We do not own Koihime Musou or Kamen Rider Gaim. They belong to their respective creators. We just thought this idea would be fun and decided to give it a try. If you like it, then that's great. If you don't, then we tried. Anyway, come along and let's see what you think.


Nanamomo finished telling Naga everything she knew about Nagata Oda, hoping to jog his memory. He listened to her amazing tale. It sounded so fantastic. But sadly, none of it rang any bells for him.

"So you don't remember anything?" Nanamomo asked, her tone both pleading and desperate. He shook his head in response. "What about Kanu? Chouhi? Komei? Ryuubi? Chou'un? Bacho? Gien? Ryofu? What about the other Armored War Gods? Do you remember them?"

"I'm sorry. I don't remember any of that," Naga answered, much to her disappointment. He couldn't even remember how he had died. All he knew was Purgatory. All he remembered were the endless desert and the roaming Grimmbeasts.

"Their names do sound familiar, Naga," Enya remarked.

Nanamomo sighed sadly. Without his memories, Nagata Oda no longer existed. The person standing before her - Naga - was a completely different being. The only evidence of him ever being Nagata was his ability to transform into Armored War God Gaim. It likely carried over despite him turning into a Rinrinshi. Although, she did not remember him being able to summon his belt at will. Had he recently gained that ability after her death?

It was terrible. This place had stripped him of his memories and his humanity. It was a miracle he had not devolved completely and ended up like those mindless Grimmbeasts that roamed Purgatory.

"Do you remember anything at all?" she pleaded, hoping for anything at all to give her the slightest sliver of hope.

"It's not exactly a memory..." Naga touched his chest. At this point, Nanamomo would accept anything. "But I do have this strong urge to return home."

Nanamomo was hopeful when she heard that. He may not have his memories but his longing for home was still strong enough to linger even after all this time.

"When you mean home, you mean not here, right? Outside of Purgatory, right lad?" Bucky questioned.

"Yes, that's what he means," Nanamomo confirmed. "But none of us can leave this place. It's impossible."

"I know a way out," Bucky claimed.


Sangokuden Armored War Gods Saga: End of the Armored War Gods

Written By: Kamen Rider Chrome

Beta Reader/Editor: Busterleader92 & Kamen Rider Goji

Chapter 46: Quest of the Damned


Nanamomo and Naga whipped their heads at Bucky.

"Are...are you serious?" Naga demanded, grasping Bucky's shoulders, praying he wasn't just saying some random nonsense.

"I've been here for a long, long, long, long, looooooong time," Bucky answered. "There's an exit."

"Then tell me where it is!" Naga demanded as he shook Bucky. The old weasel released himself from Naga's grasp and pointed to the distance.

"Far away yonder, in a secret location, is a gate that will allow only the most worthy to leave this place," Bucky spoke dramatically.

"Then that's where I'm going," Naga resolved.

"I must warn you though. This journey will be treacherous, perilous and dangerous. It will test you in body, mind, and soul. If it does not break you physically, then your mind will be so broken by the experience that you will never be the same again. Never!" Bucky warned them all ominously.

"That sounds like a lot more trouble than it's worth," Nanamomo remarked. She wanted to help Naga but her lazy nature preferred it if there was an easier way to go about this. She really didn't want to go through too much effort.

Of course, she would have to anyway and she knew this. There was no avoiding it if she wanted to help Naga escape Purgatory.

She must help Naga. She owed him. She just wished there was an easier way.

Bucky's face suddenly broke out into a large and toothy grin.

"Or if you prefer not to go through all that, we can take a special secret shortcut I know! Whaddya say, kids?"

"We'll take the shortcut," Naga and Nanamomo quickly answered simultaneously. The former was insistent while the latter felt relieved.

"Okay!" Bucky put his index and thumb in his mouth and blew a loud whistle.

A giant Murdercrow landed in front of them. Naga quickly got ready to defend himself when Bucky gently started stroking the big bird of prey on its skull-like mask.

"Relax, lad. This is just Pecky," Bucky said soothingly. "She might look mean but she's a sweet old bird."

"Really?" Naga approached Pecky who snapped at him. "Gah!"

"Oh, she does that with strangers. Once she gets to know you better, she'll be friendly," Bucky reassured as he climbed on Pecky's back. Naga did not feel reassured at all since Pecky was giving him a dirty look. "With her giving us a ride, we can skip all those horrible obstacles! Now, hop on, lad and lassie! We're going to the gate!"

Nanamomo climbed on and Naga climbed on behind her.

"Put your hands on my waist," Nanamomo instructed and Naga did, causing her to smile.

"Are you sure about this? What if he's taking us on a wild goose chase and we end up wasting our time?" Enya asked Naga as she sat behind him.

"Enya, I've felt this burning urge in my heart to get out of this place and find my home for a very long time. This is the first lead we've gotten. It's worth looking into," Naga replied reasonably.

"I know you want to hope for the best but you should be prepared for disappointment if this turns out to be a dead end," Enya cautioned logically.

"It's not a dead end," Naga argued confidently. "I can feel it."

"Let's hope for our sake you're right."

"Alright, Pecky! Let's fly, girl!" Bucky commanded Pecky. She spread her wings and took off into the air with her passengers. As they flew over the desert, Naga wanted to know about the obstacles Bucky mentioned earlier.

"So, Bucky, you mentioned obstacles before. What kind of obstacles are we talking about here?" Naga asked.

"Oh, just places you need to get past before you meet the Gatekeeper," Bucky answered.

"Gatekeeper?"

"Yes, the Gatekeeper. Did you really think that a gate to escape this place would not have someone guarding it?"

"I just assumed - never mind. Can you tell us about the obstacles?"

"Well, there's no harm telling you anyway. Alright, let's see. There's the Forest of Sin which will basically force you to confront you with your deepest regrets. That place will haunt and traumatize you as you become overwhelmed by guilt. Then there's the Abyss Lake and if you fall in the water, you're never coming out. There's a bridge to cross it, fortunately, but I still wouldn't recommend it. But luckily for us, we're flying so we can skip all that nasty and unpleasant stuff we don't want to deal with. Now, just enjoy the flight-" A sharp feather arrow flew past Bucky's face, grazing his cheek. "SHIT!"

Naga looked over his shoulder behind him and gasped when he saw a flock of five Murdercrows that were as big as Pecky chasing after them. Nanamomo turned her head to look as well and saw that each of the Murdercrows had a rider.

She recognized them instantly.

"The Fatal Fists!" Nanamomo cried as Takahime fired more of her Feather Arrows at them.

"Who!?" Naga cried as a feather arrow pierced his shoulder. "Ow!"

"A group of crazy harlots that served Dai Shi, lad!" Bucky explained briefly.

"Why are they attacking us?" Naga demanded as Pecky dodged another flurry of Feather Arrows.

"They're after you," Nanamomo told him.

"Why!?"

"Because you're their enemy and likely the reason they're here too! So they want revenge! We need to get away! We can't fight them!"


"Stop trying to hit them and hit them already!" Hebihime shouted at Takahime.

"Oh, you want to try!?" Takahime snapped. "This isn't easy when the target's moving like that!"

"And yet you brag about being an amazing markswoman all the time!" Hebihime commented snidely.

"Go shed your skin and shove it down your hole!" Takahime snapped back.

"Sisters, do not argue," Shirokumahime calmed them. "Takahime, Shachihime, let's do this together."

Shirokumahime fired icicles out of her hands to join Takahime's Feather Arrows as Shachihime fired water bombs the size of basketballs from her hands.


The projectiles flew by, nearly hitting Pecky and her passengers.

"Evasive maneuvers! Hold on, everybody!" Bucky yelled.

Pecky sped up to try and shake their pursuers off their tail. She dodged the projectile attacks fluidly, impressing Naga. Bucky must've trained her well.

"Now, do a barrel roll!" Bucky commanded.

"No, no barrel rolls!" Naga denied loudly before he was knocked off Pecky's back by Shachihime's water bomb. "Aaaaagh!"

"Nagata!" Nanamomo yelled as he fell off Pecky and plummeted to the forest below.

"Oh, no! That's the Forest of Sin! He's fallen into the Forest of Sin!" Bucky panicked.

"We're going back for him, right?"

"Of course, but we gotta shake them off our tail first!"


"I think I hit someone," Shachihime said after she saw one of her water bombs knock someone off Bucky's Murdercrow.

"Was it Gaim?" Hebihime asked.

"I'm not sure. It looked like a big blue lizard wearing a wolf pelt," Shachihime answered.

"Forget about him. Let the forest deal with him. We'll chase down the others and then ask them where Gaim is," Shirokumahime ordered.


When Naga came to, he found himself in a misty forest. He climbed to his feet and groaned. His body ached all over but he was relatively fine. It was a good thing that he was already undead or else the fall might've killed him again, and he was not interested in respawning again as well. His cloak got a bit wet, though.

"Nanamomo? Bucky?" Naga called as he looked around. When neither of them answered, he realized he was all alone. He looked up at the treetops that concealed the sky. It was a very thick and lush forest which was odd considering Purgatory was a wasteland.

What exactly was sustaining this place?

Suddenly, he heard a scream and immediately ran toward it. He stopped in a clearing and witnessed as Enya was cut down by a dark female figure.

"ENYA!" he screamed. His fin ears flared as he became enraged and he lunged at the figure who simply vanished before he could reach her. He then turned his attention to Enya who was lying on the ground with a large gash across her chest. "Enya."

"This...this..."

"Try not to speak," Naga said as he knelt beside her. "Save your energy."

He looked around for anything to help stop the bleeding and dress the wound.

"...Your fault."

Naga paused and looked back at her.

"Enya?"

"This...is all your fault...I died...because of you…" Enya accused before she vanished.

Naga gasped and started to shudder. There was no sign of her ever being there, not even a bloodstain. She just vanished without a trace.

What's going on here?

"Do you remember now?" Enya asked as she suddenly appeared before him, unharmed and without a mark on her.

"Enya, you're OK!" Naga stood up, surprised and relieved to see that she was OK. She did not look happy to see him, though. "What is it? What's wrong?"

"You haven't got a clue, have you? That was how I died," Enya explained.

"No, that's impossible. You can't be dead. You're not dead. You're right here," Naga denied.

"Am I? Or am I just in your head?" Enya poked his forehead for emphasis.

"...Are you a ghost?" Naga questioned.

"I might as well be, Naga," Enya answered. "Or maybe I'm just a figment of your imagination after you went insane from being alone in the desert and you needed someone to talk to."

Naga held his head. It was starting to ache. He felt confused, anxious, and also guilty.

He then dared to ask the question.

"How did you die?"

"I died because you trusted the wrong person," Enya answered. "Maybe that's the reason you see me all the time. Even if you've forgotten, deep down you haven't gotten over your guilt."

"So...you're a manifestation of my guilt and regrets," Naga concluded. "This is the Forest of Sin, isn't it?" Figures emerged from the mists. They were ghosts that were garbed as soldiers. He clenched his fists and shivered as they glared at him with such hatred. Had they died because of him too?

"Nanamomo said you were a leader," Enya reminded. "These are the men who died because they followed you. Because of you, they'll never return to their families."

"I'm sorry," Naga said as he backed away from the approaching spirits and his back hit a tree. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

"They don't want an apology," Enya stated.

"Then what do they want?" Naga asked desperately. "Please, tell me!"

"This is about your sins and your guilt. You need to figure it out for yourself."

"But I don't remember!"

"Then what is your heart telling you!?"

"THAT I DON'T DESERVE THIS!"

The spirits froze.

"Are you saying you don't deserve to be punished?" Enya questioned.

"No, I do deserve to be punished. If I'm the reason you're all dead then I deserve your anger. What I don't deserve is to be called a hero or a leader. What kind of leader leads his men to their deaths? What kind of a hero puts people in danger?" Naga hung his head. "What kind of person lets their friends die?"

"So you admit it. You admit you were unworthy," Enya prodded.

"You said it yourself: you died because I trusted the wrong person. I made a bad call and people suffered for it. That doesn't sound like someone who's a hero or a leader. It sounds like someone foolishly playing pretend."

The spirits faded away as Enya smiled.

"And now you understand."

"Yes, I do." Naga's eyes watered as he swallowed a bitter pill. His head may not remember but his heart did, and his heart was telling him that he had been a terrible leader and an even worse hero.

"So what are you going to do now?" Enya asked.

"I'm..." Naga wiped the tears from his eyes. "I'm going to find the gate, I'm leaving this place, and then I'm going to try to make amends and atone for my sins."

"And what if you can't?"

"I'm going to try anyway."

Their gazes met and Enya smiled before she vanished like a ghost, leaving him all alone with just his thoughts for company. Until now, he never had any regrets about his life since his memories were gone. Now, all that guilt came flooding back and he realized that his being here was his punishment.

"Lad!"

"Nagata!"

Bucky and Nanamomo ran up to him as soon as they found him.

"Nanamomo! Bucky!" Naga was relieved to see them.

"C'mon, lad! Let's get out of this creepy forest before it messes with our heads!" Bucky urged.

Naga decided not to mention his experience and followed Bucky out of the forest with Nanamomo.

"What about the people chasing us?" Naga asked.

"We managed to lose them thanks to Pecky dropping us off somewhere before she led them away," Bucky said. "Then we came here to find you but now we need to make the rest of the way on foot. That means we won't have the luxury of avoiding those other obstacles now."

Naga felt someone was watching him so he stopped walking and turned around to see Enya waving at him. He waved back as she faded away.

"Goodbye, my friend."

"What is it?" Nanamomo asked when Naga suddenly stopped walking.

"It's..." Naga put his hand down. "It's nothing. Just saying goodbye, that's all."

Nanamomo cocked an eyebrow curiously but shrugged as she did not want to waste time by going into it. They had to leave the Forest of Sin immediately. The creepy forest was making her skin crawl and she did not want to start seeing things.

Bucky helped navigate the group out of the Forest of Sin, which was a huge relief. Once they exited, they made the rest of the journey on foot. Along the way, they passed by a pit full of tentacles and heard a man inside screaming for help and mercy.

"Sounds like someone's in trouble," Naga remarked. While curious, he was not about to stick his head into a pit of tentacles.

"Don't bother," Nanamomo dismissed his concern. "That asshole deserves it anyway."

Naga did not doubt her. Besides, when he heard the man's voice, he could not help but feel disgusted.

They soon reached Abyss Lake and it looked like something straight out of their nightmares. The fumes coming from the large body of water smelled of death and rot as the large body of green, glowing, bubbling water had hundreds of bodies floating on the surface. It was difficult to tell how many more remained in the murky depths but Naga suspected that there were a lot of them. There was a long bridge that stretched across the lake but it looked a little too treacherous to cross. However, they had no other option. If they could fly over the lake, they would, but Pecky was not here.

"Just be careful and try not to rock the bridge," Bucky warned as he stepped onto the bridge first.

"Ladies first?" Naga offered to Nanamomo.

"No, after you," Nanamomo declined.

"How about we rock-paper-scissors for it?"

They played and Naga lost so he stepped onto the bridge before Nanamomo went after him. The trio carefully crossed the bridge, being careful not to rock it and to watch their step. The planks looked like they could give way even at the slightest weight.

Due to the water's murkiness, none of them noticed the large creature swimming below them. Its vaguely visible silhouette implied it was a massive creature with a long neck. Was it an aquatic Grimmbeast of some kind?

Nanamomo nearly tripped but Naga quickly caught her.

"Thank you," Nanamomo smiled.

"You're welcome," Naga replied.

"Hey, are you kids busy making out!? Hurry up!" Bucky called impatiently from up ahead.

"We better get going," Naga prompted and they continued on their way. But then Naga tensed up and stopped. Nanamomo nearly bumped into his back.

"What's wrong?" Nanamomo asked.

Naga had learned to trust his instincts while trying to avoid the numerous Grimmbeasts that prowled the desert. He had learned to sense them and right now he was sensing one right below their feet.

"We need to run," Naga told her as he gripped the bridge's rope.

"What?" Nanamomo asked as the water under them began to swell.

"RUN!" Naga screamed as a Grimmbeast suddenly burst out of the lake, splashing them all in the putrid water while rocking the bridge.

"OH, SHIT!" Bucky screamed when he saw it as the bridge violently swayed from side-to-side as a massive black serpent emerged from the water. It had an alligator's head and jaws full of rows and rows of shark-like teeth while most of the aquatic Grimmbeast's immense body remained concealed underwater. It looked down at all of them with hunger...hunger for murder.

Naga quickly grabbed Nanamomo and tossed her over his shoulder before he bolted. The Grimmbeast snapped its jaws at the Reptilian Beastman who jumped ahead to avoid them.

Bucky increased his speed as he ran across the bridge to quickly reach the other side of the lake as Naga and Nanamomo were closing in with the Sea Serpent Grimmbeast gaining on them. It went underwater before it burst right out of the water to cause a big splash that drenched the trio and threaten to throw them off the bridge. It hunted them like an aquatic version of a Deathworm.

Bodies were thrown into the air each time the Grimmbeast emerged and the corpses rained down on them, falling back into the Abyss Lake while narrowly missing the bridge.

They were almost across the bridge as the Grimmbeast continued to threaten and harass them. It was like it was playing with them as it tried to throw them off the bridge each time it made a huge splash.

How sadistic was that?

According to Bucky and Nanamomo, Grimmbeasts were what remained of the souls here that had been completely stripped of their humanity, leaving behind only primal instincts. Perhaps the Grimmbeast's original personality had survived in spite of its devolution into a mindless beast.

The Grimmbeast changed tactics this time and fired a blast of water from its mouth at them.

"HANG ON!" Bucky gripped the bridge with both hands while Naga held onto Nanamomo with one hand and gripped the bridge with the other. The force of the water blasting into them nearly knocked them over but they held firm. Once it stopped, they continued to run for it as the Grimmbeast watched.

Bucky was the first to make it across the bridge.

"C'mon, lad and lassie! Hurry!" Bucky urged desperately.

Just as Naga and Nanamomo were about to make their way across, a tentacle quickly shot out of the lake and snatched her from him.

"NANAMOMO!" Naga screamed as the tentacle grabbed her.

"NAGATA!" Nanamomo screamed as she was pulled underwater.

"I have to go save her!" Naga cried.

"No, lad! It's too late for her!" Bucky protested but Naga ignored him as he leaped off the bridge to rescue Nanamomo. He dove underwater and went after Nanamomo as she was being dragged into the depths of Abyss Lake. He swam after her but the floating corpses came to life and tried to grab him.

Naga's eyes flashed as his fins sharpened. He wildly sliced and diced the corpses as they tried to get in his way while he quickly swam after Nanamomo. He sped up and held his hand out to her but the tentacle pulled her out of his reach.

No, he was not losing her.

With a roar, he went and bit the tentacle to free Nanamomo. He quickly grabbed her and swam them both upward.

Meanwhile, Bucky was pacing back and forth on dry land anxiously.

"Come on, you two. You better be alright."

There was a huge splash as Naga and Nanamomo burst out of the water with the Sea Serpent Grimmbeast rising up after them with its jaws wide open.

Naga spun in midair to face it. Electricity crackled on his dorsal spines as his crimson eyes flashed. He opened his mouth and fired a beam of electrified energy at the Sea Serpent Grimmbeast, hitting it in its right eye. The Grimmbeast howled in pain and backed off.

Naga landed on the lakeshore with Nanamomo before putting her down. They watched the Grimmbeast leer at them with its good eye before it submerged itself underwater to wait for more prey to play with.

"You're both OK!" Bucky cheered.

"You never told us about the sea serpent!" Naga yelled at Bucky as Nanamomo silently glared at him as if she was judging him. They were both drenched and barely able to escape the Abyss Lake.

"Look, to be fair, I never crossed this bridge before and all I know about is from what I've heard. If I didn't know about the sea serpent hiding under the Abyss Lake, it's because nobody has ever survived to talk about it, until now," Bucky defended. Naga's razor-sharp teeth were bared as he felt tempted to literally bite Bucky's head off. "Now, come on. The gate's this way."

"Let's just hope they're no more obstacles you haven't told us about," Naga grumbled.

"Weeeeeeeeell."

"Bucky."

"We might need to climb a tall and treacherous mountain."

"Bucky!"


The group reached the foot of a mountain. Since Abyss Lake, the rest of their quest was surprisingly peaceful as they had no other run-ins with the Grimmbeasts. Just looking at the mountain, Naga knew that it was hundreds if not thousands of feet high. The Reptilian Beastman glowered at their guide who wore a huge grin on his face.

"Just look at her, you two! She's majestic, isn't she?" Bucky praised.

"It's just a mountain," Nanamomo deadpanned.

"But she's the tallest mountain here and the gate is right on top at the very peak!" Bucky explained. "Kinda wished we still had Pecky for this but you both don't have to worry!"

"Because you know a shortcut?" Naga asked.

"Shortcut?" Bucky scoffed. "There's no shortcut! We're going to have to climb her on that trail!" He pointed to the trail that spiraled around the mountain. It started from the foot and led to the peak.

Nanamomo groaned and facepalmed. She felt Naga put a sympathetic hand on her shoulder.

"You know, you can just turn back if you want," Naga said. "You've done enough to accompany us on this journey."

Nanamomo smiled at Naga. He was just so sweet.

"No, I promised I'd stay with you until the end of the journey," Nanamomo swore. She looked up the mountain and grimaced. "No matter how difficult it is. Plus, I owe you."

"Alright, kids! Let's go! Here's a tip: whatever you do, don't look down!" Bucky instructed as he started marching up the trail.

"Hey, Bucky," Naga said as he got on the trail. "What is this mountain called?"

"Oh, she's called Mount Doom," Bucky answered.

"Of course," Naga deadpanned as he rolled his eyes.


"You know, with a name like Mount Doom, I was half expecting some horrible monster along the way," Nanamomo remarked.

"Really? Because I imagined booby traps of some kind, like a boulder rolling down the trail to squash us," Naga retorted.

After a long but surprisingly peaceful climb up the trail of Mount Doom, the ragtag trio finally reached the peak. While they had spotted a flock of Murdercrows flying nearby during their trek, the birds-of-prey simply ignored them and left them be.

For a mountain named Doom, it was ironically safe.

"And the gate is in there," Bucky pointed. The trio stood before a massive cavern that was in the shape of a skull. The jaws were wide open, revealing the mouth of the cave.

"You did not mention that the gate was inside a big scary cave," Naga pointed out.

"Oh, did I forget to mention the Cavern of Lost Souls?" Bucky asked.

"What is it with these names?" Naga questioned. They were all so ominous.

"If you go in, then you risk getting lost and losing your sense of self. You'll be cursed to wander around, trying to find yourself and never being able to escape. See the purple fumes coming out of the eye sockets? That's the residual spiritual energy of the poor bastards who got lost inside," Bucky explained.

Naga did not like the look of it. However, according to Bucky, this was the only way to the gate. It did explain why it was such a secret. Nobody would dare venture into such a cave, not unless they were as desperate as him.

"At least we won't have to climb another treacherous mountain," he remarked. While the trail had been convenient, it had also been pretty steep. Just one slip and they could have fallen to their deaths and be forced to start all over again.

And like hell was he going to start all over again after everything he went through to get this far.

Nanamomo put a hand on his shoulder.

"Are you alright?" she asked him worriedly.

"Yes," he answered.

"Look, if the risk is too much, we can try to find another way."

"There ain't no other way, lass! The gate's through here! It's the only way!" Bucky countered.

Nanamomo shot him a glare and looked back at Naga, waiting for his decision.

"If I want to escape Purgatory, then this is the only way to the gate?" Naga asked.

"The one and only. Honest," Bucky swore.

"Then I'm going in," Naga resolved. "We've made it this far to turn back now."

"You're willing to lose yourself?" Nanamomo asked but she already knew the answer. She shrugged. "Fine, why not? I'm going with you too."

"Nanamomo, you don't have to."

"Look, it's like you said, we've made it this far together. Besides, I really want to see what all the big deal is."

"Thank you, Nanamomo."

"If you kids are done, it's time we go in! Onward to the unknown!" Bucky yelled dramatically as he held a lit torch.

"Where did you get that torch?" Naga asked.

"Oh, lad. You don't want to know. Now, let's go before they catch up to us!"

Holding the torch, Bucky lit the way as the trio entered the Cavern of Lost Souls.


It was dead silent in the cave as Bucky helped them to navigate. After what seemed like hours, they had yet to reach the gate.

"Are you sure we're not going in circles?" Naga asked Bucky. "I'm pretty sure we passed by those same stalagmites twice before."

"Oh, trust me. I know the way like I know the back of my hand," Bucky claimed.

"Have you ever been to this gate before?" Naga asked.

"I have but the Gatekeeper was too much for me so I fled before things went nasty."

Nanamomo yawned. She was starting to feel sleepy.

"Are you OK?" Naga asked.

"No, I'm just feeling so tired right now," Nanamomo answered before letting out another yawn.

"Hey, Bucky. How about we sit down for a short break?" Naga asked. "Nanamomo needs to rest."

"Oh, sure. We can stop for a bit. I need to rest my puppies too," Bucky agreed as his feet felt sore. They sat down to rest and that was when Naga saw something out of the corner of his eye.

"What was that?" Naga questioned, alarmed. "Did anyone see that?"

"See what?" Nanamomo asked.

"I just thought I saw something."

"Maybe you just saw one of those poor lost souls. Don't worry, lad. They're harmless," Bucky said reassuringly.

Naga was not convinced, however. In his experience, nothing in Purgatory was harmless. Everything in it was trying to kill you. When he scanned their surroundings, he briefly spotted a tall, gaunt, emaciated figure watching them before it disappeared into the shadows.

OK, he definitely saw something that time.

"OK, break's over," Naga quickly decided as he went to get Nanamomo to stand up. "Let's keep moving."

Nanamomo, however, did not want to get up.

"Can't move. I'm just so tired," Nanamomo murmured.

"We can't stay here, Nanamomo! We need to go!"

"But I'm just so tired right now."

Naga turned to Bucky, demanding an answer.

"Something's wrong with her!"

Bucky inspected Nanamomo. She was normally lazy and lethargic but never ever this degree. It was like her life force was being drained out of her.

"The cave wants her," Bucky said gravely.

"Then we better go," Naga said. It looked like he was going to have to carry Nanamomo.

Bucky felt a cold chill. He raised his torch to see tall figures emerge from the shadows.

"Oh no," Bucky gasped.

"Bucky, what are these things?"

"Terrible, terrible lost souls who want to suck us dry and make us one of them, lad," Bucky informed him.

"You said they were harmless!"

"I was talking about a different sort of lost souls, alright!?"

"So basically another killer obstacle," Naga grumbled as he summoned his LegenDriver and activated his Nobunaga Lockseed. "Henshin!"

[SOIYA! NOBUNAGA ARMS! SENGOKU JIDAI NO DAI SHOGUN!]

Naga fired his Nobunagun at the Slendermen but none of his shots seemed to hit any of them. It was like they were ghosts. He did not give up as he continued to fire at them despite it being absolutely futile.

He suddenly collapsed as he was hit by fatigue.

"Lad!"

"Just feel...so weak...all of a sudden."

And another had fallen to the Slendermen's influence.

Two down, one to go.

"Back away, you fiends!" Bucky yelled as he waved and swung his torch threateningly. "Leave these kids alone! Come on, lad! Help me!"

"I..." Naga tried to pick himself up but dropped to the ground again. "I'm just...so tired."

The slowly approaching Slendermen were in no hurry. Two had already fallen victim to their influence and the old one would soon join them. They could take all their time to drain the life out of their victims. It was not like they would be going anywhere.

Bucky hurled vacuum blades at the Slendermen to force them back but they started to reach out to grab their victims so they could drag them back with them into the darkness like they had done to so many others before.

"Lad, I know you're tired! But if you don't get up and help me, then your journey will be over before it ends! Remember, you're trying to go home! You don't want to be stuck here forever!"

Hearing those words, Naga forced himself to rise. He managed to get back on his feet but his knees felt like jelly and his legs were shaking. He felt so weak that he could barely stand.

No, they were so close. This could not be the end for them.

Nanamomo watched as Bucky tried to protect them then she looked at Naga who was on his feet even though he was already feeling drained. He didn't look like he could even fight in the state he was in.

Nanamomo always had an easy life before she became a Rinrinshi. She relied on her beauty to get by and there were plenty of men who desired her so they gave her whatever she wanted. It was the perfect life for her. She never needed to lift a finger when people would do anything for her.

And then Nagata had helped her, not because of her beauty but because it was the right thing to do. He did not turn her away, in spite of knowing what she was. So, when Bujin Gaim finally came to claim her, she decided to stop running.

She had sacrificed herself to save the one person to show her any genuine kindness without expecting anything else in return.

She was just so tired but that was no excuse to do nothing.

She forced herself back to her feet and stepped forward. It took all her remaining power just to take the first step but she managed it and then she took another step.

"You..." Nanamomo glared at the Slendermen as she summoned her Rinki which surrounded her and took the form of a sloth but then it grew in size until it became a Megatherium, the prehistoric ancestor of the sloth. "GO AWAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYY!"

Her scream made the cave shake and the Slendermen screamed as they were blown away. Bucky and Naga fell and the torch dropped. Its flame went out, covering them all in complete darkness.


KRC: Well, this was the Quest of the Damned to the Gate. Anyway, a lot of the stuff, you can imagine, was inspired by Ice Age but also a few stuff was inspired by RWBY too. I just took it because it was a good idea and I couldn't help it. I needed creepy monsters and the Slendermen (based on the Apathy) were just that and were the perfect monster for the job. I also called them Slendermen because that is the most descriptive name for them, appearance-wise. I did not have a name for the Sea Serpent Grimmbeast, but I guess I could just call it the Sea Serpent. Imagine a plesiosaur-like creature with tentacles. Anyway, let's hope these guys reach the gate and don't run into anything dangerous like the Grimmbeasts. But then there's the Gatekeeper. That's the final obstacle.


Naga found himself sitting on a throne and standing before him were blurry figures.

While he could not see their faces, they felt familiar.

But who were they and why did they feel so precious to him?


Naga woke up to feel someone flicking his nose repeatedly.

"Nanamomo, what are you doing?" Naga asked as she kept flicking his nose.

"Trying to wake you up," she answered as she did not stop flicking his nose.

"Can you please stop?" Naga asked, getting annoyed. She stopped. It was starting to get boring anyway. He sat up. "What happened?"

"You got tired so we stopped for a break," she answered and then she addressed Bucky who had relit the torch. "He's awake."

"Right! Let's keep moving! Follow me!" Bucky called. "Onward to the gate!"