"I won't talk my ass,'' laughed Doza, running through the forest. "He said the base should be in this direction but I've been running for a minute now.''
Doza thinks back to moments ago, where he brutally tortured one of the Ratari gang's members for information.
"He wouldn't lie, "I already warned him I'll be back for his arms if he is. Then again it's not like he'll live much longer'', he laughed.
Continuing in the direction of the hideout, Doza notices damaged trees and broken arrows on the ground. "I must be getting close''. Stopping at an opening in the forest, Doza notices a small fortress walled off by archers, "that must be it. No point in keeping it quiet'' he said gazing at his blade.
Taking a deep breath and adjusting his mask, Doza relays a quote from the past "those who fear death cannot hope to escape it". In a moment of total concentration and fearlessness Doza sprints into view of the archers. With no hesitation, they began shooting waves of arrows at Doza. He easily dodges and parries a number of them before scaling the wall. "Iasunari," he yells decapitating an archer with a blade of piercing lightning. The surrounding archers scream as the alarms go off. "Where the hell is Cassan," demanded Doza. The archers stare at Doza coldly before ambushing him with arrows. Doza throws his dagger past them all, repairing behind them grabbing its hilt, and slicing another one's neck. The remaining archers turn and fire once more, Doza quickly reacts and uses the corpse of the archer he previously killed as a shield.
"Fine,'' said Doza, tossing the body at them and jumping down the wall into the stronghold. "If I keep making noise he'll just come to me.''
Sparks fly throughout the hideout as Doza runs around causing mayhem. The members of the Ratari gang eventually surround Doza in the middle of the camp. One member among them speaks out, "we have you surrounded,'' he boasted.
"Are you the one they call Cassan,'' asked Doza?
"Haha, Cassan is somewhere in the camp but he needn't waste his time with such trivial things,'' the man responded.
Doza, now uninterested in the convo, closes his eyes and starts focusing his zen. "Look brothers, we've already killed this fool's strength to fight," the thug laughed. As the men moved in, Doza continued to concentrate all his zen turning the sky gray and filling the air with static. Seconds before the first thugs put their hands on Doza he opens his eyes chanting the words "Shomei ga ochiru''!!! (lightning's fall)
A burst of light flashed all around the camp followed by a gigantic bolt of lightning frying all those around Doza.
(Back at Takamichi estate)
"You piece of shit," spewed Vari, picking himself off the ground squabbling for his hunting knife strapped to his boot. "I'll kill you right here and now you little fucker.''
"You've been talking that nonsense this whole fight,'' Kenos retorts, readying his stance. "If you were on that, I'd be the bloody mess on the floor,'' he laughed.
Vari's face exploded with anger charging at Kenos with his knife. The two clash blades bouncing back due to the force of their attack. Kenos shoots his left leg up, kicking Vari in his chin while knocking himself off-balance in the air. Vari falls to the garden area below as Kenos lands on his back still on the rooftop.
After picking himself up Kenos observes the area watching Vari as he laid their slow to get back up. He sees Mr. Tamakichi is still in a battle with Raffa, the stone void user, and that their fight has escalated greatly. Kenos looks down at Vari as he draws his bow. Focusing on him Kenos could feel his eyes get incredibly heavy yet his vision was more precise than ever. "This feels like earlier." Kenos stared at Vari with such a presence carefully observing him like he were prey, noticing the smallest tells like the paleness of his skin and the beating of his chest. Kenos releases the arrow, piercing him through his heart.
Staring at the lifeless body of Vari the heavy sensation in Kenoses' eyes intensifies greatly, causing him to fall. "This is nothing!", he screamed. If it's to protect my friends and a dream, then I'll send a thousand souls to the Otherworld."
Ten minutes go by and Kenos wake up, "this is no time to be lying around. After getting up from the round Kenos wraps his bow around himself and scavenges for arrows. "The old man could probably still use my help,''.
"You're slowing down Raffa,'' laughed Mr. Takamichi. "You young ones get a little taste of power and think you're unstoppable. Experience, the will to protect those you care for. That's a type of power you can't cheat, and it shows.''
"Old man I took care of the archer,'' yelled Kenos running in their direction.
Mr. Tamakichi fires at the incoming boulders controlled by Raffa. "Great, now sit and watch as I educate someone from a lost generation!,'' yelled Mr. Tamakichi.
Kenos sat and watched as the old man ducked and avoided the flying debris shooting Raffa in his arm with his colossal void arm. "Woah the old man's actually kinda scary when he goes all out. He moves surprisingly agile toating a weapon that big around.
"Don't think you've won yet you old shit'', yelled Raffa digging his arms into the ground "Stone Golem!!!''
Raffa digs his arm into the ground merging with the stone on the floor morphing into a stone giant. Kenos stares in awe at Raffa's new form. The now gigantic Raffa attempts to swat Mr. Tamakichi to no avail. "Take cover" yelled Mr. Tamakichi as he jumped to the top of his estate.
"Raffa this ends here,'' shouted the old man reloading his void arm.
Raffa laughs maniacally, I thought you'd said show me real power. All I see is a senile old man who babbles of peace. I'll show you the difference in our powers with this attack.''
The right arm of Raffa's stone golem morphed into a spiked ball while he raised it. "I'll see you in Otherworld you old shit!'' yelled Raffa, dropping his hand on top of Mr. Tamakichi and the building.
"Omega shot: Blazing Inferno," shouted Mr. Tamakichi with all his strength, shooting an enormous sphere of concentrated fire zen from his rifle. Blasting Raffa's golem through its chest, striking exactly where he concealed his real body.
"Woah,'' said Kenos, watching as the stone golem Raffa created disintegrated to pieces. If I knew the old man could make contraptions like that I would've asked for one of those instead''.
Mr. Tamakichi looked at his wrecked estate from atop the building. "Even now I still don't understand your ways master. However, I will go on to protect others as you did for me.
(Doza at the Ratari gang camp)
Doza waivers for a moment before regaining his footing. As the smoke clears Doza sees the remaining survivors crawl away while a tall figure walks towards him smoking a cigar. "I'm guessing your Cassan,'' said Doza, gripping the hilt of his blade.
"You got me,'' said Cassan in between his puffs. "Now why the fuck is an ant like you wrecking my whole operation,'' yelled Cassan tossing his cigar to the side. Swiping his hand across he yells, "Bo Kemuri" (smoke control), and a wave of smoke takes over the area.
Doza looks around the smoke-filled area, "I can't sense him.'' "Show yourself bozo", yelled Doza. "You get off on forcing people to work with you?''
Cassan throws a blade in Doza's direction. "Simple if the boss requests it then we make it happen, The Ratri gang will seize all the power this world has to offer.''
"And what about the people who couldn't give a damn about the Ratari", Doza laughed.
A sinister smile grows on Cassan's face, "you think where the type of guys mother fuckers can say no to. Aw man this is too great the amount of Marx the boss is gonna pay me after I give him yours and the old man's head. I'm gonna go crazy when I hit the city."
(Takamichi estate)
"Thank you Kenos, said Mr. Takamichi. For helping to protect my home.''
"Aww it was nothing old man,'' replied Kenos. "Basal and I are friends now of course I'd help. Is Doza here?''
"While you were unconscious we devised a plan to minimize the damage to the town and hopefully the estate'', said Mr. Tamakichi.
"His mission was to grab their attention and lead them somewhere else. He did succeed in leading away a majority of them but he hasn't returned yet.''
Kenos eyes widen, "what do you mean he hasn't returned. What if he's in trouble,'' he cried.
"I'm sure your brother is fine child,'' said Mr. Tamakichi, trying to reassure him.
Kenoses' eyes get insanely heavy once again. Shaking his head he regains focus. "I think he's in trouble,'' shouted Kenos, "I can feel it.''
"Those eyes.'' Mr. Tamakichi. puts his hand on Kenose's shoulder and takes a knee, relax child. "I'll tell you what, how bout if he doesn't return by sundown, will send a search party after him."
Kenos bites his tongue, "fine.'' He lowers his head and walks towards the tarnished estate, "I'll be in my room''.
"I'm sorry about father,'' said Basual, running towards Kenos.
"No worries,'' replied Kenos. "Doza probably told him something like watch me or make sure I don't do anything stupid. But I know that dumbass better than anyone. That's why I gotta go help him.''
"Well, I don't think the adults will be paying too much attention to us,'' said Basaul. "They'll be too preoccupied fixing up the estate.''
Kenos turns to Basual and cracks a smile, "I was thinking that too, the only problem is I have no idea what direction he went."
Basaul chuckles, "when I was on my way to your chambers I watched my father as he confronted the Ratari. They looked like they came in from the west, it might not be much but it could be a start.''
"That's more than enough, thanks,'' said Kenos. "Yah no problem,'' replied Basaul.
Kenos dashes out the other side of the estate circling the building and heading west. "Footprints, better check out where these lead.'' Continuing down the path Kenos finds an even bigger collection of footprints. He walks up to a deceased body along the trail, "No cuts, no blood, hmm, this burn mark, it has an electrical pattern. Doza must've stopped his pulse, this has to be the right trail.'' He quickly gets up and hurries down the path following the footprints to a clearing stacked with the deceased bodies of the Ratari.
"Damn Doza,'' said Kenos in awe and shock witnessing the aftermath of Doza's battle. "But where is he?" Kenos glimpses over the collection of bodies coming across the body of the amputated Ratari member Doza had interrogated prior. "This one still alive, albeit barely. Wake up'' shouted Kenos, shaking him awake. "I have some questions before you pass on to the Otherworld."