Chapter 7: Planeswalker's Trial
A/N: The song 'Hell's Bells' belongs to the band AC/DC. Obviously I don't own it, since I could never think of anything that kicks that much ass.
As one, the youkai horde fell into formation and began to move. Kikyo estimated they would reach the village in less than ten minutes. Once her enemies were in the sky, she followed.
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The finest Youkai Taijiya in the village were arrayed in the castle courtyard, receiving instructions from the manor lord. Sango's father assured the lord that they could defeat the monster preying on the castle, Kohaku quivered with fear, and Sango wondered if he would be all right…
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In the Taijiya Village, the leader of the guards sensed a strange presence approaching. Danger was looming. Acting quickly, he rallied his warriors for battle…
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He flew. He pushed himself to his limit of speed, and shattered it. All he could feel was what was at stake if he failed, yet he was also doubtful. He had failed the last time he had entered a battle; how would today be any different? How could he stop what he knew to be Destiny? How could he stay the hand of almighty Fate?
Casting the thoughts from his mind, he pumped his legs harder, accelerated faster, and sliced the wind in two. He crested a hill in the middle of the trail, leapt from the top of it, and coasted along the forest canopy until he came to ground again. He continued his furious pace.
As he ran, he scented the wind currents, and immediately knew that they were there. The youkai had reached the Taijiya village.
He sensed blood.
He sensed death.
He sensed carnage and fear.
And as he sensed these things, changes began to occur in both his body and mind. He was suddenly moving faster, propelled not only by his muscles, but by something more intangible. His fangs itched for the blood of his enemies, and his claws ached to rip through flesh. He could feel his brain buzzing with angry activity, like his skull was a hive for the deadliest nest of killer bees. These emotions warred with his more human, pure aims of protecting the village population. Sensing this conflict, he came to a shuffling stop. He looked up at the sky, at the youkai filling it, and at the moon which was waxing full. It had no direct effect on him, but suddenly he was filled with animalistic desire. He wanted to hunt, to feed, to fight, to kill.
His desires, fully youkai, came to the fore in a crimson rush. Engaging muscles and vocal cords he had only recently developed, he lifted his head to the sky and released his unholy battle call.
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At the same moment, Kikyo stood in her position on the other side of the village, readying herself to strike at the horde. She was reaching for an arrow when a horrifying sound assaulted her ears and made her blood run cold.
She immediately froze as she remembered. This sound, unfortunately, was not unfamiliar. She was one of few miko who had heard it, and any miko who heard that cursed scream never forgot it, for it would haunt her dreams forever. The creature that produced it was one of the most feared of all youkai, though also one of the rarest.
Kikyo recognized the primeval roar of a Black Dragon.
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Chaos ruled in the village turned battlefield. The youkai had overwhelmed the defenses of that place, and her warriors were similarly falling to the inexorable tide. Human bodies littered the ground, yet they were joined by a significant number of youkai corpses as well. The Taijiya were not a weak people and were giving the enemy hell before they lost their lives.
Swords clanged against steel claws and scythes cut through iron hides. Battle cries mixed with the roars of the inhuman army. Blood of both species ran free as wine and the sounds of the dying were everywhere. Yet many still stood, and fought as well. Every man, woman and child who could hold a weapon was fighting furiously to defend their home.
Among the carnage stalked a dark figure clad in a baboon pelt, surveying the carnage with glee. He knew this place would fall. He knew because he desired it to be so. When the sun rose the next day, the great Taijiya would be no more…
As this last passed through his clever and arrogant mind, he heard an inhuman scream tear the night apart. The sounds of battle continued as human and youkai sustained their perilous death struggle. Yet something was coming. Something that did not quite fit into Naraku's plans.
After the cry, Naraku heard no further noise coming from anywhere outside the village. Therefore he continued his march through the sea of death and destruction to his objective: the shards of the Sacred Jewel. They rested in the ruins of what had once been a fine home. He eyed them greedily and reached for them, but was stopped suddenly.
A massive tree came sailing over the stockade and crashed noisily into the middle of the battle, nearly crushing a dueling youkai and Taijiya. They leapt or slithered out of the way. Then another tree cracked through the stockade like a missile, followed by another soul-rending scream. More warriors on both sides were stopping to witness the spectacle. Gigantic fifty foot trees were being tossed into the village like toothpicks. All wondered, including Naraku, what could hurl them with such ease.
Like a thunderclap, they were all answered. The youkai at the gate were the first to see the harbinger of apocalypse bearing down on them. The unknown monster crashed through the gate, a freight train of flesh, and tore through any youkai in its path.
From his position, Naraku watched with muted surprise. It was a Dragon-youkai, something he had never seen before, and was one of the few youkai types that were not a part of his composition. This Dragon was large, and possessed a ferocity he had never seen. Its body was over thirty feet long, and covered from head to toe in diamond scales of darkest ebon, slashed with blood-red stripes.
Twisting and turning, ripping and rending, its massive length surged into the village. It immediately went about its gruesome work and tore through any youkai in reach of its claws, tail, or head. In less than a minute, over twenty five of Naraku's soldiers lay bleeding on the ground. Nor was the beast finished. Taking a stance on its four stumpy legs, it lashed out at the youkai all around it. One slash of snapping jaws unmade two youkai. One whip of its tail dispatched three more. It roared again, and sat back on its haunches, smoke beginning to roll from its nostrils. Then, exhaling, it baked them all in killing flame.
The beast's purpose was quickly made known to the dark hanyou as its eyes, twin embers, met his. The creature stalked forward toward him, oblivious to the youkai attempting to break through its impregnable hide. Its approach was slow, yet had an air of inevitability. Somehow, Naraku knew, this creature knew him, yet its scent was alien.
The creatures eyes stayed locked with his, and then flashed an even brighter crimson, the fires of hate burning hotter inside. It weaved gracefully from side to side as it came closer and stopped.
The dragon watched Naraku. Naraku watched the dragon.
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Kikyo began her attack with fury, launching a volley of a dozen arrows in a little over five seconds. She smiled devilishly as the old thrill of battling youkai roared back into her system. Death had not slowed her reflexes, nor had it decreased her power. She let several more shafts fly and watched as they punched shining holes in the dark ranks. Pure energy burned away malevolent souls. Seeing that her attack was making a small impact, she continued with strike after strike. The youkai finally rallied from the surprise attack and headed for her, surging up the hillside. She downed several before they were upon her, almost twenty of them.
They bared fangs and flexed claws, but never got close. Kikyo gripped her bow with both hands and charged her amazing energy into it. Then, twirling it and sweeping from side to side, she struck at the monsters. Her purified weapon cut through them more effectively than any sword would. One youkai dive-bombed her from above. She easily sidestepped it and sliced its serpentine body in two. As she moved, she cut through two more trying to attack her from the side. Turning and raising the bow high above her, she brought it swiftly down into the head of another beast.
And then they retreated. Kikyo took several seconds to look at their retreating forms. She was perplexed, since more than half of them still remained. Then she saw the reason: the Dragon had entered the village. She watched with mute horror as it tore though every beast that came against it, then turned its sights on the leader of the horde.
Kikyo sensed a showdown beginning, but there was something else…The Dragon was…Eric! That youkai child that had given her almost everything she could ever want was here! He had transformed into his youkai form, but could not control his demon rage. He was whipping around wildly, killing on instinct. He was tearing through every monster on the field. Now he was going to challenge the leader, but Kikyo worried for his safety. This hanyou was like nothing she had ever seen…
Youkai descended as the duel began.
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In an instant, the fight was on. The dragon known as Eric struck first, whipping forward with cobra speed. The hanyou known as Naraku dodged this easily, simply by leaping over him. The dragon crashed through two houses and came back around, screaming with rage and shaking the ground. Naraku sidestepped his next charge, and hooked his normally human hands into ogre's claws. He sliced a rent in the dragon's flank. The dragon attempted a tail whip, but Naraku swept backwards with unnatural speed.
Then Naraku counterattacked. Changing positions in the blink of an eye, he was in Eric's face and delivered a burning slash to his muzzle. The dragon withdrew instinctively, but Naraku followed. He sliced through him again and again, spreading scars and rents throughout its massive bulk. The Dragon broke free again, spiraled upwards into the sky, and sent forth another wave of fire. This too, Naraku dodged.
The Dragon dove from its position in another charge on Naraku, but the hanyou had had enough. As the monster drew close, Naraku flooded the air around him with miasma. The Dragon stopped, stiffened, and fell to the ground in a twitching heap.
Around him, youkai and humans that had been hit by the gas breathed their last and died. Naraku smiled with satisfaction and walked over to collect the jewel shards. His shards.
As the hanyou moved to leave, he noticed that the Dragon had reverted back to a human form. Hmph! Just as he thought, a weak youkai child. Just like that inubaka that kept challenging him. They would all die eventually. Nothing could stop him from getting the shards. Naraku walked on toward a date with destiny at his new castle.
Unfortunately for the arrogant hanyou, he was not able to observe the strange occurrence with the 'weak youkai child.' He did not see his body begin to rise from the dust…
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In a mind on the edge of burnout, in a body broken, a singular will flared to life. A spark was once again kindled, and one thought echoed:
"This fight is not over…"
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Thunder crashed and lightning ripped the sky. Naraku continued his walk out of the village, paying little heed to the change in weather. He then disappeared into the dark, leaving his youkai soldiers to finish the meager human resistance.
The fight was not over. Both sides continued to war, also not noticing that the sky was rapidly changing above their heads.
I'm rolling thunder, pouring rain
I'm comin' on like a hurricane
My lightning's flashing across the sky
You're only young but you're gonna die
The storm was coming as the skies opened their fury onto the ground. Winds rose to gale force and blew houses apart. Rain fell in waves.
The embattled armies now took notice. The sight they saw horrified them. Up in the clouds was a youkai man with his arms spread wide. His eyes shined with thundering energy and power danced around him. It slid on his skin, sparked in the air, and danced across his claws. His eyes fixed themselves on his enemy: all youkai.
These same youkai quickly took notice of this new, more powerful being, and attacked. Whipping upward, the horde gathered its singular mind and charged. There were over half of the original force there, heading toward the strange man, but still he sat dormant among the clouds. They closed on him until none of the perplexed humans on the ground could see him. They were within one hundred feet when he struck.
I won't take no prisoners, won't spare no lives
Nobody's putting up a fight
I got my bell, I'm gonna take you to hell
I'm gonna get you, Satan get you
No youkai passed that point. A wall of crackling lightning exploded from the skyborne form, hurling them away and destroying many in one brilliant flash. Still more remained, though injured and lingering on the ground. They were clearly reluctant to attack again. They waited.
The man in the sky, however, did not. Bringing his hands together, he shot into the clouds, above them where none could see. The clouds themselves began to glow, and then there was metamorphosis.
Hell's Bells
Yeah, Hell's Bells
You got me ringing Hell's Bells
My temperature's high, Hell's Bells
The clouds, once passive, became a malevolent creature of hate.
I'll give you black sensations up and down your spine
If you're into evil you're a friend of mine
See my white light flashing as I split the night
'Cause if good's on the left,
then I'm stickin' to the right
I won't take no prisoners, won't spare no lives
Nobody's puttin' up a fight
I got my bell, I'm gonna take you to hell
I'm gonna get you, Satan get you
At once, the skies loosed their payloads and rained lightning on the ground. Water and wind came in abundance and all beneath it fell to their faces.
Hell's Bells,
Satan's comin' to you
Thunder struck in cerulean columns. Youkai were burnt to ashes, or simply dissolved.
Hell's Bells,
he's ringing them now
The skies flamed, the clouds shook, and the ground quaked.
Hell's Bells,
the temperature's high
It seemed to the humans that the heavens had turned traitor against the ground.
Hell's Bells,
across the sky
Hell's Bells,
they're takin' you down
Then, all at once, the storm switched places, and came down among them. Lightning jagged outwards in all directions, leaping and coiling like serpents. They continued to feed on youkai flesh and destroy all remnants of the village.
Hell's Bells,
they're draggin' you around
Hell's Bells,
gonna split the night
Hell's Bells,
there's no way to fight, yeah
The last youkai fell in a smoldering heap. At that moment, the storm receded back into the clouds. The hammer blows of thunder ceased to fall, the water ceased to drench the earth, and wind ceased to blow. Now silence reigned. Slowly, the dark cloud front passed and the sun began to shine again.
The captain of the guard got to his feet on shaking limbs. He was in awe of how everything had happened so quickly. His troops didn't even have a chance. First the youkai, then the Dragon, then that unholy storm!
He looked around, stunned at the devastation of his home. Though wounded, his battle senses were still very much awake, and he searched frantically for any remaining youkai. He found almost none, except for one lying unconscious in the middle of the wreckage. It was the man from the storm! That youkai that had destroyed everything. He began to seethe with righteous anger. He gripped his blade and began to walk over to the man's prostrate form, with intent to kill. He made it halfway when he heard a groan next to him. Looking there, he saw one of his men pinned beneath a fallen roof. Naturally, he stopped to pull the man from the wreckage.
"Are you hurt, soldier?"
"Barely sir, one of the youkai scratched me."
"Was it the Dragon?"
"No, it was a centipede."
Both stiffened when they heard more rustling, and a mother and her child pushed their way from a pile of thatch. The captain looked them over, but both were fine. Around the village, more were freeing themselves from whatever wreckage they were caught in. He temporarily forgot about the last remaining youkai. With the help of soldiers and civilians, he soon got the people to their feet, or resting comfortably on the ground. He looked at them all. He realized with much joy that most of the village was alive! It amazed him that so many survived.
Next, he commanded his troops to begin gathering the bodies. It was one of these soldiers that called to him when he came across the body of the mysterious youkai.
"Sir! What shall I do with this one? Should he be killed?"
The captain wanted to call out a death sentence, but something stopped him as he looked at the village, and remembered back to the battle. This youkai had released incredible destruction, and had destroyed almost every building in this village, yet he could not remember a specific instance where he had seen him harming a human. In fact, as he looked at the casualties, he could not see a single burn or scratch that could have come from Dragon or storm. Was it possible? Could this be merely dumb luck, or did the Dragon purposely spare them? Surely that storm could've destroyed everything, yet all that were not killed by the first youkai were still alive and mostly unharmed.
"Sir?"
"…Lay him in the armory…" The captain said warily.
"Yes, sir." The captain did not know who this youkai was, but he was beginning to see that if he had not come along, all would have fallen. If this youkai truly meant to destroy the enemy and protect his people, then he would no longer have anything to fear from the Taijiya people.