Jacara made his way to the dining hall, after spending an agonizing day of 'Reading' with Princess Yan and Xia. In truth his mind had wandered off the moment he sat down, only thinking of ways to escape Xia, and forget the temper tantrum she threw. Ul'lanna wasn't there, but Karina and Yamada were. He was covered in bruises and welts, as she gently dabbed an ointment onto him. He sat down across from Yamada, slumped over the table exhausted. "What happened to you?" "Fight." He grunted. "Oooookay...helpful Yamada. Can you explain what happened?" She started signing at him. "Right, almost forgot. Here use this around us." He summoned a blank tarot card. "Write to us, while you find your voice again." She signed at him, asking for a quill. "Use your finger." She dragged her finger across the white tarot card, leaving a streak of ink. She gasped looking at him shocked. 'This is amazing!' she wrote.
"Creation magic has that effect. Now is he uh...okay?" He said, watching Yamada swipe the food into his mouth. "He spent the entire day fighting. Emperor Zhing placed a reward for beating him." "What kind of reward would have people crazy enough to fight him?" He scoffed taking a glass of water. "Princess Yan's virginity." Jacara spat the water, coughing and choking. He quickly pulled Yamada close to himself. "You cannot lose. I refused to have a spike shoved up my ass." Yamada let out an inaudible grumble, nodding along. "Shit. He can't do this for 2 months." 'He'll be okay. The Blesseds are busy with Foreaux, Kenpachi, and everyone else he beat. They'll tend to him soon.' Jacara let out a sigh of relief slumping back. "Here's hoping that Ul'lanna is doing okay."
In the darkness, Ul'lanna made her way towards the Castle, hugging the walls and looking around. Quieter than a whisper, she nimbly manoeuvred from cover to cover. Periodically opening and closing her jaw, to focus her hearing. 'Whatever this place is hiding, has to be in there.' She reached the Castle wall, silently walking atop the layered clay tiles, combing the area. 'No guards, no watchmen, not even a lantern. This place shouldn't be functional with the amount of land there is.' Venturing further into the Castle grounds, she spotted a singular flame emanating from within. Laying flat against the tiles, she watched as a silhouette paced back and forth. 'Nervous about something.' Crawling closer, she was cautious to not make a single noise, testing the placement of her hand and feet across each tile.
"Hand in marriage!? I want to be with Prince Jacara!" Princess Yan squealed. "I am your father! You will wed, whoever is powerful enough to defeat Yamada!" "NO! I DON'T LOVE HIM!" Ul'lanna rolled her eyes, shaking her head as well. 'Damn it Jacara, what the fuck have you done.' "Forget about your stupid love! Do not forget, what we want from them!" Ul'lanna crept in closer. "Keep the prince busy. When the time comes, we will be able to leverage him against Encara." 'Fuckers! They want the Citadel as well.' "Do not hurt him father, please!" "Once the Citadel is ours. You can keep him as a pet for all I care." "I don't want anyone other than him. Not even that disgusting Forsaken Knight." "Watch your tongue girl. He is a Ken. Unlike his mother, he walks the same path as his grandfather. Living destruction. A walking calamity. Unless you honestly want to keep surviving off Draken meat?" She retched. "Eugh, I can't believe they really eat Draken meat."
'Well that explains the produce.' "Now, go to bed, and stop letting that prince read our texts. I do not wish to anger Annorak any further." 'Who the fuck is that? Not important. Let's see where you go.' She followed Emperor Zhing's shadow, listening to his footsteps. Feeling an eerie sense as his footsteps became quieter and quieter, till it became silent, Ul'lanna came to a stop. 'Hmmm, basement or cellar.' She looked out to the lower platforms. One giant floating island for the monastery. A large island to the left, connected by a bridge, with a granary. And this island larger than all of them, sitting above, housing the library pagoda, and the castle itself. 'If this kingdom were to survive, it would have been lower to the ground, closer to trade routes. They have no sustainability here.' She stroked her chin.
'Abandoning this kingdom would only make sense, but why hide Karina's child, and why attack the Citadel and not aid it?' She ran her hand through her hair, biting the nail on her other hand. 'Then they have a plan for Yamada. Why make him stronger? Who is Hakai Ken?' Ul'lanna yawned, stretching her ears to the max, she heard a faint sound. "Orochi." A woman whispered. Ul'lanna sat up, stretching her jaw down, tilting her head towards the castle. "Orochi...Orochi..." Ul'lanna quickly leapt down, dampening her landing. Remembering her training with Ta'shana. Spurts of Arcane energy on your toes, keeps you quieter than the wind. Lighting tiny plumes of fire ahead of her periodically, she illuminated her path through the dark hallways. Keeping her ear out for the woman's voice. It repeated over and over again.
"Say something else woman!" Zhing shouted, slapping her across the face. Ul'lanna cautiously made her way down the stairs, hugging the wall. Another slap rang out. "I said, move the kingdom North East." "Orochi...Orochi..." He growled striking her over and over again. Ul'lanna peeked around the corner, seeing Zhing standing over Elise, her arms strung up. 'How could she move the kingdom?' Creeping closer, she hid behind the door of an empty cell. "Bah! Brain dead woman. Keep your course than. We'll eventually get to the Citadel." He left slamming the door behind him. Ul'lanna emerged from the shadows, opening the door, reeling back at the horrific sight. A single Cursed mythril chain, could make someone redundant. Why would anyone need to have so many in one person. She rushed over, holding her face up, reeling back terrified and shocked. "E-e-Elise Rosethorn!?" She gasped.
The shock of seeing a Forsaken Knight in the flesh, stunned Ul'lanna to her core. She froze in place, staring at her, mind racing with questions. "How-how-how-ho-HOW!?" She shouted. "Nonononoo...this is possible...The Storm...it was alive...it was just as Sokra theorized. The Storm was Illadin Stormbringer! Elise locked eyes with her. "Illadin?" She said, her voice breaking. Ul'lanna took a step back. "Uh-oh." "Illadin...Illadin...ILLADIN!" She roared her voice filled with pure sorrow. The entire Kingdom shook violently. Ul'lanna was thrown against the wall. She landed with a solid thud, and quickly escaped the room, as Elise was encased by the chains. She sprinted down towards Karina's room, her heart pounding out of her chest. Lanterns and fires lit up the island below. Everyone out investigating, how they were hit by an Earthquake, in Kumo.
Ul'lanna was stopped by Kenpachi in the courtyard, his body wrapped in guaze. "My love-" She palmed him in the face, shoving him away. "NOT NOW!" She screamed running past him. Jacara stared at Yamada annoyed, watching him write with the quill, using it as a dagger. His tongue sticking out the corner of his mouth, he was deep in thought trying to finish his letter. Karina pushed his tongue in, putting down the tarot card. 'If you're tongue is out, maybe we can use it.' Jacara sighed. "Alright, that's enough for me." He walked towards the door, when it swung open hitting him in the face. Ul'lanna burst through the door covered in sweat, heaving and gasping for her next breath. She screamed an inaudible mess, waving her hands about, eyes bulging. Jacara sat up rubbing his nose. She looked at all three of them, who stared at her confused. "Was that Elvish?" Yamada asked. She squealed making more ape like chants.
Yamada and Karina looked to Jacara. "How would I know!?" He shrugged. She grabbed Jacara by the shoulders shaking him violently, screaming into his face. "UL'LANNA! BREATHE!" He shouted pushing her back. She gasped taking a deep breath composing herself. "ELISE ROSETHORN!" Jacara leaned Ul'lanna to the side, looking at the other two. They shrugged equally as confused. He nodded centring her. "...AND?" "SHESHESHESHESHE!" "Alright, don't get angry at me for this." He slapped her across the face. "THINK THEN SPEAK!" She nodded calming down. "I don't need another Yamada in my life." "Hey." She drove her knee into Jacara's testicles, he collapsed gasping. "Why!?" He groaned. "Don't you ever slap me again!" She snapped. "I know how this kingdom is floating. I know how it's flying. Sokra Pendragon is right. We need to leave right now!"
She frantically paced around the room. "Karina, what did you steal for us?" Karina proudly went to her closet, taking out a bag of flour, showing her with a proud smile. "Salt. You stole salt? You had all day, and you stole A bag of flour!?" She bowed her head in shame. "Hey, don't yell at her." Yamada said. "Ul'lanna, it would be helpful, if you EXPLAINED!?" Jacara snapped holding his groin. "You want to know how this kingdom is floating? Elise Rosethorn is alive, and currently locked up, beneath the castle!" The three cocked their heads to the side. "Really?" Yamada asked. "YES!" "I want to go see her!" He said excitedly. "No!" Jacara snapped. "Why?" "You're attracted to powerful women, and I refuse to let you have sex with a Forsaken Knight." "I wouldn't..." He trailed off. "Alright, I definitely would try."
"No, we need to leave, right now. This place is beyond unsafe." Ul'lanna said. "We don't have any resources." "Fuck them! We leave right now! Get Harbinger, we're leaving right now." "Before we go, can I go see Elis-" "NO!" She snapped, creating a wall of fire around her. The three of them took a step back. "I'm getting my sword from the armoury and we're leav-" The ground beneath them gave way. The four of them slipped into the earth, burying them up their necks. Ichibae emerged in front of them opening a Wind gate. The air was sucked out of their lungs, as their bodies were crushed. "I do apologise about this Karina, but we can't let them leave." She struggled, trying to stay conscious. He placed a finger over his lips. The world turning black. Jacara and Ul'lanna fell unconscious shortly after. Yamada strained, gasping for his next breath. "Shh-" Yamada freed an arm, transforming it in a flash, swiping at Ichibae. He leapt back being nicked across the chest. His heart pounding, Yamada fell unconscious. A sweat bead trickled down his head. 'You're truly a monster, just like your grandfather.'
"Jacara! JACARA! JACARA!" Ul'lanna shrieked. Yamada awoke stuck in Cursed pillory. Surrounded in darkness, he thrashed in the pillory, suddenly feeling metal hands claw at his flesh. He cried out feeling it dig into his skin. "Don't use your Arcane Energy!" Jacara snapped from the darkness. "Jacara!?" He yelled trying to break away from the pillory. "Calm down. Stop using your energy, it reacts to it." Yamada took a deep breath, feeling the hands receed. "Where are we?" He asked trying to feel around in cold wet damp stone. "My best guess, the dungeon." "How long-" "Any question you're gonna ask. I don't know either." He spat. Yamada heard a tooth clatter against the ground. "I only woke up a few minutes ago. They just took Ul'lanna." Yamada leapt to his feet, running straight ahead. "We have to go-" He reached the end of his chain being yanked back down. He landed gasping and choking. "You don't think I tried that?"
"We can't just stay here!" "If you shut up, and let me think, I might get us out of here." Yamada sat down patient, trying to clear his throat. After a few minutes of silence. "Anything?" "Nope, we're fucked." Jacara said banging his head against the stone wall. "Fuck this!" Yamada said finding a wall. "I've broken stone before." "Yamada, wait!" He drove the ball of his heel into the closest wall. The force travelled through his leg, shaking him to his core. He fell back gnashing his teeth together, stifling a whimper. "You dumbass! No Arcane energy, means none of your strength." "I don't see you trying to do anything!" Yamada snapped. "I don't run face first into danger like an idiot!" "At least, I'm trying!" A metal door creaked open, and a flame illuminated the room. "You two done?" Foreaux asked, his arm healed down to his elbow, with a smug grin. Yamada looked at Jacara his face bloodied and bruised, with fresh marks. He had tried to help Ul'lanna.
"What do you want Curly?" Jacara growled. Foreaux snarled, walking over and kicking Jacara in the face. Yamada lunged at him trying to tackle Foreaux. He was slapped aside with a back hand. Foreaux stomped his foot down, driving it into Yamada's gut. He retched, and screamed feeling Foreaux's heel drive deeper and grow hotter. "Not so, strong now are you?" Yamada's scream filled the room. Jacara rolled over trying to get up. Yamada howled in anguish, kicking and writhing trying to free himself. Foreaux felt a satisfied shiver run down his spine. He dragged Yamada out by his hair, leaving Jacara in the darkness. "Hey! HEY! Get back here!" Jacara said, his mouth filled with blood. "Be patient prince. You'll get a visitor soon." Foreaux said, kicking the door shut.
Jacara was left in the darkness. He slumped over, his head throbbing. The room was frighteningly cold. However all he could feel was the stinging pain, and a single thought running through his mind. 'Why couldn't you save her?' He cringed, curling in. 'She was calling out your name. She wanted you to protect her. And all you could do was, get your fucking face caved in.' He banged his head repeatedly against the ground sobbing gently. The door creaked open once more. The room still in darkness. A rhythmic metal thud clanged against the ground. Two distinct breaths. Ichibae and Zhing. Both took a seat in front of him. Jacara could sense their presence in the darkness. A burly hand struck him across the face. "You three were given a simple task." Ichibae said disappointed. "It would have mutually beneficial. You get to destroy Artaraxus from within, and we help destroy the forces attacking the Citadel."
"After they killed everyone inside. You want the Citadel for yourself." Jacara said forcing himself up. "We-I won't let you-" He felt Ichibae grab his left pinkie, crushing it. Jacara thrashed and kicked, shrieking in agony as Ichibae held his grip firm. "You are not father. You are not Yamada. You are too weak to be throwing threats around." Ichibae growled. Jacara felt the blood trickle down his hand, he hissed through his teeth, trying to focus his breath. "W...why....why are you..." "Break another finger." Zhing ordered. Ichibae complied, crushing the ring finger. The two waited for Jacara to finish his screams. "That....that all you got?" Ichibae wrapped his burly hand around Jacara's wrist, crushing it to pieces. Zhing slapped Jacara across the face, getting his attention, cupping his cheeks. "Did you know your father once visited here? He came here bringing his gifts and teachings to my men and women. And at my request."
"Then...then why?" "Have you met Yan's mother?" Jacara froze. "She was the most beautiful woman in all of Jux, but her mind it was fading, and so was her health. I asked him to heal her. The KING of Blessings and Curses. I waited months for him to arrive." Jacara felt Zhing's grip tighten. "Can you picture my happiness and joy, seeing him soar past the clouds, and finally arrive to save her?" "I rushed him to her side, my heart filled with joy, ready to be with my beloved again." "No, Blessed can heal the mind. Believe me I've tried." Jacara said. "He didn't just give up on her. He killed her. Right in front of my eyes." Jacara was silent. "Said..." Zhing chuckled, stifling his tears and choking on his words. "Said, it was the best thing to do. That no one should see their loved ones suffering." "He was right." Zhing slammed Jacara into the ground. "IT WAS NOT HIS RIGHT TO TAKE HER FROM ME!" He roared standing over Jacara. "HE HAS NO CLAIM TO THAT TITLE!"
Jacara let out a weak laugh, turning into a maniacal laughter. "So you...you vow revenge on him? How long ago was that?" He sat up, grinning back at them. "Forty years ago? Maybe even more?" Jacara spat at their feet, his whole body trembling. "Yet, you've been waiting here, because you're scared of him. Everyone always thinks they know just how powerful my father is. I can you tell you this! Every single story about his power and skill, has been nothing short of, watered down bullshit!" He roared. Jacara lurched forward. Zhing stepped back. "He lost a whore wife, and destroyed an entire kingdom. What do you think he'll do, to the people, who killed his only son?" Jacara let out a chuckle. "Save yourself the trouble, Zhing. Let us go now, and you'll be spared. I might convince him to only turn half of you into Immortals."
Ichibae struck Jacara across the face, knocking him to the ground. "Keep him alive. We will lure Encara out of his hiding hole with him." Zhing said. "What of Yamada and Karina?" He asked "Foreaux has plans for them." "And the Elf?" "My son, has claimed her as his own." "Make sure no one else finds out about them. Ichibae, my daughter is to never see this man ever again. Am I understood?" He nodded. They left him a bowl of water, and a stale loaf of bread, with a single dimly lit candle. "Try not to die, Prince." The door slammed shut behind them. Jacara sat up, sliding his mangled hand out of the pillory, trembling and wincing with each motion. "I'm not dying here...fucker."
He wolfed the water down, before pulling the pillory forward, tucking his chin in as far as he could. The neck hole was snug under his chin. Shoving the stale loaf of bread into his mouth as far as he could. He took a few deep breaths, before pressing the pillory against the wall, and smashing against it with all his might. The bread stifled his scream, the ringing echo hid his screams, as he shattered his jaw. He fell to the ground letting out a gurgled scream. Shakily he shimmied his mouth and head through the pillory. Taking one last deep breath, he placed his foot over his right thumb, locking it into place. Jacara closed his eyes dislocating his thumb. He fell back exhausted, his whole body shaking, filled with searing pain. Freeing his right hand, , cringing as he reset his thumb. Jacara stood up filled with brimming rage and determination. His jaw hurt to even breathe or have it hang. Talking was out of the question. He created a Gaia card, moulding a clone of himself in the pillory, and unlocked the door. 'Hang on Ul'lanna...I'm coming...' Jacara shambled slowly through the corridors.
Ul'lanna was bound with Cursed chains, and gagged, onto Kenpachi's bed. Her eyes filled with tears, bloodshot, and her voice hoarse. He sauntered over to her, running his tongue over her face. She winced away, pulling on her restraints, the silver hands clawed into her skin. "I won't need his blessing now, will I?" He asked, gently running his hand up her leg. "You'll be mine forever." He whispered licking her ear. She squealed trying to use her Arcane energy. The hands grew over her body. Kenpachi reeled back, trying to avoid the hands. She smiled at him. Whenever he reached for her body, she released a burst of energy, covering herself in the hands. "Stop that." He growled. She shook her head. "Fuck you!" She screamed through her gag. "I don't want to hurt you." He said reaching for her breasts. Being clipped by the hands. He drove a fist into her gut. She retched, gagging and vomiting, coughing and gasping for her next breath. "I didn't want to do that, but you made me." He rubbed her stomach gently, kissing her neck. "YAMADA! JACARA!" She screamed, with her muffled voice. He cupped her face. "They can't hear you! They won't save you." He hissed.
Yamada was dragged into a butcher's room. Several bloodied large hooks dangled from the ceiling. The ground covered in crusted blood. Yamada in a daze looked up to see Karina bound to a wooden table, the cursed chains coiling around her, a heavy Dao resting against it. The fear filled expression, invoked a reminiscent rage within Yamada. The same expression his mother had. He never wanted to see it again. Despair. Yamada tried to muster his strength. Foreaux wrapped his hand around Yamada's throat, choking him and hoisting him high up. He forced Yamada to stand on his feet. He quickly rammed two meat hooks through Yamada's hands. Screams echoed throughout the room. Karina looked away horrified, tears streaming down her face. "You can sit there and watch."
He watched as Foreaux slowly approached her, running his finger along the inseam of her leg. Yamada gnashed his teeth, blood spewing between them, still trying to make fists. "DON'T TOUCH HER!!" He barked. "Like this?" He said grabbing her chest. She squirmed. "STOP!" He shouted pulling on the chains. "Quiet boy! Do you know how long, I've waited to be with her? How long, I've wanted to taste her?" He said leaning to lick her face. "I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU!" He roared, trying to summon his armour. The silver hands reacted, clawing under his armour, rending his flesh. He spat out blood falling limp. Foreaux let out a cackle. "Forsaken Knight or not. You aren't powerful enough to break through those chains." Yamada shot up glaring at Foreaux, his eye filled with pure rage. "How long has it been, since you had a man?" He said stroking her face. "Yesterday." Yamada said with a smirk. "What." Foreaux growled.
"I made her call out my name..." He let out a chuckle. "But even if you force yourself on her...she still wouldn't of have had a man." Foreaux stomped over, engulfing his hand in fire, and grabbing Yamada's bloodied side. He screamed, feeling his flesh burn away. The smell of burning flesh filled the room. He coughed, still chuckling, body trembling. "She taste like me now." "STOP LYING!" He shouted burning more Yamada's torso away. Karina thrashed, bucking her hips wildly on the table. Yamada gnashed his teeth together, staring Foreaux down, with a sinister smile. With his flesh still burning, he continued to push himself closer to Foreaux. "I FUCKED HER, TILL SHE COULDN'T WALK!"
He stumbled away shocked. Yamada collapsed, barely conscious, his entire side blackened and charred. Foreaux snatched Karina's throat. "With him!? With this monster!? Do you have any idea, how much I sacrificed for you?" "Why...why didn't you tell her, that Lyn was alive then?" Yamada eked out. "How do you..." "It's been bugging me, ever since we found out. Why would everyone hide that from her. But it finally hit me. You kept it from her." "I...She died!" "Now who's lying?" "Karina, don't listen to him. You saw her fall. I helped you try to find her. Remember?" He pleaded to her. Karina shook her head. "Why don't you...tell her the truth Curly?" His remorseful expression disappeared into annoyance. "You're right. I did lie. I found her alive and well. She cried tears of joy, when she found me. Then she wept and wept, when I told her you died." Karina's eyes bulged. "I couldn't have your first spawn, getting in the way. She would have never accepted me."
He stroked her face, wiping her tears. "I did it for us Karina. I loved you more than you could ever know. I always have. You should have been with me. I waited for you to see me, the same way I saw you." Yamada let out a weak laugh. "Love...? Don't make me fucking laugh...You're nothing but a monster, who wanted her heart for your own. You were never gonna give her yours." "WHO ARE YOU TO CALL ME A MONSTER!?" Foreaux marched over grabbing Yamada by the throat. "My earliest memory is of a monster ripping my mother in half. I dream of an Eight headed monster every night. I wake up a monster. I'll die a monster. I know my own kind." Foreaux snarled, releasing Yamada's throat. "You say, she called out your name? Let's see, if she can do it again."
He drove his leg through Yamada's kneecap. The room filled with a sickening wet crunch, before Yamada's choking screams. Karina let out a muffled scream. "I didn't hear anything did you?" Yamada gasped. His whole body on fire. "Let's try again!" He crushed Yamada's other knee. The forced ripped Yamada free from the hooks, tearing his hands open. He collapsed onto the ground, his split hands sliding out of the pillory, his legs contorted in unnatural positions. "Do you want to know, what the most painful Fire magic is?" He said opening a Fire gate. "It's boiling your enemy's insides." Yamada's broken body thrashed, he made weak grunts, as steam emanated from his body. "Ya-Ya-YAMADA!" Karina shouted. Foreaux spun around shocked, and then enraged. "WHY? WHY HIM!" He shouted choking her. The gate disappeared. "I LOVED YOU!" He screamed strangling her.
Yamada wormed himself over, using his every ounce of his strength, to slither on his only decent side. Karina gasped pulling on her restraints, feeling Foreaux take her last breath. Yamada reached his ankles. He opened his jaw, as wide as he could, and sank his teeth down. Foreaux collapsed screaming, feeling Yamada bite out his Achilles tendon. With overwhelming rage, he cauterized his leg, hobbling over to Yamada. He rammed his hand down his throat, hopping over to the meat hook, he impaled Yamada's torso with the hook. Karina let out a crazed scream, trying desperately to free herself. Yamada felt the air escape his lungs, filling with blood. Unable to move his leg or use his hands, Yamada slumped further onto the hook. Foreaux took the Dao, limping behind Yamada. "Here Karina. Watch as I become the first man to kill a Forsaken Knight." He roared reeling back for a chop. "YAMA-" She stopped, seeing Yamada's head split in half.
Blood sprayed the area, as Foreaux went into a frenzy, hacking repeatedly at Yamada's head. The pillory slid off his body, with the chunks of his head and brain, hitting the floor. Foreaux reeled back satisfied, drenched in Yamada's blood. He hobbled over to Karina, climbing on top of her. With a sinister smile, he tore off her clothes, smearing her skin with Yamada's blood. "What's wrong? It's like his still here with you!" He broke out into a mad cackle, getting undressed. Karina screamed and thrashed, tears streaming down her face. "YAMADA!" She screamed. Foreaux's laughter grew louder. "He can't save you now!" He cackled licking and groping her. "YA...ya..." She trailed off terrified at the new nightmare in front of her.