After heading a bit into Kiccigiorgi Forest, several screams rang out.
"Was that not a human's cry? I believe it came from up ahead! Isabeau said.
Flynn killed an Innocent Horde single-handedly since it was blocking the way to survivors. After cutting down a Wormwood he heard a villager call out his name.
"Forgive us, lad. Our hands were full. . . Our child is still young. . . we owed your parents a great debt and I wanted to do something, but. . . !" the villager that called out to Flynn said.
"Many of the villagers are slain. . . Kiccigiorgi is probably finished. Where are we supposed to go? If we survive the night, what are we to do in the morning?" a frightened woman said.
"Sir? Father said that I'd die if I was caught by a 'demon'... Your mother and father haven't been caught by demons, have they?" the young boy asked.
"Knowing my father, he wouldn't have been caught. My mother I'm not so sure of." Flynn answered.
"You're a very strong boy not to cry. Now hurry along to the forest entrance. Powerful Samurai are waiting there for you." Isabeau said.
The villagers bowed and went for the forest's entrance.
Very quickly, Flynn had to fight an Element Horde that was blocking the way. When Jonathan dealt the deathblow to the Horde though, another demon quickly appeared. This demon had a trumpet held in both hands and it literally flew above the ground, plus it had a helmet on its skeletal head.
Issachar quickly replaced Jonathan and said, "So this is the Fiend."
"Hahahahaha, I am the Trumpeter! I shall sound my horn and bring the Apocalypse!" The Fiend exclaimed.
Flynn shot the Fiend and it turned out that it was weak to guns and proceeded to swap in demons that were ready to fight the Fiend. The fight lasted around seven hours, after which Jonathan decided to intervene and managed to slay the Fiend when it was about to kill Issachar with a Great Logos attack. After the Fiend died, Flynn supported Issachar and made their way back to the healers. Once they were treated, Issachar said to the Commander, "Part of our task is done. The Fiend has been slain."
"Understood. Now we can focus on looking for survivors." Hope said.
Flynn and Issachar quickly reunited with the other four prentices. After fighting another innocent horde, a villager said, "You. . . Could you be here to save us? Ah, you truly are a Samurai at heart."
"Give your mouths a rest and move your legs instead. The Samurai are stationed at the entrance to the forest. Be sure you don't delay in reaching them." Walter said to the two villagers. They immediately left and after they did, Flynn heard another scream. Checking out its source revealed it to be a man cowering from a Strix. It noticed Flynn and tried to kill him, but a Ziodyne from the Samurai electrocuted it instantly. After talking with him, Flynn was able to get the man to head for the entrance.
"To all Samurai, this is Hope speaking. I have information from one of our fellows who was making inquiries nearby. It seems a Sabbath was underway not long ago in the Kiccigiorgi Forest. These are apparently gatherings where people meet to discuss the Literature distributed by the Black Samurai. There may be other survivors further within the forest. Go deeper into the forest and resume your search." Hope said through the Gauntlet.
Heading deeper into the forest, Flynn destroyed a Wormwood and headed deeper into the forest. Upon reaching a cliff in the forest, Flynn saw his father.
"Ah, so you've come, my boy." Flynn's father said coldly.
"What is it now?" Flynn asked.
"I've been enlightened by the Black Samurai personally and I now know that all my life I've been tormented by lack of information! Now that had changed. You see, I'm embraced the demonic and now wish to destroy the Kingdom!"
Flynn's Father began to twist and warp. After it was done he attacked. With a single swing of his sword, Flynn ended up having to kill his father.
"Ngh. . . was there no other way to ease his pain?" Jonathan asked.
"What you did was correct. Given the man's torment, I believe it was the most realistic choice." Walter said to Flynn.
Isabeau could not say anything, but Hope sent another transmission.
"We have testimony that the Black Samurai was witnessed in the innermost region of the Kiccigiorgi Forest. Those who receive this message must make the Black Samurai's capture their top priority. The Black Samurai appears as a human clad in ebon armor." Hope said before repeating himself and cutting the transmission. Upon reaching the innermost depths of the forest, the prentices saw a figure clad in ebon.
"Ebon attire. . . I think that this can be none other than the Black Samurai." Isabeau said.
"What an unearthly appearance, though. I've never seen armor nor helmets the like of those." Jonathan commented.
"Don't glare at me like that. I won't refuse those who yearn for me." the Black Samurai said in a feminine tone.
"That voice. . . You're a woman." Walter said.
"What kind of books do you prefer? I'll give you knowledge and wisdom." the Black Samurai replied.
"We have been ordered to restrain you. Resistance would be unwise." Isabeau said.
"But don't you want to know why I am distributing the books?" the Black Samurai asked.
"There will be time for you to justify yourself at Mikado Castle." Jonathan said.
"Oh, what pitiful children. You aren't even allowed to realize how distorted and biased this kingdom is. That's why I distribute bookw: To spread knowledge and wisdom to everyone. Is that such a sin?" the Black Samurai playfully commented.
"Enough boasts from you. You're in our custody now and that's that." Walter said.
"I see. Your lack of knowledge and wisdom prevents you from understanding. Come to the underground." the Black Samurai said.
"Underground? What are you talking about now?" Isabeau asked.
"I must go, but I'll leave these girls to keep you company." the Black Samurai said before summoning a horde of Lilims.
"The woman has summoned demons!" Walter exclaimed.
"I look forward to our next meeting, Samurai of the Eastern Kingdom of Mikado. For we will surely see each other again." the Black Samurai said before leaving.
"Wait!" Walter said.
"Walter! The enemy at hand should be our concern at present! Stay on form, everyone!" Jonathan chided.
The horde all said some stuff and Isabeau exclaimed, "Ah! Something's coming. . . be careful!"
The Lilim Horde unleashed a bewitching aura that began to affect Jonathan and Walter while Flynn, Issachar, Kelsey, and Isabeau remained calm.
"Ngh, my mind. . . my thoughts are not my own!" Jonathan said.
"Is this. . . what madness is like?" Walter wondered.
"What's the matter, everyone? I feel perfectly at ease." Isabeau said.
"I also feel alright." Kelsey said.
"Of course. . . this is. . . a charm spell. . ." Jonathan said before falling unconscious.
"Come to think of it, what are these thought of pure. . . oh nuts. . ." Issachar said before passing out for a moment and then awakening with terrifying rage.
"AAARRRRR! I'LL KILL YOU ALL!" Issachar yelled at the Lilim Horde as he charged at them while his comrades excluding Kelsey and Isabeau fell unconscious. The three of them put up a vicious fight, with Issachar unleashing several Great Logos after casting a single Antichthon at the Horde. In the end, only one injured Lilim survived and was disappointed as it fled instead of staying and definitely dying.
When Flynn finally awoke, Issachar said to him, "You've come around."
"Thank goodness. . . You wouldn't awaken no matter how much we tried talking to you, Flynn." Isabeau said to Flynn.
"Much to our chagrin, it seems those demonic girls knocked us menfolk out. Walter and I were both head-over-heels for them. . . It was Isabeau who brought us to our senses." Jonathan said.
"I wasn't knocked out for a long time like you guys, but I went into a rage and killed almost all of them."
"One of those demonic girls escaped before we could kill it." Kelsey explained.
"Except for Issachar, you men really are useless in a crisis. I'm surprised that the charm spell only knocked Flynn out instead of working on him perfectly." Isabeau chided.
Before anyone could respond, the Commander spoke to them and said that he had seen the record of their battle with the Black Samurai and would like to hear the tale.
"Allow me and Isabeau to explain along with Kelsey." Issachar said.
"Though we discovered and attempted to capture the Black Samurai, she called upon demons, thwarting our efforts." Issachar, Kelsey and Isabeau transmitted.
"Demons. . . this bears explaining in more detail. Return to the forest entrance at once." Hope said before cutting the transmission.
Once at the entrance, Hope said, "Well done, prentices. I muist ask that you report what happened right away."
They made their reports on what happened inside Kiccigiorgi Forest.
"I see. So the Black Samurai has some knowledge of demon summoning. . . And those who read the Black Samurai's books turn into demons. . . Of late, we have heard more accounts of demons seen outside Naraku. If this is the Black Samurai's doing, tonight's events make sense. So, Abbot Hugo's surmise was correct. . ." the Commander noted.
"Hoy, if those who read the books became demons, then all those demons wandering within the forest. . ." Walter began, but Jonathan chided, "Shh, Flynn and Issachar'll hear you."
A master Samurai came and reported that there were no signs of any other survivors or even the Black Samurai.
"To all the Samurai here, our healers will remain here to treat the survivors. The rest of you are dismissed. Return to Mikado Castle." Hope said.