Chapter 12

They huddled together in a ditch.

Young Naga children were holding on to each other for dear life when they heard the strange sounds. Their parents told them to run and hide wherever they could, and they did so. Yet throughout the night, all they heard were the sounds of screaming, cackling by the monsters who slaughtered everyone and everything around them. These monsters, they have heard of them only through fairy tales.

Humans.

However, the young ones believed humans would never come here, they have no means or logical reasoning in doing so. However, in a matter of hours, they came and killed any and all in their sights.

One of the older children tried to listen to see if it was safe, however the tremors in the ground indicated other wise. There were strong, powerful footsteps making their way towards them. Then, the voices were heard.

"Come out, come out, wherever you are you little freaks!"

"HAHA, I wanna make them squeal! Not to mention, I need a new belt!"

"You get your belt after I get my boots!"

They were closing in, surrounding them until it fell silent. "Huh? Why the hell are you here?"

#

He had been watching them from a distance, he was too late to stop the slaughter, however, Bad could sense the fear of the children who managed to escape near by. "Sonic," he said.

Right at his side was Sonic, in his full ninja attire. "Your command my king?"

"I want them dead… but I don't want them to rest in peace… I have to try something but I need to be sure…"

"Black fire barrier." Sonic said.

Bad turned to him oddly. "Explain it to me,"

A twisted grin came over Sonic. "Black fire barrier, it prevents the soul from leaving the body." But then the smile faded. "My King, what do you plan on doing?"

Bad was silent at first. "I don't know yet… hopefully something." He said. "Take them out, but don't kill them yet until I try something."

Sonic grinned once more, for the first time he is permitted to do what he is meant to do. Although he was denied the kill for the time being, it doesn't mean his moment to shine will be denied.

As he vanished. Bad went down as the humans who were closing in on the children that manage to escape. As he turned to mist, Bad slipped his way through the hunters and then appeared out of nowhere. When he did though, they froze at the sight of him. "Huh? Why the hell are you here?" One demanded.

Others snickered and laughed. "Hey, lookie here, S Class hero Metal Bat! Came to take the monsters out at the source like us huh? Come on, you can join us if you want!"

"Is it just me, or does he look weird?"

Looking about there was fifty of them. He has seen their wanted posters before at the Heroes Association, yet never went after them. They were small fry to say the least and left for the lower classes of heroes to deal with. Yet, now, he is regretting he never took them out. They have killed so many in such little time, they have to pay for it! "Drop your weapons," Bad demanded. "They aren't going to help you survive anyways."

They froze to his tone. "Wait, did you just threaten us? Boy, you need to remember. We ain't on the super continent no more. We don't go by the rules of law here for there aren't any! Why would you care as to what we're doing huh? These are freaks, monsters! We're doing the world a favor here!" one protested.

Bad only smirked, he looked into the eyes of these men and felt no pity for what was to become of them.

It was fast. Bad's shadow stretched out and impaled the men! Despite the blow, they weren't dead, however they couldn't escape, they could barely move as it was. "GAAAHHH! WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO US! I CAN'T BREAK FREE, LET ME GO!" they screamed and shouted, however, he already tuned them out. His eyes drifted from far as he began to sense it.

He wasn't far from the village they slaughtered.

"Maybe…" he thought.

The men began to drop to the ground and were suddenly dragged along behind Bad as he ventured back to the village. They kicked and screamed all the way there until he came to a stop.

He froze.

Bodies were everywhere, mainly of women and men. The children were bided time to escape, whether they all did was the question.

There came such rage in him, Bad shook out of anger, he roared aloud to the heavens for what had become of these people. After all, they were just like Snek, a man he considers a close friend. "My King?" Sonic asked with worry.

Bad suddenly began to surge. His power grew and forced Sonic to kneel before him at the splendor of it. Wisps of smoke flooded the village as they latched on to the bodies of the fallen villagers. "Death exchange…" he said in a cold, callous tone.

He screamed aloud as his body felt as if it were torn from the inside out. Yet the men bounded to him began to wail and shriek out into the night. He took the souls of the hunters into himself but then, he pulled souls from the dead. The bodies of the hunters started to change, baring the wounds of the Nagas they killed. Bad began to sweat and continued to endure a terrible agony, when he finished, he collapsed to the ground, falling to his knees but tried to see if what he did worked.

"My King! Are you okay?" Sonic asked with worry.

But then, he heard moaning. Sonic froze as some of the Nagas began to move again. Fifty of them stood up off the ground before realizing what had happened. Sonic himself was rendered silent to it all. "My King's power… is greater than I ever thought possible…" Sonic whispered to himself.

Bad endured as he got back up on to his feet. Looking about he found those he tried to save come back to life. "Momma?"

He turned and saw the children who were hidden come out. They were quick to slink to their parents and into their arms again. "MOMMA!"

However, there were many children whose parents did not wake again. His heart broke at the sight as they tried to shake them, thinking they were nothing more than sleeping. "Momma… papa…" one little one wept.

"Sonic…" Bad said with a tried breath. "Bring me more of those criminals… bring them here to me as soon as possible…"

"My King, you have done…"

"NOW!" he ordered.

Sonic froze to his tone. He merely bowed and nodded. Bad even summoned the other ninjas within his power and ordered the same from them. "I want them alive… understood?"

They merely nodded their heads as Bad turned to the fallen village, he casted black fire over the rest of the bodies, startling those who were recently resurrected. Yet, when they realized who he was, their heads bowed, many put their heads to the ground. "Hail King of the Shadows, even Death welcomes you with open arms!" they wept in great gratitude.

Bad merely nodded. He summoned other shadows to his side. "Jima, I want you to escorted these people to the Naga King's castle. Take as many shadows as you want along with you. Have what dragons Igris can offer and take no chances. Understood?"

Jima was silent but he nodded his head. He called upon other Nagas, werewolves and vampires to aid him, from there, it was an army escorting a small band of survivors. "My King…" Jima began to say. "Thank you…" he turned and bowed, placing his hand over his heart. "I swear my utmost allegiances with you and you alone, even if a day comes where you decide to devour me, I will accept it and take it as a great honor"

"Now isn't the time Jima, get your people safe, and hopefully I will have another group for you to escort soon."

He bowed deeply once more and began to take command of the legions. Bad stood in wait for the next batch of murders to arrive. His arms crossed as the anger he felt refused to subside. "They want death so much, they can have it…" he said to himself.

He waited no more than twenty minutes when they began to appear. The criminals appeared dazed and confused, wondering how they came back to the village they just cleared.

And why S Class hero Metal Bat was awaiting them…

#

At the castle.

It was like second nature to her.

The backpack Zenko brought wasn't full of clothing, but medical supplies, gaze and tapes for wounds. For a little girl who hasn't been exposed too much violence, blood appeared not to be a big issue for her. She was quick to get to work, patching up whatever wounds she could before moving along to someone else in need. There was no hesitation in her eyes as she knew what needed to be done.

Perhaps that's why Bad is so protective of her, for she always took care of him when he needed it.

Botan suddenly woke with the sounds of those around him, yet as his eyes took in the room, he began to weep. "Huh? Botan?" Garou whispered.

He wailed!

His crying filled the halls as everyone came to a sudden and drastic stop. Garou didn't know what was wrong, until he began to expel mist from his hands! "WHAO! Hey, calm down! Botan, it's okay!" he said. 'Damn it, I thought his powers were suppressed by Death!?' he thought.

The room filled with the mist, encasing everyone into it. Some panicked, others screamed until Zenko yelled. "CALM DOWN! IT WON'T HURT YOU!"

Then it cleared.

The room emptied of the smoke, Botan calmed down. Garou sighed with relief until he noticed the difference in the room. "My wounds… my wounds are healed!"

"Mine too!"

All over the room, those who were hurt and dying, made a miraculous recovery! Botan was now giggling and happy as can be! Zenko went around to check on everyone and found not a scratch to be seen! " INTRURDORS AT THE GATE!" one soldier yelled.

Garou was curious as he managed to get to the window, however the Nagas froze. "What are they? What is coming out of the forest? They are nothing more than smoldering bodies…" said one.

"Wait… those are the minions of the Shadow King!" said another.

Outside of the gate, the guards were armed, however, through the shadows, they saw them. "SURVIVORS, WE HAVE SURVIVORS APPROCHING…" then the guard paused. "They… are surrounded by an army of darkness… are they…"

Garou paused as the largest of the Nagas slithered through the masses to take a look for himself. Peering out he called the guard to let them in. But then he turned to Garou and Zenko. "You two… with me…" he ordered.

Zenko was about to speak until Garou's hand came on her shoulder, she fell silent as they followed the massive Naga to another room. He closed the door behind him as he stared down at Garou. "You… are with the Shadow King, are you not?" he asked.

Garou nodded. "Have you seen him?"

He shook his head. "I know his legions when I see them, and I know he is at work for I went to the village that was slaughtered… those at our gate were dead."

Garou froze. Zenko was confused. "Wait… you think my big brother raised the dead?!" she demanded. "He's never done that before, nor would he do that, I don't think…"

"This is advance shadow magic." Garou explained. "It's not quite raising the dead, more like exchanging one life for another…" he paused as his eyes widened. "Oh God…"

Garou gave Botan to Zenko. "I have to go find him, watch Botan. YOU! Watch them!" he demanded.

The large serpent bowed. "I will on my father's honor. I am King Hydrin, and I will protect the family of the Shadow King." He vowed.

Garou nodded, as he was quick to rush out of the room. He jumped out the closest window and went in search of Bad.