Opening Song: The Four Horsemen by Johan Soderqvist

Terrible images flood into the nightmares that already plague my subconscious mind. My eyes snap open, but the only thing visible is the smoldering white ash that drapes across the upside down hellscape. The whole area can be seen from this one position, and it's nothing but flat land that stretches as far as eyes can see. Essence of slain angels and demons form a swirling pool of blue and black that gives some kind of life to the dull ground. Outside the swirling boundaries of celestial and umbral dust is the oblivious world. Dead to what is unfolding.

True horror fills me as I spot Asuka, Yumi and Homura laying within the sea of otherworldly bodies. Behind them are weapons and scorched clothing that serve as mementos of the girls that have already fallen. The brim of Yagyu's umbrella is riddled with holes while Hikage's broken knife lays by her scalded clothing. Murakumo's cracked ogre mask whisks away from a giant gust of wind, and Ikagura's sword marks her resting place. Strands of thread from a pink sweater lay next to a pair of armored boots and blue melted hairbands.

Asuka props herself up on her katana and stares fiercely at the sky. Blood pours out of her mouth and adds to the massive red pool underneath her weak body.

Numbness combined with the inability to do anything renders me useless. On the other side of the battlefield are five men sitting on horses of varying colors. I recognize the one in the blue armor. Yet the crest of his helmet has formed four decorative swords that wrap around his head like a crown. In the middle of Paladin, and the one horseman called Knight is an individual that has a set of decorative wings running up his spine. Sitting behind the winged individual is Kagura and behind the horsemen is a massive army of giant beings wearing church bells for helmets.

Different banners from indescribable creatures carry flags that represent their retrospective lord. Seven trumpet shaped monsters let out metallic squalls with flicks from their black tongues. Tension continues to mount as I spot a familiar mask, and a woman with blue skin. Annalise, Makaria and Alice sit next to one another on thrones hoisted up on walking hands. The cat named Mojo sits atop of Alice's throne. Strands of saliva dripping out of his unsettling smile and Alice's blood lusting mouth.

By Makaria's side stands Gehrman and Maria. Jonathan, Octavian, Olivera, Lawrence and many other hunters that were quarter, third, and half-bloods. Yuyaki is there too. Pure blooded yoma such as Hades, Raesetsu and Daemogina stand by Makaria's side.

"The time of passing for this world has long since expired. The end of days is come." The winged horseman states.

"Such a sad state of affair when the world's most powerful people send others to fight their war." Cavalier Nihil states.

"They can hide in caves and beg for rocks to seal them away from us. It changes nothing." Knight Belum scoffs.

"And I always get what I set out for." Cataphract Mortem states.

Asuka works her feet underneath herself and limps towards the massive army. The horseman with decorative wings holds up a closed fist and signals everyone to hold position. He slides off his horse and approaches Asuka. Dangling off the side of the winged horseman's belt is a filthy stuffed cat that's been speckled with spots of dry red. Asuka falls to one knee and spits out a wad of red onto the barren ground.

"I trusted you…I loved you…And this is what you do!? What the hell happened to you!?" Asuka screams in between choked grief.

The winged horseman carefully picks Asuka up. She struggles and slams her swords into the horseman's armor but fails to scratch the surface. Flame absent of all color leaks out of the horseman's wings and incinerates the magical barrier. Paladin lifts his hand up and signals to march.

"The beginning of a new world is now. Take solace in the fact that I granted all of you honorable, brave warriors a way out. Free from being part of our celebratory feast."

Asuka breaks both blades on her katana and wakizashi, but she continues to stab the winged horseman with the broken hilts. "I know you're still in there…Please come back to me…"

The horseman holds up a revolver and melts it within his hand, "The only thing that remains in this artificial shell is Hassar Morabis. Cup Maker and Father of the Horsemen." He summons a ball of white fire in his free hand and balls his fist up.

"Drink child. It will kill the nightmare." Annalise's voice interrupts.

A drop of bitter tasting wine washes down my throat and causes me to choke. I spring from the bed and violently cough. Annalise is sitting at my bedside with a glass dropper, and a vial of blue fluid. Daemogina and Raesetsu guard the entrance to the room as Rutur holds a silver tray full of glass bottles and beakers. There wasn't enough to choke on, but it hit a specific part of my throat that it forced me out of the sleep paralysis trance.

"Was it of aid?" Annalise asks.

"Yeah. You stopped the dream before it spiraled out of control." I clear my throat.

"Very good." Annalise seals the dropper back into the vial and puts it back in the tube rack. "I sensed that you were in distress."

"You were aware of what was going on?"

"I know what is haunting you, but more importantly, I know why." Annalise replies.

"That's not going to happen to me, is it?"

"The answer lies within your molding heart. It would be an atrocious act for you to cut down your beautiful bride, but in the end, you will be the one that makes the final judgement."

I sit down on the bed and try to expel the terrible thoughts from my mind. Even though it's over, that fever dream is still stressing me out. Is that what happens if Paladin gets his way? Will I turn into that thing? If so, then I must provide something capable of killing me if the horsemen win.

"I will make it my personal mission to ensure that the future does not come to that." Daemogina says.

"Despite my grave sin against Annalise, my blade has served her for thousands of nights. I fought against the healing church, and I'll fight them and anyone else again seven times over if it means protecting everyone in this room." Rutur adds.

"I've never been the one for inspirational inquires, but count me in." Raesetsu states.

Annalise stands and folds her hands together, "The time has come for you to return to your world. The real fight for salvation is about to begin. Gather your belongings and proceed to my throne room."

Everyone collectively leaves and Rutur shuts the door on his way out. I put my stuff on and check to make sure my guns are loaded. The revolver's cylinder swings out. All the primers haven't been struck by the hammer so it's good to go.

That dream comes back and plagues my mind. This revolver has been with me since I first became a hunter. It was a gift from the leader of my old gang. The gang Roger and Jonathan tasked me with killing in exchange for freedom.

I run my finger down the barrel and remember that night when those rounds shredded the man I desired to call father. His gang might have acted on their own accord that day, but that man and his gang forfeited their right to live when they hurt my little sister and killed her parents.

It was no longer about money or freedom or redemption. It was a personal vendetta for taking the lives of two innocent parents and traumatizing their daughter. This revolver has been a testament of my failure, but a sacrament to how Minori still chose to love me despite everything being my fault. It might have just been sleep paralysis, but for me to just destroy the very weapon that's formed my identity forces me to ask why that sequence was so specific.

I put the revolver in my holster and head up to the throne room. Annalise is injecting Raesetsu with a syringe as Daemogina holds the platter with all of the medical supplies. Raesetsu takes the plate from Daemogina and trades place.

"You're coming with us?" I ask.

"I figure it's time I go see my child." Daemogina sighs.

Annalise takes the knife and carves that strange unfinished caduceus on Daemogina's arm. I keep my thoughts to myself, but this seems like it's only going to end badly for her. However, maybe Daemogina can get through to Fubuki and reestablish that maternal link. Although that's going to be much more difficult considering the circumstances. Hopefully Daemogina's motherly love can save Fubuki's soul.

Daemogina steps out of the way as Annalise picks up another syringe and injects me with it. "As promised, I will extend the time all of you can be gone in exchange for the blood dreg."

"Thank you, Annalise." I say.

I step out of the way and Rutur approaches Annalise with his moldy cup. She digs the artery in her wrist out and fills his cup to the brim. He chugs the rotted blood and puts his cup away. Annalise puts the squirting artery back in the gaping wound and seals it shut. "Now my children. Take care of one another just as you would the family of the old world."

"Yes Annalise." We reply.

"Thy bidding is absolute my Queen." Rutur as he bows in a regal manner.

"I need to get something before we leave." Daemogina says.

"We'll wait for you at the entrance." Rutur replies.

Daemogina walks into her room while the three of us head down the stairs and wait at the throat of the castle's entrance. Raesetsu sits down at the fireplace and examines the healed wounds on her stomach. Rutur pulls out a gold rapier from his side and uses it like a cane to keep himself from slumping over.

Unlike many rapiers though, this one has a long needle like blade and two thick daggers that coil around the basket guard. There is also a sword breaking knife on the offhand side of his body. When I first saw Rutur, I figured he's just be another beast that retained enough intelligence to obey Annalise. Yet his choice of weaponry suggest otherwise.

"What are we going to do now?" Raesetsu asks.

"Stop Paladin, and the other horsemen."

"And how are we going to do that?"

"Figure out where they're at so I can kick their asses."

"Straight to the point." Raesetsu chuckles.

"I have an idea of where we can begin our search." Rutur interjects.

"Where at?" I ask.

"I will take you there."

Daemogina walks down the stairs with a set of rings that wrap around her neck. Rutur leads us out of the castle and opens up the carriage door. I sit next to Daemogina as Rutur gives some kind of instruction to the driver. Leather snaps and the carriage takes off into the blizzard.

That strange feeling reality is being torn in half comes over me, and the carriage stops. Rutur flings the door open and lets Raesetsu and Daemogina exit. Rutur follows me out, and the driver rides off. The four of us are standing in the middle of a huge lake that is completely frozen over. The sunset beams with an orange gold hue and causes the clear running ripples underneath the ice sheet to weakly sparkle.

"This place looks familiar." I walk up the embankment and look for specific landmarks. Far off in the distance is Gessen Academy, and the city that prevents it from standing out as a shinobi academy. I know where we are now. This is the lake that's far up in the mountaintops. Since it's so remote and only accessible by foot, nobody really comes up here.

"Why did you bring us here?" I ask.

Rutur walks over to the edge of the lake and points his bony finger towards a massive drove of trees. Judging by the direction, he is pointing off towards the back row of trees that are brushing up against the mountain's steep rockface.

"Are you sure there's something in there?" I ask.

Rutur remains silent and continues to point in total confidence. Raesetsu and Daemogina approach the edge and look down where he is pointing. "Yeah. There's something down there. I can feel it." Daemogina states.

"What is it?"

"A powerful magical barrier." Daemogina answers.

"Then let's go check it out. Shall we?" Raesetsu states as she jumps over the edge and lands on a narrow slab of rock sticking out.

I clench the edge of the embankment and drop down where Rasetsu is. Daemogina follows, and the three of us scale down the mountain. It would be easier to just fly down but after what happened back in Ursania with Miyabi, it would be better if I just cut those wings off. Right now, I can't sever them because it's going to put me at a disadvantage for a couple days. Days that can't be wasted on rest and recovery. Eventually they will both be clipped off. Even if I have to saw them off myself.

Raesetsu reaches the bottom and waits for me and Daemogina to catch up. I make the final jump and land on top of a nearby tree. Daemogina hits the ground and meets up with Raesetsu. I hop to the next tree, grab the branch and swing to the next one.

Rutur is ahead of all of us and pointing in the direction of the magic barrier. There was no sound of his wings flapping or him jumping down with us, and he somehow made it down first. The illusionary background meshes with the cliff face and camouflages what lies inside the dome. Daemogina carefully approaches the barrier and touches the shield. She closes her eyes and listens.

"Obscure reality spell. Cast by someone adapt at illusion." She moves her hand around and feels. "Blood. Made by a hunter? No. There's no trace of arcane. Wait. Shinobi. It's spiritual energy, but the caster mixed some of their blood into the illusion. A near perfect cast."

"Whoever made this barrier didn't want anyone seeing what was behind it." Raesetsu says.

Daemogina walks around to the back of the wall and sticks her finger in a tiny crack that's between the barrier and cliff face. She carefully peels a section of wall back and peeks in. My senses perk up with, and a familiar feeling washes over me.

Raesetsu swells up in a defensive manner as she drops to her hands and feet and walks around in a pouncing position. Rutur grabs his rapier and holds it up in front of his face. The polished basket guard reflects an image over his shoulder and allows him to maintain his fake omnipresence to the one approaching.

"Wait! Don't!"

My words startle Raesetsu and she pounces forward. The man slides underneath her as she digs her claws into a tree. A sudden force plows through the wind and violently whips the snowflakes around. The image of where Rutur was standing fades away as the blade of his rapier catches an incoming shuriken midair. The mouth of his sword breaker snags another metal object and forces it to yield.

"Stop! He used to be my teacher! And the yoma are with me!" I yell.

Rutur backs off but curls into an inside stance while the intention of his sword breaker hides behind his back. Raesetsu knocks the splinters inside her palms free and regroups with Rutur. I drop down and put myself in between them, and who they see as the enemy. Raesetsu stands back up on her feet as Rutur puts his weapons away.

The man cocks his arm back, "Alan? Is that you? Because all of you are about to take a quicksilver purge fire bath!"

"There's no need for that! The three of them are with me!"

The silhouette of the man keeps his hands on the grenade as he eases out of the shadows. The black light shading his hair vanishes, and a grey hue shines in the moonlight.

"It's been a long-time old man."

"It's only been a week." Mr. K replies.

"Feels like an eternity when you are a victim to Korin Fuma. What are you doing out here?"

"I could ask you the same thing, and why are you running around with Hornfist, Grim Scripture and whatever the hell that tusked, deer faced thing is?"

"Friends I made in the Korin Fuma."

"Are you sure they can be called friends?"

"This bunch isn't so bad once you get to know them."

"And you expect me to believe they brought you here out of the goodness of their heartless husks?" Mr. K asks.

"I'm not a heartless husk…" Daemogina pulls out a crimpled photo and traces her fingers over the images of a family portrait. "At least, I don't think I am."

"Mr. K, I wouldn't have been able to return if it wasn't for them, and I don't even want to think of what would have happened to Asuka if she was still on that shithole island." I reply.

Mr. K crosses his arms and sighs, "Alright. I'll take your word. However, I'm not letting my guard down while they're around. Nor are they allowed to come in."

"The feeling is more than mutual shinoboy." Raesetsu cracks her knuckles.

Rutur hops up into the treetops and hides while Daemogina sits on a nearby boulder and studies her family portrait. Raesetsu dives on the ground and burrows underneath a thick blanket of snow. Mr. K leads the way, but he constantly looks over his shoulder as he approaches the barrier.

"So what's going on exactly?" I ask.

"I've been doing reconnaissance on Gessen."

"What for?"

"There's a tournament going on. The sponsor is offering a big award as well as an opportunity to the winner to achieve true prize."

I refrain from making a comment and think. There is a good chance this is Paladin's doing to try and get to Yumi without making it look suspicious. Although this is setting off all kinds of alarms to me. Yet why is he doing this rather than forcefully taking the scroll away from Yumi? Something is missing, and it's really bothering me that the answer isn't obvious.

Mr. K pulls out a talisman and sticks it into the barrier. He rotates it around and dials in some kind of complex combination of motions. A section of the barrier opens up, and inside is an entrance into the cliffside. Mr. K reseals the hole and leads the way.

"You sure got quiet all of a sudden. Is something wrong?"

"Mr. K, how tight is security?"

"What are you planning?"

"Something stupid, and I need your help to get in."

"Why do you need into Gessen? You're a fugitive."

"True, but I also have an idea of what's at stake. How's the tournament going?"

"I wasn't paying much attention since I was cycling between collecting information and trying to keep a low profile. I do know all of Gessen as well as some students from other regions are taking part." Mr. K says.

"How the hell did something like that get past the dean, and the superintendent?"

"I don't know, but the man who got the approval is going by the alias C.V, and from the clues I gathered, he was willing to pay seven times the standard fee for the best shinobi possible, and he paid up front to sponsor a tournament so he could hand pick the best one the area could offer."

"Well, it sounds to me that C.V has much more on his mind than creating a stereotypical tournament arc." I state.

Mr. K pulls out a flashlight and walks through the entrance of the cave. Yoma blood fills the sclera of my eyes and washes the green of the irises away. Corruption stains the pigment of the pupils red and turns the violet darkness into a bright orange color. The beam of Mr. K's flashlight refracts light off the wet rock walls and causes the pathway ahead to sparkle.

"I'm sorry about earlier." Mr. K sighs. "I'm just under a lot of pressure right now. Between trying to keep Asuka hidden, and the everyday battle against yoma, I just assumed you had turned on us when I saw you with Grim Scripture and Hornfist."

"I know Hornfist is Raesetsu, but I'm guessing Daemogina is Grim Scripture? Why's she called that?"

"Because she is easily the most dangerous of all yoma."

"But she's such a nice woman."

"Don't let her nature fool you. She's called Grim Scripture because she is a powerful invoker. Capable of casting black magic from the deepest depths of hell as well as miracles that can resurrect gods. In all my years of being an instructor, hunters and shinobi combined only know about one hundred and twenty spells. Grim Scripture? She knows all of them. Including all the ones people haven't lived long enough to talk about. Also, how do you know her and Hornfist by name?" Mr. K states.

"They were trapped with me in the Korin Fuma, and we had to work together to get out. I wouldn't have been able to escape or save Asuka from Caligula without their help. Nor would I be alive if it wasn't for Rutur."

"How did you end up there in the first place?"

"It's a long story, but there's a good chance that asshole who organized the tournament at Gessen is the one that threw me in. He's also the reason Asuka was put in prison."

A sense of sensuality causes me to perk up and I rush forward. Mr. K chuckles as he pushes me back behind him, "Easy there son. Remember the circumstance we're in."

I contain my excitement and follow Mr. K as calmly as possible. The narrow path branches off to the left and right. Mr. K shines the flashlight at the wall and looks down. Underneath an overhanging layer of natural rock is a small passage that leads right past the intersection. Mr. K moves a rock out of the way and squeezes through a tight passage. I follow him in and barricade the way back in with the rock.

"Don't worry. It's just me and Alan."

"Well, it's about time you showed up." Old Man Hanzo states. "How you holding up Alan?"

"Still alive."

"Good." Old Man Hanzo points over his shoulder, "she's over there, and I won't keep you waiting."

On the other side of the room is a slab of rock that sets about three foot high. Mr. K and Old Man Hanzo converse back and forth on what to do next as I head towards the stone. A soft cough leaves Asuka's mouth as she sinks further into her sleeping bag. Dried sweat stains left over from a past fever soak the fabric where her head lays. Several empty water bottles lay scattered all around the cave as she rolls onto her side.

I take my gauntlets off and gently flick the edge of her ear with a finger. The sensation causes her to flinch and yank away. I reach back down and brush her hazel hair out of her face. Asuka rolls toward me and reaches down the sleeping bag like she's about to grab something.

"You always were the light sleeper." I say as I take the wheel off my back and set it off to the side.

Asuka's eyes break open, and she holds her breath. Happiness and relief overtake her as she scoots back and opens the sleeping bag. I ease inside and wrap my arms around her. Asuka presses her wet body against mine and takes hold of my face.

"What took you so long?"

"You know. Standard hunter bullshit." I reply as we press our foreheads together and rest. "How are you feeling?"

"Good. My wounds have healed, and the fever passed a couple hours ago. All that's left is the full recovery. What about you?"

"Still in one piece."

Asuka plays with my hair as I relax and hold her close. "Why are you carrying a wagon wheel around on your back?"

"I'm trying to fulfil the super-secret ancient shinobi technique of being capable of killing someone with an everyday object."

"Well it looks ridiculous." She giggles.

"If you say so."

A fragment from the nightmare earlier causes me to tense up. I pull Asuka closer and hide my eyes in her chest. My teeth clamp together to the point that they creak from the excessive bite force. Asuka works her hand between my armor and gently rubs the permanent reminder left from Roger's sword.

"I may not be the strongest shinobi yet, but I will not let you succumb to any of your internal demons."

"Thank you, Asuka." I sigh.

"Now what is on your mind?"

"I'm going to go put a stop to all of this."

Asuka takes hold of my face with both hands and gazes into my yoma eyes, "I'd rather you stay here with me."

"And I want to stay here with you, but…"

"But you have a job to do. Just promise me you'll come back because I haven't properly thanked you. Nor have you apologized for making me worry so much." She smiles.

"Do I get an extra time since you haven't forgiven me yet?" I ask.

"Of course."

"Alright then. It's time to go kick some ass. But before I go…" I lean in and kiss Asuka on her lips. Undying passion eradicates all doubt in my mind, and the will to put Paladin in the ground spurs me to get out there and turn the rest of the horsemen into collectible cups.

Asuka lets out a small giggle as we finish, "Now get out there and win."

I kiss her on the forehead and back away. Asuka unzips the sleeping bag and lets me out. I cinch up my gauntlets and mount the wheel onto my back. Mr. K pokes at the campfire with a stick as Old Man Hanzo's beard conceals a smug aura as he strokes his withering face.

"What?"

"Oh nothing. I'm just recalling a conversation I had with a young man a couple days ago. How did it go again?" Old Man Hanzo teases.

"Alright. Maybe you were right. For once."

"A confession is a confession. Regardless of how many times I was right."

Mr. K tosses his stick into the fire and looks at me, "So Alan. What's the plan?"

"Hmmm… don't die is the first part."

"Obviously." Mr. K sighs.

"Second, I'm going to need a giant cardboard box."

"For what?"

"My plan." I reply.

"We're not even to the first step, and this is already stupid." Mr. K sighs.

"Step three, thank you." I reply.

"Rephrase, a step that actually matters. Sneaking into Gessen in a cardboard box isn't going to work."

"Who said anything about sneaking into Gessen with a box?"

Mr. K drops the attitude and sits at attention, "Alright Alan. You got me. What is your plan?"

"I'll explain on the way."

"Wait. Before you go." Old Man Hanzo stops me. He pulls out a homemade map and draws a circle on the edge of a tree line. "This is where we are heading when Jonathan comes back for us, and you still owe Asuka a proper apology."

I tuck the map into my side satchel and give a half-hearted salute, "And I still need to forgive her for making me worry."

"I don't remember that being the conversation." Asuka interjects.

"Fuck! She heard me!"

"Take care son."

"You too old man. Goodbye Asuka."

"Goodbye Alan."

Mr. K and I leave the hidden chamber and cover the exit back up. The sun is still standing over the mountaintops so dusk still has a while before it sets in. Raesetsu bursts out from under the white ground. Rutur drops down from the treetops and Daemogina makes her way over.

"What's the plan?" Raesetsu asks.

"We're going to stop the horsemen for good. How? Well, I actually have an idea, and I'll explain on the way."

"Finally!" Raesetsu cheers.

I take out the carriage whistle and rest it in my lips, "You may want to stand back Mr. K."

The air flows out of the hollow opening and refines the sound into the unique signal. Metal horse shoes beat the snow down while the wooden wheels carve a perfect trail. The carriage comes to a stop, and the door flings open. Daemogina and Raesetsu climb in as Mr. K stands back in shock.

"I'll just meet you there."

"Ah come on! What could be more awesome than a carriage ride from hell?" I tease.

Mr. K holds up his car keys, "a vehicle with an actual heater."

"Good point. I'll see you at Gessen's outskirts. Take care old man! Gessen Academy Outskirts! East side please!"

The driver pops his reins, and the carriage sets off. Mr. K says something, but we vanish in between this world and reality. It sounded like he was telling me to be careful. He said something else, but I couldn't make out what it was. Either way, he knows where to meet up. I can start formulating the rest of the plan when we can get a view of the place….

Ending Song: Yamiyo Wa Otome o Hana Ni Suru BGM version by Ruka Kawada