Among all the possibilities that Ukio had expected, admittedly this had been one of them. But because the odds seemed so low, she had essentially dismissed the possibility of this happening. And yet, surely enough...there was a Sword of Damocles appearing over her head, as intense amounts of aura flowed into her.
Normally, the aura would be invisible, but Zazie possessed the ability to see Aura, an ability Anna also possessed.
"All of this...all this power...it feels so great! So this was the true power the Gold King had all this time?"
"Ukio-san? Are you okay?"
"Fufufufu...I am perfectly great, Zazie-chan! But, call me neesama from now on! Or, your majesty!"
"What...? Huh, its happening with him too?"
That was when Zazie noticed that the boy they had found was also covered in aura, only it was purple and not gold. The white haired boy seemed to finally be waking up too, his big red eyes opening.
"Hey, you awake? Are you okay?"
Zazie noticed the purple Sword of Damocles also appear in the air overhead, but he was still not quite sure about all this. He had heard stories from Ukio-san, and other Gold Clansmen, but this was the first time he saw it in action. It was the first time he had seen aura this strong.
"Uhg...what...what day is it?"
"We just entered the new year, 20XX".
THe moment he heard that date, his brain sparked awake in shock.
"Hold on...what did you say?" the boy shouted, shocked to hear an entire ten years had passed by in an instant. The last thing he remembered was following someone who hopped into a wall, and then a sharp pain on the back of his head, and that was it. But now...not only had ten years passed, but he felt this overwhelming aura coming from inside himself. It felt like the rumored power he had heard of, the power of the Green King, only this was not Green...it was purple. Similar, but different.
"Hey, what is your name? Do you remember?"
"...Azi. Azi Kazaki" Azi said as he stood up and looked around. Everything was rubble and ruin now, and clearly the battle had been long since over. "Hey, what happened here exactly?"
As they continued to talk, the two of them heard something shift, a clink, in the background, and the two immediately raised their guards.
"Did you hear that?"
"Yeah. Sounds like we have company".
Zazie then looked over back towards Ukio.
"Ukio-san! We have company!"
"Fufufu...this is so great, so massive!"
"Seriously? How powerful is the Gold King's power for her to get absorbed like this?"
"Well, from what I heard, there was only ever one Gold King in history, and he was the most powerful of all the Kings. So, that probably had something to do with it. We should probably not count on her for help".
"...I probably couldn't have regardless".
The two looked around, but nothing showed up. Even though Azi had the power of a King, he was still a new king, and there had never been a purple king before. Not to mention, everything seemed a lot more different then what it usually was, so they should consider the possibility that Kings might not be as invincible as they were considered before.
"Hold on...we should be thinking of something different...why are they here?"
The two took only a moment to look back at the glowing object behind them.
""They are after the slate!""
For the first time in ten years, the Dresden Slate was in the open, and had value. Several Swords were in the air, so that was a blarring indicator the Slate was active once more. However...
"Hey...do you hear all that?"
They could hear footsteps now, running around all over the place. Above, below, left, right, ahead, behind. They were everywhere, and there was definently more then one. There had to be at least twenty.
"An organized group? What is..."
Suddenly, a man seemed to jump up from the shadows, but before he could reach the two of them was hit by a bright and powerful red flame. And when they looked, the person who arrived was Yata, riding his skateboard down with streams of fire following him.
"Hey, you two! Get down!"
The two immediately ducked, and he charged over them and kicked a figure that was behind them. They were wearing cloaks and masks, hiding their identities, and moving around all over the place. One of them seemed to raise a block of concrete, and threw it at the trio, while another threw some grenades at them.
"Oh shit!"
"Awashima, Draw!"
And yet, all the attacks were blocked by the appearance of the another well known figure, a woman in a blue uniform, Seri Awashima.
"Well, if it isn't the blues. I suppose your people would come for the slate now that it is relevant again. Your king didn't show up to grace us with his pressence?"
"You should watch what you say..."
However, before any banter could continue, several explosions detonated around the building.
"What the hell?!"
"This place is already unstable! Do they want to steal the slate, or bury it with us?!"
The group turned to look back towards the slate, but a giant pulse wave was released from it and knocked them all back and away a bit. Only Zazie remained on his feet, but the pulse wave was so bright and so strong he had to close his eyes and brace himself to do so.
"Damnit. Is this your clan's doing? You always did love explosions, and I wouldn't be surprised if Homra wanted to keep its position at the top by taking the Slate as well".
"Like you are one to talk!"
"...do these people hate each other or like each other?"
"I think its a bit of both. Depends on the day though".
However, it was a good question on how Homra and Sceptor 4 got here so quickly.
"A better question would be..." another voice announced, as a spectral hand grabbed one of the people who had hidden nearby and dragged them out. "Who they are, and where the Slate is".
"Oh, right! Ukio-san is up ahead, we have to hurry!"
"Wait wait, who are you?"
"Apologies. I am of the Silver Clan, here on my Kings request".
"Wait, what did you sa..."
And then, there was another explosion, and Ukio was blown into the room.
"Ukio-san?!"
"This is Ukio...this aura...the Gold King?!"
"Fufufufufu...all this power!"
As they saw her reaction to obtaining the power of the Gold King, the group suddenly realized the Gold King could have passed his power down to another of his subordinates, someone he could trust, but didn't. They started to understand the reason why, if the power made people react like that.
"Zaazzziiieeee-chan! I need healing!"
"No way, you are clearly drunk right now! On power instead of booze, but still".
Azi made a mental note the relationship between Ukio and Zazie seemed very...unique...
However, as the smoke cleared...the Slate had totally disappeared. Toru and Shiro had arrived ahead of them too, looking shocked.
"Weissman...is Shiro again?"
"There are two of them?"
"More then that" another spoke, and Sukuna jumped down with them. Azi immediately spotted him, and smiled as he ran over.
"Sukuna-sempai! You came to rescue me!"
"Eh...wait, aren't you one of...err, one of the old green clan members? Why didn't you get older?"
"That makes it the three hundredth and twenty first time he asked that question".
Neko teased Sukuna mid questioning.
"Shut up! I am asking a different person this time!"
"Don't bully Sukuna-sempai!"
"...sempai?"
Although Sukuna turned away and pretended like he did not care, everyone could tell he was moved by being called sempai and was blushing a little bit.
"Anyways, Azi right? Save any catching up moments later, the Dresden Slate just got stolen again".
"I told you that even if you thought you destroyed it, we should have moved it! Now look what happened!"
Sukuna yelled...or more like nagged...Shiro.
"Sorry sorry, but it seemed like it would be safe here since I destroyed it and all".
"Well, now it got stolen. Again!"
Awashima pulled out her radio, while Yata pulled out his PDA.
"Mobilize the helicopters and the teams! Someone has stolen the Slate! Yes, again! Find it!"
"I want everyone we got right now searching the streets! Someone stole the damn Slate again!"
The two gave their orders, but the next question sent a silent chill through the room.
"But, the important question is by who?"
Everyone started to look around at each other, more or less. The power of the Dresden Slate was not well known, and groups of Aura users were not in a large percentage. And so, sharp gazes were passed out around the room. After all, everyone knew there were only three clans who possessed the potential to carry out an operation like this, if one thought about it.
The Clan that kept the most raw power after the destruction of the Dresden Slate ten years ago, Homra.
The Clan that maintained a large amount of power, influence, and members even after the events ten years ago, Timeless Palace.
The Clan that monitored all the others, and while trying to represent order unmistakably had their own lust for power, Sceptor 4.
These three clans were the only three. The Silver Clan only had four members, and the Green Clan only had one. None of them had the numbers known to carry out such an operation, and they deflinently needed numbers to pull it off. The Dresden Slate was heavy, and couldn't just be stolen. Large numbers and heavy lift gear was needed, along with all sorts of people to manage it all.
Yata looked at Seri Awashima, and then over at the one he did not recognize, Uzio.
"Hmmm...although I think this sounds like something the blues would do, that new woman is also someone who we may be unable to trust".
"Fufufu...you really want to fight me, the 2nd and Golden King? You don't even have evidence".
"You were the one who dug the Slate out! And it seemed to have activated because of something you did I bet!"
"You are loud...and in any case, while I did use Gold Clan resources to help dig out the Dresden Slate, why would I need to steal it? Timeless Palace is supposed to take charge of the Dresden Slate, so why would I steal it? Not to mention, I was busy awakening my powers. If anyone is suspicious, it would be the Green Clan. Did one member really only maintain their abilities? Or has Jungle just been hiding and waiting for this opportune moment. Since people with Jungle are everywhere, they could have easily pulled it off...especially if they are being led by the Silver Clan".
Suddenly, more suspects were thrown into consideration by Ukio, who seemed unphased by Yata's challanges. At this point, everyone did turn their attention towards Sukuna for a moment.
"Hey! Stop bullying Sukuna-sempai!"
However, Azi came and defended Sukuna.
"Who is this kid anyways?"
"He is pretty much the only person who couldn't have commited the crime" Zazie replied, stepping into the center. "When we found him, he had been trapped inside a wall. It looked like he tried to follow someone who had used their power to manipulate a part of the wall for people to go through and escape. However, as he went through, rubble fell and blocked both sides, causing him to stray trapped in a form of limbo. The effect essentially had him trapped in stasis, but it looked like he also did this as the Dresden Slate was destroyed, since a fragment of it fell in with him".
"A fragment did, huh? I wonder...that might explain why Sukuna kept his abilities actually. That piece was constantly being bathed in Green Aura, charging it, while it kept charging the ability that let Azi pass through walls, which was probably why it lasted for a whole ten years. But given the power of the Dresden Slate, it ended up flowing power into someone, at least one person, who had actually met with the King and became a proper Clansman".
"In other words, me?" Sukuna replied, understanding the gist of Shiro's explanation.
"Anyways, Sukuna and the Silver Clan arrived after the rest of you did".
"But, they were at the site before us" Yata said, clearly thinking this through a little. It appeared he did mature a little in the last ten years. "Though, I am curious how the Blues got here so fast as well. I only got here so quickly because after the Dresden Slate activated and the Swords appeared, I used a combination of my powers and my skateboard to get here as fast as possible".
"Its true, I saw him rushing here like that myself" Kuroh added. "He practically raced right here the moment the Swords of Damocles appeared from what I saw".
"The moment the Swords appeared, and our Aura returned to full strength, I immediately deployed helicopters and flew here in force. The rest of my men are either searching the area, looking for the Slate now, or secured the perimeter".
At those words, Shiro immediately turned towards Awashima.
"Hold on. Did you see anything else before you arrived? Other Swords we might not have been able to see from our dorm at the school island?"
"Yes. Remember what I can from the angle you had to view from...you might have or might not have seen it, but there was a Grey Sword, but also at a farther angle you shouldn't have seen, there was also an orange sword".
Hearing those words, Shiro seemed half confused, half concerned for a moment.
"So you are telling me that, you didn't see it then?"
"Didn't see what?"
The first realize what he meant gasped a bit though, an act unusual for the Black Dog.
"...the Sword of Damocles for the Colorless King".
"Hold on hold on!" Yata shouted as people started to fall silent from that statement. "Why is everyone so shocked about that? We defeated that Colorless King guy, and he had no clan members to pass on the sword to".
"No, technically there were still two members of the Colorless Clan, but also its totally random not just who the Kingship could pass to when one dies, but also what powers they get and when and where it happens".
"Yeah, but we defeated him right? There shouldn't be any way he could come back so soon without us...noticing..."
Yata continued to argue, but lost power in his voice when he started to realize something.
"...Anna..."
"Correct. Its proof it could have happened. The previous Red King, Mikoto Suoh, perished around the same time as the Colorless King. A little after, to be exact. Therefore, it is possible between now and then, a Colorless King was chosen. Normally, we would notice the appearance of a Sword of Damocles that usually marks the awakening of a King, but...if it happened on that day..."
There was a day in which every clan, active or not, had been focused on a single event that drew all the intention. The same day as the united Red, Blue, and Silver forces went to save Anna and reclaim the Slate. Even the isolated Silver and Gold Kings had to be focused on such events, given the significance of them. And with Anna fully using her powers above the Slate itself, who would have noticed if the Colorless King awoke on the same day.
Of course, all of this was conjecture, theory, and totally unproven. But, it fit.
"Even their rapid response and organization makes sense. The Colorless King is seperate from the Slate after all, its more like a Strain then anything else. While the Slate does supply the initial power, it could make sense for the Colorless King to have maintained a portion of his power, enough to recruit new Clansmen at least" Shiro considered.
"...or you are making it up, and thats an excuse you are using" the Gold King mentioned, inturruping the trail of thought. "After all, who could possibly check that fact, especially without the Slate? You are the only one who is an expert on it, so no one can accurately say if you are lying or not".
"Damnit! This is not the time to be pointing fingers! This makes sense! After all, if there was no Colorless King, one should have been chosen when everyone else was! If no Sword of Damocles appeared, then clearly one could not be chosen because there already was one!"
"Says the one whose King spent months trying to harness the power of the Slate for themselves. Meanwhile, the Silver Clan works with the last Green for some reason or another..."
"We are not working together!" Sukuna exclaimed.
"Yeah! He is a friend! We hang out a lot!" Neko added, causing Sukuna to get red and bothered.
"Wh-what?! No! I just dont have anyone else to talk to!"
"Thats because everyone in Homra still hates and distrusts Greens, and Sceptor 4 has its own risks, not to mention its not really a place to go to socialize or hang out in" Kuroh adds on. "We are his only friends".
"Nu uh! I am Sukuna-sempai's friend too!"
"Regardless of this, can we trust Homra either? They maintained the most raw fighting power in the last ten years. They might have stolen the Slate to keep that advantage".
"What was that?!"
"Hey, the way you were acting earlier, I wouldn't be surprised if you stole it just so you could keep it to yourself, Ukio!"
"You want to face the power of the Gold King?"
"Would you all shut up?"
"I think..."
"Well I..."
The fighting seemed to be picking up even more intensity, however this was all interrupted when a giant cat appeared in the center of the group and slammed its paw down. At the same time, the room itself weirdly distorted quite a bit, causing everyone to get a bit dizzy.
"Stop fighting everyone! You are making Shiro sad...wolf?"
Neko tried to stop the fighting, but then her attention was drawn as well towards Azi. Everyone else looked towards the boy, and half of them, maybe more, started giggling a little and desperately tried to hold back laughter.
"Is that...your doing Neko?"
"Nope!"
"What...hold on, what is everyone laughing at all the sudden?"
Neko suddenly snapped her fingers, and a mirror...or at least the illusion of one...appeared in front of Azi. And in the mirror...a purple aura had formed wolf ears on his head, as well as a wolf tail behind him.
"Well, at least we have some idea of what his aura is capable of now" Shiro said, who despite his normal ability to stay calm, seemed to have even been caught off guard and amuzed by how Azi's aura took its appearance now. "That said, that is convienent because it got all the attention where it should be".
"Where it should be?"
"Yes. As the 8th and Purple King, you were only created just now. Furthermore, from what I heard, you were trapped in a wall, in limbo, since the Slate was destroyed. In other words, you were the only one who had zero ability to organize people to steal the slate. And personal beliefs aside, you don't really have a bias yet for other clans really, correct? YOu were in the Green Clan, but since you used someone else's ability, you were not there for long I am guessing".
"Well...yeah, I suppose? Wait, hold on. Do you mean?"
"Yeah. You are the only person who all of us can trust to not have stolen the Dresden Slate. The only factor that no one could have prepared for. In other words, its up to you to figure everything out".
"Fine. At least its not the Blues taking charge".
"I suppose this makes sense".
"I still dont trust a thing the Silver King says, but I guess this is the only way for things to work".
"I am cool with this".
And so five sides, Silver, Red, Blue, Gold, and Green all agreed to letting the Purple King be the lead investigator.
"Ehhhhh?!"
As this was happening though, a mysterious and momentus sight could be seen above them. As if resonating with the Kings decision, or maybe they had appeared earlier because they had all been anticipating a fight and had geared up, six Swords of Damocles appeared in the sky above them. Silver, Red, Blue, Gold, Green, and Purple...wait a second...
"Why is the Blue Sword here?!"
"Why is the Red Sword here?!"
Seeing each other's swords in the sky, Yata and Seri shot looks at each other when they realized who was under them.
"You are the Blue King? What happened to Muni-whatever?"
"For some reason, it chose me and not him. I thought maybe it was because when he had the Sword, it was pretty much already falling. You...you are the Red King, and not Anna?"
"Yeah. Anna regained a lot of her power, so at first we thought it was her, but then we realized it had chosen me. I think Anna might be just as strong if not stronger still though".
It looked like a lot more things had changed then people thought...and that Azi had a much tougher job then he realized.
AN: As expected with my latest project, a fast release of a second chapter!
Also, to help people, lets recap the King Status:
Toru: Silver King
Awashima: Blue King
Yata: Red King
Uzio: Golden King
Sukuna: Green King
Colorless King Status Unknown
Orange King Unknown
Grey King Unknown
Azi: Purple King
Poor Azi though, getting stuck with the worst job in history most likely. That said, they almost...just almost...managed to team up with that Colorless Clan theory! Also, someone should just...put a tracker or something on that Dresden Slate. Some sort of Anti-Theft measure. I mean, think about it. It was stolen from Germany. It was stolen from the Golden King. It was stolen from the Silver, Blue, and Red King together. And now, it was stolen from under the noses of six different kings.
Anyways, I hope you enjoyed! Feel free to like, comment, and subscribe...wait, thats Youtube. Feel free to Favorite, Follow, and Review!