Chapter 27: Hunting Conquest, Famine, and War
"Congratulations on making it through the Second Kalpa," Yuriko said. She had been waiting on them in the terminal room. "Where would you like to go?"
"Before that, I want to know if the manikins with Futomimi have reached Asakusa," Naoki asked.
She glanced at the Amala drum, spinning the middle one a quarter turn. "It seems… yes, most of them have arrived there around the time you entered here. Three got lost in the tunnels between Ikebukuro and Asakusa, and only a few have moved out from the Ginza Underpass. If you mean to go to Asakusa, you should be aware that we've been keeping an eye on an unusual angel in the area. She acted as the Divine Messenger for Kagutsuchi, but she has stuck around even though her role is complete."
"All right, thanks for letting me know," he said, still thinking over where to go with the Riders now hunting him.
Going to Asakusa was out, as he didn't want to draw them near the manikins. Ginza and Shibuya were both places where ghosts and demons gathered, and there may be some still around Ikebukuro as well. The hospital was a maze and the halls were not tall enough for the Riders and their horses to pass through. Even if that was so, they could set up holes like Matador and Naoki didn't expect walls to stop them. The Obelisk was also a maze with few non-demon inhabitants, but it had large open rooms. There were regular and magical pits to watch out for, though, and it didn't seem right to bring fierce battles into a place where the soul of the world was taking refuge.
"I'll go to the Shinjuku Medical Center, close to when I left," Naoki said. While it wasn't an easy place to get around, he could watch better for holes and try to catch the Riders in the lobbies.
Yuriko bowed. "As you wish. Good luck."
Back in the first terminal room he'd known of, Naoki sensed the candelabrum Compassion in the basement hall. He wasn't surprised at that. "Matador, Daisoujou, I want you two with us," Naoki said. He'd noticed that Riders nullified various elements and all aliments, so Hell Biker wasn't going to help much. They didn't resist physical attacks, so Matador would definitely help. While the Riders also resisted Death and Expel spells, Daisoujou's superior healing was potentially necessary for Naoki and his followers to be challenging the Riders at this point.
"We are at your command," Daisoujou said, ringing his bell.
"And looking forward to a good show," Matador said, enthusiastic for this.
"Heh, this is gonna be good," Hanuman said, eager to begin. Mikazuchi grunted in agreement, a twinkle to his eyes.
"Let's go," Naoki said, going ahead to get the door to open up.
There was a large hole close to the elevator; it began moving towards him immediately. Near the door to the other half of the hospital basement, a pair of the shikigami were investigating the scattered papers. "Ah, Demi, welcome back," one of them said. Neither of them felt like the one he'd allied with. "It's been quiet here, but something in the air has recently changed."
"The Riders of the Apocalypse are here," he warned them. "Get to your kodamas and hide them; I'll handle the other fiends."
"We will, thanks," the shikigami said before following his peer through the door to fetch their wards.
"They probably won't attack the kodamas, but better safe than sorry," Naoki said, bracing himself for the upcoming fall.
Like with Matador, the hole dropped them into an entirely different landscape. The violent gold clouds above and the red earth below were the same as before. But this time, the overgrown ruins of a town surrounded them. The foul air buzzed with flies; rotting trash and decayed corpses had been left behind. There was an oppressive feeling around them; Naoki's horn sensed that if they didn't deal with White Rider swiftly, being in this place would sicken them all, even those who normally resisted or even nulled ailments.
To make matters more difficult, White Rider was armed with a bow. His horse had many blue eyes all over its body, none of which looked healthy. "Facing me is facing any conqueror in history, ultimately futile," White said. "You think you can take on we ancient ones who have been in the nightmares of humankind since you could escape the nature of beasts?"
"In your current form, yes," Naoki said. That limited even these ancient fiends. In his true nature, the manifestation of conquest could be nearly unbeatable as an enemy.
White Rider raised his hand, calling out a pair of crystal angels that had pulsing red glows for hearts. Divine Virtue, angels with their wills bound to White, weak to Force and Death, Expel would be reflected. White himself had no apparent weaknesses. "It's time to see if you will be a conqueror or be conquered." Then he blasted them with a maelstrom of fire.
Feeling that the angels could be a problem, Naoki used Concentrate. At the same time, he knew a way that White Rider could make himself even more difficult to fight. "Matador, take out his horse," Naoki ordered.
"Interesting opening," Matador said, then whirled his cape around himself to get ready to strike. Hanuman, Yagatarasu, and Mikazuchi were working to make their group stronger. While one of the Virtues managed to lower their defenses, Naoki got them knocked out with Tornado. But the lowered defense made a bright shot from White Rider's bow hit Naoki hard. It nearly killed him.
Fortunately, Daisoujou had held off on doing anything for just this possibility. He got their whole group healed up immediately. Then White Rider used a time slowing ability like Heeho had, keeping them from doing anything while he summoned out three Virtues, used Prominence again to knock them back down, and then started to back off out of their reach.
Matador moved right as the Dragon Eye was fading, closing the distance in the blink of an eye. He cut through the many-eyed horse's neck before White Rider could react to him being there. With a pained scream, the horse dissolved into black magatsuhi. White Rider stumbled gracelessly to the ground, dazed enough that he took a moment to make sure the white crown on his head remained there.
"We don't have time, the other two Riders are approaching. Take him out now!"
The words had come from his mouth, but Naoki didn't feel they were entirely his own. The magatama… but there wasn't time for that. Although he felt like his whole body was burning from the Prominence, he threw Deadly Fury at White Rider and his Virtues. It was like dozens of golden bottle rockets, burning off any bit of anger or annoyance. His vision got hazy as he collapsed from the effort. The sounds of the battle around him were distant. No, he didn't want to stop this now. He'd be saved from death, but he needed the cooperation and respect of the Riders in particular. They were important to his plans.
Then he was healed fully again. Checking the battlefield while he got to his feet, he noticed the one Virtue who'd only been clipped by his attack get taken out with Yagatarasu's Wind Cutter. Mikazuchi and Hanuman had responded to his orders by closing in to attack White Rider while he was still dazed by having his horse killed. And Matador finished the Rider off with his sword. The Candelabrum of Compassion clattered on the ground.
The bullfighter stepped back with a bow. "I am under your command, so it's yours."
"Right," Naoki said, hurrying over to claim the candelabrum. The black flames it held turned white, quivering because his hand was. Ignoring that reaction from the near-death, he held the candelabrum out. "White Rider, come back."
He did so promptly, appearing with his horse again. It must have been a particularly hasty revival as there was a scar on the horse's neck now. "You really need some more strength to pull off a tactic like that," White Rider said. "But I admire the will to take it anyhow."
"Drop the small talk, you're with me now," Naoki said. Now he could feel the two other candelabrum approaching. The battlefield shifted subtly.
White Rider bowed his head to that. "I am the Fiend White Rider, I acknowledge you as my conqueror."
"I am the Demifiend, I will use your power well." He then sent Compassion away because the other two Riders were in the battlefield. "Keep back and don't let the others engage you directly; I'm sure you can handle use of your powers best on your own."
"By keeping away from battle?" White Rider asked, testing him.
"By keeping out of reach," Naoki specified. "You've got a bow and a horse; I took you down fast to keep you from taking advantage of that."
"Very well," he said, satisfied with the answer. Although honestly, he might be able to take hits better than any of them.
The sickly village than burst into flames. Even the bodies changed, having died more violently. From one of the streets, Red Rider's horse slowed down as they approached. The horse was brawny and wild-spirited, looking normal save for its blood red coat. Red himself drew a steel sword with a blade so long that it fit well for combat on horseback. But as a manifestation of war, Naoki didn't doubt that his skills would be masterful however he fought. Two angels with heavy armor flew in with him: Powers, a stage weaker than the Virtues but still similar.
"Already fallen, have you White?" Red asked.
"He had a good strategy," White said, now positioned near one of the burning houses with the rest between him and Red's forces. Naoki thought of saying something, but felt a sudden pang of hunger. Actually, he hadn't eaten anything aside from the magatama and the rice porridge since the world ended. No, he needed to focus on this battle.
Red Rider shrugged at White's statement. "Well no conqueror is invincible; war can do in the mightiest, as you will plainly see." He then charged his horse right towards them.
Let's not risk too much with Deadly Fury; try Xeros Beat or Chaos Blade if you want to attack all of them. Single physical attack skills are limited to Lunge, we really should find others to fix that. There is Glacial Blast, you should be capable of handling that magic. He's going to want a fight. We might've been able to trick White if we weren't under the pressure of these two approaching, Red won't fall for mere trickery…
'Unless...' Things seemed slow as his magatama tried to work out the situation. Naoki worked with them on ideas. Red Rider, like White and probably the others, could not be afflicted by ailments. Neither could his horse as long as it was under his control, but what if something broke that? The Riders had been asked to watch over him but to give their all for these battles, yet if he did something apparently stupid…
Within the last few steps of the horse, they had a plan. It felt desperate, possibly due to the influence of Black Rider's power. Naoki moved in the way and shifted his posture as if he was going to punch the horse. While he was the manifestation of war, Red Rider pulled at his horse's mane, drawing it out of his attack run at White. He also brought up his sword to attack back. Naoki's followers, even the fiends of them, were momentarily worried along with trying to put the touch of famine out of mind.
Naoki wasn't done, though. He shifted his movement to strike at Red Rider's hipbone. Using the guidance of his magatama, he turned it from a punch to an upward kick that let him knock Red Rider off balance, grab the red horse's mane, then shove the Rider off his own horse. Red was just as shocked to be taken off his horse and Hanuman was quick enough to attack him in that moment. The horse continued its turn, running a few steps before stopping. Now, how did he control a horse?
No problem, we've got that covered too.
"Mikazuchi, I'll leave this battle to you," Naoki called. "Black Rider's going to keep us distracted as long as he's on the field. I'll go after him; keep everyone in good shape until I get back. Yagatarasu, with me."
"Yes sir!" Mikazuchi said, then attacked one of the Powers as it tried to get Red out of the middle of their group. The three-legged crow flew to Naoki's side, ready to follow.
The fiends were too used to working on their own to leave one of them in charge. Mikazuchi should have the right mind for it, plus he had Daisoujou's healing to rely on. Signaling the horse to gallop out of area, Naoki focused on finding where Black Rider was. He was in this space… on the street to the east, heading around north to get behind White. Naoki directed the horse between the flames to intercept him. Once they were in sight of each other, Black directed his horse to run down an open street, away from the rest.
Naoki pursued him to an opening in front of what appeared to be a church; it too was enveloped with flames, making this place blisteringly hot. Black Rider pulled his black horse around to face him. With the silver scales he carried, he didn't seem as threatening as Red. However, Naoki felt he was just as much of a threat.
"You stole Red's horse?" Black asked, faintly impressed and trying not to show it.
"Right from under him," Naoki said.
Black fiddled with his scales, making them clatter. "I see. But is it a theft you can maintain? A few of us demons are tied to certain animals by our own image. You couldn't have a Rider without something to ride, yes?"
"They were both stunned when we took them off," he said. The smoke was starting to remind him of smoked meats, or a freshly grilled meal would be great. Wait, that was a distraction that sapped his energy.
Take too long and we could starve just talking to him.
Unconcerned and counting on his power, Black Rider made some small weights appear on his scale. "While you have physical contact, your will to remain on the horse is overriding Red Rider's identity with his horse. Very interesting, and to have asserted control over the horse so quickly… but then you have already beaten White and have Conquest on your side, so then..."
Black drained ice, so this wasn't a good context to test Glacial Blast in. Naoki choose Xeros Beat instead, viewing the horse as separate from the rider to make sure the attack hit both. When the attack flung the weights off the scale, Black seemed irritated. When it hit the horse, the animal panicked and bolted. Black Rider was immune to ailments. But as he said, he was tied to his horse. Naoki encouraged the red horse to pursue them, using Focus and rapidly consulting with his magatama on how to aim this right.
Ahead of him, Black managed to stay mounted but wasn't able to calm down his horse or himself. He swung his silver scales back clumsily, making them flail wildly and hit himself in the skull. A shining orb was flung into the burning village. Megidoleon; his magatama warned him that it was a massive spell that would kill him. Naoki pushed the horse to run as fast as it could, missing the explosion of blinding light behind them. Luckily, Yagatarasu kept pace; she didn't even falter as the shock wave hit them.
He managed to catch up to Black in that time. As the Rider readied his scales for another spell, Naoki sent another Xeros Beat at him; it came from his eyes somehow, giving him a brief close-up of his main target just before it released. The horse got disintegrated. Black Rider was flung into a burning building at the edge of this town, causing it to collapse on top of him. Pulling the horse to slow and turn around, Naoki felt like the Rider was still conscious.
By the time the red horse slowed to a walk, Black Rider rose out of the flames. He was no longer panicked. While anyone else might have been enraged at this, Black was honestly impressed now. But he wasn't about to stop without a full defeat. A shining orb started to form within the scales. Naoki used Chaos Blade this time, not bothering to boost with Focus since this needed to take him out quickly. If it didn't work, he might have to start this battle all over again from White.
Black Rider died, collapsing back into the burning rubble before turning into magatsuhi. His spell dissipated as it was incomplete, as did the feeling of hunger from his presence. When the candelabrum tumbled out of the wreckage, Naoki waved his demon forward. "Bring it to me; I can't get off or I'll lose the horse."
"Yes," Yagatarasu said, flying down to grab it in one of her legs. As she handed it over, she said, "You're doing really well; I haven't noticed any of the signs that you've died in this yet."
"I haven't, thank you," Naoki said, taking the Candelabrum of Wisdom. "Black Rider, come back."
When he reappeared, he didn't bring back the feeling of famine. "I wasn't expecting..."
"No small talk now, we've still got to defeat Red," Naoki ordered, holding the candelabrum tight.
Black Rider bowed his head respectfully. "Very well. I am the Fiend Black Rider, we shall ravage your enemies, even should they be my kin."
"I am the Demifiend, I will use your power well." He sent the candelabrum away and pointed back to where the others were. "I'd like you to hit them with that Megidolean before Red or his angels see us."
"Yes, lead the way," Black said.
In the wake of the last one, the flames of this town were burning more wildly, reaching far overhead as Naoki, Yagatarasu, and Black Rider raced back to the town center. Barely any buildings were standing and some of the flames had grown into walls. Naoki planned matters with his magatama as it was another circumstance where he needed to move swiftly. Once Black tapped his scales to start his spell, Naoki used Focus in case anything survived. He was expecting Red to.
Megidoleon exploded, but Naoki already had his eyes closed and his legs moving. He jumped off the horse while it was running towards the group, lessening the damage from that as much as he could. The powers died to Black's spell. Clinging to life, Red noticed his horse rushing by and moved to regain control. Naoki judged Red Rider's remaining energy quickly, then used Chaos Blade against him and his horse. It struck hard as Red wasn't paying attention at that very second, destroying them both.
Naoki got back to his feet as the light from the Megidoleon was fading away, heading over to claim the Candelabrum of Insight. He'd actually done what he'd only been hoping to do, defeat three of the four Riders without dying. Would that be enough to impress Pale Rider to offer his challenge? If so, he wasn't coming out to do so now. Naoki knew he could get into the Third Kalpa now, but he'd rather relish this victory for a while.
"Hell, you could be a legend now, Demifiend," Hanuman said, genuinely impressed.
"Yeah, we always knew so!" Mikazuchi said, holding his sword up in triumph. And he had kept the group here in good shape.
"I knew you all would do a great job as well," Naoki said, proud of them too.
"Do you know how many people have managed to steal my horse?" Red Rider said as he reappeared. "No one until you, that's how many. Pale didn't seem too sure of you, but I have no hesitation." He crossed his sword arm over his chest as a salute and bowed his head. "I am Red Rider, the flames of war are at your command."
Looking straight at him, Naoki replied, "I am the Demifiend, I will use your power well."
"I'm sure of it since you didn't die once against us," White Rider said, coming forward to join the rest. "You've been learning quickly."
"Yes, you didn't even falter when I tried to use your curiosity as a distraction," Black Rider said. "I really thought that would get you at least once, or that you'd miss me before I attacked."
Yagatarasu chuckled. "He knew you were both here when you were arrived."
"Then what kind of place are we going to assault now that you have the three of us in alliance?" Red Rider asked.
"Nowhere yet, I still need to look into things and wait at least to the next full Kagutsuchi," Naoki said. He didn't want to start anything major until he could do that sacrificial fusion.
"Yeah, you missed our last major operation when we broke into the Obelisk," Mikazuchi said.
"I'm going to head over to Asakusa and call my usual travel group to there," Naoki said, knowing that it'd be quickest to get outside somewhere and use his motorcycle. "While I'm waiting on the right phase, I'll figure out where to go next. I'll call on you when I need you."
"Too bad, but that's how it goes," Red Rider said, setting his sword aside. The burning village began to fade, sending them back to the hospital.
Black held a hand up to ask him to wait a moment. "There is something about the angels I think you should know. They have been looking for you, but they've mostly been spread throughout the outdoors areas of the Vortex World. But lately, they've shown strong interest in the Reason of Yosuga. It seems the Divine clan at least has chosen to ally with that one."
"And if the Divine clan is fully committed, the Seraphs could appear in the world," White added. "Under Kagutsuchi's watch, the Seraphs are considered too influential and unbalanced to be involved in the processes of Creation. But given that they're aware of us being here, the Divines only need choose unanimously to get Kagutsuchi to allow the entrance of the Seraphs."
And the angels would probably tell Chiaki about their distrust of him if they decided to fully back her. Naoki was disappointed at that, but there might still be a chance to talk some sense into her. "I see. I probably would need you three if I end up facing them."
"That would be wise," Red said, although he seemed more eager for the battle itself. "And we will be traveling with you, even if you don't see us. We definitely don't want them ambushing you."
"Sure thing," Naoki said.
I don't want to provoke Kagutsuchi too soon, so I've been sparing in my appearances in the Vortex World itself. But I do like a good bar and Nyx's place is the only one that's sprouted up in this one. She always has a good sense for atmosphere and I can count on her to be more observant than most demons realize.
"The fairies have been claiming Yoyogi is now a rock solid fortress," Nyx says, leaning against the bar as she speaks with me. "But I have a feeling it's all going to explode in their face soon. Gossip about the Yahirono Himorogi being there has been spreading and several dangerous souls are definitely interested in claiming it. I feel like at least two of the Reason bearers could go after it; Hikawa would, but his injures must be keeping him wherever he is hiding."
"The Diet building," I tell her. It might be some information she'll need to slip to the right people.
She nods. "Good place. I don't know about the fourth Reason, though. There's been some talk that it might be one of the manikins. Far-fetched, but possible."
It is one of them and that could be trouble. Naoki's got his soft spots and it seems the manikins affect him that way. While it could still play into my favor, the Reason they carry would be one that's attractive to him. Perhaps I should try for someone more willing to be a monster again; that hasn't worked too well before, but the right person would be a good tool for me.
Before I can ask Nyx about other gossip, a new patron walks in: a very attractive woman with a pink veil drawn over her face. If she doesn't want to shock people, Mother Harlot would rather distract them by not showing her skeletal face. She's lighthearted right now; something must be going well. "Hello, here you are," she says, coming to me directly.
"Would you like me to get you a drink?" Nyx asks, smiling at her friend as she stands up straight.
"No need, you know that I always bring my own," Harlot says cheerfully, materializing her favored jeweled goblet. "I just had to tell him something." She chuckles in a low tone as she joins us at the bar. "I'm sure Pale Rider won't be coming too fast with this story."
"Has one of them been taken down then?" I ask. The labyrinth is now secure and I trust Pale Rider to keep Naoki with us for now. The hush from her entrance continues as others listen in.
"Demifiend has defeated the other three Riders handily," she says. Harlot's probably doing this to annoy the Riders. "Didn't die once, and yet took them in quick succession. Black and Red even tried assaulting him at once, not that it helped them."
"That's a first," I say with a smile. He's doing remarkably well then. Indeed, none of his predecessors managed to survive and win against the Riders like that. And the lounge is packed; this story is going to spread rapidly. I don't need to help it along.
After taking a sip, she nods. "But it gets better when you hear how he did it. Demifiend took White out first by ordering his horse assassinated, then assaulting him with Deadly Fury."
"He's not strong enough to use that skill safely yet," I say. It shouldn't take him long to get there, but it's good seeing him take risks like that and surviving. Just as long as he doesn't end up annihilating himself doing something profoundly stupid…
"He still did," Harlot says. "That's when the other two jumped in, right after he affirmed a contract with White." She's eager enough to pass along the story that she sets her goblet down. "Red tried a full on assault, like you'd expect, and so Demifiend went and stole his horse."
"Really?" Nyx asks, wide-eyed at this. I'm surprised myself. This is excellent. If he agrees to my plan, he's going to tear up the forces of our enemy like they won't believe. I want him to be mine.
"And then he left his troop, including Daisoujou, Matador, and White Rider, to keep Red Rider busy while he chased after Black Rider before the latter could carry out a sneak assault! He even got Black into a state of panic for a brief time, which I had thought utterly impossible, but Demifiend still pulled it off. Once he defeated him, Demifiend called Black back to turn his sneak attack against Red. He then distracted Red with his own horse and dealt a critical finishing blow against him." Harlot hits the bar in emphasis as the listening crowd gasps. "It was absolutely amazing, and such a pity that you missed seeing it in action. I had to come tell you immediately."
"That is unfortunate," I say. And yet, fortunate in that others are hearing this so soon. Naoki's shown defiance against those who try to threaten him, so let's see how he handles demons in awe of what they've heard of him. "But he is the one who gave me this crook in my nose, so I believe it."
"Since he's shown himself well in fair battles, is it fine now if I try for an utterly unfair battle?" Harlot asks.
Ah, that could be another reason why she came to me directly with this. Even so, he's defeated three of the Riders without dying. I'm sure that against her ideas of unfair tricks, he will prevail once more. "Certainly, I'd like that. But there's some time before he should come across you. There's something I'd like you to do for me first."
She nods. "Of course, what is it?"
The manikins. Jiyuu needs to die.