kira tilted his head. Lacus blinked and her eyes widened, either in awe or shock.

"Men are not meant to live forever. You guys are just a pitiable existence. And I just can't stand the sight of the lot of you." Kira pointed his Shiki towards his doppelganger. "And you… who gave you the right to tell me how I should live? If you truly copied me and my memories, you're doing a really poor job at it. You know so little about me. I'm the master of my fate, not you. I'm the master of my life, NOT you! If my life is destined to be forever in Hell, then that… will be because of the choices I made. NOT. You. Not anyone else."

Everyone swallowed a gulp in awe. Everyone except the Genmas and of course, the doppel Kira. "You will never understand the power inside you."

Kira smirked. "Then I'll just have to find a way to live with that." Kira began to menacingly close the distance as he readied his Shiki and motioned Lacus to move out of the way. "Chat-time's over."

The fake Kira also readied his Shiki. "And I'm your copy, remember? Even if I misjudged your strength a little earlier, did you think I can't increase my strength quickly to surpass your level?"

"Then do it. Vastly powerful enemy never discourage me to fight it."

"I'd rather not. We doppelgangers are masters in battle of mind." The Doppel Kira shook his head. "Besides, can you do it? Can you defeat someone with the same skills, the same form as you?"

Kira grinned sadistically like crazy. "Like I said, you did a poor job imitating me." Kira playfully placed Shiki near his face. "You should know: I HATE my own face."

"Huh?" Everyone jaw dropped-some also sweat dropped.

"If I had my way, I'd rather be faceless altogether." Kira's sadistic grin threatened to tear his face apart, his eyes were filled with gleams of maniacal delight and happiness. "I had to thank you for copying me. Now I get the never thought possible opportunity… of tearing apart my own face with my own hands."

The lady knights who fawned over Kira a little earlier were terrified out of their wits. Their phantasy imagination of a dashing pretty boy with sparkly eyes behind the mask of Shadow are now officially marred with the image of a maniacal ugly sucker. "Lord Shadow is really scary…"

"Hmm…" The Doppelganger rubbed his chin. "I see. I guess I go at this the WRONG way."

"Hm?"

"I thought I can aggravate you by pitting you with yourself, in a physical power showdown… taunting you with your own skills… but now I see such trifles are just entertainment for you berserkers."

'Berserker?' Lacus looked at the original Kira.

"Hey, hey, Lowe… what's a berserker?" Gino whispered.

"Guys who looked calm and composed during the calm… but in battle… they went crazy, turning to battle maniacs. Adrenaline junkies that don't feel fear or pain. They don't fight for glory or anything… they fight for fun. Their characteristic trait is…" Lowe gulped at his pardner's obviously smiling face behind his mask. "They smile in battle."

And then, all the sudden, the Doppel Kira took the initiative and attacked first. Likewise, Kira also charged ahead. Their two warriors clashed again. Their identical weapons grind one another. But before Kira can do anything, suddenly a pair of hands grabbed Kira's hands tightly. Kira's eyes widened as he saw an extra pair of black arms burst out of the fake one's chest and grabbed hold of his arms. Kira grunted and immediately tried to break free, but he couldn't, the grip was ironclad. And then, all the sudden, the Fake Kira's coat flared up and hundreds of black arms extended out.

Kira found this sight strangely familiar…

Before Kira can process this thought any further, the arms rain down upon him and completely engulfed the two of them.

"Kage-san!" Lacus shrieked in horror.

"It looks like I have to go deeper… much… much deeper… let's see what you really are."

Kira was completely pinned by hundreds of black arms, holding him in place in various parts. He was completely immobilized on the spot. No matter how he tried, he just can't yank himself free. And between that and the abominable rotting stench of these arms, assaulting his sense of smell at overwhelming rate, Kira find it hard to concentrate or think.

And just like before, all those arms began to pulsate and Kira gasped as he can feel these arms suddenly began sucking some things up to the surface of his head. Earlier on, the Doppelganger absorbed the memories of his battles. Now, it went even deeper and start bringing up other memories as well: the memory of his friends, of Kuzzey's death, his time in Amaterasu… and then even deeper: his friendship with Athrun, the childhood life with the Zala family… and…

"URAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGHH!" Summoning unearthly strength out of nowhere, Kira viciously tear apart everything he sees. Before long, Kira finally burst out of the cocoon of rotting hands with a splash of black blood turned ash. Kira jumped away from the cocoon and landed right in front of Lacus, panting, wheezing.

"Kage-san! Are you alright?"

Before Kira can reply, the distorted voice of his body double echoed from the cocoon. "Interesting memories." Lacus and Kira can see the Doppelganger stood in the shade.

Lacus was slightly unnerved at the sound, but she was even more terrified… at how terrifying an angry Kira is. "You… You bastard… how DARE you… you… you're the only one I'll never forgive…!"

A hand burst out of the cocoon of arms and the doppelganger tear it open. "I think I had an idea of the best form to deal with you."

"Oh yeah?" Kira barked angrily. "Who are you gonna turn into this time?"

"I can turn into any one of your loved ones… but I know you now. Any form I showed up with, you're just going to tear it apart to pieces… so… I think I'll stick with this form, for size." And the Doppelganger walked out… in a shape no one can comprehend.

He walked out as a young person, with flowing long dark brown hair. His… no… her face are emotionless and lack of any visible expression, but he… she… was beautiful.

"A… girl? Why would he turn into a…" Lowe's commentary was cut off as Gino nudged him and pointed at Kira… whose horrified eyes became transfixed at the shape the doppelganger has taken and he's trembling uncontrollably from head to toe.

Lacus narrowed her eyes and studied the girl's features. She looked at the girl… and then to Kira. Suddenly, she caught up something. Looking back and forth between the girl and Kira, Lacus was quick to notice some disturbing details… the girl's has a same facial structure with Kira, even though Kira's face was covered in mask. The similarities were impeccable, albeit the obvious difference in age. Kira was about… 16-17… the girl was about 10-12 years old. With another quick look at the 'girl's' form, Lacus suddenly connected the dots. This is not a girl. The Doppelganger turned into a younger form of Kira… one… who dressed up as a girl?

Kira's widened eyes twitched uncontrollably as the shape of the girl before him was burned to his memory… and without him being able to stop it, memories, dark twisted memories, long suppressed at the deepest recesses of his mind flooded in uncontrollably, like a dam bursting out.

"Put this on! There's a good girl."

Several stinky fatso restrained Kira as they put on a wig and dressed him up like a girl.

"No, no! Stop! Stop!"

Kira was tied up as some maniac whipped him several times o the back, tearing apart her girlish clothes.

"Shut him up!"

A naked man choked Kira as he…lay over his naked body.

"Don't resist boy, you might actually gonna enjoy it!"

The barely conscious Kira could only stare helpless as they began to undress before him.

"Haa… Haaa… Humpphh!"

Another person began hump on Kira's mouth, with others lining up behind him.

" OF YOU SHOULD JUST DIE!"

Kira moaned and screamed as his bleeding nails clawed the ground helplessly as another person arrived to do him again…

Shiki fell from Kira's hand as the he collapsed on his knees, holding his head with both hands and ruffled his messy hair in desperation, as if wanting to tear those dark memories away from his mind to no avail. His whole body went rigid, moaning, groaning in pain – mental pain. "Aaahh… Argghh…"

Lacus looked in horror at this sudden event. She glared angrily at the doppelganger's stone cold face. That monster has officially taking it too far. "You… What did you do to him?"

"Me? I only brought it to surface. It was already there in the first place." The Doppelganger looked at the groaning and panicking Kira. "In fact, it is you. You should address that question to yourself and your race. You guys did a wonderful job messing the hell out of him."

"Huh?" Lacus' eyes widened in shock as she looked in horror at Kira, screaming in pure agony.

Meanwhile, Kira's groans and moans grew louder and more excruciating as the memories became more vivid and clear. Worse, each event now repeated itself a dozen times over as they compound over other memories. "Arhh… ARGHhHHGHH! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGHHHHH!" At this, Kira grew more desperate as he banged his head to the ground several times, still trying futilely to fight those memories away from invading his mind, playing havoc on his remaining sanity. "Argh… !"

Inside Kira, things are just as chaotic. Shiki once said that she hated the darkness that will flow out of through Kira's cracked sky. But now, Shiki watched in horror as the entire sky is cracking and it literally rain darkness. No matter where Shiki tried to run, the dark matter will fell upon her, slowly bleaching her beautiful rainbow hair black. And that darkness at the corner of Kira's mind rapidly expanding, consuming everything in its way. Shiki watched the cracks in the sky and traced it, realizing it came from the said darkness. And she can feel something in there is staring at her. "Master Kira…?"

And then, all the sudden, a mass of chains burst out of the darkness and instantly grab hold of Shiki, much to her horror. In rapid succession, a fistful of chains was shoved into her mouth before she can scream, the chains bound her here and there, tying her hands and feet, and then wrapping up around her form, and slither allover her body – in a menacingly luscious manner. During the process, Shiki transformed from her child figure into a full adult and naked woman, with shorter hair. Her initially rainbow colored hair turned black. 'W… What is this…!' The chains began to drag her into the darkness, and she can feel there are more of such dark chains waiting for her in there. She struggled to get away, but all the sudden, multiple chains burst out of the darkness and this time, they mercilessly pierced her through several parts of her body, earning a muffled horrified scream. The teary eyed Shiki still struggled as she can feel the chains around her are violating her en-masse, inside out. She stretched out her hand, begging someone, anyone to help her. "H… help me… Master Ki…ra…"

But the much needed helper has been driven to edge of his sanity, Kira's head shot up, and a seed fell, Kira opened his bloodshot eye and it's in Seed mode. He stretched out his hand and roughly yanked Shiki.

Another wave of chains burst out of the darkness, engulfed her and wrapped around her eyes and lips. The last thing that Shiki saw before the chains closed everything from view was the sight and sensation of how all the chains suddenly shot up spikes, and they instantly tightened their spiky wrap around her.

"Slaughter all creation…"Kira placed the Shiki before his chest…

"KAGE-SAN! STOOOP!"

"Admit it! This is your normal! Your nature!" The Doppelganger urged Kira on.

And from the inside of the massed bundles of chains, Shiki's violation reached its zenith and a long and distorted hysterical scream followed.

"ANKOKU SHIKI!"

Kira drove Shiki to his heart, and the black clad figure exploded, unleashing hundreds of razor sharp chains to every direction.

"A person… no… a race won't survive something like that… not without developing some inherent insanity…"

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Sengoku Period

The Era of Warring States or the Sengoku Period, as some historian would call them, is a 1000 generations long era of constant warring in Japan. At the dawn of the Oni Empire, most of the Onis have, at this point, vanished. The day to day running of the Great Empire was mostly given to the new young mortal race… the Advanced and the Naturals, the human race. The Great Oni Empire vastly encompassed the whole world. Whatever conflict that may arise was swiftly put down. The Empire's hegemony was undisputed, and everywhere peace and order reign… except in one small country.

Centuries earlier, the tribe that would become the people of Japan was once originated from a caste of elite warriors who are mostly responsible for the expansion of the Oni Empire throughout Asia, and fought at the forefront of the battlefield as vanguards. Originally composed of Onis suited of the task, with the gradual shift of Oni to Humans, most of these Vanguards are now replaced with humans. The Onis were relegated to the role of instructors. And during the process of training the first human warriors, these Onis had a bright idea of training them as ruthless as they would train their own race – without any readjustments to a human's physical and mental relative frailty. Understandably, the human warriors that survived this training process were few, but in battle these survivors are monstrously powerful. With each successful campaign, the number of survivors quickly far outstripped the number of casualties in training and the battle itself. When the great crusade is over, these elite warriors were no longer needed. And they were given lands to live in, in a small island nation, Japan, as a gift for their meritorious service to live in peace. Unfortunately, some of these warriors had also developed a severe post war traumatic stress where they were engulfed in a rage of battle lust: they need to constantly slake their thirst for blood and carnage. Peaceful life is an alien concept to them. At first, these… battle thirst were slaked with constant controlled dueling in dojos and barracks. But as the intensity grew, the battle became more and more dangerous, involving real life weapons, with casualties. It wasn't long before the battle began to escalate beyond the confines of these dojos. As the result, Japan became a country of constant conflict.

To reestablish peace, the Great Empire sent several envoys to pacify the situation and gave warning. Unfortunately, these warnings fell on deaf ear, and the envoys were met with violent response. And then, an envoy, with an Oni came to deliver their final warning. Instead of obeying, the warriors killed them all, including the Oni. This marks the first recorded time when mortals killed an Oni. Terrified by this and fearing the prospect of the Japanese brought their war outside the borders of their country, the human stewards of the Empire decided to initiate a total lockdown, blockading the entire country, isolating it from the outside world. The Blockade proved to be impenetrable from the inside, and the Japanese had no choice but to direct all their aggression inward. War unlike anything the world had ever seen erupted in the land of the Rising Sun, dyeing its ground red with blood. For 1000 generations, the land of Japan remained an isolated country and completely blocked off from outside world. The idea was so that, the Japanese would kill themselves out from their constant war and bloodshed. The Onis didn't know about this until too long of a time had gone by due to their weakening power.

Eventually, the Oni clan did find out about what happened, and they were horrified of what their mortal progenies had done. However, they too are wary of the danger these Japanese may pose, remembering the history where one of their own was killed by these so called 'violent murdering savages'. Thus, they decided to aid them in secret. A stealthy humanitarian task force composed of the last of the Onis was prepared to sneak in past the Blockade to first study the Japanese and then give medical and humanitarian aid as appropriate. But when they did get there, they were welcomed with a surprising sight: The Japanese had not only survived 1000 generations of war, they've thrived – mentally and culturally. They have evolved their warlike tendency into something more… refined and civilized: A warrior nation. Everyone, from the lowliest serf to the noblest lord possessed only 1 profession: warrior. These humans have remained steadfast to the tradition that has been taught down to them by their predecessor (and thus, by extension, the teachings of their Oni teachers) and had gone a long way of adding and improving upon them, creating a code that they live and breathe by. This code of honor and conduct that defined their way of life was known as Bushido: the Way of the Warrior. Unlike the rest of the so called civilized yet divided world (Advanced and Naturals), these people had considered such difference of bloodline to be moot. One's standing in the society is decided not by their ancestry, but by deed and strength of honor. It's not unheard of how a Natural sandal bearer suddenly became a warlord overnight through sheer talent and/or bravery. A few Advanced even went so far as to negate their own bloodline limits (by blinding themselves, amputation or whatever) since it was considered a dishonorable hindrance. The Onis were also regaled with tales of combat and honorable rivalry so legendary in proportion; it was hard to believe that it was feats performed by mortals.

It was also here the Onis were introduced to two types of warriors that had come to prominence during the Sengoku Period: The Samurais and the Shinobis. The Samurais and Shinobis are in a sense, the end result of generations after generations of constant improvements (through combat) over the initial Oni's own training method that once produced some of the finest warrior during the Great Crusade. Refined to perfection, their lethality rate had decreased considerably, and now the Samurais are super soldiers far beyond anything the Oni had ever encountered… it even surpassed the strength of the Oni's own individual warriors, back when they were in their prime. Such was the product of a warrior society who devoted themselves to the perfection for whatever it is they pursue, be it in combat or in way of life.

The Onis then theorized that this civilization was in fact, the end product of a series of cycles of destruction and rebirth. During the Warring States era, a single powerful civilization would rose up to its zenith and dominate for a time, and then destroyed by war and infighting, only to eventually be rebuilt again in a new similar civilization that are stronger than the previous. Based on their archeological studies, the Onis concluded that the current Japanese Civilization, known as the Tokugawa era is the Third and currently the strongest incarnation. The previous two: dubbed the Oda and the Toyotomi era was destroyed due to inside war and the forced isolation. The Tokugawa would've suffered the same fate, if the isolation is to continue at this rate. Worse, the land of the Rising Sun had nearly exhausted all its resources to survive and rebuilt from the destruction of the previous two dynasties. If this third era is to fall to the same fate, this country will NEVER recover again.

From all this, the Onis then concluded that the Japanese do not deserve the fate their misguided progeny had given them. To teach their progenies a lesson, but also aware of the Japanese stringent code of honor that will not allow these proud warriors to receive aid out of pity, the Onis decided to give their aid in an indirect way: by teaching them bits and pieces of advanced naval combat and let them figure out a way to beat the crap of their jailors in their own way. The current Japanese people proved to be as good as a student as their ancestors were, millennia ago. Collecting and putting together these small bits and pieces and then interpret them in their own way, they've managed to create battleships the likes of which are far more powerful than anything, or anyone (Advanced or Naturals) had ever fielded. With these new mighty and superior battleships, the Japanese, starving, outnumbered 1000 to 1, but not outmatched, sailed out, break through their 1000 generations long imprisonment, and unleash millennia old worth of rage and fury that scarred the other races' hearts and minds from the world over for eternity in a single day of retribution of legendary proportion, and they finally won their freedom.

To be continued…

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We knew things were too good to be true…

Lowe was mercilessly swept aside.

But we ignored the signs…

Hilda were slammed head first to the ground.

We should've seen it coming…

Jeremiah screamed in horror, holding his bleeding left eye socket.

We listened to his warnings, but do nothing…

A bloodbathed Gino was tossed around like a ragdoll.

We realized too late…

Lamia screamed as loud as she ever thought possible.

We… have awakened a beast…

The bruised and beaten Waltfedlt knelt atop the field of slaughter as he watched helplessly while the chains lifted the series of chained weapons to the sky, ready to impale him en-masse at a moment's notice.

Chapter 29:

Wrath of the Dark Knight

"I'm sorry…" Lacus' tears fell upon the knight who's holding her aloft by the chains.

And I can't believe I'm the one who erased the last bit of his sanity.

The Dark Knight roared and shoved his clawed arm to Lacus' chest.

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See? I've warned you. M materials are finally here.

ROTFL: Roll On The Floor Laughing, or Revenge Of The Fallen

The Sengoku Period of this world lasted for 1000 generations. Not 1000 years. Assuming each generation lasted for 50 years, that's 50,000 years of constant warring. Imagine that!

Now, the ORIGINAL real life Sengoku Period lasted for 'only' roughly 300 years. And there are three warlords who finally unified the country: Nobunaga Oda (Who started it), Toyotomi Hideyoshi (Who completed it), and Tokugawa Ieyasu (who eventually run the show).

In this fic, the Japanese were given superior naval prowess in response to the Japanese were manufacturer of some of the world's strongest battleships (the Nagato and the unfortunately short-lived Yamato battleships to name a few). And their Samurais are comparable to Halo's SPARTAN or Warhammer 40,000's Space Marines.