"This way sir." the guard said showing us the way to the keep. At least showing samanosuke and kaede. Me and ajisai knew where the keep was. Ajisai for being yuki's agent. And me being a guest for a good three months. "If our princess was a the keep, there are two ways to get there, the western path, or the northern passage." the guard said. Pointing to the pathways.
"Kaede. Me and pharos will go north. You and ajisai follow them the other way." samanosuke said.
"Understood." kaede said.
"Be careful, both of you…we have no idea what we're up against. So if things get bad…run." i said.
"Same to you…and good luck." ajisai said as she and kaede ran through the west path. Me and samanosuke took the north path. It didn't take long for us run into more of those monsters. It was one of those three eyed ninja bastards that took princess yuki. It ambushed us. I readied my scythe. While samanosuke readied his katana. I heard the noise of sharp metal. I turned around to see another three eyed ninja. And it had princess yuki in it's grasp. She was unconscious.
"Princess yuki!" samanosuke yelled. The ninja shoved her to the ground.
"I don't know what you things are…nor what you want with princess yuki…and honestly i don't care. I'll send you back to the hell that spawned in you as ash!" i yelled. The ninja tried to dodge my swing. But I grabbed its leg. And smashed in to the ground, i then stabbed it through the back with my scythe. And just like everyone else i've killed. It turned to ash. Samanosuke manage to kill the one he was facing. But it took a bit more. He was landing perfect blows. But it took quite a few more slashes to go down.
"Well. this proves one thing…whatever these things are, they're more resilient than humans…a lot more resilient." i said.
(author's note: to those wondering about the whole "no human blade can kill genma" thing from akane in dawn of dreams. I don't think she was entirely right. We've seen evidence of the contrary throughout the series. Kaede could do it before she got the sacred knife. Ekei magoichi oyu and kotaro can kill genma. Even if they don't have oni power. The genma that attacked paris went down fine by 5.56mm and 5.7mm. My theory is that lesser genma can die by man made weapons. They just take a lot more slashes or shots to go down. While the greater genma are the ones who are immune to human weapons. Anyway. Back to the plot.)
Samanosuke quickly ran to princess yuki and put her in his arms. She woke up and saw her cousin.
"Samanosuke?...it's really you!" princess yuki said. She hugged samanosuke. "I knew you would come to save me." princess yuki said. As i was watching this heart warming scene…a shiver ran up my spine…another of those monsters was coming…and it was a much more powerful one.
"Don't let your guard down! A much more powerful beast is coming!" i yelled.
"Are you sure?" samanosuke asked. As the world decided to answer it for him. The ground began to shake. Huge explosions of dust began to erupt approaching us. Or what was making it. It was a big red monster. Wearing samurai armor on it's arms and head. Wielding a metal kanabo that could turn any man into stain on the ground. It had a mouth filled with sharp teeth. And it had tusks like a wooly mammoth but larger. It entered with an evil laugh.
"Flee while you can, you worthless bugs!" the monster yelled. Whatever the hierarchy for these things was. This monster was clearly higher in the hierarchy. It's ability to talk shows higher intelligence than the mindless monster's that i've been facing up till now. Samanosuke slashed at the beast. But despite hitting flesh. It did nothing. Not a scratch! While the other monsters had more resilience to human blades. This one seems to have total immunity. "Useless!" the monster yelled as he smacked samanosuke into a nearby stone wall. It then looked towards me and yuki.
"Your highness! Run!" i yelled. She looked at samanosuke with worry. "Don't worry about him. I'll bring him back. Just get out of here! Now!"i yelled. Yuki looked at me then back to samanouske…she finally nodded and ran for it. The monster trying to follow. I threw my scythe at the back of the monsters leg. And thankfully. It didn't just bounce off like samanosuke's sword. It went in. and the flesh around it began to rot and decay. The monster screamed in pain. It ripped the scythe out. And threw it towards me.
"You miserable human! I don't know how you obtained that weapon! But it won't due you any good when i devour you!" the monster yelled with rage. And jumped at me. I rolled out of the way. It destroyed the wooden fence.
"Bring it on fatass!" i yelled. Angering the beast even more. Despite my big talk. I had to be extremely careful to avoid any attack from this monster. If that kanabo or it's big foot connects. I'm a red stain on the ground. I could probably survive a swing like samanosuke did. But i'd rather not try my luck.
I threw my scythe into it's arm holding the kanabo. I instantly re summoned it to my hands. It's flesh began to rot and decay like the flesh on it's leg.i quickly slid under the beast and aimed for it's leg that i threw my scythe in at the start. With one strong slash. I managed to cut off the monster's leg. The rotting caused when i threw it weakened it to the point where it was easy as a hot knife through butter.
"You miserable bug!" the monster yelled. Trying to swing it's kanabo down onto me. But i jumped and cut off it's arm by slashing at the point that was rotting and decaying. The monster screamed in pain. I dismissed my scythe. And removed the kanabo from the monsters hand. I picked it up. And uppercutted the monster in the face with it. Blood and several of it's teeth went flying before i smashed the kanabo in the beast's head. It's eyes hanging out of it's sockets by the optic nerve's. It moved it's one hand trying to feel what was embedded into its head. It tried to say something only for it to come out a gurgle. Before finally falling over dead. The ground shaking as the big beast fell to the ground. I breathed heavily. After finally catching my breath. I ran to check on samanosuke. Only for something bizarre to happen. A purple flame ignated on his left arm. And soon dispatting. Revealing a light blue gauntlet. I feel like i've seen that kind of gauntlet before…samanosuke regain consciousness. He stood up and looked at the gauntlet.
"So fortune has smiled upon this day…with the power of this gauntlet…i will destroy the genma!" samanosuke yelled…genma…so that's what the monsters are called…but why do i feel like i've heard that name before….and why does my head hurt when i try to remember? "Are you okay?" samanosuke asked.
"I'm fine…we should check on princess yuki." i said. Samanosuke nodded. We soon followed after yuki. And we found her. With ajisai and kaede by her side.
"Are you alright pharos?" ajisai asked.
"Yeah i'm fine." i replied.
"What about that monster?" yuki asked.
"It's dead…ajisai, is there a place where you can take princess yuki to keep her safe?" i asked.
"There's a safehouse deep in the forest. We can take her there." ajisai said. We followed her through the massive long trees and found a small building made of steel. The inside was exactly like that room in the castle. The one with the wooden platform. I explained what happened with that genma. After that it was time to begin the pest control.
(author's note: the room pharos is talking about is the one samanosuke takes yumemaru and kaede too.)
"Kaede, ajisai you two watch over princess yuki. Me and samanosuke will deal with the genma." i said.
"Wait! Before you go. We should setup a password. Just in case these genma can imitate your appearance." ajsai said. Normally. I would say she's being too cautious. But none of us have a clue what these genma are capable off. I won't ajisai this time.
"Fine…the password will be. The reaper's blade brings judgment to warlords." i said.
"That'll work…good luck to both of you."
"We're not going with them?" kaede asked.
"You remember what pharos said about that big guy right? There are monsters among their ranks that your knife or my kunai won't do a thing too. Samanosuke has that gauntlet. And pharos has his scythe. Both of them have magical edges to deal with this new threat. The best we can do is to guard the princess in case some of them slip by. I'm just hoping they'll be the one we can kill." ajisai said. I nodded. Me and samanosuke left the safe house. We heard the door lock behind us. We made our way on the path to the castle across the bridge that was now covered in corpses of the guards. I'm looking forward to evening the body count. After crossing we saw guards on top of an archers nest trying to stab the undead samurai with long spears. One of them managed to grab the spear. And force the guard to the ground. That poor bastard got stabbed by four different swords. One of them noticed me and samanosuke. But they didn't have long after that. I rushed at them and bisected all of them with one swing of my scythe.
"I didn't thing i'd hate something as much as warlords…but these fucking monsters sure found a way." i said with utter hatred. Small red lights came out of the monster ashes. Which were quickly sucked up by samanosuke's gauntlet. We went through the door which lead to a shed i guess. One with another door at the end with a guard holding it open.
"Hurry!" the guard yelled. However four more of those undead samurai came through the door we just came through. "Monsters!" the guard yelled as he ran through the door.
"Close the door!" another guard yelled.
"But there's still people there." yet another guard said.
"Forget them!" the second guard yelled. The guard close the door and locked it. Leaving us in here with them. This was no problem. I cut down one with my scythe. And grabbed the other one by the head. And crushed it. Samanosuke quickly dispatched the other two.. After samanosuke absorbed the red lights that came from their corpses. He approached the door.
"Open the door! We've killed all the monsters!" samanosuke yelled. The guards slowly opened the door. Only for samanosuke to quickly open it. Exiting it and giving one of the guards a punch to head. Clearly he wasn't happy with the face they left us to die. Can't say i'm too thrilled about it either. After all three of them apologized
"What happened to you?" samanosuke asked.
"They came out of nowhere and attacked us." one of the guards said. Clearly talking about the genma.
"The keep may have also been attacked." one of the guards said.
"So the keep is that way?" i asked.
"Right, the forest path there is a shortcut to the keep." the guard said pointing to the forest path.
"Thanks." i said. We left the guards and headed through the forest path and entered a cave. We were blocked off by a big hole. Something tells me that big bastard came through here. With no other option. We jump down the hole. And found a pathway lit with candles. After dealing with a couple three eyed ninjas. We seem to have found an underground temple. After dealing with another ninja. We went up the stairs to find a mummified monk. In front of it was a scroll that seemed to be about the gauntlet samanosuke was now using. It showed a samurai having one demon under his boot while blasting another with the gauntlet on his arm. So those lights samanosuke were absorbing was the souls of the genma. Great power huh? This will be interesting. The mummifed monk soon moved out of the way revealing a door. After going through it. We killed a few more of those undead samurais. Clearly they are the grunts of the genma. The next room was a lot more interesting. It was a room that six pots in it. But what really caught my eye in this room was an glowing dark blue orb at the end of the room. I picked it up. And i felt magic flow into me. Purple flame appeared in in my hand like when i summon my scythe. But it wasn't instead it was a dark blue longsword that emanated electricity.
"Nice." i said. My scythe has been the only weapon i needed. But i'm not one to turn down new toys. I gave the orb to samanosuke. He put it in his gauntlet. And a purple flame emanated revealing a new weapon. A dark blue katana. He needed the upgrade. That katana is not enough for these monsters. He needed a weapon with a magical boost. After opening a puzle box containing a rope ladder. Pretty sure that will come in handy soon. After exiting through a stairway that was hidden beneath a shrine we saw that we were in front of the castle. But the front door had some bizarre blue pulsating jelly keeping it shut. There was a crystal in the middle of it. The crystal seemed to react to the orb in samanosuke's gauntlet as it soon glowed and the jelly preventing access slunk back into the crystal. After going through the door. We dealt with a few more of those armadillo beasts. We then entered the main courtyard. Blue flames spawned more of those armadillo beasts. But there was a new genma waiting for us. A creature with two big horns. A big war fan on it's back. And wielding a heavy battle axe. It's face was covered with a spiky gauntlet. It was as tough as it looked as it took the magic attack from both of our swords and a couple of stabs to put it down.
We reached the entrance to inabayama castle. But it was blocked by another of those one was red. Clearly we're going to need another orb to open it. Not complaining. A new orb means a new weapon. Me and samanosuke split up to find what we needed. We went left where that bizarre decorated sword slab thing was. I unlocked it a while ago because it was the place i went to when i wanted to be alone with my thoughts for a bit without the sound of guards maids or yumemaru. It was quiet there. But unfortunately i feel as though my sanctuary was invaded by a powerful genma. this one was bizarre. It felt like it was somehow both oni and genma. But i could tell it was very dangerous.
"Be careful samanosuke. I sense a powerful genma that way. Be ready." i said. Samanosuke nodded. And we went our separate ways. For now. I went through the west door. I found another guard fighting for his life against more of those undead samurai. After killing them. The guard fell to his knees taking a breath of relief.
"Pharos..is princess yuki safe?" the guard asked.
"Yep…she's safe and me and her cousin are the exterminators. She's at the safe house. The password is the reaper's blade brings judgement to warlords." i said.
"Thank you pharos…before you go. Take this." the guard said. He handed me a medicinal herb. I don't know long this night will be. So good to have a way to patch myself up in case my healing factor fails.
"Thanks." i said. The other door was locked. I looked down a hole in the wall. Guessing my big friend caused this too. But i could feel the presence of another powerful genma down there. So i used the rope ladder i got from that box in the underground temple and headed down. I found a cave that lead to a big door and little dor. The little door was blocked by another red jewel. The same one preventing us from entering the castle. So big door it is. Inside was a bizarre blue fire. But nothing out of the ordinary. But i did sense that powerful genma was behind a stone wall. So i took a guess. And swung my scythe at a part of the wall. And i was correct. There's was a hidden passageway. I went through it in found a hallway with light blue flames. And skeletons chained up on the walls…inviting. I went through the door. To see some genma freak with tentacles sticking out of the back of his head into a dead body.
"Sweet, beautiful, lovely, the dripping blood. And what's this? Oh a liver!" the genma said as he continued to mutilate the corpse. The tentacles went back into his head. As he seemed to have noticed me. "Hmm? What's that smell? Who's there!?" the genma yelled and turned around. "A human? Wait no? This smell of death…and that scythe." the genma said as he began to laugh. "Didn't think i'd get to meet one of you! An armageddon knight form that accursed shi clan! Guess i shouldn't be surprised only one of you can get in my way. So many promising slaves. But even i can't resurrect someone when they're nothing but ash. The only one i managed was that nobunaga. Considering he was the only one not killed by you." the genma said. Armageddon knight…of the shi clan? Why does that sound familiar?...and why does my head hurt when i try to remember? But i can worry about that later. Right now i had this to deal with.
"So. by slaves, you mean the warlords i killed…well squid face. Seeing you like livers so much. How about i rip yours out and show it to you!" i yelled as i readied to kill this thing. If this things knows how to resurrect dead warlords and genma. Then he would be a massive thorn in our side if i let him live. The only thing that could be worse than a warlord is one with the backing of the genma.
"How about instead i show you my latest creation? Go reynaldo! Bite the belly of that maggot and feast upon his bloody flesh! But be sure to bring him back in one piece to me. He'll be an event better genma than marcellus!" the genma laughed as the slab he was standing behind lowered to an unknown place. As reynaldo. A creature with tentacles for arms. Came after me albeit slowly. I used my thunder longsword's magic and finished off by stabbing it. Not as tough as the axe genma. But i did find what i was looking for in here. A red orb. I picked it up. And i got an new magic blade. This time it was a red battleaxe. This time the element was fire. I wonder what weapon samanosuke will get from this orb. I just hope that he manage to best that genma..
Samanosuke pov.
As i went through the east door. I saw someone waiting for me. A samurai warrior. He turned around i saw that he another genma. A face giving a look of eyes and red horns. It's right gauntlet turned into a shield and a green orb on it's left gave off a green flame that revealed.
Every strike i made was blocked by the genma's shield. After a bunch of repeated blows. The shield broke. The genma changed tactics by getting more aggressive with it's attack's including attack a new one. Where it's swing gave off a big blast of win. Despite all of this. I managed to a land a wounding blow knocking the orb off it's arm and forcing it to it's knees. It tried desperately to stand. But it soon disappeared in blue flames. I think i saw something in the dark. Something with red eyes, before it disappeared. I picked up the green orb. And put into my gauntlet. This time giving me a double bladed naginata with the power of wind. It's not the orb we were looking for. But i'm sure it will needed in the future. Especially in combat.
Pharos pov.
After heading the back the way i came. I rendezvoused with samanosuke at the damn jewel blocking us from entering.
"Did you find anything?" samanosuke asked. I nodded and threw him the red orb.
"Yep. that right there is what we need to get through this damn door." i said. Samanosuke put the orb in his gauntlet. Did this time giving him a red broadsword. Nice.
"I also obtained another orb. Here." samanosuke said. As he handed me a green orb after absorbing the magic and gaining a new weapon. This time a double bladed spear with wind magic. I gave the orb right back to him
"Where'd you get that?" i asked.
"That genma…it had it." samanosuke said. It's worrying that the genma can use this orbs as well. But it's good to see that samanosuke was able to defeat it. And take that orb. It's been a short amount of time. But he's come far from getting bitch slapped by big bad genmas. Samanosuke used the red orb to lower the jelly that was blocking entrance…this is it.
I'm not sure what kind of horror await us in inabayama castle. But we have weapons with thunder fire and wind by our side. Whatever hell awaits us. We'll slay it. And send these genma back to hell. Samanosuke reached for the door and opened it...i took a deep breath to ready myself…and stepped through.
Author's notes:and i'm back. Sorry this took so long last week was my birthday. So i took the week off from writing as a birthday present to myself. Anyway. I wanted to give some credit to danish the penguin. Its good to see someone still doing something with this long forgotten gem of a franchise. Several of his what if videos actually gave me inspiration as to what to do with future events of this story. As well as give me an idea on what do with the magic orbs. Pharos absorbing the magic power. And samanosuke sticking the orb in his gauntlet. That came from his what if samanosuke failed to control his oni power. I'll give the rundown on pharo's weapons. All of pharo's weapons are based off of weapons from the west as opposed to the weapons from the east that samanosuke using This is the knight part of armageddon knight showing. Here's the rundown.
Raichoken (thunder longsword.)
A western longsword with the power of thunder.
Magic attack: pharos points the sword at the enemy blasts a stream of lightning at them.
Ensenpu (fire battleaxe)
A battle axe with the power of fire.
Magic attack: pharos jumped up into the air and slams the axe to the ground causing a fiery explosion.
Shippyari. (gale spear.)
A spear with the power of wind.
Magic attack: pharos swings the spear causing a tornado that hunts down enemies.
That's all for now. Expect more mogeko castle on sunday. Until then farewell.