I must warn you, later in this chapter there is some violence, and while I
find nothing offensive about it, I just thought I'd let you know.
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The next day was a hard one. We had to figure out where this Shogokuso's operator was and shut him down. Permanently. We had never had to kill before, but it certainly wasn't unheard of in our blood stream, you see, my father was Morpheus Yobuu. He lead the infamous NeoGospel crime syndicate and was very brutal at times. Especially later in life, after being infected with Blackfang. You know, when you think about it, Blackfang is the root of most of our problems. It digs itself deep inside you and tears at your very being. It corrupts you from the inside out, unless you get to it first. That's what I try to do anyway.
**********
Seradau wasn't happy, but at least he wasn't going to destroy us. He had gathered some very helpful intel and we were off on our way. We were headed to an old abandoned warehouse, and it was kind of ironic, it was a warehouse where my father was almost killed, a few times actually.
"Asashin, so you have to kill him?" Jezter inquired, he deleted thugs regularly, but they weren't real human lives, and he knew it.
"Yes, I guess the hunger that Blackfang has created may finally be filled..." I was worried, really worried. I knew what happened to ever Blackfang-infected person once they began to kill. It wasn't pretty and never lead to less killing. **********
You see, Blackfang is, in a way, pure and utter evil. It enters your body and feels out your soul, it finds your worst fears and your darkest secrets and uses them extremely well against you. Fortunately, I have been able to fight it off very well so far, a few Grausherra family secrets go a long way...
But, I know that I will never be able to escape Blackfangs grasp forever. I know that one day, it will erupt and I will become what so many have before me, Blackfang's human emergence. I will be mutated, that much is for sure, the Yobuu blood causes that, and it will almost certainly be some form of eagle, also from the Yobuu blood. I will be evil and I will kill, that much I know for sure, but the real question is when and how many. When will I become this monstrosity and how many people will die when I do? That is not an easily answered question, and will remain a mystery until that fateful day.
However, Blackfang is not without it's positives. It accentuates every ability of mine, makes me a better marksmen, enhances my bond with Jezter and most importantly, allows me to always get the jump on my opponents, well, almost always. I can utilize it somewhat, but I am very careful not to let it overtake me. If you've read any of the history books, you will be able to see that Zelloss Grausherra, one of the first infected, utilized Blackfang in much the same way. But I digress, back to the story...
**********
We entered the warehouse from the roof, to avoid being detected. I almost yelled out 'Activate Data Invis3!!' but realized we weren't in the net, this was really happening...
"Yes....so we have discovered who this 'Assassin of Honor' is have we? Well, this will be quite helpful in our war against the M.I.N.E., yes, indeed it will." That was the voice of Shugo, I knew it.
"So, how do you want him disposed of sir? Shall we painlessly snipe him? Or shall we make it long and painful?" The man chuckled, he was clearly a pleasant fellow.
"No, you will bring him to me, alive! Now, I will inform you of his identity and his picture tomorrow, I do not want you knowing who he is until the assignment begins, in case you should see him around..." Shugo was chuckling silently as the man left. And I, quite certain that the room was now empty, began my decent.
CRASH!!
I landed on the ground skillfully, checking up to see the glass skylight I had smashed, then immediately looking at Shugo. "So, sending your lackeys out to kill me? I'm flattered really..."
"You, so you made the 'smart' move to find me yourself? I must say I'm slightly impressed, although now, you will die." And with that, he stood up and drew a lengthy blade from a sheath I had failed to notice.
"So, you wish to die with honor? That I must respect. You will find swords a poor choice on your part, because I brought along a little present." I drew a long, odd blade from my hidden sheath. It was black, and had an odd spike-like protrusion at it's end, clearly a blade meant for killing. "See this? Do you know what it is?"
"That's! No, it can't possibly be, the only thing I've seen like that was in a museum, belonging to the great Matson Grausherra!" Shugo was shocked.
"Yep, it's just like it. With one exception, this weapon was wielded by the great Morpheus Yobuu, daddy dearest." I smiled, and slashed the blade twice, more for effect than any attempted attack.
"So, you're the crime lords brat eh? Funny how you should be on the side of good...but no matter." Shugo lunged forwards in an attempted pre-emptive strike.
I hopped to the side, cleanly dodging the strike, "Not bad, but not that great either!" I cried out as I performed my own little hop and lunge.
"GAR!" Shugo cried, I had struck him in the arm, unfortunately, not his dominant arm. He shook it, and the pain somewhat subsided. He spun quickly and lashed forwards with his blade. I shot mine up and cleanly grabbed it with the spike. Shoving his blade back I went for a power strike on the injured arm, loping it clean off. He writhed in pain. Getting back his senses he lunged again, apparently getting a second wind. His strike caught me off guard, and I received a glancing blow to the leg, hobbling my stance. He exchanged small blows back and forth, each one deflecting the other, until...
Shogu laughed as he whipped the blade down, an unexpected burst of genius attacking. I flinched back, but not enough. The blade ripped down my face, not causing a mortal blow, but removing the use my right eye. I screamed, and Shugo attempted to strike a killing blow. My remaining useful eye shot black, and Shugo hesistated. An odd black aura seemed to form around me and a voice of pure evil eminated from my very soul, "Fool...you have awoken me from my dark slumber!" The voice bellowed, I felt a wave of uneasiness wash over me. I staggered, dizziness enveloping me, as the voice spoke again, "You, you who threaten this vessel of mine. You who has disturbed my piece, you will suffer for your inexcusable transgressions. You, you will die!" Then, as if some unholy magic had been cast, the sword I had been wielding melded into my hand, and my movements were no longer under my control. I slashed thrice at Shugo, and he fell dead. I looked down, or at least tried to. I couldn't move my head, and then I realized what had happened.
Blackfang had gotten it's grip on me, and wasn't going to let go without some serious fighting.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------
The next day was a hard one. We had to figure out where this Shogokuso's operator was and shut him down. Permanently. We had never had to kill before, but it certainly wasn't unheard of in our blood stream, you see, my father was Morpheus Yobuu. He lead the infamous NeoGospel crime syndicate and was very brutal at times. Especially later in life, after being infected with Blackfang. You know, when you think about it, Blackfang is the root of most of our problems. It digs itself deep inside you and tears at your very being. It corrupts you from the inside out, unless you get to it first. That's what I try to do anyway.
**********
Seradau wasn't happy, but at least he wasn't going to destroy us. He had gathered some very helpful intel and we were off on our way. We were headed to an old abandoned warehouse, and it was kind of ironic, it was a warehouse where my father was almost killed, a few times actually.
"Asashin, so you have to kill him?" Jezter inquired, he deleted thugs regularly, but they weren't real human lives, and he knew it.
"Yes, I guess the hunger that Blackfang has created may finally be filled..." I was worried, really worried. I knew what happened to ever Blackfang-infected person once they began to kill. It wasn't pretty and never lead to less killing. **********
You see, Blackfang is, in a way, pure and utter evil. It enters your body and feels out your soul, it finds your worst fears and your darkest secrets and uses them extremely well against you. Fortunately, I have been able to fight it off very well so far, a few Grausherra family secrets go a long way...
But, I know that I will never be able to escape Blackfangs grasp forever. I know that one day, it will erupt and I will become what so many have before me, Blackfang's human emergence. I will be mutated, that much is for sure, the Yobuu blood causes that, and it will almost certainly be some form of eagle, also from the Yobuu blood. I will be evil and I will kill, that much I know for sure, but the real question is when and how many. When will I become this monstrosity and how many people will die when I do? That is not an easily answered question, and will remain a mystery until that fateful day.
However, Blackfang is not without it's positives. It accentuates every ability of mine, makes me a better marksmen, enhances my bond with Jezter and most importantly, allows me to always get the jump on my opponents, well, almost always. I can utilize it somewhat, but I am very careful not to let it overtake me. If you've read any of the history books, you will be able to see that Zelloss Grausherra, one of the first infected, utilized Blackfang in much the same way. But I digress, back to the story...
**********
We entered the warehouse from the roof, to avoid being detected. I almost yelled out 'Activate Data Invis3!!' but realized we weren't in the net, this was really happening...
"Yes....so we have discovered who this 'Assassin of Honor' is have we? Well, this will be quite helpful in our war against the M.I.N.E., yes, indeed it will." That was the voice of Shugo, I knew it.
"So, how do you want him disposed of sir? Shall we painlessly snipe him? Or shall we make it long and painful?" The man chuckled, he was clearly a pleasant fellow.
"No, you will bring him to me, alive! Now, I will inform you of his identity and his picture tomorrow, I do not want you knowing who he is until the assignment begins, in case you should see him around..." Shugo was chuckling silently as the man left. And I, quite certain that the room was now empty, began my decent.
CRASH!!
I landed on the ground skillfully, checking up to see the glass skylight I had smashed, then immediately looking at Shugo. "So, sending your lackeys out to kill me? I'm flattered really..."
"You, so you made the 'smart' move to find me yourself? I must say I'm slightly impressed, although now, you will die." And with that, he stood up and drew a lengthy blade from a sheath I had failed to notice.
"So, you wish to die with honor? That I must respect. You will find swords a poor choice on your part, because I brought along a little present." I drew a long, odd blade from my hidden sheath. It was black, and had an odd spike-like protrusion at it's end, clearly a blade meant for killing. "See this? Do you know what it is?"
"That's! No, it can't possibly be, the only thing I've seen like that was in a museum, belonging to the great Matson Grausherra!" Shugo was shocked.
"Yep, it's just like it. With one exception, this weapon was wielded by the great Morpheus Yobuu, daddy dearest." I smiled, and slashed the blade twice, more for effect than any attempted attack.
"So, you're the crime lords brat eh? Funny how you should be on the side of good...but no matter." Shugo lunged forwards in an attempted pre-emptive strike.
I hopped to the side, cleanly dodging the strike, "Not bad, but not that great either!" I cried out as I performed my own little hop and lunge.
"GAR!" Shugo cried, I had struck him in the arm, unfortunately, not his dominant arm. He shook it, and the pain somewhat subsided. He spun quickly and lashed forwards with his blade. I shot mine up and cleanly grabbed it with the spike. Shoving his blade back I went for a power strike on the injured arm, loping it clean off. He writhed in pain. Getting back his senses he lunged again, apparently getting a second wind. His strike caught me off guard, and I received a glancing blow to the leg, hobbling my stance. He exchanged small blows back and forth, each one deflecting the other, until...
Shogu laughed as he whipped the blade down, an unexpected burst of genius attacking. I flinched back, but not enough. The blade ripped down my face, not causing a mortal blow, but removing the use my right eye. I screamed, and Shugo attempted to strike a killing blow. My remaining useful eye shot black, and Shugo hesistated. An odd black aura seemed to form around me and a voice of pure evil eminated from my very soul, "Fool...you have awoken me from my dark slumber!" The voice bellowed, I felt a wave of uneasiness wash over me. I staggered, dizziness enveloping me, as the voice spoke again, "You, you who threaten this vessel of mine. You who has disturbed my piece, you will suffer for your inexcusable transgressions. You, you will die!" Then, as if some unholy magic had been cast, the sword I had been wielding melded into my hand, and my movements were no longer under my control. I slashed thrice at Shugo, and he fell dead. I looked down, or at least tried to. I couldn't move my head, and then I realized what had happened.
Blackfang had gotten it's grip on me, and wasn't going to let go without some serious fighting.
