Summary:
One journey ends... Another one begins...
Ronin
Tritonio laughed as he ran away with a sack full of Coppers and a cozy score waiting for him back at Frog Valley. It was the life of a great con man and romantic thief. Money, adoring fans and no one to look up to or answer to but himself. So what if a few kids or suckers got a sentence or two in prison. Tritonio had it made and he would see it through to the end of his latest score. Jumping from branch to branch, he looked back to see the red haired toad he'd made a fool of for three whole years and three other toads.
"Get back here, you thief!" One of the toads called out.
"Give back the loot you stole!"
"He's heading deeper into the woods, it's too crowded to get through, split up and surround the slippery rat." Howard suggested.
"I give the orders here, soldier!" Bufo shoved Howard out of the way. "Push through! Cut down and burn the damn forest if you have to!"
Howard rolled his eyes as the other toads listened to Bufo. The waste of energy and time that it was didn't seem to get through their thick skulls. One look up and he could see Tritonio laughing it up as he jumped and skipped through the forest, going from branch to branch like the slippery thief that he was. He had to give the thief credit where credit was due, the guy knew how to pull a fast one on everyone else. It would be a good way to make a living if he wasn't a toad. If only Tritonio didn't keep on stealing from the tower they could've been best friends.
A shadow passed over him like an eagle soaring through the air. Howard looked up seeing a very familiar figure going after the damn thief.
"Better hope these guys get you before he does, Tritonio," Howard said, smirking.
Tritonio jumped and skipped like he was at the top of the world, carrying the bag of coppers like Santa Clause would his sack of toys over his shoulder. With a hop and a snatch on a branch, he swung himself further away from the pursuers that wanted to cut his thieving days short. Looking back on the path he'd trekked, he could only hear the grunts of frustration and annoyance.
"Ha, ha, ha, such simple minded and easily outsmarted toads," Tritonio said. "I, the great and cunning Tritonio, will enjoy greener pastures South." Overjoyed with his victory, he didn't notice the figure landing behind him.
Tritonio's smile didn't last long when a punch sent him flying back with all his teeth slightly rattled and his loot dropped. Groaning in pain, he looked up to see the source of the sudden attack.
"You've gotten careless, Tritonio." Randy landed before him.
Randy stood taller and more muscular after three years of training. He now wore a black suit with a red scarf wrapped around his neck. A red sash was wrapped around his waist matching the scarf on his neck. Black armored forearm guards with red ribbons tying them together protected his arms, matching the black shin guards with red marking strings for his legs. A silver pauldron on his left shoulder with his family symbol strapped across his chest with the symbol of his family acting as a belt buckle.
"I knew you'd come over this way to lose the guards after stealing the caravan filled with the tower's taxes," Randy said. "So, Howard made sure that the guards chased you while I made my run to this part. Pretty awesome and simple, am I right?" Looking down at the thieving newt, Randy saw him reach for a crossbow.
"I admit, it was a good one. I tip my hat to you!" Tritonio fired his crossbow at Randy.
Randy's muscles tensed as blood flowed faster through his body, drawing his sword at blinding speeds. With a single slice, the arrow was cleanly cut in two, harmlessly missing Randy's head. Flowing like water, Randy turned his blade down on the crossbow, cutting it in half.
"Okay, I give up-SMOKEBOMB!" Tritonio dropped a smoke bomb before Randy's feet, covering the area with thick black smoke.
Tritonio sprinted to his feet with the loot in toll. He might've been a thief but he was not willing to risk fighting against a creature that was much faster and deadlier than him. It was the best way to survive. All he needed was to get to his secondary hideout and he'd be safe.
"Smokebomb!"
From an orange cloud of smoke appeared Randy, cutting off Tritonio's escape. Before the newt had a chance to move out of the way, Randy swung his scarf at him. The long red piece of fabric wrapped around Tritonio's body, tightening up like a toad or a frog's tongue would around a sneaky fly. The money fell down to the ground as the newt became unable to move freely. Tritonio struggled against the tight hold of the scarf, but Randy would not give him a second to escape him. With one mighty pull, Randy brought Tritonio face-to-face with him and his steeled glare.
"Now that wasn't nice. Reminds me of that time you switched the bags with smoke bombs." Randy glared at the thief. "Thankfully, I learned how to work through them and how to make my own. So thanks, Tritonio."
"Is your gratitude so far reaching to be released?" Tritonio asked.
"You con kids and orphans into being the fall guys to your crimes," Randy deadpanned. "What do you think?"
Tritonio gulped as the young warrior reeled back his fist.
Within the blink of an eye, Randy landed three blows on Tritonio, giving him a black eye, some broken teeth and even unstuck his mustache and beard from his face. Tritonio fell as Howard and the rest of the toads arrived at the scene.
"Hey guys, what took you so long?" Randy picked up the back of loot.
"Well, vice-dummy Bufo thought it would be useful to cut our way through the thick forest instead of going around to meet up with you," Howard replied. "But I see that you got it all under control, so I guess we saved his bacon."
"It's Lieutenant Bufo, you clowns!" Bufo snarled. "You may have gotten the thief, but you still broke formation!"
"Um, no he didn't." Howard countered with a smirk. "You ordered us to capture the thief by any means necessary. Randy here followed him through a path we couldn't, but didn't disobey you or anything."
Bufo steamed as the other soldiers muttered and nodded in agreement with Howard's words. It was a clear statement of truth and he had no way of putting it in doubt, especially when the stolen Coppers and the newt thief were practically at his feet on a silver platter. Most lieutenants and figures of authority would've expected some respect from their underlings, but Randy and Howard always gave Bufo more reasons to strangle them. Huffing like a pissed off bull, Bufo snapped his fingers, getting the other soldiers to pick up both the money and Tritonio.
"One of these days, you two will learn not to cross me or take me for a fool." Bufo sheathed his sword. "Now, back to the tower. I want twenty laps up and down the mountain with stone-filled baskets."
"Oh goodie, more training to be better," Randy said. "Thanks, lieutenant."
Bufo growled before walking away from the two soldiers.
"We should really stop antagonizing him," Howard said. "He may be as dumb as a stag beetle bull but he is just as mean."
"Maybe, but so far we haven't done anything that could get us in too much trouble. Let's do that training and then get something to eat." Randy and Howard high-fived as they walked.
"You know food is my weakness." Howard groaned.
"...And as such, Newtopia is not pleased with the way that the Eastern Toad Tower has been doing things as of late." A newt representative spoke to Sarutobi as he smoked his pipe and looked over different reports of yokai activity as well as other rumors. "The king demands a more stern hand to keep the frogs in their place and that any captured yokai are sent to the capital for further study."
"Uh huh," Sarutobi said.
"And how you will transport them you may ask, well, with this beauty." The newt stepped out of the way, revealing a large black box with carved newts and strange symbols. "This beauty is the latest in containment for yokai, equipped with a state of the art defense mechanism in case something tries to break in or out." He pulled a lever, getting spikes to shoot out of the box. "Impressive, isn't it?"
"Not really." Sarutobi barely spared it a glance. "It's too heavy to be moved properly into the field, and many yokai have strange mystic powers that can disarm its weapons or escape through that pretty little window there. Tell me, good sir, have you ever seen a yokai in the wild? They are powerful beings. Some rivaling nature's wrath. My best guess for the king is to leave them alone and live in harmony with them."
The newt representative wasn't all that pleased by being told off so easily.
"Perhaps it is time that you consider retirement, Lord Sarutobi," he said. "I'm sure there will be more than a few toads happy to try out the simple ways of the other towers."
Sarutobi only blew smoke on the newt's face, making them cough. Threats and calls like this were all too common for his liking. Newtopia and the King's caste system was severely unfair to anyone that was unlucky enough to be born beneath what others deemed worthy. Despite his many years of training and serving his people and those under his care, he was often told to keep up with a way of life that he and many more disagreed with. However, it was because of his approach and the results that he had been able to nurture a proper relationship between the frog villages and the people in charge. And he was not going to be told off so easily.
"Just be sure to remind them that I am far from being killed off by the paperwork." Sarutobi stood up, towering over the little newt. "You wish to know how me and Aldo have remained in command of our respective towers for so long? It is because we have earned the respect and loyalty of everyone under our command through deeds and honor. Be sure to remember that before you think just anyone will try to usurp me. Now, leave."
The newt and his guards left, dragging the black box with much strain to their arms and legs.
Sarutobi went back to the paperwork and the notifications that he'd received. It wasn't one of his favorite pastimes to put down bureaucratic clowns like that newt, but it did put a smile on his face. It was certainly a break from all the paperwork he had to deal with. Most of it were reports on the different villages, nothing major there. But amongst the pieces of peace and tranquility and proper tax collection, there was something that made his blood freeze.
"Damn it all." Sarutobi narrowed his eyes. "Those bastards are at it again. Soldier!" Sarutobi called one of his guards.
"Yes, sir?"
"Gather the troops, get them all at the courtyard, prepare the defenses and the weapons. We have a fight on our hands." Sarutobi instructed. "Get Lieutenant Bufo here as well. The Red Horns have been spotted. And I'll be damned if they take any other villages."
"W-What does that mean, Lord Sarutobi?"
"Oni, soldier. Oni." Sarutobi looked out the window, sensing a storm coming to the tower and the villages on the outskirts.
Randy and Howard made it to their bunks once their training was done, tired and ready for a warm meal. Something Howard was particularly looking forward to indeed.
"I really hope that we get some more of those meat filled sweet rice balls." Howard groaned, falling on his bed.
"I could do some of those myself." Randy pulled up a letter from his nightstand. "I got a letter from my grandfather. I should go visit him soon."
"I really want to have some vacation time myself." Howard stretched his arms as Randy opened the letter. "What does it say?"
Randy's eyes read through the letter, his mood souring. His eyes slowed down as he read every letter that was before him. Committing everything to memory, he read and re-read, making sure to get everything and not miss a hidden joke somewhere. But there was no mistake. The letter spoke the truth and he could not see anything other than the truth. A bitter truth that he hoped never to taste again.
"Hey, Cunningham? What's up?" Howard poked Randy's head, hoping to get an answer. "Bad news?"
"My grandpa is sick. The doctors haven't given him much time." Randy held back the burning sensation behind his eyes. "He wants me to go back to Wartwood. I need to speak to Sarutobi about this. Maybe I could get transferred or changed to be closer."
"Man, that sucks." Howard patted his friend in the back. "I'm sure Sarutobi will understand. Heck, I would transfer too if I didn't like it here."
The truth of the matter, Randy didn't mind the transfer or going back to Wartwood. What bothered him was that he had yet to fully become a mystic warrior. He didn't even know how to unlock that kind of power or if he had that potential in him. It weighed on him like a rock pressing on his chest. Like a defeat that you can't get over or a missed opportunity that you wished you'd gotten back. The remorse of being away for three years and having nothing to show for it was worse than being back at Wartwood doing nothing. He wished that there was something he could take to prove his worth.
The bell rang loudly, getting Randy out of his own head.
"Everyone out and into the courtyard! Now! Now! Now! On the double!"
Randy tucked the letter in his pocket as he and Howard made their way out along with the rest of the toads.
"What do you think this is all about?" Randy asked, trying to keep his mind occupied.
"Well, either we're about to get visitors or we're about to be attacked." Howard shrugged. "My best guess is that Bufo is about to be kicked out. But that's hopeful thinking."
"I don't think we're that lucky." Randy and Howard stopped as everyone stood in formation.
"Attention!" Bufo called out as Sarutobi stepped out to meet the soldiers.
Sarutobi was dressed in full battle armor and moved to greet his troops with sharpened commanding confidence. His eyes scanned each and every single one of them like it was the last time that he'd ever seen them again. The air grew tense as they all waited for him to speak to them. Lifting up his staff, he slammed it gently on the stand while carrying the helmet under his arm.
"Soldiers. We are facing one of the most dangerous enemies we've ever dealt with." Sarutobi's voice boomed across the courtyard. "A band of ferocious oni has been spotted by the outskirts of the northern territory, heading this way."
The toads muttered in fear at his words.
"Oni? Is Sarutobi being serious?" Randy asked.
"Great, just what we needed the yokai version of toads rumbling here of all places." Howard shivered slightly. "The idea of being anywhere but here is more and more tempting now."
"I know you've all heard stories of them or run into them at some point in your lives. And let me assure you, they are as dangerous as every legend says they are." Sarutobi felt his scar aching, remembering his battle with one. "They are ruthless brutes that one day appeared in the shores of Amphibia and from time to time they terrorize, kill and eat amphibians. They are big, mean and savage. We'll go and meet them in the battlefield today with half of our forces while the other half will stay here and prepare to fend them off if we are unsuccessful."
The plan wasn't making everyone feel any better about heading out into battle against a foe everyone only knew through legends. Sarutobi himself wasn't all that happy with only taking half of his forces to the battlefield, but it was in order to keep some semblance of strength in the tower. If they fell then they were to send news of this to the other towers and Netopia as well. They needed to be ready in case this was a much larger assembly of oni. Amphibia wasn't ready for a force this big. They needed to cut the beast at the head before it grew too strong to be stopped.
"Who'll volunteer fot this march?" Sarutobi asked. "Step forth if you are prepared to fight for your home and your people. Who will be brave?"
Randy stood forward.
"I do." Everyone looked at him in shock.
Sarutobi narrowed his eyes, noting the fire in Randy's eyes.
"Dude, what are you doing?" Howard asked, unintentionally stepping forth.
"What I have to do. If I go and stop the oni then maybe I can make up for not getting mystic powers." Randy looked down before looking up in determination.
"Couldn't you just do something like get a medal or something?" Howard argued.
Randy only gave him a look with fire in his eyes.
"Just saying," Howard shrugged as more and more toads stepped forward, ready to fight.
"Arm yourselves and make peace with your gods, we'll head into battle at dusk!" Sarutobi slammed his staff to the cheering of all his soldiers.
"Well, it was nice knowing you, Cunningham." Howard patted Randy in the back. "I'll be safe here and hope that you and old Sarutobi will do your best."
"Um, Howard," Randy said. "You stepped forth too." Randy pointed to the line.
Howard was indeed standing in front of a lot of other toads. His eyes shrunk at what he'd done. There was no way he could back out from the dangerous mission after stepping forth after Randy had stepped up. Utterly doomed he was indeed.
"Oh shoob me sideways." Howard dropped to his knees into a fetal position.
Randy and Howard gathered all their gear and prepared to fight with everything they had at their disposal. Despite Howard's complaints and attempts to weasel out of being in the front lines, he was trying to at the very least have a plan to get them all to survive the whole mess. According to the information they'd gotten from the reports, the oni had been seen near a large flat area by the north of the territory near the mountains. Which meant that any plans were needed to take into account that there was little to no coverage and if the oni came from the mountains, then they would have the high ground. But Randy wasn't interested in making any such plans. He was more focused on sharpening his sword for the battle and prove himself.
"I still think we should find a way to get out of this mess." Howard stuffed his bag with some extra maps and rations.
"Don't bother, Howard. We're in this to win it." Randy looked at his reflection in his sword. "It'll be death or glory, my friend. But don't worry, I will make sure that you're not in any danger." He put up a reassuring smirk as he sheathed his sword.
"Thanks man, but I feel safer if there was at least a tall thick wall of stone and bricks between me and any oni." Howard grabbed his club and shield with a grunt. "Do you even know any of the legends surrounding oni?"
"My grandpa told me a few of them as scary stories before bed to keep me from misbehaving," Randy said. "They are big monstrous creatures that resemble yokai, but they are bigger, with sharp teeth, horns, brightly colored skins and have a nasty habit of eating anything from small frog children to large animals." Randy tightend the bonds of his armor before picking up his bag and gord.
"Well then you know that a place like the Painted Plains isn't exactly a place where we should be fighting them." Howard poked Randy with his finger.
Randy's description of the oni wasn't all that different from what Howard and every other toad had heard of the oni. But that didn't change the fact that they were going to face probably an army of those monsters. They were dangerous for their size and savage hunger, but they were mostly solitary creatures that kept to themselves or in small packs. But in an open space, with nothing holding them back, they would be even more dangerous.
"Thankfully, I've got an idea for those jerks." Howard pulled out a map, showing it to Randy. "See this? This long stretch of red grass with trees are like they are in perpetual Autumn? That's where the oni have been spotted. A frontal assault will leave us exposed and the oni could easily retreat to the mountains on this side. Instead, we should use some of the fireworks and gunpowder to blow up the mountain to cause an avalanche and bring them down." Howard smirked with satisfaction at his plan.
"I think we ran out of those when Bufo fired them up to celebrate Lord Sarutobi's birthday." Randy scratched the back of his head. "Not a bad plan though."
"Which is why we will use boomshrooms instead."
Randy and Howard looked up to see Sarutobi walking up to them.
"Lord Sarutobi." Randy and Howard bowed to their master and leader. "We were just getting the last bits of our gear ready for the march. Howard just had some ideas that I think would be useful in combat."
"I understand your concern. It is a good plan, but we'll have to manage with what we've got." Sarutobi took a puff of his pipe. "This band of oni we'll be hunting is a specially ruthless breed. They've put villages to the sword and flame for very little. They love to fight and ruthless. Under no circumstances are you to think of them as simple brutes. But they are still mortal and therefore killable. Best way to kill an oni is by cutting off their heads. Anything else and they'll heal with enough time and rest."
"Right." Randy nodded.
"You got it, boss." Howard saluted his master. "Assuming Lieutenant Bufo doesn't mind the idea."
"Bufo will stay here and will ensure the tower is defended while we engage the oni. If we fall, he is to contact the other towers and Newtopia in case we have a big fight on our hands. So ready yourselves." Sarutobi turned to leave only to stop. "Randy, oni tend to go for the weak first. Use this." He tossed something to Randy.
Randy caught the object with ease. It was almost weightless and soft to the touch. He looked at what he had caught, revealing a mask. A black mask with a large eye window, two red vertical lines running down the edges of his eyes.
"At least it matches your color scheme." Howard pointed out.
Randy turned to one of the mirrors, putting on the mask over his head. Everything but his eyes and nosebridge was hidden from view. Not only did it go well along with the rest of his ensemble, but it felt like a missing piece was now put back where it belonged. It felt like a sign. A sign that Randy had to see this through.
"Let's go."
The battalion of toads followed Sarutobi as he rode on top of a large rhinoceros beetle on their way to the Painted Plains. Their trek was not an uninspired one. They passed though the forests of the Eastern region in silence, keeping the pace to meet with the forces of the oni that were only miles away from them. They watched the fluttering leaves fall off the trees as the beginning of Winter was closely approaching. The air began to cool, sending shivers through their bodies, forcing them to walk all the faster to maintain their heat. The sky was covered by a thick layer of clouds that didn't let any light shine down upon the trek. It felt like a foreboding omen hung over their heads as they marched on. But some did not want to admit it or let it weigh them down.
Sarutobi maintained a stern face that refused to show any sign of weakness. Like any leader worth their salt, his mind became focused on the way, ignoring the different possibilities playing in his mind. There was nothing but a steely resolve to see the battle through and safe his people. Although he wished to help cheer up the spirits of his warriors, he knew that there was a chance none of them would make it back alive. That was the risk they were all carrying in this path as they walked.
Randy and Howard stuck together, trying to whisper and talk best they could. Though they mostly just stuck to what they would do if they survived this fight and Howards several plans on how to get away from it all when the worst came after them. It was something they often did when during their time in the tower. As two outsiders, they often found time to learn more about each other and improve upon what they'd learned. An uphill battle was an easy way of putting things considering that one of them was particularly lazy in comparison to the other. But their chat was a perfect way to alleviate the tension that was around them. It softened their tension a little but it didn't take the troubling and fearful thoughts that they had. But it was too late to turn back now. They had arrived.
Most of the toads looked at each other with fear in their eyes as they arrived at the Painted Plains. At the base of three large mountains, the Painted Plains were a large stretch of flat land covered in grass and leaves from the nearby trees. The grass under the feet of the army turned sharp red like the star-shaped leaves from the trees surrounding the plains. The extend of flat land looked peaceful enough for the time of year, with only a few small critters running around between the blades of grass colored crimson like blood. According to some historians, the plains gained their name because one day a large yokai cut itself and the blood dripped down on every blade of grass and the ground beneath its feet. It was a marvelous thing to watch, like an eternal autumn suspended in time.
But what drew most of the attention were the smoke stacks coming from the base of the mountain at the other end of the plains. A large campsite made up of many oni. Their tents covered with large animal pelts, amphibian skulls placed on spikes, and several large fires that were used to cook their meat. It looked like they had made themselves at home. They hadn't spotted them yet, but their guards could send word at any moment.
Sarutobi ordered his army to stand down and keep themselves hidden. He dropped down from his beetle, meeting with his strategists. If they were to strike and win, they would have to do so quickly before they could be discovered.
"The enemy is at the base of the mountain as we suspected." Sarutobi drew an imprompt map of the battlefield. "We'll need to move quickly and take them by surprise. The mountains have gotten a good amount of snow this early, so we'll use that to our advantage. We'll send three scouts, two to place the boomshrooms as high as they can and the other to see what we're facing. Randy, Howard, you two will be in charge of the boomshrooms."
Randy and Howard were given the explosives. The bags were heavy with the small blue mushrooms that could blow up a tower with ease.
"Are we bringing down the whole mountain?" Randy asked.
"This seems like overkill," Howard muttered.
"These have a charge of five minutes, be sure you're far from the mountain before they go off." Sarutobi instructed before gesturing to another toad. "You, go and see if you can count how many oni are in the campsite. Get everything you can on them, what weapons they have and who their leader is. A gathering this big should have at least two to three leaders to command them."
All three of them bowed to their lord as they went off to do their respective tasks.
Randy and Howard snuck through the shadows of the trees, keeping out of sight of anyone patrolling the grounds. It wasn't easy to move so slowly with such big bags of explosives strapped to their backs. But they managed to get to the edge of the mountain they were after.
"Just a little more, Howard." Randy whispered.
"Easy for you to say, you're good to move in silence," Howard snapped. "Do you think I could pull that off?"
"Only if you want to get out of chores." Randy smirked under his mask.
Howard was about to reply when they heard something loud strutting towards them. They grabbed their weapons, preparing to attack anything that came over the edge of the camp. But they weren't expecting what appeared before them.
It was a massive hulking creature. Humanoid in appearance but with bright red skin that shined like a bloody knife. It had long white hair tied in a bun behind his head with one large horn sticking out from his forehead. It's eyes were a bright green, like freshly cut grass and his mouth had tusks popping out. It was dressed in only a black pair of torn pants that stopped at the knees. His hands and feet were covered in bandages, scratched and bloodied from work. And swung over his shoulder was a large club-like weapon, a kanabo. A baseball-bat-like weapon with metal stubs around the upper part. This was an oni.
Randy and Howard hung back, pressing themselves against the trees. Using the shadows to cover themselves from any and all detection, they waited for the oni to move. The mission had suddenly become a game of cat and mouse, with them as the mice in question. Randy was tempted to reach into his suit and pull out a couple of shurikens to blind the big monster, but Howard told him to stop.
The beast sniffed the air, moving its head from one side to the next, scanning for anything that could jump out and attack him. Nothing moved as far as the oni could see, only the rustling of the wind managed to catch his eyes. Gripping the weapon tightly, he waited for something to pop out, as though it was waiting for him to spot it. But after a good minute, the oni moved on, back into the camp.
Randy and Howard let out a sigh of relief before moving silently towards the edge of the camp where the oni had just been. Peering inside, the rest of the oni camp came into view. There were easily over a hundred oni, ranging in all shapes and sizes, some big, some small, some skinny, some bulky. They were cooking a carcass of a large beast that they had hunted and torn to pieces. But that wasn't the only thing on their menu. Scattered around the fire were the bones of many frogs and toads along with discarded clothes and even a small toy left by the oni. Those that weren't eating were fixing up weapons and putting them ready to good use.
"That's a lot of oni," Howard whispered. "Still think we could take them?"
"Not on our own. Come on, let's get these ready." Randy and Howard started climbing up the mountain, making sure to be as quiet as possible.
The climb up the mountain was not an easy feat as they kept quiet and tried to avoid the sight of any of the oni. Their fingers dug into the rock, clinging on to them with everything they had. They slowly placed one boomshroom after of the other, keeping them from blowing up to quickly before they could get far away. The wind and the cold kept them from making any sudden moves, but they kept on going. Their brows filled with sweat as they finished putting the last boomshroom onto the mountain.
"Last one," Randy said.
"Good, let's get out of here." Howard slowly started climbing down when they heard a sudden disturbance below them.
They looked down to see the other scout toad get thrown before a large tent.
"That's not good." Howard muttered as Randy jumped down, to see what was going on.
Down at the camp, the oni shoved the toad before the tent's entrance, holding their weapons at the toad.
"Boss Yama! We caught us a spy!"
The large tent parted open, revealing a big muscular oni with bright red skill like all the other oni, only this one had two horns instead of one. He carried himself with a more savage snarl than the other oni, with larger tusks accompanying his horns. Dressed like a tribal leader with skulls on his shoulders, torn up pants and a large bladed weapon that could be considered an extra large meat cleaver. His eyes were a dark black as a moonless night.
"Who dares enter this camp uninvited?" Yama lifted the toad by his head. "What are you doing here, spying on us, little toad?"
The toad was too scared to properly talk back to the oni chieftain. But this was only answered with a tightened grip on his head.
"Talk, or you're a midnight snack." Yama beared his sharp teeth at the toad.
Randy and Howard watched the scene.
"We need to do something. Do we have any boomshrooms left?" Randy asked.
"Nope, and we're running out of time." Howard showed the empty bag. "We need to get out of here and fast."
"We're not leaving him to be tortured and killed." Randy grabbed his sword, ready to fight.
Howard groaned as he knew Randy wasn't one to give up once he set his mind to something. His eyes landed on the unattended meal cooking not far from them. All the oni were looking at the prisoner, leaving it alone for him to make a move on it.
"Okay, I got an idea. But be sure to run, and fast." Howard gestured Randy to the fire.
Randy nodded, slowly making his way to the oni and their captive. Keeping low, he stuck to the shadows with a hand ready to unsheath his sword. Turning his sights to the other end of the camp where Howard had snatched some of the lit logs. He watched as Howard tossed them up into the other tents. And fire soon followed, getting everyone's attention.
"Fire!"
"The tents are burning!"
Yama's eyes landed on the fire, giving Randy the chance he needed.
Sprinting like a mad dasher, Randy unsheathed his sword before any of the oni guarding the prisoner could react. His lungs filled with fire as his body moved faster than the blink of an eye. With a powerful slash, he cut off the heads of two onis like the flow of a river. His eyes landed on Yama, jumping at him with his blade following ready behind him. He swung at Yama, only for the oni to step aside, dropping the captured toad scout.
Yama unsheathed his weapon, swinging it down at Randy, only for Randy to jump out of the way. He sprung back to his feet, swinging his sword at the oni, only to get backhanded away. Randy swung his scarf at the oni's arm, pulling himself after him once more. But Yama swung his meat cleaver-like sword, pushing Randy back to where the toad was cowering in fear.
"What matter of creature are you?" Yama demanded, pointing his sword at Randy.
"Can't you guess from the clothes?" Randy asked. "I'm a warrior." Randy aimed his sword at the oni.
Yama smelled the air, trying to get a scent of what was before him. It wasn't an amphibian. Nor was it an oni or yokai. It was something else entirely, and his mouth salivated to take a bite out of him. Gripping his weapons with both hands, the oni attacked Randy with the strength of a monster. Their blades clashed, with Yama gaining the upper hand, pushing Randy back with his size and muscle. Randy dug his heels into the ground, parrying Yama's sword over his head. He jumped forward, slashing at Yama's chest with his sword. But his blade was met with a chest plate made up of iron scales. Randy jumped back as Yama slammed his hand on the ground below him.
The ground broke from the strength of the blow, but it gave Randy the chance he needed. Pulling out a handful of shuriken, he threw them at Yama's face and arms, cutting him deeply. The big oni screamed as blood poured out of his palm and cheek. It was an insult that he would not let die. Yama rushed at Randy once more with death in his remaining eye, punching him in the stomach, and sending him flying back.
Randy felt the air leave his lungs as he landed back down, dragging his feet. He looked up at the oni as it charged at him. Taking in a deep breath, he got ready to rush in and attack once more but a loud rumbling boom echoed down from the mountains.
Randy and Yama looked up to see the avalanche coming down on the army camp.
"Randy, time to go!" Howard road in on top of two komodo lizards.
Randy grabbed the downed toad and hopped on the back of the second lizard, riding out of the camp.
"After them!" Yama screamed as snow, rocks and land came down upon his camp.
Randy and Howard rode off as several oni chased after them with their leader at the head. They narrowly dodged their fiery spears raining down on them. They were getting ever closer to them, even with the added speed of the lizards taking them away from the location. Snapping at the reins, the lizards went faster, with Randy having to slice off the head of a jumping oni. They got a good distance away from the oni when arrows began flying down on them, cutting off the chase of the oni army.
This brief moment of rest gave Yama and the other oni time to look back at their camp.
The avalanche struck down on the camp, burying it. Many oni were caught in the avalanche, leaving them under a ton of rock, earth and snow. This left a good half of the original oni camp ready to fight.
Yama turned to look at this. Roaring in rage, he turned to the escaping intruders and their actions. But he wasn't so much angry by the death of his fellow oni, but more so that a couple of toads and a strange creature had gotten the better of him. Blood boiled through his veins as he knew that he had to get blood for blood. His sights were set back on the small army of toads rushing towards him.
"Kill them all!" Yama commanded holding up his weapon over his head.
Randy and Howard returned behind the toad army's lines, getting the wounded toad to safety.
"Here, take him!" Randy told the medics. "Where is Lord Sarutobi?"
"He's leading the attack from the front, kid." One of the medics answered him.
"Of course he is." Howard groaned. "And you're going after him, aren't you, Cunningham?" Howard waited for an answer but didn't get it. "Cunningham?" Howard turned only to see his friend missing from his spot.
"He took off after we told him where Lord Sarutobi was, dude. Sorry." The medic shrugged.
"Son of a slug!" Howard turned the lizard mount and took off after his friend quickly.
Sarutobi led his toads against the forces of the oni army. It was a bloody battle from the start, oni spearing through some of his toads while other toads chopped the heads of the oni. It wasn't his first time seeing blood in the battlefield, but it didn't make him like it any more. The best thing to do was end the conflict quickly and decidedly. And there was only one way to do that: Taking the head of the oni leader. Sarutobi didn't need to look hard to find him. Yama was not far from him and was cutting down several of his soldiers with his weapon.
His rhino beetle easily pushed back the smaller onis away while he spunned his staff against the larger ones. The sensation of bones breaking against his weapon as he made his way through the battlefield wasn't the only thing he was focusing on. His eyes focused on the brutal and demonic smile that Yama had on his face.
"Yes! More! More! More bloodshed!" Yama stomped on a toad, cracking his shield. "Give me more blood to fight!" He swung his cleaver, cutting another toad in two as well as another oni that got in the way.
Yama laughed as his weapon cut through friend and foe alike that got in his way. The sight of red blood made him feel alive and ready to fight all the more. It made him a terrifying oni chief, and feared by his men and enemies alike. His eyes landed on Sarutobi as it made his way towards him on top of his rhino beetle. Spotting the corpse of a fallen toad soldier, Yama got a sinister idea. With one hand, he picked up the corpse and with a mighty stomp he flung it all the way at the feet of the rhino beetle.
The corpse struck Sarutobi's mount, forcing him to jump off of it as his ride crashed down.
"So, you're the toad that sent those three into my camp, huh? Guess you are too spineless to attack me head on like a real warrior!" Yama swung his cleaver over his shoulder, laughing. "What? Didn't want to get your fancy stick all tainted with blood?" He laughed.
"It is the duty of a leader to win and protect as many of his people as possible, besides, that was the only way to give your victims a proper burial." Sarutobi and Yama circled each other. "Judging by your size and ferocity, I'd say that you've eaten at least over a hundred amphibians in your day. Those are lives that will see justice today." He assumed his combat stance, pointing hsi staff at the oni.
"Ha ha ha, 100? I stopped counting after 250. Now, who's to say?" Yama swung his cleaver in a circle over his head. "I'll make sure you are properly cooked before devouring you whole." Yama charged at Sarutobi, swinging down his cleaver on the old toad.
Sarutobi held up his staff, blocking the downward strike. Parring the blow to the side, Sarutobi spun his staff against the oni's chest, rattling his ribs. But Yama wasn't one to stand down for long, or let a single blow beat him. Digging his heels into the ground, the oni swung back his lage cleaver, pushing Sarutobi back. Then he jumped after the old toad, slamming his cleaver like it was just a piece of dull iron against Sarutobi's staff.
The old toad pushed and parried the attacks as best as he could, but the savagery of Yama was starting to wear him down. Yama slashed at his armor, knocking off his helmet, giving him a cut above his eye. Sarutobi stepped back, only for Yama to kick him in the stomach, knocking out the air from his lungs. Yama slashed at Sarutobi's leg, cutting out a good chunk of it and the armor. To add insult to injury, Yama kicked him on the side, sending him back. The brutal strength of the oni's bear legs broke parts of the armor and forced the old toad to catch his breath. There was no sugarcoating it, Sarutobi was in trouble if he didn't do something soon.
"You're too old for the fight, you toad!" Yama laughed. "But you've aged like wine. I'll be sure to savor your flesh as I eat it whole." Yama licked his weapon, tasting the blood of the toad lord.
Sarutobi only stared at the only through the pain and bloodied eyes. But there was no fear to speak of. He gripped his staff with his two hands before planting his feet on the ground, like a sumo wrestler. Pointing his staff at the oni, he declared that he wasn't backing down.
"It'll be hard to eat my old body, when you have no teeth to chew with." Sarutobi spun his staff around his body like an invisible shield. "Come at me if you dare, maggot!"
Yama took the bait, lunging himself at the old toad. With his cleaver in hand he attacked the old toad, but his blade never reached Sarutobi. The staff blocked the attack, parrying it out of the way before the other end struck Yama in the face. Yama didn't even get a chance to react. Sarutobi's staff struck him in the arm and then behind the knee, bringing Yama down to one knee. Sarutobi swung his staff, hitting the oni in the face, sending him back to his feet. The old toad lord took step after step as he spun his staff at blinding speeds. Each strike he landed sent the oni back, pushing him like he would carving a path through a mountain.
Sarutobi's body was in pure pain, but his breathing maintained its strength, pushing him forward. Spinning his staff at blinding speeds, he blocked and struck Yama's attacks and body. Hitting his sides, arms and legs, he pushed him back against the might of his attacks. Any counter that Yama sent his way was blocked and parried, opening the entrance for his next attack and the next and the next. His blow took one of the oni's horns, giving Yama lots of pain. But his technique was not without its drawbacks. It was taking his toll on his wounded body and his vision was slightly impaired from the blood dripping down his one good eye. But with fire in his heart and an indomitable spirit, let out a warrior's cry as he felt Yama's bones cracking against his strikes.
"This is the end for you, oni!" Sarutobi called out. "All the souls and lives you've taken now call for your head! And I will grant them that vengeance!" He slammed his staff against Yama's armor, shattering it with the strength of his tempered body.
Randy made his way through the battlefield with Howard coming up behind him for good measure. He sliced the heads of several oni like a fiery torrent of death, cutting through their arms, legs and heads. There was no patience or desire to rest, he needed to find his master and help him. He would not leave him in the battlefield alone. It was a duty that he had been raised and trained to believe in. He couldn't face the possibility of losing two parental figures in one day. With a warcry, he stepped further deeper into the battlefield.
"Where could he be?" Randy asked, blocking a sword before cutting the oni's head.
"How should I know?!" Howard struck another oni where the sun didn't shine. "This is not the most ideal place to ask those questions. He could be anywhere."
Randy sliced a spear in two before cutting the head of another oni. He got behind Howard's back, covering his blind spot as he held up his shield to block a battle axe.
"Turn!" Howard ducked as Randy spun on top of him, slicing at the oni's hands.
"Duck!" Randy ducked before Howard struck the oni's face with his club.
They kept going on like this, covering and blocking each other from any harm before countering their enemy. The oni surrounding them were starting to get afraid of coming even close to them. The battle was turning in not just their favor but in the favor of their allies. Many of the oni started to turn tail and run from the battlefield, leading to some toads cheering for victory beforehand.
However, among the retreating oni and the ones still fighting, Randy and Howard could see Sarutobi standing face to face against the oni leader. Their weapons clashed, causing sparks to come off and ignite the corpses around them.
"There he is!" Howard pointed to the two fighting.
"We gotta help him!" Randy charged after their master with Howard in toll.
"Of course, as if we haven't rushed into battle already!" Howard moaned in exhaustion. "Wait for me, damn it!" Howard took after his friend.
Sarutobi was at the edge of his strength and quickly running low on it. But the oni before him looked just as bad. He still had a chance to finish this fight.
"You think I haven't noticed?!" Yama laughed through his missing teeth. "You've lost a lot of blood, toad. But I have plenty of strength so spare!" Yama pointed to Sarutobi's leg wound.
Yama took a deep breath, making the back of his throat lit up by a purplish flame. He blew his fire onto his cleaver, spreading the flames like lighting up an oily sword. With a mad cackle, he swung his ignited weapon against Sarutobi once more. But instead of repelling or parrying the attack, Sarutobi was sent back as the cleaver chipped away at his staff.
"You have mystic powers," Sarutobi panted.
"I do old man! And now, prepare to die, or struggle a little longer and make this more fun for me!" Yama swung his mystic fire-coated cleaver sword like a madman. "I, Yama of the Red Horns, win this fight!"
Sarutobi did his best to block and counter the attacks, but each move he made wasn't strong enough to withstand the attacks. His injured leg came back to bite him as he was now on the defensive. But his warrior's spirit didn't allow him to retreat. If only he could cut the oni's head, or smash it off.
"Lord Sarutobi!" Randy called out.
Sarutobi and Yama turned to see Randy and Howard coming towards them.
"Stay back!" Sarutobi comanded.
Slash!
The world froze before Randy's eyes. Yama's fiery cleaver cut through Sarutobi's staff, cleaving Sarutobi's army and body. Sarutobi was cut down from up his left shoulder down half way to his stomach. The flames of Yama's weapon burnt his skin and cauterized the wound, not that it would have saved him. The weapon was pulled out of Sarutobi's body, as Yama laughed at the sight of the old toad. The sight would've brought the mightiest soldier and the most stone-hearted man to tears. Yet he still stood up, holding his weapon tightly. Sarutobi refused to give Yama the satisfaction of knowing he'd gotten the better of him.
"Still standing?! Now that has to say something about your body, you old toad, you!" Yama laughed. "I'll make sure to roast you as you cling to life like a damn tick!" Yama lifted his fiery cleaver once more to fully kill his prey.
However, before he brought down his weapon on Sarutobi once more, a red scarf wrapped around his hands. Yama turned to where the scarf had come from only to get a fist to the face. It was as hard as the strikes he'd gotten from Sarutobi's staff, but it had a spring to it. Yama didn't have much time to react to the punch, as a roundhouse kick broke one of his tusks. He tried to swing his weapon, but the scarf pulled and tugged him away, keeping him off balance. Then he received blow after blow to his injured face. The pain was great, but it gave him enough space to see who was attacking him.
"You?!" Yama demanded.
"Me!" Randy landed, unsheathing his sword against the oni. "Your fight is with me now, monster!"
"Angry I killed your master, morsel?" Yama taunted. "You are next!"
Yama charged at Randy, roaring like a monster thirsty for blood. This creature would be the main dish next to the toad he'd just slain. But Randy's eyes didn't show any fear against him, he charged at Yama with his sword ready. Reeling his sword back, Randy sped past Yama's side, cutting it with a clean slice. Moving like fast water, he moved quickly underneath the cleaver-like blade, cutting Yama's body over and over.
Randy didn't know what was making him so fast and so strong. His anger made his breathing like fire fueling his every step. He got closer and closer, making the large weapon useless against him. Even as Yama backhanded the top of his head, making him bleed, he didn't stop. His feet dug deeply on the ground, cracking it slightly as he charged once more. Yama swung down, to cut him in two. Randy lifted his sword, attempting to block it, using his hand to help support the blade. But the oni's strength was greater. Randy's sprint was cut short, being pinned under the weight of Yama's burning blade.
Yama smirked at the thought of killing him. But Randy only glared at him with determination.
"Norushi Style! Bouncing Drop!" Randy parried the swing of the blade, letting Yama's strength and body carry the attack deep into the ground and away from him.
Randy swung his sword upwards and into the neck of the oni. Digging his feet into the ground, he pushed forward, cutting through Yama. He cut half way into the monster's neck. Looking into the eyes of Yama, only seeing evil and rage in them, Randy spun in a red fiery circle, cutting the oni's head.
"Let all the souls that you've killed, rest in peace!" Randy screamed.
Yama's head bounced on the ground, for all the remaining oni to see. They all looked at Randy as he looked upon them with rage and fire in his eyes. He was about to chase after them.
"Cunningham!" Howard snapped him out of it.
Randy turned back to his friend as he helped Sarutobi. His master needed him.
"Leave, while I show you mercy!" Randy called to the remaining oni.
He turned to his master, reaching his side as the remaining oni fled.
"It's bad, Cunningham," Howard said. "Really, really bad."
"I'll go get the medics." Randy pulled out his scarf to wrap it around Sarutobi's wound.
But Sarutobi stopped him.
"Don't… My wounds are too deep." Sarutobi's hand trembled. "I've lost a lot of blood too. But don't cry. You two are warriors, and shouldn't feel sad. What warrior goes into battle not knowing that today may be their last day?" He coughed. "It was an honor to watch you and your brothers and sisters grow into proud warriors that would protect their home and their people."
"D-Don't talk, Lord Sarutobi, we can get you help." Randy and Howard held his hands.
"Yeah, you'll be up and about in a day." Howard did his best lying attempt.
Sarutobi just laughed.
"I guess, you'll have to deal without me for a while. Every beginning is an ending, and every ending is a beginning." Sarutobi spoke. "Look forward, for the changing of the world is in your hands now."
Sarutobi's hands went limp as the remainder of his soldiers gathered around Randy and Howard.
Randy and Howard returned to the Toad Tower for the funeral of Sarutobi. He was laid to rest with the greatest honors a Toad Lord could be given. The defeat of the Red Horns pleased the other lords and Newtopia's king, but that mattered very little when it had cost so many lives.
Bufo was quickly selected to take over tower duties by the heads back at Newtopia, much to the distaste of some.
As for Randy and Howard…
"You sure you don't want to come with me?" Randy asked, putting away the last of his possessions. "Wartwood could use a good planner like you."
"Nah, I still need to fill my mandatory quota of five years. The Southern Tower is getting some new hands, so I'll fit right in." Howard put his stuff in a big bag. "Bufo practically jumped over the moon knowing that we'd be going away."
"With him in charge, things won't be the same. He'll probably encourage some of the lesser aspects of toad culture around here." Randy carried his bag full of gear and weapons out of the room.
Randy and Howard walked out of the tower, stopping by the grave and monument that had been erected for Sarutobi. A gravestone littered with flowers and his mended staff embedded in the ground.
"Yep, I'll send you a letter as soon as I'm settled. You gonna be okay?" Howard asked.
Randy pulled out his mask. It was now his badge and burden for not being able to save his master. But he'd carry it to preserve his memory and his teachings.
"I can't run from the facts of life. We might not realize it, but facing everything that comes our way is what makes us the people we want to be," Randy said. "It's all part of our own forged destinies. So, we keep moving forward." Randy put on his mask followed by his weaved hat.
Randy and Howard left the Eastern Toad Tower.
Deep in Frog Valley, a multi-colored flash of light illuminated the swamp before a strange creature landed on the muddy floor. The strange tall creature got up, missing one of her yellow shoes and with sticks and leaves on her head. She looked around with her eyes flashing a brief blue hue.
"Where the heck am I?" She asked
End of the New Heir Arc