CHAPTER 3 - Revenant
"Is everyone alright?" Zoro asked. Most of the people made a reply. A few of them took injuries from the demons. Shinobu had mentioned the human fatality behind demon wounds. Humans were susceptible to turning into one. Zoro mentioned the ones with injuries to step aside, sorting them out for the doctors to look into the matter. Speaking of which, Law was back. He returned back to the village and found things out of order.
"What's going on?" he asked. Shinobu was back and brought along a new face. Zoro was supervising the volunteers to keep an eye out in all directions. Law understood that the village was attacked in his absence. He believed it must've been an attack from the southern side, where Shinobu was situated, but then, he had found all those holes cracking up through the ground.
"A subterranean attack." he told himself. He was surprised by the enemy's ingenuity.
"Oh my, its Captain Law." Shinobu discovered, "How did it fare on the northern side?"
"That guy's in cohorts with you?" Giyu Tomioka asked her.
"Yeah, he's a surgeon. I believe he'll be able to help with the injured." Shinobu replied.
"How did it go, Tora-o? As you can see, things could've been worse out here." Zoro showed up.
"I was just surprised they attacked from the ground. I've dealt with the bunch to the forest north." Law said, "The demon said he was a Lower Moon, Number 3. Kocho-ya mentioned that these Moon-demons were formidable."
"What?" Tomioka was surprised, "You met one of the Twelve Moons?"
"That demon was all talk. He escaped with his tail between his legs. They are good at fleeing, if you'd ask me." Law recounted, "Tell me, who's this Muzan Kibutsuji?"
Shinobu and Tomioka were shocked by the name.
"Don't tell me he's here?" Tomioka asked.
"I haven't said anything." Law replied.
"Indeed, and I hope he's not around. We are not prepared to handle him right now." Shinobu said.
"No wonder you are alive. But I must praise that you had survived a Demon Moon. What did you do?" Tomioka asked.
"I did what I had to. It seemed they believed my abilities as some form of sorcery. But, they were more concerned about regrouping back. I took down most of the others."
"So the Demon Moon escaped, eh? Well, that's unsettling." Shinobu said.
"I'm not going to wait here for another attack. These guys should be put into their place." Zoro was annoyed, "All the demons are done here. But I doubt we can track them down easily."
"As a matter of fact, I might have some idea." Tomioka mentioned, "I had a run-off against one of their smaller groups and it seemed that they had come from the northern side of the island."
"That Moon-Demon fled north." Law mentioned, coinciding with Tomioka's statement.
"I guess we have a lead." Tomioka nodded.
"But tell me, Tomioka. You had mentioned you found the children from the village." Shinobu asked.
"Yeah. They are safe."
"Very well. We need to move ahead once we are done here. I doubt that'd dare to attack again." Law mentioned.
With Shinobu's expertise on anti-demonic remedies, Law was adept in picking up the basics and proved efficient with his Op-Op powers. Everyone else except Zoro was dumbfounded with his unique Devil Fruit powers.
"Oh my, it's sorcery." Shinobu chortled, surprised.
"I guess no one has any clue of Devil Fruits out here." Zoro said.
"Yeah, and we can use that to our advantage unless there's someone else otherwise." Law said, cutting down the injured villagers, administering dosage with Shinobu's help and expertise.
"I don't know." Zoro said on the contrary. Despite the fact that Trafalgar D. Water Law seemed the only Devil Fruit user, Zoro had a feeling that there was something amiss. The Lower Demon Moon had managed to escape Law's terror. The former being a coward wasn't a surprise and yet, his speed can be assumed extraordinary to have escaped Law's powers. And that's not all. The island was covered under a heavy shroud of ominous clouds and fog. If anyone would've attacked from ashore, they would face a big surprise.
"Zoro-ya, I had something in my mind that I hadn't mentioned the others." Law said in a low voice.
"And what's that?" Zoro asked
"I believe this island is of importance to someone. Maybe that Muzan Kibutsuji." Law mentioned, "During the face-off against the Moon-demon, the whole place reeked and was covered in blood and bones. It wasn't the work of that Moon-demon. There was someone else. Someone formidable."
"What do you mean? Don't tell me Kaido's upon us already?"
"I doubt it. They wouldn't ally with the demons. Their hands are full with the loss of the SMILEs." Law said.
Giyu Tomioka was prepared to leave.
"Hey, where is he going?" Zoro asked.
"The kids. Tomioka's heading to retrieve them." Shinobu replied.
"Alright, I'll go along with him."
Law knew that Zoro was interested in checking the area, the location of the skirmish in the forest.
"You'll find it when you see it." Law mentioned.
"Alright." Zoro replied.
"I doubt he'll find anything." Shinobu retorted.
"Yeah, I forgot." Law remembered Zoro's bad sense of direction.
"Hey, shut up!" Zoro couldn't take the taunt.
"Are you coming?" Tomioka asked, ready to leave.
"Yeah. Let's move."
They left the village.
"What did you tell him?" Shinobu saw their previous conversation, "Is your friend planning to fight the Demon Moon? I would prefer caution under that circumstance."
"He wants to check it out. He's eager for a fight, but I doubt that demon would return." Law replied. He decided not to mention the greater danger. The carnage preceding Law and Demon Moon's battle. If it were indeed pirates affiliated to Kaido, things might turn ugly. He had heard from Shinobu. Most of the Demon Slayers have suffered against these Demons. It was best they stayed away from pirate trouble. Their hands were full.
Tomioka was surprised by the sight. It seemed an entire population of a village was cut down by the demons. Yes, you heard it right, the victims were 'cut' down not devoured. They didn't eat any one of them. Zoro was cautious. He knew that, it was the work of an advanced swordsman. The cuts were clean and strong.
"Whoever did this must be stopped. The whole island is in danger." Tomioka said.
Zoro had to agree. An enemy of the observed calibre could mean trouble. He had a feeling that the enemy could've been a human since he was told that demons would usually eat-off their victims until there were no bones left. Reminded of his discussion with Law, he assumed that a pirate might be involved. But then again, why would a pirate cooperate with demons? What in the world was going on?
Tomioka had found the village kids and returned back to the carnage site.
"Come on, we need to head back." he said. Zoro pondered at the location in the meanwhile. He had a belief over the worst possible situation. An alliance between pirates and demons.
They headed back to the village. The kids were reunited with their families, a confirmed death casualty of zero. It was a big success for the Demon Slayers and their Pirate allies against the demons. But they had to pursue their target before the enemy could've made preparations. Shinobu and Law were done treating the wounded. Tomioka sent a raven back to the Kakushis stationed at the coast with a report, asking for reinforcements to protect the village.
"We need to head on ahead. Someone else will need to guard this village." he said, "I saw the carnage and it seemed more than the work of a Lower Demon Moon. We'll need all the help we can get. And as such, I'd request you, swordsmen, to accompany us in our quest." Tomioka bowed before Zoro and Law.
"You shan't worry. Kocho-ya and we have agreed to work this out." Law said, "But we need to hurry. I have a bad feeling about this."
The Kakushis responded to the request and came along with a group of Demon Slayers that were stationed protecting the coastal base. Law and the others were in clear conscience to head on ahead. They were thanked by the villagers for their miraculous and priceless aid of protecting their village. The kids shook hands with them, wishing them the best against their further dangers. The four of them took accepted the gratitude and dedication to fighting their common enemy.
Tomioka led the way through the dense forest, trailing the clues left behind by the demons. Zoro began to feel an ominous presence ahead of them. He rushed in without notice.
"Where is he going?" Tomioka asked.
"It looks like the enemy has come to us." Law mentioned. The three of them drew their blades.
Zoro made a confrontation ahead. The others heard the clashes of blades. Tomioka and Law believed that the perpetrator could've been the Lower Demon Moon. Zoro made contact against a sole foe.
But Tomioka and Shinobu couldn't feel a strong demonic presence. Shinobu felt a familiar presence rushing ahead.
"What's she worked up about?" Law asked against her short notice dash. He found that she was agitated.
Zoro drew out the Kitetsu, his second blade, adding strength with his Shusui.
"You are skilled, lady." he grinned. His opponent piqued his interest to take on the challenge.
Shinobu showed up. She gasped to find the belligerent on the other side.
"Do you know her?" Zoro asked seeing her shock.
"Oh my, you remind me of someone… Someone so familiar, yet so far away." the opponent mentioned.
Tears began streaming down Shinobu's eyes.
"Big sister." Shinobu's voice was faint from the shock. She struggled from the revelation.
"What?" Zoro was surprised. Shinobu did mention that her sister was killed by a demon.
"Please don't cry." the opponent sympathised.
"Listen! If she's indeed your big sister, you should step back." Zoro bellowed.
Shinobu was bewildered. Zoro had no choice but to carry on.
"You did well, lady. But let's see how you must fare a Flying Blade Attack." Zoro couldn't let the opponent make her move. She was formidable in her own techniques. Uncertainty and overconfidence on his part could've proved fatal.
"One Sword Style…" Zoro thought to test it out with his Shusui before he could've closed in for a melee attack, "Bird Dance!"
A vertical wave of a flying-slash sped towards the opponent.
"Big sister… Kanae." Shinobu observed the duel, "Kanae!" she screamed.
The opponent fazed none, dodging the flying-blade.
"Zoro!" Shinobu cried. The Pirate Hunter turned around, "What?"
"If you want me to stop, there's no point. Your sister is determined to kill us all." Zoro said.
"Let me fight her." Shinobu replied, stepping ahead with her blade. Her tears, determination, and despair in her eyes.
TO BE CONTINUED…