Chapter 112
Hiccups POV:
It's been six hours since I began my journey into the forest and so far, nothing of interest has happened beside me stopping in a clearing to practice with my threads and practice my duel wielding with Pirus and Ventus. Considering I'd been practicing duel wielding long before I was brought to this place adjusting to wielding Pirus and Ventus wasn't that hard and I consider myself quite capable when it comes to wielding them. When it came to fighting with them in their bladed spear form things were a little tougher but when I treated it like wielding a spear then things became easier for me. As I walked however I couldn't help but wonder what was going on back at Berk since knowing my parents they were probably wondering what happened to me and freaking out along with Toothless who no doubt was wondering where I went. I felt a headache forming from the multiple questions that were going to come up when I got back to Berk since they were more likely going to want to know what happened to me. It was then I decided it best I stop and enjoy the lunch I got from the blacksmith. I sat down on a nearby and opened the lunch box I was given and smiled at the sight of some rice balls and sushi with a pair of chopsticks on the side. I smiled at the lunch before I picked up the chopsticks and began enjoying my meal.
Akuhei's fortress
Nobodies POV:
Akuhei was sitting in his throne room staring into the same mirror he originally used to spy on Hiccup and was once again watching Hiccup as he enjoyed his lunch. The reason Akuhei was spying on Hiccup is not something he'd willingly admit but he was afraid of Hiccup coming to stop him before he could finish harnessing and corrupting the power of the weapons he stole. He knew Hiccup to be an incredibly powerful warrior and the only reason he was able to defeat him when they encountered each other for the first time was because he was able to surprise Hiccup and catch him off guard when he was at his lowest level of defense. When he left Hiccups island he believed Hiccup would die from blood loss and pain but he survived and now an ancient Kitsune who he'd been butting heads with for centuries had brought him here to stop him and his plans. Akuhei sighed as he stared at Hiccup picking up another sushi roll before he asked.
"How could one mere mortal not only kill one of my top warriors and his tsuchigumo mount." He growled. "That battle cost me one of the most powerful weapons under my control and they are now in the hands of the only one who can stop me." It was then the sorcerer walked in.
"My lord I sensed your distress at something."
"Hiccup Haddock has taken one of my most powerful weapons at my command and in doing so killed one of my most powerful warriors."
"I am sorry to hear that my lord."
"Perhaps there is one of my forces who can deal with him where my samurai and his mount failed." Akuhei raised his hand before a table with a map of the forest Hiccup was in rose up from the ground before small white statue of Hiccup appeared. "Now let's see which of my minions shall I send to deal with him."
"Might I make a suggestion my lord?"
"You may."
"The weapons he now has at his disposal draw power from fire and wind so it might be best to send a water elemental yokai who would have less difficulty going up against such elements." Akuhei stroked his beard.
"You may have a point my servant." He pulled out a leather bag before holding his hand over it before an aqua green statue of a creature with a turtle shell, the face of a monkey with large fangs, four limbs with webbed fingers and toes and a cup shape on its head floated out before Akuhei examined the statue and smiled. "Yes, the kappa should do well against him." He then dropped the statue onto the map before it stood up and slid onto a blue line that was a river in the forest before an image of the kappa appeared in the mirror before looking at Akuhei and asked.
"What is your bidding master Akuhei?"
"A young traveler is making his way through your woods and I wish for you to end his life."
"If I may my lord, what makes this traveler so special compared to the others I've killed?"
"Let's just say he may pose a problem for me in the future and I wish for him to be dealt with before he grows to problematic and should you succeed you shall be rewarded with power beyond your imagination and a place at my side when I take command of this world."
"It shall be done my lord."
"Just to be sure I shall gift you with a taste of the power I am offering you." He then made red lightning flow out of his hand and onto the statue as the kappa roared in pain. "Did I forget to mention this will hurt." The kappa just roared in pain as his thin limbs thickened becoming muscular, claws grew from his fingers, his fangs grew longer, three sharp blades burst from the sides of his shell with one at the bottom one behind each shoulder before it stopped transforming and took a few breaths. "This is but a sliver of the power I am offering you should you succeed in completing my orders." The kappa examined its new body before looking up at Akuhei.
"Master Akuhei please consider the traveler dead." And then the mirror returned to reflecting Akuhei's reflection.
"With my magic running through that kappa's veins Hiccup Haddock won't stand a chance."
With Hiccup
Hiccups POV:
I gave a content sigh as I rubbed my stomach after just finishing my lunch which I have to say was delicious and the scenery made it a truly peaceful lunch I could enjoy but I never let my guard down knowing there might be something that might attack me. I let out one more content sigh and hopped off the rock I was sitting on before I began making my way down the direction I was originally going after checking it with my chochinbi. As I walked I reached into my robe to pull out my water canteen and took a sip only to find it was empty of water. I sighed and ran a hand through my hair as I said.
"I better find a lake or river so I can refill my canteen in case I need it later." I looked ahead and shrugged. "I'll probably find a river if I keep walking." I then continued down the long path in the woods.
1 hour later
I saw a break in the woods with the sound of rushing water echoing through the forest meaning there was a river nearby bringing a smile to my face since it meant I could refill on water. As I got closer though I felt my prosthetic heat up a bit and glow which I knew meant there was a yokai nearby so I kept my guard up as I walked through the woods towards the sound of rushing water. When I broke through the woods I found myself standing in front of a river that was being fed by a large waterfall before the river formed a smaller waterfall making a small creek. The thing that caught my eye though was the elderly man, wearing a dark blue kimono with brown patches sown onto it, he seemed to be carving something into what I recognized as cucumbers before throwing them into the river. I walked out towards the old man who stopped carving into a cucumber before turning to me as I said.
"Are you a yokai?" He shook his head.
"No, I am just an old man trying to protect those of his family that he has left." I could see the sincerity in his eyes and walked up to him.
"By throwing cucumbers into the water?" The old man looked down at the cucumber in his hand.
"The beast that lives in this river has taken many members of my family but if I carve the names of those of us left into these cucumbers and throw them into the water the kappa takes them instead." He turned back to me. "I can write one for you as well if you like." I stared at the old man for a second.
"No thanks, I'm goo-" I didn't get the chance to finish before something grabbed the back of my kimono and pulled me into the water.
Nobodies POV:
The elder watched in horror as Hiccup was pulled into the river by the kappa before he quickly stood up hoping to save Hiccup by yelling.
"WHAT IS YOUR NAME?" He looked into the water. "WHAT IS YOUR NAME?" Seeing no sign of life, he dropped to his knees. "Too late!"
Little did the old man know that below the waters Hiccup wasn't dead just yet but and instead struggling against the kappa's grip and ripped the back of his kimono off to free himself from the kappa. As he did so though he got a look at the rivers floor and saw multiple human bones including skulls showing him how many lives the kappa had taken. He didn't get to think about it for too long though as the kappa tackled him into the side of the rivers wall and got ready to sink its fangs into him while he was dazed. Hiccup wasn't dazed long enough though allowing him to use his legs to kick the kappa off him sending it flying back fifteen feet. This gave Hiccup the chance to swim up to the surface before he took a deep breath of fresh air as the old man looked back in shock seeing Hiccup was still alive. He didn't get to think about it much before the kappa jumped onto Hiccups back and pulled him back under the water to continue its attack on Hiccup.
The kappa didn't take any chances this time and dragged Hiccup right to the bottom where the bones could be found and shoved Hiccup into them. Hiccup was able to slam the back of his head into the kappa's face making it loosen its grip long enough for Hiccup to turn around only for the kappa to shove him back into the ground. Hiccup struggled against the kappa's grip as he reached around looking for something to hit the kappa with. The kappa leaned back before lunging forward to sink its fangs into Hiccup's neck but as it did Hiccup was able to grab hold of a skull and pull it into the path of the kappa's mouth. He then shoved it right into the kappa's open mouth jamming its jaw wide open and forcing it to let go of Hiccup in shock. This allowed Hiccup to once again kick the kappa off him and swim back to the surface as the beast below him struggled to close his jaw around the skull of one of its victims.
As Hiccup broke the surface of the water and took deep breaths again, the kappa bit down on the skull shattering it into pieces before it looked up at Hiccups submerged form and growled in anger. The kappa quickly took off after him as Hiccup swam towards the edge of the river while fighting against the tides pull. Hiccup was merely three feet away from the edge as the old man ran over and held out a hand to help him but as Hiccup reached out for the old mans hand the kappa jumped out of the water and pounced onto Hiccups back again and dragged him back making them both be pulled into the tide. Hiccup struggled to free himself from both the kappa's grip and the pull of the rivers tide but to no avail as both he and the kappa were pulled over the waterfall and into the deep section it fed into. As they fell however the kappa loosened its grip in shock and Hiccup was able to use this opportunity to push the kappa off as they came to land in the water below. The kappa was temporarily dazed when its face struck a rock that was jutting out of the ground below the waters giving Hiccup the chance to swim out of the deep end under the waterfall and into the shallow end of the stream where the water only reached his waist in height.
Knowing the kappa wouldn't be far behind he took Ventus out and turned back to the water just as the kappa burst out of the water again ready to pounce on Hiccup but just as it did Hiccup swung Ventus to the side making a strong wind strike the kappa and send it flying onto the shores of the stream. The kappa rolled slightly when it landed making water spill out from the bowl on top of its head that immediately evaporated upon hitting the rocky surface of the shore. While the kappa was dazed Hiccup was able to walk to the edge of the river and get out just as the kappa sat up and turned to face him glaring but instead of going for Hiccup it tried to get back into the water. Hiccup knew if the kappa got back into the water he'd have a much tougher time dealing with it so he swung Ventus again with the windy blast this time throwing the kappa into the woods against a tree making it fall on its side and more water fall out of the top of its head but this time Hiccup saw it. The old man stood on top of the hill and yelled out.
"SPILL HIS WATER!" Hiccup turned to the old man. "SPILL HIS WATER!"
Hiccup turned back to the kappa knowing what the old man meant when he told Hiccup to spill the kappa's water. Hiccup wasn't sure what this would do but at this moment he didn't really have a choice since he couldn't come up with any other possible way to take down the kappa. He released his threads from his prosthetics fingertips and swung the prosthetic down bringing the threads down on the kappa before moving his fingers and hand to manipulate the strings to wrap around the kappa's limbs and around the branches around them. He pulled the strings back into his fingers tightening the ends around the kappa's limbs making it flip over while stringing it up above the ground. The kappa struggled against the threads holding it in place before Hiccup began shaking his arm up and down making the kappa in turn shake with it and forcing the water out of its head. The kappa tried to free its hands so it could stop the water from flowing out of its head but Hiccups threads held tight and couldn't be broken so easily. It took twelve hard shakes before the kappa was completely emptied of water making it begin to shrivel up a bit as the old man ran up towards him and said.
"Ask it a question." Hiccup raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
"You have beaten it so it must now answer your questions." Hiccup turned to the kappa.
"Why did you attack me?" The kappa continued to dry out as it answered.
"Akuhei ordered me to and in return I was given immense power and was offered more should I succeed in killing you."
"Why did Akuhei steal my weapons, prosthetic and wings?"
"He needs the weapons magic to create his ultimate weapon, the prosthetic to wield it and the wings were just a bonus."
"What does Akuhei intend to do with this ultimate weapon?"
"Harness the power of the Orochi and enslave the world."
"Where is Akuhei now?"
"Hiding out in his fortress in the hidden forest."
"Where is the hidden forest?" The kappa just laughed as its body turned to dust leaving only its pale green shell with blades sticking out of it to fall to the ground but before Hiccup could do anything he heard the old man let out a small scream of pain followed by him saying.
"My ankle!" Hiccup turned to see the elderly man on the ground gripping his ankle in pain. "I've twisted my ankle." Hearing this Hiccup ran up to help him.
"Is your home nearby?" He nodded. "I'll carry you there if you can tell me which ways to go." He smiled at Hiccups kindness. "Just give me a chance to fill up my flask and we'll be off." He nodded as Hiccup walked over to the river and filled up his flask before he walked back to the old man, picked him up and carried him away leaving the kappa's shell behind but what neither of them saw was the same golden fox that brought Hiccup here watching them leave as she said.
"You have taken another step closer to defeating Akuhei and maintaining the balance of this world." She then turned to the kappa's shell. "You may be of use to young Hiccup on his journey through this land after a few alterations are made." It was then four small glowing balls of fire appeared floating around her. "Let's go see what alterations the blacksmith can do to you." The flames flew towards the shell and circled it while glowing brighter, lighting up the area before both the fox and the shell vanished from the area.
Akuhei's fortress
Akuhei glared down at the kappa's statue that was now black as coal and laying down on its side before Akuhei snatched up the piece and closed his hand around it before red lightning shot out. He opened up his fist showing the statue had been turned into nothing but dust. He breathed heavily while growling as he glared down at the map where the piece was originally placed as the statue of Hiccup slowly slid across the pathway showing where he was in the forest. It was then the sourcerer walked in and said.
"May I ask what troubles you my lord?"
"That idiotic Kappa failed in the assassination of Hiccup Haddock even after I'd boosted his powers."
"My apologies my lord but I have news that may lessen your anger."
"For your sake this news better be good."
"Your Oni general Ikazuki and his amanojaku are going to attack a small village settlement tomorrow to bring in a fresh batch of slaves." Akuhei didn't change his expression.
"With the mystic sickles I gave him he better brings in every mortal that village has to offer."
"Ah yes the black flame sickles." The sorcerer frowned. "Are you sure it was wise to give such powerful weapons to a mere Oni demon." Akuhei raised an eyebrow.
"Are you questioning my decision?"
"No, my lord just concerned about your choice in who you handed such power to."
"And why is that?"
"Ikazuki has always been rather hungry for power so I fear he may abuse the power that you have given him."
"Do not worry as the power I've gifted him is but a sliver of my power and should he try to abuse it he shall be dealt with accordingly." The sorcerer nodded as Akuhei. "Don't question my choices in the future or forget who gave you your power to begin with."
"Yes, my lord."
"Good, now leave me to think of my next move." The sorcerer gave one last bow.
"As you command my lord." With that said the sorcerer left Akuhei alone with his thoughts.
Back with Hiccup
Hiccups POV:
I had been carrying the old man on my back for three hours and for those I'd been listening to the old man continuously telling me how incredible it was that I was able to kill the kappa, what a great thing I'd done for the people of the village he called home, how I'd be a hero to everyone who'd lost friend or family member to the kappa and of course listening to him thank me over and over again for my heroic deed. We did have to make a few stops so the old man and I could rest a bit and so I could check on his ankle and it was from this I learnt the old man's name was Daiki and he lived in a small village half-an-hour away from the river. Daiki went onto explain that the river was the only place for his village to get water since their well dried up so collecting water had become a dangerous duty for them and many people were too afraid to get it so a lot of people were very thirsty and some were suffering from dehydration. I was brought out of my thoughts when Daiki said.
"Here we are." I looked ahead and saw a small village with multiple wooden houses that had curved roofs with a few standings on stilts surrounded by open fields with a few holding square shaped ponds. "This village may not be much but it is home." I smiled.
"It looks like a cozy little place."
"Yes, one of the advantages to living in a small town is everyone knows each other and we all enjoy the peace the countryside offers." He then gestured to the fields. "As you can guess, we are a farming village but and although we cannot offer much I do hope that you will spend the night and allow my people the chance to repay you for your heroic deed." I looked up and saw the sun would set soon so I decided it was better than sleeping out in the forest where I could be attacked.
"I'd like that but I ask that you don't put up a big fuss over me since I just want to be treated like a normal traveler would." Daiki laughed.
"My friend I doubt that will be possible as there is no doubt many in the village will want to know about your battle with the kappa and to be honest some will be curious about your arm and I must confess I am one of them." I smiled at him.
"Perfectly understandable Daiki but I warn you it's a bit of a long story."
"I believe that such tales are better told over dinner."
"Daiki I couldn't agree with you more on that." With that we made our way into the village where a large crowd had begun forming to greet us.
Four hours later
It's been four hours since me and Daiki arrived in the village and in that short amount of time a lot has happened mainly people congratulating me on my victory or asking me to tell the tale of how I did was able to defeat the kappa. When I told them how this led to a few questions about 'the dragons claw' that I answered the best I could but of course when I told them it was a prosthetic this lead to some of the children asking what happened to my real arm. Their parents scolded them telling them that was a rude question to ask but I told them I didn't mind and went on to tell how I lost my arm in the battle of Morgan le Fay. I could tell they were all amazed by my tale but it was then Daiki asked what brought me to their land and what happened to my original prosthetic. When that question was asked I told them how Akuhei had broken into my weapons vault and stolen my prosthetic by ripping it off me. Hearing how I was still able to go on after suffering such pain earned me a lot of respect from those in the village and much to my annoyance multiple admiring looks from the women. Daiki just chuckled and gave me a pat on the back saying I'd caught a few eyes of the single women of the village. I just rolled my eyes before asking where I'd be sleeping tonight to which he answered that I'd be sleeping in his guest room for the night which brings me to now which is lying on what I was told is a futon, in the guest room of Daiki's house, staring up at the ceiling since I couldn't help but feel like something was coming.
I was brought out of my thoughts by the sound of screams coming from outside and knew it couldn't be good. I immediately got up and ran out into the village to see what was happening but I could see the faint glow of fire shining through the cracks in the wall meaning trouble. When I got outside I found half the houses on fire with people screaming and running from red men with clawed hands, fangs, pointed ears, black hair and a single horn sticking out of their heads with each of them wearing nothing but pants and no shoes showing their clawed feet. Leading them was a giant one that was twice the size of my father with glowing yellow eyes, a messy black beard and two horns sticking out of his head. I noticed there were black chains wrapped around his arms that ended in what looked like the heads of steel fanged maces at his elbows while the other ends were connected to the pommels of two mean looking black sickles. (AN: Google, un amor sin titulo (meliodasxtn) and you'll find the image of them there.) I could tell the big guy was the leader of the creatures that were chasing the villagers while trying to round them up and it was definitely not a kind creature. I stood there frozen in shock as the villagers were being rounded up by these beasts.
I saw one of those smaller ones chasing a woman with a baby in her arms as it cackled. When it leaped at them I unfroze and quickly released my threads and swung them down at the beast while maneuvering them to wrap around the pillars of the house the beast was passing forming a net. The beast fell right into the threads as I loosened them making it easier for them to wrap around the creature who immediately began to struggle when it got tangled up until I pulled my prosthetic making the threads tighten and slice up the beast as it let out an ear-piercing shriek of pain. This caught the attention of the people and the beasts who all turned to see the creatures body burst into flames as they fell towards the ground. As they watched the remains fall I tied the threads around the side of a support beam a fence between the villagers and the beasts gaining the attention of everyone before I ran between the villagers and the beasts. I glared at the beasts who all stared at me in shock as the blades on the shell rapidly spun before I said.
"If you want to lay a hand on any of these people then you'll have to go through me first." They all stared at me before the large one pointed his right sickle at me and yelled.
"GET HIM!" As soon as the final words left his mouth the creatures charged at me with their claws at the ready while I charged at them with the Pirus held out and pointed in front of me.
Nobodies POV:
Hiccup slammed into the lead amanojaku pushing it back into the others but Hiccup kept running into them, pushing the amanojaku into others as the blade impaled them while igniting them with flames. Hiccup then lifted what remained of the latest beast using Pirus above his head before flinging it into one that was getting ready to pounce on him from behind. Hiccup then ducked underneath the claws of another amanojaku before swinging Pirus down on its body slicing it in two. While his body was lowered Hiccup swept his leg under another amanojaku before he stood up and stabbed Pirus down on the downed amanojaku killing it. He quickly got back up before launching a large ball of fire at the lead creatures head killing a few of the amanojaku on its way but the leader ducked when the flame was only a few feet away from his head making it hit a nearby tree behind him.
Hiccup didn't get that much time to dwell on this however as another amanojaku tried to tackle him from the side but Hiccup used his prosthetic to grab it by the neck and throw it into one that was trying to pounce on him from the front sending them both flying back. Hiccup then quickly took out Ventus from his sheath on his back and readied both swords for a fight with Pirus burning with flames as a small whirlwind circled Ventus. Knowing his swords were ready for battle Hiccup got into his fighting stance as three amanojaku pounced right towards him but he swung Ventus at them sending a slicing wind flying at them and cut all three of them in two at the waist. Hiccup quickly ran at another group with Pirus at the front this time and swung the burning blade towards them sending a large fiery blast at them incinerating the first three while Hiccup slammed right into the middle one behind them. He then quickly stabbed both swords to the sides impaling the ones that were next to him before swinging the swords flinging the bodies forward knocking over the ones at the front. It was then the oni yelled out.
"ATTACK HIM AT ONCE YOU FOOLS, HE WON'T BE ABLE TO TAKE YOU ALL ON AT ONCE!"
As soon as he finished the order every amanojaku rushed at Hiccup as he tried to fight them off but unfortunately for Hiccup there were far too many and they eventually covered him. The oni laughed as Hiccup was buried while the villagers watched in horror as what they considered to be their only hope die beneath a pile of demons. Daiki even went as far as to drop to his knees and just stare at the demons that had completely covered Hiccup while tears slowly rolled down his face. Their sadness however quickly turned to shock as the amanojaku began screeching while an orange glow came from the inside of the pile accompanied by the smell of burning flesh. They all saw this right before a flaming tornado burst from pile, incinerating all of the amanojaku who were apart of the pile and those surrounding it that were pulled into it by the winds, incinerating them as soon as they touched the flames. When the tornado finally stopped every amanojaku was nothing more than ashes on the ground and standing in the center was none other than Hiccup Haddock holding a double-bladed staff as the flames on the ground shone a light upon him making him look even more intimidating then he already was. The oni looked around at what used to be his army before his vision landed on the mortal who'd single handedly reduced his army to nothing more than ashes on the ground before his blood boiled as he glared at Hiccup and asked.
"WHAT KIND OF YOKAI ARE YOU?"
"I'm not a yokai, I'm a mortal who has gone up against a whole lot worse than some overgrown red monkeys." He growled.
"Those swords you wield, they belonged to the black samurai."
"They did until I liberated them from him."
"You mean you stole them after killing their master."
"He lost the right to call himself that after he allowed Akuhei and his dark powers to corrupt his soul."
"It doesn't matter since once I've killed you, I'll reclaim those blades for my master along with those pathetic villagers who'll make excellent slaves for my master."
"You'll have to tear them out of my cold dead hands."
"Gladly!"
With that said the oni charged at Hiccup with his sickles raised and ready to strike down Hiccup but he was faster a jumped back avoiding the blow before swinging Pirus's blade at the oni and getting in a shallow cut on its stomach. The oni roared in pain at this as Hiccup went in for another stab but the oni dodged out of the way of the stab before swinging his right sickle at Hiccups head. Hiccup ducked beneath the strike but wasn't fast enough to fully dodge it and lost a few hairs that were cut by the blade showing Hiccup how sharp those blades truly were and how seriously he should avoid being cut by them. He didn't get to think about it for too long though as the oni swung at him again with his left sickle and this one was aimed for his chest but Hiccup jumped back barely avoiding the strike.
The oni glared at Hiccup as he backed up to get some distance between him and the oni as it unwound the chains on its right arm and began spinning the ball at the end around. Hiccup kept his eyes on the oni and his weapon never letting his guard down until the oni extended the chain at him and he held up his double-bladed staff to block the strike only for the end to wrap around the staff before the oni pulled the chain back nearly snatching the double-bladed staff from his grip. Hiccup held on tight though but the oni kept pulling and bringing Hiccup closer until he broke Pirus and Ventus apart making the oni stumble back and glare at Hiccup who'd backed away to a safe distance. The oni glared at him before a dark smile came to its face as it said.
"If you think keeping your distance will save you then think again."
He began swinging his left sickle around as Hiccup got into his defensive position right before the oni brought down the sickle down on the head of Hiccups shadow before it sunk in leaving only the chain connected to the shadow. Hiccup felt as if a chain had wrapped around his neck right before the oni yanked the chain and began pulling it towards him making Hiccups gasp and fall to the ground as if the chains around his neck had just yanked forward. The oni grinned as he kept pulling the chain towards him and in doing so was also dragging Hiccup across the ground towards him and making him loosen his grip on his swords until he let them go a few feet out of his reach. The oni looked down at Hiccup as he came to be right in front of the him making the oni grin as it looked down at Hiccup and said.
"These sickles can trap a mortal by stabbing into their shadow and then drain that mortal's life force allowing them to ignite with black flames but they've yet to be charged yet." A smile then graced his but this smile would make a brave man wet themselves. "I could've drained you as soon as the blade hit your shadow but I figured it would be so much more satisfying to enjoy this up close." He then raised his right sickle. "Good bye Hiccup Haddock."
Before he could bring his sickle down on Hiccup however Hiccup stabbed his prosthetic into the oni's right knee that was more than in his reach making the oni roar in pain and drop his sickle and the chain that lead to Hiccups shadow making the sickle rise out of the shadows. Now that he was free Hiccup quickly stood up and grabbed onto the chain of the sickle that was now laying on the ground and swung the blade towards the oni. The chain wrapped around the oni trapping its arms against its sides before the blade slammed into the oni's body. As soon as the blade stabbed the oni the chains wrapped around it lit up with a black flame while the oni roared in pain as his body turned to black stone before Hiccup yanked the chain back smashing the oni to pieces. Hiccup smiled at the sight as the stones fell to the grown and shattered on impact before turning to dust leaving only the sickles. Hiccup smiled at the sight until the flames spread down the chains towards him making him drop the chains and look down at them in shock. The sound of cheering brought him out of his thoughts before he turned around and saw the villagers charging at him in joy. He rolled his eyes being all too used to this type of behavior from grateful people before looking back to the sickles only to see them both gone. Hiccup shrugged figuring they just dissolved without their master there to fuel their power they just turned to dust before he turned to the approaching villagers.
Back at the dragon's forge
The fox who brought Hiccup to this land was sitting down in a metal shop with the kappa's shell behind it resting against a wall while the blacksmith examined the sickles that now rested the anvil in front of him. The blacksmith shook his head in distaste as he ran a hand over the blades of the sickles before pulling his hand back and looked at the sickles in disgust. He turned to the fox shaking his head and said.
"It's always heartbreaking to see such magnificent pieces ruined by such dark magic."
"Is there anything you can do for them?"
"The magic on them is powerful but they should be cleansed within a few hours." He then turned his attention from the sickles to the fox. "May I ask why you wish for them to be cleansed?"
"The same reason I brought you the kappa's shell to be worked on."
"So, you wish for me to alter them for Hiccups use?" The fox nodded.
"When word of the defeat of his forces reaches him Akuhei shall send more of his forces to deal with Hiccup and he shall need all the help he can get." The blacksmith nodded in agreement.
"You raise a good point." He turned back to the sickles. "Give me some time and they shall be cleansed, altered and ready for Hiccups use." The fox nodded.
"Thank you, I knew I could count on you."
"After he was willing to give up his life in order to save mine after I refused to help him there is very little I wouldn't do to help that young man on his journey." She nodded and left the room to wait outside for the work to be done.
Four hours later
Back in the village
Hiccups POV:
It's been four hours since I defeated the oni demon and his amanojaku troops and for two of those hours I was forced to deal with the villagers. They were all thanking me for coming to their rescue, saying how incredible I was, what an honor it was to see me fight, how I was a true hero for saving them, how I was always welcome in their village and a dealing with some of the women who told me when I was looking for a wife to drop by. When that was over I was able to return to the room I was given and finally rest a bit from all the attention. It was then I saw a light shining out of the window shining into my room. I sat up and looked outside and saw a small glowing flame floating in the air right outside the window before it floated away and stopped a few feet away from me as if it were waiting for me. It didn't move showing it was waiting for me but I wasn't taking any chances and picked up Pirus and Ventus before going after it. I followed the fireball into a small clearing where a voice asked.
"Trouble sleeping?" I immediately got into my defensive stance pointing my swords in the direction of the voice only to see glowing flame floating in the air and revealing the fox sitting there. "There's no need for that Hiccup." I lowered my weapon.
"What are you doing here?"
"I've simply come to congratulate you on your victory against the kappa and the oni and to deliver to you your prizes." The fox stepped aside to reveal the kappa's shell and the sickles making me raise an eyebrow. "I took them to the blacksmith and had them cleaned of dark magic and altered to serve you so when you pick them up they shall bond to you but discovering their capabilities is something you must learn on your own but I hope they shall serve you well."
"I don't suppose you'd be willing to answer some questions while you're here?" The fox just tilted her head.
"I am sorry Hiccup but your questions shall have to go unanswered until another day but for now you may just call me fox."
"Alright then fox but could you at least tell me why are you helping me against Akuhei exactly?"
"I help you because it is fate for me to help you on this journey like it is your fate to go up against Akuhei and his forces." She then walked into the shadows and vanished leaving the kappa's shell behind as I sighed.
"I wonder if I'll ever understand fate or that fox." I looked around. "I really need to stop talking to myself." I then turned to the kappa's shell and smiled. "But first" I picked up the shell with both hands and placed the sickles on it to make them easier to carry. "let's get you lot back to the village so I can see what you all can do in the morning." With that said I took off walking back to the village to sleep through what was left of the night.
AN: Hey all I hope you all enjoyed the chapter and will actually review this one since I am beginning to worry if you guys like this story now since the last one only got four reviews. If you've been too busy or have a family member or friend with health problems this trying time then I understand since we've all got problems thanks to the coronavirus outbreak. If you're having problems then I understand but it doesn't stop me from worrying. Till the next chapter keep healthy and help those in need since during these times we've all got to watch out for each other. Have a nice day.