Disclaimer: I do not own Taimanin series.
Five Days Break – 15
Another group of minions set ablaze. Parts of the forest burst into flame. The giant Tree burned darker than a smoke-filled sky.
The Dark Flame was spreading quickly as the raging sword braced the air with every swing. Kotaro didn't hesitate, he hit all of them using Ingrid's power to the fullest extent. The Ashen Tree would get the message. This was what happened had Ingrid not holding herself back against Kuchiki and went all out. Neither the Tree nor the forest it inhabited would survive in the destruction.
Edwin Black, the Ashen Tree in disguise, retreated further back while he commanded another hordes to advance. It was a futile effort, the flame from Kotaro's sword swallowed them whole once he got closer.
"What's wrong? Nostalgic much?" Kotaro pointed out.
The chaotic sight of the entire forest drowned in the fury of big fire. The many bodies fell and cruelly reduced to ashes. The houses burned, its body burned. The Ashen Tree couldn't stop gasping at the jarring resemblance.
Instead of the crimson blade, it was the Dark Flame Sword. Instead of the bright wildfire, it was the flame from the Dark World. Instead of the cold-blooded swordsman, it was a young Taimanin who had had enough.
It was all the same. It was another massacre.
The Ashen Tree was watching the reenactment of Senketsu's heartless rampage.
"Stop him!" Overwhelmed by unwelcomed emotions, the faked Edwin Black screamed at the top of his lung. "Stop him now!"
More Nomad soldiers came into view, demons and wooded creatures all charged at once. A smirk creeped onto his face, the Ashen Tree reassured itself that the Taimanin would never make it if reinforcement kept coming to aid. However, its expression changed to a ghastly pale when a wide swing of that sword wiped the army out of existence.
Ingrid's power worked best when it comes to crowd control and dismantle the mass. If a Hell Knight's discipline hadn't involved to weight down its potential, she could have become more than a noble demon without the restriction of moral values.
Ingrid knew these facts, she was fully aware of how dangerous her unique ability could become if left unchecked. That was why she has constantly clung to her own virtue, mastered the swordplay to control the flame and kept the collateral damage to a minimum in any battle she had fought.
Having understood this, Kotaro unleashed the Dark Flame's destructive nature. Against the Ashen Tree and a world born from a dream, his morals renounced and gave himself away to all of his rage. There was no need to hold back if his consciousness was all that left to help her.
"Ingrid!" The faked Edwin Black shouted. "Do not let that human come near me!"
For a moment, Ingrid had let her mind absented.
The name Fuuma Kotaro, a seemingly insignificant name to Ingrid, caused her thoughts to drift further from the surrounding chaos. She didn't have that much impression to recall by that name, and yet it filled her with an oddly familiar feeling. It sounded like an answer to the question she had forgotten.
"INGRID!"
The Ashen Tree's biggest cry snapped her out of trance. Ingrid immediately rushed in, standing between Black and the approaching Kotaro. At this moment, they were the only three left in a burning world.
"I don't know much about the Vampire King. Frankly, I imagined the real one would turn me into paste with his gravity magic and doesn't need your help. You're showing loyalty to a faker."
"Regardless of your truth, I cannot let you pass." Ingrid spread her arms wide.
"I won't stop."
"Then strike me down as you are willing to."
He stood before her. Both shared the same determined gaze, neither gave in to the other's stubbornness.
"You won't feel a thing from this." Kotaro reassured.
"So this is how it's done? You said you wanted to wake me up from this dream." Skeptical, she frowned. "Yet you have no concrete evidences to back your claims. Instead, you caused this much destruction. Is this how you will do it?"
"Words alone aren't enough. There's not much hints around to show. Breaking down an ideal world being made to trick you is the only way I can try. Would you believe me if I said this isn't my worst decision yet?"
"I have not the slightest clue, all of this is as real as it can be to me. Though, I admit that I begin to have some doubts watching you taking out Nomad's most well-trained troops in such an upfront manner, with the Dark Flame no less. None of the Taimanins I have known has ever done so, not even Igawa Asagi would be this much confrontational."
"Second thoughts?"
She shook her head.
"I must carry out my duty as Black-sama's sword. Without my power, without my weapon, I have exposed my incompetence. If I am broken and he has yet to cast me aside, I must still be of some use to him. I will become his shield and die trying."
"It really takes more than this to change your mind, huh."
"Indeed."
A nervous growl chimed in.
"Ingrid! What are you doing!? Why are you talking to the rascal!? Kill him right this instant! I do not care how you will do it without your power! Just do it now!"
She heard him. However, Ingrid neither moved nor responded to the growing impatience. Her doubts emerged, she began to hesitate.
"Why are you-!?"
The Ashen Tree clamed up as soon as Kotaro shot a glare at it.
"What you have spoke." She expressed. "Suppose your words are true, why would you go to such a great length just to help me, your enemy?"
Why? Because the natural state of their relationship was no longer important to him.
"Right now, I don't consider you as one."
"Then what am I to you at this very moment? How much have you known me?"
"You're a companion." He stated without giving it a thought. "I know you enough to realize one thing."
If their circumstances were any different…
"We could have been friends."
The answer surprised her.
"That is….." Had they not ended up in such a chaotic event, she would have chuckled at him out of lightheartedness. "That is quite an unconventional idea you have for me, Fuuma."
At the mention of his name, Kotaro smiled. The blade raised above his head.
Ingrid closed her eyes, accepted whatever conclusion that was about to come next. The flaming sword brought down as the Ashen Tree shrieked in terror.
The Dark Flame hit her.
And….
And….
And….
There was no injury.
The fire recognized Ingrid.
It flared up upon touching her, it refused to bring harm to the one true inheritor of the Black Dragon's power. She had always been immune to the Dark Flame and able to use it freely within control. Because her memories were altered, she had forgot about such a blessing alongside the young man named Fuuma Kotaro.
"You…..you were aware of this?"
She looked at him, bewildered.
"That's why I said you won't feel a thing. This is your flame, Ingrid. I only borrowed it."
Kotaro was willing to hit Ingrid with the flame, because he knew all too well it wouldn't do a thing to her. His true aim was another target.
While Ingrid was unharmed, the one hiding behind her wasn't so lucky. Kotaro's sword retained the same reach as it went past Ingrid's body and struck the faked Edwin Black right where he stood.
The Vampire King's appearance started to glitch, revealing a pale old man wriggling in pain as the flame roasted half of his torso. The Ashen Tree has no true humanoid form, within the boundary of the imaginary landscape, it could only take on the appearance of someone else. Kuchiki's real body was the last thing on its mind.
"You tricked me! YOU TrICkED mE!" Its voice distorted. "HoW DarE YoU! FUUMA KOTARO!"
Kotaro shrugged, didn't bother enough to give a reply. He walked past Ingrid and readied the sword for one last decisive strike.
"Wait."
She reached out, prevented him from delivering the execution. Darkish purple right eye met with goldens.
"I will take it from here." Ingrid made the decision.
A nod from Kotaro and the Dark Flame Sword spun, gripping backward in his hand as he passed it to the rightful owner.
After a brief glance, the gushing fire soared as if commencing the return of her power. Nothing had happened yet. It was just the Dark Flame recognized itself as a part of her and reacted to the touch. She couldn't hear its whisper, the connection to the existence lied dormant within her soul was still out of reach.
But this should do. This spark of flame Kotaro summoned was enough for Ingrid to take back the position she has lost to a deceiver.
"Ashen Tree, was it? You are one treacherous being."
The Ashen Tree squirmed. The tip of the burning blade was just inches before its face, intense heat boiled its wrinkled, dried skin. Ingrid didn't need to to let out her wrath, her piercing gaze had shut down any words it would dare try to utter. Foolish attempts acknowledge with immediate consequences.
However, the Ashen Tree didn't listen to the unvoiced warnings. It would try to snap the fingers. Ingrid took off the entire arm in one flick, letting the Dark Flame swallow whole the severed part.
It ran away, desperately trying to get as far from her as possible. The crumbling form faltered midway over the stone stairs path that led to the shrine at the foot of the tallest tree.
"Pitiful. You powered an illusion so strong, so real that my senses could not see through the fraud. I was fully convinced and gave in to its embrace." Not far behind, Ingrid pursued at her own pace. "You dare imitated Black-sama to deceive me. Now that the cat is out of the bag, you have the audacity to run away instead of explaining yourself."
Waves of fire on both sides of the path engulfed them. The Ashen Tree made it out just in time at the top of the stairs. Then, it would turn to look back at the large heat rising past the dead tree lines.
"W-Why!? What is happening!? Why won't this dream stop!?"
It was confused. It couldn't make all of this disappear. The manipulation proven to be useless in a realm created by its own hands.
"How!? How is this possible!? I made this world! It should have answered to me!"
"It's your mistake."
Hearing another voice, it spun around and startled seeing Kotaro standing in front of the crumbling shrine. It had no idea how long he had been there.
There was no light beyond the thick smoke, his hair, his face and his whole appearance became a shadowy figure, only the right eye could be seen. Even so, it was impossible to distinguish whether it was truly an eye, all that it could make out was a glimmering dot.
"What did you do!?" The Ashen Tree demanded.
"The Dark Flame isn't just an ability, it actually has a will, directly connects to her conscience. You sunk her consciousness into this world in order to severe that link because you are afraid of the risks. You don't want Ingrid to use it subconsciously."
The Ashen Tree slowly widened its eyes. It knew where Kotaro was going with the explanation.
By establishing a new connection to Ingrid's power through the Nameless Evil Eye, Kotaro summoned the Dark Flame and fused it with the broken sword. Thus, passing it to Ingrid was a way to help her take back the control. Although indirectly, it brought up the best result.
Kotaro has made himself the catalyst of Ingrid's connection to the Dark Flame. The Ashen Tree got nothing on her now.
"Change this world all you want, these flames will remain. It will continue to burn down everything. You won't be able to take it away unless she calls it off."
"You used her ability…...so that it would lead to this?" Its voice shook in realization. "When did you…..when did you plan all of this!?"
"Do not worry, for her existing to serve my goal, I granted her a sweet dream. Her mind is linked to my consciousness." He quoted. "Thank you for telling me that."
From the moment the Ashen Tree spilled those words, it had sealed its own fate.
"If her mind is linked to yours, all I need to do is to make her will outgrow your control. Well, guess what? She's one of the most strong-willed individuals I've ever known. But first, I have to weaken your mentality. Guess I went a bit loosened on that."
This only worked when he was face-to-face with the actual culprit.
Even with the Nameless Evil Eye, this was a gamble. Kotaro left his physical body open to vulnerabilities while keeping his mind intact with Soul Art in order to confront the Ashen Tree's truest form, its consciousness.
By using Ingrid's Dark Flame unrestraint, Kotaro repeated the Tree's most brutal memory, the hidden town's bloody massacre and the destruction of the entire forest. He honestly wouldn't mind putting on the shoes and gloves of the devil to tear the Ashen Tree's foundation down to the very last piece. Why holding back when this was just a dream and you'd already known that you will die upon waking up?
"Thanks to this eye, I was able to understand Ingrid's ability. So second, I have to find a way to let her receive the flame. While doing so, I turned this whole place into a smoke screen, just so I can avert Ingrid's attention away from you."
That was when the Dark Flame Sword came into play. It was her own power. It would be Ingrid's own voice convincing herself.
And it worked.
"Lucky me. Between her own voice and the one posing as a cheap knock-off of Edwin Black, she chose the former."
Teeth grinding, the Ashen Tree howled.
"Curse you! Curse you, Fuuma Kotaro! You wretched low-life! You have ruined everything! Not just here but even in the physical reality! Why won't you stop being a nuisance to me!?"
"Fine, I'll stop."
The shadowy figure of Kotaro replied so simply that he completely baffled the Ashen Tree. In its face, he put on a smile. A smile that lit up brightly by the erupted combustion inside the mouth, the dark corners of his lip grew as wide as they could and curved into a twisted shape. That wicked sight struck fear into its core.
One last deliberate attempt to smash what was left of its mental strength.
"It's Ingrid's turn." He added. "Best of luck dealing with her wrath."
"W-What!?"
From the stone stairs path resounded a stern voice fueled by anger.
"Do not expect to be forgiven."
Taken aback, the Ashen Tree couldn't believe in its eyes.
From the gushing wildfire emerged a flaring silhouette. It resembled the shape of a mystical creature, its body took on the color of the Dark Flame. The Ashen Tree was staring speechless at a Dragon coming up the stone stairs path. The creature in legend greeted it with a deafening cry. As soaring gusts rushed over its body, the dried, cracked and pale skin smoldered by the intense heat. Step-by-step, the Dragon approached it, baring fangs eager to sink into that half-burned physical form the Ashen Tree struggled to discard.
Then, the creature's body would disperse, scattered into many sparks. The mystical Dragon before the Tree has never truly materialized. It was Ingrid's sheer aura embracing her current emotional state. In that place where the Dragon once stood, the Hell Knight revealed herself as the Dark Flame fully obeyed her command.
"Any last words?"
Sword hung by the throat, Ingrid promised it a quick end.
But the Ashen Tree didn't have a heart to accept its defeat. It finally broke down like a child lost in tantrum.
"This is not over! You both think you can prevail against me!?"
The Ashen Tree would never step out of its own little world no matter how shattered it has become.
"I AM THE GREAT ASHEN TREE! I AM YOUR GO-!"
Ingrid decided she has heard enough and made a vertical swing of her sword. The consciousness within a borrowed form rotted for good in the Dark Flame.
Soon, the shrieking stopped.
The artificial life proclaiming itself as a deity no longer threw its cry to the burning dream world.
Crack!
Above the smoke-filled sky, a rift appeared, visible to the naked eyes. As the mastermind was gone, Ingrid's dream was about to collapse.
It was finally over.
"Fuuma." Ingrid muttered. "Fuuma Kotaro."
Momentarily, she rubbed her temple as if she was easing a headache. The memories were coming back, restored at the demise of the Ashen Tree's Will.
"I remember now." She spoke softly. "You and I were here on a short vacation. Our rooms were next to each other. I'd learned the custom of hot spring bath."
"You invited me to a ping-pong match, you won and I got only one point out of it." Kotaro helped filling in the gap. "When you were planning to cut short your vacation, I asked you for a GO match and took back the win. After that, everything turns out like this."
Ingrid stared at him, caused Kotaro to raise an eyebrow at her reaction. Her gaze was telling him that she had doubts in his words. What did he miss?
"You have certainly taken back my win in the Go match. I admitted that I'd lost the game, but that does not mean I will lose the next time. As a Hell Knight general, I still have plenty of strategies to use on you, Fuuma."
She showed her aggressive side when it comes to battles and challenges, Ingrid is being Ingrid again. That's good.
"Oh I'm sorry I won against you in my forte." Kotaro decided to play with fire. He didn't afraid to get burns. "You can beat me in everything, but tactics are the one thing I will never let myself fall behind. It's my only strong point and my team depends on that."
"We will see. I am willing to have a rematch."
"Sure, I'll have you take the first turn. Just don't hold a grudge when I yank off that win from you with the Almighty Asagi's Arrival tactic again."
"You meant dirty tactic." She rephrased the meaning.
"No tactic is dirty on the battlefield." He retorted with a smirk. "Win the battle or win the war."
"It seem we both share different views."
"Agree. You don't put Taimanin's values and Hell Knight's codes together then think they make sense."
Kotaro awkwardly shook his head. Jeez, what were they doing arguing at a time like this?
….
….
"Our battle against the inn owner, I thought you were dead when you fell into that hole."
"And you were captured, imprisoned at the heart of that Tree. It needed your body, blood and soul to achieve rejuvenation."
"It trapped me in this world, my dream."
"Yeah."
All facts checked, Ingrid's consciousness has finally been free from the self-proclaimed malevolent deity's grasp.
"How?" She asked. "How were you able to enter my dream? And what is with your eye?"
Kotaro chuckled, scratching the back of his head.
"Well, that's a long story. Took me more than the first half the night to figure things out."
CRACK!
The rift above the sky grew bigger. Kotaro didn't have time to give her the full details.
"This is where I'll make my stop." He said.
"What do you mean?"
"It's over. You will wake up soon, Ingrid. When you do, burn the entire Tree to the ground. There's no need to care about the forest anymore."
Kotaro explained in a solid tone.
"The Ashen Tree had been devouring lives for over a thousand years, they were turned into its puppets. Not just that, it built up a whole invisible system of pathways where it can freely transfer its consciousness to the bodies and reanimate them. We're not sure how many more are still hidden in this soil, so it's best to clean everything up with your flame."
"But what about you?" She inquired.
"I….." Kotaro casted his gaze to the ground. "I did all I could. The drone should be pretty far by now, it should have already reached the nearest town or picked up by someone. I gave as much details as I could about the situation, it should help the Task Force's investigation. But most importantly…"
When he looked back at her, Ingrid was surprised. The right eye shone clearly the color of pure silver.
"They will know you are just a victim who got caught up into this mess like me. They will leave you out of the equation and won't suspect you for anything."
"Fuuma…"
During their battle with Kuchiki at the inn, Kotaro had already thought this far ahead. He had thought about the worst possible scenario for himself.
Sigh.
Ingrid emitted a long sigh, which made him jolt. That expression almost seemed like she had something in mind to say about his action.
"I see. This is what you meant. When this is over, I'm as good as dead." She repeated his words. "You are truly a fool."
"Eh?" Kotaro was amazed. "You actually listened?"
"After what you did, I was considering you a serious threat. How could I not pay attention?"
SHATTER!
The dream world finally broke. The hidden town, the forest, the burned giant tree and the sky in smoke were all gone. The Dark Flame dissipated.
Now, Kotaro and Ingrid found themselves standing in the middle of a white void.
"I'm sorry I ruined your dream."
"No, I should be thanking you for helping me see through the fraud." She folded her arms, composure fully returned. "By the way, I have questions for you. How much have you seen in my dream?"
"Err….."
"I was not myself within a reality controlled by the Tree. Tell me, what did you see?" She continued to press on the topic.
"I saw you hanging out with your subordinate, which was the Tree. I saw you being with Ed-I meant your boss, which was also the Tree's doing. You tried to kill me on the impostor's order, you failed since you were handicapped. The Tree took turn and it also failed. That's all I know….okay, where are we going with this conversation?"
"I will make sure to have you know." Ingrid firmly said. "The relationship between me and everyone in Nomad is strictly professional, including Black-sama."
Kotaro nodded slowly before tilting his head, still confused a bit.
"That is all you need to know from me."
She turned away. He could hardly see the view of her face, the only hint he had about her sudden mood swing was the hand rushing a few strings of her long hair behind the ear.
Ingrid seemed somewhat flustered. There was more than what she had said? Was this…..was this the moment where he should read between the line?
In that case…
"I honestly don't bother myself about that, anyway. What you are worried about has nothing to do with me."
With that, her worry was cleared out. Score one for bonding point. Great job, Kotaro!
"Oh." She turned to him, fixing a half-amused and half-stern glare on his dumbfounded face. "It matters not to you, you say."
For an instance, Ingrid's aura subtly flared up. Despite Kotaro keeping himself calm, her sudden flex startled him.
"Perhaps you are one of those cases I have heard about, huh. A fool's way will likely to never change."
"I'm working on it."
"Then work harder."
"Ehm, isn't it about time you should wake up?"
"I will wake up when we are done here."
But they were literally done here! The Ashen Tree's Will is gone for good! What else keeps them here!? What else does she wants!? This person makes no sense!
"Are you mad at me or something?" Kotaro asked.
"Mad? Fuh, do you think I am that concerned about your words to be mad?"
"Well, yes? If that stern gaze couldn't be anymore obvious." Kotaro pointed out.
"This is how I normally look."
She stated a fact there. No comment.
….
….
"You are serious about this?"
"Huh?"
"About the fact that you will be…..after this."
"I made a gamble and this is the result I need to accept. I guess this is how one wins and loses at the same time."
"Fuuma, I-"
"You have to wake up, Ingrid. If somehow the Ashen Tree is still alive within one of the leftover wooded creatures and manages to escape, both human and the demons will be in danger." Kotaro remarked. "So enough about me."
"What if I forget about this once I wake up? What if I don't remember anything about this dream?"
"You have the flame." Kotaro smiled. "Plus, I'm pretty sure the Dragon within you is more than willing to be a reminder."
"…"
"…"
There was still something on her mind. She couldn't express it, it felt like a lump was there in her throat to prevent her from saying it out loud.
What a pity, she wanted to tell him that. Although, those words would indicate much more meaning towards her thoughts about him.
"Very well."
But in the end, she still wanted to express her respect to him, to his effort for coming this far to help her.
"Even though this whole dream was a fake, you have showed your courage by standing alone against your enemies. You have pushed asides our differences, endangered your own life far and beyond to confront the perpetrator. You have set me free from the clutch of a fate worse than death. I - Hell Knight Ingrid, your companion – will never forget this." Ingrid declared.
She extended her hand to him, and he did the same.
However, her touch passed through his.
The corporeal nature of his body was gone as it began to shine. Starting from the feet, he gradually faded away, reduced to particles of light. Just as Ingrid had decided to wake up, Kotaro's Soul Art had also reached its end.
"This is it." Kotaro muttered, somewhat bittered. "There's no helping it now."
"Fuuma. Is there…..is there anything you would like me to pass on to the Task Force?"
She would do that in return for the deed he had done for her. Kotaro pondered over what he should say. After a quick thinking, he got what needed to be said.
"If you happen to meet them, please tell them I achieved a milestone. They'll understand."
"I will." She smiled beautifully. "Fuuma Kotaro, you have my thanks."
That caught him off by surprise, he recovered his poise and returned a toothy grin.
Kotaro was content with this outcome, you don't get to see the famous Hell Knight Ingrid herself to beam a sunshine at you like that. Out of everyone, he might have been the only Taimanin to receive such a genuine expression from the Hell Knight of Nomad.
Right eye fully closed. He waved at her and vanished, leaving her an unvoiced goodbye.
Ingrid reached out to the remaining particles of light that was formerly her companion, gently closed her grip in hope that she could touch it. One had stayed, although it was short-lived. It lingered in her palm for a moment before disappearing like the rest.
"We could have been friends."
Tenderly, she whispered.
Finally, she woke up with a jolt.
In the vast chamber filled with cocoons, the one imprisoned her hung at the very top. There was no time to waste, Ingrid knew what she has to do now. The Dark Flame appeared at her behest, circulated around the body. She had noticed the spark of tinder floating within reach.
During the whole time she was unconscious, a fraction of Grenier's flame had manifested to protect its host from harm. Throwing her arms forwards, Ingrid began the chanting as the tiny fire rested inside her palm.
"Lend me your flame, Grenier!"
The dragon residing within her complied. The tinder spark combusted and expanded, turning into a full-blown inferno. Shortly, it incinerated the impenetrable inside of the cocoon holding her. Ingrid took a simple landing while changes were made to her body.
Mesmerizing red cape became white. Purple tinges tracing along the Dark Flame mixed with blue patterns.
Ancient words of the dragon-kin's tongue manifested on her arms, chest and face. The resting power of Grenier awakened to her calling, the proof of her ascension granted by the Black Dragon appeared in a line of symbols covering her forehead like a crown.
The True Hell Knight Sword summoned to her use. One wave of the arm, darkness lit by a series of explosions striking all places in the chamber. She casted a ball made of flame and threw it to the ground, letting Grenier's power cremate the entirety of the Ashen Tree's heart.
"Perish, once and for all."
The fire grew quickly, not even a tiny speck of dust would be spared. Everything that stayed within the chamber would not escape its grasp. She casted one last cautious glance around, and rested her gaze at a hatched cocoon by the throne made of the thick skin wood of the Ashen Tree's interior.
To make sure all lives had been exterminated, Ingrid took a moment to examine it.
It was empty. The cocoon didn't actually hatch, it was crushed from the outside. Something or someone had tried to break through the toughed layer of the object and get their hands on the thing kept inside. This was not good. Fuuma's prediction had took place. Whoever that was, they managed to escape before Ingrid wakes up.
The Dark Blue Flame rose, melted away the cocoon and the throne.
The Ashen Tree's heart was a sealed space. There was nothing that could get her out of here.
Ingrid wouldn't mind creating an exit for herself. As she walked to the wall laid opposite to the throne, a fireball casted in her hand. She shoved it straight to the solid structure, causing a huge explosion.
"How crafty."
Behind the concealed wall was a hollowed corridor, Ingrid began making her way through.
"I will not let your effort go to waste, Fuuma."
It was time to leave this place and hunt down the target.
[?]
…..
…..
He had never gave it much thought.
…
…
But now, as he was staring at the same words engraving along its body, he had a different impression.
…
….
These words were meant for him.
…
…
The next craft of my work. May I gift it to you as payment for your humble kindness.
Signed, Senketsu.
/