Drastic measures
As I get ready to go retrieve Nanaka's body and kill that man, I feel an immense and agonizing pain shoot through my left eye, my hand shoots up to grab it out of instinct.However, as I grab my eye I feel the arrow that he shot into it still there, so I grab and yank it out, and upon doing so, I feel a sharp and stinging pain in my eye socket. I nearly collapsed due to the pain, the phantom emptiness in my heart, I could not heal nor close the wound. It was a hollow hole, clean through my heart. Despite the aching pain, I pushed through as I straightened up and prepared to chase after the masked man. With my flame abilities, I could sense his heat signature. so I begin running his way as fast as possible. However, when I'm 10 meters away I'm interrupted by a dark figure wearing a cloak and a toad mask.
"Whoever you are MOVE." The figure didn't seem to listen as they pulled out a Dadao blade from inside of their cloak, but when doing so I notice they have a feminine figure indicating they're most likely a woman. "Don't make me hurt you-!?!?" Cutting me off they appear in front of me in an attempt to slice at my neck; I react in time grabbing their wrist, I quickly snag away their blade, but they react with a quick and precise kick at my left eye, which I barely blocked—due to my impairment in my left eye, rendering me unable to see; making it an available blind spot. Quickly, I grip the handle of my blade as flames licked the metals surface, I steady my position before performing a swift, slick slice to their right shoulder, which successfully severs their entire right arm from their shoulder. They jump back and hold onto wound.
"Are you gonna move now?" In response, the figure only grunted— and by that, helped confirm my suspicions that the figure was possibly a woman. But then again, that didn't matter to me because they're actively impeding on my revenge. "So, since you don't want to answer me, I have no choice but to take your head." I raise the blade above my head ready to kill her.
"WAIT-!"
"SHUT UP!" Cutting her off, I swing the sword down upon her, Stopping just when the blade reaches her, a hairs length apart. "Are you going to answer me now?" Nodding her head, I continued, "good…now, why did you interrupt me?"
"Because, my master ordered it since he knew that his attacks wouldn't kill you." After she explaining I couldn't help but to burst out laughing.
"Hahahaha…well then, your master is a fool to not have killed me, and you both will pay dearly for that." I go to continue but she cuts me off.
"I will not be the last to stop you."
I chuckled at her.."Of course not, and you wont be the only person dying today." Deciding enough is enough, I raise the sword before swinging it down towards her neck, severing her head, and in turn, ending her life. I looked down at her lifeless body for a moment before multiple heat signatures suddenly flare up nearby and heading straight towards me at top speeds, I stop paying attention to the dead body of the woman and now to the oncoming offense, I grabbed my katana, my fingers curling around the handle firmly and getting into a stance.
After several minutes of waiting, they finally arrive. By the end of it all, they were all surrounding me. I assumed they were acquainted with the woman I had just slain, as they're all wearing dark cloaks, obscuring their bodies with various animal masks. The main one I noticed was the one wearing a tanuki mask, they were the largest out of the group, and weilded a large club with spikes on it, and with noticing that, I prepared to cut them down, but before I can react, the smallest of the group was upon me— and before I could blink, they were already preparing to use their tanto to gut me. I couldn't allow that, so I drew my katana, flames bringing it ablaze, and cutting them down in one slice. But as soon as I cut them down they turn into dust with the wind blowing them away into nothing, and I couldn't help but stand there, stunned that they weren't real all along. But before I could relax, I sensed another heat signature appear right behind me, causing me to whip my head behind me only to see dust yet again. This time, however, I activate my fire and sent a ring of it out into the forest hopefully stopping whoever was doing that while also ignoring the eerie feeling that began to pool in my gut. I continued to trudge forward towards where the masked man seemed to be.
***
Masked man's P.O.V:
I currently sat and waited for the "Special One" to arrive in all his glory. It surprisingly took him longer than anticipated, but no matter to that. If I had to guess,I would say that it was because of my bastard of a sister to mess with him because she was 'bored'. Fucking dumbass, she doesn't realize that she can't touch him even if she wanted to. Her ability, while useful, doesn't help in combat against him because he can just burn his surroundings and kill her, I would know I've seen it with my own eyes. I nearly got killed because of it.
Soon enough, the sound of the crunching leaves catches my attention, turning around, my guard up and ready to attack, only to see my dear sister, of course it's her— ugh I simply cannot stand that smug look on her face!
"Yo, little brother I had my fun. He should be here soon so get ready. I'm gonna head off now though, so enjoy yourself." She stuck her tongue out at me and walked away while I flippedher off. After she walks off out of distance, all I can do is sigh and pick up my crossbow and put it away.
I open my bag that was sitting on a rock near me and I grabbed a container with a red viscous liquid inside of it. Popping off the lid, I'm quickly hit with a putrid stench comparable to that of a room full of men covered in shit. Pushing through the smell I bring ittowards my mouth and start drinking it, I nearly puke as I push through and finish it. The taste is similar to that of puke, shit and rotting flesh all combined, however I have chosen to drink this willingly so I can have a chance at beating him in a one on one fight. If I hadn't gotten the drop on him I would've lost and my power wouldn't have worked on the self proclaimed "Honored one".
He was luckily kept in the dark by that old bastard about who he truly is and how things have changed due to his birth. Pushing those thoughts away I grab a specially made dagger out of my bag so that way I could have even more of an advantage just so I can ensure my win. I won't let him survive this encounter, I was too kind to let him live and now my apprentice is dead. I won't let him get away with killing kierra.
***
AKIRA'S P.O.V 20 MINUTE'S AGO:
What the hell? What was going on? It felt as if the world around me were being messed with. Argh! My head is pounding and my face feels wet and everything is spinning. I reach my hand towards my face and upon touching it my hand recoils from the freezing cold sensation. Looking towards my hand I see a black sticky substance on it. That's certainly weird especially with it coming out of my empty eye socket. I need to hurry so I can figure out what this is. I close my eye and feel out for a heat signature and as soon as I feel that faceless bastard's body heat I dash off towards it. However I don't get far before I'm kneeled over heaving trying to empty the contents of my stomach—which, well, was unsuccessful as the world around me began to spin with my vision darkening at the corners of my eye. It's not long before everything is dark and I feel a heavy weight upon my body. I try to move yet my body feels restricted as if I'm in the depths of the ocean being held by a umibōzu, and yet, the more I struggle the more I'm pushed upwards by an unknown force. It's not long before my body reaches wherever it was being pushed towards.
There were four tall pillars, each with a kanji on them. Looking closer, I see the four pillars surround a shrine that has the statues of three deities, each in various battle stances facing one another. In the center of them is someone who appears to be pure darkness with glowing ice blue eyes sitting on a throne made of various vines and thorns along with a crown made of thorns set upon their head. It doesn't take long for the figure to stand up and slowly walk towards me. The closer they get the stronger the urge to kneel gets. I try my best to resist, yet it seems pointless as by the time they reach me I'm on my hands and knees. The figure speaks in a deep yet beautiful voice.
"So, you have finally decided to grace me with your presence have you? Fool." My only response is to grunt as I find breathing very difficult currently. "Of course you have, because I have chosen to finally take control over your body— which is rightfully, MINE!" There was a moment of silence, a quick gust of wind before it settled down once more. Oh the years I've waited to do this…I've suffered quietly as you've made nothing but bad decisions, from deciding to make connections with such weaklings to letting yourself be bested by a monkey."
My head felt like a weight, it was hard to even lift my head to muster up even the slightest response. "I-I…I've made…the…choices I thought was best." Sweat dripped from my forehead.
In response, I only get but a chuckle out of the figure before the darkness over their body washes away and out of it comes a beautiful woman. One with long flowing light blue hair along with her glowing red eyes. She has glowing silver skin, and she wore an elegant black kimono with purple accents along it. My were soon interrupted though,
"Are you done gawking you fool? Or do you need a minute to take it all in~?" A small smirk accompanies her words while observing my struggle.
"L-Let…me up!" I still struggle to speak as my breath quickens and my arms nearly give out from her presence. She just continues to smirk before the pressure subsides and I can breathe normally again causing me to gasp immediately.
"Now now…no need to be so impatient and loud. However, due to the gall you have I shall grace you with my name it's K_o_u. Oh? It seems you can't hear my name quite yet…you poor weak little thing, it's a shame too because you're oh so handsome. Oh well you can sit here quietly as I have fun with your body until you're ready to take it back." As she finishes speaking dark tendrils form out of the dark liquid underneath me and pull me back into the dark depths of whatever it is they came from.
***
Masked man's P.O.V:
As I await for Akira to arrive I suddenly feel a strong and suffocating presence in front of me in the forest. I almost freeze up before I can ready my blade. The pressure gets stronger the longer I stand here and I start to feel a strong heat coming from the forest ahead of me. The trees start to catch fire as the forest around me starts to burn with raging flames. That however, is not the concern here as I see Akira step out of the flaming tree line, however, he looks and feels different. It's almost as if someone or something is controlling his body and it isn't pretty. I saw a pitch black liquid pouring out of his eye socket I shot a bolt into along with flames raging inside of it. A sickening and inhuman grin was on his face along with having an arm of fire replacing the arm I took. Whatever it is doesn't say anything as it launches itself at me almost too fast for me to react too. It tries to pluck my eyes out however I slash at its face leaving a gash across it. As quickly as the cut appeared it just as quickly healed. The thing keeps coming at me with a quick barrage of punches this time, it's certainly keeping me on my toes. I'm barely able to block or dodge them and each time I block I'm burnt. I can't keep this up forever yet it seems like it doesn't tire out, I'm losing the feeling in my arms if this goes on I won't be able to use my arms anymore.
"HEY! BACK OFF YOU AREN'T AKIRA SO GO AWAY I WON'T FIGHT ANYTHING OTHER THAN HIM!" In response to my yelling the thing grins even more before responding in a voice that sounds like two people speaking at once.
"OH? WELL I DON'T CARE CAUSE I WANNA HAVE SOME FUN SO ENTERTAIN ME MONKEY!" As soon as it stops speaking my arms give out and it lands a solid hit sending me flying into the burning forest a good two kilometers or so through the trees. I know this because I felt the ground the entire time I was moving. I try my best to get up, my arms shake and my breath is short and quick. I hear the sound of echoing laughter getting closer rapidly. I hitch my breath and heave myself onto my feet and look around for anything I can use to my advantage. My endeavors earned me something. I see a lake nearby meaning I may be able to weaken whatever it is I must be able to or else I may die today. I limp my way over to the lake as the laughter gets ever so closer each second. Finally I reach the lake and go to dive in, however the back of my top is yanked away from it and I'm flung back towards the burning trees. As I roll on the ground I come to an abrupt stop and I hear that damned voice.
"Oh? Leaving so soon? How sad that the monkey can't play a little longer…maybe in the afterlife I can have a little more fun with you…nah, you'd only get squashed like the insect you are." I finally get another look at the thing and it looks…disappointed? I guess I wanted a good fight then. Well if that's what it wants I guess I should take this up a level and crush the damn thing with all of the grief the world has to offer! Activating my ability the concept of grief I force it to feel the grief of the whole world weighing down on it. This works as the beast seems to be brought to its knees and I slowly get up and reach down towards its face to grab hold of it. However, before I can do anything it grins an even bigger grin tearing the face of Akira while doing so. Before I can react the arm I was reaching down with is in the hands of the beast yet the beast is now 3 meters in front of me inspecting my severed arm. I fell to my knees, clutching where my arm was severed as a searing and agonizing feeling shoots through my whole body as my adrenaline is wearing off. I feel the impact of every attack now I clutch my eyes closed as my nose scrunches up and I clench my teeth shut. Something heavy hits me as this is happening causing me to topple over onto my side and open my eyes wide. As I do so in front of me are a pair of feet. Turning my head to the side so that I may look up I see the beast grinning down at me holding my severed arm and waving it around almost as if to mock me.
"What…do…you…want, beast?!" I managed to grunt out through gritted teeth as it just stares at me with its large bloodshot eyes and inhuman grin.
"Oh what do I want? I just wanna have a little fun…fun that I haven't had since I've been in this brats body. He's pretty boring trying to be some lame honored one when he could be a monster and do whatever he wants." I just stare at it wide eyed as it taps its chin and purses its lips while tapping the side of its chin. "I'll just kill you to make my first mark on this new age of humanity!" The beast starts to laugh uncontrollably as it throws my severed arm to the side and starts to form a ring of fire around the sky before it yells. "Nichirin: Nami" and bringing it down upon me. And I'm my last moments I feel as if every bit of me is burnt to dust. I feel the very essence of my soul being burnt. In my final moments I see flashes of my life and everything I've ever done.
***
ITs P.O.V:
After burning the fool and everything around us I feel the tug of the brat on my soul as he starts to take control over his body again. Rolling my eyes I just let him have control again. I soon find myself back in my domain, and start walking towards my throne. I call the tendrils to carry me the rest of the way to it. As they place me down I close my eyes and let the darkness cover my very being once again to reawaken when the brat is vulnerable.
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