Chapter 114
Isle of Berk
Nobodies POV:
It's been seven days since Hiccup disappeared from Gothi's hut with what everyone had labeled simply as the strange fox and in that time, life has been very difficult for the people of Berk. The reason for this wasn't because of Hiccups dragons running amok, their crops not doing so well and no storms to deal with, enemy attacks or anything of the sort to be honest. No, the problem was actually their chief and his wife who were agitated and worried about their only son resulting in the only outlet being the villagers. This led to everyone going mad to the point where over half the village was ready to rip their hair out. The reason for this is Stoick was angry and shouting at everyone for barely any reason and on more than a few occasions nearly strangled some people. Some would think that with Valka around to calm Stoick down things wouldn't be that bad but they would be wrong on so many levels since Valka was exactly like her husband when it came to handling Hiccups disappearance. The teens were her first victims when they kept pestering her to teach them how to train dragons but the end result was Valka having Cloudjumper deal with them. Long story short the twins and Snotlout spent their entire day on top of a sea stack in the middle of the ocean until their parents came and got them down. If that wasn't bad enough if someone even tried to talk with her to calm her down they'd walk away with multiple lumps on their heads from her staff. One of the people who had it the worst was the only man who had faith that Hiccup would be alright and that person was Gobber the belch. The reason he was having such a difficult time was because of his repeated attempts to comfort his oldest friend Stoick and Stoick's wife Valka by telling them that Hiccup would be fine no matter what he went up against.
This brings us to Berk in the present where Stoick was just exiting the forge while muttering to himself about incompetence after he complained to Gobber about the lack of gronkle iron weapons being produced. Gobber tried to explain to Stoick the reason for this is the simple fact that he was completely out of gronkle iron as Hiccup didn't get the chance to restock his stores before he disappeared. This of course led to Stoick yelling at him in anger about how Hiccups absence was no excuse to fall back on work before demanding he start production on the weapons. When he left Gobber shook his head as he looked up at the ceiling and said.
"Hiccup, I don't know what you're up to now lad but whatever it is" He paused for a moment. "HURRY IT UP BEFORE YOUR PARENTS DRIVE US ALL MAD!"
Things on Hiccups island were a little less chaotic but still chaotic with the dragons constantly worrying about what happened to Hiccup. Fortunately, the Alpha's and Toothless were able to keep the dragons and animals under control while also supervising the island maintenance. As for Eret and his men, they had built their own huts in a clearing in the forest away from the village since people around Berk were still weary of them but they had to worry about their chief and his wife so their suspicions took a back seat to avoiding their leaders. Eret's men were like the village and worried about Hiccup as he gave them a chance at a new life but Eret kept telling them not to worry as nothing could kill Hiccup Haddock so easily. Despite him telling his men this the faraway looks he got when he thought about his friend said otherwise but he knew he had to have faith in Hiccup like he had in him.
Japan
Hiccups POV:
It's been three days since I took on what I now knew to be an ushi oni from what I was told by some people in one of the villages I passed by and in that time, I am happy to say nothing much has happened. When I say not much has happened I mean my trip has pretty much been peaceful with no attacks from any yokai but there was the occasional bandit attack so nothing I couldn't handle. I'd mostly been spending time seeing what my new boots could do and when I found out about their powers I was impressed and knew they'd come in handy when it came to fighting with my feet like kicking my opponents. One of the most fearsome attacks is if I gave them a direct kick a burning ox comes straight out of their back which would then drag them back until they either hit something large or reached twenty feet, at which point they'd vanish leaving the victim to go sliding across the ground. This was the effect it had on the bandits I used them on so I wasn't sure it'd be different against any demons I face. Along with this the four-pointed stars at the ends were nothing to laugh at with how deadly they could be when using a swinging kick. When using this type of kick the points extend as the stars rapidly spin forming rapidly spinning blades that could cut through metal like a hot knife through yak butter. Aside from the massive upgrades to my kicking the boots granted I learnt they also increased my leg strength, stamina and agility which increased my running speed to the point where I could run three times faster than I usually do and cover way more distance. I had to say it was nice to enjoy a good run through the woods in peace but I knew that there was no way the peace would last so it best I just enjoy it while it lasted.
Akuhei's fortress
Nobodies POV:
Akuhei was once again in his throne room sitting on his throne with his fingers intertwined over his mouth as he looked down at the map where Hiccups piece was slowly moving down the path, drawing ever closer to him and his fortress. Standing at the front of the stairs leading up to the throne was his loyal sorcerer who knew what troubled his master but was too afraid of punishment to say anything. It was then Akuhei let out a sigh and shook his head before turning his attention to the elder below him as he said.
"I'm not sure what to do about Hiccup Haddock, he's not only defeated every one of my beasts that I send to end him but comes out stronger than before with either a new weapon or new ability for his arm."
"If I may my lord, perhaps this kind of problem could be solved with a more feminine touch." Akuhei raised an eyebrow. "Young Hiccup shall be travelling through the snowcapped mountain pass soon, a perfect place for an ambush by the women with the coldest heart in your service." Akuhei raised an eyebrow before he smiled.
"Of course, the yuki onna!" He held his hand over the leather bag next to the bag before a light blue statue of a woman in a kimono with her hair let down rose out of the bag and into his hand as he smiled down at it. "Bring me his body frozen in the coldest ice you can create." The piece glowed for a second as Akuhei dropped it onto the map before it landed standing up and moved to the white part of the map as Akuhei grinned down at the map as the sound of a blizzard seemed to radiate from the piece.
Back with Hiccup
Hiccups POV:
I was once again on the kappa shell, riding it down a long winding dirt road as I kept my guard up for any potential threats that might come out and attack me at a moment's notice. As the wind rushed through my hair however I noticed how it seemed to be getting colder as I drew closer to a mountain pass that was higher up and when I looked closer using my eagle eye I realized why. The mountain passes up ahead were higher up and covered in snow meaning things were going to get a whole lot colder as I got closer to them. I sighed and shook my head knowing that the summers on Berk were far colder than the mountain pass I was heading for so the cold wasn't going to be a problem. I just let out a sigh and continued riding the shell down the long path while bracing myself for the cooler temperatures.
1 hour later
It's been five minutes since I entered the mountain path and I had to say it was both beautiful and cold at the same time but the cold was nothing compared to what I faced on Berk. I smiled since the snow reminded me of what it was like on Berk during winter when I'd wonder into the forest and build snow men back when I was a kid. It was then I decided it best I walk through the snowy area and just enjoy the peace it offered so I got off the shell before placing it on my head and began walking as I enjoyed the sound of snow crunching beneath my feet. I smiled at the feeling right before much to my surprise the boots began to warm up heating my feet and knew they'd come in handy when winter came around on Berk. I smiled as I walked down the snow-covered landscape enjoying the cold that reminded me so much of the village I grew up in and hoping I'd be able to return to the island soon since I was getting homesick. I was brought out of my thoughts when my arm began heating up, shaking and glowing brightly meaning there's a yokai nearby. I looked around but didn't see anything but it was then I heard something flying towards me from behind and quickly dived out of the way before getting up and looking at what were targeting me only to see three large icicles imbedding themselves into the land where I was standing. I sighed and muttered.
"Here we go again."
Nobodies POV:
Hiccup quickly stood up while readying the kappa's shell to shield him against any on coming foes since he wasn't sure what ability this yokai had. It was then the laugh of a women echoed through the mountain pass right before a large blizzard suddenly formed filling Hiccups vision with snow as the same haunting laugh echoed through the mountain pass once more. Hiccup didn't like the sound of the laugh since it sounded so cold as if it were formed from ice itself. He didn't get that much time to think about it before he was forced to hold up his kappa shell to block two more icicles that were launched at him through the snow. The icicles shattered on contact against the shell before Hiccup tuck and rolled out of the way of three more icicles. Hiccup knew he needed to figure out a way to get rid of this blizzard if he was going to even stand a chance against whatever this beast was. As he blocked three more icicles launched at his head he realized a possible way to end the blizzard, destroy any incoming icicles and possibly take out whatever the beast is. He quickly took out both Pirus and Ventus before slamming their pommels together forming his double-ended staff only to then need to duck under two icicles aimed for his head. Once the icicles had past he quickly held up the staff and began rapidly spinning it quickly forming the flaming tornado and kept it up for a good two minutes. When he lowered his staff and the flame tornado let out one last roar before dispersing the flames revealing the blizzard was completely destroyed leaving his vision clear. With the blizzard gone Hiccup looked around for the cause of said blizzard and the one who threw the icicles at him before the sound of clapping brought his attention to his front. He looked towards the sound and found a beautiful wearing a beautiful ice blue Komodo with a diamond pattern and snowflakes but hiccup noticed that's her hair was a light ice blue and her skin was as pale as ice. Knowing this was no ordinary woman he sighed as he stabbed the Ventus side of his staff into the ground and said.
"I take it you're the one who caused the blizzard and threw the icicles at me." She just smiled.
"I see you are as smart as I was warned Hiccup Haddock."
"Okay, you clearly know who I am but I'm not sure who you are." She put her hands together hiding them in the sleeves of her kimono.
"I am Mizore and I am the Yuki Onna who shall bring an end to your constant interference of my masters plans."
"So, you work for Akuhei?"
"Yes I am."
"Alright and what makes you so sure you'll beat me when your comrades all thought the same thing and were all taken out allowing me access to new weapons and in some cases powers?"
"Unlike my former comrades I'm better." With that said she swung her right arm out at me releasing three small but sharp icicles at me but Hiccup was able to duck out of the way.
"Nice try but you have to get up pretty early to get the drop on me."
"It matters not since I won't stop until you're nothing more than a corpse trapped in ice." She swung her left hand throwing three more icicles at Hiccup but he just as easily dodged them. "When you're gone my master shall see how worthy I truly am and shall take me as his second in command and eventual queen who shall rule this world by his side." Hiccup readied his weapon.
"That's not going to happen since there's no way I am going to allow Akuhei to take this world and destroy the lives of so many innocent people."
"You have no choice for now you die."
As soon as she said that she looked at the ground and blew causing the ground to turn to ice as it quickly approached him but before it could reach beneath his feet trapping him he hopped onto the ice that had already formed. He smirked at Mizore's failure to capture him but before he could even react Mizore threw two more sickles at him. Hiccup quickly took his kappa shell off his head and used them to block the icicles but when they struck him he actually slid back across the ice. Hiccup realized that she hadn't frozen the ground to trap him but to make it more difficult for him to move around without slipping. Hiccup didn't get to think about this for long as he had to dodge another icicle that almost imbedded itself into his skull. He almost slipped to the floor but the blades on his boots extended and stabbed into the ice helping him balance and avoid slipping. Hiccup smiled at this and turned to Mizore as he said.
"Looks like you'll have to try better than that to take me down." She just gave a cold smile.
"Understood."
She then placed her hands on the ground right before icicles burst from the ground heading right for Hiccup who quickly dropped his kappa shell that begun hovering. He quickly surfed away in the opposite direction of the Yuki Onna trying to outfly the icicles but sadly he wasn't fast enough and one burst from the ground underneath the back of the shell knocking both the shell and its rider over. Hiccup didn't get the chance to stand back up as he went sliding across the ground on his back towards an icy cliff while trying to stop sliding as he lost his grip on the staff making him lose it. He slammed the blades on his boots down into the ground trying to stop his movement but it did no good as he slid right over the edge. Before he could fall too far however he quickly pulled out his sickles and stabbed them into the wall leaving him dangling there and looking down at the long drop to the bottom. He then heard a cold laugh and looked up to seeing Mizore looking down at him and said.
"This is what you get for interfering with my beloved masters plans." She then looked off into the distance. "While I'm here I might as well destroy the nearby village with an avalanche before wiping out any survivors." Hiccup glared up at her and said.
"Do what you want to me but leave that village and its people alone."
"Now why should I do that."
"They've haven't done anything to you." She glared down at me.
"That village has done more harm to me then you could possibly imagine as that is where I was born and where my mother was killed."
"What?"
"You see Hiccup Haddock my mother was a Yuki Onna, a fact that she hid from my human father and his family till long after I was born."
"So, you're half human?"
"Indeed!"
"This sounds like an interesting story that I'd love to hear if I wasn't dangling on the wall." She glared down at him.
"It's also not a story you're going to live long enough to hear."
She swung her left hand down throwing two icicles towards him but Hiccup quickly swung his body up so he was able to not only dodge the icicles but also land his sickles higher before quickly threw his right sickle up and stab it into the ledge. He used this to quickly pull himself up while Mizore was stunned by what Hiccup had done but as soon as he pulled himself fully onto the ground she backed up and glared at him. Hiccup looked at her and smiled as she readied another icicle but Hiccup held his hands up as he said.
"Hold on a moment." She didn't launch the icicle but kept her guard up. "Before we continue fighting would you at least tell me what happened in the village?"
"Why would you want to know that?"
"Because when you told me that the village was where you were born I saw something in your eyes that I'd never seen in any demon before." She raised an eyebrow. "Pain of an emotional scar and a deep one at that." She continued to glare at me but I didn't even flinch.
"My life is not your concern mortal." With that said she threw an icicle at me but Hiccup dodged out of the way.
"When the lives of innocent people are at stake then it is my concern."
"Innocent?" She threw six more icicles but this time they missed the skin but not the sleeves of his kimono which left his arms pinned to the wall behind him. "Those people are not innocent." She then looked down. "You don't know what they've done to me."
"Then tell me what they've done to you." She glared at me.
"Now why should I do that when I can simply end your life now?"
"Consider it my last request." She sighed.
"Very well!" She conjured a slab of ice and sat down. "My mother was a Yuki Onna who turned her back on her people feeling their ways of draining the life energy from travelers was wrong and ended up in this mountain pass where she met my father before they fell in love with her never telling him what she was." She looked down and shook her head. "For years things were fine, even after I was born but that all changed when I turned five and my powers began to develop." I saw her eyes began to shine with tears. "My mother finally came clean to my father and told him the truth about who she was thinking he'd still love us and understand."
"He didn't understand, did he?" She shook her head.
"No, he completely freaked out calling us monsters before he ran to tell the village while my mother tried to get me away so we could escape." She sighed. "When they caught up to us my mother told me to keep running and to never look back and that she'd meet me later before she went to hold them off as I ran away."
"She didn't come did she?" Once again, she shook her head.
"I later found out by listening in on a few travelers that she'd been killed by my father." I could tell she was fighting back the tears now. "I wondered this mountain pass for weeks trying to learn control over my powers before Akuhei found me." She then smiled. "He told me I was special and had a gift before he offered me a home where I could learn to control it." Her smile got a little bigger. "He had his mystics teach me to harness my power and made sure to drop in from time to time to check up on me." She lifted her head up to face me. "He was the first one to actually care about me since my mother." Hiccup looked her in the eye and sighed.
"I'm sorry to hear about your mother but answer me this one question." She raised an eyebrow. "Do you honestly want to prove those who called you a monster right?"
"What?"
"Listen you can kill those in the village who called you a monster and prove to them that they were right and you are a monster or you can leave them be and have the satisfaction of proving them wrong."
"How satisfying could it possibly be?"
"Speaking from experience as someone who's gone through it, it's pretty darn good."
"You can't possibly understand the pain of rejection from those who are meant to care for you?"
"Actually, I do." She raised an eyebrow. "I was the runt of my village and treated like dirt for it and constantly told I was a worthless runt who'd never do anything but cause trouble for the village with my ideas and inventions." Hiccup shook his heads at the memories. "Now I could've just stayed the way I was with trying to invent things to help the village and continue to try and prove myself but instead I chose to take the higher path and prove them wrong." I chuckled remembering the looks on their faces revealing the new me. "The satisfaction of proving them wrong was wonderful and is something I'll always remember." Hiccup then looked at her. "Don't go down this dark path Mizore or you'll end up regretting it the rest of your life." She stared at me.
"What do you know?" She glared at me. "Weren't you listening to my story about what those people took from me?"
"I did but revenge isn't the answer and believe or not those people aren't the worst ones in that story."
"If it wasn't them then who was the worst."
"Akuhei for what he did and is still doing to you." She glared at Hiccup.
"You mean caring about me enough to save me?"
"That's the thing, he doesn't care about you."
"Yes, he does!"
"No, he doesn't!" Hiccup sighed. "I know his type Mizore." She raised an eyebrow. "They make you think you mean the world to them when to them you're just a tool to be discarded when they're done with you."
"You're lying, Akuhei used to check up on my training to make sure I was doing well and listen to me talk."
"He checked up on you to see when you'd be of use to him and make it seem like he cared about you when he doesn't."
"Why would he do that?"
"Because it makes you easier to control." She looked down thinking about what Hiccup was saying. "Mizore, please listen to me about Akuhei, he doesn't care about you." Mizore shook her head rapidly.
"You're lying!" She then looked up at me. "Akuhei cares about me and it's time for your lying voice to be silenced for good but I'll simply leave that to my minions." She waved her hand before a large ice statue shaped like a golem with sharp icicles for hands formed from the ground. "It'll dispose of you for me."
The large ice golem walked towards Hiccup with its arm raised and ready to be brought down on its target but as the icicle closed in on Hiccups head he quickly lifted his legs up lowering his upper body so the golem missed its target. Hiccup then used the opportunity to slam his feet right into the golem that shattered in seconds as a flaming ox burst from the inside of it. As Hiccup lifted himself back up he ripped off the sleeves of his kimono freeing him. Mizore just glared at Hiccup before raising her hand making five more ice golems form from the ground. She pointed at Hiccup and they all charged at him ready to kill him like the mindless drones they truly were. Hiccup readied his sickles in his hands to take on these mindless beings that he knew may be puppets but were still dangerous. Hiccup charged at the lead golem with his sickles ready as the golem raised its arms but as the golem brought them down Hiccup dropped to the ground avoiding the blow while sliding between the legs. As he slid through however he swiped his sickles at the legs of the golem that fell to the ground shattering due to the damaged legs breaking under the weight.
Hiccup smiled as he stood up and listened to the golem shatter behind him before his attention turned to the four remaining golems. Two of them were charging at him quickly as he unwound the chains and readied the weights at the end of them. He began spinning the weights as the golems closed in on him but when they were close enough he threw the weights at the right leg of the golem on the left and the left leg of the golem on the right. The legs shattered making the golems fall into each other and shatter against the ground on impact as Hiccup pulled the weights back to his arms and stared at the two remaining golems. Hiccup glared at them before one charged right at him as Hiccup smiled and swung one weight again but this time he aimed more to the side missing the leg so the weight turned and wrapped around the golem's legs. The next step it took made it collapse to the ground and shatter before he charged at the last remaining golem that raised both arms in the air as Hiccup charged at it. The golem brought its icicles down into the ground where Hiccup stood but he quickly jumped back avoiding the blow before stepping onto the outstretched arm and used it to boost his height allowing him the chance to deliver a jump kick into the golem's chest.
A flaming ox burst from the golem making it explode sending chunks of ice flying everywhere. One large chunk flew right at Mizore and struck her in the head making her fall back onto her backside and loose concentration over what she was doing. Hiccup looked up at this time and saw a giant spike ice ball that would be big enough to crush a Viking hut easily. Hiccup knew she was most likely planning to throw it at him hoping that due to its immense size he wouldn't be able to dodge it but now that she wasn't able to concentrate it began descending towards her. She looked up and quickly raised her hands over her head in an attempt to block the ice ball but knew it was futile and it would kill her. She closed her eyes and prepared to die but the blow from the giant ice ball never came as all she felt was someone scoop her up and carry her away from the ball followed by the sound of the ball crashing behind her. She opened her eyes to see it was none other than Hiccup who was cradling her in his arms and looking down at her in concern as he asked.
"Are you alright?" She stared up at him in shock that he was concerned and nodded.
"You saved me." Hiccup nodded.
"But why?"
"Because I can see past that cold mask you wear and see who you really are." She stared at him a moment silently asking him what he meant. "A scared girl who puts up a cold front to protect herself from a world she fears because it hurt her."
"How do you even know what you're saying is true."
"Because when I was young I wore a mask as well but mine was a mask of sarcasm and fake smiles to hide my pain." She stared into his eyes and saw a warmth that she'd never seen before in anyone.
"The kindness in your eyes are so warm unlike Akuhei's."
"That's because unlike Akuhei my kindness isn't fake." Tears began falling from her eyes and cascaded down her cheeks before the tears that froze as they fell off her face.
"It was all a lie." She pulled herself into Hiccups chest and sobbed. "Akuhei doesn't care about me, nobody does." Hiccup held her.
"Do you honestly believe that?" She just sobbed harder. "You're wrong!"
"Name someone who cares about me then."
"I know your mother may be gone but her love for you is eternal and I care about you." She looked up at him confused.
"You do?"
"Hey if I didn't care about you then I would've let the ice ball crush you."
"But I tried to kill you."
"Because you were tricked into doing Akuhei's dirty work for him." Hiccup shook his head. "I'm not going to hold that against you." She smiled pulled her head out of his chest and looked down.
"It doesn't matter, there's no place for me in this world." Tears once again formed on her lovely face.
"Yes, there is." She looked up at him. "You can come and live with me on my island." Her eyes widened at this. "I have multiple areas that I'm sure you'll be able to have a wonderful life in all of which are cold and icy so you won't be uncomfortable."
"You'd honestly allow me to live on your island after what I've done?" Hiccup gave her a gentle smile.
"Of course, I will as long as you obey the rules but they're mostly promising not to harm my animals or dragons." She smiled.
"I'd like that." Tears ran down her face but these were tears of joy. "I'd like that very much." He smiled at her but before he could do reply Mizore screamed in pain as lightning seemed to run through her body.
"What's going on?" Mizore looked up at Hiccup.
"It's Akuhei, he must be connected to me somehow and using it to drain my power while killing me in the process." Another bolt shot through her making her scream in pain.
"There's got to be a way to stop this!" Mizrore clenched her hands that were holding Hiccup's clothing as she shook her head.
"There's no way to stop it Hiccup, I'm going to die today at the hands of the one I thought cared for me." She then looked up at me and smiled sadly. "I can at least ensure my power doesn't fall into his hands and give it to one who truly did care." She held her right hand away from Hiccups body and clenched it into a fist before its inside glowed bright blue before fading as she held it up to Hiccup and opened it to reveal two sets of four rings that looked as if they were made of ice with each set of rings connected with a thin chain connected to each ring. "These rings will allow you to form claws of ice infused with my power giving them unique abilities." She placed them in Hiccups hand. "Use them well."
With that said she lifted her upper body and pulled Hiccup down by his upper clothes to plant a long kiss on his lips before she pulled away smiling at the shocked look on his face as her body turned to ice that shattered leaving only her kimono, the rings she left to Hiccup and her tears that were on the ground. Hiccup gripped the kimono tightly before looking up into the sky and yelling.
"AKUHEI!" Tears slowly ran down his face as he looked down at the kimono.
Akuheis fortress
Akuhei looked down at the now coal black piece in his hand and growled knowing that his Yuki Onna had not only failed him but had betrayed him for Hiccup. Akuhei sighed and shook his head knowing that the loss of the Yuki Onna was not something to truly be angry about considering how he secretly detested her and saw her as an abomination. The only reason he hadn't ended her life when he first discovered her was he believed that she could be a useful pawn and she was until today. When he saw she was betraying him he began draining her magic but before he could fully start the process she sealed all of her magic into two rings that she gave to Hiccup. Akuhei growled knowing that with those rings Hiccup had become a larger threat then before and with each weapon he gained he only became that much stronger. The reason wasn't just because he gained a new weapon but because he had been able to gain experience in killing off his forces. Akuhei then smiled knowing that the loss of his forces was not that big of a concern as they may have failed to end the life of his enemy but they'd succeeded in their duty of stalling him which was needed for he wanted to finish his weapons before Hiccup arrived so he could see the true power Hiccup once had at his disposal.
4 days later
Hiccups POV:
It's been four days since I met Mizore and watched her die in my arms but despite it being such a short amount of time a lot of things have happened. To begin with after Mizore's passing I'd folded her kimono up before I found her tears to have turned into sapphires that I gathered and put in a small leather bag I had. I had no intention of ever selling these jewels or the kimono though as I'd be keeping them in my house as a reminder of someone who with their last breath tried to do right. I'd been meaning to make a room for this kind of stuff to honor those who had earned my respect with their dying breath but so far, the only other person who'd be in there is Viggo. After that I'd made my way down to the village where Mizore was born to confront those who would bring such harm to a child who was unaware how to control her powers.
When I arrived in the village many of the people had come to see who I was as not many people made it through the mountain pass alive and non-had come out unscathed. I told them of my battle with Mizore and they cheered when I informed them that Mizore was no more they all cheered with the head of the village walking up and thanking me for freeing his people from his demon daughter. When he said this, I asked him if he was Mizore's father and he confirmed it right before he offered me to stay in the village for a celebratory feast. To reply I told him that I don't share meals with monsters, especially those who condemn a child who had no idea how to control her powers to death and drive her straight into the control of an evil demon bent on destroying the world. When one man said she was an evil creature that deserved to die to which I responded by kicking him in the chest and watched as flaming ox dragged him into a nearby boulder while I yelled about how they were the true monsters if they'd harm a child who'd done no wrong and a woman who'd turned her back on her people's evil ways for a brighter path. I then began walking out the village only to stop to confront Mizore's father who I lifted by the neck using the dragon's claw and told him to pray that I never saw him again or I'd make sure he regretted ever hearing my name. When I did this, I could see the fear in his eyes right before I threw him into the wall of a nearby hut before leaving the wretched village behind.
After the village was long gone I was finally able to run tests on the gift Mizore gave me. Once the ringswere on I was able to understand they activated when I willed them to and I had to say when they were active they looked fierce. When they activate ice seems to crawl out of them and covers both my hands entirely as long claws that were a foot long grew out of the fingertips. After I learnt this I began running tests on their different abilities and I knew their powers were just as fierce as the claws looked. They could easily cut into pure metal as if it were nothing, if stabbed into the ground the surrounding ground within twenty feet would freeze over within thirty seconds, they could also launch foot long icicles fast enough to penetrate thin metal, I'd yet to have the chance to try the claws on another living creature but they had come in pretty darn handy when it came to climbing. Besides this I'd also been practicing with my sickles again and I'd improved my skill with them to the point where I considered myself to be quite formidable with them and it was from these sessions I learnt that the weights could combine when put together forming a linked chain between the two sickles. I'd been doing some practice with them in this form and I had to say they were just as lethal in this form plus I was able to use the chains to block strikes when I held them up and pulled the two ends apart.
Presently I was making my way through a simple forest with large trees that had orange leaves that covered both the trees and the ground making every step I take make a crunching sound. Besides the trees and leaves there seemed to be no other form of life surprisingly since normally a forest is full of life but the only form of life I've seen is spiders. I didn't know what species of spiders dominated this forest but I have the feeling they were the type at you didn't want to be bitten by or they'd more than likely leave a mark and not the kind that fades away. As I walked though I took notice that some of them were a lot bigger than normal and by that, I mean the size of a terrible terror. Fortunately, they kept their distance from me but I had the feeling the peace wouldn't last for long with spiders that big running around which is why Hiccup kept his dormant ice claws on and at the ready. It was then I was brought out of my thoughts by the sound of a high-pitched scream coming from up ahead and quickly took off as I activated my ice claws since no telling what it was.
When I reached the source of the screaming I found a little boy, probably only five years old running from a black spider that was the size of a baby yak. I quickly charged at them slamming into the side of the spider as it pounced towards the boy sending it flying into a tree as the boy stopped to stare at me but I was focused on the spider that was getting up and looking angry. I held the claws at the ready as the spider hissed at me while rattling its fangs before it charged at me faster then I expected and pounced at me but I ducked while stabbing the claws into the ground freezing it. When the spider hit the ground, it went sliding across the ice into a nearby tree. I quickly pointed my claws at the spider before launching six icicles at the spider and watched as they impaled the beast in the back pinning it to the tree as it slumped dead. I turned back to the boy who was staring at me in shock as I walked towards him before kneeling down so we were on the same level as I asked.
"Are you alright?" He slowly nodded. "Good, now what are you doing out here on your own little one?"
"I wanted to explore the forest and got lost."
"Haven't your parents warned you not to go anywhere alone?" He nodded. "Then why did you disobey them like that?"
"Some of the older kids were teasing me about how I was a mama's boy and I wanted to show them I wasn't by exploring the forbidden part of the forest." I let out a chuckle and shook my head.
"I remember a time when I was like you but as I got older I learnt the difference between bravery and stupidity along with the fact that it takes more bravery to ignore what people say about me then to let it get to me." The child nodded as I deactivated my claws. "Now come on, I'll take you home." The child nodded before I took his hand as we walked away from the spider carcass.
Nightfall
It's been six hours since I found the child and, in that time, I've learnt a lot about the forest, the child and the village he came from. When we first got back to the village we found a large group of armed men preparing to go in and find the child with the group being led by the boys' father. They were all relieved to see the child had returned safe and unharmed before they began asking what happened in that forest before the child pointed at me and explained how I saved him from a giant spider. More than a few wanted to know how I did it with most of them being suspicious and feeling a little uneasy when I showed them my ice claws. They seemed to relax a bit when I told them how I'd gotten them and the goal of my journey through their land. After that some still looked at me with suspicion but they backed off before the village leader called me in to talk about what happened. From this I learnt that multiple people have gone into the forest but hadn't come out so when someone needed to leave the village they'd take a long road around the forest. When I asked him if he had any idea what was going on in the forest he shook his head explaining that none had ever returned to tell the tale of what lurked in the forest until today. He couldn't tell me anything about the spider but I had the feeling that what I did to it was going to come back and bite me in the butt soon. I decided it best I deal with the problem before continuing my journey since the fastest way to Akuhei's fortress was through the forest and I had the feeling if I didn't then this village would pay. It was for this reason I intended to go into the forest and check for whatever is causing all the disappearances tomorrow incase whatever was causing trouble decided to attack the village. The head of the village was kind enough to allow me to stay with him for the night after I so readily defended one of the village youths and promised to talk with those who were harassing him the child. As I lay there on my bed mat I looked up at the ceiling wondering what was causing these disappearances and what was up with the giant spiders.
Back with the spider corpse
Nobodies POV:
The forest had darkened with the night falling upon it as the leaves and branches of the trees blocked out what little light the crescent moon shined upon the ground below. It was then a large black shadow landed upon the carcass of the spider that was slain earlier that day by Hiccup Haddock. The creature that cast the shadow upon the spider stared down at the carcass and growled before letting out a roar into the sky. It then looked back down at the carcass and growled out.
"I was planning on confronting the warrior later on when he's crossing through the forest and kill him as ordered by Master Akuhei but this has become personal." It then stared at the Carcass. "You will pay for the life of my child with your own Hiccup Haddock!" It was then the sound of rustling, rattles and hisses echoed through the area as the beast looked around. "Don't worry my little ones, we'll kill him soon enough but first we need bait." The beast smiled revealing its sharp teeth. "And I know exactly what to use for bait."
The village
Sunrise
Hiccups POV:
I was sleeping comfortably on the bed mat enjoying one of the few times I could feel at peace on this trip but I am sad to say my moment of peace was ruined by the sound of a woman screaming waking me up. I immediately got up and took out Pirus and Ventus before running out to see what was going on but I hoped it wasn't like the time an Oni was attacking the village I was staying in. When I burst out the door I saw everyone running towards the house where the screaming was coming from and I quickly joined them in going to see what was happening. I found a crowd had formed in front of the house that I knew the child I rescued yesterday lived in with his parents but when the crowd saw me they stepped aside to allow me to reach the house where I found the boy's mother on her knees holding a scroll. When she saw me the look in her eyes turned from sadness to hate and anger as she screamed.
"YOU!" She pointed at me. "YOU'RE THE REASON THEY TOOK MY BABY FROM ME!" I raised an eyebrow as she charged at me with her hand ready to slap me but her husband dressed in a navy-blue kimono held her back as he said.
"It's not his fault!" She just struggled against his grip.
"IF HE DIDN'T COME THEN OUR BABY WOULD STILL BE HERE!"
"If it wasn't for him our child would've been killed yesterday." Before she could reply I cut in.
"Excuse me, I hate to interrupt this domestic problem but would either of you mind explaining to me what's going on." The husband looked at me.
"Our sons been taken and the only clue to what's happened to him is this map and letter addressed to you that we found on his bed." He passed the letter to meas I read out loud.
Haddock
I have taken the child as my hostage and should you not succumb to my orders you shall have the blood of the child staining your hands. To begin with come to the location on the map where I shall be waiting with the child. You have till nightfall or the child shall die a slow and painful death.
Signed
The spider maiden
I lowered the letter and looked around at the people hoping for answers as to who the spider maiden was but I saw everyone was just as confused as I was. I then checked out the map and saw the location I was to head to was marked with the stamp of a black spider. The village leader then walked up and asked.
"What are you going to do Hiccup?" I turned to him.
"The only thing I can do." I put Pirus and Ventus back in their sheaths. "I'm going to find this Spider maiden and try negotiate her to free the child or else the child's dead."
"But Hiccup, that area is the darkest parts of the forest that was feared even before the disappearances began fifty years ago."
"Walk a mile in my shoes and there'd be very little in this world that scares you as well and besides, the child has his whole life ahead of him while I've lived a pretty full life." I then dropped the kappa shell to the ground and hopped on as it began hovering. "If I leave the child to die I'll never forgive myself." I turned to the parents. "I'll do everything I can to ensure your child is returned to you safely." They both nodded before I took off down the way where I'd find this spider maiden.
1 hours later
I'd been riding the shell for an hour now on my way to find this spider maiden and get the child back safely. As I flew passed the trees I took notice of how things seemed to darken around me giving the forest a spookier look and it certainly didn't help that this place was crawling with large spiders that had large webs and seemed to be staring at me. It was then an old house came into view and I knew this was the place I was meant come to in order to deal with the spider maiden. When I was ten feet away I stopped the shell before picking it up and putting it back on my head while approaching the house. As I got closer I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watched and I didn't like it one bit since I had the feeling those were not friendly stares. It was then a woman wearing a fancy kimono that was the same color as the leaves with the inner part having a spider web pattern. Her hair was tied up into three buns with red painted lips that were moved into a smile as her eyes landed on me. I stared at her and by the way my arm was glowing and heating up I knew she wasn't a normal woman. She stared at me with an unrecognizable glint in her eye as I she said.
"I'm glad you heeded my message Hiccup."
"So, you're the spider maiden?"
"Yes I am."
"Where's the child?"
"So impatient." She shook her head. "But if you truly want to see him so badly." She pushed the door open wider to reveal the child hanging upside down in what I recognized as spider webbing with tears of fear in his eyes.
"Let him go!"
"Now why would I do that?"
"What do you want in return for his safety?"
"Nothing short of your life!" Before I could reply a spider the size of a yak pounced onme form the side and immediately began trying to sink its fangs into me as the women laughed and walked up to me. "You killed one of my oldest children yesterday and now you shall pay with both your life and the life of the child." I didn't listen to her as I was too busy holding the spider back until I saw she was right behind the spider before an idea came to me.
"If this thing is hungry then he can eat some of this." I held the dragons claw hand in front of its face and let loose a small acid gas blast into its face making it screech in pain.
"My baby!"
"I think this thing needs a hug from its mother." With that I threw it right at her surprising her making her fall back and hit her head on the ground dazing her with the body pinning her down as I quickly go up and ran to the child who was now struggling against the webs. "Don't worry, I'll have you out of here soon." I then pulled out my ice claws and quickly grabbed onto the webs that froze over before breaking like thin glass freeing the child who looked up at me. "I want you to get back to the village and tell them what happened while I stay back and hold off the spider maiden and her beasts."
"But how'll I get there soon enough." I took off my kappa shell before I put the child on it as it began to hover while I willed it to take the child back to the village as I kneeled down, took the child by the shoulders and looked him in the eye.
"This'll take you straight back to the village safely and don't stop until you get there." He nodded before the shell took off with the child on it as I turned back to the spider maiden who was now getting back up and glaring at me.
"You're going to regret that boy."
"I doubt that."
"You may have been able to defeat my children one at a time but let's see how well you do against them when they're together." She then let out a screech before multiple large spiders crawled from the trees. "You're going to make a fine meal for my children." I just looked around and readied my claws.
"Why are these things never easy?"
Nobodies POV:
Hiccup looked around waiting for the right moment to attack before a sheep sized spiderpounced at him but Hiccup quickly turned to it and launched three icicles into it killing it immediately. This was all the spiders needed to know it was time to attack and charged right at Hiccup who immediately began rapidly launching icicles at the charging spiders. He knew he could've incinerated all the spiders with a flaming tornado made by Pirus and Ventus but he couldn't risk starting a forest fire that could destroy the village on the edge of it so he'd have to store Pirus for this battle. It was then he stopped firing icicles when some spiders began closing in on him.
One spider the size of a sheep pounced at him but Hiccup ducked under it and stabbed it in the thorax instantly freezing it as it flew over him. The spider shattered on the ground as soon as it landed but Hiccup didn't watch it shatter as he was focused on the spiders that were charging at him. He swung his right hands claws cutting into another spider that pounced at him before turning around and stomping down on another spider that was the size of a terrible terror. Hiccup then turned to two yak sized spiders that were charging at him before he stabbed the claws into the ground turning it into ice. The spiders were unable to stop and went sliding across the ice towards Hiccup who kneeled down with his claws ready to strike the spiders. As they slid past him he quickly stabbed the in their sides freezing them before they struck the trees behind Hiccup where they shattered into pieces. It was then four spiders up in the tree branches launched their webs hitting Hiccup in the shoulders and began pulling him in before he could react. Hiccup struggled against the webbing as he got closer to the spiders. When he was right below the spiders they got ready to sink their fangs into him but Hiccup pulled his ice claws back and tapped the webs with the claws freezing them before they snapped allowing Hiccup to fall to the ground and look up at the spiders as he deactivated the ice claws while he raised his dragons claw and said.
"I've got webs of my own."
With that he released his threads and swung his hand down lowering the threads down on the spiders cutting the branch they were on and the one above it. Both of the branches came falling down with the second one crushing them as Hiccup turned around and delivered a hard kick into the abdomen of a baby yak sized spider. A flaming ox burst out of its back and drag it back as it screeched in pain while igniting seven other spiders as it charged back dragging the original spider. Hiccup quickly turned around doing a swinging kick slicing through a baby yak sized spider as hiccup took out his sickles and lowered the weight on the left sickle. He quickly began spinning the weight before thrusting it forward into a sheep sized spider that pounced at him. The weight struck the spider in the gut sending it flying back into one that was crawling down a tree crushing them both before Hiccup pulled the weight back to him and swung it down behind him crushing another spider that was the size of a sheep. It was then an ear shattering screech caught Hiccups attention as a black spider the size of a monstrous nightmare crawled onto the roof at the top of the house. Hiccup took one look at the spider and could only say.
"That is the second biggest spider I've seen since I arrived in this land."
I quickly took my left sickle in hand and got both my sickles ready for a fight as the spider slowly lowered itself down from the house and pounced at Hiccup but he dived beneath it avoiding being pinned. He stood up and cut into the back legs slicing the bottom pars off making the spider screech in pain. It quickly turned around roaring in pain before slamming its head down towards Hiccup trying to sink its fangs into him but Hiccup jumped back avoiding it. Hiccup then saw the spiders shadow and remembered an ability the chains that he didn't like the ability but knew he'd an exception for monsters. He began spinning the sickles by the chains and tossed them into the spider's shadow below it. The sickles sunk into the thorax shadow before twisting the handle to the Japanese symbol for drain before the shadow slowly got absorbed into the chain as the spider roared in pain. The spider couldn't move as its shadow was sucked into the chains until it was fully absorbed before the sickle pulled out of the shadow and back into Hiccups hand. As soon as the sickle was back in Hiccups hand the spider fell to the ground before its body slowly turned to ashes that gently flew into the sky. Hiccup looked around for the next spider he'd kill only to see none left until his eyes landed on the spider maiden who was shaking in grief and rage. Her eyes then landed on Hiccup and she said.
"You've killed my children but they will not have died in vain." She looked me in the eye. "I'll have more children who shall feast upon your corpse and then I shall release them upon that village you rested in."
"Do you honestly think you could kill me?" She smiled and pointed up.
"Those warriors asked the same question." Hiccup looked up and saw multiple dried up human bodies wrapped in webbing and dangling from the trees. "As you can see they didn't stand a chance." Hiccup glared at her.
"You're going to pay for every life you've taken and rest assured I've faced worse threats then you."
"Oh, is that so?" Hiccup just nodded. "Well if you believe that to be true then let us perform the sweet dance of battle." Hiccup raised his sickles. "But first please allow me to change into something more comfortable."
As soon as she finished saying that she closed her eyes while giving a smile revealing all her teeth had become razor sharp before opening her eyes to show they were now ink black. It was then two more sets of the same colored eyes opened above her forehead right above each other as small black horns grew out above the last st before she raised her hands as the skin turned black while her fingers grew longer into claws. The final part of her transformation was how below her kimono a large lower part of a spider emerged and lifted her up high. The end result was an eight-foot-high spider body with a woman's torso at the end of it with long black claws and two rows of three ink black eyes. Hiccup stared at the women and could only ask.
"What are you?"
"I am a Jorogumo and I am also your end."
With that said the battle begun as the Jorogumo lunged forward with her claws at the ready and slashed at him but Hiccup jumped out of the way barely avoiding the strike. The tree behind him wasn't so lucky though and sliced right through it like a hot knife through butter as the beast turned back to face Hiccup as he threw both the weights right at her torso. The weights connected with her human torso stomach knocking the air out of her before Hiccup pulled the weights back to him leaving her stunned. Hiccup took the opportunity to take his sickles out and run at her legs cutting into the two legs right at the back making her scream in pain as Hiccup backed up. Sadly, this gave the Jorogumo the opportunity to blast Hiccup with her webbings sending him flying back into a tree and trapping him against it. The Jorogumo smiled exposing her teeth as she slowly walked up to Hiccup who was now struggling against the webbing before she lowered her face to his as she chuckled before she said.
"Looks like this spider's caught herself another little fly to enjoy." Hiccup glared at her.
"You're not going to get rid of me so easily." She chuckled and ran her clawed hand down his cheek.
"Oh, Hiccup that's so noble but sadly it's something I've heard many times." She gestured to the bodies hanging above us. "Those humans said the same thing right before they died." She chuckled. "The men were especially easy to take care of by using my human form to lure them in and they realized the truth far too late." She pulled her face away. "Now I believe it's time for us to end this little dance of ours." She raised her claw to deliver the final blow but Hiccup grinned as he twisted the handles on his sickles.
"Our dance isn't over quiet yet my dear lady." As soon as those words left his mouth she brought her claws down the sickles and chains burst into black flames that burned right through the webbing allowing Hiccup to dive out of the way of the blow that struck the tree instead. "Nice try my dear but I've been in tougher situations than this." It was then he saw something in the air that made him smile.
"I have to admit that the black flames were a surprise but you'll have to do better than that to take me down." Hiccup smiled.
"As you wish!" She raised an eyebrow before the thing that Hiccup saw in the air came flying down revealing it to be the kappa's shell right before it lodged itself into her abdomen making her screech in pain right before Hiccup quickly spun his sickles around before swinging the extinguished sickles and chains at her and watched as they wrapped around her human torso. "This ends now!"
He then ignited them making her screech in pain as she struggled as her body hardened until she stopped before Hiccup yanked the chains back destroying the body and turning it into charred rubble on the ground. Hiccup smiled as he extinguished his sickles and put them back into their holsters. He then walked into the rubble and pulled out his kappa shell before he begun dusting off the char and then putting it back on his head while looking down at the remains and saying.
"You're not going to be feeding anymore innocent people to those beasts you call children you wretched bug." He then turned back to the house and shrugged. "Better make sure there aren't any more spiders in there." With that said he walked into the house to see what he could find but as soon as he was inside the fox walked out from behind a tree and looked at what used to be the Jorogumo.
"Impressive work as always Hiccup." She walked into the rubble and blew onto some of the dust to reveal a large silver skull with horns, six eye holes and a red crystal on the forehead shaped like a spider. "And like always you shall not walk away empty handed." She placed a paw on the skull. "This shall be given to you tomorrow morning when it has been cleansed of dark magic and its magic altered to help you on your travels." With that said both the fox and the skull vanished leaving the place where the battle happened empty once more with the only sound being leaves rustling in the wind and Hiccup exploring the house.
AN: Hey all I'm sorry for the late post but things got busy with this being the final week of lockdown so things shall be getting back to normal not anytime soon but they will be in a few months at the least. In the meantime, please review to this chapter as I'd really like to know your thoughts but please keep them kind since I'm doing my best here. Till next time keep your hands clean by washing them for at least 20 seconds, avoid crowds, don't go out unless you have to, avoid those who are coughing, should you be coughing do it either into a tissue or the bend of your elbow to prevent catching and/or spreading the Corona Virus. Have a nice day all.