Hey guys here's the next chapter for ya!
Bodies. Bodies all around me and all of them I recognize as my family and clan.
All of them scattered around the area cut up with blood everywhere. Blinking back the oncoming tears I quickly leap to my feet and reach into my bag before pulling out my sword while looking for any sign of the attackers.
Quietly I made my way around the bodies of my fallen family members while also checking them for any clues. Nearly all of them had a weapon that was covered in blood. Also around the area I found quite a few blood pools with no body. Seemed as though my family went down fighting and the attackers took their dead so as to leave no trace. But what worried me was how did they find my home to begin with?
This scene didn't change the entire way as I walked through my former home. That was until I reached the main building where I lived.
The building itself was nothing more than a burned out husk but right in front of the building lay a figure I knew all too well. Running I kneel before my fathers corpse. His dark grey fur was drenched in blood but I knew not all of it was his own. Multiple gashes littered his form with one going straight into his heart. Clutched in his right hand was a small tanto drenched in dry blood but his gaze is what made me both proud and sad.
His face was permanently twisted into a defiant scowl as if he had been cursing the one who killed him all the way up until his dying breath. Saying a quick prayer to my father I stand and move to my burned down former home to survey why the attackers had burned this building. When I stepped in I got my answer.
All of the women and children had been in here as I saw the charred corpses of the rest of my family all surrounding a single figure in the center. Moving over to this single figure I reached down to it's neck and brought up a small moon shaped silver necklace. The very same one I gave to my mother the day I left nearly a month ago.
At that point I lost myself and howled to the sky. What most other's didn't know was that a wolf's howl was more than just a signal or song, it was an expression of emotion and a message to all who would listen. My message was filled with pain and anger along with a promise to find whoever did this and make them suffer as I now do.
After releasing my pain I gently took the necklace from my mother's charred body and after wiping off a few of the ashes place it around my own neck. As I walk away from the scene I stop by my fathers body and after a moment reach down and take the tanto from his grip not even bothering to clean the blood stained blade.
My whole body was numb as I walked towards the most sacred place on this mountain not even acknowledging my fallen family anymore more out of respect now than to avoid any pain I may feel. They died fighting and that was something I could and had to honor.
Eventually I arrived at a large cave covered with one large ebony door decorated with a large replica of my mask on it's front. Walking up to it I place a hand on the center of the door and begin to whisper,(1) "Watashi wa yama no iriguchi no seishin o motomemasu."
A moment of silence passes before the door begins to split down the middle and open inwards. Taking my hand off of the moving door I wait until the door has fully opened before walking inside the dark caves not even flinching as the doors close behind me. Numerous grey flamed torches start to light my way as I walk deeper into the heart of the mountain.
After what may have been a mile of walking I arrive at a small pedestal overlooking a large pit. Standing into the center of the pedestal I drop to both of my knees and wait for the spirit of the mountain to show himself. It wasn't a long wait as I heard the deep growling of the giant spirit and watch as the dragon that dwelled in this mountain revealed himself to me as he rose from the pit.
He was large, almost as large as the entire clan compound with just one of his teeth being as long as I was tall. He also possessed a long serpentine body covered in ebony scales with his various spikes being colored a bright silver. His eyes though glowed with a cobalt blue fire that would have unnerved most but not me as I stared at him without fear waiting for him to speak first.
"Why have you come here my vessel?"
"Master I bring terrible news. My family. My clan and your servants have all been killed save for me by an unknown enemy." I say emotionlessly but feel the twinge of pain from speaking of my departed family.
"Hmmm. That is most troubling. You wish to avenge them do you?"
At this I glared into the spirit's eyes unflinchingly making my intentions clear that what he said was right on the money.
"While I do feel sorry for the loss of those I consider my own children I cannot help you in your quest."
"Why the hell not! If you care for them like I do why won't you help!" I demanded completely disregarding the fact I was talking to a goddamn dragon of all things. Yet The spirit didn't seem fazed or rather he seemed sad and even a bit ashamed.
"Let me finish pup. I cannot help as not even I know who has done such a deed. No mortal knows about this place so that only leaves the culprit to be another spirit and his followers. And contrary to what you may believe there are quite a few spirit's that would like to see you family destroyed and have followers willing to do the deed. For that you are on your own... but there is something I can do to aid you. Unsheathe your blade."
After he gave me an explanation I immediately calmed down and felt ashamed for yelling at the one being that has done so much for my family. Though when he asked me to unsheathe my blade I grew curious as to what he had planned but did as he asked and unsheathed the very blade he gave to my ancestor so long ago from where I had it strapped to my waist.
Then before I could react the dragon unleashed a torrent of grey flames that engulfed my form before I could even blink! I closed my eyes on instinct expecting to feel intense heat and smell my burning fur and flesh only to feel nothing at all. Opening my eyes slowly I see the flames flowing around and actually clinging to my form but most of it centered around my sword.
I stood transfixed by the sight as my normal katana began to change as it grew slightly larger going from almost three feet long up to around five feet. The normally smooth yet sharp edge of the blade also changed to have a serrated edge while the hilt changed to resemble the spirit's onw head with the blade coming out of its open maw.
So transfixed by my new blade I barely registered the fact of the sheathe moving from my waist to my back as well as my attire changing as well. Looking down I see my previous attire had drastically changed into something similar to my assassin's gear. I now wore a form fitting black bodysuit with grey armor pieces on my shins forearms and chest that resembled the scales of the dragon who gave them to me.
On my waist sat my demon mask along with a small scroll but when I tried to reach for it the spirit growled making me turn my attention back to him.
"You may read the scroll later as it will tell you about the new gifts I have given you to avenge your clan. Your blade and armor are now infused with my essence giving you powers unheard of in the mortal world. You have now become my avatar of vengeance until the day you die. Now go and fulfill your promise of revenge but when your task is complete you must return to rebuild your clan and continue your vow of service to me."
Bowing to the dragon I can't stop the smile from breaking out across my face at the thought of what new gifts I could have gotten from the spirit.
"Thank you. But what about the bodies of my family? I must bury them properly first before I can continue." I ask.
"Do not worry about that as it will all be taken care of. Now go and do not return until your task is complete!"
Nodding my head in acceptance I stand and sheathe my now larger blade on my back marveling at how light it was despite its larger size. I don't look back as I walk back towards the exit ready to find the spirit that had caused my clans death and make them suffer in ways one can only imagine. After all, the Black Demon always gets his target in the end.
Well there's the next chapter guys! Review and/or PM me! Until then,Nicranger out!