Knocking On The Door of War

Astro: “Knock it off. You knew about this, didn’t you? You didn’t want me to get killed trying to get there.”

Kanji: “First off I didn’t, and second off no I didn’t. You never think with reason, Astro. You always act on impulse and emotion, yet claim that you haven’t a shred of emotion left in you.”

Astro: “How about you leave this village then. Leave and don’t come back. You’ve helped them enough, but they don’t need you anymore. They are prospering and look like a fine town. If you wanted to lie to me in the first place just to come and help these people, then you can screw off!”

Kanji: “I didn’t lie, and I didn’t know. I’m telling the truth. I always seek reason and knowledge and I never ever used you for anything. Don’t ever tell me that to my face ever again. That’s your choice if you want to go help those kids. I tried to find them before and I couldn’t, but now, you found them and I encourage you to go after them. However, I want you to gather people and I know how to get them.”

Astro: “What do you mean?”

Kanji: “I’ve been tracking those animals that have been disappearing and they all went to the same place. You just confirmed that for me. They have all been venturing to the Ruins of Mystical Chambers. Once they get to the water, they disappear. The animal population is at less than 5%. Soon, humans will start to die out, us along with it. There won’t be enough food left in the world. I was already thinking about gathering some people together to stop this man, but I didn’t know where he was. It was just a guess. However, you have a tracker now, and I know people that will help.”

Octavious: “Oh, how excited I am! Can I come with? I must see this man that has surpassed my master’s technique.”

Astro, frustrated and nearing his mental capacity, accepted Kanji’s agreement, but not without anger. He was still mad at Kanji, but had no other choice. He knew he would die trying to bring Dante back out of this man’s body, nor did he know how. He asked Kanji what he could try. The only person that Kanji knew that could pull off something like this was a man destined for greatness, but hidden away from the world.

Kanji: “There is only one person who could possibly defeat this man while still trying to hold onto Dante’s soul. A man who still holds this title even though he no longer fights. The 1st Reverend known as the All Mighty Weapon, Michiaki Sen.”

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At The Association, they prepared for the worst. Iki stood outside with Natsuki, Wally, Yureth, and Yahiko, venturing out a couple miles away from The Association to ensure that nothing would get destroyed, and that no people were around.

It also prevented anything that they had prepared in advance.

Iki watched over the land to see thousands of people with strange looking rods in their hands approaching. Lorenzo Cain marched at the front on a horse alongside many others. He alone proceeded towards Iki to talk to him.

Lorenzo: “Which one of you is the one that killed my sons?”

He said this in a calm monotone voice, but they could all tell the seriousness in his voice.

Wally stepped up and admitted it quickly without letting anyone else speak a word. He explained the situation fast, and apologized for not being able to protect them. Lorenzo stared him down specifically.

Lorenzo: “Be careful. If you don’t watch closely, you might not see the trick.”

He walked back as they allowed him too.

Yahiko was prepared to throw his sword at his back, but Iki stopped him. He figured that this wouldn’t be a difficult fight.

Iki: “Just try not to mess up the land. But, do your things. The minute a soldier even moves a foot, kill them all.”

They waited as Lorenzo headed back to his army. The men looked hungry for battle with rods in hand. Iki knew about these from multiple sources and their abilities. However, Iki knew that genetically modified weapons were no match for professionals with world built swords.

Yahiko closed his eyes to sense the field, and immediately as one man moved forward, he was in front of them, swiping his sword from his side into the many, many people, killing over 40 in one slice.

Wally: “Bones of Incarcigen!”

Natsuki: “Cupids Winding Arrow! I’m sorry, everyone. My master orders me to do this.”

The shard lit up on his bow that strengthened the arrow tenfold, killing half the army in one shot, and leaving a massive divot in the ground.

Yahiko: “No fun, Natsuki! You cheap bastard! Save some for the rest of us.”

Wally: “Battle hungry fool. Just do your job quickly and get it over with.”

They cleaned up the rest of them without Iki having to even lift a finger. Lorenzo Cain was left in the middle, surrounded by dead corpses. Iki now went towards him and explained his situation.

Iki: “This is not what I wanted to do. The death of your sons was an accident and my apprentice should have done better. There is no excuse. However, when you command a whole weak army after us, then what else are we supposed to do, but defend what is ours? That didn’t take more than a minute. Did you really think that we would struggle with this? These rods? These pathetic rods that produce made up mana abilities? You have the wrong interpretation of mana. This is only going to boost them physically, and yet you still tried to make these stupid things. Don’t come telling us how to do our job when you can’t protect thousands of people yourself.”

Lorenzo Cain smiled as he stabbed himself with a rod right through his head. Iki, along with everybody else, was confused. Yureth didn’t understand the situation, but he felt a presence approaching in many directions.

Yureth: “Iki! We got company!”

Iki: “Natsuki! Yahiko! Get back to The Association! Don’t let anything be destroyed at all costs! Put your life on the line! Wally you're with me!”

Yureth: “Two figures at the front doors and–”

Iki: “What?! Say it! We don't have time!”

Yureth: “A-A whole army of witches are merging towards us.”

The bodies on the ground started to highlight in a dark black liquid. They melted down and combined together, forming a gigantic black ball in midair.

35 witches appeared in the distance, all with their hands in the air chanting something unknown to them. The black ball began to shoot out liquid that had the property of acid. Anything it touched melted, regardless of what it was.

They moved swiftly around the area, heading towards the witches. They were in sync even though Iki did not train much with them.

Iki: “Gordon’s Light!”

The blinding light had no effect on the witches. As he looked closer, he saw that they were all blind already in the first place. When they got close, Iki and Wally jumped in the air simultaneously to slice them all in two, however a familiar man shocked them both as their own heads were almost severed in half. A man with a brown short mohawk in a bright orange jumpsuit trudged forward. His eyes gleamed with yellow pupils. He laughed as he deflected both of them. “Looks like my sword might be a little better, boys.”

He laughed again and licked his sword up and down.

Wally: “Ha-Hachiro J-Jiro?”

Iki: “Hachiro Jiro, the 5th reverend, The Abandoned Swordsman. I’ve been wanting to strip you of your title. Now that I have the opportunity to kill you, I might just do that.”

Hachiro: “Not gonna be so easy to get rid of me, Iki. I don’t follow you or anybody else now that the previous leader passed away. I’m free to do whatever the hell I want. Now…This is gonna be fun!”