Here is another chapter, at last!
I own neither Strike the Blood or the MCU
As always this chapter is unbeta'd
Kojou and the Ancient One had moved inside to a far more comfortable environment. As much as they both enjoyed the cold Nepalian mountain air and the bustling city that never quite went silent the conversation they needed to have was one better done indoors.
They had left the Mirror Dimension some time ago after they had made their way across the city to an unassuming building hidden in a back alley. At least that was how it appeared to the mortal, normal eyes of the people who passed by it every on their way to work.
To those with more esoteric abilities and sight the truth was something far more fantastical. Tucked away in the middle of Kathmandu was a large temple whose design drew vaguely from eastern cultures yet it could not truly be described as such. Instead it had its own unique style unlike anything else in the world; for despite being made of wood and stone it was older than almost any other structure on the planet.
It was the headquarters of the Master's of the Mystic Arts one of the oldest organisations on the planet. With a history going back near 10,000 years the Master of the Mystic Arts had seen all of human history from the beginning all the way up to the current era.
They were humanity's silent guardian, protecting the world and by extension the Universe from what lay beyond.
It was their job to maintain the Great Seals that surrounded the Earth protecting their reality from incursion from other dimensions, the Father of the Mystic Arts Agamotto himself had laid the Great Seals in antiquity forming their nexus' upon three focal points of power scattered about the world. Three points of mystical might of such strength that they were strong enough to support a barrier that spread across the globe and could hold back even the vilest of extradimensional threats.
The Old Ones, The Hell Lords and even the Dread Lord Dormammu himself were held at bay by the Masters of the Mystic Arts and the Sorcerer Supreme who led them.
It was a never ending battle that had lasted centuries, raging since the first days of humanity.
Kojou had been unaware of their existence, of the greater threats that existed in this universe until the Ancient One had... enlightened him on his first visit before beginning to teach him.
Kojou sighed as he lowered the cup in his hand, looking up he gave the Ancient One a smile and complimented her. "This is good tea, Master Hamir has outdone himself as always."
The Ancient One smiled at the compliment aimed at one of her Masters before she put down her own cup and stared at him. "I brought you here more than just to warn you. I need your help."
Kojou cocked an eyebrow and motioned for her to continue. "Tell me what do you know of the Salem Witch Trials?"
Kojou was long used to his old friends rather round about explanations and more than willing to indulge her, replied in earnest. "Not much, as much as anyone does in this age I suppose. A series of hangings of innocent women accused of practicing magic and the good god fearing folk punished them for it."
The tale of the Salem Trials in his reality had been the same, at least on the surface.
A massacre of innocent women accused of vile acts of witchcraft by the uneducated masses.
However the truth hidden beneath the surface told a different tale. Giada Kukulcan better known as the Third Progenitor Chaos Bride instigated everything when she began to prey on the towns inhabitants and blamed it on the innocent women in order to maintain her anonymity.
She had not cared one wit for the lives she sacrificed to state her hunger, humans were nothing but prey to be toyed with at her pleasure, she would in the future eventually mellow but hundreds if not thousands would die in the interim.
The Ancient One gave him a look almost as if she knew that his version of the events went deeper than his statement but she didn't ask for more. "Whilst the general gist of the tale is the same, the truth hidden behind it is somewhat... different. There was in fact a Coven located in Salem at the time though they were wiped out all the same but not by the puritans. No it was one of their own, a young Sorceress by the name of Agatha Harkness."
Kojou cocked his head and couldn't help but ask in surprise. "She killed her own Coven?"
The Ancient One shook her head. "Not by choice, her mother an old... associate of mine accused her of stealing knowledge on powerful Dark Magic Tomes and tried her for breaking the trust of the Coven, when they tried to execute her for it their spells were reflected on them and the Coven was wiped out."
For the second time Kojou couldn't contain his question. "Did she steal those Tomes?"
The Ancient One's expression didn't change as she shook her head. "I do not know but the power to devour the magic of others they comes into contact with, its magic that should not be delved into by even the most virtuous of Masters."
Kojou nodded in understanding, he had personal experience with magic eating beasts and fighters before, leaning forward he asked. "So why haven't you moved against her?"
"She has not posed a threat against the safety of this dimension meaning she has not been a priority for me and none of my Master's could take her in a straight fight because of her ability to absorb magic." She replied.
He nodded in understanding before he paused for a moment, leaned back and thought it over. The Ancient One was not someone to ask favours lightly and Kojou very much doubted that taking down a bad Sorceress was the the only reason that she wanted him to take down Agatha Harkness.
She just smiled at him. "It will not be to your detriment I assure you but some events must come to pass if you wish to take the place on the stage you desire."
He looked confused and about to pressure her on giving him an answer but suddenly his demeanour shifted and he nodded slowly. He knew the Ancient One better than most or at least as much as anyone could know the very long lived woman and whilst she could be incredibly cryptic at times she had never led him astray and he chose to trust in her.
He could have sworn he saw a smile flicker at the edges of her mouth as he came to the decision but it was gone before he could confirm it was ever there.
He leaned back in his chair taking a sip of the tea, he would have to find Master Hamir some time and learn his recipe for it really was rather good.
Shifting in his seat he suddenly felt uncomfortable as his mind turned to the question he would always raise when meeting with the yellow robed woman.
"Have you found a way back to my world?" He asked her bluntly though there was clear resignation to his voice as if he already knew the answer long before asking.
She sighed and shook her head as she gave him the same response she had given him hundreds of times before. "No Kojou I haven't, your world still lies beyond my reach."
He grimaced but nodded in understanding. For over fifty years he had been asking that question and her response had always been the same. Sighing he seemed to age right in front of her and despite his spry looking body all the Ancient One could see reflected in his eyes was an old man weary of a world that moved in without him.
A familiar spike of guilt settled in her gut as she watched the broken man but she ruthlessly pushed it down as she watched him collect himself.
It was only in front of her that he was willing to show such an expression and in many ways she was the same.
Those who had been both blessed and cursed with immortality on this Earth were rare and of those few who had managed to attain it or were gifted it even fewer possessed upstanding moral fibre. Most were despots obsessed with power, monsters clad in the skin of men who sought dominion over all whilst others like the Eternals remained detached and aloof bound by covenants nearly as old as the human race itself.
It had been nice to have someone who could truly relate to her and she loathed what she had to do to him but deep down she knew it necessary, the future was becoming clearer every day as the Age of Heroes approached and she had a duty that superseded even her closest friendships.
However at times like this as she watched her friend break just that little bit more, those words seemed to feel like nothing but ash in her mouth. All she could do was sit there and act as a pillar of comfort for him as he pulled himself together.
"Thank you." He responded, his voice slightly horse.
Shaking his head he looked at her and asked. "Where am I going to find this woman?"
She reached down into the sleeve of her robe and pulled out a folded piece of paper. Handing it over to the vampire she said. "Here this is where you'll find her."
Turning to the side she twisted her wrist causing sparks to flare in the air which quickly transformed into a glowing orange ringed portal that showed a grass field shrouded in darkness on the other side. "This will lead you to her, she will sense me if I open a portal any closer and flee. She knows to sense my presence and will steer well clear of me for she knows she is not my equal."
Then she turned to look back at him. "However she does not know about you, at least not enough to know to fear you."
The response Kojou gave her was almost devilish, his gleaming white fangs glittered in the low light as his eyes flashed crimson. With a grunt he pushed himself to his feet, cracking his neck he gave the woman who was also standing on her feet a small smile before he turned to look at the portal. "Thank you for the tea, it was most delicious."
"Anytime my friend, I took the initiative to drop those...artefacts of yours on the other side ready for you. I know how you dislike leaving them alone, especially with that particular mundane agency snooping around."
He nodded to her. "Thank you, they came looking through my room, they didn't discover them but I am sure after my little stunt in Harlem they would take the chance to give the room a proper search whilst I was absent."
She simply gave him a small but genuine smile in response before he turned and stepped through the portal which vanished moments later leaving the room in an eerie silence.
It didn't last for long though as the sound of a soft but steady voice called out to her. "Ancient One, he is gone?"
The bald eternally youthful woman turned to look at the robe wearing Hamir who was peering round the room. The small smile left her face as she looked at one of her oldest Masters. "He has gone."
The man nodded and she continued to sip at her own tea as she watched him move across the room and sit in front of her. After a moment of silence he spoke up. ""You know it is necessary."
She looked at him, her facial features seeming to remain impassive and aloof as ever but for someone like him who had known her since he himself was a young boy he could pick up the minuet shifts in her expression; the darkening of her eyes, the slight twitch in her cheeks and the tightening of her forehead. "Master Hamir I do not need you to tell what is necessary to do my duty, a duty I will remind you I have been performing for hundreds of years before your birth." Her tone was cold and snappish as she stared at her subordinate.
The old asian man merely bowed his head, acknowledging his error as they sat in silence, each lost in their own thoughts, the silence only broken when the Ancient One spoke up. "Master Hamir, leave me."
The man peered at his leader seeming to look for something in her demeanour, if he found it or not would remain unknown as he pulled back his gaze and hauled himself to his feet. Bowing once to the Sorcerer Supreme he walked out of the room closing the door behind him leaving the Ancient One alone.
The immortal Sorceress just sighed as she stared up at the ceiling words of assurance running through her mind.
She had no other choice, she knew it deep in her heart but that did not mean that she didn't dread the day he found out the truth.
Massachusetts
United States
Kojou made himself as comfortable as he could in the painfully upright coach seat. The Ancient One had dropped him off a fair few dozen miles from the location he would find his target.
As the flat rural landscape drifted by through the window he pulled out the piece of paper that would point him in the direction of his target.
Salem
Massachusetts
It seemed his target had not drifted far from home in the centuries since her birth.
He supposed it made sense in a twisted sort of manner, Salem was a place stepped in arcane mysticism, odd things going on in the town would be merely explained away as pranks by passing tourists or for the more superstitious, the ghosts of the innocent dead.
It didn't matter to him. All that mattered was taking her down and he had quite enjoyed the relaxing trip across parts of America he had yet to travel through. Exploring new places had become a great pass time of his in the years since he had arrived in this alternate version of Earth, it wasn't something he had been able to do in his world.
Moving around freely on his Earth had become nothing short of a political nightmare.
After he had taken control of the expanded Itogami Island and claimed it for himself the knowledge that he was the Fourth Progenitor had spread far and wide across the entire world.
It meant that his every move was watched by countless people across the world for he was one of the most powerful and dangerous creatures walking the earth and just stepping into a foreign nation without prior notice and proper arrangements could be counted as an act of war.
America in particular had become a location of interest for him considering he had never been able to visit in his old world.
The United States had never formed, neither had Canada or Mexico instead the Confederate States of America, the Chaos Zone and the North American Union shared the continent. The N.A.U composed of everything from Alaska to the Great Lakes region whilst the interior of the continent was covered by the C.S.A. From there, the southern part of North America and the Caribbean Sea were governed by the Chaos Zone.
The C.S.A was not a signatory to the Holy Ground Treaty, the very Treaty that sought peaceful coexistence between man and demon instead instead a policy promoting pure-blooded human's as the dominant race. As such, they believed demons were inferior beings that ought to be eradicated root and stem making him very much an enemy of them by default.
As for the N.A.U and Chaos Zone, he was Progenitor and neither country would ever allow him to simply wonder around. So this world where he was anonymous and able to move around with impunity was nothing short of a miracle.
He did wish he had his Blood Servants, his wives at his side, that would have made it perfect.
He closed his eyes as he felt the warm midday sun shine through the coach's window. He had never truly desired his throne but when Itogami Island had fallen into turmoil he had needed to step up.
He had done it with grace and charisma, forging an Empire out of the wreckage Vatler and the Lord's War had made of the island.
It had been difficult with even the other Progenitors coming in person to take advantage of the situation but after one of the most difficult conflicts of his life he had managed to crush the other factions trying to take control of the island and force the foreign invaders to back off.
From then on he had been an international figure and the anonymity he had so enjoyed previously became nothing but a pipe dream.
It was nice to enjoy the small things once more, travelling chief amongst them.
Leaning into the centre isle of the Coach he had jumped on a few dozen miles back he looked towards the front of the bus and out of the front windshield to the town he could see coming closer and closer.
Turning he gripped the familiar black zip locked bag that hid the enchanted metal case he had brought with him and in fact had taken on all his travels through the decades he had been on this world. It was forged by some if not the best arcane scientists of the Empire to protect items of the utmost importance.
Spells were placed on it to make it nigh unbreakable to mundane means and would only be broken by the strongest of magical assaults.
He looked back up as the Coach came into town, past the American styled wooden houses and shops. It didn't take them long to arrive in front of the bus stop and as it came to a stop he pulled the large bag which he had refused the drivers offer to put in the hold off of the chair. Despite its weight he was able to lift it with ease and throw it onto his back thanks to his enhanced strength before he moved off the bus along with the other passengers and stepped out onto the pavement.
The sun was high in the sky as he looked around the bustling but still charming town. It had retained much of the traditional beauty of a U.S town with its beautiful wooden houses and spotless brick buildings, people were walking up and down the streets going about their business even as tourists walked about taking pictures of some of the sites.
Kojou ignored all this as he set off down the street keeping his senses open for Harkness.
Unaware to Kojou a nearby CCTV camera swivelled on its mount to follow him walking down the road.
Deep within a hidden facility in New York State two people sat within a well lit room looking at a series of monitors.
Nick Fury stood next to one of his best Agents Natasha Romanoff as they examined some of the videos taken during what had been dubbed the Big Week by some of SHIELD's more senior agents. It had been a rather... manic time for everyone involved.
Tony Stark had gotten himself in a spot of trouble at his own Expo and engaged a small army of unmanned suits and an angry Russian scientists bent on vengeance against the Stark family.
If that wasn't enough they had discovered that an entire pantheon thought to be nothing but myth had turned out to be real. Thor the God of Lightning and Storms had arrived chasing his hammer which had soon dissolved into a battle between him and his brother Loki who had been using an Asgardian weapon known as the Destroyer to fight him. The end result of the battle had wrecked an entire town, levelling it completely.
Both of those incidents would have been enough but his week hadn't ended there. Bruce Banner had taken the opportunity to raise his head, entering the country he headed straight for Culver University his old stomping grounds.
It had attracted Thaddeus Ross to the University where a battle had soon erupted on campus grounds when the good Doctor had transformed into the Hulk. The Army and Banner had done a good deal of damage to the University before he fled. Romanoff had been there to witness the entire battle and when Fury had met with General Ross to try to force him to stop his hunt the Thunderbolt General had brushed him off and declared he was going to hunt the Hulk down.
He had sent Romanoff after Banner and she had watched as he was arrested by the Army forces in New York, she had tried to go after the Scientist who had been helping Banner but she was interrupted when the Abomination had broken free and gone on a rampage.
She had apprehended Stern who had managed to transform himself into some kind of mutant with the DNA of the Hulk and had called for extraction from the rooftop of the lab allowing her to view what was already being dubbed the Duel of Harlem.
She had given him a moment by moment after action report of the duel and along with liberal use of CCTV cameras he had pieced together the entire event.
The duel had been a devastating example of what two creatures at the top of their watch list could do and it had been made worse by the arrival of one other on their list.
He would be lying if he said that it hadn't shocked him, SHIELD had known that Kojou Akatsuki was dangerous but to stand up to the Hulk...
That had been unexpected.
The powers he had shown were also a surprise, from the report Romanoff had given them he had exhibited some form of telekinetic or gravity manipulation that allowed him to slam the Hulk into the ground, along with an ability that allowed him to go intangible.
He was even able to daze the Abomination and put it to sleep.
It was enough to make him break out in a small cold sweat, SHIELD had no idea on the limits of the man's power nor did they know if those were the total number of abilities he possessed.
Hell, they didn't even know the origins of his power!
It was a situation that was becoming increasingly unnerving to him.
"Director." Romanoff called out to him bringing Fury's attention to the red haired agent.
"Yes Romanoff?" Fury prompted her to speak.
Romanoff had been looking at the series of monitors with a critical gaze each one was showing footage and information of the different anomalies encountered over the last week that were eligible for the Avengers Initiative.
Without taking her eyes off the screen she spoke. "Sir with all due respect how are we to do our jobs and maintain order in a world full of... superheroes." There was a definite note of derision in her voice as she mentioned the last word but the small sneer that had been developing on her face died with her next words.
"It's too much, Too much for us to handle." There was no fear in her voice, just her usual blunt delivery but that didn't make the words any less impactful.
Fury's eye brow rose as he stared at her. "Never thought I'd would hear you say that."
She snorted. "Don't misunderstand me because I fear no man... But this is different. These are Gods and Monsters and Machines of war that we're mixed up with. I'm supposed to go up against the Hulk with seventeen rounds of armour piercing bullets, I don't think so?"
Fury was about to speak but Romanoff was on a role. "I don't like it anymore than you do, Sir... But we are outmatched. The sooner we accept it the sooner we can fix it... or the sooner we can stop wasting our time pretending we can make a difference. "
Fury looked at her as he rubbed his chin deep in thought. A few moments of comfortable silence past between them before he spoke. "Your right. And I'd like you to see something."
With a few taps of his computer the shadowy silhouettes of the World Security Council appeared on his screen, what followed was half request for increased funding and authority and half venting of his frustrations over the week's events.
Much to his surprise the World Security Council bowed to his request and as the screen went black he snorted and looked up at his agent. "You must be my lucky charm, Romanoff."
"You think?" She said with a raised eyebrow.
"I've made half a dozen calls of that nature, and this is the first time they've really listened." Fury said with a tone of amusement in his voice.
"That was good work, Boss." Romanoff merely said complimenting him.
"I just hope it's enough because I-" Whatever Fury was going to say was lost forever as a technician burst into the room.
He looked panic and nervous yet still determined as he saluted Fury. "Director we have found Kojou Akatsuki!"
Fury had put his best team on tracking down the mysterious man after he seemed to disappear in the wake of his battle with the Hulk and Abomination. None of the cameras caught him leaving and there were no reports from his people monitoring Kojou's apartment of him returning for his belongings.
He seemed to just vanish into thin air.
After that they had widened their search area to the entirety of the United States just as a precaution, they had no idea the limits of his powers and so weren't going to take any chances that he couldn't travel incredible distances under his own power.
Standing up Fury eyed the technician his face now grim set and focused. "Where was he located?"
"Salem, Massachusetts." The technician responded.
Fury's eyebrow rose in surprise and Romanoff looked just as confused. "What?"
He couldn't help the question that escaped his mouth.
Salem was a city in Massachusetts famous for a series of witch trials back in the late 1600s but other than that he couldn't think of anything else significant about the city that would attract Akatsuki's attention.
Shaking that thought off he looked up as Romanoff addressed the technician. "What has he been doing there?"
The technician shifted slightly, uncomfortable being addressed by the Black Widow herself. "He was travelling aboard a Coach that he boarded fifty miles away in a small town in New Hampshire, he has been wandering the cities streets ever since."
Natasha and Fury exchanged a look before Fury asked. "Any pattern to his movements?"
The technician nodded. "Yes Director, he seems to be searching for something, though what we can't tell."
Fury nodded. "Have the Quinjets prepped for flight and order a team of Agents ready to go. Come on Widow it is time to go meet our mysterious candidate."
The technician nodded and pulled out a radio even as Romanoff's eyebrow rose as she looked at him. "You are going personally?"
Fury nodded as he made his way out of the room, Romanoff trailing after him. "Yes it's high time I met this man personally, especially after the scene he made in Harlem with the Hulk." He said seriously.
"Are you sure my presence is a good idea?" She asked tentatively, not surprising considering Romanoff had spent a month lying to him. There was no way to know exactly how he would respond to her presence and the truth of not only her job but also why she had been observing him.
If he became violent then it would not end well, not for SHIELD and especially not for her. Natasha Romanoff had the confidence to take on any man and had even gone toe to toe with the Winter Soldier and lived to tell the tale.
The monsters that had been revealed in the past week though.. they were a whole different kettle of fish.
"Yes, I will not allow anything to happen to you Romanoff," Fury said strongly with conviction before he shrugged his shoulders and continued in a mutter. "besides I have a hunch that it won't be such a surprise to him."
"Sir?" She queried but he just waved her off as the two entered the small hanger. Three Quinjets were waiting for them, their engines warm and their turbines slowly spinning ready to rise into the air at a moments notice. Gathered around them were a half a dozen squads ready to pile onto the advanced VTOL ships.
"Come on Romanoff time to go, we have a monster to meet." He ignored her question as he hurried her forward heading towards one of the jets.
The ashen haired man had wondered the entire city, or at least it felt like it before he got a whiff of his prey's scent.
He had been walking down one street near the edge of the city when he felt it. A shifting in the wind, a change in the air and tingle against the skin.
He stopped, cocking his head to the side as a frown came to his face.
Turning to look away from the city he closed his eyes as he tried to feel the world around him.
Stepping forward he felt it once more, slowly he began to walk and he could feel the aura of magic growing stronger.
He was going in the right direction.
Opening his eyes he flagged down one of the nearby taxis and hopped in, a small fare and he was on his way towards one of the nearby woods.
The drive was done in silence, Kojou was not interested in talking to the taxi driver and the man who had obviously had a long day didn't seem to want to converse either.
Kojou made sure to have the man drop him off at a small cluster of houses near the woods that he could sense his prey hiding within. It would do no good to have a an inquisitive taxi driver wondering what he was doing being dropped off in the middle of the woods on the side of the road.
He stepped out of the car and watched as the vehicles sped off into the distance before he turned and began to head into the woods. The snap of twigs echoed through the air as he walked far enough for the road to disappear from sight.
With a shrug of one shoulder he slipped the bag on his back into his hands. Gently, almost reverently he sat it down on the ground and unzipped it revealing the metal case held within. Pulling out the heavy case with ease he set it down on top of the black bag before he placed his hand on top of it.
His eyes flashed red as he poured magic into the case.
Designed by some of the most skilled artificers of the man-made island the case would only respond to his unique magical and spiritual signature, to anyone else it would remain nothing but an unbreakable box denying entrance to even the most ardent thieves.
Sensing magic probing them the techno-magical locks came alive, glowing red for a moment before they shifted to a blue colour as they recognised the correct signature. With a small hiss the two bolts keeping it shut unlocked and the main locking mechanism on the top of the box shifted causing the case to open automatically.
Kojou stared at the artefacts contained within, each one a memento to a world lost to him and a lover whose embrace he could no longer feel. Reaching in he gently lifted a sheathed sword from within, both sword and scabbard were forged of a crimson metal and sung with power and ritual spells.
Strapping it to his back he closed the case causing the bolts to lock shut once more before he put it in the bag and slung it onto his shoulder.
Now armed he headed further into the woods.
The further into the forest of trees he went the more certain he became that he was close to his target. More than that he became certain of the Ancient One's assessment of Harkness, he could feel an almost dark cloying presence upon the trees.
It clung to the woods like a shadow, a rot that refused to be removed.
It didn't take him long to arrive at the epicentre of the foul aura, stepping out of the woods and into a small clearing he found a small cabin waiting for him.
Kojou eyed the house and found it to be rather quaint.
Built like it had come out of a fantasy book it had the classic log cabin aesthetic and looked to warm and inviting with the small curls of smoke rising from the stone chimney into the air. Kojou might have fallen for the illusion of peace and serenity it created had he been unable to sense the unearthly magic wafting from within. His lip curling in slight disgust he unshouldered the the bag containing his case before propping it against a tree.
Turning back to the house he walked into the middle of the clearing pausing for a moment before he stepped forward and approached the door.
He went for the door only to pause as it swung open automatically as if sensing his presence. Cocking an eyebrow at the sight he stepped into the cottage.
It was as quaint inside as it was outside, the entire place lit by a fire in the chimney that cast the place in an almost eyrie light.
His eyes focused not on the fire though and instead the woman standing in front of it, she had a dark beauty to her clothed in a dress of deep blue cloth over which she wore a cape of near translucent lace, her luscious curls bounced around her neck as she turned to look at him.
Her mouth twisted into a warm smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Oh my, what is a strapping young man like you doing in the middle of the woods?"
Kojou just gave her an equally warm smile as he shrugged. "Hunting."
She looked at the sword on his back and the lack of any rifle on him and her eyebrow rose. "Must be an interesting prey then, I've never seen anyone hunt with a sword." She said cocking her head to the side.
Kojou was usually a man who tried to be kind and help others, it was in his very nature. Of course underneath that was a fury worthy of a Progenitor that was roused when someone talked poorly and made fun of him. His anger was only worse if someone he cared about was threatened, then it was apocalyptic.
Agatha Harkness had done neither to arouse his anger but that didn't mean he wouldn't bring her down. The Ancient One wouldn't lie to him about the danger she presented, he had known her long enough to be sure of that and whatever misgivings he had at being used as a glorified executioner vanished when he felt the nature of Harkness' powers.
"Oh yes, I was told that there was an excellent catch in these forests." He said happily though he noticed that she visibly stiffened at his words.
"Oh, and who may I ask told you that?" She asked trying to keep her tone light but the note of tension in her voice and eyes was visible to see.
Kojou's false smile slowly dropped from his face as he looked her in the eye with a steely look that seemed to unnerve the immortal sorceress. "The Ancient One."
Kojou watched with only slight bemusement as her face went white and her eyes widen in horror. The mere mention of the Sorcerer Supreme name enough to summon up fear inside her.
"Oh, that's a shame." The woman said, completely dropping all pretences.
"Why?" Kojou couldn't help but ask.
"The Sorcerer Supreme should have come herself, I am afraid she has only sent you to die." Agatha said in a falsely consoling tone.
Kojou just shrugged and decided to tease her into action. "Perhaps she just doesn't think your worth her time."
Agatha's face turned ugly as strands of violet coloured energy began to coil around her body before moving up her body into the palms of her hand.
"Now I think it is time I take your power, that should send a message to the Ancient One!" Pushing her palms out two blasts of eldritch energy came flying at him.
A savage fanged smile formed on his face as his crystalline blue orbs turned a glowing crimson as battle began between the two immortals.
The dull roar of the Quinjet engines filled Fury's ears as he sat in one of the seats in the jet's hull. Arrayed around him was a unit of SHIELD Agents armed to the teeth and decked out in full body armour, balaclavas and helmets.
SHIELD's Field Agents were some of the most skilled combatants on the face of the planet capable of going head to head with even the most elite Special Forces operators on the planet. Each one given extensive hand to hand combat training and drilled to master firearms of all kinds in order to operate in any field across the globe.
Fury would have brought a full STRIKE team had he known he would be approaching one of the greatest unknowns on SHIELD's watch list but all of the Special Tactical Reserve for International Key Emergencies units were either already deployed or too far away to be of any use.
Across from him sat Natasha Romanoff though most people in SHIELD simply knew her as the Black Widow. Dressed in her skin tight catsuit, every contour of her beautiful body was on display though none of the men in the assault team dared to ogle her.
The Black Widow had an infamous reputation even inside SHIELD, as one half of the notorious STRIKE TEAM: DELTA she was not only one of the highest ranked Agents in the organisation but also one of their deadliest.
"Director, we are twenty minutes out." The voice of the Pilot crackled across the earpiece in his ear.
Tapping his ear he replied. "Copy that pilot."
"How we going to play this?" Romanoff asked as she checked over her Black Widow's Bite. Created by SHIELD's tech directorate it was a weapon mounted on her wrists that could deliver powerful electrical discharges to knock out or even kill her opponents.
"I'm approaching him alone, you lot will set up a cordon around the meeting site if anything goes wrong you can rush in and save my ass." Fury grunted as he stared at Romanoff and the commander of the team of agents.
"Director!" The voice of one of the scientists attached to the mission cried out over his earpiece.
"What is it?" Fury asked as he sat forward in his seat as he heard the confused panic in the man's voice. Romanoff looked up at him and straightened as she noticed her boss's demeanour change.
"Sir, we have been monitoring the target since you boarded the Quinjet, he moved into the nearby forests, we couldn't track him after that not at least until we began to pick up large bursts of energy from within." The man replied causing Fury to lean back in thought. What had caused Kojou Akatsuki a man who had spent decades in anonymity by hiding his powers to erupt in such a display?
Perhaps that was the reason he had gone to Salem in the first place?
Then what was in that forest that had attracted his attention?
Both were good questions and they were not the only ones he had, Fury's well earned instincts were screaming at him that something was going on and he was going to get to the bottom of it if it was the last thing he did.
"Get ready I don't think this is going to be a nice one." Fury said as he addressed Romanoff.
Natasha's face twisted into a grimace before she nodded. Silence once more enveloped the hull of the jet as it roared across the skies over the United States invisible to all forms of detection.
Kojou leapt past a tree which exploded as a dense ball of dark lilac energy slammed into its trunk.
Eyes burnt crimson as he flicked out a hand, drawing a piece of paper from his pocket. It was small and looked utterly unassuming apart from some archaic calligraphy.
With a pulse of magic the paper shone with white light and he threw it towards Harkness. In mid air the talisman transformed as it shifted, warped and took the form of a lion shaped shikigami crackling with lightning.
Shikigami were pure magical constructs formed from talismans used by eastern magical practitioners of his Earth. They were the traditional bred and butter of most magic users in Asia and Kojou had learnt to use them during his stint on Onrai Island at the Magical College and then mastered them over the two decades he'd spent as Ruler of the Empire.
Within an instant the construct became a beam of light that shot at Harkness.
The Salem native Witch who had taken to the air floating in a mirage of purple light tried was forced to raise a shield that blocked it from smashing into her though she was knocked back when it suddenly exploded, Kojou having purposefully overloaded it to stop her from absorbing the magical energy.
"What is this magic of yours, it's like nothing I have ever seen?" She asked in wonderment as she stared down at him.
Kojou didn't bother responding as Harkness flicked her wrist and raised the trunk of one the half a dozen smashed trees around them into the air. "Hm, well I don't suppose it matters because either way I will be taking it from you!"
Slashing her hand down the log shot towards him like a lance and Kojou with supernatural reflexes was forced to dodge to the side before jumping back to avoid another blast of dark magic. This battle was becoming incredibly frustrating for him, he dared not utilize the might of any one of his Familiars for two reasons. Firstly he was still reluctant to use the full might of a Familiar in this world, it would attract a lot of attention for they were not exactly subtle things.
Secondly and perhaps more importantly it would only serve to hamper him in this battle. He had been utilizing the abilities of the Golden Lion along with Shikigami to test her powers of magic absorption.
He had fought people with the ability to absorb magic before, the greatest amongst them being the artificial Magical Dragon Beast that his daughter had pursued through time. It had been strong enough to devour entire Lay Lines, ripping them completely out of the ground root and stem leaving nothing behind but dead wastelands.
Once upon a time he would have just thrown his full might against her uncaring of the consequences of his actions but he had grown since those days and gained a measure of patience in battle though he had lost none of his fearsome might.
After all it would be very bad if she could absorb one of his Familiars and even if she couldn't he was not willing to test just how much power she could absorb from him for it would only boost her power.
Therefore if his Familiars weren't going to work he would have to try something else.
Reaching back his hand curled around the hilt of the crimson blade, a clicking sound resonated in his ears as the scabbard registered its master's signature and the crossguard swung into place allowing the sword to be drawn.
As another ball of dark energy came hurtling at him Kojou took a deep breath before he draw the sword and in a single fluid motion slashed at the arcane sphere.
The jagged crimson edge of the sword met the dark purple energy and the eldritch energy vanished along its edge.
Prototype Hauras, an artificial 'fake' model of the sword of Kasugaya Shizuri Castiella his first true Blood Servant, it was a thing of wicked beauty. The sword's blade was forged in an almost twisted zig zag pattern with wicked barbs that hooked back on themselves.
It was a powerful enchanted weapon equal to the three Schneewalzer spear forged by the Lion King Organization. An Anti-Magic weapon designed to absorb any arcane energy that touched it and return it two fold, even an imitation was incredibly powerful considering the original was capable of absorbing even the magic of a Cleansing Barrier.
Its copy then was more than enough to devour the magic of a witch like Harkness.
For the first time since the fight began the Salem Witch looked startled and slightly nervous. "W-What is that sword?"
Kojou's eyes turned gentle as he looked at the weapon. "A memento from an old love." before he looked back up at Agatha Harkness, his smile turned savage. "Now I think it's time I stop playing around with you."
Harkness' eyes widened in shock as Kojou exploded into action.
She barely had time to react as her opponent rushed forward jumping into the air and crossing the distance between them at supernatural speed as he lashed out with a swing of his blade. His sword was a blur of crimson light that came arching towards her and it was only pure instinct that saved her life.
The anti-demon blade missed her neck by millimetres.
Harkness was lucky that she had flinched back more out of instinct than skill otherwise her head would have been cleaved from her shoulders. She threw herself back once more as another strike flew towards her head.
Eventually though gravity had to take affect on him once more and Kojou fell back to the dirt below. Staring up at Agatha he gave her a bloodthirsty smile as she summoned up more dark energy than she had in the entire fight.
It crackled and warped as she gathered it in her arms. "If this continues any longer we will attract the sort of attention I don't really like, so I think it is time for you to die!" She screamed before she threw it down towards him.
The great sphere of black and violet energy hurtled towards him, Kojou just smirked at the sight as he gripped Hauras' handle tightly.
With a shout he sung downwards at the large ball of magic, the magical absorption properties of Hauras met the great sphere of black magic and in a flash of light it devoured the powerful magic. Agatha reared back in shock, she had utilized her full power in that blast. "Truly what is that sword?!"
Kojou smirked. "It's a weapon that's a bit like your magic, it eats magic."
Her eyes widened as he continued to speak, his gait deceptively relaxed as he slowly walking towards her. "Its name is Hauras, remember it!"
One of her eyebrows rose but she just sneered at him. "It does not matter what sort of weapon you have, up here you can't beat me!"
"Oh, is that what you think." He said as a smirk once more made its way onto his face. A purple aura enveloped his body as a pair of pitch black wings formed on his back.
Looking up at her his eyes glittered in the sunlight like they were ruby gems. He tensed his legs and once more jumped into the air, only this time he seemed even faster.
No that was wrong, he hadn't jumped he was flying!
Soaring through the air, flying straight at her and suddenly she didn't feel so safe. Scrambling slightly in surprise she raised her arms and gathered up every last ounce of her power.
"This fang is the light rending our darkness. This breath is the flame that sweeps away evil. Thy name is that of the fire-eating snake. Born from the soul of a saint, thy blade is immutable. Hauras!" He roared and the blade erupted with crimson light as he thrusted it forward. It tore towards her like a lance of scarlet death.
The crimson destructive energy rushing along the blade exploded from its point as it slammed into the defensive shield of eldritch dark magic that Harkness had erected to defend herself. The magic that Hauras had gathered during the entire battle was released in one ferocious assault that broke through her defences, shattering the mandala in an explosion of scarlet light that sent hurricane like winds through the entire clearing.
The grass was flattened and the tree branches were bent in the gale as the sword tore through her shield and went right through her body, her corpse was incinerated in an a flash of destructive power, reduced to ash and powder in an instant.
As the light dyed down Kojou's wings vanished from his back and he dropped back to the ground. Slamming into the ground he used Hauras to break his fall, the sword digging deep into the ground as he steadied himself.
Standing back to his feet he yanked the blade out of the ground and moved back to the bag contained his things. Within a few moments he had it back in its case and the metal box once more sealed shut.
Throwing the bag back onto his shoulders he moved into the clearing that had been wrecked by the battle. The wooden cottage had been flattened, torn to pieces by the backlash of the explosion and the duel. Pieces of timber had been sent flying across the clearing that had been filled with small craters.
The nearby woods were in a similar state of disrepair with logs either torn out of the ground and strewn across the forest floor. The trees that were still standing were blackened and pockmarked by blasts of dark energy or bolts of lightning.
Taking one last look at the clearing he turned around and began to make his way out of the woods. he was rather happy to find that there was a trail leading away from the house and into the woods. Tracking had never been one of his specialties and he didn't fancy wandering around the woods for a hours before he stumbled out into the open.
He walked for no more than half an hour before he stepped out of the woods into a small clearing that led towards the city.
However the moment he came out of the woods his footfalls came to a stop, his gaze coming to rest on a figure who stood blocking his path. He looked completely out of place standing on the grassy path as the sun set and dusk came in.
Dressed in all black the dark skinned man smirked as he looked at Kojou, his eyes were cold and calculative as they locked with the inquisitive gaze of the Progenitor's.
"Mr Akatsuki, it's a pleasure to finally meet you!" He called out though he didn't approach Kojou a single step.
Kojou didn't walk forward either, maintaining the gap between them. His only response was an eyebrow rising as he cocked his head to the side. "I didn't realise that you were looking for me?"
The man just laughed. "No you wouldn't have. That is kind of the idea."
Kojou knew that tone well, both the man's deceptively at ease posture and the air of complete control that he seemed to radiate from his every pour. Here was a man who felt like he was in control and Kojou could tell instantly that it was not arrogance.
There was something in his possession or that he could call on that he felt would protect him from Kojou.
"My name is Director Nick Fury and I represent a global organization whose goal is to protect the lives of people from enhanced individuals and dangerous advanced technology." He said with a pointed look at Kojou as he said enhanced individuals but the Progenitor just brushed it off.
"So what's the name of your organization then?" Kojou asked though he could take a guess.
"We are the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division or SHIELD for short." The man said. It was well hidden but there was a hint of pride in his voice, hidden beneath his bland tone.
"So you're the one who've been following me around?" Kojou simply asked probingly.
Fury's eyebrow rose into his forehead but he didn't show any other reaction. "So you knew?"
Kojou simply shrugged as he stared at the one eyed spy across from him. "Yeah, I knew."
Silence filled the void between them as they looked at each other. Kojou wondered if the man wanted him to continue and tell him how he had figured it out. He wouldn't, call it a little bit of vindictiveness for being followed everywhere for the last few months.
The silence continued to crawl onwards as the tension rose and Kojou idly wondered which of them would break it first. He recognised it for what it was, whoever spoke first would be put on the back foot and would be admitting weakness.
He thought about staying silence but he was getting tired of these hidden games. They had never been his preferred method and it had taken years for him to pick up even a modicum of political skill. Knowing that SHIELD had no idea just what he was capable of he decided to break the silence first, it was beginning to annoy him.
Direct had always been his choice.
"What do you want from me then Director Fury?" He asked. "I hope it isn't to imprison me because i promise I shall put up one hell of a fight." His eyes flashed crimson at the end causing Fury's eyes to widen though he didn't show any other reaction.
Martialling himself the Director smiled at the question though seemed to brush aside the second sentence, the action seeming to ease the tension between them slightly.
"An offer." He said promptly as he stepped forward for the first time.
"I am putting together a team of extraordinary people to fight the battles that no one else can." Fury said with passion in his voice, the first real powerful emotion he had exhibited the entire encounter.
Kojou just snorted. "So you want a glorified hit squad of superpowered fighters?" Kojou said leadingly, hoping to see what sort of response he could elicit from the spy.
The dark skinned man shook his head in the negative. "No, you will only be called upon in case the world is in danger."
Kojou eyed him before looking up at the sky in deep thought. He had learnt from a few elderly comrades of his from the Second World War that SHIELD was the successor of the Strategic Scientific Reserve. The people of the SSR were old acquaintances of his from the war against HYDRA all those years ago, they hadn't worked closely for long but he had grown a decent level of respect for them during their brief time together.
Captain Rogers especially had distinguished himself.
Could he trust the successors of that organization though? That was the question.
They would not stop pursuing him no matter what, he could tell that already. SHIELD was an organization that seemed to have a global presence and if he denied them then he doubted they would leave him be. No they would follow him and likely take action if he denied them.
"Alright, whose a part of this little group then?" Kojou asked, now curious to see just who was part of the little band of enhanced individuals SHIELD had put together.
"That's classified I'm afraid though I do have one to introduce to you." Fury said as he made a motion towards one of the nearby wooden sheds.
Out of the shadow came a figure, dressed in a black skin tight catsuit was a woman with blood red hair that he recognised instantly.
Armed with a handgun on her thigh and a utility belt of gadgets around her waist she walked towards them with a serious, cold look on her face.
Her hips rocked side to side as she came to a stop in front of him next to the Director of SHIELD. Her walk was the walk of a panther, of a predator slinking towards his prey and Kojou could not help the small smile that came to his face.
She was as beautiful and just as dangerous as he had expected her to be.
From the moment he had met the eyes of Natalie Rushman he had known that there was something special about her and it felt good to be proven correct. He didn't feel even an ounce of anger for any kind of betrayal, he had known from the instant he met her that she was hiding things from him and he felt nothing but amusement for being proven correct.
"Hello Natalie, pleasant evening isn't it?" He said to her warmly and she looked at him with a hint of surprise hidden deep within cold analytical orbs.
"You don't seem surprised." She said and his smile grew wider at the unasked question.
"No, I knew that there was something different about you the moment I met you, I was just waiting to see what it was." he replied before looking at Fury. "So I take it she is one of yours?"
He gave Kojou a slightly bemused nod in response and Kojou just chuckled at the look. Reaching into his pocket he pulled out a cell phone and threw it at Kojou who caught it and pocketed it, mentally he gave himself a reminder to strip the thing down and remove the tracker that would undoubtedly be built into it.
It was spy 1-0-1 after all.
"You know I'm surprised, most people don't react very well when they find out the truth." Fury said as he glanced between him and his agent.
Kojou smiled, it was an almost nostalgic thing much to the surprise of the two SHIELD Agents. Unknown to either of them Kojou was remembering Himeragi Yukina, the young slightly bumbling agent of the Lion King Organization and her first attempts at monitoring him. She had been utterly ineffective but he had found her to be strangely cute in her bumbling attempts at spying on him.
In fact most of his relationships seemed to begin in a similar manner.
Sayaka Kirasaka, Kiriha Kisaki, Kasugaya Shizuri Castiella, Shio Hikawa and Yuri Haba had all been members of special organizations when he had first met them. Some of them much like Natalie had been sent to monitor him and a few of them had even tried to attack him the first time he'd crossed paths with them.
Though whether such a relationship would form with the woman who called herself Natalie Rushman remained to be seen, he could be honest with himself that she inflamed the embers of emotions in him that he hadn't felt for decades.
He had been rather oblivious to them in his youth when his wives had been pursuing him but as he got older he had learnt to understand his heart and he was definitely attracted to her at least on some level.
Though first he would have to learn her real name because he was sure that Natalie was not it.
Smiling at them he just shrugged his shoulders. "I knew from the beginning there was something different about her."
That seemed to get a reaction from them, the woman he knew as Natalie seemed visibly shocked by the fact though it didn't show as anything more than a slight tensing of her body. The other man, the one who had introduced himself as the Director seemed sceptical at his behaviour
Kojou didn't care, in fact the more he unbalanced the man the better. It didn't seem as if they wanted to imprison him which meant he was not willing to initiate a fight. He could win, easily if he decided to use his Beast Vessels but he was not yet willing to make himself an all out enemy of the U.S. Not yet, anyway.
Whilst it was true that the incarnation of the U.S in this land lacked the magical capabilities of his homeland, continuous attack from conventional weaponry got old, fast and unlike his world the U.S Civil War had ended with the two sides combining as one once more and therefore they could field far more troops and weapons.
More than that he knew that they would not stop until he had either forced them to or done enough damage that they dare not attack him again and he did not want to become the monster his race were known to be.
He refused to become a bloodthirsty monster.
His focused returned to the pair as he saw Natalie give her companion a subtle look. The other man nodded and looked back at Kojou. "It was a pleasure to meet you Mr Akatsuki, I am sure we will meet you again. I'll call you when I need you."
Not giving Kojou a chance to respond he turned around and began to walk away into the darkness. Kojou watched his back as it disappeared, his gaze sharpening as he picked up the man's wording.
When not if.
What an outrageous and dangerous human!
"How?" the words echoed in his ear as he turned his gaze back at the beautiful woman in front of him. One of her hands were on her hips as she looked at him with the beginnings of a frown on her face.
Kojou cocked his head and she continued knowing she once more had his attention. "How did you know that I was a spy?"
"I've heard it said that eyes are the windows of the soul, everything about you was perfect but your eyes do not lie." He said in response.
The cold look in her eyes did not abate as she stared at him. "I have been trained to hide my emotions, all my emotions, completely. Nothing should give me away, not my body language, not my voice and not my eyes. So how did you know?"
His deep blue eyes gazed into her sharp green one's, her eyes were deadly but he was not intimidated.
"You are good at what you do Natalie, perhaps the best I've ever seen but you can only mask the truth not wipe it from existence. You are only human after all." His eyes were expressive and were suddenly sad as he gazed at her.
It had been so long since he had been human, since his senses were figuratively blind to the world.
It had been years since Avrora had both blessed and damned him with the twisted power the ancient Deva and Progenitors has forged to slay the First Sinner.
To feel like a human, to live like a human and to die like one... it was a luxury that would forever be denied to him.
It had been exchanged for power to challenge the gods, heightened senses that stood firmly in the realm of the supernatural and a sixth sense honed to a level beyond human.
He had looked into the eyes of Valter, the Duke of the Warlord's Domain and managed to hold his own against the man's insane plans. He had seen the insanity and the wild lust for adventure that consumed him long before he had revealed his true nature and thrown everything into chaos.
If he could see even a part of the truth hidden within the immortal Serpent Duke's eyes then he could see through the spy in front of him.
She seemed confused by his words, her eyes flashing strangely in the dark light. The confusion vanished quickly though as her eyes returned to impassive pools of emerald crystal.
Giving her a knowing smile he turned around and began to walk away.
"Natasha." Her voice echoed through the air and Kojou turned back to look at her.
"Natasha Romanoff. That's my name." She said and he gave her a smile that seemed to light up his whole face.
"Goodbye Natasha Romanoff, I am sure we will meet again." He said before he continued to walk away. As he stepped back into the treeline his body seemed to dissolve into mist, vanishing as if he had never been there in the first place.
The Black Widow watched the man's retreating form in silence, a myriad of emotions coursing through her mind as she went over the conversation once more.
She had been trained in the Red Room from her earliest days and part of her training was to read people. In her line of work understanding a target was an important part of being both a spy and an assassin and she had honed the skill into an artform.
It was why she had been the agent sent to investigate and asses Tony Stark for the Avengers Initiative.
She had found the billionaire to be intelligent and resourceful yet also arrogant, callous and most certainly hedonistic.
He was not a team player by any stretch of the word and Natasha doubted that he would work well with any of the other characters Fury had lined up for the Initiative.
The meeting with Kojou had been very different though that was more on account to the lack of information available on him. He may be the oldest prospective member for the Initiative but SHIELD knew very little about him despite their attempts to track his movements over the last 70 years.
She had spent a few months with him yet she had never managed to get any closer to finding out the truth about him, it was the first time in her life that she had been in such a position. The first time on an intelligence gathering mission that she had failed to ascertain valuable information about a target.
That did not mean she hadn't enjoyed his company, in fact she had and probably a little more than she professionally should. Their months together had been a little bit of adventure and strange normality in her crazy life and she could admit if only to herself that she had enjoyed their time together though she would not let that sentiment get in the way of her duty.
SHIELD was her redemption, she had done terrible things in the Red Room's name and SHIELD was her second chance, a chance to fight for a cause she believed in, a chance to do a little bit of good.
"What do you think of him." The gruff voice of her boss echoed in her ear and she turned to look at him. It always surprised her that he was bale to sneak up on her despite all her years of training, she knew he was a veteran of SHIELD and had spent years in the field before becoming Director but that didn't mean it didn't startle her sometimes.
"Dangerous." She replied.
"I agree, and not dumb either." Fury said as he came to stand next to her.
She nodded. "Yes he was in control of the conversation from the moment you lost the initiative." Her blunt assessment was cutting but Fury did not reject it or call her out for her rudeness.
"Agreed, he seemed more amused than threatened by us and it most certainly wasn't arrogance. Though his behaviour with you was certainly surprising" Fury grunted before he looked at her.
She shook her head. "Surprising? No, I am sure he has encountered others like us before and that is why he was not surprised."
Fury looked at her, the question and demand for explanation clear in his eyes so she elaborated. "He has encountered spies and feels no threat from them. Most people react negatively to being lied to be he seemed amused as if it was an old routine to him but that doesn't' make any sense."
Fury nodded. "Our intelligence reports suggest that no one else has discovered his uniqueness so I know not who he has encountered that could make him find such situations normal." There was a strange note to his voice as he finished as if he found the situation bizarre.
"Are we to pursue and contain?" She asked but he shook his head.
"No, as mysterious as he likes to act he has agreed to be a part of the Initiative and we shall let him keep his secrets." The for now was clear in his tone. His secrets were his to keep for the moment but Fury's patience was not eternal, he would have the answers to his questions even if he had to chain Kojou down and demand an answer.
Natasha looked at him and frowned as a thought came to her. Breaking the silence she looked at him. "You noticed it too right?"
"Aye I did, the man isn't human." Fury responded.
She nodded in agreement. The emphasis on human that he had given her made that clear enough.
"Investigate why he was in the forest and what he was doing there and then report back to me." Fury barked ending their conversation as he turned and trudged off in the direction she knew the SHIELD Quinjet they'd arrived in was waiting to take off.
The Initiative had grown but time would tell if it would be needed.
The world was changing and SHIELD needed to change with it.
New threats were appearing every day, the universe was bigger than they'd ever imagined and it was only going to get larger.
Natasha Romanoff code named Black Widow, former Red Room assassin and active SHIELD Agent wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not. Only time would tell.
I will be moving onto the events of Avengers with a time skip in the next chapter.