Opening Song: None
Yumi helps me back up to my feet. The arrow that glanced me in the knee managed to slice right through solid yoma leather and demon plate legging. The wound heals shut, and the armor stitches itself back together. Paladin flings another arrow by hand and clogs the barrel of my revolver. Yumi and I grab hold of one another and dive behind a table as several more arrows from Paladin's hand turn the wooden top into a pin cushion.
"Hapless halfblood unfit to be father's harbinger. Why do you stand against us?" Paladin states.
His footsteps grow in size to the point that they rattle the floorboard. Yumi opens her dress up and feels around her breasts. Two nodes have formed on her heart. She reaches into the smaller node and pulls the regular transformation scroll out.
"However, you have both suffered and inflicted the nature of our very existence onto the world. You have conquered, yet been conquered. Seen war and caused it. Suffered famine but brought it. A victim, but simultaneously, a bringer of death."
"What are you going on about?" I shout.
"I am willing to explain if you sheathe your weapon."
I poke my head out from around the corner and check to make sure Paladin isn't up to anything. His bow, arrows and sword have phased out of existence. He stands in the open with outstretched arms. Paladin's armor seeps into his flesh, and clothing that resembles what an average person would wear in leisure time takes the place of his elegant armor.
I put my revolver away and slowly step out from behind the table. Yumi puts the scroll back into her chest but keeps the dress untied just in case Paladin tries to do something.
"Now, let us talk as a father would to his son." Paladin states.
"I know what you want, and you're not going to get it." I reply.
"Father, that is not your choice to make. Yumi? Would you be willing to trade your scroll for something far more powerful?"
"Don't listen to him Yumi. If he gets your scroll, then we're all in big trouble." I reply.
"What exactly do you want with my scroll?"
"To usher in the creation of a perfect world, and you have the chance to be the first step to achieving such a vision." Paladin answers as he pulls out a red stone that pulses with divine power. "Not to mention your rightful prize. With this, you will become immortal. Nothing in humanity's flawed world will be capable of touching you, and you will be free to reign with me and my brothers in the new age."
The very sight of the talilbasha causes my heart to burst into flames. Careful rage courses through my veins and sharpens me to the point of attacking. The very thing that has plagued me and Asuka is within striking distance.
Yet if I try something and it fails, Paladin will undoubtable take it out on Yumi. She's a big girl, but we're not dealing with a shinobi, a hunter or yoma for that matter. I could barely take Cataphract out when he went all out and with Yumi here, she could be made into a hostage at any moment.
Yumi silently thinks and contemplates on Paladin's statement. She shrugs her head in disagreement, but a conflicting thought comes to her mind about his statement. "May I ask what you meant about humanity's flawed world?"
"My family helped free humanity from the hands of the yoma. Not the corrupted, inbred creatures you children slay. The pure-blooded umbral titans that every religion in the world fear. Not only did we free humanity from their oppression, we even helped them rebuild the world. That was until humanity became ungrateful. The special scroll that rests in your heart is nothing but a vessel that contains the soul of youngest Cataphract's wife and child. Slain by the hands of humanity and made into a weapon to wage war against their own kind."
Yumi looks down at the enlarged node on her breast and tears up. She clasps her mouth and falls to the ground in disgusted sorrow. Yumi's face hits the floor as she lies there in absolute devastation.
"So you're telling me that the four scrolls that rest in the various girls are the souls of the horsemen's wives and children?" I ask.
"Do you now understand why humanity stands as the greatest threat to not only to us, but themselves? It's not too late to do the right thing. I'm not talking to you as Alan my enemy, but as my father Morabis. Tell mother that it's time to start over."
"Then why did Morabis' previous harbingers stand against you?" I reply.
"That's because nothing from the old world can come into our new one. Morabis and Kagura still buy into that innocent and guilty myth. To me, no human is innocent, but I have had a change of heart. I have decided to allow the girls with scrolls to come over. Yumi, and the others will be spared Armageddon, but everything else must die."
"No deal. Even if Asuka were to come with me, there's no way I'll forsake the others, or the people who have done nothing wrong."
"Asuka isn't even your bride to begin with. She belongs to Cavalier. Just as Kagura is your wife, Hassar Morabis."
"Bullshit!" I flare up.
"Such a shame you bed the wife of your middle child when you have Kagura. The most perfect being in existence. The death angel, and very daughter of God himself, and she still isn't enough to sate father's taste."
"Shut your mouth!"
I spring towards Paladin and ram my fist into his face. Paladin lets the blow glance off his cheek, and all the force dissipates in the air. He brings his leg up and kicks back. I leap over the attack and counterstrike. He catches my thrust punch midair and strikes. I block the blow, but he baits and snags me by the back of the neck. I thrash around as he holds me in the air like a flailing child trying to break free from a kidnapper.
"LET ME GO!"
"You know, this would be so much easier if father chose someone that was infatuated with power, or was the Harem type. Unfortunately, he never has. Yet the tease of little Asuka chan and Kagura being in your bed at the same time infuriates you to the point that it can be exploited. Consider yourself conquered."
"Put Alan down!" Yumi yells.
"You know, Cataphract has been sealed away for the time being. I don't think he'd mind if Yumi joined Asuka as a fellow concubine."
"Don't listen to him Yumi! I fell for his trap, and now he's trying to bait you into the same NTR bullshit!"
Paladin spins around and throws me towards Yumi. I flip upright and drag my hand across the wooden floor to slow down.
"Then I guess the decision falls upon her. Yumi, would you be willing to exchange the scroll for immortality?" Paladin shows the talilbasha off.
Yumi wipes her eyes and stands up. She takes a couple deep breaths and collects herself, "I will not."
"You will lead humanity down the invertible of destruction if you hold onto that scroll. However, I can give you, the others and Alan anything you could have ever wanted. Wealth, power. All the things humanity covet but are unable to achieve in this failed world."
"Listen to me Yumi. Whoever runs the universe, whether it be God, Buddha, old ones, fucking Naruto from Dragonball, it doesn't matter. You were entrusted with that scroll. Not me. Not Paladin. Yumi of Gessen Academy was because you have the power to make sure humanity doesn't screw up any worse than they already have." I state.
Yumi stands tall, puts her chin out and clenches her fists, "Mr. CV, Paladin. Whatever your preferred name is. I demand you leave my school at once."
"And what about your prize?"
"As Alan said, the scroll was entrusted to me. So take the stone back to where you found it."
Paladin raises his hands up in a mocking manner and slowly claps them, "Oh father. You really do pick the most egotistical men to be your harbinger. Very well, but before I leave, can I pass this cup onto you?"
He flings the talilbasha up. A hole forms in the middle of the air and swallows the stone. Yumi looks behind her as the talilbasha runs down her shoulder and lands behind her. All the air leaves my lungs as something rockets into the back of my spine. I gasp and try to determine what just hit me.
Paladin closes the gap and hoists Yumi up by her hair. She puts her foot on him and tries to kick away, but Paladin remains unmoved. He spins his leg around and kicks my revolver across the room. Paladin throws Yumi up into the ceiling and drives his boot into my gut. Yumi and I collide mid air and slam back down on the ground.
"Silly Yumi, you still have to fight me since you declined your prize. I'll even let Alan help before your inevitable defeat." Paladin states as he picks the talilbasha up and flourishes it.
I jump out of the way and Yumi spiral kicks her way up. Paladin avoids Yumi's wake up attack as she takes up a strong defensive position. I pull my kopises out and rake them together. Paladin sits the stone on Kurokage's throne and approaches us with a sense of complete confidence. The kind that gives a son of a bitch an extremely punchable face.
Yumi unties her uniform and pulls her normal scroll out from her breasts. The scroll bursts above her head and leaks a misty frost that freezes her clothes solid. She slams her bladed fan into the frozen shirt and shatters the fabric of the Gessen uniform. Wrapped around the cuff of her thigh is some kind of chained knife. Yumi's ice infused kimono covers her naked body and completely conceals the weapon in a burst of misty snowflakes and moon colored light.
Paladin grabs hold of his shirt and rips it off. Underneath is a chiseled body that shines like polished marble. Divine markings and weapon shaped tattoos are scattered all over his body. Spears, swords, bows, and every type of medieval style weaponry make up the bulk of the markings. The ink that makes the sword shaped tattoos unravel and move towards his hands. Paladin lifts his arms up and crosses them.
"People should really know when they have been conquered. Yet I find the enemy's struggle against a fated defeat much more entertaining."
Black fluid leaks out of his palms and sword tips emerge from the ink that saturates his hands. Steel twirls around and forms two tangled blades of wavy metal that form a matching set of flamberge greatswords.
"Have it read at the end of this chapter; 'Alan and Yumi, conquered by Paladin Victorum, Commander of the Armageddon army.'"
I hunch down and Yumi takes up a defensive stance as we wait for Paladin to make the first move. He uncrosses his arms and drags the red steel across the ground. I dive forward and slash as Yumi jumps into the rafters. Paladin deflects my attack with one sword as he rotates the other behind his back to shatter Yumi's ice spike.
Yumi slides down a pillar and slashes with her bladed fan. Paladin ducks under the attack, flips a flamberge upside down and strikes Yumi in the chest with the pommel. She staggers back and tries to collect breath as Paladin turns both blades on me.
"So predictable. You shinobi never change." Paladin states as he spins around and leaves himself open.
I block the change up and retaliate. The neck of my kopises snag the wavy band of the flamberge and get stuck. Paladin flips both blades upside down and manipulates the kopises to aid him in stabbing between his arms. Yumi changes tactics and blocks. A kopis aimed for her leg bounces off her bladed fan as she retreats to avoid the remaining three blades.
Paladin bends his arm and manipulates my kopis to block an incoming ice spike. I throw my head forward. Paladin ducks under the headbutt and launches back up. The top of his skull connects with my jaw and flips my head back. A blunt kick connects with my chestplate and sends me rolling across the ground. Split second images of Paladin spinning his blades around mix with the distorted room. Yumi yelps and lands right beside me.
I return to my feet to make sure Paladin isn't trying to come at us. Yumi works herself up as Paladin stands on the other side of the room with his arms crossed and swords planted in the floor.
"Yield?"
I dust myself off, "Nope."
"NEVER!" Yumi shouts.
The flamberge swords turn to black dust and return back into Paladin. The sword markings form on Paladin's chest as the spear and shield move towards his hands. A metal round shield, and a winged spear take shape.
I grab my wheel and slam back into Paladin's charge. The spiked buckler punches through one of the lats and forces me to step back. We slide across the room and lock up in a deadly game of tug of war. The wings of Paladin's spear collide with the lats of the wheel and drives the spear tip into my shoulder. I clasp my mouth shut and hold back the grunt.
Paladin brings the spear back and prods again. I lean back and hop side to side to avoid Paladin's attempts to land another hit. Each time the wings of the spear hit the wheel, Paladin pushes me back to an increasingly uncomfortable level where he could simply over throw the wheel and cut us down.
I reach into the gauntlet and crank. The wheel spins and stops Paladin from stabbing through. Yumi avoids an incoming thrust and gets behind me. Paladin rears back and charges into me again with his round shield. Yumi folds her fan up and imbeds it with ice to make a spear of her own. I shove my shoulder into the wheel's hollowed-out mount and lock up.
Yumi and Paladin poke at each other with their spears to test how far they can reach, and if there is a weakness. Yumi has a lot of protection but Paladin is way more flexible. The icy tip of Yumi's spear splinters, and the wings of Paladin's weapon split it down the middle. Yumi manipulates the ice and refreezes it. Icicles and frost wrap around the spear's wings and trap it. Yumi taps my shoulder and hands me the frozen shaft.
"Be careful." I point to the red spikes that rotate around the wheel. Yumi nods and prepares. Paladin and I wrestle wheel, shield and spears to try and gain leverage over the other. Yoma blood flows into my arms to compensate for the losing battle, but it only slows Paladin's advance.
Yumi launches off my back and gracefully soars above the wheel and through the air. Paladin stomps the shaft of his spear and frees the wings from the fan's icy shaft. Paladin pulls his shield back and blocks the chained throwing knife. The shift in force causes me to stagger forward into Paladin's spear.
He buries it into my chest and kicks his end. I fly back from the impact and hit the ground. Paladin snags Yumi's chain and yanks her towards him. She leaps up but Paladin drives his shield into her legs. Yumi tumbles out of control and hits the ground gasping for air.
Paladin plants his shield into Yumi's stomach and cartwheels over her toward me. Red sprays out the gaping hole as he rips the spear out of my chest. A trail of red drizzles from the spear's tip and follows behind Paladin as he keeps me and Yumi out of striking distance.
"Enough?"
I take a big drink out of an I.R.E vial and stand back up, "chest cavity might be collapsed, but I could do this shit all day."
Yumi rolls away from Paladin and rejoins me. She scoops her fan up and stays in a pouncing position. My chest seals itself back up and everything returns to normal. The fractured pain melts away, and everything heals back the way it's supposed to. Paladin flips his spear around and cleans the blood off with an oily rag. His head is tracing the rooftop like there's something up there.
I pick the wheel up and mount it on my back, "Yumi. Take a breather for a moment."
"Idea?"
"Not in the slightest."
"He's already bested us twice, so be careful."
I pull my kopises out and approach Paladin, "will do."
"Fighting on the girls' behalf?" Paladin traces his spear around the room.
"No. This is for me." I reply.
"We'll see about that."
I stand back and wait for him to decide what to do next. He's intentionally leaving himself upon and dragging his next selection out to try and bait me into doing something stupid. There's something in his back pocket, and whether it be an actual weapon or some kind of decoy isn't worth the risk of finding out.
The spear and shield dissolve in his hands and reforms those tattoos at the expense of a morning star, and a flail shaped marking.
"You had a chance to take her scroll by force. Why didn't you?"
"Because it's much more satisfying when the enemy surrenders on their own after learning it was pointless to fight. Yumi is still confident in her ability, and yours, but with a bit more pressure, her feelings for your will being, and her self-preservation will overtake her. The special kind of submission that's blinded by love and care." Paladin replies.
"You're twisted."
"Watching humans tear each other apart and defile what was never theirs for centuries does that to you."
I hunker down and wait. Power surges within as a certain type of energy takes hold. Paladin twirls his three-ball flail above his head and bashes with the morning star. The downward slam knocks a hole in the floor as he manipulates the momentum to strike with the flail. I flip the kopises around and strike the flail's chains with the spines. Paladin capitalizes on the poor grip and throws the swords out of my hands.
Cataphract's cup emerges from my hand and spawns his inhumane halberd. I drive the sharpened human hip towards Paladin. He bends backwards as the halberd narrowly misses his heart. I slam the blade down, and make another attempt to land the coveted final blow. Paladin flips his weapons around and forces the flail's chains to prevent the halberd from connecting. He wraps the flail around the head of the halberd and rolls out of the way.
A certain power overtakes me, and the memories of using my old scythe come back. I twirl the halberd over my head and walk towards Paladin. He weaves in and out of the cyclone and smacks his morning star into the halberd's head to test the might and potential impact. Paladin keeps distance and evades Cataphract's power. I slam the blade down and throw the flail towards Paladin.
He knocks the flail out of the air as I swing the halberd horizontally and use the extra momentum to flip back. The shaft of Cataphract's halberd rests across my shoulders as I scrunch up. The floorboards creak under the pressure of my boots as I throw myself at Paladin with the halberd's tip charging forth.
The nook of the weapon connects with the mace's shaft and sends Paladin skidding across the floor. He surrenders to the impact and uses the momentum to roll back and return to his feet in a triumphant manner. Cataphract's halberd and gauntlets seep back through my skin. I pick my kopises back up and try to hide the fact that left me severely winded and weak. There's nothing really left to go on other than the hope that maybe Yumi can escape with the scroll.
"Did you really think depending on my youngest brother's power was going to stop me? Did you?"
"No, but I know that it's a game of rock, paper, scissors when it comes to fighting with you." I say with as much pride as possible.
Paladin's flail and morning star reform the tattoo on his stomach as he turns his attention to Yumi, "It seems your savior can barely stand as it. If you give me the scroll, I'll think about letting him walk out of here while he can."
"That is your scroll Yumi, and you will not settle for something as insignificant as a heart stone from Kagura."
"Ask yourself Yumi, do you care about Alan?"
"Shut up Paladin!"
"Because if you did, then you would have already surrendered the scroll." The arrow quiver tattoo leaves his body and creates a bow. Paladin notches a massive great arrow and takes aim. I grab my wheel and prepare to defend.
Paladin spins around and releases the drawstring. The great arrow strikes near an individual trying to sneak through the rafters. Paladin leaps up and avoids an incoming shard of Yumi's ice. He notches four arrows and sends two in my direction. Yumi grabs the cusp of her armpit and dives behind a pillar as the other arrow hits me in the chest and knocks me down. Blood pours out of Yumi's arm as she grinds her teeth to fight the pain. It didn't stick her, but it managed to deliver a huge gash that is bleeding profusely.
The sweet scent of fresh blood from Yumi causes my eyes to turn black from the primal desire to drink. The yoma side takes control and forces my left hand to reach out towards her blood trail. A faint trace of humanity snaps in, and I slam my right hand into the great arrow. The arrow head punches through my back and buries up to the fletching. I snap back and realize what is going on.
"You okay Alan?" Yumi asks.
"Yeah…" I reply as I reach around my back and snap the head off. "How about you?"
"I'll live."
Whoever is in the rafters has Paladin's undivided attention. Someone dressed in a leather stealth suit drops down and grabs the talilbasha. A second figure in a familiar gas mask descends and drives his boot into the cracked visor of the thief trying to make off with the talilbasha. They roll down the stairs and send the stone flying across the room. Paladin drops from the rafters and grabs the person with the gas mask.
"Trying to steal that isn't yours? I'd expect nothing less of your kind." Paladin hurls the individual wearing the gas mask through the air. He flips and safely lands beside me and Yumi.
"You and Yumi alright?"
"I'm good Mr. K. She needs the healing."
"You sure? Because that looks pretty bad." Mr. K states.
"Tis but a scratch. Yumi needs the attention because she can't regenerate."
The thief scrambles across the ground after the stone. Paladin notches a series of arrows and sends them towards the person. The volley intentionally coaxes the individual rolling across the floor towards him. Paladin puts his foot on the stone and traps the hand of the person between the stone and his boot.
"You have something of mine, and I want it back."
The person unsheathes a katana and slashes. Paladin slaps the blow off course with an arrow and rams his fingers in the crevice of the busted visor. He flicks his wrist and yanks the helmet off. Paladin lets his boot off their hand and grabs a handful of short, white hair.
"Bastard! You messed up my hair!" Miyabi yells as she breaks free and climbs up a rafter. Paladin gives chase and cuts her off, "I'll let you go with the stone under one circumstance. Your awakening scroll."
"Like hell I'd give that to you! That's mine!"
Miyabi is the fourth scroll bearer? Just when the situation didn't seem like it could get any more F.U.B.A.R than it already was.
Paladin flies forward and shoulder charges Miyabi off the rafters. She swings around a pillar and descends to the ground. Paladin drops in front of the four of us and picks the talilbasha up. "Such a shame you children don't hold up to what a real shinobi is. Why the founder of the shinobi and his shadow warriors are the only reason Morabis and Kagura won the last battle 435 years ago."
"What do you mean founder? You're not talking about Hattori are you?" Mr. K asks.
Paladin points an arrow at us, "That's exactly who I'm talking about."
"You fought Hattori Hanzo? Just how old are you?"
"Perfection has no age. Although father found a way of sealing us into those damned cups over the ages, you will never be rid of us. Even if Alan emerges victorious, the strength of my brothers will only grow upon our return." Paladin answers Miyabi's question.
"Nice comment about perfection. How about you back it up." Miyabi states.
"Gladly."
"Miyabi no!" I yell.
"Shut up Alan!"
Paladin puts his bow over his back and lines his knuckles with arrows. Miyabi swings her katana at him, and he ducks. He uppercuts with a mighty fist and misses Miyabi's chin by centimeters. She backs off and tries to use the range of her katana to her advantage. Paladin closes the gap and engages Miyabi within touching distance.
"Goddamnit…" I force myself to stand. "Mr. K, get Yumi out of here."
"What about you?"
"Someone's got to help hot head before she hurts herself." I ease up and wait for a good opportunity to enter the flow of combat in a beneficial way.
"Alright Scarlet with a rotten attitude. This wouldn't be a complete story if we didn't have at least one otouto and onee-san fight."
"I don't need your help!" Miyabi yells.
Paladin flings a handful of arrows towards Mr. K and Yumi and forces them back in cover. I jump in and ball my fist. The arrowheads in between the crevices of Paladin's fingers stab through my gauntlets and stick. I ignore the pain and swing my other hand. Paladin loosens his shoulders and lets the blow glide across his face. A majority of the attack misses completely. Miyabi changes the course of her swing to avoid Paladin's calculation and lands a blow in his gut.
"Holy shit. You did it!" I cheer.
"Of course I did!" Miyabi snaps.
"If only it was capable of doing anything." Paladin sighs as he snags Miyabi by the face. The arrow heads grab hold of my knuckles and force me to bend to Paladin's will. The place where Miyabi landed the blow is completely solidified with a sheet of azure armor. The plate disappears as he tosses me up in the air. Paladin kicks up Miyabi's sword and drives it into my shoulder.
Gravity and my weight aid Miyabi's sword as it slices through my shoulder. The thick spine of the katana does all the cutting as it splits me open and puts me on the ground in pure agony. Paladin spins around in a flashy manner and hurls a golden pilum up into the rafters. The sound of the magic lance slicing through leather and flesh echo through the room and Mr. K grunts. Yumi and Mr. K bounce off the wooden rafters and slam into the ground with so much force that it kicks up dust.
"Mr. K!" I try to get up, but the partially healed wound on my shoulder demands otherwise.
"As for you." Paladin rears back and plants Miyabi into the ground. Her lungs cry out for air, and a line of saliva streams out of her mouth from the amount of pain she is in. Paladin places his boot in the middle of Miyabi's chest and stands triumphantly with his bow.
"Consider yourself conquered."
"Na…" Miyabi gasps as she wrestles against the overwhelming weight of Paladin's boot. Paladin notches an arrow and takes aim. Mr. K collapses to the ground with an arrow and pilum stuck in his stomach.
"Then it appears you need some kind of incentive. Tell me Miyabi, what is the value of life? Ten talents of gold? Five shekels of silver? Or does it have any value at all?"
An arrow strikes me in the left leg and digs through the floor board. I clench my teeth and pretend it didn't hurt. Paladin fires again. Another arrow hits me in the hand. I try to keep my breathing under control, but every second pushes me closer and closer to an agonizing outburst.
"Is your scroll worth more than his life?" Paladin puts another arrow in my arm. I slam my fist into the ground and fight back against the pain. "Does his life mean nothing?"
Another arrow hits me right in the shoulder that's still trying to heal. The mounting pain forces me to breathe out loud. Every attempt to quell the anguish fails, and the ability to remain silent ends. Miyabi frantically tries to break free, but the stress of this hopeless situation is forcing her to remain in a state of shock. Paladin presses his boot into Miyabi's face and forces her to look in my direction.
Mr. K charges forward from blind rage and slashes. The blade hits Paladin in the face, but the blue-plate mail that prevented him from getting hit earlier blocks the attack. Mr. K rears back and slams it into his face a second time. The knife snaps in half, but Mr. K violently stabs Paladin in the face with the broken knife.
"Even if it costs me my own life, I won't let you hurt the children anymore!" Mr. K yells with blood streaming down his clothing.
"Such bravery for a human. You possess traits worthy of even my praise." Paladin states as his helmet and armor forms in the places Mr. K is stabbing him.
All the pain raging within me turns to sorrow as I watch Mr. K fight like hell against a force that can't be hurt. I have the ability to regenerate without the use of blood genesis or I. because of my yoma blood. Whereas Mr. K is just a human with an arrow and pilum sticking out of his gut. Goddamnit! Why am I so pathetic?
Mr. K's attacks grow more and more sloppy. He collapses to his knees but continues to strike Paladin wherever possible. Tears leak out of Miyabi's eyes as she listens to Mr. K's struggle to breathe for our sakes, and the agony Paladin has inflicted. She closes her eyes and slowly unbuttons her stealth suit.
"STOP! PLEASE! Just…Stop…" Yumi sobs as she limps out from behind a pillar. "It was my scroll you were after. It's yours. Just…let Alan, and the others go."
"Fair enough." Paladin puts his bow away and lets Miyabi go.
Yumi unbuttons her kimono and reaches in-between her breasts. A unique looking scroll emerges from the node on her heart as she holds it out. Paladin takes the scroll and replaces the awakening node with the talilbasha. Yumi moans in between defeated sniffles as the stone causes her body to glow. The surge of new power overrides the blood genesis and I. she took earlier, and she heals immediately.
Miyabi crawls over to Mr. K and gives him half of an I.R.E in her satchel. He takes a deep breath and pulls the pilum and arrow out of himself. Miyabi shambles over and gives me the last half of the I.R.E. The bitter fluid washes down and settles in my gut. It dulls the pain enough for me to work myself up into a crouching position. Miyabi and Mr. K snap the arrow heads off and help me remove the shafts.
"You better get going, owner of the abyss scroll. Before I change my mind." Paladin states as the seal locking the main entrance disappears.
"This isn't over Paladin. You will regret this." Miyabi spits as she hoists me up to my feet.
"And I'll make sure of it." I add.
Miyabi and I look at one another, and we are thinking the same thing. Even if we aren't family, we both now have a common goal. What's at stake is way more than the feud we have shared for nearly a decade. Family or not, I have to protect that scroll. Miyabi makes haste and leaves.
"Such a shame I didn't make off with two scrolls. Thus is the cost of generosity. Yet, I have the satisfaction of enjoying two victories tonight." Paladin says in an extremely teasing manner.
"What are you talking about?" Mr. K asks.
"Do you think I'd let everything Hattori Hanzo and his shinobi did slide? No. This tournament was not only to show me who the strongest shinobi was, but to give me an opportunity to hit Hanzo's devout followers where it hurts most. Would you like to guess where my brother Caviler is as of right now?"
"No…NO!" Mr. K yells as he rushes out of the door.
"Consider this payback for what you did to Cataphract." Paladin states.
What little blood is left inside me turns cold from fear. Fuck. Fuck! FUCK! I follow after Mr. K and run across the rooftops. Gallowglass, and the shinobi students have almost gotten the academy under control. It looks like Oliveria and her girls are retreating while Raesetsu, Daemogina and Rutur patrol the outskirts from a safe distance.
I pull my sleeve up and check to see how much time remains. About a quarter left so just a little over an hour and a half. That was Paladin's plan all along, and he capitalized on me not knowing anything prior to any of this.
"Forget the car Mr. K! Carriage!" I yell as I pull out the whistle.
"Alan!" Octavian yells from the left. Him, Gekko and Senko rush over and join up with us.
"What's going on!? What's the rush!?" Senko asks.
"Hanzo Academy! The girls! They are in serious trouble!" I reply.
"Wait? How!?" Octavian questions.
"No time to explain!" I blow on the whistle.
The carriage rides in and keeps running at a pace we can catch up. Octavian, Gekko and Senko back off and try to determine how a horse drawn carriage just appeared out of nowhere. I leap onto the carriage, yank the door open and help Mr. K in.
"Hanzo Academy! Fast!"
The driver snaps his leather reins, and the horses whinny. They pick up the pace and ride off into the dimension altering portal of swirling color…
Ending Song: None