Chapter 31
By 6am. Jason had endured countless slashes, severed limbs, decapitations and other means that would kill a man countless times. Yet, he remained healthy and alive. Zombieman appeared impressed as well. "Your healing rate is quite impressive. I decapitated you and it took less than 30 seconds for you to regain your head."
Jason was a little nervous as he rubbed his throat. "Feels weird…" he said. He even saw his own body after his head was severed, but the strange part was those creatures that broke free from the open wound, they were small serpent like monsters that would produce themselves, grab hold of the severed limb and being it back to reattach it. Sometimes they would look like blobs of flesh and snap up any missing limbs, specks of blood and skin to bring it back on to the body. He shuttered at the thought of it all, but it also goes to show his body will recover from just about anything.
"Trust me, I hope you never know what it feels like when someone splits you down to your atoms. That thing stung like a bitch…"
Jason forced a smile. "Thanks big bro…"
"Any time… so… you want to go to the Association?" he asked.
He thought it over for a moment, but then nodded. Despite knowing he could survive anything at this point, there was much to learn still. As well, his body wasn't exactly human anymore. He learned that the moment his arm got severed. The moment the limb was detached. Those demon like dragon serpents poured out of him from the skin, they rushed to the limb and dragged it back, reattaching it. If it was out of range in which they tested, his arm grew back. Yet when he was able to retrieve it, the monster came out of his side and devoured the limb! His body refuses to waste material by the looks of it. But it also is a great insurance policy so no one could get any genetic information from him either. Jason found he doesn't bleed a lot, when he is cut, a small bit of blood will flow, but then stop nearly instantly. His skin absorbs it back into his body.
"Let's go…" he said aloud.
"Okay, but change your clothing… I got to get dressed."
He has gone without sleep for nearly two days, and yet, Jason didn't feel the least bit tired.
They ate breakfast and got ready for the day. Zombieman and Jason walked all the way to the Association despite the distance they had to travel. Yet upon arrival, there was a bit of a commotion.
"What do you mean it registered knockout gas?!" Curious, Zombieman approached.
"Hey, what's going on?" he asked.
Alley turned, but paused when she saw Jason. She shook her head clear and focused. "My sisters went out with Conna, Misty and Angie. They were having a girl's day when Luna's watch registered knockout gas. Someone has made a move… fortunately it's not… you know who." She said.
"Wait, they took the girls!?" Jason demanded. "Let me help!"
Alley was stunned. "Jason… I'm sorry…"
"Don't apologize now. My sister, the girls and Eclipsa could be in danger…"
"Actually, they aren't." called Yuki.
He came down the hall with a paper in hand. "I tested the knock out gas that was analyzed by the watch on Luna. The gas is made of herbs, plants and natural means, not chemical. So this is the work of survivalist… or… ninjas." He explained.
"Ninjas?" asked Zombieman.
"I've tested Flash's things and he does have a knock out gas. Very similar but different components."
"Did someone say ninjas?!"
Every head turned as Max walked in. "Damn, Flash told me that a while ago… there was a faction eyeing the girls… he said he would take care of it, but I think he missed some…"
"We're wasting time!" Jason protested.
Only to get a snicker out of Zombieman. "You don't need to worry kid. You forget, they got two of her sisters… those assholes don't stand a chance…"
"But the other girls could be in trouble. Athena doesn't fight. Misty isn't as strong and as humans, Conna and Angie will need help." Explained Alley.
"I already called the brothers, we will go get them!" Yuki stated.
"I'm going too!" said Jason.
Alley nodded. "If you want to wait for my brothers…"
"Nah, let him go on ahead." Zombieman said. "There's nothing those guys can do to him… right kid?" he asked.
Jason froze for a moment, but then nodded. "Let me go on ahead…"
Alley turned to Yuki who nodded in agreement. "It will take time for everyone to get here… go ahead…"
"Where are they?"
Alley got the directions and tracking device, the Ninjas were based deep in the woods of City E. With a clear indication as to where to go, Jason set off, not before Zombieman took hold of his shoulder. He leaned in and whispered. "Fear nothing" and let him go on his way.
With a nod, he set off. Jason felt compelled to run, and yet as he did. His legs surged with strength, he was far faster than he was before. Streets, cities, places were nothing more than a blur to him as he followed the tracking device given.
He arrived within ten minutes.
The place was a massive cube, no windows and only one door. He glared at him, a part of him still feared death and yet, with all the training he did just this morning, that fear should be unfounded in him. Still, old habits…
He kicked in the door… well… blew it open. He saw nothing more than a dark, empty hallway. Yet as his new set of eyes opened, they saw everything. Nothing can hide from him anymore in the darkness. It was clear as day.
There were five of them waiting.
He stepped in.
The moment he did, he saw them coming. Their blades sliced through him with ease, his arms severed, legs cut clean off as he was also hacked down the middle of his body.
It was painful, but not as bad as he expected.
"Too quick too die… this one looked like an escaped experiment…"
"Well clean your sword and wait… Others maybe…"
Jason felt his body pull back together, slowly he picked himself up off the ground and shook it off. He turned to the five who struck him down and glared. "I hate being cut up!"
SLAM
His arm extended, those demon creatures broke off and rushed their prey. The five were smashed into the walls with great force, knocking them out. When his arm retracted, he reached down and took two of their swords. "I'm taking these… what the hell…" he took two more, after all, he has four arms.
He walked rather confidently down the halls, each and every time he was struck down, he became whole again, startling his attackers who tried to up their game. He would be struck down time and time again, and each time he would get up and heal from the wounds no matter their assault. Jason didn't have the heart to kill any of these men, after all he doesn't quite know their story, nor does he want blood on his hands. So a mere knock out blow would be enough for him as he moved on.
It wasn't long until he came to the center of the building. There he saw his sister and the girls all tied up in chairs. He walked in rather casually until the ninjas came out of the shadows and held swords to the girls' throats. "One move, and they are dead!"
His arms went up, all four of them and the swords were dropped. They snickered aloud as he appeared to have given up so easily. "You are a strange creature, boy. Why not come work for us? You can have the first pick!"
He ho-humed the idea. "Well, you see I don't like to force people to do what they don't want to do. Besides, I'm not the one you should be worried about…"
The building shook.
"What the hell was that!?"
Then another quake.
"You see, I came on ahead just to be sure that the girls were here. You got my sister and some friends there…"
The building shook with more force, as the ninjas appeared worried. "Is this Garou!?"
"Please, you would have been dead long before I got here if it was him. No… I think those are the sons of Garou…"
BASH!
The wall blew out, Tempest stood in its wake and appeared rather pissed off to say the least. "You kidnapped MY SISTERS AND GIRLFRIEND!" he shouted.
Rimuru, Pythan, Bo and Akira then appeared. "Ooo ninjas, haven't fought them yet…" Akira said with some excitement.
"HEY! YOU KNOW THE RULE!" protested Luna.
He sighed aloud. "I get at least one!" he demanded.
"What are you kids talking about!"
"Who the hell are you again?" Jason asked.
"We are the survivors of the ninja village, we were the last apprentices of the masters who sought to vanquish the graduates of 'The End'. They died before being able to compete the task, which has now befallen us. But we have determined, we need stronger warriors, and have sought to achieve that through selective breeding. These girls have been observed for some time, and I Darkest Night, will fulfill my masters dream, and create a whole new…"
"Oh shut the hell up!" snapped Pythan. "Screw this…" he triggered his bands and turned serpent. "Let's beat them up already!"
However he was blocked by Tempest. "Luna has called out the rule, we must honor it…"
"What rule!" demanded Darkness Night.
"We only interfere if they ask for help," Tempest said.
It confused the ninjas greatly until their focus shifted to the girls. Luna smiled sweetly. "Simply put… we get to fight you first!" she tore out of her bindings with ease, Eclipsa followed as the ninjas froze.
"That rope, was that not laced with our best steel…"
"Please, that's nothing!" Luna said and smiled. Suddenly, she vanished.
The room froze as Akira sighed. "She's showing off…"
As Jason blinked, he saw five ninja get thrown and imprinted into the wall!
The others were startled as they began to back away from the girls, only to have Eclipsa vanished too, ten were in the wall!
Jason was amazed as he could barely see the girls move so fast and strike even harder. It dwindled down quickly to the last man, Darkest Night. He was trembling as his sword quivered in his hands. The girls appeared before him, not even breaking a sweat.
"No… stay back, you monsters!" he protested.
"Akira…" Luna said gently.
"Wha…"
KABOOM!
His strike was so hard, Darkest Night was sent through three walls!
The room cleared, and not a single ninja got up again. "That easy huh? Then why the hell did we come here?!" Bo demanded.
Tempest smirked. "False sense of danger. Making them believe we were a threat… when in reality it was right in front of them." He said with a smile.
They untied the rest of the girls. Jason picked up the swords from the ground and nodded to them. Rimuru even helped himself to some!
"Jason…"
Peering up, Eclipsa approached him, but kept her distance. "Thank you," she simply said.
He gave but a nod to her. "I'm… not ready to talk to you yet."
She held back her tears but nodded in understanding. Rejoining her brothers, they were about to leave until Misty called. "You coming!?"
He smiled to her and nodded. Helping himself to a few more weapons along the way, Jason left with his friends, but still wondered about himself…