" The master bolt... " The really scary dude repeated, his voice so deep it sent a shiver down my spine—not from fear, but from the thrill of facing a powerful opponent. The urge to charge at him with everything I had was overwhelming. The dude was strong, stronger than anyone I'd ever fought. Just the thought of our battle made my sword hand itch in anticipation.
"You are..." Mr. Brunner's eyes widened, completely locked onto our mystery guy.
"You know this dude, Teach?"
"He's–"
Before he could finish, a powerful pulse surged through us. Grover collapsed to the floor, Mr. Brunner's wheelchair rolled back to the wall, and I, being the closest, struggled just to stay on my feet. The guy was radiating pure power; if you ask me, it was a waste of mana. I'm more of a sword-slash-now, ask-questions-later kind of guy.
" That fool is dead… " His voice seethed with a subdued rage, the kind of fury that festers like an infected wound. He stepped forward, and with each footfall, the grass beneath him withered, turning from vibrant green to a lifeless black. I averted my eyes; just looking at him was giving me a migraine. There was something about him that made my stomach churn, a feeling I'd never experienced before. It was like he was the very antithesis of my existence.
"I tire of this game... Where is it? "
"Who are you, servant?!" I straightened up, glaring at him from beneath his hood, my sword raised and gleaming with a red sheen. He didn't answer, just kept advancing slowly.
"Percy!" Grover's voice rang out from behind me. I glanced back to see him struggling to pull himself up by the railings. "Run!"
Run? That's not my style, especially not now.
I took a stance, sword at the ready.
"Do not test me, boy... The master bolt— "
"I have no idea what that is!"
The man's demeanor shifted; the pressure around us lessened but didn't disappear entirely. Without another word, he turned his back on me and began walking away.
"Hey!" I shouted, wind gathering around my blade. "Don't ignore me!"
He remained silent, continuing his departure. In the distance, I could see the camp, half of it shrouded in shadows. My heart sank as I noticed fires springing up within the darkness, accompanied by distant screams. I knew this scene all too well, from another life, in an era of blood. Horror turned to disgust.
"What is this... What did you do!?" I yelled, but he didn't acknowledge me, treating me like a gnat beneath his notice.
"Percy!" Grover finally reached me, his hand gripping my shoulder. "Th-the camp's under attack, we have to get to the evacuation sites!" The fear in his voice made him stumble over his words.
Screw that!
I launched myself at the servant, moving so fast that my blade sang through the air. I swung wide, aiming to decapitate him. But he dodged with inhuman precision, tilting his body at an angle that made my attack miss entirely. As I flew past, he grabbed my head and slammed me into the ground. The impact was brutal, the earth cracking beneath me. Pain exploded in my skull; I saw stars, and I'm pretty sure two of my teeth broke, blood filled my mouth.
But before he could finish me off, water erupted from my sword. I twisted the blade in my grip, nearly severing his arm if he hadn't jumped away in time. In that split second, the water surged around my head, numbing the pain before it could overwhelm me. Enveloped in the [Divine Water, my wounds healed rapidly, even my missing teeth regrew. I leaped back as the water returned to my sheath.
"Why?" I demanded, my voice trembling with rage.
He remained silent.
"This war is between us! Why would you involve innocent people? Children!" I screamed with all my fury.
A long silence settled. I leveled my sword, the only sounds were the rustle of leaves and the distant screams that clawed at my mind.
" A child through and through. In body and mind... " he finally spoke, his tone dripping with disdain.
"What's that supposed to mean?!"
" You, of all people, should know... Ambition requires sacrifice. " He gestured toward the camp. The fires were now towering over the buildings, explosions and the sounds of battle growing louder. Embers began to swirl in the wind.
" The flames of my ambitions... I'll sacrifice the world if I must... You know this too, I can see the blood in your eyes… "
I glared at him, my teeth clenched so tightly I could feel the pain shooting through my jaw. He is no different than an oni, a brigand, a monster. Willing to do anything to achieve his ends, no matter how despicable, how ruthless. Taking and taking, until there is nothing left but ash and blood. A soulless weapon that… that…
"You see…" he said, his voice cold and unfeeling. With a flex of his hand, a bow materialized from nowhere—a simple, massive weapon, designed solely to kill. In an instant, he aimed an arrow directly at me."We are both killers..."
We both fell silent; there was nothing more to say. For a moment, the world froze—time itself seemed to stop. The grass stilled, and the embers hung suspended in the air. A wrenching nostalgia washed over me, like the feeling of stepping onto the battlefield for the first time. I remembered the armies before me, their charge, their roar. And just like before, I let go. My body moved on its own, and the world resumed its pace.
It all happened in a blur, the world catching up in an instant. I barely remembered the sequence—thoughts and images flashed by as fast as the wind. I dodged, I swung, and the arrow screamed past me. I felt the impact of my sword as it struck his hood, but it couldn't penetrate, and the man moved with inhuman speed. He stabbed an arrow at my throat, but I twisted my neck, my body bending at unnatural angles to barely avoid it. I pushed off his cloak and somersaulted back to the grass, landing in a crouch.
Two more arrows flew at me. I shifted my footing, twisting between them as they whizzed past, but they shattered the earth beneath me. I lost my balance and fell onto my back. Looking up, I saw more arrows descending like rain. Two instincts battled within me: run or power through. But I hesitated, and the arrows pounded the ground, turning the hillside into a crater of dirt. I yelled as the earth swallowed me, trapping me beneath the rubble, buried alive.
Ugh, it tastes awful.
I channeled mana down my blade, and with all my strength, I slashed upward. A torrent of water erupted from the ground like a geyser, launching dirt, rocks, and myself into the air. As I gathered the water into my sword, I swung with all my might, sending a powerful slash hurtling towards the servant. But he's gone, and all I was left with was an empty crater.
Where did he–
As I fell, I sensed multiple arrows coming at me from every angle. Dodging them all was impossible, but I certainly tried. One arrow whizzed past my cheek; I narrowly avoided another aimed at my head and deflected a third with my sword. Then they all came at once. I moved with inhuman speed, blocking and deflecting, but one arrow stabbed into my shoulder, and another pierced through my arm as I blocked it from striking my heart. I dodged one aimed at my lungs, but two more lodged into my back. It's a losing battle.
As I neared the ground, the arrows followed me like homing missiles. I knew the moment I touched earth, they would rain down on me like swords. Gathering the wind around my body, I jumped on air, moving away from the impact point. I looked back as hundreds of arrows slammed into the ground like a relentless stream of metal. I landed heavily on the grass, leaving a trail of blood behind. The pain made me wince; my body was riddled with arrows, both large and small. The largest had shattered the bones in my left arm, still lodged in my flesh, the shaft piercing through.
I coughed up blood as I checked my chest—none of the arrows had pierced my organs. I turned my head to find my opponent, but my vision started to blur. The pain and adrenaline were taking their toll. The world twisted around me, colors and sounds blending into a chaotic mess. The human body wasn't meant to endure this much punishment.
"Oh, [Divine—" I started, but an arrow hurtled toward me. I rolled away, only to realize it was a feint. Another arrow struck the ground near me, the force launching me into the air. I hit the ground hard, each impact sending jolts of pain through my body. On the final bounce, I managed to regain some footing and bolted toward the tree line. I needed a break—I couldn't fight him while under this relentless barrage.
From the shadows, two more arrows were aimed at me. I leaped over the first and slashed the second mid-air.
"Oh, [Divine Water]!" I called out, and liquid erupted from my sword, enveloping me like armor. It began healing my wounds, but I could feel my mana draining as I maintained it. I sprinted into a small forest, but more arrows rained down, uprooting trees and shattering bark. I ducked into the shadows, biting my lip as I yanked the arrows from my body. The largest one was lodged in my arm, but as I tore it out, the water immediately flowed in, sealing the wound without spilling a drop of blood.
This guy's out of my league.
I can't fight him like this—if only I knew the name of my phantasm. I ducked just as a massive arrow shattered the tree behind me. He's not giving me any breathing room; I can't get close to him. My instincts flared, and I leaped to the left. A gigantic arrow shot past, creating a tornado that tore through the forest, carving a tunnel of dirt and debris that split the woods in half. I quickly scanned the clearing in the direction the arrow came from, but the servant was nowhere to be seen. I clicked my tongue in frustration and turned to the other side. From there, I had a clear view of the camp—and beyond it, the sound.
That's it!
My ears twitched as the wind howled. I jumped into the air vaulting over the arrow, my water armor trailing behind me. Another one came flying after, a long metal bolt surrounded by a tornado. A wild idea popped into my head—risky, but it might work, if I act fast. I whispered the name of my sword, and it began to glow with green petals, gathering wind around me. I jumped toward the bolt as it sped toward my heart. I twisted my chest just enough so the arrow only grazed my right shoulder. Then, I merged my wind with the arrow's vortex, allowing me to grab the shaft and ride the arrow across the sky
I can't believe that worked!
Before I could smile my eyes widened. I watched as the camp got closer and closer; the arrow was about to crash into a building. I couldn't let that happen, so I swung my sword at the arrowhead and let go. The bolt veered off course and slammed into the dirt instead. I was thrown off and crashed into the wall.
The water armor returned; but man, that hurt. I've crashed through walls before, but never at such high speeds. I'm pretty sure I was paralyzed for a moment before the water healed me.
I immediately popped out of the rubble, my eyes snapped to the hill side. He's still there, a black silhouette, my eyes revolted just looking at him. If I gather enough water, I should be able to–
My instincts flared, I turned around to meet a knife to my neck. A girl with black hair brandished her blade at me. Her eyes were soft yet furious. The room behind her was pink, like really pink; with fluffy animals and rainbows. It smelled like my mom's makeup, the fancy kind.
"Who the hell are you!?" She screamed, inching the dagger closer. My eyes darted to her then to the people behind. They were mostly kids, hiding under beds or behind objects. Only a few had actual weapons, most wielded bats, or a golf club or nothing at all. All of them possessed an innate beauty, it reeked of an authority.
"I said who are you!?"
I felt the wind scream—another arrow incoming. I had enough time to dodge, but then I glanced at the room. The servant knew this. Damn him. I jumped into the air, gathering the water armor around my sword. With a swift swing, I cut the arrow in half before it could reach the kids. But the servant wasn't done; more arrows were on their way. If I stay on the defensive, I'll lose.
I poured more mana into my sword and swung again, creating a water tornado that knocked the arrows away. But I knew it wouldn't last long.
"You have to leave! He won't stop!" I shouted back at them.
The girl didn't waver. If anything, her eyes grew more determined. She glanced back at the people behind her, then at the fires around the camp. Soft and dainty, but I couldn't call her fragile—there was strength in her eyes. She looked directly at me, searching for something. For a moment, she reminded me of... my heart hardened.
An arrow pierced through the vortex, heading straight for her. I acted quickly, slicing the bolt in half. The head veered off and crashed to her left. Still, she didn't blink, even as the wind blew her hair and the force made her unsteady. She braced herself against the wall before turning to the children.
"Cabin ten, we're leaving."
The entire cabin was dumbfounded for a moment before the girl screamed at them to move. Her voice was stronger than before, to me it felt like a gong or a trumpet. Then like a bunch of ants, they immediately walked through the door.
"Can you protect us?" She spoke to me, fear fresh in her eyes.
"What?"
"None of us are good at fighting. Most of us can't even hold a sword right. Please, protect us." Her words hit me like a hammer, echoing in my skull. For a moment, it felt like nothing else existed but her voice. My will wavered, and my grip on the blade loosened. A part of me wanted to help her—urging me to do the right thing. Her tone resonated with buried memories, like the forgotten lessons from an old PBS kids' show suddenly surfacing. My mom's voice, then her voice, overlapped with...
Magecraft. I'm being manipulated! I shoved those thoughts away and I was filled with an overwhelming rage. I didn't know where this anger came from, it was just flowing from my heart. I tighten my grip on my blade, ready to strike her down. I glared at the girl, and she flinched, clearly not expecting that. The rage building inside me was beyond simple anger—it was all-consuming. A deep hatred I couldn't control, despair, sadness and… How dare she? How dare she use her voice, she has no right to abuse those memories of her !
"Witch!" My yell made her step back. "You think you can manipulate me!" I walked closer, I mapped out the strike, I wanted to prolong her death as long as possible.
Her bravado was gone, and her face visibly paled. She walked backwards into the cabin, and I slowly followed her. She walked until her back hit the wall.
"Stop… I-I didn't mean to–"
"Shut up!" I raise my blade and the girl grits her teeth.
"Silena!" A child screamed from the outside. We both freeze to look at the cabin door, the girl immediately bolts out not caring that I hold a blade. I could have easily cut her through her back, but something within me stopped my hand. My sword arm was trembling.
What is….
More screams erupted from outside. I burst through the door and was greeted by a vision of hell. Stone walls melted, dripping into pools of black sludge, while flames turned the once-lush greenery into charred remains. Embers gathered, forming serpents of fire that slithered through the sky. The heat pressed against my skin, and sweat poured down my brow.
"Help!" The cries echoed from all directions. Everywhere I looked, there were yokai that resembled creatures from some twisted religious painting. A child, barely older than me, was locked in combat with a man covered in matted fur. Nearby, a mob of warriors overwhelmed two bronze-skinned women whose hair blazed like fire. In the distance, a colossal fire bat swooped low, chasing terrified children across the scorched field. Charred skeletons, nothing but bones glowing with heat, fired arrows at armored kids, their hollow sockets watching as they scattered.
"Silena!" My gaze snapped to a familiar figure. The girl from earlier was battling a monster—tall, gaunt, draped in black silk, it looked like a jellyfish. Its treads held wriggling trapped children from the cabin. Silena slashed frantically at the fabric binding a little girl. Just then, the monster lashed out, coiling its tendrils around her and lifting her high into the air.
My feet moved before I could think. I launched into the air, slicing through the bindings in one swift motion, freeing both girls. The smaller one landed in my arms, while the older girl, Silena, ended up awkwardly balanced on my shoulders. I staggered for a moment, adjusting to the weight of them both, even with my new strength I still have the body of a twelve year old. I must have looked pretty stupid. The jellyfish creature struck out, its tendrils whipping toward us with an unnatural speed. I sprinted, dodging as the creature's limbs stretched further—far beyond what should have been possible. By now, its arms were longer than a football field. How does it know where I am? It doesn't have eyes!?
I ran to the forest and into the canopy, leaping from branch to branch. The threads continued to hunt us, lashing at the air as they closed in. I shielded the little one with one hand, while Silena had her face smothered with leaves. I kept jumping, a step away from the thing's reach.
This is going nowhere.
I jumped to the ground, landing hard as the threads closed in behind me. I darted between the trees, weaving in and out of trunks and branches, running backward as I kept my eyes on the thing. Every twist and turn brought them closer. I pushed through the underbrush, and finally stopped near the edge of the clearing. The girls' screamed as the threads surged towards us, then it stopped inches from my face. Every tree in the forest was tied, tangled in the thing's threads, forming the world's largest knot. I dropped Silena with a thud while gently placing the little girl.
"Ack!" Silena yelped, sitting up and brushing leaves and branches from her tangled hair. "Why did you do that?!"
"I'm still peeved at you," I shouted back.
The little girl suddenly ran into Silena's arms, her face crumbling as fresh tears spilled over. "Silena! They-ha-they took John! They took everyone!" Her sobs grew louder, her small body shaking.
Silena pulled the girl close and rubbed her back, whispering soothing words in her ear, trying desperately to calm her down. I turned away, looking through the tangled forest, the flames on the other side seemed to glow even brighter.
"We can't waste time here," I growled.
"You... this is your fault!" Silena shot back with fury.
I whipped my gaze toward her, glaring.
"If you'd only listened, then none of us—"
"And what? Be your thrall?!" My hand twitched, wanting to summon my weapon, but the girl still clinged to her.
"I was only trying to... you wouldn't have..." Her voice faltered, words trailing off.
"You're the one who led them straight into that hellscape," I snarled.
"Only because you said so!" she fired back, but her voice lacked the bite it had moments ago.
"I didn't force you to do anything." My words cut her deep.
Silena went quiet, her gaze dropping to the little girl nestled in her arms. Her lips trembled, and the weight of everything seemed to settle over her. She hugged the girl tighter. For a while there was silence, the tension so thick it was strangling her.
"You're right," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "This is my fault." Slowly, she stood, lifting the girl in her arms, her expression solemn. She looked me in the eye, her determination… it made my anger waver; it felt familiar.
"I know I have no right to ask you this. But please, take her to the evacuation site." Silena gestured to the little girl, her voice softer. "It's to the west, just by the arena." She pointed into the distance, then gently released the girl and turned, walking back toward the forest without another word.
Her eyes...
"Do you even have a plan?" I called after her.
She didn't bother looking back. "I'm going to regroup with the others. Then take back the camp."
"There are too many of them. You couldn't even handle one by yourself."
"I'll find a way. I just need to..." She shook her head. "It doesn't matter. I'm the counselor of Cabin Ten. It's my responsibility."
"Even if it leads to your death?" My words cut through the air, heavy with silence. The little girl struggled to hold back her tears.
Silena turned to face me, and for a second… My heart skipped a beat, I was back in time—on that ship, in that storm. She had the same smile, the same eyes, as she threw herself into the sea. I didn't know if time stopped or if I was just imagining it. I couldn't breathe. "If it means they'll be safe, I'll gladly die," Silena said, smiling.
"Silena..." The little girl whimpered.
At that moment, all my rage vanished, replaced by... what? I couldn't name it. I… I had to do something.
"I'm coming with you," I blurted out before I could stop myself.
Silena looked genuinely surprised.
"I—ah." I felt my cheeks flush. "Y-You can't fight them by yourself." With a flick of my hand, I summoned my sword. Both of the girls instinctively stepped back. What am I doing? Just moments ago, I was ready to kill her. This doesn't make sense. This feeling? My hand drifted to my chest, resting over my heart. It was pounding, hard and fast.
"You're a strange one," she muttered. "Easy on the eyes, but there's a storm there."
I chuckled a little.
"My name's Silena Beauregard."
"Arch… Saber. People just call me Saber," I replied awkwardly.
She raised an eyebrow. "Saber," she said, drawing the word out like a song, repeating it a few times. "I can work with that." She walked over to the little girl, crouching down to meet her eyes.
"Alex, you need to stay strong, okay? We're going to get John back. I promise."
Her voice was steady, but I could hear a hint of fear creeping in at the edges.
"You promise?" the girl asked, trying hard to hold back her tears.
Silena gently combed her fingers through the girl's hair, nodding. "Do you remember how to get to the arena? I need you to be sneaky. Remember what you learned in knitting class."
Knitting?
The child nodded. "Stay quiet, hide in the shadows, and wrap the string around their neck. Silently."
Wait, what?
Silena smiled softly. "That's right, but without the strangling part. If it gets too dangerous, hide. Whatever you do, don't get seen. Do you understand, Alex?"
The girl nodded again.
"You're a daughter of Aphrodite. Always remember, love is what makes us strong. If you ever feel lost, follow the love in your heart. It'll guide you home."
When the little girl finally stopped shaking, we headed into the woods, leaving her behind.
"Are you sure it's safe to leave her alone?"
"Swords were never really our thing," she replied. "Stealth, though—that's one of the few things we're good at. It's practically the first thing we learn, right after makeup." She gave a small smile before turning serious again. "Besides, I can't let her get too close to the fight. Alex is smart, I trust her. She's my sister."
"Sister?" I repeated, still confused.
She gave me a puzzled look. "Yeah, like how you have brothers in cabin five?"
"Cabin what?"
She blushed. "Oh, sorry, I just... thought you were with the Ares cabin."
"I don't go to this camp."
Her face scrunched up even more. "Wait, what? Then why are you here?"
I shrugged. "Same reason as always, fight evil."
We reached the other side, and it was worse than before. The fighting had stopped, the kids were gone, and monsters were pillaging. That old anger flared up again, this time with a new target.
"Where is everyone?" Silena and I hid in the bushes, her eyes scanning the area. Then both our sights were drawn to the center, the jellyfish from before looked like a black tomato. Its threads were converging in on itself, wrapping like a present. It didn't take much guesswork to tell where they were.
"Why are they doing this? Monsters never capture us, usually they…" Her voice silenced.
"Never ponder the reasons for yokai. It's always reprehensible." I got up, but Silena quickly pulled me down.
"What are you doing?" She whispers.
"What?"
"You told me if I had a plan, well, what's yours." Her whispers rapidly.
"I kill the monsters." I said blandly.
"...That's it?"
"Yep."
Silena glanced back at the yokai, then to the floating tomato. The jellyfish-like creature was suspended by a single thread, holding the orb high above the chaos. All the cabins were in flames, with yokai actively starting more fires using torches and arrows.
The stone cabins, which I didn't even know could burn, were being torn apart. Yokai were dragging out furniture and belongings, either smashing them or piling them up in disorganized heaps. The cabin where I first landed had been completely blown open, its pink walls and coverings now charred black. I spotted some of the flaming, ghostly figures stealing jewelry and clothes, adorning themselves with the stolen items as if mocking the destruction.
"I have a plan." She said.
After a few minutes, I leaped out of the bushes and struck the nearest monster—a grotesque thing covered in scales and spikes. As soon as I cut it down, its body dissolved into a glittering shower of gold. That instantly got the attention of all the yokai around me.
The skeletons reacted first, firing flaming arrows in my direction. I ducked and ran, making for the closest beast. Grabbing it by its hairy neck, I yanked it in front of me, using its body as a shield. The others, who had been staring in shock, snapped out of it and started advancing. The fire ladies were the fastest, their bronze skin stretched tight like twisted gremlins. I ran at them using my human shield.
"Yoouuuu!" It snarled, pouncing at me. I leveraged the shield, it screamed as the yokai claws pierced it. "I'll use your skin as a coat." Its breath was atrocious, smelled like burned meat and Gabe's fungal infection. "I'll burn the flesh off your body and chew your bones."
"Try a breath mint first." I slammed my human shield, this caused the yokai's eyes to widen as the force knocked her back. I have the advantage and poise to slice her heart out. That's when the other woman launched a fireball at me, I blocked with my shield.
"WWrrrahhh!" My shield screamed.
"Shut up." I'm suffering too, burning fur smells terrible.
The yokai was back on her feet, and both of them were charging at me again. I prepared to throw my human shield at them, but just then, I noticed the skeleton archers in the back. They aimed, waiting for me. I needed to take out the archers first, ranged attacks were always a pain. Without hesitation, I leaped over the yokai, both of them clearly surprised. Their heads snapped up as I sailed above them, landing closer to the archers just as they released their arrows.
"Shield charge!"
"Whhoaa! Nooo! Whaa! Waaahhh! Waa! Haa! Ouch! Wuuaa!-" My shield screamed as each arrow hit their mark, one after another. I rush towards them, slicing through the skeleton archers. They were fragile, shattering with a single swing of my sword, their arrows though looked pretty painful. I bashed the last with my human shield, it's bones flung to the air. As I did I heard the shrieks behind me, the women were at my back.
"Shield bash!" I spun, slamming the heads of both yokai with my shield, knocking them flat on their backs.
Without wasting a second, I lunged at the nearest one, driving my sword into her heart. She let out a piercing scream before exploding in a burst of flames and glitter. I barely had enough time to shield myself, jumping back to avoid the fiery aftermath.
"Sister!" the other yokai shrieked.
Weird, yokai's rarely had families.
"You're dead, human!" she snarled, flames gathering around her claws. "Kill him!"
I heard that gong again. It wasn't as powerful as Silena's, but I could feel its pulse. Then, out of nowhere, more yokai emerged from the treeline. Most of them were small, red, frog-like creatures wielding flaming weapons—wooden clubs, pipes, bats, and... was that a fire extinguisher? Great, just what I needed, an army of fire frogs.
They all hopped at once, and I raised my shield, who took the brunt of the impact. But it wasn't enough to completely block the barrage. Their weapons were blunt, and while the hits weren't enough to seriously injure me, they carried enough force to knock out a normal person.
But I wasn't just anyone—I was a servant. Water cascaded down my blade as I spun, creating a whirlpool that swirled around me. The frogs were caught in the current, lifted off the ground by the torrent. I raised my sword high, and the swirling force launched them skyward. When it was over, frogs and objects rained down, along with a fine drizzle. The water hissed as it hit the flames.
The remaining yokai's mouth dropped open, her eyes wide in shock.
"You... you're one of them ," she hissed, backing away, before turning to flee.
Oh no, you don't.
I tightened my grip on the shield's fur, sword ready in the other hand. Just as I was about to spring forward, a piercing shriek filled the air. Out of nowhere, a giant bat hurtled toward me. I dodged to the right just in time—it missed but tore up a chunk of earth where I'd been standing.
Up close, it was even uglier than I thought—like a deformed, flaming pug, with bulging bloodshot eyes and sharp fangs. Wait... don't dogs already have fangs?
It circled back around, this time to screech, a sonic attack that made me step back. It would have ruptured the ear drums of lesser men. I was not that. As it came I jumped, higher than it expected as I flew over its body and stabbed my sword upon its head. It's blood ruptured like lava, the beast cried as it struggled to get me off, looping in the air. All while unleashing terrible sounds waves, I could feel my bones vibrating, despite everything I'm still human and I knew eventually it will get me. I stabbed my sword deeper in it's skull, the bat panicked and smashed me against the cabins. To my chagrin I let go, rolling on the grass.
My eyes darted to the bat, it was leaking orange blood, my sword still lodged on its head. I had nothing left but my trusty shield.
"Are you ready?" I asked it.
"Kill… Me…."
The bat was coming again, I held my shield up high. It opened its mouth wide, about to release another sound wave.
"Shield throw!" I threw the shield directly into its maw, the bat swallowed it up. It flinched midair and crashed to the ground, skidding until it hit a cabin. It was twitching, making retching noises. The shield must be choking it.
Not what I was going for, but… Oh well.
I jumped on the beast, taking a hold of my sword and gashed its head. It sprayed hot orange blood that gushed out burning the grass. I immediately turned towards its neck and beheaded it in one clean slice. The animal stopped twitching and finally stood silent. I looked towards it's throat, seeing a mop of brown fur. I pushed my arm in and grabbed my trusty shield. It looked less like a yokai and more like a wet dog covered in paint. Its eyes were closed, must be unconscious.
I walked away from the bat's carcass, its blood staining my pants a strange orange; some splattered on my shirt too. I should've felt disgusted, but I didn't. If anything, I felt... I'm disgusted with myself. My eyes swept the area, searching for the fire woman. Nothing. She'd escaped.
"Hey." I shook my shield, gripping its fur so tight I could rip it from the flesh beneath.
"Uggghhh…" It stirred, starting to wake.
"Your friend—where is she? Why did you attack this place?"
"Whaa-bluggh." It vomited orange bile, the stench of burning fur mixing with the foul odor, making my nose twitch.
"The campers—what did you want with them?" My fingers tightened around the fur at its neck. Its eyes fluttered open, still groggy.
"This… isn't Tartarus?" it slurred.
"Speak now, or I'll twist your neck inch by inch until your skull contorts so painfully you'll beg for death."
The threat jolted it awake. It was some kind of wolf—no, a man with the head of a wolf. Long, lanky arms covered in patchy fur, paws instead of hands, and teeth filed down to shark-like points. An anorexic werewolf? I've seen worse. At least this one had the decency to wear a loincloth. I tightened my grip, its arrow wounds seeping glittering blood as it winced.
"Yokai, where is your master?" I growled. It had endangered children—I wasn't about to be gentle.
"Kill me," it spat.
I yanked its fur even harder, forcing a yelp.
"Why are you here!?" I demanded.
"Kill me, demi-god." It grasped at my arm, a pathetic attempt to lift it. I glared, flooding the air with killing intent. The wolf froze in place.
"I'm done playing games." I shoved it to the ground. It thrashed, but I pressed harder, my hand gripping its skull. It snapped and clawed wildly, more beast than man. But these hands had killed kami—I twisted its head slowly, forcing it sideways. Its jaws gaped open in agony.
"Tell me," I growled through gritted teeth.
"Haaah… You think this is enough to scare me?" it wheezed. "Heh... no. He will do far worse than you ever could."
I twisted harder, its neck contorting like a twisted screw.
"This… is… na… nothing!…" it slurred through its agony.
I locked eyes with it. There was no fear of death—only defiance. But for a split second, I thought I saw something else, maybe just a trick of the light. A flicker of humanity? Should I… No. This thing was a yokai, a monster. It knew what it was doing. Why was I even questioning this?
Pointless.
My fingers flexed, and with a sharp crack, its neck twisted a full three-sixty. The struggle ceased, and its body went limp. I stood up as its form began to dissolve into shimmering dust, vanishing into the air. The only evidence of its existence was the crushed grass beneath my feet. Yet for some reason I still felt bad.
Strange.
I glanced back at the bat carcass—it remained, festering. Scanning the area, I saw the frogs strewn across the grass, some still clinging lifelessly to branches. Why did the wolf dissolve, yet the bat and frogs didn't? Dissolving was the norm in these lands—almost every yokai I had slain crumbled into dust.
What makes these creatures different?
I shook the thoughts away—there was no time for distractions. I hurried toward the center of the cabins, where the tomato-shaped mass still pulsed, bulging with malevolence. Where was Silena? She should've cut it down by now.
That's when I saw her—collapsed on the grass, the knife slipped from her hand. Panic gripped me as I rushed over, lifting her limp body into my arms. Her skin was clammy, makeup melting off from sweat. She was breathing in deep, ragged gasps.
"Silena," I shook her gently, trying to wake her.
Her eyelids fluttered, and she groaned, struggling to open her eyes. "That... uh... where..." Her gaze finally settled on me. "Saber…"
"What happened?"
"I don't... I don't know," she muttered, voice weak. "I was cutting the threads, but then… I just felt so weak." Her arms trembled as she tried to lift them. I helped her to her feet, though she sagged against me, her legs barely holding her weight, trembling like she was learning to walk for the first time.
"Humiliating," she mumbled.
"It's alright. It happens."
"No, I'm a counselor. I should be stronger than this," she insisted, frustration in her voice.
"Strength comes in many forms. You wanted to face all those yokai alone. If that's not strength, I don't know what is."
She chuckled softly, her voice tinged with exhaustion. "There's a fine line between being brave and stupid."
I let go as she steadied herself, brushing her hair back and wiping her smeared makeup away. Even disheveled, she had an undeniable beauty. "I think I'm a little of both," she added with a smirk, her eyes turning toward the pulsing tomato.
"What creature is this?" I asked, stepping forward, reaching out to touch one of the threads.
"Stop–"
The mana drain hit me instantly, a sharp pull on my reserves. I yanked my hand away, just in time. Another second, and it would've taken far more.
What was–wait. If it affected me then.
I stepped back and summoned my blade. One quick swing—that's all I needed. If I moved fast enough, it wouldn't have time to drain me. I aimed for the stem and cut it clean through.
But it didn't unravel right away. The bottom thread disintegrated into dust, while the top slowly lifted, carried by an invisible breeze, until it reached the bulging mass. A ripple surged through the shape, and then, like a ribbon unspooling, it broke apart. The threads vanished into nothingness.
A cascade of bodies tumbled downward.
Silena moved first, rushing to catch them, but I reacted faster. Raising my sword, I summoned a gust of wind to gently levitate the group, lowering them softly onto the grass.
I looked around—thankfully, they were still alive. Just unconscious, drained from mana exhaustion.
"No." Silena's head whipped around in a panic as she rushed to the nearest kid, shaking them gently. "No, no. This isn't right."
"Huh?" I blinked, confused.
"We're missing people," she said, her voice trembling.
Now that she mentioned it, the group was much smaller than I remembered. These were only half the kids I'd seen during the battle.
"Where did they go?" Her panic was escalating, each second her voice growing more frantic.
"This isn't normal?" I asked, sounding like an idiot.
"No," she replied, barely able to contain her fear. "Monsters wouldn't dare attack the camp. And they never capture people... usually they would..." Her face paled, and I didn't need her to finish the thought. I already knew.
Then the boy in her arms stirred. A tough-looking kid, with big hands, covered in soot, smelling faintly of a forge. His eyes fluttered open, struggling like Silena had earlier.
"Chris," she stammered, her voice cracking. "Chris, where is everyone? Where's Charlie?" Desperation edged her words, as if the answer could shatter her world.
"I-ah… Sa-Silena?" Chris blinked slowly, his mind struggling to wake.
"Chris. Wake up." Her voice gonged, and the sleep disappeared from the boy's eyes. "Where is Charlie?" Her voice turned serious, commanding him to speak.
"Char? Ba-Beckendorf… He went—uh—back to the woods, to get the, ugh, dragon," he mumbled, his voice still faint.
"Where is everyone else?" Silena pressed.
"I-ahh…" His eyes suddenly snapped into focus, widening in horror. "No, it's a trap!"
Before I could react, the shadows around us stirred. Figures emerged, their movements precise and deliberate. Something flew through the air—instinctively, I slashed through it, cutting it to ribbons. Golden chains fluttered to the ground, it was a net.
Soldiers stepped from the darkness, clad in gold-plated armor that gleamed unnaturally, each wielding golden swords. It was as if they'd stepped out of a medieval convention. The metal looked eerily familiar, though I couldn't place it. They all had hints of purple on their bodies—the leader in the center wore a long purple cape, standing out from the rest. The armor resembled the ones worn by the camp, but something was off. The design felt... wrong, like an uncanny valley.
I scanned the group quickly. Some were adults, but the youngest couldn't have been older than the kids from the camp. Their weapons were leveled at me—mostly spears and swords—eyes cold and unwavering.
More soldiers appeared, encircling us. They raised long shields in unison, spears pointed directly at us. The shields bore golden letters: "SPQR," and above that, the letters "IV" emblazoned against a purple background.
I gripped my blade tighter, realization dawning on me. No wonder there's no guards, it had all been bait to draw us out.
I could hear them speaking in hushed tones, a foreign language that twisted in the air like smoke, I could barely make out what they say. I glanced back at Silena; she still cradled the boy in her arms, her expression tense as she surveyed our surroundings.
The campers remained unconscious, vulnerable on the grass. The situation was growing more dire by the second. I knew I could easily break free, but I doubted I could do so while protecting so many people. Silena knows it, and soon the enemy will too. We have to think of something fast.
They began to move, and I tensed, ready to pounce at a moment's notice.
"Stop!" Silena screamed, her voice cutting through the tension like a knife. I felt the surge of mana resonate from her words as the soldiers froze in place, some trembling and dropping their spears.
"Listen to me!" she commanded, her voice steady and unwavering. She slowly laid the boy down, rising to stand before the encroaching soldiers. All eyes were on her, but she didn't waver. Her confidence radiated strength; not a hint of fear crossed her face.
"Lay down your arms. And leave us be," she declared, pointing at the soldiers, her glare imbued with authority.
I felt a strange pull in the back of my mind, a compelling urge to obey her words. The soldiers' faces strained, their weapons trembling in their hands as Silena's magic intensified, pressing down on their wills.
"Let us through—"
"Don't listen to her!" a voice sliced through the air, sharp and commanding. The spell shattered like glass, and the power that had suffused the clearing fizzled into nothingness. The soldiers regained their composure, weapons steadying once more.
The voice had come from the back, the soldiers stepped aside like they were too scared to touch her. Emerging from the shadows was the flame yokai that escaped, an elongated woman with gleaming metal skin and fiery hair. Her sharp teeth glinted in the dim light, and a serpent-like tongue flicked in and out, tasting the air as if savoring the fear in the clearing.
"She's using charmspeak!" the creature hissed. "Kill her! Kill them all!" It spat into the air, pointing at me.
"I command you! Kill them, but I want his head! I demand you—ah!" A sword pierced through her skull, emerging from her mouth. Her eyes widened in shock as she tried to turn and see her attacker.
"You don't give us orders, creature." The sword pushed deeper into her head, slicing downward and severing it completely. Her body slumped to the ground, disintegrating into golden dust. The head remained, still attached to the sword, looking ridiculous—like a Halloween prop, with white eyes and a long tongue flopping out.
The soldier held the sword closer, examining the head. She winced in disgust. "As good a trophy as any," she said, her voice deflated. She ordered another soldier to bring out a bag and slipped the head inside.
Unlike the others, her armor was regal, adorned with a golden helmet featuring long purple and gold feathers cascading down like a mohawk. She wore a blend of a toga and a cape, with tassels hanging from her shoulders. When she turned to look at us, the first thing I noticed were her eyes—like a golden wheat field, warm and striking.
"Greeks! Surrender now, and no one will be harmed." The same couldn't be said for her voice.
No one had ever called me Greek before; I thought she meant geek, but there was no malice in her tone. When we didn't respond, she lifted her hand, and the soldiers began to move in.
"Why?" Silena's speech halted their advance. "Why are you doing this?" Her voice was laced with hurt, but fury burned in her eyes. "What have we ever done to deserve this? Who even are you?!"
The other girl's eyes showed conflict, her expression sullen.
"Tell me… why? Why are you doing this?" The magic in Silena's voice carried her pain, tapping into something deep inside me. It felt like needles piercing my chest, connecting me to a familiar emotion. Like the world shattering around us, and I could only scream in anger, knowing there was nothing I could do—just the helplessness and fury swirling inside.
No one moved; some even stepped back. It was the other girl who broke the silence. She looked resigned, staring Silena dead in the eye.
"Our orders," she said, her voice cold as she pointed at us.
At her command, the soldiers advanced once more, some brandishing nets, handcuffs, and even a cattle prod.
I planned my attack. I'll go for the commander first—maybe that'll create enough chaos for Silena to escape. I wasn't sure about the campers, though. There's a good chance they'd take some hostages. With this many people, I couldn't save everyone. I had to do this fast. Hit hard, and create a wave to blow them—
"Silena, get down!" I shouted, pushing her to the ground just before an arrow whizzed past, nearly tearing her in two. It slammed into the cabin in the center, cracking the stone and sending columns crashing down in a cloud of dust. More arrows followed. Even the soldiers ducked as the front cabins were pelted, the ground shaking like an earthquake.
Then I felt it—a rush of mana. I wrapped Silena in water just as an explosion lifted everyone off the ground. Dirt and debris flew everywhere, plunging us into darkness. When the sound finally stopped, I slashed upward, letting the water push away the dirt. We surfaced, but I couldn't see a thing. The air was thick with dust and embers.
"Wha-kaah... What... Ugah." Silena coughed as I helped her up. We were both covered in dirt, her arms littered with bruises. "What was that?"
I didn't want to answer. My eyes darted around, searching for the source. Then I felt it—another stomp. The ground trembled, and a surge of power blew the dust away, revealing the cabins, now reduced to fine powder, like the ruins of ancient Greece they had been modeled after.
My gaze fixed on the center, where the two main buildings had stood. There was nothing left but a crater.
I felt the sickness behind me.
I turned, and there he was. The sight of him was a nightmare, like my eyes were being torn apart just looking at him.
A piece of debris shifted, and the commander climbed out from the pile. Her helmet was gone, revealing fine blonde hair matted with dust. She crawled forward, only stopping when she looked up. Her head whipped around the scene, searching.
"My men..." she muttered. Then she froze when he began to move. Her eyes snapped to him, and fear immediately crossed her face. She crumbled, bowing her head to the dirt. "My lord..." she said reluctantly.
He didn't respond, just stared at me.
"My lord, I did as you asked. Did you find—"
" No… only an annoyance. " His voice dripped with disdain, both for her and the world around him. He flicked something to the ground, and it shattered even further as it hit the rocks. It was crushed, snapped in two, with cracks running through it and a broken drawstring. Silena gasped, covering her mouth. All the anger and defiance drained from her, leaving her on the verge of tears.
"Ah... that's Chiron's..." Silena whispered, barely able to contain her sobs.
The bow dripped blood.
I gripped my sword, wincing as I struggled to keep my eyes on him.
The commander tried to stand, presenting herself while avoiding his gaze. "We... I followed orders. We captured as many as we could—"
" No. "
She flinched. "My lord?"
" Your orders were to gather bodies. "
I felt his glare pierce straight into my soul.
" Never said they had to be alive... "