A few days later, Rena now accompanies Master Rai to the village market after he asked her to.
"So what are we doing here Master?" she asked.
"We are here to pick up a certain package...and to see how the village is." he responded.
Rena did say anymore as they walked through the markets, the village may have a feudal theme to it, but people seem to use technologies like phones, computers and neon signs. They stopped by the bench at the market center.
"Our delivery should be here, perhaps we are too early." Master Rai said.
Rena was also looking around for someone to approach them but truth be told, she doesn't really know what to look out for.
"Why don't we have a seat and wait?" the master offers as he sits down at the bench.
She then obliged and sat down next to him. He took a moment of peace to himself and sometimes glanced at Rena, who seemed to be distracted.
Rena had expected to see echoes of the damages she's done here. But no, they were thriving, living and hopeful, she doesn't really know now of what to feel about her taking all this away.
"Taking in the scenery?" Master Rai asked.
"Getting there."
She knew the meaning behind those words, he was asking how she had been with her rehabilitation and gave a passable answer. An awkward silence passed by between the two, until Master Rai breaks the silence.
"I've been thinking about something, Renalyn."
"Hmm?"
"I won't be around forever and I haven't named a successor to take over the clan."
"Maybe you should start." Rena countered.
"Well perhaps I have.....and I have chosen you."
Rena's eyes widened with surprise.
"Not a good idea!" she protested.
"Why not? You once led an army when you were the Crimson Warrior. I may have hidden tests in your class, and you didn't disappoint."
"That still doesn't answer why me?"
"I choose you because with your resolve I believe you can do this. It's time you should stop spending your mind in the dark and start seeing this as your second chance to become something other than your past sins."
Rena pondered about the idea.
"I would not push you. This is your choice, and I would respect your answer." Master Rai assured.
Another moment of silence.
"Ah there he is!" he calls out as he stands up and approaches a man with a straw hat carrying a large rectangular box.
The two seemed to be talking while the straw hat man handed him the box. Rena yawns a bit before standing up and walking to them.
Master Rai bids the straw hat man farewell before he leaves.
"So... what's in the package?" she blatantly asks.
"It's a gift from a technological company. You'd be surprised how well-connected I am from beyond Endoa. Now come, let us go."
Both walked back from the direction they came from.
Rena is in deep thoughts of the idea of taking over her master's clan, or rather her father's former clan. She knew she had plans to fix her wrongs but she doesn't actually know what to do with them.
Until her thoughts were interrupted with the smell of smoke and gasp from her master. She looked at the distance and saw smoke rising, where the temple is at.
The two of them rush towards it until they get a clear view. The temple is indeed on fire and a battle is waged within. She can feel her power fueling, probably due to the conflict.
Rena looked at Master Rai who was wide eyed yet calm.
"We must hurry." he exclaimed before running towards the temple.
"Right behind you." Rena followed him while carrying the package.
When they reached through the entrance they saw the chaos ensuing. Their own people fighting against the ninjas clad in green with yellow sashes.
"Serpents!" Master Rai exclaimed.
Rena scowled at the scene then sensed two serpent ninjas charging at them. She drew out her katana just in time to block one ninja while Rai just simply elbowed the other ninja by chest while avoiding the blade. Rena kicked her ninja off before slicing him by the chest, Rai waited patiently for his assailant attack first, which he did. He caught the attack by the wrist and made him use his own blade to pierce his heart.
"We must aid our fellow comrades, keep the damage to a minimum." Master Rai commanded.
"Got it..." Rena heeded until her eyes widened in realization.
"Mayumi!!!" she gasped.
She was about to run off, Master Rai grabbed her. She was about to protest but he gave a calm smile.
"Then go."
He lets go, Rena nodded before heading off. Master Rai smiles as this was proof that she now thinks of others than herself, one of the reasons why he chose her. He continued forward while slaying a few ninjas that tried to kill him.
____________________________________________
(Rena POV)
I ran through the burning streets in search of my cat girl friend. I can feel my power surging through this conflict, growing stronger.
I find myself blocked by three serpent ninjas fighting three of the Raven's. Using a technique I used against my brother, I drew my katana before rushed towards three of them and killed them in three strikes, sheathing my katana and they all collapsed to the ground, saving my peers.
"You have our thanks!" One of the Raven ninjas bowed in gratitude.
"Where's Mayumi?" I asked.
"She's at the fountain near the quarters."
I said no words, I sped off in that direction. Of course, Mayumi and I spent some time in that fountain, I may be able to reach her.
____________________________________________
(3rd POV)
Meanwhile Master Rai ran forward towards his temple, while killing serpent ninjas on his way.
He spotted his own ninja who was about to be killed. Brandishing his katana, Rai channels himself and lightning begins to engulf his arms and legs. He dashes forwards in lightning speed and kills the ninja in one strike before he kills his student.
"Are you alright?" He asked extending his hand
"Hai! Thank you master." the student replied as he took his hand and pulled himself up.
"Rally the others, and push them back." Rai ordered.
"Yes Master."
The student ran off and Master Rai pressed on. When he reached the main temple, he slid the doors open, unsurprising at whom he saw.
Few of the clan's masters lay in the puddle of their blood. In the center, stood a man clad in a dark green sleeveless ninja outfit with a yellow sash wrapped on his waist, a hooded cowl covering his face adorned with a green scarf wrapped around his neck, green gauntlets on each arms, a snake tattoo on his shoulder, hakama of the same color with armored leg wraps.
The two ninja masters stared intensely.
"Shin Musashi." Rai snarled
Shin removed his cowl, revealing a middle aged man resembling Koda but older, with short dark hair and a scar across his face.
"Rai" he said in a low voice.
"Does your hunger know no limits?" Rai asked.
"I've watched your people living under your watch, they are weak-willed, ignorant. It's time to remind them that there are things not to be taken lightly once we take back these lands into our rule."
"It was never yours to enslave nor will it be yours now."
"Enough! After I kill you, these lands will fall into our rule once again."
"Even if you kill me, there will always be another to oppose you."
"If you are thinking of the Reaper, then I will kill him...for he killed my son." Shin emphasized the last part with venom in his voice.
Just as Master Rai gripped his sword and entered a stance, Shin did the same. Both charged at each other and their blades clashed.
____________________________________________
At the fountain nearby the quarters, Mayumi fought like hell. Though she's not a full combatant, she's always fought with light weaponry.
Sporting a pair of knives in her white yukata. She ducks her enemy's sword swing and stabs him in the right thigh before slicing his throat with the other knife, then blocks another enemy's down slash with both her knives before pulling his sword down and repeatedly stabbing him in the chest. Mayumi spins while sliding down to stab one guy in thigh then another in the gut, then she rolled forward and stabbed them both in the backs.
However, there is one large man with more armor over his green and yellow outfit wielding a war hammer. She saw his eyes looking down at her and she looked back fearlessly.
The big guy swings his hammer down and she dodges to his right. She stabs him in the leg but it doesn't seem to faze the burly guy. He swings his hammer and she rolls under it but she fails to avoid the following back fist which sends her flying near the fountain.
She tries to crawl away as the big guy walks towards her menacingly. But then he staggers when a katana blade jabbed through his stomach. Mayumi looked to see who it was.
It's Rena.
Rena is hanging on to her katana as it impales the big man but it only makes him angry. He tries to swing at the ravenette but she vaults over the hammer while taking out her katana to reposition. Once she's at his front, Rena stabs him in the stomach again at his front. The big guy glared at her but she only smirked.
"Tank this!"
Rena's eyes glowed in amber and used her fire magic to ignite her blade in flames, causing him to scream in pain. She then increased the intensity, causing his skin to turn red and melt, fire began to burst from his eyes, his screams louder as he was being cooked alive on the inside.
She takes out her blade to dispel the fire before the burnt corpse falls limp and collapses dead. Rena drops her katana down and rushes Mayumi.
"Are you alright?!!" Rena asks with concern.
"I'm fine, you saved me...again. Thank you!" Mayumi responded as she threw her arms for an embrace.
Rena returned the embrace before letting her go.
"Where's Master Rai?" Mayumi asked.
"He's gone off to save the others."
"This is bad! The leader of the Serpent Clan is here. We have to get him." Mayumi says as she is being helped up by Rena.
"Can you walk? or fight?"
"I'm fine. Let's go."
Rena nodded before they ran off to the main temple.
____________________________________________
Swords clashed between the masters of their clans.
Shin broke out of the blade and struck Rai's blade hard to push him off which Rai in turn jumped back and maintained his defensive stance. Shin continues to attack him which Rai parries each strike before clashing again but with lightning sparks coming from Rai's blade.
But Shin took out a knife and stabbed Rai's arm which he yelped before Shin swiped the sword out of his hands and kicked him to the ground. A moment passed without much action between these two, Shin just watches as Rai picks himself up.
"Still the same Rai. Weak and stagnant." Shin spat.
"Still the same Shin. Arrogant and brash, and your son clearly inherited those from you." Rai countered.
Offended, Shin rushes towards Rai. To them, time seemed like it was in slow motion. Rai kept his arms relaxed, and just as Shin thrusts his sword. He pushed the blade to the side with right hand and with lightning sparkling from his left, unleashed a palm strike to his chest which sent Shin flying to the wall and crashed.
Sparkles fade from Rai's hand and exhale. He walks to pick up his sword before Shin pushes himself up and exhales.
"You have kept someone here didn't you?"
Rai said nothing in response and allowed Shin to speak.
"Someone special, someone you named as your successor. It is not your bloodline, but it is the one they call the Crimson Warrior, the sister of my son's murderer..."
Rai didn't like where this was going.
"...after I kill you, I will make her suffer by killing the ones she has come to love."
That was enough for Rai to channel lightning around him and enter a poised stance.
"Rai, you spring from a bloodline that specializes in lightning magic users while mine is of the wind..." Shin grilled with a smirk before entering a stance of his own as the winds swirl around him.
"...we are both masters of death. Now there can only be one."
Shin began to channel the winds to his own energy, glowing green kanji characters circled around him.
Both masters are poised for their techniques. Rai wants to subdue, and Shin wants to kill him. It's only a matter of who lands the killing blow first.
Fire weakens the wooden plank from the ceiling and falls. Just when the debris hits the floor, both masters dashed towards each other in an instant, drawing out their lightning and wind infused swords.
Both were faster than the eye could see. Once they passed each other, they halted in the positions of their finished techniques.
This moment passed like a minute or two, until blood splattered from one of the masters. But it wasn't Shin, who only came out with a bearable cut, It was Rai's blood who seemed to suffer lacerations, which made him drop to his knees then collapsed to the ground. Shin sheathes his katana at his backside and exhales.
"I have triumph."
Suddenly a loud angry roar belonging to a woman rang, Shin turned to face the source of the voice only to be blasted back by fire.
It was Rena seething with anger, along with her cat-eared friend in tow. Mayumi ran for master Rai while Rena approached the snake ninja master. Shin acknowledges his predicament and decides to make a retreat. He ran to the balcony and jumped in a front flip. Rena ran after him and when she reached the railing and looked down, he was already gone.
Then she heard a horn from a distance. The balcony gives her a view of the entire complex, she saw all of the green-clad ninjas retreating.
Frustrated, she lets out a furious grunt and slams her fist on the railing.
"Rena!" Mayumi called out from behind while clutching Rai bleeding out in her arms.
Rena approaches the two and kneels down.
"M-Mayumi." Rai said weakly as his hand is struggling to reach for her.
Mayumi did not hesitate to grab it and Rai smiled, then he turned to Rena.
"Renalyn.... please....l-look after them....second chances."
Rena acknowledged that he had bet on her in the end, she hesitated before finally nodding.
Rai exhaled and closed his eyes, the hand Mayumi held fell limp before she shed a tear.
Two of black red clad ninjas, one man and one woman, came in and read the room. They seemingly understood and rushed into their fallen master.
"How do you think they found us?" the female ninja asked.
"I heard we were sold out by one of our own." the man responded.
Rena on the other hand, walks away and stands by the door, looking out to the view. He gave everything to her, a girl who wrought war for power. Now it's all up to her to do what must be done.
Mayumi looked at Rena, who offered her hand with an encouraging look. She gave a small smile in return, walked up to her and took her hand before they both walked down the stairs.
As they walked through the damaged buildings, they overlooked as they helped their own, extinguishing the fires, and tending the wounded. When they noticed their presence, specifically Rena, they all gathered around.
One of the ninjas approached them and took off his cowl, revealing a brown haired guy.
"Rena." he says.
"Tomoya." she replied.
"Our instructors told us everything." the aforementioned male explained
Rena wasn't surprised that master Rai told them beforehand, she had expected some disdain for the idea. But what happened next she did not anticipate.
Tomoya put his fist close to his chest and bowed; a gesture of respect. "We await your command, Master Rena."
Surprised, Rena looked at her peers doing the same, feeling the positive atmosphere. Mayumi lets go of her hand and does the same. She has indeed become a leader with new convictions. She is no Master Rai, but she'll lead this clan as best as she can her way. She took a step forth, deep breaths and gave out her speech.
"Brothers and sisters of the shadows! You have seen what has happened here! The damage done by those who thirst for power and glory! abusing their power and preying on the weak and defenseless! and they will come back because they want more! But was I so different from my conquest as the Crimson Warrior? I now see the truth of how horrible this endeavor is! I will not allow anyone else to pay for my mistakes! I may not be a proper master like Rai could be! but I will become your master as best as I can! Tonight, we heal, we rebuild! Tomorrow, we will avenge our fallen! We will take the battle to them!!!"
War cries rang in the air. Mayumi was a bit surprised that her first act as a leader was to wage war. She is the Crimson Warrior indeed, but not like she was before. She is a warrior in her own way.
____________________________________________
(Rena POV)
(Some time later)
While everyone is repairing the damage and tending the wounded as a newly appointed master's first order.
I was sitting in the dojo, where Master Rai once meditated, with the package in front of me. I've been staring at it for minutes, figured it out whose was it for. On the other hand, I received intel that someone betrayed and sold us out. Although I wasn't certain, I did have an idea who. I was about to open it until one ninja came at the door.
"Everyone's recovering well, the dead are buried and most of our supplies are intact. We await your next instructions."
"Hasten preparations and gather all who still have the strength to fight. We leave at dawn." I commanded.
"As you wish Master." the ninja bowed before leaving, passing by Mayumi who was carrying a sheathed sword.
"I brought it like you asked." Mayumi said before setting it down next to me.
"The Dragon Sword..." I mused, hovering my left hand over it.
"...Rai kept this away in hopes that he wouldn't have to use it to wage war, and I'm about to use it to do just that."
Mayumi looks down in sadness at the mention of Rai. Her unease was not lost to me.
"Is something wrong?" I asked.
"N-no it's nothing, I'm fine." Mayumi said quickly while shaking her hands defensively.
It's not hard for me to have doubts. So I asked. "Is it about the plan...or is it about Master?"
"it's about Master." she mumbled.
"My guess is you looked up to him greatly than everyone else." I presumed.
She nodded, though she looked shy when it comes to feeling. I gave a reassuring look that I'm willing to listen to her, and she seemed to get the message.
"He rescued me from the concubines, sheltered me, and treated me equally. I believed in his cause that he would offer freedom to the outcasts like he did with me, but I never got the chance to thank him."
And I spoke up. "...And now I'm the leader, are you afraid I would go against everything he stood for."
"...Not that I was doubting you or anything." she stammered.
"Mayumi. The kindness Rai gave you, you repaid him by doing the same with me. You accepted me when I was an outcast. I promise you, after this battle, things will be better but I need to fix things with my brother. I need you to be my strength to do so."
Mayumi tears up a little and her cat ears puffed before smiling. "I will."
I nodded. "Good, now go join the others, I'll catch up."
Mayumi nodded before leaving the door.
"Mayumi! One more thing." I called out to her.
"Hmm?" she turned to me.
"Tell everyone to call me by my new name..."
I kept my mind on one of Master's lessons; if your name has been disgraced, make a new one. So I decided to go by the name my parents called me and by the clan's name sake.
"...Lady Ravyn."
She smiled before running off. I sighed and hoped I made the right choice. I opened the package and looked inside. I was indeed surprised then smirked before grabbing the contents.
____________________________________________
(Next day)
In the snowy mountains of Endoa, stands a temple with banners of green yellow with a serpent insignia. Ninjas clad in dark green with yellow sashes patrol on wooden platforms.
One lackey patrol on the east side questions his post as to why he was assigned to a useless post where no one really enters. He decided to take one last look before taking a break. He looked down from the ledge, but he never got the chance for break time as a rope dart pierced his chest and was pulled down to the cliff, screaming as he fell.
The one responsible for the rope dart was a few of Ravyn's ninjas along with their new leader, Rena in a different outfit.
Her outfit consists of a red short yukata with black interior clothing, a black sash tied around her waist with black feathers and the Dragon Sword dangling at her left side. Black thigh high boots. Her black messy hair tied in a tail by a red ribbon. The package gave her a new feature, in her right hand is a red artificial arm.
"No pathways or staircases. Kinda rude to make your subjects climb to the entrance." Rena complains.
"To them, climbing to the temple represents a trial that everything must be earned with strength." one of her companions explained.
"We are ready for your command, Master Ravyn." another says.
"Begin the first phase."
"Yes Master...er...Lady Ravyn." one complied then dashed away.
Ravyn forged a plan in mind. Her signature tactic during the Crimson Warrior.
'Destroy the important structures, the whole system will collapse in one blow.'
The stealth squad, led by Mayumi, kills off the patrolling guards, reduces their numbers, and sabotages anything they would use against them. All she has to do now is wait.
Ravyn flexed her metal arm, bending the joints slightly as well as her fingers. Funny how the arm responds to motor functions of the wearer despite not being connected to the nerves and controls it like the real thing. A single pinch and she wouldn't even feel it. She guessed that Master Rai had connections with an inventor if the technology was this advanced.
Ravyn snapped her thoughts and scoured for the signal. A few moments later came to fruition.
Mayumi, who is dressed in a black short sleeveless kunoichi outfit with white interior linings and a red sash wrapped around her waist and black stockings, held a bloodied kunai in her right hand while waving a torch with her left.
"That's the signal. Phase two!" Ravyn commanded.
The ninjas split up by climbing in separate directions. Ravyn chose a more direct, she climbed the rest of the way up and pulled herself up on the broken staircase at the front entrance. Seeing as the guards had been silenced thanks to Mayumi's efforts, she should knock the door no problem.
She conjured her metal fist with fire magic and punched the doors that an explosive sent it flying off the hinges. The scorpion Clan residents were immediately alerted and brandished their weapons.
They surrounded Ravyn with their katanas at the ready. She puts her hand on her sword and assumes Iaido stance. The first ninja charges at her, going for her neck. But she countered by the quick draw and slashed his torso, a few moments later, the ninja dropped dead. Two ninjas tried to slice her, Ravyn simply put her sword straight, blocking both blades. Then she maneuvered under then sliced them horizontally. She grips the Dragon Sword with both hands to dice an incoming ninja at her right then sliced another at her left before she roundhouse kicked him. She then sprints and stabs another ninja, moves to his right, takes out her blade, slashes another before slamming down her stabbed victim.
However she did not anticipate an arrow that pierced her right leg, she grunts and falls down to her knee. She sees there's an archer from the shadows before more of them emerged with arrows with ropes tied to their bows. As they shot, she managed to deflect them with her sword, but an arrow caught up to her left arm, letting out a grunt, and the archer pulled. She tried to cut the rope but another arrow caught up to her left thigh, then another at her right waist, then a rope snared her metal arm causing her to let go of the sword. Then archers pulled the ropes, Raven tried her best to fight the pain and pulled her waist, but she eventually fell to her knees, now immobilized.
She grits her teeth, keeping the pain at bay so she would have energy to spare. Not a moment later, The Serpent Clan's master, Shin, walks through his peers and stands in front of Ravyn.
"So this is the girl Master Rai spared and housed? The Crimson Warrior?"
Ravyn narrowed her eyes but still maintained the poker face.
"Where are my manners, I am Shin Musashi." he introduced himself before crouching down to her level.
"You're the one who caused quite a stir in Endoa two years ago. I confess I did not think that such a legend would take the form of a girl. I understand that you brought war and ruin in these lands in the loyalty of your employer, and he promised you power and you have earned it. But you lost to your own brother, I felt that shame. You see your brother took my son from me, I will not rest until I avenge him. So I'll make you this offer. Join me, renounce the Raven Clan and fight for mine and together, we will exact out revenge on the Reaper that wronged us."
Ravyn scoffed with a little smirk and spit on his face. Angered, Shin smacks her face before turning around and wipes the spit.
"Very well!" he snarled before unsheathing his sword.
he walks over Ravyn and raises his sword, readying to kill her.
"Master..." one of Shin's men interrupted, gaining his attention.
"...some of our men had gone missing."
"What?!" Shin exclaimed.
Ravyn sees Shin getting distracted. Using the fire magic and the power she gained from fighting earlier, she channels it creating a surge and releasing a fiery shockwave that blows away all the surrounding ninja that held her even setting the nearest on fire.
"Begin the assault now!!!" Ravyn shouts.
The green-clad ninjas get up and try to go for Ravyn but they are jumped by ninjas of her own, slaughtering them from the shadows. A battle breaks out in the temple, becoming a battlefield in an instant. Ravyn used her fire magic to burn off the arrows that pierced her. She glances at Shin, who is escaping to the temple. She's a bit wounded but she still has the strength to spare.
She makes her way through the battle, killing any assailants in her way. Until she met up with Mayumi.
"Rena are you okay?" the cat-eared girl asked with concern.
"I'm fine, he's getting away!!!" Rena said hastily
"Go on! We got this!" Mayumi said with determination.
Rena nods then goes after the master, while Mayumi goes left to help her comrades. Using a kunai to hack away any scorpion ninjas in her way. It did not take her long to get in one room with a gong cornered by two scorpion ninjas.
She threw her kunai at the first guy's neck then jumped on the second guy and wrapped her legs on his head. She pulls out an extra kunai and slices his neck before jumping away and lands on the floor.
Then suddenly she heard a familiar battle. She puts up her kunai to block an incoming sword, but the force knocks her back which she lands into a crouching position. She looks up then frowns to see a familiar face.
"Did you miss me, animal." Renji spat. His hair is messy with dark bags under his eyes and his expression is rather spiteful.
"Rena was right! You sold us out!" Mayumi argued.
"That destroyer wrought war into our lands and my parents were caught in the crossfire. They died because of her. Master Rai insulted me by letting her live and bring her to our home. When I heard he was going to make her a master, that was the final straw. They gave me no choice."
Mayumi looked at him pity. It's sad that there are some people who feel this way.
"I'm sorry about your parents, I really am. But Rena changed, you can too. You have to let it go." Mayumi pleaded.
"NO!!! She has to pay for what she's done!!! I'll start with you by finishing what I started before she stopped me!!!"
Renji charges at her but she rolls to the side to avoid him. She picks up the other kunai from a corpse and assumes a dual knife stance. Renji attacks her with consecutive strikes but she deflects and parries every single one before kicking him off. Mayumi then runs towards. Renji intends to swing at her horizontally and when he does, she jumps and vaults over him before landing on her feet. Renji sharply turns around to hit her but becomes surprised when he sees she's no longer there.
Renji gripped his sword with two hands and cautiously walked slowly while looking out for the cat-eared girl.
"I know you're still here freak! Did you not know I too have been taught the same?!!!"
Little did he know, she's hiding on the wooden planks at the ceiling, watching his move. Then her eyes fell on a drumstick for the gong and devised a plan. She waited for the right moment and once she saw he was getting overly cautious, she threw her kunai in his opposite direction, prompting him to turn around for the sound source.
A moment of distraction, Mayumi goes for the drumstick. Perks of being an Anihuman cat, she lands silently with no echoes of sound. She picks up the drumstick and strikes the gong with full force that the sound makes Renji cover his ears.
Mayumi seizes this opportunity to pounce on him, wrapped her legs around his head and threw him over and pinned his hand with her other kunai, causing him to scream.
"I know she probably took your parents from you. But this hate is making you lose your senses. Please let it go." she tries to reason with him.
A moment has passed, he gave her a glare.
"Never." he said with resentment.
Seeing there's no reasoning with him, she knocks him out with the drumstick. She stands and exhales. Right on cue, a couple of her allies came.
"Mayumi, are you alright." one of them asked.
"Yeah.." she replied before looking over at unconscious Renji.
"...take him."
The two nodded before taking Renji. Master Rai warned her that there are some people who would spit on her generosity, but that didn't mean she should stop.
____________________________________________
(Lady Ravyn's POV)
I fought my way through to chase Shin with the Dragon Sword in a tow along with bodies in my wake. I reached the end of the hallway to a sliding door. I slide the doors open and I find him, sitting cross-legged on the floor.
"I see you have made it this far." He said calmly before he picks up his own sword in front of him and stands up.
"Alex Crowe killed my son, now I will settle his debt by killing you."
Shin unsheathes his katana and assumes a stance.
I scoffed then entered a stance of my own, holding the Dragon Sword one-handed.
"You poor little man." I mocked him.
He charges first, I react by parrying him to my left. I swung my sword at him three times before spinning slash which he rolled out of. I pivot my body to my left to a horizontal swing but he blocks it. I push my grip down hoping to drag his sword down but he headbutts me, stumbling backwards. I recovered to see he was about to attack so I followed up with swings to clash and parry each of them. I took a moment of opportunity to guide his sword to the floor at my right, engulf my left arm with fire and backhanded him to a wall.
I walk towards him while igniting my sword and go for the thrust only for him to dodge left, but I drag my sword to clash with his and push him while the flaming sword melts through the wooden wall like hot butter. I noticed he pulls out a short but straight version of the katana called the ninjato. I pulled my sword out and tried to return the swing but Shin ducked and used the ninjato to graze my stomach.
I flinched back and saw him standing in the middle of the room.
I grit to ignore the pain and approach him. I clash with him with consecutive strikes before rolling past him then swing behind which he back handsprings to avoid. He then leaped and threw shurikens at me, I deflected some of them but one caught up to my shoulder and another at my left arm and right thigh, making me wince. I sprinted towards him as he kept throwing shurikens at me, despite getting hit I kept running. He jumps away just as I bash to the wall then I swing my sword, creating a slash-wave projectile made of fire coming towards him. But he rolled to the side and threw the ninjato at me, I swiped it away but I was shocked to see he was already in front of me, ready to slash me with a green wind infused blade. I can't dodge it so I have no choice but to bring up my sword to block it.
Unfortunately, he didn't aim for my blade. His strike landed on the hilt of the Dragon Sword. The hilt shattered from my hands until only the blade remained. Shin's blade stopped glowing then he followed up a slice across my chest. I coughed out blood and staggered back as I clutch the cut.
Shin swipes his sword in the air to clean off my blood.
"You're an areomancer. You command over the wind." I coughed out.
"You should have accepted the offer. Now you must die." Shin assumes a stance and he begins to glow green with the wind blowing off around him.
But not yet. I still have one more trick up my sleeve.
He was about to swing his glowing katana but I instantly halted his draw by catching the butt end of his sword, he tried to break free but my grip proved it futile. I began to channel my power within me and my body became engulfed in flames.
I don't feel the heat, but I certainly felt more powerful than I was before. I pushed him off and he looks back in shock to see I'm literally on fire.
"What is this?!!! Preposterous!!!" he yells as he attempts to attack me.
I sidestepped his first attack, he tried to return to follow-up but I caught his blade and smashed it in two. Shin stepped back and glanced at his broken katana with horror. I didn't give a chance to recover by clutching his throat and slammed him to the floor, due to my immense strength the impact formed cracks in the floor boards. I repeatedly punched with focused anger before picking him up with one hand and threw him through the wooden wall which he then crashed to a stone wall.
I stomped one end of the Dragon Blade which caused it to fling up in air and I caught it by the steel where the handle used to be with my left hand, ran towards him and pointed the blade at his neck.
I begin to notice the changes in the blade. Rather than a silver blade like it was before, the blade itself is red engulfed with my flames.
'it must've adapted to my power. No way this is an ordinary sword.' I think to myself.
"What are you waiting for..." Shin questioned, catching my attention.
I looked back at him, covered with bruises and burn marks, glaring back at her.
"...finish it, your brother would."
I clutched the blade hard, causing my hand to bleed. I pressed my blade slightly and thought for a moment. I could kill him, perhaps I will. But I don't think Master Rai would want him.
Gritting my teeth, dispelled my fiery form and blade changed back to metallic silver. I towered over and looked down on him.
"I could, but your life is not mine to take." I said coldly.
Using my metal arm, I delivered a hard punch to the man's head which knocked him out cold.
I stood for a moment, wondering if this is peace enough for her fallen master. Perhaps this is Alex's problem to solve, but should Shin threaten her newfound home, I'll be there to take action.
After a moment, I finally left the room to regroup to my clan. I stepped outside and found them victorious over the scorpion ninjas. My peers had them in ropes, others at blade point, there's even one scorpion who attempts to fight back but he was killed in an instant.
When they saw me, a few of my peers approached me and bowed.
"Lady Ravyn, the serpents have been subjugated. We are victorious." one of them said while bowing.
I nodded in response and they left to help their comrades. Then another approached me
"My Lady, we have caught the traitor."
I looked behind him to see Mayumi escorting Renji, who is being dragged by the raven ninjas. I walked towards them and glanced at Mayumi. She smiled and I nodded back, then I turned to Renji, who looked absolutely livid at my sight.
"You took my family from me destroyer!!! I will never forgive you." he growled.
I did not glare nor harbor a grudge for what he did. I understood this is one of my messes. One look in his eyes and I see he'll never let go of his hatred towards me, a mess I couldn't fix.
"Then don't..." I responded solemnly before turning to his captors.
"...take him away and prepare him for exile."
I looked away as they dragged Renji away while screaming threats which fell on deaf ears. Then I looked over the horizon, looking how far I've come. I fought for war, now I fight for peace.
Mayumi then grabs my attention.
"Rena...I mean Master. What do we do next?" she asked.
I looked over to my comrades, they're awaiting my answer.
"We regroup back to the temple, we've already made a statement here. And then, we rebuild." I ordered.
Mayumi nodded and made a regroup hand signal then they moved to disperse.
Mayumi accompanies me to the front entrance, back to our home.
____________________________________________
(A few days later)
(3rd person POV)
Everything has been repaired since the attack. Though constructions are almost done with the finishing touches and teachers help their students practice their drills.
A certain cat-eared is seen waving to her friends.
"Hello there." she said cheerfully.
"Hello to you as well, Nanahara." her fellow ninjas waved back.
"Have you seen Lady Ravyn?"
"Last I heard she was at the graveyard. Though she mentioned she'll have an announcement to make later."
Mayumi thanked them and went straight to the directions she was given. It's no surprise she would want to visit Master Rai.
When she reaches her destination, she traverses the path through the gravestones and finds her sitting in front of one.
The one named: Rai
A grave fresh off the man who gave people a chance of a better path. In the good bonds of Rena's father: Sebastian, she was his final act.
Now it is up to Rena to honor him the best he can.
After Rena gave her silent thanks. She opened her eyes but did not move from her squat.
"Need something?" Rena asked.
"Nah! Just seeing how you're doing, that's all." Mayumi replied.
Rena smiled a little then stood up, picking up the sword next to her. But its appearance is different.
It is the same Dragon Blade, but rather than the tang of the blade hidden underneath the handle, there are arms extended from the short stem holding the blade at the front exposing the blade tang. The handle is black with red silk wrapping over it, and the stem has some sort of rectangular casing which glows orange. The katana sheathe was made to adjust to the hilt's design.
"I heard you have an announcement to make." Mayumi spoke.
"Yeah, perhaps I should let you know first if you're up for it." Rena replied.
"Yeah?" Mayumi asked curiously.
A moment of silence passed until Rena finally said the words.
"I'll be away for a while, I needed to fix things with my brother."
"That's alright. I know you can do it." Mayumi cheered her on.
"That's not all. I'm leaving you in charge until I return."
It took a while for the cat-eared girl to process this, until realization hit her like a bullet.
"...Wait what?!!! Are you serious! I mean I don't know if I could lead them..." the cat ninja girl protested.
"Why not? You're the kindest and respected of the clan. You see the good in everybody." Rena reminded
"But taking charge...I'm not sure if I can do it."
Rena then grabbed her by the shoulders gently and looked deeply into her eyes, causing Mayumi's face to flush.
"Mayumi. I fear about the damage I had done to my brother, the only family I have left. I have to do this. It wasn't just Rai who put me on the right path, it was also you. You can do it because it frightens you."
Mayumi sinks in her words, it's true she wants to ensure no one suffers the same slavery and discrimination like she did in the concubines. Then she looks back at Rena in the eyes and she understands. Rena is trusting her to do the best she can.
"I...I'll try." she reluctantly agreed.
Rena lets go of her then pulls something out of her pocket, she handing her a phone.
"If you're unsure of your actions, give me a call."
Mayumi takes the phone and examines it.
"Or you could consult the teachers, isn't that right Sensei Kamiya?" Rena said, looking behind the cat girl.
"Sharp as your blade Lady Ravyn..." the aforementioned teacher said out of nowhere in the voice of a middle-aged woman.
"WAHH!!!" Mayumi screeched at the sudden appearance.
The aforementioned woman wears a black ninja outfit with red sash wrapped around her waist with a sheathed katana and couldn't discern any facial features thanks to the black shawl covering her face.
"...And I will be at service. But please, no need to call Sensei, you are the master after all."
Ravyn nodded before her metal arm around Mayumi's shoulder. "Come, it's time."
Mayumi nodded and three of them left to make the announcement. Then after that, Rena would leave.
She would set out to make things right with Alex, though something tells her that will take a while and will not be easy.
She once sought war and brought in her quest for power, now she will seek peace or try to.
____________________________________________
(At the Serpent Clan's temple)
The aftermath of the attack left them restless, repairing the damages and salvaging what they could. The attack was meant to serve as a warning that they should not be one to cross and Ravens retaliate.
In the room with the damages from the last fight, along with a huge hole in the wall where he was knocked through. In the middle sat Master Shin, who suffered mild burns and was humiliated, bested by a girl with fire powers.
"So the Power of War is not to be underestimated, even if the host is a teenage girl." an unknown voice said.
"Hmm." Shin grumbles.
"And she didn't even give you a chance to use your ancient assassination technique that it was said to...literally kill gods, coupled even with your mastery over wind magic. Rub some salt to that wound eh?"
"SILENCE!!! The Serpent Clan will not be stopped by a clan of weak-willed led by a girl who claims she's changed. But no matter, she can keep her rule for now, I have another debt to collect."
Shin stands up and takes his new katana then stops as he is about to walk out the door.
"Ah so you're going after young, dark and brooding after all this time?" the mysterious voice asked.
"I have waited long enough. I will show him that there will be no mercy from us and make him pay in blood for taking my son." Shin declares as walks out and leaves.
Moments later the figure with the mysterious voice stepped out from the broken wall. Revealing his ash-blonde hair and orange-snake eyes.
"Oh this will be fun to watch." he said as he flashed his signature sinister smile.
(End?)