Opening Song: Hunter by Jesper Kyd
"Out of all the stupid things you've ever done, this is by far the stupidest." I sigh.
"Did you seriously expect to sail there on a yacht?"
"I was expecting something that doesn't look like it was pulled out of a recycling center."
"Do you have a better idea?" Lawrence asks.
"Swimming to the damn island would be more effective than using this rusted junk."
The hull of the boat hovers over the both of us as we use it to conceal ourselves. These people Lawrence knew were a shinobi couple that owed him some favors. They were grateful enough to sneak us into Tenalbrum using a network of backroads, but it's not enough to make up for the condition of the boat.
It's forged entirely of rust and is probably big enough for three people. The motor itself is at least a decade old because it's an old string crank. Worn oars that have suffered years of waterlog are mounted to the sides of the hollowed-out metal husk. The vehicle transporting us comes to a stop and several slaps hit specific locations on the boat. Lawrence lifts his side up and converses with our escort in hunter's tongue. Lawrence nods, and the both of us hop down from the roof of the car. The salty odor of the ocean is the first thing I notice.
We are definitely in Tenalbrum because of the unique city lights and salty snow, but we're in a part of the outskirt that looks completely untouched. There are no footprints in the grainy snow. Nor are there any sites that look like they would be reserved for recreational use. Lawrence hoists one end of the boat onto his shoulder. I grab the back end and help him carry it to the shoreline.
"Sorry about the boat. It's all we had, but we'll have something for you that will certainly make up for it." The masked man states.
"I will take you up on that offer." Lawrence states as he sits down in the boat.
"I wish you two the best of luck." The woman says as she hands us a couple buckets.
The man and his female companion hide the car and camouflage themselves within the surrounding woods. I sit down on the opposite side of the boat and scan the waters for this remote island. Judging by the position of the shoreline, and the northern star, we are a couple miles south of Tenalbrum. Far enough back to keep us out of the patrol routes without leaving the wasteland.
The sounds of a crow's caw fall from above. It will only be a couple moments before Yuyaki and the others arrive. I lean back in the boat and kick my feet up while Lawrence juggles his revolvers around.
"I don't know about you, but I am looking forward to this incredible adventure." Lawrence states.
"Incredible is such a strong word anytime I'm around you."
"Ah come on! It's always going to be a good time when it's the troublesome third, and the kinky kunoichi!"
"Okay, first of all, I'm not kinky in the slightest. Secondly, the only reason I agreed to be your bride is because our survival depends on one another. Nothing else."
"Whatever you say kinky kunoichi."
"I'm not kinky!"
Lawrence laughs at the frustration he is causing. Deep in my heart, I do love him, but he can't be given the satisfaction of knowing he is right. Shortly after my exile, my parents were trying to have me killed. At that time, I didn't have the strength or willpower that I have now. The assassins my parents sent easily overcame me, but instead of killing me, they tied me up and were going to toss me in the river to drown because mom and dad told them I was scared of drowning.
They started by waterboarding me and holding my head under the water to the point I was about to black out. Just when I was on the verge of wishing for death, that's when Lawrence stumbled on us. I was tossed into the water, and the last thing I saw was Lawrence jumping in after me. Right before everything faded away, this terrifying, monstrous roar shook the riverbed I was laying on.
When I came to, Lawrence was carrying me over his shoulder. At first, I fought and struggled because I thought he had some other idea in mind. He sat me down on the ground and said, "There you go. But there is far worse out there than me."
When I mentioned I was just scared because I thought he was going to hold me down and ravage my body, he laughed and called me a kinky kunoichi for having such thoughts. Lawrence introduced himself, and said he was on his way to Hebijo Academy, a home for those who have no home. It sounded too good to be true, but that's where I met Haruka, Hikage and a girl named Yomi. A couple years later, we got a new family member named Mirai.
Despite all that training and Lawrence's constant teasing about how he can swim in a full set of armor, the looming fear of drowning is still something that terrifies me if it takes hold. The fact we're about to set sail to a fortress in metaled rust doesn't ease those worries either.
Lawrence twirls the revolvers around and points in the direction of the woods, "If your name doesn't start with an O, I'm blasting your ass!"
"It's Octavian!"
"Konsai Rattlesnake is present as well." Hikage states.
Yuyaki, Octavian and Hikage make their way towards the shoreline. Behind them are the two girls we were holding prisoner.
"So you decided to keep the two Gessen girls?" Lawrence asks.
"The only reason they are here is because I need them."
"Need them?"
"It's not like that you pervert. Gekko has a mirror I need for transport, and Senko is fairly good at holding her own." Octavian states.
"What makes you think they won't stab us in the back?" I ask.
"I know they will, and I will find a place to dump them off, but for the time being, I need their mirror to travel." Octavian examines the boat that is barely staying afloat, "Wait, we're sailing in this?"
"What were you expecting? An ocean liner?" Lawrence states.
"I was expecting something that could stay above the water." Hikage adds.
"Ah yes. It's not like I haven't heard that already."
"It will have to do. I would have preferred something a bit more stable, but this is small and quiet."
"Thank you Yuyaki."
Everyone steps in and tries to find a seat. Octavian sits down and Gekko squeezes in by his side. Hikage and Yuyaki tightly scrunch up as Senko tries to find a seat.
"Well, this is already a stupid idea. There's no room!" Senko yells.
Lawrence points at Octavian, "you can sit on someone's lap."
"No! She can stand!" Octavian snaps.
Quit fucking squirming bitchboy!" Senko yells as she sits down on Octavian's leg.
"Get your rotten cotton crotch off me!"
"Quit poking me in my ass needle dick!"
I grab hold of both sides of the boat and try to keep it from rocking. Hikage and Yuyaki do the same and help me stabilize the boat. Lawrence lets go of the motor and tries to weigh down the back. Octavian and Senko's struggling dislodges us from the shore and throws us out into the rough water. The boat tips down far enough that a wave is able to slosh over.
"Goddamnit! You two retards are about to capsize the fucking boat! Quit fighting and sit your asses down!" Lawrence yells.
Octavian quits his struggling and Senko sits down. They both let out a sigh of utter disgust as Senko tries to get comfortable. Octavian eases around and tries avoid poking Senko. The fighting stops and everyone calms down.
"You done?" I ask.
"Yeah." Octavian and Senko reply.
"Good."
Everyone carefully recedes back into their seat and Lawrence takes hold of the motor again. The boat balances out and rolls over the incoming waves. Yuyaki sends her crow into the air, and it takes off towards the north. Lawrence tails the bird as it guides us towards our destination.
"On a bright note, we've got everything a man could ever want right here." Lawrence chuckles.
"How's that?" Gekko asks.
"We have shinobi. Pirates. Shinobi pirates. Give us a bottle of sake, a barrel of rum and any man could die happy."
"Gods give me strength to deal with this child." I sigh.
My response causes Lawrence to laugh. Yuyaki's crow caws and changes course. Lawrence adjusts the trajectory of the boat and takes us to the east. The faint outline of an island draws itself into existence. Spotlights penetrate the murky black water as boats patrolling the coast plow through the ocean waves. I grab both sides of the boat to increase the stability against the growing strength of the rogue waves.
The motor kicks up into another gear and forces itself to work harder. Something wet spills over the tongue of my shoes and soaks through my white stockings. I look down and see that water is slowly seeping through the bottom of the boat. Coin sized holes are scattered all around the hull. Everyone else looks down and notices we have a problem.
"Ah…Lawrence. I don't mean to knock your choice in marine transport, but I think we're taking on water." I state.
The engine backfires and shreds a piece of rubber gasket. Oil and gas spurt out of the busted machine and spills into the ocean. Lawrence looks it over and tries to figure out if the thing can be repaired. He picks the trolling motor up and tosses it in the middle of the ocean.
"Well this sucks." Hikage says in a monotone, emotionless voice.
Yuyaki and Lawrence pick up the set of oars and paddle us towards the shoreline. It looks like we're still a mile or so out. The water isn't seeping through at a dangerous pace, but it is a concern.
"Great. Just great. How are we supposed to get off the island?" I ask.
"Who said anything about using this boat when we leave?" Lawrence replies.
"And that's if we make it. Big emphasis on the if. Nothing like the thought of being stuck in the middle of the fucking ocean without a life jacket."
"Homura, your boobs are buoyant enough to keep us all afloat if the boat sinks." Lawrence states.
"You son of a bitch." I scowl.
The waves tearing across the ocean double in size. I struggle to keep the boat balanced as we get closer to the island shore. Hikage and Gekko distribute their weight and try to help keep the boat from rocking so hard.
The falling snow suddenly melts and turns into rain. Lawrence and Yuyaki's strokes slow down as the resistance from the waves, and the rising water prevents them from achieving a rhythmic motion. Senko and Octavian kneel down and try to scoop the water out with the buckets.
"We're taking on water faster than we can dump it!" Senko yells.
"Focus! We can do it!" Octavian assures.
A rogue wave off in the distance doubles in size and continues to grow into a solid wall of water. Lawrence and Yuyaki point the nose of the boat towards the black tide. Up above, a series of wind pockets collide with one another and form several rotations around the island. The ravenous winds suck water through their spouts with so much force that it's shoving the bigger ships around.
"BRACE!" Lawrence yells.
The front of the boat plows through the wall of water. A massive hand slaps me all over the body. Freezing water laced with salt soaks all the fiber in my clothing and causes my skin to tremble from the cold. I wipe the black hair out of my face and examine the area.
All around us, and the island are cyclones that pulse with blue and purple lighting. In the middle of them is one that looks like it could possibly swallow the moon. The tornadoes pull in some patrolling boats off in the distance and grind them into pieces. The massive cyclone in the middle glows with power and emits a huge spark that reacts with the smaller ones. A shockwave erupts from all of them and triggers a massive explosion of plasma.
Chunks of boat superheated brazen blue rain down from the sky like meteors. Craters of sizzling water pop underneath the surface and toss us around. I lose my balance and fall back into Hikage. The bow of the boat completely goes under the water. Everyone flops forward from the immense force as the boat breaks in half. Flying through the air is a massive boat that is still intact.
"Holy shit…JUMP!" Lawrence yells.
Everyone scrambles over the edge and leaps into the water. I dive head first and swim down as far as possible. The deafening sound of sizzling metal groaning in distress reverberates within the water to the point it rattles my head.
Memories of those people tying my hands behind my back and throwing me in the water causes me to lock up. The fear of drowning forces me to freeze in place. A sudden jolt hooks my arms and pulls my head above the chaotic surface.
"Now's not the time to die." Octavian says
Gekko and Senko are locked together and intertwined with my arms while Octavian helps me keep my head above the water. I calm myself down and take a deep breath.
"You good?" Octavian asks.
"I'm good."
The three of them let me go. I kick off and reach the shoreline. Yuyaki pounds her fist in the center of her chest and coughs up all the water she swallowed on the way up. Gekko and Senko are sitting on top of Octavian and pretending to administer CPR in a way that could be classified as sexual assault. Hikage reaches down her shirt and pulls a sprig of seaweed out. She tosses it to the side and reaches back into her bra. A faint feeling of relief comes over her as she pulls the money out and counts it. "It's all still here."
"Is everyone in one piece?" Lawrence asks as he cups his hands over his ears and suctions the water out.
"I would be if these little Gessen hoes would let go of me!" Octavian struggles as Gekko and Senko hold his arms and legs down.
"Bitchboy is fine. He just needed a little CPR." Gekko says.
"Hikage, Yuyaki, Octavian, the two runts and…"
"Don't you dare say it…"
"The kinky kunoichi!"
"Goddamnit!"
Gekko and Senko offer their hands to Octavian. He takes hold but pulls both of them down to hoist himself up before they can shove him back. "I hope you two can pick yourselves up because I'm sure as hell not helping."
Yuyaki is pacing around and examining the weather. She licks the tip of her thumb and holds it up in the air. "I'm not a meteorologist, but the weather here is about to change very quickly."
"What do you mean?" I ask.
The falling snow turns to rain in an instant the moment it reaches a certain height. It's like there's some kind of barrier. I hold my hand up above the water band and feel around. The air is much colder than where we are standing. Lighting, cyclones and snow turning into rain. Our mission hasn't even started yet, and it's already sucking major ass.
"Is it possible someone on the island is doing this?" Octavian asks.
"Very unlikely." Yuyaki points up at the moon and traces her fingers down to the tidal forces rampaging through the ocean. "If someone is doing this, they would have to have the strength and magic to summon a tornado capable of stopping the moon from completing its orbit."
"What you're saying is that whatever is doing this isn't human?" Senko questions.
"Either it is trying to keep the world out or keep something in."
"Then we have to find Alan and Asuka now!" I yell.
"Homura, we're going to go look for Alan. Yuyaki? You and Hikage head around back and search for Asuka. Octavian, Gekko and Senko. You three are responsible for finding us an operational boat." Lawrence says.
Octavian, and the two girls stick to the shoreline while Hikage and Yuyaki follow behind them. I feel between my breasts to see if I am able to transform. The node to let me fully awaken is only halfway formed around my heart but enough energy has filled the line for a transformation.
Lawrence leads the way towards the opposite end of the island. It looks like he wants to try and hit the complex from an angle rather than an assault on the front gate. He grabs the sword off his back and enters a cautious state. Drowned bodies from both guards and prisoners wash upon the beachhead. Some look like they've just died while others have been out in the ocean for days.
"To think my parents actually wanted to put me in this hellhole." I clench my fists.
"I would have just busted you out." Lawrence replies with a smile.
"Yeah. I suppose you're right. For once."
The weather forms a small stream that strolls over an elevated patch of land. All over the island are miniature lakes created from the rainfall. Lawrence pushes me down and hunkers behind the brim of a hill.
"What is it?"
His finger directs my attention across the flooding lake. Across the water is an isolated L shaped building. Several prisoners screaming in absolute fear rush out of the building and into the dense woods. A black egg-shaped object launches up into the air and discharges a series of bladed whips. The trees and falling rain do little to muffle the terrible sounds of death as the egg slays all the prisoners that attempted to escape. Liquid fire dribbles out of the shell's mouth as it cracks in half and tosses the bodies in. Incinerated ash gushes out the top of the egg and forms a grey mud that mixes with the rain and snow.
A knight dressed in some kind of silver cavalry armor emerges out of the black egg and skewers the bodies of dead guards and prisoners with a halberd. He throws the staff over his shoulder and causally approaches the main complex.
"What the hell is that?" I ask.
"I don't know."
"Do you think we could take it?"
"I trust in your strength Homura, but I prefer you run."
"Why?"
"If I willingly let you take something like that on, then I would be putting a price on your life. A price I'm not willing to pay."
Lawrence jumps into the low-lying water and wades in the direction of the isolated compound. I hate it when he drops a conversation like that. Just when he is actually on the verge of being somewhat inspirational, he bails.
I dive into the water after Lawrence and stick close. Strong torrents try to pull me to the edge of the embankment's lip where the excess water spills over. Lawrence climbs out and rushes through to the isolated building.
All the cell doors have been ripped off the hinges, but the only thing inside is a film of grey powder. Lawrence bends down and digs a brass shell casing out from under the ash. He sweeps around and finds a bullet tip that's completely flattened out like a coin. I take out my katana claws and investigate the complex.
The hallway diverges to the left, and the layout goes from prison cells to large hospital rooms with surgical tables. Chalkboards with arcane formulas and melted candles form magic circles lie in each room. All of it reeks of unforeseen atrocity. The people running this island weren't just trying to learn basic spells or miracles to help people.
Ash, broken glass and spent casings lay all over the floor, but there is no blood. Whatever that thing was must have come in here and turned everyone to ash. There must have been some kind of struggle because there are holes in the walls, but either these people were terrible shots or bullets don't make that thing bleed.
I hop over a busted window and look around. The set of paper work scattered across the floor is nothing but medical jargon, but there is a log of everyone housed here. Neither Alan or Asuka's name are on the list. Unfortunately for all the others, they weren't so lucky.
"Anything life changing?" Lawrence asks.
"Nope. Typical hunter and shinobi bullshit as usual." I reply.
Lawrence examines the symbols on the chalkboard and looks down at the candles that form the magic circle, "using the otherworldly power of the hunter community, and my years of wasteland experience, I can safely say I have absolutely no fucking idea what these assholes were doing. Although I know that the three teardrops represent essence, that water symbol means a new beginning, and the eye is supposed to represent the knowledge to carry out a ritual without screwing up."
"Well, it took them nearly five pages of victims so they must not have known what they were doing."
I throw the papers on the ground and head back out into the hallway. We approach the double door exit at the end of the hallway. Lawrence puts his hand on the hinge in the middle and pats it a couple times. "Duratacus (Freeze touch)."
Mana flows from his fingertips and into the metal. The hinge turns into a solid chunk of ice. Lawrence rams his fist into the frozen block and sends both doors skidding across the muddy ground. Rain and snow roll off a huge piece of gated machinery that is positioned in a separate part of the area.
"Jesus Christ…" Lawrence sighs.
Grey lifeless bodies that leak colorless liquid from their twisted jaws lie in several piles that could total anywhere from five to fifty. I poke one with the tip of my katana claws and try to provoke some kind of response. Nothing. All of them lie motionless. Forever waiting and begging for their liberating incineration and denied freedom from this hellish place.
"What exactly are these things?"
"I have an idea…No. I won't." Lawrence says.
"What is it?"
"Homura, you're a big girl, but let's just say there are some things better left unsaid."
Lawrence puts his hand on my shoulder and looks at me with a sorrowful glaze in his eyes.
"What is it?"
"I'm thankful you came with me to Hebijo that night."
"Alright. No need to bring up ancient history. Let's get going." I pat his hand to show acknowledgement towards his heartfelt gesture. As much as it excites me, we still have a job that needs to be done.
Lawrence looks at the odorless bodies one last time and back at me. He takes a deep breath and forces the sorrow to leave, "Let's."
We hop over the concrete wall and head towards the main complex. The weather has gotten much worse. Every hole is now a sinkhole filled with water, mud and ash. Even the path leading up to the prison is washing out and collapsing in upon itself. The immense flash flood is creating huge lakes and gaping rivers that funnel muddy water into the ocean.
Gunshots, deathblows and immense amounts of power are all being over exerted inside the prison as well as the other side of the island. I keep my eyes open for any alternative paths and jump spots. Just in case we run into that egg knight again.
"Shameful shinobi. In search of something unattainable." A female voice states.
Lawrence sticks his sword into the ground and crosses his arms in an intimidating way, Malicious Menaces, Victor and Amanda."
Up on the main gate garrison stands a woman, and a fellow gallowglass companion. I recognize the guy because he was the one that was tossing Octavian around with that massive flame hammer. The woman herself has some kind of cleaver shaped club. She effortlessly balances herself on the tip of a lightning rod despite the whipping wind and raging storm. Free strands of hair that are not forcefully tucked and concealed under her marked hood wave around as she points at Lawrence.
Victor takes hold of his hammer and jumps down a couple feet in front of Lawrence. He continues to hold his unfaltering pose despite the shockwave. Lawrence takes hold of his sword and slowly drags it across his arm. His blood seeps into the blade and supercharges the grains. Ice incases the weapon in a solid brick as protruding icicles jut out of the slab of hardened permafrost. Victor cranks his hammer and lets out a burst of steam that evaporates the water around him.
Amanda leaps up into the air and swan dives towards me. She gracefully lands on her feet with nothing more than a puff of water. Out of instinct, I hop back and take up a defensive stance. There is not a shred of emotion in Amanda's eyes. It's like she's not even human.
"Tonight, Homura the crimson flame shinobi will be nothing but ash."
Amanda lifts her staff up above the rainfall and points it towards the sky. A gold line forms above her as the weapon sparks and draws the atmosphere above. Vibrations from the environment sap the energy and form a collective bolt that strikes Amanda's weapon.
She leaps above the rainfall and slings the staff. The clubbed weapon breaks apart and forms a saw like whip that hits the rain band. I sprint back and jump as the electric current forms a tesla coil that ricochets off the droplets of rain. A spark zaps me right on the shoulder and travels all through my drenched body. I stumble for a moment but the full brunt of the attack didn't land.
In the background, Lawrence snags the falling rain from the air, compresses it and flings a flurry of jagged hail towards Victor's hammer. Condensed stones hit the hammer's engine and solidifies over. Victor forces Lawrence back and cranks the lever to melt the encompassing sleet. The hammer heats back up, but he isn't able to supercharge it like he was back at Frambosta.
Amanda sprints towards me and swings her cleaver shaped staff. I back step and drag my claws across the ground. She quicksteps back and avoids the clawing hug, and the incoming water aimed for her eyes. Amanda reassembles the club and holds it in the air. She jumps up and delivers another blanket of pure blue energy. I get out of range and reach in between my breasts.
The transformation scroll forms as I take hold and crush it above my head. My clothes catch fire and burn. The magic wraps around and encases my naked wet body with the signature black and grey leather armor I chose to bear.
Amanda reassembles her whip back into the cleaver and moves in. I jump towards her and cross slash. She steps out of the way and slings the cleaver shaped club. The weapon strikes the padded armor on my back and knocks me down. I throw my legs over my head and recovery roll. Amanda grabs her club with both hands and carves a crater into the area my head was. I roll forward as she covers her misplaced mistake with a whip slash.
The weapon overshoots me as I ram my left katana claw into her. She leaps back as the weapon punches through the chainmail and slices through flesh. I bring my right katana claw around and bait. She blocks the attack as I work my left katana blade into her shoulder. The blow staggers her as I deliver punch after punch.
Amanda grunts in pain and uses the momentum from a successful block to spin around. She ducks the follow up and drags the cleaver across the ground. The cleaver catches me and delivers a powerful uppercut. I fly above the rainband and hit the ground with enough force it causes me to bounce. Blackout stars from the blow almost put me to sleep, but I pick myself up and get away.
Amanda sends out another huge shockwave of electricity, but I manage to get out of range. She hops back and avoids an ice shower from Lawrence flinging hail blades. He slams his ice cased sword into the ground and brings up a pair of ice pillars that overlap one another. Amanda and Victor get back as I stab my katana swords into each block of ice and funnel mana into them.
The crimson flame from within my body fills the pillars and explodes into thousands of spear shaped shards. The rain turns to sleet as Victor and Amanda hide behind the prison wall and avoid the massive shower of solid frost. The rainband returns and melts the sleet Lawrence and I artificially created.
The suppressed noise of a gunfight breaks out, and it sounds like it's happening within the gates or right at the entrance of the prison. Lawrence takes cover behind a collapsed tree and aims at the front gate. I watch the walkways and behind us.
A small orb shaped object bounces towards us and ejects smoke. The grenade explodes and coats the front gate of the prison with white fire. Lawrence shoves me back and retreats. The stuff continues to burn despite the constant downpour.
"This is not over Homura! You're lucky we have young ones to protect! One day, your head will be brought to your family!" Amanda yells.
"I guess playtime is over." Lawrence states as he puts his revolvers away.
"What does she mean by young ones?"
"Probably the younger, less experienced members. Kind of like how Yuyaki and I call you, Hikage and Octavian young ones."
"I'm not inexperienced! I just held a shinobi killing hunter off all on my own!"
"You got lucky."
"Oh shut up."
Lawrence snickers at my frustration, "Well I reckon we're in the clear for now. Let's head around and use the catwalks."
"Where do we go then?"
"I don't know. I'm just making this up as I go."
Lawrence lays his sword over his shoulder and leads the way to the side of the prison's wall. He finds a suitable place and climbs up to the top of a watch tower. I hop over the railing and look around. It's hard to believe that this island from hell could get any worse, but the absolute state of destruction that's been inflicted is baffling. Gallowglass is having a firefight with some of the security across the complex while the few surviving prisoners trying to run for the harbor are cut down mid stride by the prison guards.
I hunker down behind the watch tower at the sight of that black egg from earlier. It cracks open and swoops down on a group of unsuspecting prisoners and guards. Whips and barbed tentacles slay everyone in one swift move as it collects the dead and throws them into the shell. The silver knight emerges out of the egg again and proceeds towards into a nearby building.
Lawrence shakes me and points down, "Look!"
At the very corner of the complex is a speck of green. I breathe a sigh of joy as Hikage makes a motion with her hands. Yuyaki and Asuka both emerge from a small one-story building. I turn my head and look towards the middle of the prison.
Octavian and the two girls emerge out of a building that looks like the main holding cells. People that look like Asuka's parents follow behind and in the middle of the group is a red skinned demon. Unique black stripping wrap around her body while runic symbols mark her as a special breed of yoma from a prestigious bloodline. Right by her side is Alan.
"Alanboy!" I yell.
Lawrence lets out a distinct whistle that catches his attention. The entire group turns toward us as I drop from the tower onto a keep rooftop below. We wave our hands back and forth to flag them down.
"Something isn't right." Lawrence says under his breath.
"I know. He's got that respirator shaped muzzle, his eyes are blacked out and red, and the pigment in his skin is draining."
"Best to keep it to ourselves for the time being." Lawrence grows a smile and chuckles, "You didn't drop the soap during your stay, did you?"
"Soap? Those cheap bastards didn't even give me lotion!" Alan replies.
Lawrence and I bust out laughing along with the group he is traveling with. The only ones that didn't think it was funny were the prudes that look like Asuka's parents. For some reason, Alan has some kind of wagon wheel mounted to his back. I don't know what the appeal is, but it looks heavy and extremely hard to use.
"Since you're up there, can you see Asuka?" Alan asks.
I point towards the outer perimeter, "Yeah! She's with Hikage and Yuyaki!"
Alan leaps with joy as the people that look like Asuka's parents exhale a heavy breath of relief. Alan rolls up the sleeve on his duster and checks some kind of tattoo that glows with purple radiance.
"Well what are we waiting for?! Let's go!" Asuka's potential mother cheers.
Lawrence and I hop over the railing and join up with our group. The mission is almost over. All we have to do now is get hold of a boat and hope we can sail out of this hellhole in one piece. Alan perks up out of nowhere like an animal that's just spotted a potential threat. He outpaces us and drops down on all fours.
"Ah fuck…" Lawrence sighs.
"What is it? Why is he behaving like that?" The man that's probably Asuka's dad asks.
"Since he's in a heightened state, he was able to pick up on the threat a couple seconds before me." The red skin demon answers as Alan scales up to the top and hangs off the side of the wall.
"Yeah. I can feel it to." Octavian adds.
"Threat? What threat?"
"Something that's deceptively divine." Lawrence states.
"Could it be…"
"More than likely, and judging by his sudden reaction, it's after Asuka." Lawrence cuts me off.
The black egg from earlier flies up into the air and hovers over the area. Several tendrils crawl out of the yellow bone skulls that decorate the wicked egg and form a massive snare. Silver bolts from Hikage's crossbow, and a massive wad of yomashot pellets ejecting out of four shotgun barrels at once shred through the black ropes of liquid. The snare breaks apart and shapes a net that morphs into certain shapes to avoid the incoming projectiles.
"Damnit! Dodge!" Yuyaki yells.
The net, and the egg slam into the wall and collapse a huge section of the wall. Alan dodges the falling debris and hops over the crevices that creep down and crumble the foundation underneath. Hikage bails off the wall and rams her knife into the concrete to stop her decent. She leans back and slingshots herself back up to a part of the wall that's still stable.
I place my foot into a section of the wall and launch myself up. Makeshift deformities in the warping concrete form a series of holes and cracks that allow me to scale up quickly. Everyone makes it to the top and turns in the direction of the egg. The silver-plated knight brings his body decorated halberd back and takes up a charging stance. Asuka hops over the falling sections of the wall and tries getting away.
TIIGGGZZZZ…..
Mailable metal colliding with cold rolled demon steel let out a massive unyielding war cry of raw strength. Rock being grinded into dust, and the sound of flesh being ripped apart from blunt force fill the silent air. Snow, wind and rain funnel towards me and throws my black hair all around. The wet wind pressure and clumps of snowy hail pelt me in the face and forces me to cover my eyes.
I spread my hands and peek through the webbing where the gauntlets don't overlap. Alan is buried up to his chest. His kopis swords are wedged into the halberd that silver knight is wielding. Asuka lays behind Alan stunned but unhurt. Alan crosses slices the knight in the neck and draws blood. He follows up with a dual stab, but the knight jumps back out of range.
Alan pries himself out of the hole, flips backward and hunkers over Asuka. Despite this, he is struggling to keep himself up. The bottom half of his body is torn to shreds. Fractured bones stick out of his legs and blood from his already failing body pools around him. The handguards on his swords are the only thing keeping him from completely collapsing.
"I knew you would come for me." Asuka weeps as she wraps her arms around Alan.
"Not even Armageddon itself can break the promise I made your grandfather. Or you." He replies. Asuka wipes her tearful eyes and showers the side of his face with kisses despite the muzzle being in the way.
I bend down on one side of Alan and push fractured tendons back into his legs while Lawrence resets the bone that juts out the top of his knee cap. We hold the wounds in place as Octavian injects Alan with a syringe. The bones reconnect and solidify as the wounds seal themselves shut after correction.
"I don't know how you did it, but a harbinger capable of escaping one of Paladin's schemes is worthy of having a discussion with." The silver knight states.
Alan picks Asuka up in his arms and stands, "There's nothing to discuss."
"Honored cup maker, surely you grow weary of your failing attempts. How long are you and Kagura going to drag this out?"
"Drag what out?" Gekko asks.
"The creation of a better world. The sole purpose of our existence."
"By slaying hundreds of innocent people?" Hikage asks.
"Mankind forfeited their claim to innocence the moment they were given free will."
"What's this have to do with Asuka?" Alan asks.
"Four girls. Four horsemen. In these four special girls are four scrolls. Fragmented, yet unpresented power we need to achieve brother Paladin's goal. With father's wench out of the way and two of the four scrolls standing here in front of me, this is an opportunity too good to pass up." The silver knight replies.
Alan lets out a frustrated sigh and slowly pushes his respirator across Asuka's lips in a sensual manner, "I love you, but I have a job to do. Raesetsu? Make sure these people get off this island alive."
"Yes Alan."
Alan hands Asuka to the red skinned demon named Raesetsu and puts himself between us and that knight.
"You might need this." Octavian says as he hands Alan the rest of the mixed syringes in his side satchel.
Lawrence points towards the harbor and coaxes everyone to get moving. Raesetsu holds Asuka tightly and takes the lead. I drop down from the wall and help Lawrence protect the group's exposed back. Octavian lets Gekko and Senko take the lead as he slides to the middle of the group.
There are still some boats left at the harbor. Hikage busts into the office and yanks desks open in search of a key. Yuyaki, Senko and Octavian run up the stairs and search around as I tear through the cabinets. Most of the stuff inside is just paperwork, pens and paperclips. I rip open a nearby closet and toss all the clothing out.
Raesetsu sits Asuka down in a chair and examines her. She presses her thumb into Asuka's neck and feels around. Asuka covers her mouth and lets out a series of dry coughs that leave her gasping after every fit.
"Any blood in your cough?"
"No."
Raesetsu carefully touches the rope burns around Asuka's neck. She rips away and covers her throat in a defensive manner. Raesetsu changes and feels around Asuka's chaffed wrists, "the bad news is you are sick. The good news is it isn't anything serious, and there's no internal damage."
"Is Alan coming with us?" Asuka asks.
"Unfortunately, Alan and I have our own world we must return to after this is done."
Yuyaki barrels down the stairs with a ring full of keys, "Now I don't know which goes to what, but hopefully by the time we find it, this storm be cleared out."
"Then let's hurry. I'm ready to get off this shithole." Senko states.
Asuka stands on her own and follows everyone out to the docks. The rain slowly turns back into snow, and the orange sun peaks over the ocean's horizon. Raesetsu holds her hand up and smiles for a brief moment. "I knew you could do it." She clenches her fist and walks back towards the prison.
"What are you doing?" I ask.
"Unwelcomed guests." Raesetsu answers as she crosses her arms. "As Alan trusted me with his bride's safety, I am entrusting all of you with her safety."
"What?"
On the path leading to the harbor are the members of Gallowglass. Almost all of them. Amanda, Victor, a couple others, and the leader herself. They must have the same idea now that the weather is slowly clearing now. Raesetsu waves her arms around in an oddly particular motion. Her runic markings split open and ooze an orange slime that causes her body to glisten. The tattoos twine together and weave a multi-colored apron made of flesh. Necrosis ridden yoma scale combines with fresh pink human tissue.
The pentagrams on her chest and back unwind and stitch the grotesque flappy tunic together. Every tooth in Raesetsu's mouth doubles in size and forms a disgusting labyrinth of serrated gates that continues to tarnish the wonderful beauty of her pristine demonic body. She licks some of the ooze that drizzles down her breasts and growls.
"GOFF NAAH!" Raesetsu's muffled voice barely breaks from her lips. Spikes burst out of her body as she gets down on all fours and charges towards Gallowglass with an ear bursting roar that pulsates within itself and shatters all the windows in the harbor.
I waste no time and hop on the boat. Asuka's dad is rocking back and forth out of sheer terror from witnessing the abhorrent abomination Raesetsu has become before everyone's eyes. Lawrence tries a key and swaps out when the engine doesn't turn over. I look back and see that Raesetsu is fighting several skilled hunters at once.
She twirls a massive anchor around by the chain to keep everyone back as she rips another off a nearby boat and slashes with it. The member named Amanda hops over an incoming swipe and rushes towards us. Raesetsu stomps her foot into the ground and sends up a bristling briar of orange thorns that wall off the main walkway to the dock.
"A fine weapon this cunting yoma brood will make!" Victor yells as he breaks the armored thorns protecting Raesetsu's stomach.
Ange deflects an incoming blow with her giant katana and pokes Raesetsu in the gut. She roars in pain and staggers back. All the Gallowglass members strike her and jump out of range before she can retaliate with her hefty anchors.
"Got it!" Lawrence cranks the key and turns the engine over. He hits the throttle and we blast out of the harbor.
Raesetsu throws the anchors down and pries the eyelid on her forehead open. A huge beam of black fog explodes around her and sends everyone flying back. She hunkers down and slithers away underneath the cover of the black mist and disappears before the Gallowglass members return to their feet.
I breathe a sigh of relief knowing that she managed to escape, but how exactly are Raesetsu and Alan going to get off the island? I try to come up with some kind of logical solution, but maybe I should have faith that the both of them will find a way.
Asuka's parents caress their daughter and shed tears that she is still alive. Gekko and Senko pick on Octavian and provoke an intense argument over who saved who the most amount of times. Hikage leans back and closes her eyes.
Yuyaki takes her shoulder holster off and pulls everything but her underwear and bra off, "I don't know about all of you, but I for one am done with the ocean for a while. The sand and salt always finds a way to irritate my skin."
"Ole Yuyaki. Has survived more than any person could ever hope to, and the only thing on her mind is her skin." Lawrence chuckles.
"If I may speak, thank you for saving me. All of you." Asuka's voice cracks.
"Anytime." Octavian answers.
I walk into the cabin and prop my elbow on Lawrence's shoulder, "Well. We did it."
"We did. We sure did."
"Let me guess, you're making it up as you go?"
"You know me too well Homura."
Ending Song: Guren no Okite-me by Eri Kitamura
I lay my head on his shoulder and chuckle at the stupid exchange. Being out here on the ocean is actually nice despite what just happened. The calm water, the white clouds that speckle the golden sunrise, and the rainbow stretching over and welcoming us back to the mainland almost brings me to tears.
I look over my shoulder to make sure Gallowglass isn't chasing us. It looks like they are burning the thorns Raesetsu used to block the entrance to the harbor. Even if they have a key to a boat, it looks like it will be a while before they'll be leaving. Good.
From the island is some kind of black figure launching up in the air and heading right for the clouds. I don't really know what it is but given the context, it's safe to assume it's him and Raesetsu.
"Asuka look! Alan is alive! He won!"
Everyone turns back and tries to catch a glimpse as the winged figure bursts through the cloud and disappears. Asuka trembles and tears leak from her passionate eyes as she lets out a heavy sigh of trapped emotion, "I'll be waiting for you…"