Zhōng groaned as his eyes adjusted to the darkness he was in. He couldn't see anything except his swords and a glass jar filled with green mist sitting on a table. He couldn't stand up or move as his legs were shackled to the ground in front of him and his hands were shackled above on the pole behind him. "What a mess you got yourself in." said the ghost who leaned by the table.
"Leave me alone," muttered Zhōng, he turned his head away as he searched for something to use as an escape.
"I told you what we became, did that puppet show make you believe?" asked the ghost as he approached Zhōng.
"That won't happen as long as I'm in control." stated Zhōng.
"But it has, look at yourself, it took you almost a week to notice something was different. I can do that in one hour and know what's going on. You think you're strong, you haven't seen true strength. Give me your body and I can show you it and more, the monster that boiled inside us is the key to our strength." said the ghost.
"And what is our monster?" asked Zhōng.
The ghost chuckled and said, "Experience is what makes you fearful, curiosity is what strengthens you, and the monster you search to find is always staring back at you." riddled the ghost, he disappeared as the Reaper went through him.
"I see you're now awake," said the Reaper, Zhōng said nothing as he glared at his kidnapper. "Rest assured I don't have her, but I want to know if you seriously did destroy the Samurai Sword."
"How would I know? The last thing I remember is it was collecting rust and dust in a museum in this town." stated Zhōng.
The Reaper nodded as he sensed no lie in Zhōng's statement. "No matter, it'll be weak compared to this." said the Reaper as he held up the Ninja Sword.
"Even his ancestors struggled against me, if the blade is still around, we must be careful." said a green cloud as it appeared from the shadows.
"Rest assured, my ancestor, this one here, stole it one night a couple of years ago. Whatever happened to the sword, it must have been buried, destroyed, or lost in the sewage." assured the Reaper.
"Very well then, began the process, we don't have much time left." ordered the cloud.
The Reaper nodded as he opened the jar and the green mist floated out. He muttered the incantation quietly as the mist swirled over him. Every time he spoke, he became louder and the mist swirled faster. Soon the cloud was sucked into the mist and became one with it.
Zhōng's eyes widened from the horror, he snapped his head in every direction to find a way to get out. He then saw his ghost, waiting for his command with his arms crossed. "Take everything but my eyes." whispered Zhōng. Though it wasn't loud enough to be heard, the ghost nodded and dived into him just before the mist did as well.
Zhōng screamed and his body grew back to the eighteen year old self. His eyes were wide as they slowly changed color. The shackles on his arms and legs ripped open just as the Reaper finished the spell. The Reaper carefully approached him and asked, "Is that you, my ancestor."
"It is," replied a growling voice from Zhōng as he stood up and looked at the Reaper. "The rightful king has returned and this time, no one can challenge me."
Lord Tyron, Captain Howin, Xing, and Princess Zhen were paired together as they walked through the streets of the festival. "Remember if any trouble begins," began Captain Howin.
"Yeah, yeah, get her majesty to safety and let you two and the guards deal with it." finished Xing, annoyed that they now reminded her ten times.
"You're giving my niece a hard time, captain, she isn't the same person as she was when she was a princess." said Lord Tyron.
"Also why can't we help you? I can fight." said Princess Zhen, her eyes were still green and her body was still seven years old.
"You may know how to wield a sword, your majesty, but your body doesn't. You'll be out of breath after a few swings." replied Lord Tyron.
"Your mother also made it clear you come to help us find Zhōng, not be tied up in a fight." added Captain Howin.
"Like he'll show up," grumbled Princess Zhen.
"On the bright side, your majesty, at least she's not making you stay put somewhere." pointed out Xing. Princess Zhen looked up at her, she could see Xing smile from under the cowl as she looked for something positive.
"I guess you're right, I hate being locked in my room at school." said Princess Zhen with a smile.
"Is that the reason the empress had you transfer here for the next school year?" asked Lord Tyron to Captain Howin.
"Believe me, it's more to do with Zhōng since we can't seem to catch him and he's unpredictable." replied Captain Howin. They suddenly stopped as they saw the torches' flames turn green. They looked further down and saw the crowd spotted as the Reaper and someone else walking through with green mist by their feet.
The person by the Reaper carried two swords and other gadgets, a watch on his wrist, and a cape around his shoulders. His hair was dark blonde but there were streaks of white flowing to his back. He had a tattoo on his forehead and his eyes glowed green with a sinister smile. Someone from the crowd threw a fruit at him, he turned to see his attacker as he wasn't scared. "Cute, thinking you can degrade me." said the person. The Reaper slithered around and killed the one responsible and the crowd gasped in fear.
"You all should be grateful and bow to the rightful king of this empire!" shouted the Reaper. "Hail to Emperor Hirohito." The crowd gasped at the name as they looked at the person the Reaper was with. Though they recognized him to be Zhōng, his green eyes and white stripes in his dark blonde hair were the only differences between them.
"I assume you all know the person whose body I possessed, but let me be clear, he is dead as long as I am with him." said Hirohito. The crowd looked at each other with uncertainty as they gazed at him. Seeing they weren't complying, he shook his head and said, "Perhaps there should be more to die."
The Reaper jumped into action and started slaughtering the people. They screamed and started to flee from them but some weren't fast enough to get away from the Reaper. "By order of Empress Wēi, you are under arrest." shouted Captain Howin, he, Commander Zhèngyì, and fifty guards revealed their weapons and pointed them at the two villains.
"Reaper, deal with these traitors." ordered Hirohito.
"Yes, your majesty." replied the Reaper and he twirled his scythe to prepare for battle.
"I've been waiting to have a proper match with you." stated Captain Howin.
"Likewise, but let me get rid of some unnecessary support." said the Reaper, he started charging and killing the guards that surrounded him. The rest charged at him with Captain Howin and Commander Zhèngyì charging together for a strike. Though they had numbers, the odds were against them.
"Well, well, well, I thought I saw someone from the royal bloodline." said Hirohito. While the Reaper was dealing with the guards, Hirohito spotted Lord Tyron, Xing, and Princess Zhen and approached them.
"Zhōng, I know you're still in there, you must fight him to take back your body." stated Lord Tyron as he drew his sword.
Hirohito laughed and said, "Even if he could hear you, I have too much power for him to overcome."
"Then I guess that leaves me to fight you. You can't be fully whole and time is running out." said Lord Tyron.
"How very knowledgable of you, I'm going to need to kill that girl." stated Hirohito as he drew the Longus sword.
"Xing stay back and protect the princess, that's your duty I'm putting you in charge of." stated Lord Tyron. He then charged at Hirohito and the two clashed with violence. The two were even in skill as their blows rang louder than Captain Howin and his men's blows against the Reaper. Their blades were a blur as each tried to be faster than the other.
"Impressive, you use the technique with no name." admired Hirohito when their blades locked.
"Of course, you know since you use it as well." said Lord Tyron.
"I would have expected you to use the Royal Technique, your moves almost caught me off guard." said Hirohito.
"I still know it, it's just this technique suits me better." said Lord Tyron. He pushed Hirohito away and they squared off before fighting each other again.
Captain Howin and Commander Zhèngyì were one of five of the fifty guards left. The Reaper was too powerful with the scythe and his spells to be beaten as their fallen comrades lay scattered around them. Fear was set in their eyes as they watched the Reaper twirled his scythe waiting for their next attack.
"We're no match for him," stated a guard.
"Hold your ground, we are the first line of defense for the princess." ordered Captain Howin.
"But there's no point, the other is past us and is fighting Lord Tyron." said another guard.
"Mr. Tyron is holding his own quite finely, we can do so too if the Reaper doesn't speak." said Commander Zhèngyì.
"Easier said than done, commander," jeered the Reaper as he heard their conversation. "Even if you silence me, you still have to deal with my scythe." One of the three guards charged at him with a roaring cry, but before he could get close, the Reaper chanted a spell sending the guard away and into a stall. Before the guard could get up, he was lit ablaze by green fire the Reaper chanted shortly after.
"We should retreat," stated the first guard and tried to flee before a hand stopped him.
"We swore to protect the royal family with our lives, even if we die, we would uphold our promise." said Captain Howin as he gripped tighter on the guard's shoulder.
"But how are we supposed to beat him?" asked the second guard.
Captain Howin turned his attention to the Reaper who was still twirling his blade. Suddenly an idea popped into his head and he whispered, "Commander, do you happen to have smoke bombs on you?"
"Yes, why?" answered Commander Zhèngyì, matching his voice level.
"Throw them at him," ordered Captain Howin, the three men looked at him confused. However, knowing not to object, Commander Zhèngyì took his three smoke bombs and threw them at the Reaper.
Seeing the bombs coming, the Reaper slashed them and smoke burst out. "You think you can buy time to stop me?" questioned the Reaper, as he chanted the smoke vanished. Just after he finished the chant, a spear almost plunged into him as he stepped back and clumsy batted it away before it came around and locked with him.
"Not buying time to stop you," began Captain Howin. He saw the Reaper was preparing for another spell as he chanted.
"But buying time to attack you," shouted Commander Zhèngyì as he and the two guards came from behind the Reaper.
The Reaper quickly turned around to block their attack, but before he could finish his chant, his head was impacted by a punch. He quickly turned around to see Captain Howin cracking his knuckle. "You all are going to die," declared the Reaper. He swing his scythe over his head only for it to be stopped by a spear.
"Not today we aren't." said Captain Howin.
"My emperor, I need your aid!" cried the Reaper.
Hirohito had his and Lord Tyron's blades locked when he turned to see the Reaper struggling against the four remaining soldiers. "So be it, perhaps it's time I reveal my true power." said Hirohito, he pushed Lord Tyron back and reached for the Ninja Sword with his left. "Behold! The power of the Ninja Sword!"
"No!" cried Lord Tyron, however, Hirohito pulled and activated the sword.