Now, Death Begins

Natsuki was the first to speak up amongst the 4 of them. He apologized for what had happened and that he was not strong enough to control those shards or else they might’ve had a chance. He knew everyone was down at the moment, but the longer they waited, the worse it would get. That’s when a young girl walked in through the front doors, claiming her name was Isara.

Isara: “Hello, I’ve come to help. I heard my friend Welpen was captured by some bad people. I’m not as strong as you all, but I won’t take no for an answer. I’m helping my friend.”

Natsuki: “Splendid. I will accept your love and the fairies that you carry alongside you.”

Isara: “Yes, I was frozen all this time. My fairies explained what had happened to us when we all woke up, so I’m a little behind the curve, but I want to save Welpen as soon as possible. What do we need to do?”

Yahiko: “We’re going to need every swordsman in the world. It’s impossible. We aren’t getting your friend back or master, especially a weak kid like you.”

Wally: “All the Great Swordsmen technically aren’t even on our side. Kento didn’t appear, neither did Aamon, or Sayo, and Hachiro is definitely not going to help us.”

Yahiko: “Count out Michiaki too. Who does that leave us with? You, me, Natsuki, Clara, and maybe Yasuhiro and Kouki? We all were already there and didn’t stand a chance.”

Natsuki: “Hmm, there are other allies in this world. Also, don’t forget, we are attacking at night. It’s a whole other ballgame ladies and gentlemen. We’ll be at full strength. What about the brother and sister?”

Yahiko: “Agatha and Akari Rekka? Are you insane? They tried to kill us.”

Natsuki: “Yes, but without our moons, they held their ground with us and probably would have killed us had it not been night. Their strength is equal to the Great Swordsmen. Plus, all we have to do is convince the boy to fight, and the girl follows in her brother’s footsteps.”

Yahiko: “That’s not a bad idea. Okay, let’s say we use it. Who else are we going to get?”

Natsuki: “Yureth is just in the other room waiting for us to go downstairs. We can ask him eventually.”

Yahiko: “The witches are another option. I’m sure even they would help right now. As far as the elves, nobody has seen them in thousands of years, but they still obviously exist.”

Nasuki: “Let’s start with what we have. It’s going to be a good day everyone! A day full of love and war!”

Clara stayed upstairs still crunched in a ball, crying with her head down, still drained from her fight before, but the rest of them ventured down a secret entrance that was completely sealed off by mana, but Yureth knew how to get to it.

He led them down to a small room full of chaplets.

There was a little over half of every chaplet in the world, but Yureth assured them that’s not what the most interesting part was. He lit a match over on the wall where images of various locations were crossed out with a red X and in the middle on a piece of paper it said, “The Lost Chaplet.”

Right beneath it, it also said the words, “Brother. Faylen, I’ll find you.” Papers scattered across the desk and all over the floor. Blood even tainted the walls and stained the floorboards.

Wally: “What is this?”

Yahiko: “Looks like our master was indulging in some important information. The Lost Chaplet? Never heard of it. Natsuki, do you know what this is?”

Natsuki: “No, Yureth? You brought us here. Is this what you wanted us to see?”

Isara: “Liz, Sarz, Ine…Have you guys heard of that before?”

None of them knew or ever even heard of it. Yureth had looked into it, but didn’t understand either.

Yureth: “Seems your master and my nephew were researching something that not a lot of people know about. I’m not even sure if this is real. This would claim that there are 71 chaplets that exist, not 70.”

Yahiko: “Impossible. A chaplet that nobody knows about? How would the master know about this? He must mean the two chaplets that haven’t been discovered. 2 of them have yet to be marked in books throughout the years.”

Natsuki: “I don’t know. We didn’t know much about the master and his past with the Dark Mold. We still don’t know much, but if he knows things that we don’t, then I’d blindly follow his word.”

Wally: “Why wouldn’t he tell us about this? Does he not trust us?”

Yureth: “You all are weak. It shows that he didn’t believe in your strength enough to help him. He figured he could do it on his own. The only theory I could make from this is that he is looking for his lost brother, Faylen. My brother did not have any kids. In fact, Iki was adopted by him, which ties together his family relations to other beings that you all fought. I never even knew where he came from this entire time. This is all technically new to me though as well. Maybe he was trying to find this Lost Chaplet because it will help him find his brother. It’s all a guess on my end, but my assassin instincts are usually never wrong.”

Natsuki: “Ha! So all this was a ploy for love! Splendid! I knew my master cared.”

Yahiko: “So what? This all doesn’t really matter. Regardless of this information, even if it is true, we still have to enter into the Dark Mold to get them back. Wally what’s your idea on th–Wally?”

Wally was leaking blood from his mouth down to his chest with a smile on his face, looking out at the ones that he fought alongside with. He tried to grab a chaplet, any chaplet that would get them away, but he couldn’t muster the strength. Yureth thought, ‘Crap. How did I not sense anything? I still can’t. What is happening?’

They all started to pull their swords in this small room, but not in time to get to him. It was like slow motion in Wally’s mind.

With all the strength he had left, Wally screamed at the top of his lungs, “RUN!”

The four of them dashed away before the floorboards above and beneath them were destroyed and smoke filled the air. All four of them threw down a Verdant Chaplet and increased their speed tenfold along with Isara activating a fairy state. Along with this, Yureth threw down a Wight Chaplet to phase through the walls as well.

Natsuki went and grabbed Clara quickly.

“Clara, we have to go now!” he yelled, but she wouldn’t budge, and then a skeletal arm pierced her stomach. Even with Clara’s abilities, she couldn’t sense what this was or any mana that came from it. The shock of losing Welpen along with this made her not even try to get out of it. She put her head down and started to fade into the light, coughing up an immense amount of blood.

Natsuki tried to throw a Healing Chaplet on her, but it didn’t work. It was the first time ever that he had seen a chaplet not take effect.

Natsuki: “Keep running! Don’t stop until you reach The Land of the Witches, Celenar Encrodian. I’ll be right behind you!”

The creature emerged from the dust that flew everywhere in The Association, now with a giant hole in the floor. A monster made of bones and tree roots with a ripped black cape was staring at him with a mask also made of bones. He held his boney finger up to his mouth, which lit up in a green flame and shushed Natsuki. He was sent flying back, but got up quickly, throwing a Sun Enhancer Chaplet at the creature, realizing in that moment that the chaplet didn’t take effect again.

Natsuki: “What? Why aren’t my chaplets working?”

He tried an Accompany’s Escort Chaplet, which cancelled out again.

Tree roots and bones shot out towards him. ‘He’s fast!’ he thought. He did everything he could to evade, but realized he had to get out of here. He needed the other shard that Yahiko had just left with to win this fight. The technique released, but he saw multiple figures behind the man, like silhouettes of people, and among them was Wally.

Natsuki became enraged, but quelled his anger, realizing that they had something more important going on. ‘Wally, please understand. We have to get the master back first. Hang in there,’ he thought before he darted away, using another Verdant Chaplet and speeding off to Celenar Encrodian.

He realized he was out of Yellow Egress Chaplets, so the other three were probably already there, but for him, it would take another 30 minutes. He didn’t know what just happened or how Wally was alive, but he didn’t have a choice, and he awaited the hard part…aligning with the witches.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

A dark, dark place devoid of all life continued in front of their eyes. Astro, Iki, Welpen, and Reiken were the ones that were called to this place. The giant hands wrapped around them were like antimatter, but different. They couldn’t use mana at the moment, and nobody spoke except for Iki of course.

Iki: “Black.. Let me go! Where is Faylen?! Did father truly banish him after me or was that a lie to mess with my head?!”

Welpen had been staring at Reiken the entire time and finally questioned him.

Welpen: “What the hell are you doing here? You like betraying your own people? Screw everyone else, you’ll be the first one I kill.”

Reiken: “If only you knew the truth, Welpen. If you did, then I would accept that answer, but I am not yet done with what needs to be done. I’m not the bad guy. I’m trying to save the world. Believe in me.”

Welpen: “Bullshit. I don’t care what Michiaki taught me. You’re dead to me. I don’t live that comfortable life anymore. You’re just trash now.”

Black Diamond: “Please, please. Do not fight. We are almost there.”

Astro: “Hey, Black Diamond. Be honest with me…What is this place? There’s nothing here. What is the point of this?”

Black Diamond: “I do not understand? Look at the little girl over there who just picked up that flower. Oh, that must’ve made her day. Oh, look at that lovely couple that is getting ice cream. Amazing.”

Astro, along with the rest of them, were confused. Iki understood, but having been banished, he only saw what Astro, Welpen, and Reiken now saw, but he knew what it was from when he was born here.

It was nothingness.

It was the first time that he had seen it like this too. Usually, people walked all over and enjoyed life, but right now, all he saw was a void of purple, red, and black colors.

Iki: “Black! Answer me! Is my brother here?!”

Black Diamond: “Iki, please. I do not like that tone. You’re going to scare everyone. Also, you are lucky I am not a high ranking official or I’d have cut your head off already. Ah, here we are. The Gates of the Dark Mold…Open Sesame!”

Astro thought, ‘This isn’t even a high ranking person in their group?! Inside was a line of soldiers, all with the same armor on. There were 80 of them, and it was hard to see their features with the padded armor, but every one of them had pink hair. Some had pink facial hair, and others did not, but nobody moved a muscle and stood in their respective line, all carrying long dark purple blades with an all black handle. Behind them, 5 prominent figures stood in the front, and behind them 3 others without armor, similar to the ones guiding them here.

Black Diamond explained that each leader had their trifecta of people that were hand picked by them to serve them. It was a great honor how he stated it, but none of them saw the appeal yet.

On the left, a large man with a large pink beard wore an all pink suit that matched his long hair. He was older and heavier.

Next to him, a man that looked close to the age of a teen with pink spiky hair. His eyes gleamed pink along with his hoodie matched with black jeans.

All the way on the right, a woman with long pink hair, dazzling pink and red eyes, but wore a black mask over her mouth and nose. Her tight outfit was pink and gold, that was athletic enough to move around and fight in similar to an assassin’s.

To her left, the cocky look of a young man with pink hair that was split in the middle and combed over, pink eyes, and a fluffy pink jacket over a white shirt. His red pants did not match, but the look on his face said that he didn’t care. Around his neck was a black choker and tattoos lined the middle of his chest.

Finally, in the middle, a man with long white hair. His body was toned, ripped in fact, and two large pink dragon tattoos laid across his chest. His eyes weren’t like everyone else’s. They didn’t resemble a human, but instead were larger and looked like ongoing spirals that hallucinated others. His big smile showed his conniving nature. He did not wear a shirt, but wore pink pants. The tattoos extended down his rib cage, and over his eyes were pink lines that resembled lightning bolts.

He opened his arms to welcome them. His name was Nightmare and his appearance surely matched it. Black Diamond and the others went to stand behind the woman all the way on the right.

Astro, Welpen, Reiken, and Iki were released in front of these beings.

Iki’s body shook, not only from his father’s presence, but everyone. Every inch of his bones told him to run, but even if he did, he wouldn’t be able to escape. He couldn’t even muster the strength to look up at the 5 of them, as his body quivered in fear.

A guard came over, pulling his hair back and forcing his head up to look specifically at Nightmare, who wasn’t his father, but a prominent figure for them. The moment their eyes locked on to each other, Iki’s consciousness felt heavy. He felt like his power was draining back into the ground, and little by little, it actually was.

In a thick and heavy villainous voice, he spoke.

Nightmare: “After all this time, I finally have you back to return the power that you stole from us. How dare you run from your true leader. You will give back every last bit of that power along with the rest of you.”

Iki was confused by this, but he couldn’t say a word. They banished him, he did not leave, but he figured this was just Nightmare being his normal cocky self.

Astro’s body wasn’t affected, but his scythe flew off into the ground and began to be drained of Dark Mold Substance. Reiken’s barrier was instantly broken, but he was more intrigued than ever. After everywhere he searched, he finally found the perfect place to form his ultimate barrier. If he could harness the Dark Mold more than he had, then he could carry out his plan. He wanted to learn as much as he could, but he had to be careful because the creatures in front of him were far superior to anyone that he had come across.

Nightmare looked at Welpen and brought him forward until he was face to face with him. “Lovely,” he said out loud. Then, without delaying any further, he placed his finger onto Welpen’s forehead, and an explosion of Dark Mold Substance spread throughout the domain.

Welpen screamed in pain and beams of dark purple, black, and red color fell from everywhere. Layers of thin walls crossed over his body like he was a ghost. “YES! REJOICE ALL!” Nightmare screamed out. “For the time has come to the supremacy of the land, the all mighty ruler, the 101st of our kind. Welpen Agatsuma, you are the true warrior of the Dark Mold. Come! Let us lead this world together! They will pay for what they stole from us and we shall retrieve it and kill every last one of them!”

Small stars sparked from Welpen’s body upwards like a flaming firework and then, a sound that was like a bomb triggered a transformation. Black smoke took over the space, but when it cleared, they were staring at someone that was completely different.

“W-Welpen…”

Astro thought, yet again not being able to do anything to stop this. He hated himself more and more. Welpen’s appearance was utterly different. His hair dragged down on his face, multicolored consisting of white, black, and pink. His eyes glowed yellow in a cocky way along with his smile that showed fangs. His black and pink outfit extended down like a robe, but in the form of a warrior’s outfit. Multiple necklaces hung down from his neck. He wore black gloves over his hands where his fingernails were painted black. Black wristbands extended down his arms and his ears were pierced on both sides. He laughed hard…so hard that his voice echoed all the way to the barrier to the other world, which was now open for anyone to enter and exit.

Welpen snapped his fingers, and the entirety of the army got down on one knee to praise him. He smiled and laughed again.

Welpen: “Oh, what a relief! This feels too good! What are these lowly level creatures doing here? I could blow them away with a whisper. Get them out of my sight. I don’t need anything ruining my moment. Let me soak this all in.”

Nightmare: “Yes, master. When you are ready, we can discuss battle plans.”

Welpen: “Huh?! I said, "Don't ruin my moment, Nightmare!”

He flung Nightmare across the Dark Mold in anger and continued to breathe in the fresh air.

Astro, Iki, and Reiken were sent away by some troops.

Their arms were heavy.

‘It’s like rocks,’ Astro thought. He couldn’t budge even if he wanted to. He looked back at Welpen, not even knowing who he was at the moment. ‘I got a lot of things to do. I’m going to fix this, Welpen!’ he thought. ‘If it’s the last thing I do in this world!’