Ul'lanna and Jacara woke up to do their chores with the others, shuffling and shambling out with them. Ul'lanna was taken to the hot spring, this time managing the heat perfectly. She felt completely relaxed and in control. "Ahhhhh, this water is perfect." Kenpachi said sitting down beside her. The temperate fluctuated higher. "Are you able to speak, or should I let you concentrate?" "I am okay...Is there anything you need?" He inspected her closely, looking at her face. She felt his breath on her face. "Hmmm..." She felt her heart racing and pounding. 'Is naked in front of me? No don't think about that. Just think of keeping this room hot. Hot for that perfect rippled-No Ul'lanna! Focus!' "Are you alright, I can feel the air around you getting hotter." "Just fine." She said, her voice breaking. He sat back down. "Hmm, Father sent me to watch over your training, but I think you're doing okay." "I could be doing better." "All things take time." He said standing up.
Hearing him leave, Ul'lanna reached out to stop him. "Wait I-" She felt his flesh and recoiled with a yelp. The room instantly became hotter. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Kenpachi chuckled. "You can open your eyes." She peeked to see him standing confidently naked, hands resting on his hips. She shut her eyes. "Have you never touched one before?" "I have, but I shouldn't be touching yours." "Why not? Do you not like it?" "I...I shouldn't be answering that." "Why not?" "People will-" "We're alone." Ul'lanna opened her eyes, blocking his genitals with her hand. She panned around the empty hot spring. "Who the fuck, have I been making this room hot for then!?" She snapped. Kenpachi chuckled. "I believe everyone is more interested in seeing Yamada, fight the Bronze guardians." "So, no one will be coming in then?" "Highly unlikely." "Well that makes this so much easier then." She lunged on top of Kenpachi.
Jacara this time invigorated with a fulfilling dinner, made his way to the castle, in record time and less ragged. Xia followed behind him impressed at his growth. "A little bit of learning from Yamada, and restraint with your whinging, you've made it to the castle." He was silent. "Are you trying to save you strength for the princess?" He nodded. The princess stood at the front of the large castle doors, standing under a parasol with a sapphire dress. "Prince, you've come and you look much more presentable." He bowed taking a deep breath. "I was beginning to think you wouldn't come for me. That you were all talk." "I assure you Princess..." "Yan." Xia whispered. "Thank you." "Princess Yan. I would not leave you waiting." "Well now that you have arrived. Shall we go for a walk together?" "Sure. That sounds lovely." He said with a smile. "Who doesn't like going for a long walk, after carrying two buckets of water." He muttered.
She placed her hand on the large castle doors, they blasted open, startling Jacara. Behind the gates stretched the castle in the distance. A royal palace rivalling the size of the First ring. He followed her inside, with Yan waving Xia off. The two of them strolled through the castle grounds. "Where are your guards? Or your handmaidens?" She tittered. "Do I look that inept and coddled?" "No, I just thought as a princess, you would be well taken care of." "Once I matured, I had no need of them, and so father sent them away." "So, what do you do, to keep yourself entertained?" "I read from our library. I'm proud to say I'm halfway done." "May I see this library?" "A man interested in reading? Is this normal down below?" "It is for me. Learning is always fun." She clung to his arm excited, dragging him towards the library.
Jacara was brought to a pagoda of five stories. The first level was filled with thousands of books, all neatly organized and tucked away. "Do all the floors look like this?" "Mmhmm. The third floor has the best stories though." "You've read half. Half of all of these?" "I have. Why? Is that strange? Am I strange?" "No, no, no. It's just surprising. I have never met someone so enthralled with one task before." Jacara felt the image of Yamada glaring at him for that lie. "That's not strange to you? For someone to be dedicated to one task." "Absolutely not. I find it inspirational." He felt Yamada's glare become more intense. "Do you have a favourite book?" He chuckled. "Of course, I do, but you probably don't have it here." "What is it? Maybe we can go look for it." "Ahhh, of course we can, but it might be called something different." "Well what's it name. We might have a similar version."
"It's...the...." 'Think, think, think! What book would make her interested in you? Oh crap, she's staring at me. Think of something, before she thinks you're weird.' "Book of Forsaken Knights." "Oh. Of course we have that. We even have the earlier copies of it." "Earlier copies?" Yan strolled to the other end of the shelf, grabbing one small leather bound book, and another large paperback cover. She set both of them on the table in the centre. "Draken Guard? Are they the same." She giggled, poking him on the nose. "Of course they are silly. Before they were lost to the ritual. They were known as the Draken guard. Those sworn under oath to protect from Vasha's army. They only became the Forsaken Knights, once they turned on their oaths." Jacara kept a straight face. 'Crap, I didn't know that!'
She flipped the books showing their portraits. Illadin Dawnbringer clad in his armour, with a golden dragon standing behind him. "He's my second favourite Knight." "Second?" "I mean look at that gorgeous armour." "Who would be your first?" She flipped through the pages. Passing Elise Rosethorn clad in her armour, and an elegant silver Wyvern behind her. She flipped to the middle, showing a man clad in the most unique armour, Jacara had ever seen. His pauldrons, gauntlets, sabatons, cuirass and helmet were all shaped as a serpent's head. Pieces of his armour resembled Yamada's, down to his azure colouring. The only difference was that this armour lacked a cape or any weapon at his hip or on his back. "Who's that?" Jacara asked. "Orochi Yamata. Are you sure your book wasn't a cheap copy?" He nervously chuckled. "Must be, we didn't have a illustration like that."
"Look at him. He's so unique, and different from the others. The book doesn't even have a proper description of him." Jacara inspected the page. Only two lines of text defined Orochi in his armour. 'Leader of the Draken Guard. Has a Water Affinity.' "Huh. That's descriptive." "Isn't he fascinating?" "Yeah...very." "I mean, why doesn't he have a weapon like the others? What made him the leader? Who made that armour?" Jacara flipped the pages, seeing an image of Himiko Yamatai. Clad in a fiery crimson plate armour, with striking black accents, and a tassel from her helmet. She wielded an ornate golden Qiang spear, with a crimson tassel flowing below the spear point. Behind her was a roaring crimson Ryū. Jacara kept a straight face looking at the illustration of her face. 'THAT'S WHAT SHE LOOKS LIKE? YAN LOOKS SO UGLY COMPARED TO HER! AH! THIS IS WHY BOOKS NEED PICTURES!'
"Is something wrong Prince?" "Nope! Just never seen my favourite book with pictures before." He said with a nervous smile. "She is beautiful isn't she?" "Mmmhmm." He nodded. She ran her hand across his face. "But not as beautiful as me right?" "Nope..." He shook his head. "Shall we go to the upper floors. I want to continue my reading." "Sure thing. I'll just put these back for you." She smiled going up the stairs first. Jacara tucked the books away. "I'm sorry, I lied." He whispered to the picture of Himiko, bowing and praying to it. Jacara followed Yan to the upper level. She had already taken out a book for herself, and sat down enjoying her peace. Jacara approached her. "Is there something, you would like to do?" "Finish reading this." "I'm sure, I could find you something more entertaining." "Seen it all." Jacara scoffed. "You can't have seen every entertaining thing." She closed her book sighing. "Okay. I'll give you three chances to do something more entertaining than reading. If nothing impresses me. You'll stay here and read with me." "And discuss what we've read?" "In total silence."
Jacara summoned three playing cards. "Follow the lady." "Sleight of hand. The position of the card changes, depending on which one you throw first." "I was starting off small, but alright, try this. He summoned a shadow soldier, having it mimic his movements. Yan took the lantern off the wall igniting the wick and waving it to the soldier. It dissipated instantly. "Shadow magic is worthless, and has nothing. It's why there's only half a page for Sylus Absolus. Honestly surprised he made it into the book." "Is there something entertaining to do on the other floating platforms?" "Nothing, I haven't done already. That's three, pick a book and read with me." Jacara confused at the situation took a book at random.
He sat down across from her, opening the book to see a list of names. "Interesting book you chose." Jacara glanced at the title. 'Citizen log, K – T.' It read. Jacara chuckled standing back up. "I'll get another-" "What are you doing? You have to read it all." "Why?" "Because you've opened it. You've exposed the pages to rot and your fingers. It would be incredibly disrespectful for you to not, read it all." Jacara forced a smile. "But, why does that matter? Nothing will be learned from this." "You will learn who lives in my kingdom, with their names starting from K to T. Do not insult the men and women, who spend hours writing this for us to read." Jacara sat back down forcing a smile, and begun to read the list of names. 'WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS WOMAN? WHY DIDN'T I JUST LET YAMADA SEE HER! ARGH!'
Yamada was surrounded by an entire crowd of onlookers. He stood in front of the Bronze guardians. Ichibae, Foreaux and Karina stood behind him. He leant back to whisper to them. "Why is everyone watching me?" "None have beaten the guardians before." Ichibae said. "And everyone is expecting you to win. Except me." Karina slapped Foreaux's arm. She smiled at him, cheering him on with an excited fist pump. "Am I meant to only win with magic?" Karina shook her head, making her hand into claws and bared her teeth. Yamada felt his heart flutter at her cuteness. "She's saying you can go be your monster." Karina pulled on his ear, frowning at him. "Ah, ah! Kari, you're gonna rip it off!" "I think you should go do your best, before these two end up having to clean the lowest platform." Ichibae growled. Both of them stood at attention, standing away from each other.
Yamada took a step forward, raising his fists. The Bronze guardians all took a step forward, bowing at him in sync, before dispersing and encircling him. He scanned his environment. 'Three steps from an attack. At least three of them are Fire users, and another three of them are Earth users. That doesn't matter. Never let your enemies set the tempo. Weapon or no weapon, use Wyn's teachings.' Yamada lunged in. Three of them summoned a Wind gate, launching Yamada into the sky. He quickly summoned his armour crashing into the ground. Three Earth gates spun around him. Spikes shot up from the ground. Yamada banished his armour, nimbly evading the attack. A powerful gust blared on down him, trying to weigh him down. Yamada continued to evade the rising spikes, attempting to attack one of the Bronze guardians.
He stepped forward to one of the guardians, he had not seen activate a gate before. He opened a lightning gate in front of him, cocking his right arm back. Yamada leapt out of the way. He transformed into a streak of lightning bouncing around the courtyard. Two others followed with him. Three Fire gates opened above the courtyard, raining down fireballs. They fused with the downward torrent, engorging in size. Karina cringed at the sight. Yamada being suffocated for space and rest. She covered her eyes, looking through the slits of her fingers. Everyone watched on enthralled their jaws hanging in the wind. Yamada moved around the courtyard, dodging the spikes chasing him, the three streaks of lightning dancing around him, the erupting inferno balls, all with a smile stretched across his face. 'That monster is smiling, even in this kind of situation?' Foreaux clenched his jaw. 'Does he expect to win by dodging only?'
Three more of the Bronze guardians stepped forward, each of them opened a light gate in front of them. As they came into Yamada's vision, they pulsed with a blinding light. He wince, losing focus, and tumbled over. Karina gasped. Yamada rolled over his shoulder, leaping out of the way, in the nick of time. Still wearing his grin, he continued to circle the courtyard. 'Three of them left. What are their affinities?' He made his way towards them, seeing the strained looks on the others. 'They can't keep this tempo for much longer. They're sure those three will be enough to beat me in the end.' The last three Bronze guardians stood side by side, hands behind their backs. All three stocky men. "Incredible." Ichibae said in awe. Yamada lunged at the middle one, the attacks following after him. Three Arcane gates appeared beneath their feet. Arcane energy erupted from their bodies.
The middle one parried Yamada's punch, countering with an uppercut, driving his fist into Yamada's gut. He retched, feeling the man's fist drive through. As he left contact with the man's fist, he was launched into the air. The one on the left, leapt up into the air chasing after Yamada, cocking back his fist. Yamada gnashed his teeth together, ignoring the pain, and readying himself for a counter, looking down at him. Yamada countered seeing the man throw an early punch. Yamada's left counter was quickly thwarted as the man flipped over his attack, striking him with his heel. He felt the man's calloused heel dig into his shoulder. Yamada screamed feeling his shoulder dislocate, but he was not sent plummeting to the ground. The attack sent, launched him even higher into the air. Thrown off balance, Yamada spun in the air, clutching his shoulder.
'Why did that attack send me upwards? Was it the Wind magic?' He glanced down seeing the gates had disappeared and the others were now resting. The left man, floated gently down, wearing no expression. He looked at the man to the right, his Arcane gate still pulsating at his feet. He had his palm at Yamada, and another fist cocked back, as if ready to throw a spear at him. 'What's he doing?' The man threw his punch, releasing a ball of Arcane energy towards Yamada. His eyes bulged never seeing an attack like that before. Aimed at his feet, Yamada readied himself to tuck his legs. The ball suddenly veered up knocking him in the other shoulder. It knocked his other shoulder out with a pop. Yamada came crashing to the ground, with a puff of dust. Karina gasped, trying to rush over to him. Ichibae held her back. "Don't." He said taking a gulp. She looked at him furious, signing at him with her free hand. 'He needs to be taken to a Blessed right away.' "Does that 'thing' look like it needs any help right now?' Foreaux said trembling in a cold sweat.
Karina looked at Yamada's silhouette through the dust cloud. He slowly rose from the ground, both shoulders hanging out of place and a malicious chuckle ringing out. As the dust settled, everyone took a step back terrified at the sight. Yamada wore a bloody grin, his eyes deranged, and his skin scaled. The Bronze guardians all summoned their gates in sync. Yamada panned to all of them. "Now you all dance to my tempo." He said lurching forward. 'What does he intend to do with two dislocated should-' Foreaux watched on horrified. As Yamada placed both hands onto the ground, resetting his shoulders with two loud pops. He lunged at the Wind users first. They responded by blasting him away with a tornado. Yamada summoned his armour weighing himself down. The three Wind users screamed, increasing the intensity, with the other elements coming towards Yamada.
He banished his armour, turning around, and letting the tornado launch him to the other side courtyard. Flying towards a Light user, he was unable to react in time, being kicked away by Yamada. "One down." He said grinning, and creating a giant Water gate at their feet. The entire ground became thick pool of muddy water. 'What was that waste of energy for?' Foreaux thought. The Bronze guardians shifted their position to keep Yamada encircled. He dashed at the Earth users. Taken by surprise at his speed they created their steel dome. Yamada quickly mounted the steel dome, balancing on one foot, he summoned his armour. The dome cracked open, and he quickly banished his armour, in favour of speed. He dodged the three streaks of lightning and fire balls. Forced to leap off the steel dome, he lunged at the other Light user, attempting to blind him. "Enough of that!" He roared.
The Light gate flared. Yamada turned his back, raising both hands into the air, summoning a Water gate. Muddy water filled the air, exploding into a spattering mess, blinding each user and destroying each gate. Karina, Ichibae, and Foreaux leapt into the air pre-emptively. Yamada sprinted in incapacitating the Light user, trying to wipe her eyes free from the mud. He quickly knocked the other Light user out, with a swift punch to the gut. 'That monster was thinking that far ahead?' The three Fire users purged the muddy ground, with intense flames, drying the ground out. The Wind users blew away the smoke, only to reveal Yamada, leaping at them. The ground beneath them shifted, moving them out of the way of his attack. Yamada growled at the Earth users, before having to dodge the streaks of lightning. 'This is damn annoying.' He sucked on his teeth.
The attacks came to a stop. All of them panting and sweating, the last three of the Bronze guardians stepped forward. He smirked. 'They've all reached the end of their songs. Now they want a break before the encore.' They each took the same fighting stance. Arcane gate at their feet, fist at their waist, and another aimed at him. Yamada took a deep breath dashing in. They each launched an Arcane ball at his feet. "That won't work on me twice!" He shouted. Leaping and weaving through the attack. The three banished their gates, readying themselves for hand to hand combat. Yamada was bombarded by a barrage of punches, kicks, knees, elbows from every angle. Blocking less than half of the attacks, he was knocked to the ground, clutching his side. He spat out blood and a tooth. Foreaux let out a sigh of relief. 'Took them long enough to win-' The three of them fell to the ground, writhing in agony, unable to move their arm or legs. Foreaux's eyes bulged. 'What did he do?'
Yamada stood up cracking his neck, covered in bruises and blood trickling down his limbs. Ichibae created an Earth gate, pulling the three of them out. Their arms and legs were purple and black, and they jiggled as if they were filled with nothing but blood. "Get them to a Blessed now!" He ordered. "What did he do?" Foreaux snapped. "How are they nearly dead?" "When any fluids touch my affinity, it creates more." Yamada said, walking towards the ragged guardians. 'He exploded their veins and arteries, by feeding them his Arcane energy, on each impact. That means...He let them hit him on purpose!?' "Why are you all trying to rest? You're all going to follow my tempo!" He roared.
The Lightning users took a dying gasp, and let out a roar, leaping through their gates once more. Yamada opened a Water gate creating a swirling wall of water, absorbing their attacks into it, surrounding himself in a vortex of lightning. The streaks of lightning diffused in the water, turning back to the Lightning users, trying to claw their way out of the water. "Enough of that." Yamada turned the vortex of water into a sphere slamming it into the ground. 'He still isn't even using magic...' Yamada stared at the remaining guardians. 'Fire, Wind, and Earth are left.'
He snarled at the Earth users, sending a shiver down their spine. 'They keep changing my tempo.' Yamada charged in with a roar. They quickly hid in their dome. Yamada summoned his gauntlet driving his fist through the dome. The steel dome enveloped his arm, crushing and pinning it. Yamada let out a scream. He grit his teeth together, seeing a fireball summoned above him. "You want to keep hiding in there? Fine!" He opened a Water gate inside the dome and one above himself. With a primal scream he flooded the dome, and blocked the fireball. The dome shattered apart, and the three Earth users, came out gasping for air and choking on water. They felt a deathly ominous presence above them. Hearing a heavy heaving behind them. They looked up to see Yamada glaring down at them, with scalded flesh, and a deranged grin. "Go to sleep, or I'll make you." He growled. The three of them quickly nodded, planting their heads into the ground closing their eyes.
As the smoke settled Yamada shambled towards the last six guardians. They trembled in place, trying their hardest to stand up. 'How is he still moving? How is he even alive?' The last six tried to open their gates. "You still want to keep fighting me?" He growled, summoning one of his wings. They shook their heads, falling to their knees. Yamada cracked a smile before falling unconscious. "By Vasha, what is he?" Foreaux said stunned. Karina instantly teleported to Yamada, taking him to the Blessed. Ichibae took off into the sky, soaring towards the castle at top speed.
Emperor Zhing stood over a large table, with a map of Jux on it, and a tall man wearing a white cloak. Ichibae burst through the door, bowing at him. "I have news of the Forsaken Knight." He stopped seeing the stranger beside him. "Please forgive my rudeness Emperor. I did not mean to interrupt." "It is alright Ichibae. Please share the information. This is my guest." Ichibae looked at him concerned. 'Who was this man? And why did Zhing trust him so?' "Yamada defeated the guardians, without transforming or using his weapon. The boy is a walking calamity. He simply needs to be pushed in the right direction." "Do you think he could destroy Artaraxus?" "Yes, if his anger is directed the right way." "Good, make sure his training continues, if you would please leave us Ichibae." "He can stay." The man in the white cloak spoke with a raspy hiss.
"Drop the Forsaken Knight here." The man pointed on the map. His hand were scaled, his nails pitch black, oozing a green sludge. "Why there? That's still nearly a six month trek to Artaraxus." Ichibae asked. Emperor Zhing scowled at Ichibae. "Do not question him!" He snapped. "It is alright. It is always okay to ask questions." "The Forsaken Knight's rage is only directed to one man. No one can stop it. As we cannot direct him, we will place others on his path of destruction." He ran his slimy finger from Artaraxus, following the hook path to the Silver City. "By the time those three are dropped off. The armies of Kal'Nar will have heard of Prizola's demise, by the hands of those three, and will send a large section of their army to conquer the Silver City."
"That will only impede their progress to destroying Artaraxus." "That's enough Ichibae." "The man approached Ichibae. He felt an ominous presence emanating from him. It made every nerve in his body shiver, and his skin crawl. This man was dangerous. "You have seen his strength first hand. Cultivate it, and he will destroy all in his path, including Kal'Nar's finest along the way. They will send another High Prince to finish Prizola's job." He approached Ichibae reaching his venomous hand out to him. "Let him tear his way through Kal'Nar's ranks, and then destroy Artaraxus. In the mean time, you can all make your way to the Citadel. They are under siege from all sides, desperate for any help and dying slowly inside their walls." "And once we arrive, it will be all over for them." Zhing said with a gleeful smile. "Yes, they will not go quietly, and when both Artaraxus and Kal'Nar have destroyed everyone in the Citadel. You will be able to conquer it from them with ease." The man hissed with a snicker at the end.
The cloaked man bowed to Zhing. "I must take my leave now. Do be safe Zhing." He said placing his hand onto his shoulder. "Of course my friend. Kumo will forever be grateful." He nodded to Ichibae. He left the room with a slow gait. "Zhing, who was that man? I have never seen him before." "He is a friend, here to help our survival." "Can we trust his knowledge?" "Yes, I trust him Ichibae. That is more than enough to earn yours." He bowed. "Apologies Emperor." "Go make sure the Forsaken Knight's friends are taken care of. I must go speak to her." Ichibae nodded, leaving the room, flying towards the hotsprings. Zhing took a deep breath, calming himself, before grabbing his sword.
He made his way through the basement of the castle, of long winding stairs. The clouds seeped through the walls, leaving everything slick and the air frigid. At the end of the stair case was a large metal door, made of Deiridium. Zhing focused his strength, straining with all his might to move the door aside, just enough for himself squeeze through. Mythril chains dangled from the ceiling, all hooked onto one person. A woman clad in silver armour, with an azure tassel, and a rapier attached to her waist. Elise Rosethorn. Zhing placed his sword under her chin, raising her head. She stared at him with lifeless slit eyes. "Move Kumo west." There was no response. "I said move my kingdom west!" He struck her across the face. She dropped her head lifelessly.
He yanked on a hook, pulling her flesh apart. She didn't flinch. "Move my kingdom westward." He growled. Elise did not respond. He licked her face, tasting her skin and lips. "I have some time to spare." He whispered into her ear, trying to dig his hand under her cuirass. He struggled to fit his finger tips in before, giving up in frustration. "Fine." He grunted. "You still have a mouth." He dropped his pants, readying himself to sodomize her, when the chains all reacted. They all transformed into Cursed hands, clawing at her. She screamed in anguish blowing Zhing away. The chains rattled, still trying to claw at her. She thrashed in her chains, tearing and pulling on the hooks. Zhing quickly dressed himself, scrambling to his feet. "What the fuck is wrong with you woman?" She suddenly collapsed the chains returning to normal. Zhing slowly approached her, raising her head, as she mumbled something on repeat. He leant in closer, pressing his ear to her lips. "Orochi. Orochi."