Chereads / Heavenly Swordsman: World Redux / Chapter 24 - Ice Over the Desert [1]

Chapter 24 - Ice Over the Desert [1]

The Taiyō Desert, a large expanse of warm sand that takes up quite a large amount of Han'ei's southwest. Every day, the sun in Han'ei's sky beat down upon the sands. It is a breeding ground for Yo-Kai, and a popular location for vacations.

At a resort within the Taiyō, many guests were relaxing, however the fairly recent breaking news of a God Class Yo-Kai manifesting within it had caused a panic. That was except for two. A young man with flaming red hair and orange eyes, and another young man with pale skin and black hair with white streaks, white eyes to match. Honō Udon and Misuto Ha.

Honō: "So, why are we in the Taiyō."

Misuto: "Well our search for that mysterious man in proximity to three God Class Yo-Kai with unforseen levels of power has me suspicious. So we are going to investigate the Yo-Kai in this desert."

Honō shrugged, realizing Misuto's point. As more people were packing and leaving the resort, Honō got up and looked outside the resort, into the desert. He raised an eyebrow when he saw a white mist, but not the kind of mist that one normally expects for a poor day, no this was something else.

Misuto saw this too, taking in his own analysis. Whatever was near the expanding mist froze, immediately over taken by ice. Misuto squinted to get a better look.

Misuto: "Ice...a freezing mist in the middle of a desert. Honō, you thinking what I am?"

Honō: "Yeah. We found the Yo-Kai."

The two jumped from where they were in the resort, onto the desert sands. They began quickly running to the mist, the air around them dropping. In Honō's mind, it reminded him of Yuki Shimo. But this colder, and an even more terrifying presence, even stronger. Like the cold might of a god. Fitting given the class of Yo-Kai.

They got close to the mist, the sand freezing to ice as they got close. Misuto halted as they reached close to entering the mist, holding a hand out to keep Honō back. His eyes widened.

Misuto: "Stop...this presence...it's making even my blood freeze..."

Honō looked at Misuto like he was crazed, that was until he too felt the subzero presence. He quickly fished a talisman from his pockets and held it out.

Honō: "Strengthen my fists, my feet, the blades I do battle with. Bless me with the power to harm spirits. Caress with your strength Heavenly Dragon."

Golden essence enveloped the pair, granting them the ability to harm whatever Yo-Kai lurked in the mist. Misuto looked to Honō.

Misuto: "When did you learn exorcism?"

Honō: "I'm from one of the top clans moron. I was taught as a kid. My superiority in the art of exorcism should tell you such."

Misuto rolled his eyes and stepped into the mist. Honō put his flaming Kami no Chikara out as a barrier around him to divert the temperatures, spreading it to shield Misuto as well. It didn't stop the chill, but at least they wouldn't freeze.

As they went deeper, Hono heard charging steps, and Misuto too. They looked around until an ant like Yo-Kai, known as a Suna Ari, lunged towards them. Misuto raised his katana but the Yo-Kai quickly froze over. From the ice around the frozen spirit, Reiryoku poured. But not in the natural way of Yo-Kai passing. In a way as if it was being siphoned.

Misuto approached, inspecting the Suna Ari. Honō scoffed and grabbed Misuto, dragging him deeper into the mist so they could sooner find their mark. Misuto sighed at this, but followed on. As they kept going deeper the colder it would get. And more frozen Yo-Kai would pass by their path.

Eventually however, the frigid temperatures reached their peak. Misuto and Honō slightly beginning to freeze in spite of the flames Honō sparked. Honō and Misuto's eyes scanning around the mist until they settled on something. A pair of glowing yellow eyes.

Their eyes widened and they drew their katanas, assuming fighting stances. Then, the eyes began to get closer, and from the mist came a feminine figure. Its presence was even more frigid than the mists around the pair.

It was wearing a hakama made of ice, adorned with intricate designs sculpted into the ice. A tail sprouted from its backside, poking from the hakama. The Yo-Kai's skin was a light blue and its hair was long a white. Blackened fingernails were prominent on the hands, and ice covered the mouth of the Yo-Kai. Every feature was human-like, other than the tail and skin. It's gleaming yellow eyes shining down and inspecting the two. A voice of regal tone, cunning deliberation, and icy indifference. Spoken from a mouth trapped under ice.

???: "Humans, you venture into my power's depths."

Misuto raised his blade more, his eyes locking with the inhuman yellows of the Yo-Kai.

Misuto: "A Yo-Kai smart enough to talk. You're quite-"

???: "Brilliant I am aware. Perfection in my body is a given."

Honō exerted more Kami no Chikara into his flames. Stepping closer to the Yo-Kai. His katana raised towards it.

Honō: "A lot of confidence just for being one of the few Yo-Kai that isn't brain dead. Now, give me one reason why you won't die to an oppressive power like my fire."

Laughter boomed from the Yo-Kai, clearly amused by the statement. The Yo-Kai swept its hand to the side quickly, blowing Honō and Misuto backwards.

???: "You were brave venturing to me. But bravery is often just concealed stupidity. And for that, you will perish in the frigid blizzard of I, Kuraokami, the Snow Queen."