"Ah! If it isn't Señor Isamu."
"Augustin, what happened to you?" I asked because the big man right in front looked like he had fought an army.
"Just a little scuffle with the Vice." The man patted himself, to at least remove himself from some debris.
"It seems he let you off easy."
"I wouldn't say that." Augustin got closer to me and held my shoulder, just so that he could whisper in my ear. This caused a reaction from Hayake but considering that Augustin is also one of the reagent's Venalicium. She would not last against him, I warned her with a finger.
"There is a rumour going around that the reagent is actually mad at him."
"They are brothers but their sins are not intertwined." I said as I lowered the hand that prevented Hayake from attacking Augustin.
"No, it's said that the Venalicium of Lord Reitess failed to obtain something the reagent wanted. Very soon though, steps will be taken to correct this."
"What are you getting at Agustin?"
"That is our chance as lower class Venalicium to prove ourselves more useful than the strongest Venalicium conglomerate—the Chaos Brigade of lord Reitess." He paused and stood straight. His eyes met mine, and all I could see was his satisfaction in garnering my attention with just that man's name. "Don't you see Señor Mamushippo? This is your chance to overperform and earn favour from our strongest."
"You've wasted my time long enough with your whispering sen-nor." I proceeded to brush his hand off of my shoulder and simply walked past him, Hayake followed behind me.
"I wish you good fortune on your mission, señor." He said as he bowed deeply behind me and walked off.
The throne room was where you always found him and I was sure, the guards at the door opened it. I was right, the reagent was in his chair. I walked in and me and Hayake knelt before him, before removing our katanas from our waist. We removed our backpacks and placed them on the floor, the same as katanas on our left sides. I bowed before him and then raised my head.
"What do you want, Isamu?" I was asked by the pale figure in front of me, just looking at his pale skin told me a lot. This was no living human being in front of me, but a cold walking corpse and I was no different. All Venalicium of the Necromancer blade turns a shade lighter once they are given their venalicium, my skin is paler but the regent is like the colour snow.
"My reagent, I've come here for a special request."
"The folly that you could request something of me, atlas curiosity takes president. Well what is it?"
"I request to kill the shogun if he resists capture." This shocked Hayake as she made a quick sound but quickly settled.
"Isamu…, if you can kill him then he isn't the grandson I have been waiting for."
"My Lord." I stood from my position and bowed to the reagent who sat firmly at his chair, I took hopefully the last look at the corpse before leaving for good. Those eyes didn't look human anymore, what truly became of house Terragon.
I've heard of its glorious past as a house in the service of the throne and I couldn't believe it. Witnessing their present, it's hard to distinguish what they have become. Villains to many, the pioneers of a future where the wealthy no longer govern without law or gods. I turned and left with my pack and sword, Hayake from my back was burning with questions but kept them to herself. It was an internal struggle that she fought and concluded quickly, she chose silence by the dissipated shift in her walk.
An origami butterfly made from magnesium landed on Hayake's shoulder, it was a creois made by her brother. It delivered a message only Hayake could hear and once received the magnesium creois began flying in front of me.
"Hayake is Spade at the meet?"
"Yes, I asked Watanabe to confirm with me. Everyone else is waiting on us." she said as she pointed to the butterfly leading the way for us.
The flying magnesium led us to the meeting area, which was the late queen's royal garden. Once a symbol of beauty in the palace but now the ruins of the battle fought by men over power. Watanabe, a lean and broad man just shorter than Hayake greeted us first, his creois led us to him. He absorbed the metal butterfly that landed on his finger back into his body. His ability with chi control and manipulation makes him a formidable ally in battle, but I chose him for my party because of his sensory. Him also being related to Hayake makes trusting him a lot easier, trust is not something I hand out to anyone.
Kinamura the slasher, famous for being a maniac during his younger days as a serial killer and assassin. He was arrested before the fall and now in the new regime he is a free man who can do as he pleases. I defeated him in battle but saw the potential of his blade works. His spirit weapons which he always has materialised are the two rusted sickles with shiny elementium handles on his holster belt. I don't need to trust him, I trust his instincts and where we are going they will be needed.
Andoku, a large dark Terrain man that lost everything before the fall. He too like many was the victim of the wealthy during their regime and was falsely imprisoned. During his imprisonment, he heard tale, that his wife had killed herself and his only child. Since that day, it's said he hasn't spoken a word. He participated in the Terragon uprising on the condition to get revenge against those that wronged him, but he didn't do it for glory in the new regime. In fact after the fall he immediately left the capital but later returned and asked to become one of my venalicium.
Vanity is Andoku's younger sister and the one that informed him of the tragedy of his wife and daughter's demise. She is greatly loyal to her brother and they both share similarities, including affinity and nearly height. She doesn't particularly like me and she absolutely loathes Hayake, of course the feeling is mutual.
All three of the other individuals were waiting for us standing in the centre of the garden, they were illuminated by the moonlight. Another figure also appeared under the moonlight, it was the last person I wanted to see at night but tonight his presence gave me relief. Afterall how could I complete my mission if I can't get to him? Spade is the most prolific at infiltration and the only one that knows the moles inside the Creed.
"Ahh! Lord Isamu, how nice of you to join us. I was about to leave without you." Spade spoke in his condescending tone, something he knows annoys the shit out of me. I walked to my party who upon closer inspection were carrying nothing, not even bags, Spade must have taken their luggage. I dropped my bag on the ground and so did Hayake. No matter how questionable my actions are, Hayake just follows me without question. This is the blind loyalty that was engraved into her as a child by my clan. I can't help but be disgusted by the actions of my house and that of other houses of similar status. I understand why the fall happened all those years ago, people can only turn a blind eye for so long.
My predecessors had their fate coming, but not my father. I grew up only hearing great things about the former Creed, but knowing what I know about my family I guess at the end of the day he was just a man. A man bound by the chains of society called rules and traditions, why didn't he save Hayake from the fate of a pawn. Many houses used to raise their armies from infancy and this was done for generations, ours was no different. Hayake and her brother, as well as the shinobi at home are the product of my family's indoctrination.
"The plan is simply, we will stalk and ensnare the shogun when he is farthest from the elementos and the gods. When we infiltrate Maximiliano we stay hidden with 'chi zero' (The ability for one to hide their chi but high sensors can sense most individuals regardless of their effort but some well adept individuals in chi zero can't be sensed just by anyone) so that sensory units don't pick up on us. The dungeons will be the place where our outstanding members will hide, and me; Hayake and Watanabe will hide amongst the refugees. They will have free entry to the coliseum battles the same as the locals of Electrium, we will wait for elimination or injury. I'm sure since the Creed will be surrounded by its sponsors and refugees they will be anxious to quickly get him out of public view. Watanabe your job will be to scout out the enemy's patrol, find the individuals personally assigned to watching Titen on that day. I would ask Spade for further assistance from his mole, but high ranking individuals will be surveilled that day." I looked back at Spade who greeted me with his disgusting grin. "Once we impersonate the guards in charge of watching Titen, and make contact with him. Spade will teleport us as far as he can, I don't want a confrontation with a high ranking Creed such as an Elemento."
I don't need to be a genius in knowing that Spade won't transfer us immediately to the Tungsten Castle, he wants my confrontation with Titen the most.
"I'm afraid a confrontation with an Elemento is inevitable inside Maximiliano." Spade said behind me, I didn't want to entertain him more than I already have but I just looked back at him in silence. You see, I receive information that during the exam Titen will be guarded by someone of Elemento level. Can you guess who that is?"
"One of the eight."
"Nope! Someone far more powerful than any of the current Elementos."
"Master Ryden Ryosuka, how sure are you?" I asked.
"100." He retorted
"This just got a little interesting." Kinamura kekeled.
"Don't be a fool Kinamura, Ryden is one of the eight great powers! Should we encounter him, our fates would be sealed." Vanity scolded the thin man who just couldn't stop smiling, this caused Vanity to roll her eyes and cross her arms.
"And here I was planning to grab him during the coliseum battles in the medical ward."
"Oh! That wouldn't work. Yes the confusion would far surpass the Creed's surveillance but you have to remember they have the home ground. Shadow artemers will probably be crawling everywhere where there is and isn't light." His grin grew wider. "Also the Creed would expect that, especially if he happened to stay overnight in the medical ward. Mmh how I wish a Venacilium of Lady Dai was here right now, explaining what I've seen is a little hard."
"Out with it!" I shouted out of frustration.
"Yeah Spade, out with it." Kinamura interjected.
"It seems the Creed wants an attack and attempt from us to try and steal the shogun for some reason, might be political…"
"Of course a trap would be set for intruders, especially us Terragons, but we know our way Maximiliano." I interrupted.
"So does the Creed, it doesn't matter how good of a shinobi you are, boy! The Creed is the home of the most dangerous people in the world, not even I have ever set foot there. That should be an indication of how dangerous that place is, my infomat said to never set foot in Maximiliano."
I can't argue with him because he is right and he is the Terragons' most successful spy. "What do you suggest we do? Venalicium Spade."
A grin grew on his face. "Well Venalicium Isamu, I say we take him prior to the coliseum battles. The reason being, that is the time he will be the farthest away from any Elemento level warrior for a while."
"How sure are you? But it doesn't matter they would expect an attack at such a clearly vulnerable time."
"My informant told me everything about Titen's planned schedule, and I'm afraid there won't be much distance between him and the Elemento level warriors after this. This is your only chance to fight Titen alone or you'll fight him with a great power acting as bodyguard. You don't need to be able to see into the future to know how that encounter would end."
"How much of your intel and informant can be trusted?"
"Oh my informant can be trusted, highly trusted. I dare say in the Creed he is one of ten highly regarded."
"I see, then let's get moving then. The exam starts tomorrow, let's get going."
"Hehehe! I'm itching for some action." Kinamura voiced.
"Shut up Kinamura!" Hayake blasted at him, causing him only to grin in return.
"Watanabe, Andoku and Vanity. Your job is to make sure nobody disturbs me, the same goes to you Spade." he just smiled at me as I said that. "Be sure to kill them."
"Yes sir!" Watanabe said.
Andoku and Vanity just kept their silence but agreed with a nod.
"Understood Lord Mamushippo." Hayake bowed to me.
"Aight! Little boss man." Kinamura who's clearly visibly agitated from the lack of action couldn't stop smiling.
"I see we are all excited, me at most. I wonder who will win?" Spade Said as he looked me directly in the eyes. Stupid question to ask with my ability and position, I am a Venalicium, something thousands wish to be. Titen doesn't stand a chance against me at full power. "Let's get going then, everyone."
Sand appeared around us and enveloped us. I and everyone else were covered in sand and more was coming creeping on us. You could hear the sand granules clashing with each other as they climbed and crept on our clothes. The feeling was if we're getting buried alive in a sand pit, then the feeling grew more eerie as sand crept on my neck. My field of view went from seeing the ruins of the garden to seeing nothing sand and then darkness. My body felt light in the darkness. It was as if I was in a different realm within the darkness, naked and cold one moment and then comfortable and warm in another. The darkness faded and a dim light introduced my eyes, it was that of a fading sun. The stars would soon replace the sun as the watchers of the night as they already did in Metallum right now. This isn't my first teleportation with Spade, it's instantaneous, so I know not much time passed during his spatial movement.. I looked around to find out where exactly Spade brought me, but the forest was foreign to me, this was my first time being here.
"Where are we Spade?" I asked as the sand left my body,It is always annoying travelling with Spade because of this. There is sand in my balls and I can feel it leaving. The rest of my party shared my discomfort visibly, especially the women, as this was their first experience of particle displacement. The rest of my party looked in all directions in this forest filled with giant trees, surveilling the area, until something caught Watanabe's eye.
"Boss, behind you." He pointed, and I turned around to where he was pointing and saw a crater behind me. I walked towards it to investigate it properly, upon closer inspection I noticed colourized blood and scorching on its surface. Someone was killed here, no, not just here. There was a battle here, and then the bodies were collected. The more I looked around the more damage to the terrain I saw, this must have been what everyone else was looking at while I was talking to Spade.
"This is the last place I saw the shogun, see his work." He pointed to the crater I was standing in. "Is it not fascinating, I'm still not sure what happened. What was that artem he used again, oh I forget. Luckily I have you to find out when the two of you have your best friend reunion. Do you want to know in detail what I saw?"
"…." I held my tongue because I wanted to know what attack was used by a metal artemer to temper soil. The ground I stood on was especially solid, as if the metals in the soil were heated extremely quickly to a high temperature and then rapidly cooled. I placed my hand on the black surface and released chi into it, I could feel Titen's unusual chi. The layer of the hardened soil was thin but I also felt something else within the centre. Upon closer inspection I saw a tiny sphere, it was made from an alloy by its unusual colour. I drew my sword and wedged its tip to try and remove the metal object. "Melted into the hardened soil." It didn't budge, it would seem I would have to use more force but attention isn't something I want to attract right now. We don't know if the Creed didn't leave behind any eyes, I sensed for chi but quickly realised that would be pointless. The Creed has some of the best at tracking and hiding, our objective is to move away from here quickly.
"Well since you won't ask me, I'll just tell."
"Tell me."
"Okay only because you asked so nicely, he created a tiny metal orb that reminded me of his father's spirit weapon and then boom!" He said with a childlike smile on his face. "That's all I saw, I blame myself for blinking."
"Like his father's spirit weapon." I mumbled to myself.
"Still think it will be easy to retrieve him, he might be stronger than you. He didn't even bother to use his venalicium in the fight, that tells me he either had given up the notion of fighting me…"
"Or he might have a means to deal with your capabilities" Watanabe interjected.
"So you are the brains of this group and here I thought it was the crazy skinny man."
"Hehehe. Call me crazy again Spade and I won't be as well behaved as I already am."
"And remove your sand from our bodies, or else…" Hayake said angrily.
"What, what can you lower Venalicium do to me?" He said as he crept closer to Hayake, she drew her short katana "If I wanted I could wipe you all out and claim you fell in battle. Retrieve Titen and return with him to the regent."
"But you won't do that, because that's not what the regent ordered of you. You and I both know what happens when Child Venaliciums fail him, forget about Reitess Terragon. You won't last against a Tetrakai." I said as I rubbed the ash of my hand. "This doesn't change anything." I said with a grin on my face causing a perplexed reaction from my companions. Their shock is understandable, I haven't smiled in ages let alone in front of them. Seeing Spade grining with me would make me stop immediately but I couldn't help it, my blood was rushing like never before. I just didn't care, my mission had officially begun and that brat got stronger. I just can't wait to kill him. "Let's go!" I said as I walked out of the crater and in the direction of the convoy that carried Titen.
Titen POV
To see his face out of all the people grandfather could have sent, I thought he would have planned something more special for him. Isamu is not here to take me back to my family, the intentions in his eyes are clear as we stare at each other's soul while our swords cross. Ting ting ting! The clash of our iron was louder than the hammering that forged our swords.
"Isamu, did dear Lady Mamushippo hug you after she condemned you, her and the rest of your house!"
His breathing grew erratic. "Don't you dare talk of her again, false shogun!" He levied my sword high with an under swing and proceeded to kick me in the stomach. "Or I'll make your death more painful than what I had in mind."
"I'm always curious as to how creative one can be, reaching one's creative limit is a blessing after all." I said while reeling in from the damage and smiled at my friend.
"Your death will be a blessing to all."
I looked over to my right side and there was Akiyon fending off a tall man with two sickles in his hands. His strikes were wild and sporadic but he knew but he knew what he was doing with his weapons, he was aiming for Akiyon's vital parts. Akiyon is skilled enough to dodge his opponents strikes and he too would counter with his own attacks with his spear.
The branches of the staff had formed a sharp point thus forming a spear like weapon. Akiyon's use of his range was well controlled and you could see that he is well trained with it, each lunge with the spear was controlled. I returned my attention quickly to my old friend whose anger was showing more and more on his face. He pushed back with his sword as he did. I backflipped twice to clear the distance between us. Isamu covered the distance by lunging forward while swinging his sword directly at me, our swords clashed again causing sparks to fly.
"Give up Titen, we both know I'm the better sword."
"We'll see about that, Isamu! It has been four years after all."
"Cocky bastard! I'm trying to show you mercy. The mercy she…!" He fell silent and aimed his sword to my left side then my right, both strikes were blocked. The barrage of attacks were levied and blocked by me and I in turn dealt my punishment but unsuccessful, Isamu has never been an easy fight.
"What's your plan after you've slayed me, huh Isamu!? You won't be able to go home, you already knew that right?"
"Are you stalling? Hoping for reinforcements to come to your rescue or you think I will lose to you."
"Hahaha! Me waiting for reinforcements, don't make me laugh. I am my own reinforcements, you're no threat to me." I raised my chi slightly higher than before and Isamu followed suit. I don't know why but I'm excited, is it because I'm fighting you? Have I been waiting for this day so badly? The day I could truly test myself against an equal.
"I'm not a threat to you, what makes you so sure?"
"Because you haven't devoted your heart and mind to this battle, not even your flesh." As I said this, I took my sword and ran the edge on my palm. Blood dripped from my sword and even more flowed from my palm, I pointed my bleeding fist to Isamu. "Don't you get it brother, I can't fight you properly if you're carrying your burdens to a death match."
My eyes moved from the figure of Isamu to the direction I could sense Spade's chi. Our raised chi signals might have notified the Creed that there are intruders and individuals might be on their way, maybe one of those Elementos as well. The woman beside Isamu moved closer to Akiyon's fight, and the rest remained in their position. Ther job is to make sure we are not disturbed by outside interference. Akiyon seems to be holding his own against the tall man he is currently exchanging blows with. The real problem here for me is Isamu and Spade, he probably told Isamu he would behave but I know better. I can't drop my guard, it's seven against two. I returned my eyesight to Isamu who had also cut his palm and outheld his bleeding fist to me.
"I'm surprised you still remember our customs."
"Tengoku." I said.
"Jigoku." Isamu said.
"Ken proelium!" we said in unison.
Chi flowed from my opponent and also me, he formed particles of copper. Mine were an alloy of iron and copper (master alloy).
"Copper Sand Art: Viperidae!" Isamu chanted.
The copper sand at his feet that were a second ago hyperactive, settled down. Tendrils of copper sand formed from the sand and the first tendril struck first at me and another followed. I dodged both and cleared the distance between us by backflipping backwards, after my third flip I settled and held my stance.
"West dance," I pointed my sword to the left side of my body. "Alloy Manipulation Art: Ame-no-Tajikarao."
My body became dense due to all the iron my blood cells were absorbing thanks to the gain of copper in my body. My body then became more durable as my skin turned to master alloy itself, I charged at Isamu in my new state. The tendrils struck at me but were unable to pierce my armour as I charged at Isamu, like a bull in mating season—I feel unstoppable. The tendrils began drilling away at my body but to no success, of course—the alloy is stronger. Isamu abandoned the idea of his tendrils of sand from stopping my charge, he pointed his sword to the ground. I stopped my charge when I realised what he was about to do, the sword went upwards in a straight line.
"Copper Sand Art: Stargazing Senbon."
The ground I was standing on was covered by a layer of copper sand, the rose sand glimmered in the brown sand. Tiny needles of copper sand formed on the ground then immediately went straight upwards. I increased the density of my skin but that still couldn't change the pain I was feeling, as the senbons flew up in a straight line. My armour was still standing strong but these senbon were too many for me to dodge in my heavy state, but also the needles flew down on me and away. The swarm of metal needles collected themselves behind Isamu.
"What's the matter, Titen? You looked worried already when the fight hadn't even begun."
"Just thinking about what I'm going to eat tomorrow, I'm hungry."
"Dead men shouldn't worry about tomorrow."
"Hahaha! I guess you aren't, huh?"
Isamu didn't like that, and so he retaliated as such by sending his swarm of needles straight to me. The sheer amount and consecutive head blows pushed me back, I could do nothing but block my face. The needles returned back to their master, those that were damaged by my armour were mended to normal. This is bad I thought to myself, I can't let this become a game of endurance. West dance applies too much strain to the body and Ame-no-Tajikarao provides both speed and strength but durability is time measured at my level, and my hide begins to crack. I quickly closed the gap between me and Isamu and hit him hard in the sternum with a tackle. This inflicted absolutely no damage to him and he began laughing at my attack that should have broken bones. Not only is he paler than the last time I saw him but his body felt cold like a corpse.
"Is that the best you can do? Sternum check me!"
"Give me a little bit more time, I'm sure I can check more bones."
The needles regrouped behind Isamu again, I checked to my right for only a second. Within it I saw Akiyon fighting both the man he was fighting and the woman who was standing next to isamu. Akiyon had summoned a giant tree root to help him fight off his assailants, Isamu stole a glance himself.
"It seems Titen, your friend's battle is a little more exciting."
"Let's get serious." I said as I pointed my sword to the front of me. "North dance, Alloy Manipulation Art:" all the metal on my body flowed out of me and formed a copper iron alloy metal ball that I compressed to a third of its original size. Isamu in turn did the same as the needles formed a ball themselves in front of him.
"Copper Sand Art: Stargazer!" Isamu said as he hit the imperfectly spherical object as if it were a stickball game.
"Calibre!" I tapped the metal orb with the tip of my sword, the contact sounded like a bell ring. This sent a rippling shockwave dispersing as the metal orb projected towards the copper orb. It was brief second of stillness in the air as the two orbs collided, but my Calibre had the stronger force. It destroyed the copper orb and headed straight for Isamu but he evaded at the last second masterfully, how he has improved in just 4 years. "I see your movements have improved."
"And you know a little more party tricks now."
"My master's teachings are more than just party tricks." I pointed my sword to the right side of my body. "East dance, Alloy Manipulation Art:" My chi flowed out of my body and two metals were formed but combined into the alloy ferro aluminium. " Moon Sickle Slash." As I said this, I released a crescent shaped attack formed by an alloy from the edge of my sword, the projectile went straight to Isamu.
Isamu dodge and began casting for himself, I won't give him the chance so released another sickle projectile. This time my aim was to his head and as I threw my second attack, I drew closer to Isamu. I threw two more consecutive slashes at Isamu but his agility was superior. Our swords clashed and we levied each other left; right; up and down, in my levies I launched a ferro aluminium sickle which was evaded.
"Copper Sand Art: Cerastes pit." The copper sand rose from his chi and slammed down on the ground, burrowing and grinding the soil beneath us. I instantly used Ame-no-Tajikarao when I saw the copper sand rise, but I now regret that judgment. Isamu was using his sand to create a sand pit and me being covered in heavy metal insured I wouldn't be going anywhere. I didn't want to release Ame-no-Tajikarao because I'm afraid in this vast copper sand pit, a projectile could be the end of me. Isamu unstuck his feet from the quick sand sinking pit and looked downed at me, how he knows that I hate that.
"Use it!" Isamu says with a serious expression. "Or you'll sink to hell."
"You go first, I want to see if you really are his venalicium."
Isamu smiled at me as his chi rose higher and higher, and then his light rose chi was tainted with black chia and grew ominous.
"Nota 1 degrees." He said as the dark chi mixed with his rose chi, his entire stature had changed on this battle field. Akiyon and the two he ws fighting paused their activity to watch him. A dark grey tattoo line appeared on his forehead, it was one short horizontal line just a little over his bridge. I saw a desert flower that wasn't far from him, die instantly and the light in the area also deemed. The entire atmosphere around him change, it was as if I could smell cold corpses in the air. He really did become one of my grandfather's venalicium, if that's the case then this fight is as serious as I thought.