Mettanica: "What the hell were you thinking?! No one told you to fight Toko! We wanted Mayonaka dead!"
Totsuki: "No matter how much demon blood is consumed or infused, at the end of the day they will all still be human."
Mettanica: "What are you saying?!"
Totsuki: "Get rid of him! Get rid of them all!"
Mettanica: "We need him!"
Totsuki: "If you won't, I will!"
Mettanica: "You will not lay a finger on him!"
Totsuki: "Mettanica, don't tell me. Have you grown attached to this…this creation?!"
Mettanica looks at Hirishoja and closes her eyes thinking of how she actually grew fond of him, and seeing him as her own son. Before she can say anything else she quickly drops to the ground on one knee in praise, with her head down. Totsuki copies her as they both start to sweat and tremble at the presence of Sela.
Sela: "Is the link finished?"
Totsuki: "No, n-not yet."
Sela: "What is taking so long! It's been years! I want vengeance! I want blood!"
Totsuki: "More realms have opened up making it much more difficult to link with Faramore. We don't have what the gods have in order to instantaneously travel. Our methods provide no guarantee of success as of now."
Sela: "I see, I will continue waiting. When I get bored that will be the end of all things!"
Totsuki watches Sela as they both make eye contact. Totsuki begins to tremble again, and Sela goes back to her throne.
Totsuki: "Don't understand why she doesn't just help us. Or do it her damn self."
Mettanica: "A demon with royal blood is bound to their home. A curse has been placed so that they can't pass through the realms at will reeking havoc. If Zitoshi or Toko dies, the curses lift."
Totsuki: "Then kill Toko!"
Mettanica: "You don't order me around, in fact it's the opposite."
Totsuki: "Then what is our next move?!"
Mettanica: "Where is Mastab?"
Totsuki: "Mastab may be dead."
Mettanica: "What?! But how?!"
Totsuki: "As you can see, your subordinates aren't that strong."
Mettanica: "Tch! We'll see! I refuse to believe the humans have surpassed us all!"
Totsuki: "I just want them all dead! If you won't, I will see to it myself!"
Mettanica: "Trust me, death is coming."
Hitomi: "How is he doing?"
Tonamura: "Fine, he's recovering some of his chi back."
Khuyo: "His body is still in bad shape with all the markings and wounds. Most are healing on their own along with his chi coming back."
Tonamura: "Yeah, that's what I don't get. I thought if we lost all of our chi that meant the end."
Hitomi: "Yeah, so did I. I guess this is just a testament to how great Toko really is. Only he could pull something like this off."
Tonamura: "Never could have imagined we as humans could get this strong. I know it's not over, but I can't help but get this serge of excitement."
Khuyo: "Excitement?"
Tonamura: "Toko is paving the way for us, he's living proof that humans could reach insane heights! Everything has limits, I want to see how far my strength will take me until I reach my ceiling!"
Hitomi: "This world needs more than strength alone."
Tonamura: "You're right, strength is nothing without guidance. just like how life is nothing without love."
Kame: "Where am I? What is this place? There is no beginning, or even an end. What was going on back there? Who was that guy? What was he and Mest talking about? How do they know about my clan? all of this is just so confusing! What do I do?! Where do I go?! Calm down Kame! Snap out of it! Do not overthink, all you should be worried about right now is finding Mest and getting out of here."
Kame looks around even more confused. There seems to be no evident way to walk. He closes his eyes and takes a deep breat; ultimately deciding which way to walk. He continues forward for some time before making out a darker shadow in the distance.
Kame: "Mest?!"
Kame runs over to it and when he gets close he realizes that it's not Mest. Instead he runs into Mastab. Kame backs away and gets into his stance prepared to fight.
Kame: "Are you the King of this place or something?!"
Mastab: "Hmph! It seems he trapped others down here too."
Kame: "Trapped others? How long have you been down here?"
Mastab: "How the hell am I supposed to know that?! One second I'm on earth, the next im trapped in this void. Mark my words, when I get out of here everyone is dying!"
Kame: "No one will die!"
Mastab: "Oh? And who's putting a stop to that?"
Kame: "Me!"
Mastab looks Kame in the eyes, his eyes start to glow while striking fear in Kame's. Kame attacks him, kicking him in the neck. Mastab is just standing there unfazed with his eyes closed. When he slowly opens them he stares at Kame, while Kame backs away. Kame just stands there frozen again. Mastab walks over to him and slowly passes him. Sweat falls from Kame's face as his body is completely stagnant. Mastab turns his head to see the Chikara crest that Kame wears.
Mastab: "I'll leave you alive. You and I both have unfinished business with a certain someone. I'm a reasonable guy, least I can do is let you live long enough to get your revenge."
Kame: "No! What are you talking about?! What revenge?! What is happening?!"
Mastab: "Who am I to tell. You will find out soon enough. When you do, I want your to remember this conversation. Good luck out there!"
Kame just watches as he is walking away. Kame tries hard to put the pieces together but he still can't figure whats going on or what that guy was talking about. Kame just falls to his knees trying his best to make sense of everything, but he just can't.
Mest: "Kame! Tch! Where can he be?!"
Mest just looks around trying to figure out where to go. All of a sudden he hears snarls and growls behind him. He turns to look at all of the demons and cerberus approach him.
Mest: "So along with the infinite nothingness, we also have to deal with this bullshit! Hmph!"
Mest gets attacked but makes light work of all the demons as he just goes down the line killing all of them following where they are coming from in order to find a source, or anything at all. As they are dying and their bodies disintegrates he sees a glowing tiny stone falling. As he's going through them he decides to collect them to see if they will be use later. On the other side of things, Kame is doing all the same except collecting the stones. instead he is leaving them there as some kind of trail or path. Thinking Mest would stumble upon them and follow the trail.
Toko is in bed resting. As Tonamura waits outside his room just sitting there asleep. Khuyo and Hitomi are outside the house trying to find more herbs to put in his tea.
Toko: "Tonamura, can you come in please."
Tonamura: "You need something?"
Toko: "No one knows, but using that attack drains half of my essence and chi. I'll never be at my strongest again."
Tonamura: "But! No that can't be! Why are you telling me this?! If you are not at your strongest then we already lost the fight coming!"
Toko: "You are not weak!"
He says angrily, but also I'm so much pain.
Toko: "You are not weak, I take pride in who I train. Everything is happening quicker than I expected, all the more reason to begin our training. This means I have to recover as fast as possible and go get him sooner."
Tonamura: "Go get who?"
Ziku and Cayde both sparring. Natsumi watching over them as the snow continues to fall.
Natsumi to herself: "I know I'm all healed, but for some reason I still don't feel like myself."
Ziku and Cayde fall to the ground, both really tired as they just start laughing.
Cayde: "What was so funny?"
Ziku: "I'm not sure, usually when I'm happy I just start to laugh."
Cayde: "Why are you happy? If you don't mind me asking."
Ziku: "Think about it, for months we've been training and nothing bad has happened. There hasn't been a reason to train, but for the pure thrill and fun of it. I'm starting to like fighting a lot more."
Cayde: "It's more about just practicing now than being forced to huh."
Ziku: "For the first time I get to just think about training, for myself."
Natsumi: "Alright you two hurry inside before you get buried under all that snow."
Ziku and Cayde go inside after Natsumi and before Ziku closes the door he thinks about Omoi and how he's doing.
Omoi just continues to lay on his bed not doing anything and barely eating. He occasionally gets up to stare out his window at the snow, but other than that he's always in his room.
The blizzard gets worse over time and forces the entire village to stay home and not be able to go outside. Only people who can manage being outside are those strong enough to withstand the extreme conditions, other than that it's hard to breath, see, move, and even survive outside.
Ava: "I'm sorry, I don't mean to be a bother."
Aiko: "No its fine! I mean, you don't have to be sorry, it's the least I could do to help you."
Ava: "Awww you are literally so cute! You must drive the boys crazy huh!"
Aiko: "Umm well not exactly."
Ava: "What?! Hmph, all the boys here must be stupid or something."
Aiko: "I'm just a bit different I guess."
Ava: "Different?"
Aiko: "There's certain qualities other girls have that I notice are the reason guys are attracted to them. Oh, but you see, I don't mind it! Really it's fine, it doesn't bother me one bit!"
Ava: "I know why, there's a guy you admire huh?"
Aiko: "Umm no! What gave you that idea?!"
Ava: "I mean nothing really, other than the fact that when I asked that you blushed and your eyes sparkled. It's the same look I saw on myself in the mirror when thinking about…. Nvm."
Aiko: "Ava? Are you ok?"
Ava: "I'm fine, just tired. Goodnight Aiko."
Aiko: "Goodnight Ava."
Kenshi: "Are you awake Jaken?"
Jaken: "I am now!"
Kenshi: "Haha sorry, but just so you know Shiro is still here?"
Jaken: "What the hell?! Why?!"
Kenshi: "Well I let him take a nap on the couch earlier because he needed rest after training."
Jaken: "So why is he still here?"
Kenshi: "The blizzard. I can't have him go home now, it's too dangerous. He's just going to have to stay with us until he's able to go back home."
Jaken: "Well fine, but you're making breakfast tomorrow and doing the laundry!"
Kenshi smiles: "Alright."
Jaken: "Now let's go to sleep."
Kenshi: "You know, it's been almost 4 months since Kame left. I wonder if Mest is able to handle him. I'm sorry, I know you're tired, I'll go to sleep. Goodnight."
A tear falls down Jaken's cheek.
Jaken: "Goodnight."
Mettanica: "Amatsu! You're up!"
Amatsu: "What do I owe the pleasure of being the one to serve you my lady?"
Mettanica: "As of right now you are my strongest hybrid behind Hiroshoja and Mastab. I need you to cause absolute destruction and bring death to wherever you go on earth!"
Amatsu: "Yes my lady, I won't disappoint."
Amatsu warps to earth and when arrives he just stares off into the distance. He takes in a deep breath inhaling Earth's air.
Amatsu: "Air is thin here."
He puts his hand on the ground and rips the grass.
Amatsu: "What is this?"
He slowly stands back up and closes his eyes.
Amatsu: "There's low chi levels in that direction. Let's see who has the honor of being my first kill."
He smiles and burst towards the chi engulfed in flames.
Toko: "There's another one, but this one is different. I can't pinpoint exactly where he is. He's not like the other one who lusts for battle. This one has a purpose, not a personal gain."
Tonamura: "What are you talking about?! Who are you talking about?! What's going on?!"
Toko: "I'll explain on the way. At this point it's imperative to go retrieve him."
Asuna: "There's a plague going around. On top of that we are running out of resources for food and material. This snowstorm has depleted our crops and destroyed lots of our inventory."
Core Member: "What do you want us to do?"
Asuna: "I need someone to visit a neighboring village and grab medicinal herbs for our doctors and food to last us through this snowstorm."
Core Member: "We have no one on file that is healthy enough for a mission like this. Also being the worst snowstorm we've experienced in the last 20 years."
Asuna: "I might have an option."
Marvelle: "He's too sick, besides even if he wasn't I doubt he'd help."
Asuna: "Tch! I guess I'll have to try someone else."
Jiro: "Wait! My brother and I will go!"
Asuna: "I can't send you two on a mission like this."
Jiro: "Then it won't be just us two. I'm sure I can find more people willing to go."
Asuna: "I still don't know if I can allow this."
Marvelle: "Me either, Jiro it seems to dangerous."
Jiro: "Please! You have to let us do this! We've gotten a lot stronger and besides this would be our first mission!"
Marvelle: "He's right. I'm fine with it if you are."
Asuna: "Ok, but you have to get an adult to accompany you on this mission or it's off."
Jiro: "Yes! Finally!"
Jiro: "Karu, you wanna go on a mission with me and Shizuko?"
Karu: "What kind of mission is it?"
Jiro: "Asuna wants, no he needs us to go and get medicinal herbs for the plague and more food to feed our village."
Karu: "I see, this mission is of utmost importance since my wife has contracted this disease and I don't know how to help. It would also appear our food supply is almost completely depleted. I'd say we had about a week left and we would have began to starve."
Jiro: "So will you help?"
Karu: "I can't. I understand the extreme significance of this mission, but my wife needs me."
Jiro: "I understand, I'll try and find someone else."
Karu: "Sorry Jiro, but good luck."
Jiro: "Shizuko! We have a mission and..."
Shizuko: "I'm not going."
Jiro: "What?! Why?!"
Shizuko: "What do you need me for?! You have blue flames! Handle it yourself!"
Jiro: "Why does that matter?! It's a mission to help the village! Put your pride aside and help us!"
Shizuko: "I don't care."
Jiro: "What?! You mean to tell me all that is going on you don't care?! Dad is sick and you don't care?! The village is in shambles and you don't care?! What is wrong with you?!"
Shizuko: "No. I don't care, just leave me alone and stay away from me."
Jiro: "There used to be a time where you did care."
Aurora: "Where's Zuko?"
Jiro just shakes his head.
Aurora: "Hmph, so who else did you get to come?"
Jiro: "Umm it's just us."
Aurora: "No way Asuna's letting that happen."
Jiro: "You're right he won't, but that's why we're not telling him."
Aurora: "We complete this mission then they will trust us with a lot more. Besides I'm almost an adult."
Jiro: "Exactly."
Kaji: "Great so it's settled we are all going!"
Aurora: "Kaji no."
Kaji: "Awe, but why?"
Aurora: "You don't have the speed to keep up. You'll only slow us down."
Jiro: "Sorry Kaji, but you should listen to your sister."
Kaji: "Fine!"
Kaji walks away heading in the direction of his home.
Jiro: "Asuna gave me a map and told me to give it to an adult."
Aurora: "Here let me see it."
Jiro: "So it's been 30 minutes, you got anything yet?"
Aurora: "It's hard to read the map when I don't understand it. That's why we need an adult, or someone at least familiar with other villages. We have no idea what we're doing, we have never been on a mission."
Jiro: "Let's just go, it shouldn't be that hard to figure out once we're outside the village."
Kame: "Never have I ever been so confused. There is so much going on, that I just cannot think. To make everything worse I can not find Mest I just hope he is still alive, because I need answers."
Mest: "This is all my fault! I should have told him already! What if I never get to! How could I be so dumb! What kind of brother am I?! W-what kind of warrior am I?"
Mest starts punching the ground, and then banging his head on it. When he picks his head up he notices that he can see his reflection in the ground. When he starts to stare harder he sees a dark figure behind him.
Mastab: "Get up."
Mest: "Who are you?"
Mastab: "None of that matters, we're all stuck in here and if we want to leave we're gonna have to work together."
Mest: "We're?"
Mastab: "The brat I saw earlier."
Mest: "Brat?! Where did you see him?!"
Mastab: "Over there. Or was it over there? I don't know everything looks the damn same!"
Mest: "He could be anywhere! He could be close, or he could be far. There's no real way of knowing. This place is infinite, It doesn't have an end, or even a beginning."
Mastab: "Hmph! The weak will never survive in this place."
Mest: "You saying I'm weak?"
Mastab: "Your chi alone tells me you are formidable, but that mind of yours is what breaks you."
Mest: "You're not one to judge me! You have no idea what I've been through!"
Mastab: "Hmph, frankly I don't care. What I want is to leave this damned place. And you are the key for me to finally escape."
Mest: "How am I the key?"
Mastab: "You know."
Mest: "So what I'm hearing is, it could work?"
Mastab: "Have you not tried?"
Mest: "I'm not leaving or trying anything until I find my brother."
Mastab: "And what if he's dead already?"
Mest: "If he's dead, then I'm not leaving this place. There is nothing left for me outside."
Mastab: "Are you sure?"
Mest pauses for a moment just looking at his reflection in the cracked ground.
Kokiruko "How do you feel?"
Kokimina "I'm fine Koki."
Kokiruko "Do you need anything?"
Kokimina "Just him, I need him."
Kokiruko "Who is he?"
Kokimina "The father of our child, he is who blessed me with this baby."
Kokiruko "Why do you talk about him like he's some sort of higher power?! How can he give you a baby and just leave?! Everything we have been through, he has done nothing to help! I have yet to meet him and I know nothing about him other than you say he's the love of your life! He-"
Kokimina "That's enough! How dare you talk about him when you know nothing about him! Yes he's the love of my life and I believe he loves me too! He didn't just leave me, he told me that he understands how sudden it is, but he has important stuff to take care of! You-"
Kokiruko "How can you believe that?! How can you be content knowing he called something more important than you?!"
Kokimina "The very moment I met Mest I knew there was something special about him. He truly kept me happy and made me forget about my past. Hearing you talk about him like this breaks my heart!"
Kokiruko "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to stress you out. Especially with you being pregnant. You know I take back everything I said."
Kokimina "I just want you to meet him, so that you could see for yourself how great he is."
Kokiruko "I believe you. I'm sorry. Get some rest Mina."
Kokimina to herself " Mest I miss you, please just be here for our child's birth."
Mest "I'll help you."
Mastab: "Good, now let's get started."
Mest: "After we find my brother."
Mastab: "Hmph, fine."
Jiro: "It says we're getting close. Do you have the list ready?"
Aurora: "Yeah, let's hurry and get this done."
Before they enter the village, Aurora senses something close by as she turns to see what it was.
Aurora "Who's there? Come out?!"
Kaji "So you finally noticed me huh."
Aurora "Kaji what the hell are you doing?!"
Kaji "I can be helpful too!"
Aurora "I can't believe you!"
Jiro "It's too late to turn around, and there's no way he's going back alone. I guess he's our third member."
Aurora "Stay close to me no matter what!"
Kaji "I will."
Local "Hey what are you three doing?"
Aurora "We're looking for these items, our village has succumbed to this plague and we are in ne-"
Local " Listen girl, your village isn't the only one going through this. The plague is worldwide and became a pandemic two weeks ago. I'm sorry about your village really I am, but I can't just give you any of our resources. What about our village? Our people?"
Aurora "Please can you just give us one of each?! It's only 5 items!"
Local "Look I understand, really I do, but there's nothing I can do. My hands are tied."
Jiro "I see, thank you anyway."
The man nods at them and then turns away to walk. Aurora falls to her knees with her hands on the ground as she just starts crying.
Jiro "Aurora what's wrong?"
Aurora "I didn't know how important this mission was until that man spoke. It's not only us, but the entire world. Who are we to ask other villages for their help and their sympathy when we don't even help them when they need it!"
She looks up into Jiro's eyes just crying.
Aurora "Who says we even deserve help?! Why should anyone feel bad for us?! Maybe this is happening for a reason, maybe this is a sign."
Jiro "What sign?."
Aurora "A sign that the world is coming to an end."
Kaji just gets down on his knees next to Aurora trying his best to comfort her. Jiro looking away puts his hand out for her. She looks at his hand and then up at him, but all she can see Is the back of of his head.
Jiro "All of that could be true, but we won't know what we could change until we try."
Aurora "Jiro no! There is no try! We shouldn't have came here!
Jiro "So what, are you going back?"
Aurora "Yes! We all are come on."
Jiro "No."
Aurora "Jiro! I'm not leaving you by yourself! And there's nothing we can do so let's go!"
Jiro "Then stay, because I'm not going anywhere."
Aurora "What is with you?! Why are you being so stubborn?! You made us take this mission without an adult, therefore I'm in charge and I'm saying we're done!"
Jiro "Either stay and help or leave without me."
Kaji "Umm you guys."
Jiro "Aurora just leave, I'm not going until I find what the village needs. If not me then who?"
Aurora "But you heard the man! There's no more we can do! Why won't you just accept that!"
Jiro "I don't want to believe that if I fail, the village will be gone."
Amatsu "Finally some decent chi levels."
Jiro "Where did you come from?"
Amatsu "Better question would be where I'm going."
Kaji "Something felt off earlier, you two were too busy arguing to sense him approaching."
Aurora "I was too distracted to realize."
Aurora grabs Kaji's arm and pulls him behind her. Jiro steps in front of Aurora and looks at Amatsu's hand.
Jiro "Why are you here? And who is that man you're holding?"
Amatsu "You two are just children, it would be no fun."
Jiro "No fun?"
Amatsu dashes towards Jiro and is face to face with him.
Amatsu "I'm giving you a chance to live, don't squander it."
Jiro begins to sweat and his heart starts to pound because he can feel Amatsu's chi and presence. His presence being pure evil, which is confusing Jiro so much. He doesn't want to let his guard down, but he also knows that he has to keep Aurora and Kaji safe. The body Amatsu is carrying is dripping blood all over Jiro, when he looks at it he notices that it was the local man they saw earlier.
Aurora "That's the man from earlier, and he still has the herbs and medicine attached to him!"
Aurora grabs Jiro's shoulder and flips over kicking Amatsu in the face, grabbing the bag carrying everything they need and pushing him further back with flames.
Aurora "Let's go!"
She grabs Kaji's hand and starts running. She gets pretty far and then realizes that Jiro wasn't following her.
Aurora "Jiro no! Please don't be an idiot!"
Amatsu "Why didn't you follow?!"
Jiro "Because you're still gonna be alive."
Amatsu "How dumb can you be?!
Jiro "No matter what I can't let you cause any more harm!"
Amatsu "You could walk away from this, live to fight another day and forget about my motives!"
Jiro "I can't!"
Aurora "What do I do?! I can't just leave him to fight by himself!
Kaji "I could-"
Aurora "No! You stay with me no matter what I choose! You weren't even supposed to be here! You being here is what makes this so difficult!"
Kaji "I'm sorry, I just wanted to be a warrior just like you."
Aurora "You will, just not now. What's the point in wanting to become a warrior if the decisions you make are going to get you killed before you can reach your potential?"
Kaji closes his eyes and keeps his head down feeling bad, thinking he's at fault for whatever happens to Jiro.
Aurora "You know what, here! Take these and no matter what, make sure they get to Asuna!"
Kaji "What are you gonna do?!"
Aurora "Just go! Stop with the questions!"
Kaji clinches the bag close to his chest and starts to run back to the village as fast as he can.
Aurora "Please stay safe Kaji."
Amatsu "Humans! So much potential, yet so little brains!"
Jiro "You aren't human?"
Amatsu "Not anymore, what I am now is far beyond human understanding. I sacrificed everything for this power! Cold and heartless! No! Thank you for staying, you made me realize that sparing you is against my character! You're weak! You will die here!"
Jiro "No matter what you're still human! You may have the power of a demon, but who you were before will always be stronger than who you are now! There's no fighting it!"
Amatsu "How dare you! You know nothing about me! Tch! Look at me! Getting all worked up by a child!"
Amatsu dashes towards Jiro and punches him in the stomach.
Amatsu "Kids! No respect!"
Amatsu fists becomes engulfed in flames, he throws another punch, but Jiro blocks it using his flame fist. They trade blows back and forth before both of their fists collide creating a shockwave pushing them both back.
Amatsu "This excites me! While also enraging me!"
Before anyone can say anything both Jiro and Amatsu look left and see Aurora. While she walks her entire body is engulfed in blue flames. Amatsu smiles.
Amatsu "I underestimated you. Your blue flames are beautiful, but you still won't be strong enough."
Jiro "We have more than enough strength."
Jiro's body engulfs in blue flames as well. Amatsu just watches as the both of them are emitting blue flames aura and slowly walking towards him. Kaji stops because he can feel their presence, when he looks back he can see the blue aura being emitted from the both of them.
Kaji "So cool! Counting on you guys!"