The two demons approached the Gate finding the smiling green face greeting them, "Hello Dreymond" it stated to the puppet. He bowed a head, "Lord Gate" giving his respects. "The World chose a new king I see? What a happy day" the Gate was being sarcastic and giggled at himself. Red and Smiling said nothing. "Well it seems we have something going right for once huh?" The Gate exclaimed. Dreymond nodded, "Yes, Lord Gate" he then turned to his companions. "I must leave you now Lord Red" he bowed. "Yes, be sure to tell Master Raijin that I send my regards. Could you do something for me?" Red asked. Dreymond nodded and Red Demon handed him a key, "This is for the new king its the vault key for the palace" the puppet nodded and took the key. "I will deliver it" with that he vanished. "Odd little puppet?" Smiling said. "Yes his grin can be unnerving. Where to now Gate?" Red Demon said approaching the smiling green face.
"Step on in and find out?" The face of the gate vanished creating a swirling flat circle. Red and Smiling looked at one another, 'that was an odd response?' Red Demon thought. They hesitated to walk through the gate, but pressed forward. As their world changed their surroundings shifted and they were completely surrounded by fog. Fog was the only thing they could see. "Sorry Red. But someone wants to talk to you and it's above my paygrade" the Gate said and with that it the whole gate disappeared. Red and Smiling turned to watch it fade away into nothing. Leaving them stranded in a field of fog. "Fuck…what the hell do we do now?" Smiling stated the obvious. Red Demon was to busy rifling through his knowledge of the realms to identify where they were. 'Well seems if I break down the clues. Fog? Darkness? Dim light? Silence? Hint of water and smoke smell all around us. That would make this place the Ash Realm? Wolf King rules here. One of the neutral regimes not on my list to kill" he walked forward. "We are in the Ash Realm if I'm guessing correctly?" Red stated. Smiling looked around, "So…what does the Ash Realm intel?" Smiling Demon asked. His demeanor was full of anxiety. His eyes glued to the fog. "It's a land of Shades and spirits they claim. More like an underworld. Its neutral in this war and therefore exempt from the test. I'm not even supposed to be here. The World was strict on the neutral realms" Red Demon explained. "Why?" Smiling Demon asked. "Some of them, but not all serve a purpose. This realm holds spirits and shades. The Wolf King here is a guard and holds that position with great honor. He is loyal to the World along with his warriors" Red Demon looked around after explaining. 'Yeah this is the Ash Realm…why are we here? Why did the Gate do this?' He thought trying to find the reason for their predicament. Through the fog they could see a faint blue light.
Red Demon gestured to Smiling Demon the big man turned and saw what he was pointing at. Red Demon then manifested two katanas and Smiling Demon produced his ax. They then walked through the fog heading straight to the blue light. As they walked through the mist the blue light began to grow and when they finally came upon it they found a hooded figure sitting by a blue fire. They kept their distance from the makeshift camp studying the figure sitting their eating roasted meat on a stick. "Hello…you know fellas walking up weapons drawn may make someone think your here to do them harm?" The voice from under the hood was feminine and under the hood two yellow eyes started to glow.
"Why don't you sit by my fire and rest awhile won't you?" The voice made the two warriors hair on their necks stand up. It was eerily calm but they could feel this situation was not good. "You work for the King in this realm?" Red Demon asked. The woman chuckled, "Not exactly no. I'm a free agent" she giggled. "Where are we?" Smiling asked. She cocked her head in confusion, "Ash Realm…seems your lost?" She stated. "You could say that?" Red Demon said with a cold tone.
"Well gentlemen…why do you think you are here then?" She asked. "I'm hoping you can tell us? Have a feeling you meant for us to meet?" Red Demon could feel a cold air around this area. He felt the fear around running up his spine telling him to be on guard. Smiling Demon was no better Red could see sweat running down the side of his face that wasn't covered by his mask.
She stood up slowly. "Well I guess you should know some answers right?" She then with a flash disappeared and was in front of the two demons. She produced threads of light from her fingers extending them out wrapping around Red Demon's katanas with a squeeze of the strings the swords shattered into particles of chi. She then drove a kick into his stomach sending him backwards. He flew back far into the fog crashing into the ground. Smiling Demon swung his ax at her. With a ping her hand then caught the ax by the blade. She looked at him with a cocked head and all he could see under the hood was glowing yellow eyes.
She then released the ax as he pulled back. He swiped at her she moved with great speed dodging each attack. She was gone in a flash appearing behind him. The size of her against his hulking physique should of put him at more of an advantage. But it was the opposite she was stronger then both of them. She drove a fist into back send him sprawling out on the ground. The ax fell away from his grasp. He turned over dodging a slam of her foot that cracked the ground. He got to his feet and went for a punch. She grabbed his arm and then pulled him over her shoulder slamming him into the ground. He was dazed as he tried to rise to only fall back down. Red Demon was running at her when she threw three needles that pierced his flame meridian and chest. He fell forward as all energy drained from his body. As he fell to one knee. He began to become angry as he fought through the pain.
He then gripped the Moon Ray hilt as a foot kicked it back into the sheath. He looked up at the cloaked woman looking down on him. "Lost and now found" her hand began to glow gold as she placed it on his face. He felt a jolt through his body and everything went dark.