Vortex World,
Okinawa Prefecture, Shintoshi Hill Apartment Complex
Kagatsuchi 1/8 Waxing
She awoke with a start, looking around her at the unfamiliar surroundings in first confusion, then gradual disdain. The room was warm and lit with yellow torches, casting the room with a golden hue as she slowly sat up. "I was dreaming again." She murmured, and ran a hand through long, chestnut hair. "I was…no, I am…" The woman looked around, cerulean eyes taking in the large, queen-sized bed she rested in, the windows set into the adjacent wall-once filled with glass but having since been removed after the World's End had destroyed the window, and the spartan decorations which lined the room.
A look to the other side of the room revealed a small bed-side table with a water bottle and a muscle drink, some medicine, a dented tin tea caddy, and something she had not expected; a bowl of what appeared to be fresh, unspoiled fruit. A small tea kettle hung somewhat precariously over one of the torches, and farther off, she spied a bathroom with a a container of water next to it for washing.
The woman took all of it in slowly, allowing her mind to return to her as memories yet began to resurface. With it came a growing unease, a terrible dread which sat and festered in the pit of her stomach. Slowly, the woman slid out of the bed, approaching the window on silent feet and staring out at the landscape below her. A series of small high rises surrounded her, none spanning greater than five stories. Torches lit the area below like golden fireflies, and demons of all shapes and sizes wandered about, waking once more with New Kagatsuchi's passing. Above the high rises, Avian demons ranging from small, tiny zhen to the larger, lilac-skinned garuda flew throughout the heavens.
The woman grimaced as she watched them fly. The larger, stronger demons were actively preying on their smaller kin.
So too were the ones below.
"As if I could forget." She mumbled, and left the window before her presence drew the attention of something equally vicious and hungry.
Part of her-slim and tiny though that piece was, almost wished they would.
"You need to leave this place." She said, steeling herself with a soothing breath, and felt wings, invisible but perceived by her mind, wrap around her. "This place is beginning to prey upon you. Its group ego is pressuring you to conform." She scrunched her face in distaste. Violence had never been her forte and oftentimes she went out of her way to find peace when tensions rose. It resulted in many mistaking her for a pacifist, without a single vicious bone in her body.
Niflheimian demons-those who called themselves 'Falkin', often laughed and jeered at her for such presumptions, thinking her incapable of defending herself or her beliefs. Her own people, the Aesir, remained divided; some mistook her gentle nature as weakness, others hailed it as the requirements for the next Daitenkaicho to lead their people through an age of prosperity.
Yet…her kin knew otherwise.
She preferred peace, yes. Would seek harmony over discord. Would attempt to befriend those who would be her enemy and indeed, often succeeded in these endeavors. Her first instinct upon meeting others was kindness and service out of respect and courtesy, and even those who looked at her actions with suspicion she preferred to see the good in.
Yet her mother was a Valkyrie.
Her father a great warrior-god of justice.
Her grandfather was a warlord who had once sacrificed an eye for wisdom and then sacrificed himself in his own name for a magical language.
Her eldest sister was considered by many an anomaly; a creature of devastation and a Herald of Ragnarök even as she herself was hailed as the successor to her father, and her youngest sister, a savant of machines, held a vicious streak within her comparable to only the most wicked of demons.
She was kin to a warrior people whose earliest years were founded in spilling blood in war or in sacrifice.
She came from a hard people.
And Belldandy, though many believed otherwise, was anything but soft.
Imprisoned on the fifth floor of a high-rise embedded deep within the war-like Mantra headquarters, Belldandy moved to make some tea, and contemplated her escape.
A knock, heavy enough to make the door rattle, came once, followed by a curse on the other end, and several quieter knocks.
Belldandy turned to face it. Here we go again. She thought, and spoke, "Enter."
The door slid open and a man, so massive he had to stoop and enter the threshold sideways, squeezed inside the room before straightening. "Curse these tiny rooms for these tiny men." He grumbled, straightening, bumping his head against the low ceiling, and cursing once more.
Belldandy looked up at the giant of a man a sighed. "This place was not designed for Aesir such as yourself, Thor. Would you like a cup of tea?"
The man ran his hair through thick, red curls, and gingerly moved through the room to sit on the bed. The chairs in the room were both too small and too weak to hold his massive frame, and the bed sagged visibly beneath his weight. "I would love some tea, Cousin." He said warmly. "You are settling in well? Is there anything you need?"
"My freedom." Belldandy replied, as she had been for the past Blink cycle, and taking two mugs from a drawer and spooning in loose leaf green tea from the dented tin. Removing the tea kettle from the torch and whispering a gentle thanks to the salamander which dwelt within, she poured some hot water into the two mugs, hung the tea kettle up again, and walked over to the large Aesir with a cup in both hands.
She gave the larger mug to Thor, a part of her amused by how dainty the porcelain appeared in his hands; it was like a father playing tea party with his young daughter.
The comparison made her wince internally. Keiichi is still out there.
"You know I cannot allow that, Verthandi." Thor replied, blowing gently on the mug, taking a sip, and wincing as the hot tea burnt his tongue. Glaring at the mug as if it had done him wrong intentionally, Thor turned his attention back to Belldandy with a warm, open smile. "You know this land is dangerous, and I cannot allow my dear cousin to walk unaccompanied through Mantra territory. The demons here would tear you to shreds.
Belldandy hid her frown behind her mug. "Yet you know I ventured here safely when you discovered me. Really Cousin, I appreciate your concern for me, however it is misplaced. My husband yet awaits my return."
Thor nodded sagely. "And until he comes to fetch you, I cannot allow you to leave; I must see for myself the man who has the might to court you. He must prove to me that he is as strong as you are. Otherwise I have concern that I will be sending you out to your death."
"Thor…my husband is human."
"That has not stopped previous humans before. I was once bested by a human, you know. In my youthful rage I called a nuclear attack down upon his head for his dogma, and even dead he still came back to kick my ass." Thor smiled fondly at the memory. "Ah…such fond memories. The Founder of the Thousand Year Kingdom, he became. A shame what happened to that World; it had a good run before the Artificial Messiah tore it all down." He sighed wistfully. "I wonder what ever became of the Replicant; surely he's been reincarnated once more. It would be a great honor to do battle against him once more." The man trailed off, his eyes soft and distant.
Belldandy sighed. Round and round we go on the merry-go-round of 'Nope'. They'd been having this same conversation with every new stage of Kagatsuchi, minus the New and Full stages. Belldandy would request to leave the Mantra Headquarters where Thor had taken up residence and had lent a room to his cousin. Thor would say no. Belldandy wanted to return to her husband. Thor wanted that too—but he wanted Keiichi to come for her.
And the idea that my husband may not be a warrior, let alone one capable of 'kicking his ass' is such a foreign notion to my dear cousin that he is literally incapable of conceiving it. Belldandy sighed. Had her sisters been there to witness it, they'd have claimed it akin to the Middle Norn beating her head against a wall in frustration.
Heedless of his cousins reservations, Thor sipped his tea. "Once we have established a bit more territory and had laid some stronger ground rules amongst the local demon population, I will be willing to reconsider your request should your husband still be missing. Likewise, I am also willing to send a search party led by my finest warriors to seek him out and bring him to you; surely he will easily conquer them, and order them to lead him to this place."
"I see." Belldandy said, her face serene and calm. Internally, she was screaming. "Perhaps that is not the best idea." She propositioned. "Keiichi is a…cautious man by nature when it comes to demons and gods, and it would take nothing short of my own presence to draw his attention. I fear anything else may be considered a trap by him, one which he will not, how do you say…'take the bait' of."
Thor nodded in approval, finishing his tea in a single gulp. "I see, a true warrior at his finest. One who has gained not only knowledge but wisdom from his trials as well." He drummed a large hand on his knee in consideration. "Yet still…it would be inhospitable for you to travel with an entourage; he would think you a captive!"
Belldandy had to physically stop her palm from smacking her face, grabbing her wrist with her opposing hand before swiftly guiding it under her mug. He was so…so close.
The god stood, stooping so as not to slam his head on the ceiling again and resting his mug on the bedside table. "Alas, I must depart." He said. "Thank you for the tea, Verthandi, and sharing my company. I must leave though; there has been rumors of new intruders skulking about the Mantra territory as of late, and I need to investigate; supposedly they came from one of the Amala Drums which the Assembly of Nihilo uses. There is suspicion that they are Nihilo spies."
"I see." Belldandy replied, setting her mug on the dresser to see her cousin off. "Well then…good tidings to you, Cousin, and may your hunt prove fruitful."
"Thank you. It does me well to know you are safe here amidst the chaos which exists down below." The two embraced, and Thor headed to the door. "May your husband reveal himself soon! I seek a challenge and have been left wanting with the demons of this area!" He laughed, then slid the door open, stooping to slide back through the small door frame and once more smashing his head against the wood. "Odin's asshair!" He swore, dipping down lower still and sliding the door shut behind him, his footsteps loud stomps as he walked down the hallway.
Belldandy waited until the stops ceased before moving to the bed, falling back against it as she buried her face in both hands. "Keiichi…please, for the love of the Daitenkaicho, stay hidden! I will find a way out of this, but please, have patience! I can do nothing if you are captured before I can reunite with you—or worse!"
Vortex World,
Okinawa Prefecture, Shintoshi Hill Apartment Complex
Kagatsuchi 2/8 Waxing
"Well this is a…nice place." Kiyone mumbled as the two mortals steppe outside of the Amala Terminal.
"Are you sure this is the right place?" Yosho asked, eying the torches which illuminated the overhangs of the area and grimacing at what looked like bloodstains not far from where they stood.
"Nope." Kiyone said, and Yosho looked at her sharply. "I told you—I can't read Sanskrit. I was literally hitting buttons on the panel until it lit up like it had for me last time."
Yosho sighed, rubbing his temples. "We couldn't have stayed back in Naha Municipality because…"
"There was nothing left for us." Kiyone replied, and Yosho sent her a look. The teal—haired woman met it with a glare. "We have to keep moving. She stated. "The food we have will run out eventually and a lot of the areas in the big city are too unstable and haphazard to be around. And that's not counting the demons in the area. You saw them! We had to return Pascal to my COMP and your cat literally ran away from you because he was afraid of hurting you. We had to lure him back with with a cattail so we wouldn't leave him behind." She glared at the beast in question, which now sat leisurely atop Yosho's molle-strap backpack, looking for all the world a creature at ease in his environment.
The cat flicked its two tails at her, and Kiyone was under the distinct impression the nekomata was insulting her.
I know." Yosho muttered, glancing back at the terminal behind them. "We were lucky that whatever was affecting them seemed to go away in the Terminal room." He said. "Otherwise we could have easily found ourselves trapped inside like rats to the slaughter." He looked back to the area around them, his lips pursed with tension. "Not that this place seems much better."
"I know." Kiyone mumbled. "I had been hoping I could find a way back to Stephen. Of everyone we've met so far, he seems to be the one person with a clear idea of what is going on and what we should do about it."
"Are you sure he's even alive?" Yosho asked. "You said he was bound to a wheelchair. I cannot imagine a person like that surviving the world's end."
Kiyone stared at him. At length, she dropped her gaze, a look of unease sweeping across her face. "I think so." She said, and when Yosho raised an eyebrow, the woman explained. "Stephen…there was something…different about him." She explained. "When you spoke with him, you'd think he had it all figured out; the demons, the world ending, even his own capture and your role in it. He was like…I don't know, like a referee in a sports game. Someone who knew all the rules and was participating, but only so much as to ensure the rules were being followed." She shook her head. "I…don't think—no, I know—that something like a pair of bad legs would stop him. He's too…too intelligent to let anything debilitate him like that."
"You certainly speak highly of the man." Yosho said.
Kiyone shrugged uncomfortably, and the two began to walk forward. "He saved my life…once…twice…maybe even three times. First with the demon summoning program and his warnings. Then in making my comp stronger and advising me on how to save Pascal. Finally in sending me through the terminal with the world's end. I won't say I owe him everything, but I do owe him a lot."
"A shame I could not have met him myself." Yosho admitted. "He sounds like a noble man.
"Yeah." Kiyone murmured, her expression growing distant with memory. "A real life savior, him. You'd wonder why he went through so much to save someone like me—maybe because I'm the one who took him seriously?" With a scoff she shook her head. "Yeah, right. Come on, lets get a lay of the land and figure out what's up around here."
"It may be wise to exercise caution." Yosho admitted, and pointed out what appeared to be a corpse around the side of a building.
"You aren't wrong." Kiyone agreed. "….could have been a leftover from the last full Kagatsuchi."
"And it could have been an aggressive demon." Yosho retorted.
"I know. Just saying." Kiyone ran a hand through her hair. "You want to send your cat to scout out the place?"
"No more than you probably wish to risk your dog." Yosho retorted, and Kiyone scowled.
"Look, you said it yourself; we need to be careful around here because we don't know what's waiting for us, right?" Kiyone said, "Well, the best way to do that is to scope out the area first and see what demons are haunting the place. For that having a small demon which can go unnoticed and pass us back what it finds is going to be ideal so that we don't run into a trap."
"It's also a good way of getting that same demon killed." Yosho replied. "While leaving us down a demon as well in case we are attacked. I say we stick together until we have enough information to act accordingly."
"I am with my human." Ol Koneko yawned, twin tails drifting lazily over the side of the backpack. "I believe that means you have been outvoted, Cadejo."
Kiyone scowled at the beast. "Since when were we casting a vote?" She demanded. "And who said you get a say in it?"
"I am my own master." The nekomata replied. "And you wish to use me as your scout. How dare you claim I have no voice in this discussion."
Yosho smirked. "He has a point."
Kiyone glowered. "Don't you start." She snapped, then shook her head. "Fine. You win. We'll stick together for the time being." Under her breath she muttered, "Can't believe I got vetoed by a fucking cat."
The small group left the area, careful to keep eyes and ears open for any sign of demonic activity. What they found instead were more bodies—some old and left for scavenger demons such as slimes and oozes—those weak demons without the power or energy to properly maintain a physical shape within the Vortex World and were forever trapped in malleable green and red sludge-like bodies. Others were newer, fresher; bodies whose blood had yet to fully dry and shown within the torchlight, where red energy still leaked upwards towards Kagatsuchi. Some of the demons were weak ones; demons the duo had encountered back in Naha City, and had not survived whatever encounter left them a they were now.
Others were not so easily recognizable.
On occasion, one or two were massive even, so large at to be at least eight feet tall.
They found a pair of demons guarding an entrance to what appeared to a privatized apartment complex. Other demons seemed to come and go without issue, but on occasion smaller and weaker demons appeared to be targeted specifically by the creatures. The duo were large, red skinned and with a single horn sprouting from their foreheads; Japanese oni if ever there were any, armed with a glaive each as they examined the area with large, wide fangs. The fangs were wide enough that the two demons struggled to close their lips, and as a consequence, drooled a constant stream of saliva, which both wiped away almost in tandem with one meaty red arm.
"The fuck are you?" One of them growled as the humans approached. "You know this is Mantra territory, right?"
"We did not, actually." Yosho replied. "We got a bit lost and are trying to get our bearings. Haven't heard of the Mantra in our neck of the woods; what's the story?" He crossed his arms over his chest with a smirk of false bravado, ignoring the way Kiyone looked at him suspiciously.
The oni on the left barked in laughter. "Ain't heard a' us?" He snapped. "You bold coming right up to us and making claims like that!"
His comrade nodded. "We the most powerful demons in the land!" He exclaimed. "You ain't worth shit if you ain't Mantra! Only the strong survive here!"
"That a fact?" Yosho boasted, "You guys don't look so tough."
Kiyone sent him a murderous look, then looked grimly back the two oni, a hand casually resting on her holster. He heard the snap of the holster clip coming off as she eased into a better position to draw her pistol. The motion was so smooth and seamless that it seemed second nature to the woman, who watched the two demons with a tight scowl.
The left oni growled. "Punk-ass bitch. You really want a demonstration? Fine. Been getting hungry anyways." His companion chuckled-a deep, gravely noise that seemed to grind like hard rocks against steel.
The right demon lunged at Yosho with a snarl, bringing the glaive down on Yosho's head. Yosho side-stepped around it, moving into the beast's guard, and Ol' Koneko yowled. The demon was engulfed in flame, yet it seemed to cause it little harm other than setting the creature's body on fire.
The prince stared at it with dread. Oh great. He thought, bringing the Duke's sword up into the demon's torso and feeling like he'd struck it against a brick wall. Now its on fire too.
A fist sailed towards him from Lefty, only for the oni to howl in pain as Kiyone drew and fired three rounds on the demon. It stopped, shook itself, and turned its gaze towards the woman. "You think your little bee stinger will hurt me?" He snarled.
Kiyone narrowed her eyes. "You scream like it does." She said, and as Lefty swung his glaive at her, she took aim and fired again. Lefty roared as his right eye exploded in a hail of gore, and dropped to one knee, clutching the wound with both hands. Backing up, the woman holstered her weapon and turned to her comp. "Time to finish this off before it gets to wild." She muttered, and before her, before lefty, a summoning circle appeared. A flash of blue light, and Pascal manifested, attacking the wounded demon without prompting from Kiyone.
Yosho retreated, wincing slightly as his own demonic partner climbed up his pants leg and onto the the top of his backpack. "Zanma!" Ol' Koneko screamed, and a burst of condensed air collided with the burning oni, striking it with enough force to stun the beast. Yosho brought his blade down on it with a roar, only for the blade to ricochet off it with a clang that almost sent the blade flying from his hands.
I hate steel blades. Yosho grimaced and retreated as the demon recovered, sorely wishing once more that he had if not the tenchi-ken, than at least an energy blade which wouldn't bounce out of his own hands.
Kiyone moved to join him, and Yosho glanced at the other oni with just enough time to witness Pascal tear its throat out. The demon fell, and growling Pascal moved in front of the two humans, fur standing on end as it challenged the remaining demon.
"You're sword will be of little use to us here." Ol' Koneko warned. "Oni are fortified against all but the strongest of blades; if not enchanted, even the Goetia's steel will do little against it. Either draw your gun or let us handle this."
"Save the bullets." Kiyone replied. "I don't think you're going to nail him in the eye like I did." She drew her weapon. "Pascal—"
"Wait!"
The two paused as the oni raised his hands, dropping the glaive at its feet. "Hold up!"
Kiyone paused, watching as the demon recovered, the flames dying as the demon looked between the two humans with its glowing blue eyes. "You win! I give! Just don't blow my head off!"
The two humans glowered at the demon in silence. Pascal's growl deepened, and even Ol Koneko's fur stood on edge.
"Hey, I ain't lying! You win!" The oni exclaimed. "In fact, I'll even sweeten the deal! I'll work for you if you spare my life!" His gaze was focused on Kiyone. "I don't know what you did to my buddy, but that looked like a real shitty way to die, and I don't want no part of it! I'd rather die to another demon than whatever the hell you did to him!"
Yosho studied the creature with a frown, then glanced at Kiyone. "He could help us navigate this place." He murmured. "We may need someone who can prevent the other demons from attacking."
Kiyone pursed her lips, then bowed her head with a sigh. "Fine." She mumbled. In a louder voice she addressed the demon. "We'll take you with us then. Don't make us regret it."
The oni laughed nervously. "Lady, I am Mantra through and through. I obey whoever is stronger than me. Right now that's you—but if someone else comes along and wipes the floor with you, I'm out."
The two humans grimaced. "Well that's reassuring." Yosho said flatly.
Kiyone ran a hand through her hair. "Fine, whatever. Welcome to the team, I guess. You have a name?"
"Shuten." The oni replied with pride. "Was named after my pops! He was an oni of legend! Had he been here, he'd already be defiling your corpses and eating what remains!"
Yosho and Kiyone shared a look. Is this really a good idea?
At length, Kiyone sighed. "Welcome to the team, Shuten." She said, sounding none-too-thrilled about the prospect.
Yosho grimaced. He'll kill us first chance he gets. He thought, watching as the oni vanished in a flash of blue light, vanishing with Kiyone's use of her arm terminal.
The two stared at the remains of the other oni, and Yosho's eyes drifted to Pascal, trying not to stare as the beast licked its maw, the red which muddied its jaw vanishing beneath a long, pink tongue.
Pascal moved to press itself up against Kiyone, and the woman wrapped an arm around the demon's neck, nonchalant by the fact that the demonic dog had just eviscerated a humanoid demon and had even eaten some of the remains.
While no stranger to war or the hardship it brought, even Yosho was uncomfortable with how easily the beast had resorted to preying upon another demon.
It made him feel vulnerable.
This was why Kiyone had to return him to the Comp during Full Kagatsuchi. He reminded himself. He can and will turn those fangs on us if driven to madness…or worse. The thought made his skin crawl.
"Guess this means we're 'strong'." Kiyone muttered grimly.
"So it seems." Yosho took a long breath, banishing the thoughts from his mind. "I thought I knew their type." He explained. "They reminded me of bullies, the both of them. Smack them around a bit, beat up their leader, and they would fall in line pretty fast. It seems in some ways I was both correct and mistaken by that assumption."
"Funny, that's the exact opposite of my interpretation." Kiyone grumbled, and when Yosho looked at her she elaborated. "Gang mentality—you fuck with one, you fuck with them all, and you better know how to run because they will hunt you down."
Yosho blinked owlishly… "…is that so." He said.
Kiyone nodded slowly, her expression grim. "It is." She said. "Hope we were both wrong about them and that we can move through this territory unmolested. They don't seem like the type to forgive or forget."
Yosho nodded in silent agreement.
Kiyone heaved a sigh, staring down at the corpses before shaking her head. "Come on." She said, "Let's keep moving and hope that no one links us back to that oni's death—or that they don't care enough to prosecute us."
Together, accompanied by a giant demon hound and a small youkai feline, the two entered the gates leading into what was once the Shintoshi Hill Apartment Complex, now the headquarters for the Mantra Clan.
The environment grew more hostile the further they walked; though they were not overtly challenged by any of the nearby demons-not yet-they passed several packs of demons actively attacking smaller, weaker demons. Everywhere they walked, every corner they passed, anywhere from one lone and powerful demon-some bestial, some humanoid, some with human features and weapons and far too many arms-to roaming packs of demons of all shapes and sizes-attacked those who were smaller and weaker than them. Some of them looked like demons Yosho and Kiyone had encountered before, back in the city before they had been chased away by Seth. Others so resembled humans that at one point, their screams were too much for Kiyone to handle.
They looked Human, dressed in little other than soiled rags-a man and a boy, their features so identical they could have passed for father and son. Two equine beasts, their coats black and baring matching white manes and tails, were biting the man who stood over the boy. The beasts maws were feline like, and where they bit they drew blood. Two long, ibex-like horns sprouting from both of their heads, and the man's cries were so filled with fear and desperation that Kiyone drew her weapon in reflex, taking aim at the beast nearest to her and firing before Yosho could stop her.
The shot struck the beast in the flank, and with a scream it abandoned its prey, the two-horned beasts—the bicorns—turning to face the two humans with snarls and screams.
The sight of them made Yosho's hair stand on edge. Their eyes are pointed forward…they aren't on the side of the head like a horse or a goat's…He shivered at the sight, and drew his sword.
"Be careful. They are bicorn, and hold no reservations feasting on your flesh." Ol' Koneko warned.
"So long as I can cut them." Yosho grumbled.
"I will ensure it. Hold your blade forth and I shall enchant it with my flames."
Beside him, Kiyone held her left arm out, pointing to the empty space next to her. "Shuten!"
The oni manifested at the arm terminal's prompt, pounding the ground with the butt end of his glaive as he roared a challenge at the demons.
"Lets make this fast." Kiyone murmured, and her eyes were hard. She fired once more at the bicorn she'd wounded, and a burst of blood exploded in its neck, forcing it to recoil. Shuten and Pascal wasted no time, following the woman's attack as Pascal lunged at the beast, its jaws sinking into its throat as it brought the beast down. Shuten followed with a quick, clean stroke of his blade, beheading the downed beast before it could attempt to defend itself.
Flames erupted from Yosho's blade as Ol' Koneko yowled, and with a roar of his own he raced forth, lunging at the demon with his blade even as the creature reared onto its hind legs to stomp him. Aym's sword pierced the beast's chest with the same clean ease as if it were made of plasma rather than steel. With a battle cry, he ripped it free and thrust upwards, and at the nekomata's howl a blade of compressed wind sliced deeply into it, knocking the beast onto its back, where it laid still.
His sword still glowing red hot with enchanted flames, Yosho stood ready, eying the body as it thrashed before falling still. Did we really slay it so quickly?
The man glanced over to he other demon, finding it equally still as Kiyone stepped over it, approaching the man and child. Shifting his sword to the ready, Yosho took up position behind her, noting how Shuten turned to guard their back from any additional attack.
"Hey, are you two okay?" Kiyone asked, her voice soft as she knelt down before the fallen man and child. "I have some medicine, I can—"
The man screamed and lunged at her, a blade which had been hidden in the long sleeves of his soiled robe glinting in the torchlight.
Reflexively, Kiyone backpedaled, rising to her feet with a fluidity that spoke of long experience, and firing off a single, well placed shot.
The man dropped, twitched, and fell still.
Keeping her gun trained on the man, Kiyone looked back at the boy.
Yet the boy was already gone, on his feet and racing around a corner before either human could get a word out.
"Fuck." She whispered.
Yosho came to stand beside her. "Are you alright?"
The woman closed her eyes and inhaled through her nose. "Peachy." She muttered. "Just killed a human, now there's some kid running around in a place surrounded by demons, you know, the usual."
Shuten glanced over his shoulder at the two of them. "That was no human." He said.
Yosho looked at him. "What do you mean?"
"That was a manikin." Shuten replied. "A slave race. They look like humans, but are lesser than Slimes. They have no status, no power, and are good for little other than servitude and sacrifice." The demon approached, then used his boot to roll the body over. Glassy eyes stared into oblivion, and a strange red substance-not blood but light-appeared to be leaking from its body. "Do you see? It is a mud man-they are not made of flesh and bone like a man but of mud and clay, like a golem." Shuten scoffed. "But at least a golem has strength. These ones have none."
"Why was there a kid?" Kiyone asked, her voice quiet with tempered emotion.
"Dunno." Shuten said, wiping a line of saliva from his chin before kicking the body carelessly out of the road. His foot sunk into the corpse as if it was made of wet sand, and Yosho felt a wave of revulsion crawl up his throat at the callous act. "They just are. Show up in every vortex world without a speck a' power to their name. Everyone uses them for something though-be it food or services. This one ain't no different, though its a shame it was wasted—he coulda been a good pack mule for you, Lady."
A variety of emotions passed across Kiyone's face, none staying for long before a new one took its place. For a moment Yosho wondered if she'd loose her cool, if she would attack the oni and blast his eye in as she had his partner, and his eyes darted to the pistol still in her hand.
Kiyone saw his look.
With a grimace, she deliberately placed it back in its holster, her gaze turning back to where the kid had run off.
"Makibi…Cadejo." Yosho said, and the woman looked back at him. "Let it go." He said quietly. "This…is not our place."
Kiyone squeezed her eyes shut. "I know." She whispered, taking a deep breath. "Not our land. Not our culture. Not our—not our…people." She grit her teeth in a snarl that was almost bestial, than turned away. "Let's go." She growled.
Yosho watched her go, stepping aside for the woman to walk past him and sensing the anger radiating off her. He glanced back to the manikin with solemn burgundy eyes, and his mind drifted back in time to other moments of history where he had seen similar tragedies. Jurai was always at the forefront, his first experience with death and how fellow men were so quick to turn on each other, pillaging and looting at the expense of their neighbors when under threat from a demonic force like Ryoko. Japan had re-emphasized that; not just with the murder of his wife, though it had been done by alien hands-but by seven hundred years surviving tribal feuds, droughts, famines, plagues, and wars had scarred his psyche with images and events similar to what had just transpired. This would not be the last.
We cannot save the world. He thought to himself, falling in step behind Kiyone to give the woman space. We cannot even save the people of this world, nor should we; the two of us are some of the if not the last of what is now a dead race, and it is dangerous to highlight ourselves with our own sense of morality. We are strangers to the Mantra and their ways, and there is no obvious system of overarching government that we know of in place to dictate the laws of this place. If we want to survive, we must keep our heads down so as not to draw unwanted attention to ourselves.
Though it was difficult, it seemed Kiyone at least understood that on the surface level.
Hopefully our actions will not draw undue attention to us. Yosho thought, eying the demons around them, some of which turned to watch them pass with glowing eyes. Pascal and Shuten's presence at least seemed to deter them. I had been in the wrong in challenging Shuten but…at least we have an ally who understands this territory now. By Tsunami's grace may it be enough to allow us to pass safely.
"Mind yourselves." Shuten grunted. "We're nearing the Headquarters building. Only the strongest of demons come here, and if you show up, it means you either trespassing or looking for an audience with Gozu-Tenno, the top demon in this area. Either of 'em will have fighting against some of the strongest demons in the area.
"I see…" Yosho pursed his lips. "We should steer clear of this…" He trailed off as Kiyone grabbed him. "What?"
"Tell me I'm seeing things." Kiyone said.
"What?"
The woman pointed. "Tell me I'm seeing things." A man, dressed not in rags but in professional motorcycle track gear-some of which differed little from their own leathers-was marching towards the entrance, his face grim, determined, and set in stone. He carried a white racing helmet by the straps in one hand. A large patch on the back of his jacket read Whirlwind, in kanji, the glyph one of a tornado with what appeared to be an angel in the center of it.
He wasn't armed.
"…You're not seeing things." Yosho said, and felt his stomach sink into his groin. "He looks…he's dressed like a human, at least.
"That's definitely a human." Shuten confirmed. "Can smell him from here. He stinks like you guys stink."
Ol' Koneko laughed. "Finally, someone who understands my adversity."
The two humans ignored them both.
"Do you see any weapon on this guy?" Kiyone demanded.
"I don't." Yosho replied with growing concern.
"He doesn't even have a Comp and I don't see any demons with him. This guy's going to get himself killed!" Kiyone hissed.
Yosho grabbed the woman. "There may be more to this than we know." He warned, and looked up at Shuten. "Do you have a human in your ranks?"
Shuten snorted. "As if." He said. "Up 'till now, the idea alone woulda been laughed at. Humans are weak and only good for the Kagatsuchi they have. Mantra ain't got no use for 'em other than as a food source."
"Shit." Kiyone said. "We need to stop him."
"No we don't Cadejo." Yosho challenged, and his grip remained firm. "We need to stay out of his business."
"Oh, like I stayed the fuck out of your business when Pascal found you concussed in the Amala Terminal?" Kiyone snapped, and tore her arm out of his grip. "Fuck you. Bad enough what happened to those manikins. I'm not about to watch an actual human get torn up in front of me." She glanced at Pascal. "Let's go." The two ran off, and after a moment's hesitation Shuten shrugged and trudged after them, leaving Yosho and Ol' Koneko behind.
"Damn it." Yosho muttered, and jogged after them.
The Racer was already opening the door into the Mantra HQ when Kiyone intercepted him with a shout. "Hey! Hold on a second!"
The man paused and looked behind him, brown eyes guarded and suspicious as he released the door handle, facing the group fully when he saw the demons accompanying the two humans. His face, guarded and expressionless, drifted from the multitude of demons to Kiyone and Yosho. Now, as the duo drew near, fresh details became evident. The man was short-shorter than Yosho by a good six inches, and even he didn't consider himself tall by any means. He was in his late twenties to early thirties, though his brown eyes portrayed a much older individual than what his face showed. His hair was messy and unkempt, a sign of the hardships he'd likely survived since the world's end, and the front of his white riding uniform was soiled with mud and scrapes, as if he'd taken a bad slide. A name tag read 'Morisato' across his right breast, and a patch below it showed a stylized "K1" in elegant cursive.
He looked like a man our of place and out of time.
"You're a human like us, right?" Kiyone came to a stop a good distance away—out of striking range if the man had a knife, Yosho noted. The holster was open as well for quick access to her main weapon, yet try though he might, Yosho could spy no weapon-knife or gun or anything else-on the man's person. "What are you doing in a place like this? It's dangerous to go on ahead alone—that's the Mantra's headquarters."
The man sent Kiyone a measured look, his eyes darting between her, Pascal, and Shuten in quick succession. "…Hello." He said. "I'm Morisato, Keiichi. And you are?"
Yosho and Kiyone blinked, taken off guard by the introduction. For a man surrounded by hostile demons and now being approached by two humans with their own pack of inhuman monstrosities, the stranger was surprisingly calm.
The duo shared a look, then Yosho stepped forward. "Forgive us for the ah…abrupt call." He said, and bowed lightly. "I am Masaki, Yosho, and this is my companion, Makibi, Kiyone. We are simple travelers trying to get by after…the cataclysm which occurred.
Kiyone folded her arms across her chest. "We came here by chance and heard this place was bad news for humans like us. No offense but ah…you don't really look well equipped to deal with some of the demons out here."
Morisato frowned, then bowed his head. "I am looking for my wife." He revealed. "She was kidnapped by demons in the last cycle and I've been tracking her whereabouts ever since. The trail led me here." The man pursed his lips, and his eyes burned with a strange inner ferocity. "I'm getting her back."
"How?" Yosho asked. "Forgive my bluntness but…you do not appear equipped to handle the demons in this region."
"That's for me to figure out." Morisato eyed the two in suspicion. "You'll need to forgive me but…the past couple of cycles have been rather…rough for me, and I find my trust in the actions of others continuously called into question."
"Hey uh…" The trio paused and looked up at Shuten, who wiped his lips, then looked around anxiously. "Can we ah, have this conversation anywhere else?" He asked. "We're gonna get attacked if we stay here much longer."
Keiichi shrugged. "You all are free to leave. I'm going inside."
"With what?" Kiyone demanded, "some body armor and a helmet? Do you even have a weapon? From what we've seen, the Mantra aren't exactly the type to engage a person in a battle of words."
The man grimaced. "I know." He said. "So I'll get in and just…won't get caught."
Yosho stared at him. "Have you a death wish?" He demanded.
"Hey, I got this far doing that!" Keiichi snapped. "And I'll keep doing it until I find Belldandy! I'm not going to let anyone just kidnap her and sit around and do nothing about it!"
"What, so you'll die in the first instance you're found?" Kiyone retorted. "You think your wife wants that? You can't just rush into a demon's headquarters and sneak your way past everything! Do you even know the building's layout?"
Keiichi was glowered at the two in silence.
"Makibi-san is correct." Yosho said. "At least allow us to retreat from here a moment and consider our options. Perhaps we can obtain an audience with the regional power here-Gozu-Tenno-and request your wife's freedom. We may even be able to assist you; surely it is safer to travel with other humans rather than alone with only your wife.
Keiichi's expression didn't change, and Yosho realized with a sinking heart that no amount of words were going to convince the man of their sincerity. The man's mind was made up, and nothing short of his wife's return was going to change it.
The man's a fool; while I'm certain he's aware of the danger around him, he refused to acknowledge it for his wife's sake. We are wasting our time here or worse; endangering ourselves for no reason. Yosho sighed, then placed a hand on Kiyone's shoulder. "Cadejo, let's go." He said. "There is no reasoning with this man."
"Uuh…" Shuten took a step backwards, his gaze focused not on the door but craned upwards towards the apartment's rooftop. "We ah, may be a bit too late for that." He said.
"What do you mean?" Kiyone asked, following her eyes to the heavens, teal eyes squinting against Kagatsuchi's brightness.
"I mean that we've been noticed." There was a note of panic in the oni's voice. "And someone's coming for us. Someone powerful."
Yosho looked up, bringing a hand to shield his eyes against Kagatsuchi's glare and seeing something falling down towards the earth at them. "Is that…a man?" He said aloud.
"No." Shuten whispered. "It's much…much worse.
Keiichi stumbled backwards. "Watch out!" He exclaimed. "It's going to—"
The demon impacted the ground in front of the small gathering, sending concrete and cement flying as the earth absorbed the blow. Dust filled the area, and Yosho covered his face and looked away, regretting the fact that his helmet was strapped to the molle back where it was difficult to reach.
It wouldn't have mattered regardless.
The debris began to settle, and Yosho looked back at what had arrived, finding in their path what was perhaps the largest man the Jurian had ever seen.
The man stood at least eight feet tall, clothed in western-like armor that vaguely reminded him of what artists depicted Nordic Viking raiding gear in. He wore a helmet which masked his features, but did little to mask the illumination of the man's blue eyes. A massive hammer rested in the man's right hand, and as the dust settled, so too did the cloak he wore settle against his body.
"Well now…it seems the rumors were right. Nihilo spies, right at our doorstep!" Thor roared. "To think we were so careless as to have almost let them slip into our headquarters. Fortune smiles upon me on this day!
"Oh no." Shuten whimpered, and Yosho glanced at him. "We are so fucked."
Comments of Madwoman: Where might makes right, there is little room for Reason. Fight for survival, fight for your life, fight for your right to exist, free of the influence of others. Rise!
Cathedral of Shadows:
Zhen: A Chinese cryptid known as Zhenniao; it is a bird said to have dined on viper's heads, granting its feathers poison.
Garuda: A large, mythical bird in Hindu and Buddhist mythology; it usually serves as the mount for Vishnu, and is the enemy to the Naga race.
Thor: The Ancient Norse God of Thunder. The son of Odin and one of the most powerful gods amongst the Aesir. His death is foretold in the coming of Ragnorok, where he will do combat against Jormungandr before falling to its venom.
Verthandi (Belldandy): One of the Three Norns of Fate from Norse Mythology. She nourishes Yggdrasil, the World Tree with her two sisters. Her name means 'Present' or 'happening'. She comes from the Ancient Norse Poetic Edda 'Voluspa'.
Oni: A type of Japanese ogre or youkai. They are known for attacking villages and plundering food, riches, and women.
Gozu-Tenno: A fierce protector deity found in Japanese esoteric Buddhism. He is an amalgamation of many beliefs
Manikin: Human-like beings unique to the Vortex World. While similar in shape, with physical and intellecual attributes like humans, they are not human themselves, having been born of residual human emotions seeped into the earth.
Bicorn: a beast which first appeared in European satirical works of the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Said to be the polar opposite of a unicorn, it feeds on adulterous men and women.