Chapter 14: Kill The Chessmaster I

Capital

Sol-Flor waved his hand, fixing the damage that had taken place.

"As I said, I'm not like Fiend. He was rusty and too eager to prove himself. I need to be cautious still around you. I'm a coward by nature despite my power, unlike those Black Faction dolts who don't fear death.," he said as the ground rumbled.

The air grew tense as Murasaki studied him, her eyes flickering with a mix of skepticism and curiosity. Her dark-blue hair turned a bright indgo, a stark contrast to the ash-covered street, and fluttered in the sudden breeze. The once bustling capital was now a silent tomb, the echoes of its former life snuffed out by the destructive force that stood before her.

Sol-Flor then noticed Najenda being fully restored and his eyes widened.

It must've been the little vixen who did it. If she's capable of that casually, I have to be cautious, he thought as massive roots began to sprout out.

Instantly, Tatsumi turned into a large pseudo-dragon state as he grabbed the survivors and flew away.

I don't know what's going on. But we're just going to be in the way., he thought as he gathered enough distance.

Murasaki's eyes narrowed into thin slits as she watched Tatsumi fly away, reassuring her that they would be safe with a soft smile, the silence stretching between her and the enemy, as the smoke of the debris bellowed.

It began in an instant, the remains of the capital were ripped to shreds by the summoned colossal roots as they attempted to reach the merged woman. However, the tips, which had generated spikes were instantly frozen once they got close enough range.

Sol-Flor then swelled up his cheeks and spat out something too small for the naked eye to see. Except Murasaki wasn't a conventional entity. She froze the path just as it began to expand. It was a phytoplankton that attempted to get inside her mouth.

So she's able to see what none of the others could. It's how it enters and then evolves into roots that I can generate in them whenever they get uppity with me. I can't control her., he thought as he melded into the roots, merging with it.

The roots melded into one as they formed into a colossal Sunflower.

Murasaki then generated snow wings as she flew into the sky to have it avoid casualties.

However, Sol-Flor wasn't so honorable as he generated a second "head" as it positioned itself to fire at a nearby town.

Desperate, she flew at full force to slice it in time but barely turned to see the main head gathering solar energy for a beam strike.

"Light of The Lavisious.," Sol-Flor's voice rang as it fired, with Murasaki generating a massive ice shield to block it in time, causing it to fly up into the sky, beyond the stratosphere into outer space.

The shockwave of the collision sent a tremor through the ground, and Murasaki could feel the energy reverberate through her body. She knew she had to end this quickly before more lives were lost. She took a deep breath, focusing her power as the ice shield shattered into countless shards, raining down like a frosty meteor shower.

It then shredded the tree into countless tiny bark pieces that soon became just particles.

Sol-Flor appeared from behind her as he breathed a brown miasma, which caused her to be paralyzed in place due to the spores entering her body and

"Limbo: Wildfire.," he said as he spewed hellfire in an attempt to burn her, but he then narrowed his gaze as he saw the environment become subzero in her general location.

She then looked at him as his right eye twitched.

I hate that look., he thought.

Orphanage 1500 Years Ago

It was a quaint and simple building set in the middle of a vacant plain. Getting to get supplies would normally take weeks for a normal human being, but this was not a home for normal human beings.

It was during a time when creatures of legend were far more common across the five continents.

Some were venerated as gods to guide them through strife and famine while being distantly helpful- not getting involved in their lives like guardian angels. These wore pure white angelic robes.

Others were seen as legendary, shadowy figures that lived in the most forbidden parts of the world- the ancient ruins and forests. While they weren't hostile- they weren't benevolent either. Being fickle beings who could be malicious tricksters who punished those who entered recklessly into their domain or rewarded them handsomely. They wore grey clothing of scale-like patterns.

The most common were without exception, the most openly hostile, being beings who had in for humanity for a variety of reasons. Well-intentioned retribution for defying nature tracing back to their foolish ancestors, a need to fight to find strength in others, sadism, etc. These would kill Humans in droves should they ever attempt to rise to the same levels as their predecessors thousands of years ago. They were black outfits that were simultaneously mechanical and organic and were treated as demons.

It used to be this simple, but then members of the white-clad community led by a certain member, began to question their leader's decisions. Growing prideful and resentful of his favoritism of humanity, attempting to usurp him to make humanity into their playthings. The leader banished them to the mortal world where they met with the Black beings. Their once unified fabrics of cloth became segmented like insects as these "fallen angels" would become allies of the black beings- forming the Black and White factions of what would called the Evil Beings. Their competing ideologies would lead to countless lives being lost in their shared goal of toppling the leader of the Good Beings.

It had been going on for millennia, but for these youths, it wasn't initially a big deal.

A small being flew and saw the nearby Torikepusu with great interest. He then landed near his peers. He had gray hair and a beaming grin.

"I've discovered a SUPER big thingie!" he yelled as he smiled smugly, but no one was listening in, much to his chagrin.

"Great.," said a bespectacled girl with auburn hair multiple arms, and a third eye hanging out with a large chubby boy covered in fur with ape-like arms. They were doing laundry as the other children some with extra feet, tentacles, or even heads ran around- acting like normal kids.

They were Hybrids- born of Danger Beast-like individuals who violated women and then callously abandoned them to die. The children would be left to find for themselves. However, one of these Danger Beast-like individuals took it upon themselves to raise them in the hopes of adapting to human culture. Humans back then were far more aware of these Danger Beast-like beings, but reactions to them were mixed. Some saw them as interesting commodities to fight in armies while others shunned them as devil spawns. This orphanage was an effort to mend relationships between Humans and Beings to bring about peace, even if it were take centuries to do.

However, the fate of two individuals would change things drastically.

"It's 34 millimeters off. Fix it.," said one boy with dark blue hair and a set of white horns on his head.

"That's too specific. It's fine how it is.," argued another boy with brown hair and wearing glasses.

"Susa. Sunflower. Stop arguing.," said the girl with the auburn hair and multiple arms as she sighed in annoyance. It was a daily occurrence between the two-

Susanoo, the young man with apricot skin, dark blue hair, and blue iris eyes- who one day became a Teigu and Sunflower- the youth who would one day become Sol-Flor the mastermind of so many tragedies- the young man with short brown hair and matching brown eyes. They were like the others born of victims of the spoils of war.

They were opposites, one was meticulous about the immediate present while not being concerned about the past or how it would affect the future, the other being a slob, but was very concerned about his past and his future prospects.

Sol-Flor remembered the first time he met Susanoo. He was a new arrival, a small, quiet boy with a fierce temper when he saw a mess occurring- from untidy rooms to quarrels that needed to be resolved and unmatched strength that belied his size. The orphanage had been a haven for those like them, a place where they could learn and grow without fear of the outside world's judgment.

"Susanoo is right. It would be best if you learned to be exact or else it's going to pile up and backfire on you.," said a woman with black hair, butterfly wings, antenna, and wearing nun robes.

Sunflower scowled. He never liked her, but her siding with the newcomer was bad enough. Susanoo was a victim of not just an Evil Being assault on Good Beings who sided with Humans, but his father, Izanagi, was the previous Good Being King, killed by an ambitious Great One, who wanted to unite the Evil Beings of the world under his banner, reluctantly killing him when he decided not to abandon his virtues. Susanoo and his missing two siblings were sired between Izanagi and a human woman, Izanami, who heavily implied to have children that also went to Jinwu from her previous marriage to a corrupt king that Izanagi overthrew.

Sunflower in comparison, had a mundane past, being an infant abandoned by his mother after she had been violated by a member of the Evil Beings, granting him his plant-based powers, which were inferior to the innately divine powers of Susanoo.

"Fine," Sunflower grumbled as he went to adjust the piles of clothes, his multiple arms generated from plant tendrils moving with surprising dexterity as he worked. The tension between the two was palpable, but the other children had learned to ignore it, seeing it as a regular squabble between siblings.

"Sunflower's in trouble.," said Free, the winged boy before the girl with auburn hair slapped him on the back of the head.

"Free. You almost got us exposed. This is a very delicate situation.," the auburn-haired girl scolded him, this not being the first time he went against her word.

"Whatever, Devi.," he said before she caught him in an Ashura Buster. She then pouted and walked away.

"Dummy.," she whispered as she walked away with a look of embarrassment.

"Hey, what did I do?," asked Free in anger before the large boy, Kong, shook his head.

"The ways of girls are an enigma to the minds of boys, but will become maybe clearer when we become men.," Kong said, which caused Free to give a confused look.

"What bullshit are you talking about?" the winged boy asked.

"It's true," said the nun, her antennae twitching slightly. "It's noon. Time to refuel before we go on with the day's lessons."

Later That Night

The children were asleep, Free snoring loudly while the others rested softly. However, Sunflower and Susanoo were awake.

"What would your plans be once we graduate from this place?," asked the brown-haired boy.

"I intend to inherit it from Ms. Moth and instruct the next generation till peace negotiations are achieved between our races.," Susanoo replied.

"You lack a will of your own. Damn, robot.," Sunflower said.

"Then what would your goal be?," asked the horned youth.

Sunflower looked up at the sky and replied-

"Have my own kingdom and never die as I do what I want."

Susanoo's eyes narrowed at the audacious claim as he replied, remembering his tragic past, "You sound like one of them."

"At least, they don't live in fear of Humans. Those weaklings that just so happen to have quantity on their side.," Sunflower mocked.

Susanoo countered, his voice firm and filled with conviction. "You know the kind of power we hold, Sunflower. It's not something to be used for personal gain. It's to lead the world to a better future."

The smell of torches grew stronger, interrupting their conversation. They both froze, their heightened senses detecting the presence of something, or someone, approaching the orphanage. The rustling grew louder, the crunch of footsteps on dry grass now unmistakable. The children stirred in their sleep, the tension in the air thick enough to cut with a knife.

Ms Moth went to them as she whispered-

"Go out the back door."

Susanoo nodded as he dragged Sunflower and shook the others awake.

She opened the door, only to see that outside was an army of soldiers instead of the usual mob. This was not the typical reaction of complaints of the local villagers to the mischief brought on by others

"What's going on?" she asked, trying to keep her voice calm despite the tremble in her heart.

The head knight, a stern man with a gleaming silver helm, stepped forward. "You know very well what's happening here, creature," he said, his voice cold and unforgiving. "Your existence here is an abomination, a crime against God. We've received reports of your... activities, and the King has ordered us to purge this place of its unnatural inhabitants."

Ms. Moth's eyes widened, but she remained composed. "These children are innocent," she protested, her antennae quivering in agitation. "They've done nothing to harm anyone. They're just trying to live in peace."

The head knight's gaze was unyielding. "Innocent or not, they are the offspring of your kind. They carry the taint of the beasts that corrupted our world. The Lord has deemed it so."

The head knight sneered, raising his sword to strike her down. With a swift motion, he brought the blade down, slicing through her butterfly wings and into her chest. She crumpled to the ground, her life draining away in a pool of crimson beneath her.

Susanoo and Sunflower watched in horror as the knights surged forward, their weapons glinting in the moonlight. The other children awoke to the chaos, their eyes wide with fear as they realized the danger they were in. Some tried to flee, only to be cut down by the relentless soldiers. The screams of terror filled the night air, mixing with the clang of steel on steel as the two friends desperately tried to fend off their attackers.

Sunflower was seemingly captured as Susanoo was unable to find him before being knocked out.

The Next Day

Susanoo awoke the next day to a world painted in a ghastly palette of red and black. The once warm and comforting orphanage was now a charnel house, the walls and floors stained with the lifeblood of his kin. The stench of death clung to the air like a miasma, choking the very soul of the place that had been his refuge. His eyes fell upon the crumpled form of Ms. Moth, her butterfly wings torn and her body lifeless. His heart felt as if it had been shattered into a million pieces.

He cried but then remembered what his caretaker had taught him.

He decided to go off into the world, taking on the position of a butler, and doing his best to clean the house. He shaved his horns to appear normal.

10 Years Later...

A decade had passed since that fateful night. Susanoo had honed his skills, becoming a master of stealth and strategy under the tutelage of various Hybrids- friends of Ms. Moth in secret, wanting to carry out that will. His heart still ached for the loss of his family and the destruction of his home, but he knew that vengeance would not bring them back. Instead, he focused on the task at hand, using his knowledge and power to navigate the treacherous political landscape of the mortal world.

One day, he received an unexpected summons from the king, the very man he had served as a butler for years. His curiosity piqued, he made his way to the royal chamber, his footsteps silent on the opulent marble floors. As he approached the grand doors, the air grew thick with anticipation. He had never revealed his true identity to the king, who knew him only as a devoted servant with a penchant for order and precision.

Upon entering, Susanoo's eyes widened in shock. The room was a hedonistic playground, the air heavy with the scent of opulence and debauchery. Sunflower, now a man with a sinister aura, sat upon a throne-like chair, surrounded by a harem of young boys who looked utterly broken. Their eyes were glazed over, their expressions vacant, and their bodies bore the unmistakable marks of brutal abuse. The once innocent Sunflower had transformed into a monster, a stark contrast to the idealistic youth Susanoo had known or thought he knew.

"W-what's going on?," asked Susanoo, seeing a surreal sight.

Sunflower gave a callous look as he remarked-

"I was too bored to check to see who the busybody that kept cleaning my stuff after that night. Couldn't you have the decency of dying that day?"

"I always liked the pretty boys, but they were always too strong. It's nice to fuck something that can't fight back.," he added.

"So did the King offer you a deal to spare your life and you killed him in self-defense, but his influence changed you?" Susanoo asked, hoping that the night was just a random act of cruelty that spiraled into the monstrous situation.

"I said before I wanted to have my own kingdom and never die as I do what I want. I'd never get it if I played the road of fairness, doomed to mediocrity. So they heard through the grapevine of a potential rebellion taking place."

The revelation hit Susanoo like a meteor. The smugness in Sunflower's voice, the callousness in his eyes- it all made sense now. The knights, the slaughter, the decade of pain and loss- it had all been orchestrated by the one person he had once considered a friend, a brother.

"You felt nothing as they died?," asked Susanoo.

"Of course, I felt something...relief. My mother happened to be the late king's sister who left me with you, country vermin while my birth father cursed me by also denying a place to rule over these naked apes to save his reputation. Do you know how abhorrent it was to be denied my birthright to be a tyrant? To indulge in my desires? Having to suffer through the babbling of those dolts and that bitch?" Sunflower replied.

"All of our friends meant nothing?," Susanoo asked.

Sunflower smirked as he crushed a youth's head as he walked down, indifferent to the death he caused.

"I've always planned to kill the king. It was easy because he's a lech, and took advantage to snap his neck. Because we looked so similar, no one suspected a thing. But in case, this country rebels and I have to go into hiding...," he said as his face "opened" as the "petals" then closed again to reveal a familiar face, which made Susanoo be frozen in despair.

"I can go to another nation, rebel against the regime, set myself as the ruler, indulge in what I want, and then repeat when I'm bored.," he said as his face morphed from an older Free to the plump Kong to the sassy Devi and older versions of the other orphans. He had been the one to flay them to be able to use them as disguises in case things went south. Just pawns for him to use.

You never revealed your Danger Beast basis- so it's the False Sunflower. That's a plant-type Danger Beast that kills its prey and then uses the guise of its prey to lure in its pack to devour the rest. It was inevitable then that you'd inherit that evil. But to think-, Susanoo thought.

He summoned his weapon- a stave-like weapon called Wolf Fang Mace with blades within it, an inheritance from his father to strike at Sunflower.

"SUNNFLOOOWERERR!," he shouted.

However, the attack phased through him.

"It's Sol-Flor. And I intend to become God.," he said as he then used Limbo- the hellfire technique to blast Susanoo out of the country.

"That should be enough to clean him, but it's going to cause a draft. Oh well.," he said as he went back to his throne.

Present

Sol-Flor proceeded to summon grass with explosives orbs, which Murasaki dodged as Sol-Flor explained himself.

"I was ruling pleasantly in my despotic paradise till the so-called "Great One" barged in, destroyed my nation, and out of pity, he took me in and made me, a king, a lackey to his dirty work. Susanoo then went to one of the 16 countries that took down the "Great One" and then I decided to get back at them for putting me in a goddamn cave.," he told her.

"Why are you telling me this?," asked Murasaki.

"Want to know? How the ancestor of your beloved Najenda screwed over everyone?," asked Sol-Flor as he then placed his hand on the ground as ten shadows emerged.

"Let's see if you can take on ten...no...," he said as he snapped his fingers as several Cadmus soldiers flew toward her.

Next Chapter: Kill The Chessmaster II- Murasaki is overwhelmed by the armies that Sol-Flor summoned. What miraculous power does Murasaki have?

Author Notes: This chapter was mainly to emphasize that Sol-Flor was a perverted asshole since he was young. It also shows his overall plant theme of a weed that violates the garden it invades, absorbing all of the nutrients to have others suffer for his own benefit.