"The Battle of Virtue." That was the name of the impending fight between Shinkaku and the two villages—Furusato and Buraun. With his followers on the move, the two massive units making their way to their predetermined locations, Lord Phoenix made sure that he could feel the life signature of every Shinkaku member that was included in the departure.
Each member wore a sash containing their weaponry, swords slung from their waist. Followers of Lord Phoenix were heavily trained for large-scale battles, hence the grand number of Shinkaku members and their weapons.
As the Shinkaku members marched, a hue of light that corresponded to their Aura Sense appeared in the ear of every follower of Lord Phoenix. Through that light, however, they granted Lord Phoenix clear communication with each and every one of the Shinkaku members.
"Shinkaku," Lord Phoenix started, the presence of his voice making itself known through every traveling follower. "This will be our greatest battle. Us prevailing in this fight means that there will be fewer impediments in the great nations. Some of you may die, but it will not be without honor, nor will it be in vain. You're fighting for the betterment of our generation, and for generations to come."
The leader of Shinkaku's steeled voice gave a multitude of emotions to each follower, motivating them for the inevitable battle between the two villages. In the Shinkaku base, Lord Phoenix was seated in a chair within a wooden hut. All around him were orbs. The orbs granted him access to the ears of every member present on the expedition.
"Unit Katsuryoku, you will be dealing with Buraun. Your superior and fellow follower, Katsuko, will be guiding you to obtain the Tansu Beast." Lord Phoenix explained, then moved his attention to the ears of the second unit. "Unit Sekai, you are tasked with subduing the Furusato Unit. The one guiding you in your part of the expedition will be me."
Inside the wooden hut, Lord Phoenix closed his eyes gently, reeling in his thoughts. It was clear that the masked leader of Shinkaku was determined to claim the Tansu Beast—but then there was Furusato.
Lord Phoenix opened his eyes once more, staring into the open space of the wooden hut.
"In Furusato, we won't just be putting a halt to their terrorism against the nation, but we will be saving a former follower of Shinkaku." Lord Phoenix proclaimed, his voice resonating among the marching members.
"We will be taking back our old locator, Kiyo. Find him and safely return him to me immediately."
XXX
"So, why is Regashi stationing us outside the village again?"
Currently, Imawashiki, Gimu, Heiki Shototsu, Itami, and Doryoku stood outside of Furusato village's walls. The only missing members of the unit were Regashi and Kiyo.
Imawashiki perked up at Itami's question, looking over to the green-haired manipulator of wood. "From what Regashi and I have discovered, we are expected to be attacked by a group of warriors. Regashi ordered us to be on standby, prepared to fend them off."
"What's so important about it? We've been targeted by groups before—it's what happens when you raze several villages to the ground. I'm sure that we've been made public enemy number one." Doryoku replied, laying down on a tree branch.
What Doryoku said wasn't false. For good reason, the Furusato Unit has been the target of multiple attacks since the beginning. Distant villages that were once linked to villages that the Furusato Unit razed typically sought after them, or even the families of fallen warriors and civilians.
"Yes, you may be right, but Regashi informed me of this group in particular. They don't belong to any village, nor do they belong to any specific nation, either. They go by the name 'Shinkaku,' a Hellenistic organization." Imawashiki revealed, looking out into the distance.
This time, Shototsu nudged himself forward. "Are they supposed to be strong or something?"
Imawashiki breathed in. "According to Regashi, their leader alone could wipe out all of us with little-to-no effort, excluding me and Regashi."
In an instant, the faces of every Furusato Unit member morphed into confusion and surprise. Not many can truly oppose their power. They have managed to ravage countless villages, killing powerful people like political figureheads and kings and queens of villages—but now they're being told that a single man can seemingly wipe them out with ease?
"Bullshit," Gimu declared, eyeing Imawashiki. "Each and every one of us wields abilities far more advanced than any man in the nations. Hell, Itami can manipulate wood, Shoto can control wind at will, Doryoku can create any aura print he wants, and I can move faster than any man alive!" The Furusato Unit's sword-wielder roared, his remaining eye being strained as he spoke.
Imawashiki put a hand to his cheek, resting his head lazily. "Well, not too long ago, we discovered a mole in our unit. By his missing presence, I assume that you can guess who it is."
Everyone looked around, counting the people present. Out of the six Furusato Unit members, only four were present, and Regashi was always gone. So…
"Kiyo..?" Gimu exhaled, averting his eyes in contemplation. "No, he was here since the beginning. He even died! So how was he a spy!?"
Gimu refused to believe the notion of Kiyo being a spy. It didn't make sense. It wasn't logical. It couldn't be true! He started out with Kiyo as his first partner sixteen years ago, back when Furusato was still a functioning village. So how? How could someone who has been dead be a spy?
"Yeah," Itami concurred, adding off of Gimu's words. "Kiyo has been dead for sixteen years; he was also a member before me and my brother were first recruited."
Imawashiki sighed. He couldn't fault any of them for making him out as a liar; he himself was too dense to see through Kiyo. "Regashi figured it out. As you know, nothing escapes Regashi's eyes. When Kiyo was first alive, there were no hints of him being a spy. But when he was revived, Kiyo emitted a strange aura, one that Regashi noticed instantly. The Kekkan no Sosei must've revealed deep-rooted magic because inside of Kiyo was none other than tracking magic."
"Tracking magic?" Shototsu questioned, his eyebrow knitted in confusion.
Imawashiki nodded. "The leader of Shinkaku is able to track anyone that has that magic within them. I assume that the leader put it there himself, which leads into something else…"
Imawashiki then trailed off, leaving everyone present on edge.
"Well?" Gimu pushed, "Out with it!"
The fiery abomination steered his eyes toward his comrades, observing them as he spoke.
"... Kiyo was affiliated with Shinkaku before linking up with us."
XXX
Standing on a wall of Furusato's castle, Kiyo had his right arm extended outward.
"I need to give out one more notice before it's too late…"
In moments, Kiyo's hand proceeded to illuminate brightly, all of his Aura Sense rushing to his palm. Immediately, an orb that resembled a Genso-Kyu formed. Kiyo then cleared his throat, putting a fist just before his lips.
Suddenly, a deep voice emanated from the orb.
"Kiyo?"
It was Lord Phoenix.
"Lord Phoenix, sir! I'm merely reporting once more. As of late, the Furusato Unit has been quite inactive when it comes to terrorizing any villages. However, I have yet to learn Regashi's big plan." Kiyo exclaimed, his eyes scanning the broken village of Furusato.
"You've always been the obedient kind, Kiyo. But, I have news of my own." Lord Phoenix said, his voice sounding calm.
Kiyo's eyes glued themselves to the hovering orb in his hand. "Yes, Lord Phoenix?"
"We have discovered a Tansu Beast in a village not too far from you, so we dispatched Unit Katsuryoku to handle it."
"That's good to hear," Kiyo responded, listening to Lord Phoenix chuckle.
"Yes, I suppose it is. But don't think that we forgot about you, Kiyo—I sent our best unit, Unit Sekai, to invade Furusato, too. Within the next few hours, you will finally be relieved of your duties as a spy." Lord Phoenix stated, surprising Kiyo.
"Thank you, Lord Phoenix, I knew I could put my faith into you." Kiyo felt relieved. Even after coming back from death, Kiyo assumed that he'd be stuck with the same rogues for eternity.
Without warning, a new voice found itself piercing through Kiyo's ears, making the scythe-wielder freeze.
"Really now? And here I thought that you enjoyed our company."
Regashi had arrived.
Kiyo instantly reacted, crushing the Genso-Kyu-like orb in his hand, forcing it to dissipate. He mentally apologized to his lord, facing Regashi.
"Lord Regashi! Wh-what are you doing on castle walls?" Kiyo responded, smiling nervously at the brown-haired male before him.
Regashi raised a brow. "Am I not allowed on my own castle?"
Slowly, Kiyo reached for the scythe strapped on his back. Stress flooded Kiyo's heart, his mind racing. "O-oh, yeah. But, you usually aren't out here, right?"
"I suppose not," Regashi nodded, putting a finger to his chin. "But, if I may ask: who were you speaking to, Kiyo?"
Kiyo clenched his hand around the handle of his scythe, his eyes trained on Regashi. "I-I wasn't talking to anybody! I promise. Lord Regashi!"
"Lord?" Regashi retorted. "You know, I take offense to the concept of you searching for help from another lord, Kiyo."
Kiyo was losing, and fast. He had no idea how to continue. Regashi had caught him, and it wouldn't be for a few hours until Unit Sakai arrived. So, with only one choice left…
"RAHH!"
… Kiyo launched himself at Regashi, brandishing his scythe.
The scythe-wielder focused on Regashi, twirling his scythe in his hand. Not once has Kiyo witnessed Regashi's power, but he had no choice but to challenge the lord of Furusato.
"Die!"
*SHING!*
Storing a plethora of magic into his scythe, Kiyo swung his weapon down on Regashi, hoping to slice the brown-haired king.
However—" What the..!?"—Kiyo's scythe seemingly dissipated out of his hands, as if it turned to gas and floated to the sky.
Suddenly, a hand found itself thrust into Kiyo's gut—" argh!"—making the scythe-wielder gasp for air.
Standing cooly, Regashi applied pressure to Kiyo's gut with his right hand. "I was saving energy for my encounter with your lord, but I guess I could play with you a bit!"
The world around Kiyo began to alter, becoming disoriented. The stone floor of the wall below him transformed into water, prompting Kiyo to plunge into the water. The scythe-wielder fell through the water for multiple moments, then fell out of the abyss of water and landed on solid ground.
The ground began to feel strange. Kiyo opened his eyes and examined the substance underneath him. It had been sand! The sand in Shanti, his home, is similar. Kiyo was so focused on the sand slipping through his fingers that he didn't notice until a swarm of insects emerged from the sand.
Kiyo spotted the insects, jumping back. Looking at his arm, Kiyo observed as the insects crawled up to him relentlessly. Despite him shoving the bugs off, they just wouldn't quit.
More insects then went up his legs, traveling to his upper body. Kiyo then felt something fill his mouth, forcing him to start spitting.
"Hah!?"
Bugs began falling out of Kiyo's mouth, walking all across his face. "What's happening!?"
In a moment of fear, Kiyo conjured magic into his hand, releasing a powerful blast into the sand around him. Soon, the bugs disappeared, seemingly vanishing with the wind.
Something cold then grasped Kiyo's shoulder, making the male peer his head to the side. Fear flashed through Kiyo's entire body as he spotted a rotted body standing behind him.
"You killed me!"
The rotted corpse started shouting, shoving Kiyo into the sand. Kiyo recognized this corpse. It was the last queen of Furusato—also the last person Kiyo killed before his death.
"You killed me! You killed me! You killed me!" The corpse of the former Furusato queen shouted, beating Kiyo.
Before Kiyo could fight back, more skeleton arms grabbed his arms through the sand, restraining him. Like quicksand, the ground started consuming Kiyo's body, the skeleton arms speeding up the process.
It was dark. So, very dark.
"Hello!" Kiyo called out, not knowing where he stood. "Regashi!"
Behind Kiyo, a light flashed, making him spin. "Wh-what?"
On a strange pedestal, a kitsune mask similar to what Shinkaku members wore, sat upright. Kiyo slowly crept toward the mask, wrapping his fingers around it and lifting the mask up.
Through one of the eye holes, a snake appeared—" Sssth!"—lunging itself at Kiyo, biting him with its venomous fangs on the neck.
"Argh!"
Kiyo's eyes then shot open as he heard a familiar voice.
"Oh, are you not having fun?" It was Regashi's.
"Regashi!" Kiyo yelled, lifting himself off of the ground, throwing the snake, and gripping his bite mark. "You bastard! What did you do!?"
Regashi smirked. "Now you drop the 'lord' part? Make up your mind, Kiyo!"
"Where are we!?" Kiyo demanded, stomping forward.
"You mean," Regashi started. "Where are 'you?'"
Kiyo growled. "Take me out of here!"
"Oh, I will," Regashi reassured. "But not until your 'other' lord shows up. Until then…"
Just as Regashi trailed off, spikes found themselves penetrating through Kiyo's arms and legs—" AARGHH!"—restraining the scythe-wielder once more. Before Kiyo could think, a spike exited his body, followed by a new spike lodging itself into his back, leaving a new trail of blood to fall.
"... You'll just have to endure the pain. And, don't worry, the venom won't kill you. Nothing will. So, enjoy!" Regashi said, fading away from Kiyo's sight.
Kiyo gritted his teeth, parting his mouth to yell:
"Regashi!"
XXX
… What the hell, Regashi!? Doesn't that just seem so intimidating? And what will happen once Unit Sakai of Shinkaku arrives in Furusato? Stay tuned to find out!
Have a Great Day!
Peace - Cr1ticalz_