Dark Assassin

The cold soil felt oddly comforting as it smeared all over Miyuki’s face. Metal and fire spewed from the downed Osprey which seemed to be getting further and further away with every step Mikael took as he dragged Miyuki away. They had crash landed inside the Azumi Estate Gardens, with a clear view of the now collapsed Azumi Estate. Miyuki gripped the soil in an attempt to stop Mikael from dragging her away however her strength had abandoned her in this crucial time of need. Mikael dropped Miyuki on the ground, stopping to catch his breath whilst clutching his severe arm wound. Miyuki could tell the blood loss was getting to him as he constantly winced in pain every few seconds. The air was quiet as the stars above twinkled like beacons in the night sky, with no clouds to disturb them and only the moonlight for company. Mikael turned to look at Miyuki before opening his mouth. ‘You got me good Miyuki I must say. This arm hurts like hell, make no mistake I know I’ve lost, but I don’t plan on letting you win either. Or else this entire operation would’ve all been for NOTHING.’ Mikael unsheathed his right arm blade and tore it off holding it like a dagger. He waited for Miyuki to get to her feet as she drew her scimitar, the wound from Mikael’s strike on her chest had healed completely leaving a crude scar in its place. Mikael charged forward for the final time as Miyuki managed to evade his first strike, leaping over him and stabbing him in his lower back. Mikael struggled to get back up, his breathing becoming more pained with every breath he took. He slowly stood up despite his injuries and carried on fighting, using every trick he knew in order to kill Miyuki. Sparks began to light up the ground as steel matched ferocious dark energy. Miyuki began to breathe more heavily, her oxygen supply depleting rapidly with each strike, just as Mikael matched her tenacity. Miyuki delivered a kick to Mikael’s gut, causing him to fall on the floor as his last gasp of effort escaped his body, he realised he was in no condition to fight much longer. Miyuki slowly walked towards him dragging her scimitar on the ground sending soil and dirt flying in all directions. The cold gaze of her amber eyes were fixated on ending the once honourable warrior that was reduced to a defeated and broken man. Finally, victory was in sight, the shining metal of the scimitar attracted the moon’s light as it journeyed down to bury itself inside Mikael’s flesh, until Miyuki felt a sharp pain in her stomach. She looked down to see Mikael’s blade had buried itself inside, it’s crude serrated edge smiling at her. Blood began to pour like a waterfall, the scimitar dropped to the ground with a thud. Her whole world toppled as her back slammed into the ground, her eyes were granted a front row seat to the night sky, which seemed to fade in and out of existence until it wasn’t visible anymore. Soft leather wrapped itself around her neck comparable to a snake constricting the life out of its prey. Her eyes briefly opened to see Mikael above her with his hand on her neck before they closed completely. ‘Miyuki.....’ ‘Mother... Where am I?’ ‘You are in Atroxia. I told you I wouldn’t let you die.. No instead I will do the dying today.’ ‘What are you talking about Mother?’ ‘’Dear daughter.. You are a fool. This is the last time we will see each other, it’s time for you to finish this. Come to the podium. ‘ The skies above had shifted from blood red to amber. Haunting demonic chanting echoed across every surface as the denizens who dwelled here were preparing for their next leader. A bridge of bones had been constructed leading towards the podium. Walking onto it, the rickety bone bridge shook with every step Miyuki took, slowly decaying and revealing the green abyss below. After crossing the bridge Miyuki had arrived at the podium, a large table crafted from jet black rock. Her mother stood opposite, looking down at the table where a version of Miyuki’s scimitar lay, it’s hilt fashioned out of a human skull and it’s blade crackled with crude black energy. ‘Pick up the sword Miyuki.’ ‘M-Mother, I can’t! I can’t! How could you ask me to do such a thing? After all this time I finally got to see you and now you’re leaving me?’ ‘’Pick up the sword. Now. Get it over with. ‘ ‘I-If that’s what you so desire Mother, than it shall be done.’ Miyuki’s hands began to tremble with the blade in her hand. Her mother gazed at her and nodded before her eyes widened in shock as the blade pierced her heart. Her mouth opened one final time. ‘T-Thank You, Miyuki... You have made me very proud. I look forward to the day we meet again..’ The blade clattered to the ground and Miyuki’s mother lay dead in a pool of her own blood, the last remnants of her life floated into nothingness accompanied by the demonic chanting in a horrifyingly beautiful melody. Miyuki looked down at her dead mother but no tears were shed. Picking up the dark scimitar she turned around and walked towards the bone bridge. Suddenly, her eyes flashed open to find Mikael trying to strangle her to death. Clutched firmly in the palm of her hand was the dark scimitar she had retrieved from the podium in Atroxia, the skull’s eyes on its hilt glowed an intense red as Mikael’s blood decorated Miyuki’s face following a gaping wound in his chest caused by the dark scimitar. Miyuki tossed his body off of her ti find a hooded figure standing in front of her. ‘O Miyuki, put that weapon of yours down. I’m not here to fight. ‘ Miyuki looked at the hooded figure with a puzzled expression before holstering her blade. ‘What do you want?’ The hooded figure pointed a bony finger at her. ‘You are going to claim your rightful place as Atroxia’s Queen. Just as your Mother did. It is your birthright, inheritor.’ ‘Don’t be a fool, hooded one. I have no interest in going to that place anytime soon. The Guild must be rebuilt’ ‘You misunderstand inheritor. I’m not offering you a choice. Your life as you knew it is gone. Everyone you know and care for is dead. You have no future here. Give up on this fantasy you’ve constructed in your mind and face reality.’ The hooded figure leapt forward and grabbed Miyuki by the throat, choking her unconscious. Slowly her eyes unravelled. ‘Degar, Her Excellency is awake.’ Miyuki awoke to realise she sat atop a throne made from the skulls of whom she had killed. The familiar blood red sky of Atroxia signalled her new position. ‘Where am I?’ Miyuki looked around at the four hooded figures that sat kneeling in front of her. The hooded figure in the middle rose to his feet and spoke. ‘’Welcome, Inheritor. We are most humbled by your gracious presence. I have gathered everyone for a day of celebration! The new Dark Assassin!’ All four hooded figures were soon standing and began chanting, welcoming Miyuki as the new Queen. Miyuki looked around to realise she had no hope of escaping the hell that she herself had created. The chanting grew louder as Miyuki’s desire to leave Atroxia grew quieter, forced to wait until the day in which the next inheritor would need her help in battle.