Chapter 41

At the Heroes Association.

Metal Knight on at his wit's end.

Botan keeps haunting him, following and stalking him to no ends; in broad daylight, in the shadows of his lab, now his dreams. It's all he ever sees is Botan's face, his eyes a glow and him stating. "Any time, I will take that title from you."

Metal Knight became so desperate for help, he went to Snek and asked what could be done. Snek on the other hand wasn't that willing to assist him. "You think I am going to give you guidance? You maybe old in human years, but to me, that's infant age. You don't get it do you?" he demanded.

"If you help me, I swear I will never hunt a naga again!"

Snek refused flat out. "You think I am just looking out for my people? Look, Others have an acceptance of each race, we're all the same just different. Get it? You need to stop hunting all together, because you are killing innocent people!"

Metal Knight sneered at the notion. "You can say that because you're one of them…"

"No, I can say that since it's the damn truth! You think it's all about power? Land? Others are not greedy! Well… most of us aren't. Dare I say we are human like, there are good and bad on each side. You can't just declare one race to be horrible and try to erase them from the world!" Snek paused but then smirked. "You do realize… when you become the Shadow King… you are no longer human yourself."

He paused to the news. "Wait… what do you mean?"

Snek went one farther. "Well, you do realize your body can die. When you do, you become a mere shadow of your former self, and then you find a new body to take over… it's a never ending cycle. However when we had Bad, he was already turned into a half vampire. That alone preserved his body, when he became the shadow king he didn't have to worry about swapping it out every few hundred years. But you just had to shit on that parade now didn't you?"

Metal Knight tried to wave off the criticism. "What do I do about the boy?" he asked.

"The boy? Oh. You mean Botan!" Snek said. He paused for but a moment before stating. "Kiss your ass goodbye."

"WAIT!" Metal Knight pleaded as Snek turned away. "Please, tell me how to remedy this? What do I do?"

It was then, Snek's arm began to smolder into black smoke. The illusion fell apart as Botan appeared! Bofoi stumbled back as he looked into the eyes of this young man. He glared at him like Garou, but there was a hint of his father Metal Bat in there too. "What to do, what to do?" Botan asked in a dark tone. "What do you think? How do you make up for the thousands of lives you took? How do you make up for attacking my family?" he demanded. "What price… is a good price to you?"

Metal Knight trembled. "Please… Take the title of King of the Shadows, I don't want it!"

Botan smirked. "It wasn't yours anyways, nor is it mine yet. I doubt it ever will be."

"What…"

"My fathers are not dead. That was shadow illusion I used on myself and my uncle Amai. But you did try and attack them, you would have killed my father knowing he was with child… well… children, but that's beside the matter…"

"Children…" whispered Metal Knight fearfully.

"Now then, your punishment…" Botan grabbed Bofoi's right arm. There he surged and sent a small bit of power into it. "Shadow of decay" he whispered.

When he released him, Bofoi froze, he saw but one black vein on his arm. "What… what's this?"

"Punishment if you dare raise your weapons against innocent lives, human and others." He decreed. "Shadow of decay, it will spread throughout your body each time a life is taken, the first you will lose is your right arm, for that is where I put it. Then, it will be your left arm… then your leg, and your other leg until you are a torso. When you are rendered a torso, it will slowly spread throughout your body until you can only move your head… then it will spread until you can merely move your eyes. Your final sight will be your body breaking down into dust like the old man you are."

He froze to his warning. Metal knight trembled as he swore he saw the marking slink up his wrist. "Why…"

"Why not?" Botan asked and smirked. "You also can slow the spread too, it will grow over time, HOWEVER, if you save lives of others, those who need to be saved and protected, the curse won't spread. If you happened to save the same amount of people you killed, it will remain, go beyond that… and it will lift." He stated.

"I maybe young, I maybe foolish, but I at least have the decency to show mercy as well. Unlike you."

He turned his back. "You can keep living the way you are, that's up to you. The more you do, the sooner you will be in the grave!"

#

Botan shadow walked to the other side of the Association. There Snek stood there, dumbfounded. "You can do a perfect mimic?" he asked.

"Been practicing for such an occasion…" Botan said in a joking tone. "But anyway, Bofoi has a curse on him, he kills anyone innocent, it spreads, and will decay his body slowly. I told him he can rid the curse by saving as many people as he took, and going beyond it."

"You Amai Masked him huh?" Snek smirked.

"I do believe I have. Death did inspire this. I am not cruel. To say the least, I like to give people the chance to change themselves for the better. If they refuse, that's on them."

Snek froze to his words. "Are you SURE you are Garou and Bad's kid?"

Botan snickered. "I wonder that sometimes myself." He sighed aloud. "But hopefully this fixes things. Now. I do believe I am going to head back home. Dad and father should be back soon right?"

He got a nod from Snek, yet paused. "Something tells me he maybe staying a while longer…"

"Oh?"

"Yeah, I tend to get messages from Others. Apparently there is talk among the fairy folk here, stating that their master has taken an interest in a new demi. If that's the case, he may not be going anywhere!"

Botan paused to the news. "Taken an interest…" he whispered.

"It's nothing serious, but given his current state, it's fascinating to the gods to see a demi like him in his condition. Perhaps they wish to help nurture him, he was having trouble getting enough to eat right?"

He nodded to the news. "Yeah, perhaps it would be best for dad and father to remain where they are. If they are feeding him properly…"

"I don't think you need to worry about that the least bit." Snek laughed. "If anything we should prepare for when he's ready to pop… you going to be a big brother to five siblings!"

Botan smiled nervously to the news. "Wow… don't get me wrong, I am thrilled, but still, to have five all at once huh?"

"Your father could vouch for that, he's just as surprised to say the least. But I got to give him credit, he has done amazing considering the situation and circumstance. Also, perhaps this will teach him to not jump the gun or go out and do this off the cuff!"

"Agreed!"