Transcendence
Chapter 16: Kul Tiras
'This way…'
Ichigo obeyed without question, following the imaginary trail the voice left for him. He knew that the voice was within his mind and only appeared to be coming from a certain direction, but he knew to follow it and trust who was calling. Even if he didn't know where he was going, or what danger he was in, he could trust in Zangetsu to lead him the right way.
If his Zanpakuto was calling to him from the blade, he had to find him. No matter the distance or what gets in his way, he will find Zangetsu. Trudging through the swamps, the thick mud and entangling vegetation did little to hold the substitute back. So long as he has a goal ahead of him he would walk to the very edge of this world to find him.
"I'm coming Zangetsu, I'll be there soon," Ichigo murmured, trying in some way to reassure his Zanpakuto spirit he would get him back.
"These tracks are fresh," Adelina said, looking down at the many imprints in the mud. "Do you think these could be survivors?"
Adelina turned to the investigator who was running beside her, running as fast as they were able while moving through the mud and unstable ground. They had left their horses a mile back; the animals wouldn't be able to be ridden through this thicket, let alone the mud. If they wanted to catch Ichigo they needed to chase him down on foot, and hope he isn't running as fast as them.
"No, these prints are from soldier's boots," Tarem said, slowing and ducking under a few vines before continuing at a quicker pace.
He quickly took count of the shoes, there was at least fifteen sets of prints. He found Ichigo's easily; the impression was the only one that did not have a small build-up of water forming in the crevice of the imprint. But still there were fourteen possible hostiles in the area, something that did not bode well for the seasoned investigator.
"Soldiers? But you said there were no survivors, how could they not be?" Adelina asks, thinking he was referring to the soldiers she remembered patrolling the town when she was there before its destruction.
"Not those guards, Theramore Guards," Tarem replied, making Adelina look at him quizzically, he didn't bother lying or covering up what he said. They were likely going to be told of this anyway, they were now involved in this investigation and likely were going to be needing all the facts soon enough to continue operating.
Adelina looked at him surprised for a moment, before trying to ask him why they were here.
"If they are Theramore Guards, then why…?" Adelina's eyes widened, realization of the possible implications of their presence, she grabbed Tarem and forced him to a halt. "Why is Ichigo in danger, why can't we let him find them?"
Adelina narrowed her eyes at the stone faced investigator, from the start; she knew something was wrong with all this. There was no way Captain Vimes would have sent her and Ichigo into this without a reason, two young individuals who should have no part in an investigation involving a massacre. That was especially true if they were survivors of that massacre.
Now there were Theramore Guards out and around the site of this massacre and they were dangerous. Immediately she thought of the two guards that had tried to take their lives, and the thought that there may be others was clearly what she suspected. Since Tarem obviously thought Ichigo was in danger, and she was prove right when he responded.
"Because their traitors," Tarem replied, brushing the girls hand off his collar before running off again, following the tracks left behind. "We need to keep moving."
"These traitors, are they linked to the two that tried to assassinate me and Ichigo?" Adelina demanded, and she was met with a nod and her scowl increased. "Is this why we're here, because of them? To try and lure out others that want us dead?"
"No, I had no idea of any of this; all I know is that we couldn't trust the guard to carry out the investigation so we took you on as a last resort," Tarem shouted back at her, his eyes not leaving the path.
Tarem scowled, he had no idea where these people were going. This part of Dustwallow Marsh was completely uninhabited; there wasn't a village or anything in these parts. The only thing that was there were the ruins of the former Stone Maul Clan settlement and what appears to be a Black Dragon nest.
This place was abandoned after the ogres were decimated, there is nothing here they could go to. There was nowhere they could bunker down, they had no bases or camps through here that he knew of, so what was it? This place was completely abandoned.
"Drop the subject for now, we need to find Ichigo before someone or something else does," Tarem said, trying to get her to drop the argument.
"I want answers, what did you get me and Ichigo involved in," Adelina demanded.
"I will tell you after we save him, but for now we need to hurry, if they find him they may realize there are others and start looking for us," Tarem said with finality, not listening to anything else the Night Elf had to say.
Adelina did not argue back from there, he did have a point. If Ichigo was captured he would certainly be executed or tortured for information, and if they found out about them then they were likely next. Adelina hoped that Ichigo would be able to handle himself; he was unarmed and likely walking towards people who wanted him dead.
Ichigo got off the path, moving close to the well-travelled track and following after the voice as it gave some semblance of direction. He kept close to the water and moved through the shallow area until he reached the shore, there he climbed up the slope slowly and hid behind what few trees and shrubs were on the piece of muddy island.
Ichigo peered through the bushes, finding to his surprise a large dilapidated tower situated on a risen platform that looked to be in equal disrepair. The roof had collapsed into itself and the large flags that were draped over its sides were in tatters, you could barely make out the golden lions head on the blue background.
'Another guard tower?' Ichigo thought, having passed two on his way to Shady Rest, but this one looked abandoned.
But it looked like it was only abandoned by the Alliance; around the area he saw dozens of people moving about. Most were simple people wearing bits and pieces of armor, often it being mismatched and salvaged. It was no hard guess that these people didn't have many resources at hand. But he did notice all had silver tabards with an anchor emblazed upon it, the symbol for Theramore.
"Are these guys from Theramore?" Ichigo muttered aloud.
He thought about going out and revealing himself and asking for help, but chose against that. Call him paranoid but he didn't have a very good opinion of the Theramore Guard at the moment, considering upon his first meeting they tried to kill him. So going out and saying hello would likely be met with either a sword to the gut or an axe to the face.
But he did notice many were gathering near the front of the tower, he could make out a few people there but nothing other than that. He saw a few had tabards with green anchors instead of gold, but he didn't know the significance of such a thing. But he did notice them arguing with more armed and armored soldiers bearing the Theramore Tabard as well.
'What are they doing here?' Ichigo thought, wondering how and when these guys got here.
It was obvious they were from Theramore, the armor and tabard said it all, and also the soldiers they were arguing with likely just stole what they were wearing right now. Meaning they were probably bandits or some kind of gang that operated in the area. Ichigo slowly approached their position, keeping out of sight and moving close enough to try and make out what they were saying.
Ichigo couldn't make out much of their conversation, the context of what they were saying simply eluded him, but he did make out a few key words. He heard a few about Shady Rest and another referring to something back in Theramore but nothing else. Ichigo knew something was wrong here; in fact he was just about ready to go up and get the answers himself, damned not being armed or anything. These guys obviously knew something he didn't, especially if they were here and he wasn't told about it.
But before he could make a move he heard a scream, he looked up to see that everyone had heard it as well. The guards got anxious and moved to the front of the tower, their weapons were drawn and they were ready to see what happened. But then three men appeared out of the tower, two were dragging the third out and depositing him in front of the one in green armor.
He watched as another argument erupted, this time very aggressively and he even saw one of the Theramore soldiers round on his own men. Ichigo was confused at the odd occurrence but none the less got up and moved, but halted when he heard a deep chiding voice invade his thoughts.
'Remain hidden! They are not your allies,'
Ichigo dropped back down and hid from sight, obeying the command and realizing that stepping into view of about fifty people was probably a bad idea.
"Where are you?" Ichigo whispered, trying to get a response from his Zanpakuto spirit, the connection seemed to be stronger now.
'The tower, find me within the tower.'
Ichigo looked at the dilapidated tower and then back to the arguing soldier, finding now that the leader of their group had turned on his own men.
Giving it little thought he moved back the way he came and around the towers side, hiding in the bushes and behind the trees as he moved. Soon enough he came to the very back of the tower, finding that it had been left virtually undefended. Guess with the ruckus that drew their attention they must have given up on their patrols.
It didn't matter to Ichigo; it only made it easier for him to get inside. Stepping out into the open and quickly disappearing with Shunpo, the substitute reappeared at the side of the raised stand. Taking no time to dawdle he vaulted himself up and onto the platform, taking cover behind whatever piece of surrounding wall remained.
Ichigo remained there, his back pressed against the stone and his ears listening for anything that would say he had been spotted. But after about half a minute of nothing he decided to make his move, slowly getting up and crouch running towards the front of the tower. Halting when he came to the very edge of the ramp, he peaked out to see almost every single soldier was now having a standoff.
About fifty underdressed soldiers in bits and pieces of armor were standing ready to attack the soldiers in full armor. As the apparent leaders of both arguing parties were now yelling at the new leader of the Theramore Guard, who was basically huddling up with his remaining men.
Ichigo ignored the exchange and moved into the tower while no one was watching, quickly entering the tower and pressing himself against the wall. For the next minute he kept himself hidden, not doing anything but waiting to see if anyone would run inside and try to get him. When nothing of the sort happened Ichigo let out a breath before slowly walking into the tower.
But he found that equally as difficult as walking through the swamps, as the interior was packed with dozens of crates and stacks of weapons. Navigating around the room the substitute found dozens of weapons – sword, axes, maces, staves, shields, spears – and armor. All stacked on top of one another haphazardly, as if the owners had no care for what was done with it.
There were enough armaments inside to equip an entire army, but Ichigo could tell this was not meant for humans. The armor was too big and the design was obviously not meant for a humans anatomy. The leggings he found showed that the person's legs needed to be bowed backwards below the knee. Also the proportions for the chest plates were much larger than anything a human could wear comfortably.
"What the hell is all this?" Ichigo thought, there was no way this was all meant for the people here, it was too much and most of it was useless to them.
Also he noted a large red symbol was stamped onto all the crates, meaning that this is possibly stolen from someone. Before Ichigo could think more on this he heard the words of his Zanpakuto call to him again.
'Ichigo,'
The substitute turned and looked to see a small weapons stand, beyond it he found Zangetsu thrown onto a pile of weapons. Quickly removing the stand from his path Ichigo gripped the pseudo-handle of his weapon and lifted it up. Examining the blade surface he found it completely undamaged, aside from the layers of mud and ash on the surface it was in good shape.
"You alright Zangetsu?" Ichigo asked, walking back through the maze of weapons and armour towards the entrance.
'Yes, you are fortunate to have found me; I was taken by mistake, thinking I was a weapon of those Tauren,' Zangetsu spoke, and Ichigo furrowed his brow in confusion, he was taken by these people from Shady Rest.
"What do you mean?" Ichigo asked.
'I am not certain, but it would seem that the guards that have come here seek to cover up the events of Shady Rest,' Zangetsu replied.
"How do you know that?"
'I heard them speak it, they sought to find any evidence as to who perpetrated the attack, I was able to listen through the Zanpakuto, but I could only learn so much,' Zangetsu replied, leaving Ichigo more confused.
"Why would they…" Ichigo started, but was interrupted when he heard something. He heard a cry outside and then steel clashing with steel; it would seem that the argument had descended into a brawl.
'Damn it!' Ichigo growled within the recesses of his mind, he gripped Zangetsu tightly and planned on getting out there to stop it.
If those people were fighting each other he had to stop it, especially since those guards were in danger. He didn't care that they were guards, but more for the fact that they had information he needed to make sure they survived. With some resolve to get this mystery solved the substitute paced towards the exit and planned on stopping the fighting one way or the other.
"Mom,"
Ichigo halted instinctively when he heard the pained cry, his eyes darting around and trying to figure out where it came from. He gripped Zangetsu tightly in one hand, trying to locate the source but he didn't hear anything. He thought at first it was his imagination, but when he heard another whimper he knew it was not the case.
"Please… please wake up…"
The anguishing whisper was barely heard, but Ichigo picked it up. Following the direction where he heard it, he searched for the owner.
"Hey, can you hear me?" Ichigo called softly, trying not to sound to threatening, the voice did sound like a child.
What the hell would a kid be doing out here? There was no way people could live here.
"Please wake up…"
Ichigo halted and turned, finally finding the person speaking the painful cries and his eyes widened in recognition. The substitute looked upon a familiar blonde head of hair, covered in mud, along with the tattered clothes. A stark contrast to what the young lad looked like when Ichigo saw him last at Shady Rest.
"James…" Ichigo breathed, his voice could barely leave his throat, so shocked at what was before him he could barely do anything other than utter their names. "…Lynn"
The young mother to the boy was there as well, right beside him. Her cloths were torn and muddy, obvious from their escape through the swamps several days past. But it was not the thick mud that caught his eyes, but the growing red patch that formed beneath her and over her stomach.
"Mom… she's not waking up…" Ichigo looked at the crying James, his eyes red and his face covered in tears.
For reasons he could not begin to fathom he felt his entire body go numb with shock, unable to do anything but stare at the site of the young man crying over his mother's body. The pain stricken face and grief filled eyes adding to the horror the substitute felt build within him as he gazed back at the boy.
"Mom… please…" James cried, shaking his mother body, but her limp form did nothing to respond to her son's pleas.
Stepping away Ichigo felt a familiar tug on his heart, the same wrenching feeling of when he too lost someone precious to him. He gazed at the ground, finding the bloody blade that had done the deed still fresh with the warm life liquid still upon the knife. He could almost feel the torment of that day return in that single moment.
The rain, falling heavy on his head, they hid the tears that streaked down his face well. The horror that had been done working its way into his mind, her death was caused by his actions. He tried to wake her, tried to bring her back, desperate to keep the thing he loved most from being taken away.
'Mom.'
He couldn't express the feeling he had, the sight of something so familiar to him was just as heart wrenching as the moment he suffered it. For a few moments the substitute could only wonder what had driven someone to commit such a monstrous thing upon an innocent woman and her child.
"There you are," Ichigo turned, finding a Theramore soldier standing a few feet away, beaten and bloody but still holding his sword tightly. "Move aside boy, and I won't kill you too."
The soldier moved forward, his gazed fixed on the traumatized James. Ichigo stepped forward and blocked the path towards the young man, who remained fixed on his mother. The substitute did not look at the guard, simply watching James cry and beg for Lynn to wake up.
"You did this, you attacked Lynn, tried to kill her and James," Ichigo stated, his voice wavering as emotions warred their way in his heart to give him the proper feeling for this moment.
"It has to be done, they know too much and I can't let her live," He said, moving forward slowly, his hand tightening around the handle of his sword. "If everyone knew what happened, then all our plans are ruined."
Ichigo was silent for a few moments, his gaze still fixed on James and Lynn.
"You stabbed her, in front of her son, you made him watch and feel what it is like…" Ichigo murmured, he didn't look up, no one knowing if he was speaking to himself or to the guard. "You made him watch his mother die, covered in blood and made him beg for her to wake up."
"We all need to make sacrifices, this boy needs to die, just like his mother had to," the soldier said, drawing back his sword to strike.
But then he felt an unholy pressure descend upon him, nearly forcing him to his knees. Stumbling back and trying to get air into his lungs the guard tried to make sense of what just happened.
"You… did this… you did it knowing… knowing what it would do to him…" Ichigo hissed, his words barely heard through his clenched teeth. "Made him feel what it is like to have someone you love ripped from you… to have the center of your own little existence torn away."
A black flame engulfed Ichigo's face, quickly appearing and then dispersing into nothing. The guard watched in shock as the substitute raised his head and glared at him. A white bone skull mask, with several tribal stripes, covered his face. Beneath the mask were two piercing gold eyes on a field of black, they glared murderously as the man who tried to take the young boy's life.
"I'm going to fucking kill you," The distorted voice growled, advancing on the catatonic guard.
Adelina and Tarem slowly made their way around the tree line, hiding behind the bushes as they approached the outer edge of the clearing. Both had found where the tracks had led, and per Tarem's judgment they both had decided to move off the path and approach through the water.
Tarem has realized that this was the abandoned guard post for Theramore, known as Lost Point Tower due to it being situated in a very unknown and hostile part of Dustwallow Marsh. It had been abandoned for the last three years, only a few months after the incident with Daelin Proudmoore.
It was a good place for these people to set up shop, after all, Theramore had abandoned it completely and never would have reclaimed it. This left anyone who was smart enough to see its value as a base of operations to occupy it. It would seem that the remains of the Kul Tiras renegades seemed to be the people who thought it was a good idea.
He could make out a few soldiers in the area, but most were dressed in old amour and Theramore Tabards. Likely stolen or salvaged from other guards that were lost in the swamps, or likely given to them. After all there were Theramore soldiers talking with them in the middle of their encampment.
"Theramore Guardsman, and Kul Tiras, this is getting more complicated by the minute," Tarem muttered under his breath.
Kul Tiras and Theramore Guard working together was not good, it could lead to all kinds of problems, especially since the former was in open conflict with the Horde. If there were members of the Guard aiding them, then they were implicating the entirety of Theramore as aiding the forces of Kul Tiras. That alone would cause all kinds of political consequences for the Alliance and Theramore.
"What are they arguing about?" Adelina said, trying to listen in on their conversation, she could see that one man was arguing with his own troops alongside one of the Kul Tiras soldiers.
"Let's get closer," Tarem whispered to her, moving away from the bushes and down the small incline before slowly skulking his way around to find a better place to listen in.
After a small walk they halted near a fallen tree, hiding behind it, they listened in on the conversation as it unfolded. And they were both surprised with the dialogue that was going on.
"If you do this you're good as dead," someone said, Tarem risked a glance to see a Theramore soldier making an ultimatum towards one of his own. "The Lieutenant will not take kindly to this betrayal."
"I will not condone this any longer, I stomached having those marauders in the town, I stomached the raids on the horde, and I stomached the massacre," the bare headed man said, lowering his head in shame. "I won't let you murder an innocent woman and child, even if it means our heads."
"They are witnesses, they will condemn dozens of good soldiers to death if we do not end them, how can you weigh the lives of so many of your fellow soldiers over the heads of just two?" The soldier asked, Tarem narrowed his eyes at the exchange and recognized the familiar face of the one without a helm.
"Lieutenant Pavel Reethe," Tarem murmured under his breath.
It would see that the Lieutenant and his men were traitors, and it would also seem that they were working with more. He would need to report back soon, this piece of information would be enough to warrant an investigation into the Guard and also hopefully locate the other traitors. But he would need a suspect alive, and from the way this meeting was going, a survivor was likely not going to be something he was going to be able to get easily.
"What about the eighty people in Shady Rest, who were lost, do their lives not weigh upon us all? Should they go unavenged?" Reethe said, as he finished the Kul Tiras soldier's drew their swords. "You all have forsaken your oaths to the Guard, and while I breathe I will make sure none of you leave here alive."
"You're a fool Reethe, if the Lieutenant finds out you and everyone here is as good as dead!" A soldier called out, all the Theramore soldiers formed a tight defense around each other.
"He won't find out," Reethe replied. "I hereby sentence you to death, for treason and for instigating war against the Horde."
Without another word both parties clashed, the shaggy warriors of Kul Tiras charging into the tightly formed Theramore Guardsman. Soon the tightly knit group of soldiers fell apart and were fighting for their lives. But it would all end in a few minutes; there was no way the Guardsman could hope to defeat so many scattered.
"We need to get one of them," Tarem said, rising to his feet and drawing his sword.
"What? Why?" Adelina asked, surprised by the sudden rash actions of the investigator.
"Because one of them likely knows more about what is going on than anyone else, and I want answers," Tarem said, vaulting over the fallen log he charged into the melee, with the young druid trailing behind him.
Tarem fell upon a Kul Tiras soldier from behind, slashing the back of his knee to force him down, and dropped the pommel of his blade on top of his exposed head. The man fell to the ground unconscious, yet the investigator was already onto his second target. He took the surprised and defenseless man down with a quick thrust to the stomach. The blade pierced through the man's armor, passing through the steel completely and sticking out his back.
Tarem with a grunt threw him aside and fought his way closer to the struggling Theramore soldiers, who were already down to six in number. He would need to get to them fast otherwise he would likely be joining them in the ground.
"Damn it! They have reinforcements!" A soldier called out, charging Tarem from his left.
Turning Tarem deflected the sword to the side and then slashed at the man's exposed neck, slashing through the side and nearly beheading the man. Turning again he attempted another counter, but before the man in his skivvies could reach him he was blown aside by a powerful ball of force. The blast sent the man sprawling across the ground before crashing into two of his fellow Kul Tiras soldiers.
Turning Tarem offered a nod towards Adelina, who had remained far back to provide support. Without wasting another moment he charged in, grabbing a Theramore guard by the edge of his armor and pulling him out of the fighting. He was met with the edge of the guard's sword, aiming to skewer him through the gut.
Deflecting the thrust Tarem placed his blade between the bracer and gauntlet, slashing the man's wrist and forcing his blade out of his hand. Grabbing the guard's helm he ripped if off his head before planting his fist into the man's face. As he dropped Tarem grabbed him and dragged him away, while he held onto his own sword to try and defend himself in his retreat.
"Adelina! Cover me!" Tarem yelled over to the druid, who responded by knocking down a man who tried to attack him from behind.
Tarem continued to drag the unconscious man behind him as he batted away anything that got in his path, while Adelina kept him safe from the sides and rear. He needed to hurry, he could see the Kul Tiras soldiers were now focusing on them rather than the guardsmen, likely because they're all dead now. Speaking of that he should probably check on his only lead, well that's not good, he's dead. A spear through the neck is usually enough to do it, and it seems the one who did this guy in had similar thoughts.
"Damn waste of effort," Tarem growled out, before dropping his dead suspect and rushing over towards Adelina. "We need to go!"
"We're surrounded!" Adelina said, turning around to see that all around her were Kul Tiras soldiers.
They kept their distance from the two, mainly to make sure they weren't maimed or killed by the deadly duo. But even so there was still over forty of them. Tarem and Adelina stood back to back, eyes shifting around to keep all their sides protected.
"What do we do?" Adelina asked, whispering to the man behind her.
"To the north east, there's a small opening, only two guards, if we can get past them we can escape," Tarem said, planning out their escape and hoping that they don't realize that they have an opening in their defenses.
"Investigator Tarem,"
Said investigator turned to the caller of his name, a scowl formed on his features as he looked at the treacherous Lieutenant.
"Reethe, I assume you're a traitor along with the rest of them," Tarem said, he faced the traitor of a guardsman, yet his eyes shifting to the left and right to keep anyone from taking advantage of his distraction.
"A traitor to traitors it would seem," Reethe replied, looking down at one of his fellow Theramore guardsman, a man he had cut down personally. "I cannot serve with them anymore, not after all that has happened."
"So there are others then?" Tarem stated, trying to get as much information as he can out of the obviously somber officer.
"Yes, and if you report back to Theramore they will realize what has happened here and will come for me and all of us, we cannot let you leave," Reethe said, and at his words the Kul Tiras soldiers all tensed up and raised their weapons.
"Who is responsible for this? I want names," Tarem demanded, raising both his blades to match the actions of those around him.
"That is not important now; you will not live long enough to remember it," Reethe replied, lowering his head and muttering under his breath his apology and final command. "I am sorry, I truly am. Kill them both."
Tarem and Adelina turned sharply and rushed to the guards, moving directly to where Tarem had found the opening. Adelina quickly knocked a soldier aside with a bolt of Moonfire and Tarem disabled another with a quick flurry of his swords. Both moved quickly towards the tree line and freedom, trying to outrun the soldiers that were closing in on their sides. Tarem drew in his sword, looking to get in a quick slash, while Adelina raised her palm, a ball of ethereal white light formed between her fingers.
But when most of the soldiers were violently cast aside by a volley of arcane bolts, appearing from seemingly nowhere all parties were brought to a sudden halt. Tarem glanced up ahead, seeing several shades moving out of the shadows under the trees.
"Ah, I see we have made it in time,"
A young woman stepped out into the clearing and into the dim sunlight, close behind her were four other individuals. She wore simple leather clothing, brown leggings and boots with a matching shirt and vest. A small cowl hung over her head that only revealed her youthful and unblemished face, with a few strands of golden hair falling out over her face. In her hand she held a silver staff, a large purple crystal embedded into the tip of the shaft that glowed dully.
Following her from her right and left were two young men, either one was a stark contrasts to the other. One wore a simple and shaggy brown leather tunic and pants, torn and dirty, his appearance was that of a hermit or a vagrant. The staff in his hand looked to be a jagged piece of wood; you could say it looked like a tree branch rather than an actual stave. The only thing that showed it possessed magical qualities were the archaic runes and crystals embedded into the wooden surface.
The other was finely dressed in regal blue and purple robes, clean and without creases. His hair was long and wavy, neatly combed and well maintained, while it swayed in the wind as it blew. In his hand was a golden and black staff with a royal red leather grip, at the tip was a finely cut crystal that glowed with vibrant green energy.
On either side of the leading woman were two faces both the investigator and druid recognized. These two people brought some relief to their faces, now they stood an actual chance of surviving without having to run.
The Night Elven warrior in plated armor carrying a large silver sword with intricate golden runes emblazoned on the surface. She scowled at the Kul Tiras soldiers that stood together a few meters away from them. The magi with orange and dark robes carrying a metal silver staff with a green crystal, he too carried a dark glare in his eyes as he looked upon the deserters and traitors.
"Pained, Tervosh, glad you could make it," Tarem said, a small relieved grin on his face, before he turned to the woman that seemed to be leading them. "Tabetha, it is a surprise to see you outside your hut."
"I like taking walks through the swamps on occasion; I am not some old lady who stays cooped up in her home, especially when you are all in danger," Tabetha said, strolling forward and standing next to the bemused druid and impassive investigator, her next words addressed to the Kul Tiras soldiers. "Balos Jacken, you have been a very improper neighbor,"
"Get lost you crazy witch!" Bolos yelled out.
"Sadly I cannot do that; if I leave I cannot guarantee that any of you will make it out of here alive," Tabetha said, surprising some present, as if she was aware of something very bad that was about to happen. "Please, surrender and none of you will be harmed."
"Surrender?" Bolos laughed, strolling forward confidently, while his men continued to holler on their leader's behalf. "You're outnumbered five to one, how the hell are you going to make us surrender?"
"Oh, not me, I am here to make sure you all don't die," Tabetha replied with a charming smile, as if her previous statement had no real threat to it.
For a moment worry flashed in Balos Jacken's eyes, this woman was not a normal mage. From what he had gathered she was a scryer, someone who could perceive events from a great distance and even from the future. So her saying that someone is planning on killing them if they don't give up, means one thing, someone's going to be killing them if they don't give up.
"What are you talking about? If you aren't here to kill us then who is?" Bolos demanded, she said she was here to make sure that they all don't die, so that means she is likely here to make sure some of them survive.
"Him," Tabetha said, pointing towards Lost Point tower.
That promptly exploded not a moment later.
A wave of air pressure struck everyone hard, actually forcing most of the Kul Tiras soldiers onto their stomachs. Those who could keep their footing were still forced to the ground, after being struck in the back by large falling piece of stone that once made up the tower. Those quick enough were lucky to see the falling stone ran for cover, finding anything to hide behind or in, even behind already fallen stones.
"What the hell was that?!" Balos screamed, rising to his feet after falling on his face, before having to drop to the ground as an axe sailed over his head.
After the rocks were done falling then the weapons started, coming down like heavy rain from the sky, rain that was sharp and would definitely leave a mark. Every ran for their lives as hundreds of arms fell down on top of them, littering the entire clearing with swords, axes, and other varieties of weapons. Some unfortunate souls were not fast enough, impaled or pinned to the ground, their screams of pain loud and clear.
When the rocks and weapons stopped falling and the dust settled the remaining soldiers slowly crept out of their cover or unshielded themselves to look at their former base. The tower was nearly non-existent; the explosion had nearly destroyed it completely, leaving only a single semi-circular wall that made up the towers exterior. Leaving the onlookers shocked at the sudden explosion and wondering with worry what had been the cause.
Then the cause made itself known, thrown from the cloud was a single man, his limp body flying through the air before colliding with the ground with a wet thump. His chestplate was caved in and his entire body was covered in blood, fresh and old. The Kul Tiras soldiers took hesitant steps back, moving away from the unfortunate victim that had been tossed at their feet.
Soon the perpetrator revealed himself, stepping out from the cloud of dust he slowly walked out of what remained to be the tower. Dragging beside him a massive blade, silver and black, that matched his height. His face was concealed behind a bone white mask in the shape of a skull, with savage red tribal markings running down the left side of the mask.
He let out several breaths, animalistic pants as he glared at all the soldiers ahead of him. The substitute's golden eyes narrowed in on each and every one of them, his gaze piercing into each of their own and searching. They all remained frozen as they were scrutinized by the man, if they could call him that. While beyond them the others watched in shock and some in very clear worry about what was about to happen.
"Ichigo…" Adelina breathed out, seeing the bone white mask and the animalistic golden eyes, there was no way that could be Ichigo. That animalistic presence she felt, that dark presence she was feeling role off him, it scared her.
"We need to stop…" Tervosh said, raising his staff to try something, but Tabetha stopped him.
"We cannot do anything now, not while he is in that state, we can only wait for it to subside," Tabetha warned the magi, who for his part looked conflicted in letting the boy do as he pleased, but it was too late.
"All of you…" Ichigo growled. His voice was distorted, the reverberation sounding across the clearing, drawing all to gaze at him and listen. "You will all pay!"
Ichigo leapt off the platform and towards the closest Kul Tiras soldier, sword held in one hand and ready to deliver his vengeance.
With a single slash he shattered the man' sword, and followed through and cut through his armor and then his chest without halting his motion. The man screamed as the blade met flesh, blood spurting from the opening in his armor, before he fell silent and met the ground. Without wasting another moment he turned onto another target, stepping towards them and striking.
The substitute planted his foot into the stomach of the next closest man, sending him flying a god ten feet and into two fellow warriors. Charging a third he slashed up, cutting through the man's armored chest, without a single cry of surprise he fell to the ground. He had just taken down three men in half as many seconds, leaving the rest to play catch up on realizing they were under attack.
"Kill him!" Bolos yelled.
Ichigo charged forward with a roar, slashing at another helpless victim, his blade tearing through her armor and chest easily. She flew to the side, the force of the blow actually rocketing her off her feet. Yet despite the attack Ichigo gave her little mind, instead focusing on his newest target. When a soldier attempted to smash in the substitute's skull Ichigo blocked it, grabbing the shaft of the mace with his free hand.
Ichigo impaled the soldier onto his Zanpakuto, before lifting him up and then throwing the man off the sword and over his shoulder. As if he was nothing but trash, discarded like nothing, but Ichigo cared little about that now. He wanted to kill them all, one would not do, he needed to make them all die in order to make this right.
These people were responsible, they had tried to kill James and Lynn, he saw it himself, found the bloody knife. That soldier was trying to murder them both, saying it was for the greater good. Where was the greater good in having them both murdered like that, they didn't deserve that. Leaving them like that, leaving Lynn to bleed out and in pain, leaving James to watch and cry as his mother dies.
You never do that to a child, make him watch as his parents die, you never destroy the innocence of a child like that. But they did it, they stabbed her and left James to watch as she slowly died right in front of him. Ichigo knew what it was like; he knew how it felt to lose someone, to have them die right in front of you. He knew the feeling of when you had something so important to you ripped away from you, like having your soul torn out of you.
They did it and didn't care; they wanted to murder them both for no other reason than that. He would make them pay, he would make them suffer, he would kill them all!
With a blind swing he shattered a man's shield, along with his arm, sending him flying back and onto the ground where he remained. None dared approach him now, so he came to them and made them taste the end of his soul cutter. Batting aside another with a second swing he reached for the next closest person, grasping him by the neck and lifting him off the ground. Slamming him back into the ground and then stomping down onto his chest, listening as ribs cracked along with the metal.
From a distance Tabetha and her entourage watched the fight with mixed emotions; some showed worry while others were simply shocked by the show of carnage. But a select few could actually feel the dark radiating energy that leaked from the boy as he fought.
"We have to stop him!" Tarem said, at this rate the boy would kill everyone, he may not know how he was doing this but he needed these people alive.
"No, we risk being his next victims; we can only wait for him to stop himself," Tabetha said, holding back Tarem with her staff, her eyes never leaving the boy as he carved his way through the Kul Tiras renegades.
She could feel a dark malevolent presence taking hold over the boy; he could fight it off easily. But his own emotions were preventing it; he actually was giving into his anger and hate and allowed that power free. If he did not control himself soon, he may not be able to regain control quickly enough to stop himself from going after them next.
"Ichigo… what's happened to you…?" Adelina breathed. She had never seen such savagery in him before, he was always so reserved and controlled; but now he was unconstrained, what caused such a change?
Every attack he did not hold back, he simply struck without concern for the lives he may be taking. Even though she was not one to shy away from death, the sight of Ichigo performing such a thing seemed wrong in her eyes. He had always been adamant about never taking lives, to see him fall on that principle made her scared. Not for the act he was committing, but the actual death of his ideals.
No restraint, no mercy.
Death was all he would give them.
Ichigo grabbed the closest target by his helm lifting him up and then slamming him into the dirt, a sickening crack was heard as his head met the earth. Rising up and deflecting a sword aimed for his neck, the substitute disarmed him quickly, grabbing the man's sword arm and breaking it with a twist of his wrist. Dropping the shattered limb from his grasp, the substitute kicked him away, denting the armor and leaving a deep imprint in the man's chest.
Ichigo felt a blade slash onto his shoulder, he could feel the wound burn, yet he turned on the one who attacked him and slashed over his chest. He turned and quickly walked to the next one, cutting him down as easily and quickly as the last one. He continued on like this for a while, simply walking from victim to victim and claiming their treacherous lives with his sword.
They deserved this; they deserved to know what it was like to suffer. Did they know what it was like to lose family, actually lose someone they loved right in front of them? Even he couldn't say he did, he never watched her die, but he was there. But he knew the pain of waking to your mother's body covering you, the heartache of losing the very center of your universe. He would make them all pay; he would kill them all for making someone suffer the same fate.
"Run, for the love of the light, run!" He heard someone scream; the substitute glanced around and saw the soldier run like cockroaches at a sudden light.
"He's a monster!" Another cried, taking off towards the forest and trying to escape with the others.
No, they couldn't flee, they needed to die!
Ichigo slashed at the back of one fleeing warrior, he screamed for a moment before falling to the ground, weakly trying to continue to flee. Jumping forward and over the fallen man the substitute grabbed another by the back of her neck guard, she yelped as Ichigo tossed her to the ground. A quick swipe to his left and he caught another fleeing warrior, his body flying back from the strike, before he turned his attention back to the woman.
She fumbled her way back to her feet and tried to attack, her sword being shattered as it met the powerful edge of Zangetsu. She stumbled away as Ichigo grasped her helm and yanked her forward, trying to toss her back to the ground. Her helm fell away and she fell onto her back, where she desperately tried to escape the approaching Shinigami. Ichigo walked after her as she crawled away, desperately kicking at the ground.
Ichigo grabbed her by the neck of her armor; she beat at his arm and screamed trying to free herself. Standing above her and letting his shadow loom over her he drew back Zangetsu and aimed the tip right for her heart. All the while he glared into her fearful orbs; he could see the fear in her eyes. The fear of death, her dark skull faced executioner ready to deliver it, and the fear of the one who would deliver out that sentence.
Her brown eyes looked at him with nothing but fear, a silent begging in them for him to show her mercy and not to take her life. Ignoring this he tightened his hold on Zangetsu, and readied to drive the blade straight through her heart. He wouldn't show her mercy, he wouldn't give in to the fear she showed, he didn't care she was scared or looked at him in fear. He didn't care that she looked…
Just like her…
Ichigo halted momentarily, his mind breaking out of the haze that clouded it, did he just think of her? No, he shouldn't be thinking about that now, he shouldn't be thinking about her, he needed to… What was he doing?
That's right. These people tried to kill James and Lynn; he was getting revenge for what they did. They deserved what was coming, they were killers and murderers, and they deserved to die, didn't they?
He looked back into the woman's eyes; the same fear was there, the same horror that engulfed her heart as she waited for the monster to kill her. Ichigo felt himself grow weaker, was he actually about to kill this woman. Why did he stop? Was it because of those eyes? Because they look so much like hers when he wore this mask? Did he actually kill all those people?
Ichigo turned and looked at the carnage he had caused, finding the defeated forms of over a dozen different people. Blood was pooling on the already damp ground and filling the air with an even more horrid smell. It felt like an eternity for the substitute to realize what he had done, but even then he could not figure out why he did it.
'What did… what did I do?' Ichigo thought, looking at the massacre he had caused, all the bodies he had left in his murderous wake.
His gaze fell onto the woman a third and final time, her eyes wide and waiting for him to end it all. Ichigo let his blade arm drop to his side, he didn't have the strength to raise it anymore, nor did he have the nerve to use it. He let her go, she fell to the ground with a thud and her horrified gaze still locked onto him. Without wasting a chance she scurried away and then to her feet, running for her life into the dark swamps. Ichigo didn't stop her; he couldn't do anything but watch as she ran.
Ichigo let his mask disintegrate into dust, but his mind did not so easily let his memory of his actions fall away. He had killed people, without a single ounce of restraint; he murdered them all without a moment of hesitation. Good god, he had actually just killed people here. His gaze fell upon the many victims around the clearing; all had been cut down by him. Zangetsu was covered in blood of people that should never have tasted its edge.
"Why did I do this?" Ichigo asked, he knew the answer, but did not know why it had driven him to commit this, he shouldn't have done this.
He could barely register anything else but the slaughter around him; he didn't even notice Tarem's firm hand on his shoulder until after he forced the substitute to face him.
"Boy! What in the Twisting Nether did you do?" Tarem yelled, but did not receive a response, only a shocked and haunted look from the boy he was questioning.
"Please Tarem, calm yourself, the boy was distraught and his actions are justified to what he had just suffered through," Tabetha said, pulling the investigator off the young man who just moments ago was killing people left and right.
"There is no justification for what he did, he killed them all, and now the rest are scattered," Tarem replied, he knew he couldn't track them now; it was pointless with the swamps. He didn't know the area well enough to get them out or even pursue them, let alone bring them all back.
"No, many still live and many can be saved, all we need to do is save them before it is too late," Tabetha said, before she turned her attention to Adelina. "Young lady, would you be so kind as to help my students heal the wounded and make sure they do not pass."
"Y-yes of course," Adelina said, her gaze flicking to Ichigo for a moment before moving off towards the many wounded Kul Tiras soldiers scattered across the clearing.
"Wait…" Ichigo said, finding some moment of clarity to ask for help, he reached for Adelina and motioned her towards the remains of the tower. "The tower, I found James Hyal and Lynn."
"You found them?" Adelina exclaimed, a look of relief spreading over her face at the mention. "Are they alright?"
Ichigo's head lowered and he felt his anger rise quickly, but he shook it off quickly. The dark feeling not something he liked, especially with what it had caused a few moments ago.
"Lynn, she's… I think she's dead," Ichigo said, not sure if she was still alive or not, she never moved when he found her and the way James was shaking her, he just didn't know.
Adelina rushed past the substitute and towards the remains of the tower. Ichigo stood there motionless, the clarity he once had fading back to the melancholy he once had after he lost his killer high.
Where was his damn self-control, where was his damn ability to think rationally when he needed it? Where did that moral code of his fuck off to when he needed it, when the hell did killing these guys seem like a good idea to him?
"Why did I do this?"
