ShipTeaser

  Entering the Boundary as soon as I raced into the home Aki had built on the grounds of the modest Shrine, barely having time to do more than throw myself onto the bed, not g about the mess or disarray of my hair and clothes, I found myself w if what I was about to do was the right call.

  It is not like you to doubt yourself, princess. Though I do uand. The darkness in her is deep, and you would open…

  Enough of that, Tan. It’ll be fine. And if not… putting my doubts aside I saw the form of Hyath, that strange maid who was always giggling to herself, her expressio with the sort of resolve I needed. She’s not ughing now. Her eyes are cold, and her expression is murderous.

  “It’ll be all right.” I was broken out of my thoughts by Aki spping me on the back, something I could barely feel due to the strafit I wore. It’s ly cute, but… it is strong. Modelled ofit he had supposedly given the one called the Divihis Tsukiko… I’m not jealous he’s giving irls clothes, I’m not. Besides, this is simply a protective gift, one Aki worked hard on, with help from the dwarves. Shit, I should be grateful…

  If so, why are your cheeks so puffed? Are you jealous that he risks so much to save a girl that is not you, princess? After all, while he has protected many, the frantic sorrows he radiated, his cries of misery and loss when he feared you would die, you were secretly happy and proud, were you not? After all, is that not proof of his love?

  All right, enough of that. I hate to think you’re right Tan, but yeah… I did feel special. But then… Swallowing down her nerves and doubts, I turned, giving Aki a bright smile, making sure to appear as beautiful as possible, still difficult with these scars, but as my single eye met his, once more admiring what a beautiful grey they were, I realised again his gaze held no revulsion, no pity, only love and a certainty I would heal. “Yeah, it will. However, the situation is still pretty grave, right?” I looked at Shaeu and Hyath, who were also donning the bck, military-style bat suits made from straals and the dangerous vibratihers of some native birds of Kyoto. “If those two are ging out of their beloved outfits, it’s going to be brutal.”

  “It is.” He agreed. “And I think you could sit this o, if you wanted. It isn’t your…” I shut him up by pressing my lips against his. His eyes widened in shock, which made me happy, but happier was the way he couldn’t help but twine his toh mine, kissing me deeply. Damn, I feel hot, my head is going bnk. And this is just kissing. Shit, I unfairly maligned all those lovestruck girls I called idiots for all these years. Who knew…

  Focus. This is not the time to be distracted. You have a request, foolish though it is. And I shall not be left out. I thirst, and of the abilities he has traced with this Book of Providence… oh how I wish I could drink deep of that ohere are some that I desire greatly, and ohat would aid you. I shall have them all.

  Pulling free, mouth still wet with his saliva, I put my good hand on my waist, adopting a stern pose. “It is my fight. Putting aside you promised Tan pensation, whiow is the perfect time to pay up, you asked me to marry you, Aki. I don’t take that lightly. I said yes, despite knowing you were already with anirl. I’m not an idiot, am I? Aher are you. You should know what that means.”

  “I do.” He sighed. Shaeu was talking to several of the Kamaitachi, who were filling her in on the current situation through the gate. Some of them are kind of cute. But that pair of bigger, angrier-looking ones are a bit frightening. No, I o keep my focus.

  “I guess we did agree to share our lives and everything we hold dear together.” He agreed. “It’s just… well, after what happeo the trainees, and Eri… I have faith I fight, and…” he looked at Shaeu and Hyath, which pissed me off.

  “Hey, you’re talking to me!” I grabbed his face, tur around and kissed him again, quickly this time, as I knew every sed recious. Even so, as a woman, there are some things more important than anything else. “I get that Shaeu is strong, and you’ve fought side by side for a long time now. And Hyath… well, she’s like a walking war crime. So you don’t worry as much for them.” My lips quirked into a sly smile as Shaeu reacted at that, pouting much as I did earlier. I guess being too petent has its drawbacks.

  How foolish. Ask him already. Time marches on. I would not have our food and drink stolen from us by such deys. After all, ohere, I should be able to sense our targets, using the Favour we ed before…

  “I do still worry, of course I do.” Aki said the right thing, surprising me, and Shaeu’s pout turned into a smile. “But… well, never mind.” He gave in. “Tan, keep her safe. My warning from before still applies. If Shiro dies, you’ll regret it, even if I have to take on your entire Pantheon!”

  “How bold. But rest assured, I have no wish for defeat. My pns may have ged…” Tan stole my mouth, twisting it into a grin somehow both sly and scivious. Ugh, I bet I look strange now. I’m embarrassed.

  “… but my wish to protect her has not. Now, she has something to ask you. I know time is short, so listen carefully, and choose wisely.” With that Tan relinquished me, and I took a deep breath.

  “Aki. Quickly. Do you trust me?”

  “I do.” He answered, and his ck of hesitation thrilled me.

  “Great. Then… I’ll follow after you. You o get there and take trol of the battle as soon as you , right? But first… you give me permission t someone inside your Territory?” This one’s what he calls Rank 3, and I feel the strength of it. It would keep her out, I’m sure…

  He gnced over at the important facilities he Ring Gate, silver spires rising into the sky, glittering prettily. He then looked back at me. Before he could speak, I offered more reassurance. “Don’t worry Aki. Nothing I do will disadvantage you, I’m sure. And… if I’m wrong, and something bad happens. I promise, I’ll endure whatever you suffer, just the same. Even…” I could barely say it. it was flippant, but true. If she does turn on us here, I will fight, even to the death, before I let her hurt Aki’s Territory…

  Ah, love. I must admit, experieng it through your thoughts is quite the straion. My other sisters took our reje by the Buddha strangely. One drowns herself in pleasure with any she takes a fancy to, whilst the other shut herself aying only with other women. I, who kept aloof, have taken the wisest path, so I believed. But feeling your emotions, it is quite the eaining, enlightening spectacle. Perhaps the reason I could not allure the Buddha as he passed by, was because I did not know love? Well, enough on that…

  My thoughts with Tan were much faster than speech, so only a moment had passed as she reminisced, and I caught glimpses of mental pictures of her sisters. Putting those aside, I tinued. “… we share the same fate, right? Isn’t that what marriage is? I don’t take it lightly, and I’m sure you didn’t ask me to marry you without the fideo shoulder that, Aki.”

  More troops were f up at the ring of mushrooms shrouded by ruby light. They were carrying strange objects and rge barrels, but I paid that no mind, merely waited for Aki’s answer.

  “I trust you Shiro.” He said, and his ck of hesitation made my heart ache, though the feeling leasant. “But…” his tone ged. “You think I’d ask you to share any cruel fate I suffered, no matter who’s fault it was? Idiot…” he said fondly, grabbing my cheeks and squishing them. I struggled, protesting, but I was too weak to break out of his grip. Damn Aki, nerdy you turned into a beast…

  He then released me. “Do what you o. Now, I have to go. Our base is in Haru-san’s Territory, someohere should be able to tell you where we’ve gone. I’ll see you soon.” He kissed my forehead, and then called out to Shaeu and Hyath, as well as the young ese girl.

  “Shaeu, Daiyu’er, Hyath, let’s go.” And with that they vahrough the portal, leavioug my forehead idly. Aki, I already like you, there’s o be all cool and make my heart race. It’s annoying.

  You are quite the fool, princess. But I do not hate it. Now, he is right, time is pressing. Do what you o do.

  “You don’t have to tell me twice.” I muttered, taking out the token I possessed. Aether trickled into it, and I felt a distant e. Hey, with my better Aether Manipution skills, as Aki called it, these things make a lot more seo me. Now I’m curious just how far I go…

  “Hey, Arisu. This is a damn emergency! Get over here now! I need everyone in the room!” Here’s hoping she get in…

  Moments ter I felt the flow of aether ge ioken I held. The air around me shuddered, as if something was trying to force its way through. g the token hard in my fist, I hoped it would be fine. Aki said I could let her in. Though we still don’t fully uand how these Territories work…

  Moments ter space ed, a bck ssh f a doorway, and Arisu stepped out, her long bck hair unbound and flowing, her gown a deep wine-red. Her expression was cold, her usual mask, but as she looked at me, then around to where she was, the massive trees hanging over us, the stant stream of strange, animalistic troops ing and going, her eyes widened, some emotion showing for the first time in a while, before her usual angry mask reasserted itself.

  “So, White… where is this? I feel oppressed. The very air presses down on me.” Arisu looked around. The moving forces were looking at her, wary, and I could see that Dryad peering at us from behiree.

  “Uh, no time for lengthy expnations. This… well, this is Aki’s territory.” She said, and at that Arisu narrowed her eyes. No way. I know what you are thinking! As Tan’s ughter echoed in my mind, I puffed myself up as much as I could, trying to look stern. “Don’t even think about it, Arisu. We’re friends, and I like you, but if you try and damage anything that belongs to Aki…” My hair glittered red, fmes casg down like a waterfall. “… then we are going to have to fight.” As our bck eyes looked into each other, testing our resolve, I delivered my trump card, the reason why I trusted Arisu to e here, even if I was extremely worried about her meeting Aki, for a number of reasons. “Besides, you hate treachery, right? I promised Aki that you could be trusted. Don’t make a liar out of me, Arisu. Please.”

  For a moment she pted, looking around, seeing the silver needles and the magnifit shrine building covered in shat was obviously key infrastructure, and I felt my heart ch, before she managed a small nod, and I rexed, breathing out, relieved.

  “Fine. Well, White, ossessed you to take such a risk t me here of all pces? And why did the fool allow it? Taking a potential enemy into the heart of a Territory is madness. Betrayal e in a heartbeat, from those you once called friends and colleagues. I know this better than anyone.”

  “Obviously because I said you were trustworthy, and Aki trusts me. He’s a great guy, I promise! He got me a healer, the best there is, my scars have shrunk, and I even have an eye now.” I pulled dowch proudly. “Sure, it’s still utterly useless, but progress, right?” I smiled, trying to win her over. “Aki didn’t hesitate. I offered to take responsibility if you screwed him over, but he doesn’t even want that. Aki’s a soft touch, but I love him.” Ign more of Tan’s snickering, I made my position clear. “However… what Aki wants or not, if you try to do anything bad, I will stop you. Even if we have to fight to the death. And for Aki, I’ll win!”

  “Well, White. Your resolve is… oddly irritating. Merayers. This one isn’t even faithful.”

  “Wrong!” I decred. “Aki is utterly faithful. Just to… more than one woman. Look, there’s not much time. Get Suzu and Bunta and bring them here through the room. There’s a war on!”

  “A war?” she asked, puzzled, and before I could answer, Asha came over, having rexed seeing Arisu make no hostile moves.

  “Who is this?” Arisu asked, adopting a wary stance. Yes, she isn’t good with refined women anymore, too many of her fellow actresses betrayed her.

  “She’s Asha. She mahe Trees here. Speaking of, impressive, isn’t it? There’s even a café on top, and you get some awesome booze.” Shiro grinned proudly.

  Why are you so pleased? It is not your Territory.

  Wrong! What’s Aki’s is miht? Besides, I admit, I kind of want to boast to Arisu what a cool guy I fell for. Aki, a cool guy… hought I’d ever see him that way. He was funny and kind, but never really cool before. But now… hell, he’s leading the charge in a war…

  I have wohis before, but you are quite… reckless, princess. You do not treasure your life. Things that should leave you fearful merely excite you.

  Rude! Though I guess, when you’ve lived with the knowledge you could die at any time like I did, mortality just hits differently, right?

  “A café? Who cares about such things?” Arisu pined, eyeing the newer, only to be startled as another woman followed her, this oh long, curved horns on her head.

  “Oh, hey there, Bintara.” I greeted the healer Aki had got for me. “You not joining the battle?”

  “Hardly.” Bintara scoffed. “This fight is not my fight. Why would I care if the kami are sin, their temples razed? Though perhaps I shall witness it. Many shall require healing afterwards.”

  “What battle, what war?” Arisu repeated, frustrated by the ck of crity.

  “Oh, yeah. Well… uh, looks like a load of others like us are invading from a. Aki and his forces are trying to stop them. I thought… well, I thought we could use all the help we could get, and you’re pretty awesome, Arisu. Besides… I thought this might be a good time to introduce you two. I kind of don’t want you to meet him in your room.” I giggled, nerves getting the best of me. “After all, you be a bit short-tempered, Arisu.”

  “I see. Well, what does that have to do with me? If the petition kill each other, our value increases.” She crossed her arms coldly.

  “Oh e on, I know you don’t mean that. After all, if that was the case, why even group up like we did?” I chided her. “Anyway, look around. Even with all of us w together, we haven’t reached these heights. Wouldn’t it be good to be friends? Aki is damn generous to his friends. Besides…” I know what you really want, Arisu. “… I know that you want to clear your name, and drop the bastard ex-fiancé of yours and the bitches that betrayed you into hell, ruining them like they did to you.” I smiled, and withian ughed, ever oo appreciate righteous fury, and a thirst for vengeance. “Aki do it. I promise you.” Well, if not him and all his tacts, I bet if I ask Hinata, she might be able to put me in touch with the right people. She’s from Nichibotsu, that world-leadironipany. They supply a lot of equipment to the film and musidustry, right? I’m sure she mentioned her family gets a lot of tickets to premieres and other events…

  Arisu froze. “A bold cim. You know what I am up against, White. I hate liars more than anything. You wouldn’t lie to me, would you?” her perfect pronunciation slipped, and I felt a chill, but I held my ground.

  “Me? Lie to you? e on, Arisu. I’m hurt. I even told you the truth about Aki and his other women, even knowing you’d hate him for it. Which you definitely shouldn’t!” I decred. “Aki will do it, I won’t eveo ask, he’s got a soft-spot for women who have problems.” I snorted sourly. “Besides, there are other bes here too. Aki’s genius at teag people how to get stronger. And I know you want that.” I gririumphantly. “Seriously, I’m not saying this won’t be risky. I’m worried myself. But that’s why I want your help, Suzu’s and Bunta as well. Together we make a difference.”

  “Strength, you say?” Arisu muttered.

  Got her. “Yeah, strength and vindication.” I grinned, knowing I was close to victory. “Look, we’re friends, right? I’m not going to cheat you, not like they did. Just… promise me ohing.”

  She cocked her head, curious.

  “Just don’t fall for Aki, all right? I know he’s cool, but he’s mine!”

  “You must be insane, White.” Arisu spluttered. “Me? Fall for an instant man such as…” I broke out ughing, my prank diffusing the tension as I had hoped, and her mask shattered, eyes wide and lips in a pout for a sed, before her practised ag forced her to stillness once more.

  “Look, just fetch them, all right? I know Suzu met him in Kyoto before, so she’ll be ied at least. As for Bunta, well, it’s about time he puts his ability to det use.”

  “I am not willing to suffer losses for this.” Arisu decred, but her door started f once more, an inky bd purple void in space. “We have been friends, White. But if you betray me, especially over a man…”

  “Don’t worry. I treasure my few friendships. In fact, I’m finally making more friends. Maybe you’ll even like them too…” I grinned, watg as Arisu vaurning to Bintara, I spoke.

  “So, you said you wao withis war? Well, you e with me. I’d feel better having a healer on site, especially one as skilled as you.”

  Bintara shrugged. “I abhor needless injury. And your healing is immeaxing, what with that filthy parasite…” her lips curled into a scowl. “…inside you. Do try not to suffer further injury, making my task harder.”

  As I promised I would not, Tan pined inside me. That mewling sea-cow. Her words anger me. I am no parasite. If we did not need her skills, I would devour her, horns and all…

  As the door of Arisu opened behind us, aed Suzu hopping out, looking around with wonder, a quiet, withdrawn Bunta following behind, hunched over to make himself appear small, I grinned. No, you ’t eat her, Tan. She’s doing us a favour, thanks to Aki. Besides… won’t you get to eat your fill now, anyway?

  My fill? My thirst is seldom quenched. But… yes, for once I shall be able to drink deep. e. Our prey awaits!

  ********

  I emerged through the Ring Gate into Kyoto, Daiyu, Shaeu and Hyath following us. The first thing I saw was Moira and Ulfuric coordinating our forces, dispatg runners and messeo various fronts, while looking over a map of Kyoto that Moira over.

  “Ah, princess, Akio.” Ulfuric rumbled, seeing us arrive. “Excellent timing. Your presence will be wele here.”

  “From a risk standpoint, using the Duchess and Akio as otential is foolish. Generals should lead from the rear, lest the of and and morale shatter with their defeat, but…” she pursed her lips, looking distinctly like a frosty secretary. “… we o use what strength we have. This is not the Seelie Court, this is a fn nd.”

  Haru-san floated over, followed by aed Ixitt. I was about to speak when my eyes went wide. “What the hell? Is that a helicopter?” I muttered.

  “Yes. Looks like they have a way ing people into the Boundary, as well as equipment, and making it all work somehow.” Haru-san observed. “I didn’t believe it myself at first.”

  “Damn, abilities like that are a total cheat, I 't believe it operate on this scale. Of the sixteen we know, most of them are pretty orthodox. Enhanced physical abilities, elemental attacks. There are a few troubling ones, I admit, but…” The unknown seven. They are what make this dangerous.

  “So, the Sects have e?” Daiyu asked, her gaze intense. I asked for her, and Ulfuric agreed.

  “I believe we have ehem at various points.” He gestured to the map. “So far we have been pushing them back, but the ons from the mortal world are giving them an edge. We have attempted to bat them with our own mortal engineers, and have had some successes.”

  Even as we talked, Kyoto in the Boundary was burning, and rockets streaked out from the distance, detonating violently, though one appeared to strike a Territory barrier, which held, if barely.

  “Indeed we have.” Ixitt crowed, tail shing happily. “We mao destroy one of the helicopters. If the others approach within e, we shem. But as, they seem to be trating on the eastern and northern parts first.”

  Hmm. My Eye glowed, as I watched the helicopter turn in a zy arc, autoons raking the streets below, a missile-pod ung another pair of air-to-ground rockets which finally colpsed the barrier of a Territory. Sharpening my gaze, I could see armed men and women carrying what looked like assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades surging forwards, followed by… what, are those some sort of zombies?

  “Yes.” Haru-san said, seemingly reading my mind. I guess she might be! “Zombies. I purified some earlier, but it seems someone has no respect for the dead. We should be allowed to rest in peace. Or e back with dignity, like me.” She smiled sadly.

  False Jiāngshī [Dead struct] – These structs are crafted from the bodies of humans, fragments of memory used to animate and trol the dead flesh. Ordinary wounds will not stop them, only signifit damage will rehem still once more. Their speed and strength have been enhanced by the Favour of ??????????, and also further ???????? by ?????????.

  “Damn.” I muttered. “Question marks again. Well, I got enough.” Turning my gaze to the helicopter in the distance, I focussed on the shimmering glow of aether that glittered around the helicopter.

  Stolen From Earth, Treasured In Heaven [????????] – the grad favour of the thieving Laverna has brought this treasure to the Boundary, and sireasure broken is a treasure most worthless, allows it to fun as it would ierial, so long as the aether of the ??????????? blessing sts.

  “That makes sense, I think.” I sighed. “Damn, that’s one hell of a Divine Favour. Not ese either, I’d say.” I didn’t reise the name, so it couldn’t have been a majoddess, but that didn’t matter. “Well then, we o get crag. Is there any word of Tsukiko-san?”

  Moira frowned, nodding. “The woman is in her shrine, uhe prote of Prince Shōtoku and several others with abilities such as yours.” She pursed her lips, irritated. “Even though the shri …” she checked the map briefly. “…Tsukuyomi-jinja is well protected, as we pnned, havihere when she is likely a target is too much of a risk.”

  I agree, but she’s stubborn. And it isn’t like there’s no risk ierial. “All right. Well, give me the test picture of where our allies and enemies are, and we’ll head out. Best thing we do is thin down their numbers and reinforce our allies.”

  “Very well.” Ulfuric agreed. “Grulgor and his trolls were st dispatched here, and we have deployed a line of ratkin and weaselkio ambush this force moving…”

  I absorbed all the information and nodded. “Right. We’ll split into two groups. I’ll head north with Daiyu’er, and Shaeu, you take Hyath and sweep east.” I turo Haru-san. “When Shiro gets here, you cause some type nisable firework with yht element, so we see?”

  “I think I do that.” Haru-san promised. “Don’t worry, I’ll hold here. After all, I’m your vassal, and I’m key to the defence.”

  “You are. But don’t… well, I was going to say don’t die, but that would be in poor taste, right?” I smiled wryly. “How about, don’t get hurt, okay?”

  “I’m an Onryo, of course I ’t get hurt. Now hurry, time is wasting!” Haru-san made shooiures with her palms, so with that, I started rag to the north, skirting towards Koryu-ji temple, one of the former Amaterasu sites. Almost immediately as we passed through the twisting streets of Boundary Kyoto, we ran into trouble. Silvery ether ooling, and sihere was no point wasting it, Daiyu and I swept it up. I could hear the sounds of gunfire and shouts in ese, and at that Daiyu’s expression tensed.

  “It’ll be all right.” I reassured her. “If any of your Sect is here, you talk them down.”

  “Uhey are sin before I reach them.” She said, face expressionless, but her dark eyes were glimmering with moisture.

  “There is that.” I admitted. “But… well, we’ll try our best to not let that happen.” Turning another er, we ran into a dozen men, wearing uniforms and carrying ons.

  “Ah, an enemy!” one decred, and I felt a sudden wave of… wrongness… off him, as though he had a stink of something putrid and slimy. My Eye fred, and I could see that his chakra work was that of a normal person, only a shimmering trace of aether cirg through his body unnaturally keeping him here. It seems to be simir to the way I charge up the trainees, allowing them to ehe Boundary easily, but far more advanced. Even with no funiwork, here they are…

  “Kill them!” another shouted, cutting off my thoughts. “Kill the Japanese scum!”

  “Hold, fools!” Daiyu tried to stop them. “I am Zhao Daiyu, from the Incorruptible Jade Sect. We are not enemies. Our true enemies are the Party and…” her words were cut off as the soldiers opened fire. They were carrying QBZ-191 automatic rifles, so a storm of rounds was discharged towards the stunned Daiyu. Even so, she was a warrior, and not easily cowed. Hurling herself to the side, she winced as her leg was gouged out by a bullet, and two more struck her in the ribs.

  “Jade Yang Stance. Crushing Palms!” she decred, rolling with the impacts and using her enhanced speed to close in. Her opened palm struck a soldier in the face, and powered by her Qi, which surged through her arms, his neck shattered with an audible crack. She then spun, elegantly, like a dancer, and another soldier tumbled, followed by a third.

  “Shit, the bitch is killing us…” one called.

  “Use the RPGs!”

  “But what about…”

  “Fuck it! If we don’t we’ll…” the leader decred, as his subordiarted to aim his oantly.

  “Too te.” I decred, angry at his disregard for the lives of his rades. Bones shattered as I disarmed them roughly, not g about breaking the limbs that held guns. As they fell, howling, Daiyu looked at me, blood soaking her robes.

  “Sorry, I should have made you a set of these as well.” I tapped my own body armour.

  She shook her head. “Such is a crutch.” She put a little weight on her leg, wing, though a faint steam was starting to rise from her wounds as she began to heal, regeing slowly but visibly to the naked eye. “And without proper time to train aate, an armour taining Qi could interfere with my own teiques. Now, why did you spare these…” she began, only to freeze at the look of anger on my face. Her mouth snapped open, shocked as I lunged.

  “What are…”

  My bde fshed, and the man behind her, no, not a man, a Jiāngshī, who was rearing up ready to unload the remaining bullets into the back of Daiyu’s head, lit in two.

  “Zombies!” I shouted, and Daiyu turned, seeing the ones she had defeated rising with broken necks.

  “Hah, you stupid fools. Even ih…” the leader whose arm I had shattered coughed, pulling out a pistol with his good arm. “… we have no escape.” He squeezed the trigger wildly, and I felt a series of dull impacts as the shells bouny skin, uo pee, before he turhe st oo his own temple. “But they’ll suffer. War is ing! May the Party that betrayed us all know what it is to be dragged into their own quagmire!” he pulled the trigger, and as he fell, he spasmed, before rising once more, arms reag out for me, ign the broken bones.

  “It is no use. They are all dead men, cursed.” Daiyu decred, striking blow after blow, though it took many strikes for her to leave one broken enough to cease moving. “Harden your heart! Enemies exist to be defeated!”

  She’s right. Sorry. But… My bde danced, and soon only a dozeroyed corpses littered the area. Grabbing one of the rifles, I slung it over my back. It might e in handy. If not, Ixitt would enjoy it as a souvenir.

  “Much better.” Daiyu approved. “An enemy you show mercy stab you in the back, or worse, stab those you care about.”

  “Are y to e?” I forced a smile. “That’s cute.”

  “No, I am just… it would do me no good to have the one I swore an oath to be too cowardly and fiving.” She looked away, taking a deep breath. “Enough of this. e. We must go.”

  ********

  “The bastards are swarming everyone.” I said, aggrieved. There were numerous groups of zombies roaming, most of them soldiers, though other bodies were men, women and children, and putting them all doearing on my nerves. Soldiers were mixed in, and we had been caught in a number of smaller firefights. “Just like s… or ants.” Remembering the dreams Tsukiko-san and I had, it all seemed so very familiar.

  “If all this is being done by one Divine Favour, it seems unfairly powerful. Though I suppose…” Looking down on the half-dozen soldiers esc a mobile missile battery, which had just unched a volley against the north, the skyline of Boundary Kyoto filled with smoke and fmes, I grimaced. “This blessing of Laverna seems rather cheaty too. I see maybe moving one or two vehicles, but all of these, as well as numerous guns, ammunition and more…” I sighed. “There has to be more to this we aren’t seeing. Well, I guess I’ve learned my lesson.”

  Fmes roared, and Foeh my hands, raining down. The soldiers screamed as they were set abze, and then they were bloart as their remaining missiles and grenades cooked off aonated. Stepping in front of Daiyu to shield her from the shower of shrapnel from the bsts, I watched as a gust of jade wind soared up from the east, and one of the remaining helicopters spun out of trol, smashing into the tall, ntern-hung spire of a shrine archway before crumpling like a tin-.

  I guess Shaeu’s getting involved…

  “We should go too. So you haven’t seen any Cultivators yet?” I asked, and Daiyu shook her head.

  “No, and it is quite troubling. Even as remnants fleeing persecution, we learn to fight from a young age. We would be far more a threat than this… rabble.” She gazed expressionlessly at the crater strewn with pieces of flesh aal.

  “I guess we just o press on. Koryu-ji is just up ahead. From there, we cross north and link up with the defehere. After all, Kinkaku-ji is to the north, and there’s no way Saionji-san will let that fall.”

  Rushing into the tree-lined grounds of the temple, we came across a number of small, child-like figures running the other way, weariival masks such as foxes, oni, butterflies and more. They seemed panicked, and as oumbled and fell, the others turned and looked back, chittering and g in fear, their Japanese old and archaic. Wait, are these… kami?

  “Too slow!” a loud voice roared, as a ma out of the shrine grounds, blood and silver mist smearing his fad fists, bloody handprints daubed over his bare arms and chest. With a swift motion he reached out and grabbed the squirming little masked creature, lifting it by the scruff of the neck while it dahrashing, like some kitten. “Vile little pests. You filthy heathen spirits should just die. Your holiest city shall burn, and the fmes of war shall… oho. What do we have here?” he paused, spotting me, his dark eyes going wide.

  “You’re a big one, aren’t you?” I said in Mandarin, angered by his dispy.

  “ese?” he g Daiyu, in her bloody traditional robes, before shrugging. “I don’t reise either of you. Well, no matter, catch those shitty brats for me. We feed them to the bdes. The more age the better. Fug Japanese.” He ughed, reag for his belt, where a long sword made of yellowish-white metal sat… no, not metal, is that… bone?

  My Eye Fred, and even looking at the sword caused me pain, needles stabbing in my eye. A storm of question marks flooded my vision, but in the end I mao filter out a few words.

  ????????? hungry bone ??????? of ??????????.

  A thick mist of indigo energy was rising from it, as well as something darker. Beside me, Daiyu shivered, looking scared.

  “That is a bsphemy.” She muttered. “It is thick with the stench of hunger and greed.”

  “You sound surprised. It isn’t like you don’t have… huh?” he was surprised as the bone jerked his arm, pointing it at me, and the bde wept, some sort of transparent slime, violet sparks shimmering within. “Well, isn’t this strange. Just what’s your name? And where’s your bde?”

  “I am Zhou Daiyu, of the Incorruptible Jade…” she began to distract him, as the child-like spiritual beings ran behind us. Seeing us make no move to stop them, the massive bear of a man became even more suspicious.

  “One of those witless Cultivators, huh? Running like cowardly dogs from their homes, despite their boasts of fifteen hundred years of history? Well, I’m hardly better. Once I refused to heed the Ministry, I was done. But… I don’t remember that Sect being talked about… as for you…” he looked at me.

  “As for me?” I asked, slowly moving closer, so as not to startle him.

  “As for you… I think you’re not one of us at all!” he roared, tossihe being he held. I reacted instinctively, grabbing for it, and he ran at me rapidly, the sudden motion bsting small craters in the ground underfoot.

  Shit, he’s fast. Must be the one on the list focussed on speed…

  “it looks like this wants you!” he cried. “Die, knowing that Xuanwu’s Disciple has ended you. It is an honour!”

  Split Thoughts and Body Enha activated, and I was able to react. I tossed the burden I was carryily to Daiyu, who caught the squirming masked creature, and the bde passed by my face. The stench alpable, and I could see it drawing iher from the world around us. It even started pulling from my work, wisps of silver and various elemental energies leaving my chakras, until I cmped my will dowing it.

  “Dodged huh? Try this!” the man roared, his foot suddenly swinging at me. I parried, and I felt my bones creak, as I slid backwards, ripping furrows in the floor.

  So he’s Xuanwu’s didate huh? He was on the list, but for strength, not speed. And he is strohan me, if only purely in numbers… his League is nothing special though. I shook my numb arms casually.

  “Still standing? Looks like I found a big…” he darted at me, bde stabbing at me in a storm of thrusts, while his off hand tried to grapple me, and he kicked out like lightning. As I heightened my tration, light energy surging through me, boosting my nerves and brain, it was as if time slowed a little, and I was able to keep up, then even surpass his speed. “… catch!” he swept the bde towards me.

  “If all you have is strength, you won’t win.” I shot back, taunting him, as I drew on one of the many abilities I’d worked for over the st few months, proof of my struggles.

  “Oh? Well, how about…” he leapt, bde raised high, and I moved, only to see him flying past me, aiming for Daiyu. She was not his match, but even so, she flowed into her Jade Yang stance, ready to fight.

  “Too predictable.” I answered, as threads of wind I had tossed out pulled him back. “Wow, you’re a durable one.” I aped my sister, as the threads had only sliced through his flesh, stopping at his steely muscles. “I’m jealous of that blessing. You make Grulgor look like a .”

  “Let me fug go!” he howled, but as he struggled he was just inflig more damage on himself, and I noticed he didn’t seem to have any sort of healing ability, as blood tio stain the ground below him.

  “Not until you answer a few questions for me.” I demanded. “So, just why have you e to Kyoto? What’s your objective? And what are those bdes you talked about?”

  “Oh, you want to know?” he grinned. “Well, these bdes…” he suddenly tensed, somehow managing to pull his arm free from the wind that held him, though it stripped flesh and muscle almost to the bone. He then sliced the bde through the remaining threads, and to my surprise the winds were severed, the green energies being drawn into the sword. “…are going to devour you, sending your esseo…” he accelerated, bde aimed directly at my heart, only to halt for a moment, as if he smmed into a solid wall.

  “What… no, I don’t want to… be… food…” he managed, head leaving his body, my Cutting Twilight ripping through space, and the wall of solid air I had jured, that had halted him momentarily. As the head bounced on the floor, the headless body toppling over, the yellowing bde quivered, and the message that was scrolling ay vision in amber letters ged, being a mess of question marks.

  You have ??????? in stre???h. Your level has ?????? to One Hundred ??????. All of your ???? ????? have incr????? by el??eher ????????? …

  ShipTeaser