Chapter Sixteen: Temptation
It was as if Ryu had emerged from the world of the living and entered into hell. As he kept to the shadows, he saw dozens of bodies. The walls of the city had been blasted with bullets and scorched by fire. Several Black Spider Ninja lay among the dead, shot, or stabbed.
And a team of men rushed in. With them were a medical crew. Ryu ducked into an alley and quickly scaled up the wall to watch from above.
"Emperor above, look at this!" said a soldier.
"What could have done this?" said a soldier, scanning with a gun.
"Ninja." said a man. "Fan out, search for survivors."
"Sergeant Alchev, we've got wounded over here." said a man.
"Medic!" cried a soldier.
Ryu watched as an ambulance was brought in, and the wounded were given aid. Making his way along the rooftop, he heard one more exchange. "Do you sense that, sir?"
"What?" said a man.
"Something is here." said another.
Ryu rushed on. In the air, he could feel it as well, the will of the Dark Dragon Blade. It was a presence that was looking down on the events. Not laughing, laughter was not something it was capable of but pleased. Something was radiating within the air, as Ryu leaped from roof to roof, dodging patrols.
As he cleared another rooftop, he came to a wall that reached far higher. It was slick to the touch, and there were no ledges anywhere near the top. Following along it, he came to a gate and landed there. No one was around, and as he dropped down, he set his hands to it, focusing ninpo to open it.
Yet the gate held firm. Then he became aware of a presence and turned around. As he did, the gate began to creak open. He saw Ayane leaning against the wall, testing a kunai in one hand. "Tairon is a city divided by multiple gates that remain closed during the night. If you search, you will no doubt find the secret to opening this gate as well."
"Ayane. I was wondering when you would make an appearance," said Ryu.
"Master Murai has contacts within the gatehouses," said Ayane. "Long-established through Gamov. It seems they are still of use." She walked forward. "A group of ninjas, dressed in black garb, act with wicked intent in Tairon. They are members of the Black Spider Ninja Clan, and they act behind the scenes to hinder our progress."
"I already encountered several of them," said Ryu.
"We must not allow them to leave Tairon alive," said Ayane. "Those are Murai's orders."
A few days ago, he would have gladly agreed. As things stood, Ryu could feel the bloodthirst in the air, devouring every death. Adding more would be unwise, as well as wrong. "My priority is retrieving the Dark Dragon Blade. If Murai decides to fight our cousins, he may do so himself."
"He is already on the way, alongside your father," said Ayane. "I received word an hour ago."
"I see," said Ryu, turning around. "In that case, I will try to have the Dragon Sword in hand before they arrive."
"That seems wise," said Ayane. "This gate leads to Pleasure Street. I am surprised you found it without my aid. How did you know?"
Ryu looked up. "I... it seemed the proper way."
"Then the Dark Dragon Blade is indeed calling out," said Ayane. "I have other business to attend to on behalf of Master Murai."
The Dark Dragon Blade was calling?
Had Ryu truly been following, it's will purely out of reflex? It seemed so. The Black Spider Ninja Clan were not fools. They would no better than to start a fight in the middle of a city they were infiltrating. But all were following its will without even realizing the fact.
The Dark Dragon Blade was rising, driving men to slaughter one another almost as an afterthought. And none of them even knew it.
"What business is that?" asked Ryu.
But Ayane was gone.
Ryu made his way along the street, hand on his sword as he did so. He moved swiftly through the shadows and saw red neon lights. Soon he was surrounded by a vision of hedonism itself. Around him were people drinking, gambling and talking.
Beautiful woman were everywhere, but men spoke to them as objects, not people. Others wore costumes of demons, and dragons, and other horrors.
And yet it all felt surreal and detached.
It was as if none of these people were here. Or if they were here, it didn't matter. What were these visions surrounding him, of people looking to him? Acting through him, or perhaps wielding him as he wielded his sword. He felt as little more than a vessel through which blood was shed.
As he walked through this realm of multicolored lights, he came to a set of doors at the top of a staircase — Han's Bar at last. Music was coming from within.
Then, all were gone.
The doors were shut. Every window was barred, and only the lights remained.
And from the roofs descended the same three Black Spider Ninja who landed around him. Ryu took a stance, attempting to keep himself from distractions. The women were now throwing themselves at him. They desired only his acknowledgment.
"It's been a while, Dragon Ninja." said the leader.
"I have no quarrel with any of you," said Ryu flatly. "Vigoor is both our enemy."
"The feeling isn't mutual." said the leader. "Take him."
The visions intensified as the ninja rushed at him. Endless swirling lights clouded Ryu's vision as he ducked away. Out came his sword to parry thrusts, before he caught one of the Spider Ninja by the neck. He reduced him to unconsciousness with a move.
He nearly lost his hand as he did so, backing away from the other two. Explosive kunai were hurled, and he leaped over them. Flipping through the air, he landed atop the roof of a stall as the Spider Ninja followed. The visions swirled ever harder, as sensations filled him, though no hands were on him. Sensations of depravity and passion consumed his mind as the blades of his enemies closed in. His eyes could see nothing but beautiful things in the shape of mortals, looming ever closer.
Ryu closed his eyes and acted.
When he opened them, he had landed on the ground. Glancing up, Ryu saw the Black Spider Ninjas falling from the roof. They were alive but unconscious. Quickly he caught both and set them down. Moving their three bodies behind a number of boxes, he left them there.
The visions returned.
Ryu wondered if they were real. If what he perceived as an illusion was actually a true creature. Perhaps they were spirits appearing through the veil of madness. Whatever they were, however, he had a mission to complete, and he went toward the doors.
And then it happened.
Rachel had heard that people who went to Pleasure Street for the first time saw visions. They often reported seeing people who weren't there. Sometimes they saw people who had been there.
For her part, she'd been here enough times not to notice.
She did feel a bit more alive within this place, for some reason, so she suspected there was some power at work. Even so, it didn't interfere with her approaching Han at the bar. The man looked up. "Rachel, it's been a while since you and your sister came here. How can I help you?"
"I'm looking for Doku and my sister," said Rachel, cutting straight to the chase.
"Why not just ask for a meeting?" asked Han.
"You know why," said Rachel. Han had contacts everywhere.
Han looked at her. "...Alright, I'd love to help you, but I can't. See, Doku isn't on this plane of existence. Neither is your sister. Last I heard they both went into the Imperial Palace and hadn't come out since. He was delivering some gift to the Emperor."
The Dark Dragon Blade? "The palace?"
"Yeah, so there's no way you're getting in," said Han. "Not without a pass. People who try live to regret it."
"Thanks," said Rachel, turning around. "This should-"
Something broke. A tray of glasses fell and shattered on the ground. Looking there, Rachel saw a waitress screaming as something came out of the floor. It was one of the red dinos, and people broke and fled in horror at the sight.
"Don't worry. This one is on the house," said Rachel.
Drawing her warhammer, she stepped forward to face the beast as the crowd fled. Readying her hammer, she waited for a moment. It lunged, and then she struck, caving in the creature's skull with one stroke. The beast collapsed to the ground, bleeding out.
Looking up, Rachel saw a figure. He had muscular biceps and wore a skintight black suit of armor. His face was hidden beneath a mask, and he wore a steel mask over the top part of his head. On his back was a sword. Judging from what was going on, he was probably one of the intruders that had been shooting the place up.
He was probably after the Dark Dragon Blade, which put him on a path to meet with Doku and through him, Alma. Rachel planted her axe. "Well, this is awkward. What brings you into the danger zone?"
"I'm here for information." said the man.
So he was trying to act all mysterious and deadly. Honestly, Doku was far better at it than him. "Well, so am I, and I have some which could help us both." She looked around at the body and noted the stench. "Why not take this upstairs, though. We can talk there."
He nodded. "I am Ryu Hayabusa."
Turning, Rachel made her way up the stairs alongside the ninja, up to the top of the bar. From here, there was an excellent view of most of the city. Rachel and Alma had used to sneak up here in the old days. Leaning forward, she looked over the buildings. "I'm Rachel, Hunter, and Slayer of Fiends."
"So that was a fiend." said the man.
Rachel looked at him. "You don't see them much nowadays." Was what she said, not bothering to hide her sarcasm. She leaned up against the wall. "It's hard to believe they were ever human, isn't it?
"Anyone with susceptibility to the curse, whether they are a saint or a sinner, can succumb to it and become a fiend."
"So what does that make you?" asked the ninja.
"Complex," said Rachel. "And you?"
"I'm looking for a Greater Fiend named Doku," said Ryu.
Well, he was dead. "Why are you looking for him?"
"I'm going to kill him." said the ninja. It was a simple, matter of fact, statement.
Rachel almost laughed. "You have no idea what you're up against, do you? If he could be killed, someone would have done it long ago. Vazdah, Alexei, Volf, Zedonius, Elizebet. They were five Greater Fiends that terrorized the world for centuries.
"Doku took out every single one of them except Elizebet. And that was because she was smart enough to make a run for it.
"He was the one that took my sister from me."
And then she sensed it. Turning around, she looked out and sensed the fiends. There were thousands of them just below the surface of reality. They were rising in little pockets even now, and the police were fighting with them. At the rate things were going, they'd be completely overwhelmed.
Okay, forget this enemy mine thing.
Rachel had to make sure there was still a city standing before she did anything else. "It's going to be a busy night."
Drawing out another device she picked up, she shot a chain out. It locked onto the building, and standing up, swung away. She nearly ended up braining herself on one of the buildings, but she'd do better next time.
Ryu was more than a little annoyed.
When he'd first seen Rachel, he'd thought she'd born an uncanny resemblance to some of those visions. She oozed temptation, and the way she was dressed did not help, but the very real corpse at her feet said she was real.
She'd seemed knowledgeable on Doku. Though her mention of him defeating the Archfiend was nonsense, that had been done by his ancestors. He'd meant to say as much. But then she'd sensed something and rushed off. At the very least, she hadn't smashed her skull in on that tower, though how she fought in high heels was beyond him. "Wonderful.
"Doesn't anyone give a straight answer anymore?"
"You seem to have quite a way with the ladies, my friend." said a calm voice.
Ryu glanced back and saw a dark-skinned man in a green jacket with a broadbrimmed hat. He wore glasses and moved forward. "Don't mind me; I'm just passing by. Good luck with that Doku guy. Sounds like you're going to need it." Then he stood off at the edge of a balcony and stood perched there. "Oh, and I know Rachel quite well. She'll be just fine."
And then he fell off. Ryu stepped forward to look to where he had fallen, wondering if the man was committing suicide. Except he was completely gone.
"I believe that answers my question," noted Ryu.
So, the man had ninja training. Was he Gamov? Because Gamov seemed to be pulling far too many strings to be an ordinary corrupt police officer. And multiple ninja clans were associated with him.
So had Gamov tried to use Ryu as a distraction while the Black Spider Ninja Clan slipped in? Then he opted to send ninjas after him when he survived. But then he was also helping Murai, and so helping Ryu. But at the same time, the Dark Dragon Blade was calling out to people. And where was Doku during all this? Surely, having gained access to the immense power of the Dark Dragon Blade he would want to do something with it. So was all this part of his plan?
That was it, Ryu had officially given up trying to follow these plots. He was just going to kill Doku and get the Dark Dragon Blade back. He was sure the rest would sort itself out.
Ryu took the stairs down. So he didn't risk breaking his ankle or waste energy on gymnastics. There was an elegance in simplicity.
Author's Note:
Okay, so several problems.
Rachel's conversation with Ryu is plot holes, the conversation. First off, Ryu has no reason not to know about how humans become fiends. His entire clan is dedicated to fighting them. Second of all, 'you don't see them much nowadays' really? Rachel is a FIEND HUNTER! It's her literal career!
Fortunately, there is an easy fix to both these problems. The first part can be solved by just cutting out Ryu's expression of ignorance. The second by making Rachel's statement sarcastic.
Harder to solve is Rachel saying that if Doku could be killed she would have done it herself makes no sense. And there are several reasons. First, Rachel is Vigoorian, so she has been born and raised regarding Doku as almost a god. And she has it as her job by official approval, so why would she be trying to axe the Emperor's right-hand man? If anything, Rachel should regard what happened to Alma as a supreme honor. And want to become the same.
I decided to cut the line. I then replaced it with Rachel referencing Doku defeating the Archfiend.