Kill the Empire
Year: 1019
The skies were grayed out by overcast clouds as the wind cascaded gently across the terrain. Silence wafted over the area like time had stood still. Not a single bird chirped or any other organism in the wilderness scurried about in the vicinity. The only instance of life that reverberated in the air was the constant buzzing of flies scattered about. The stench of death choked the air as the corpses of the Blood Wolves along with slain Imperials soiled the earth. An epic massacre of the night had taken place, yet no one was the wiser for it—except for one.
Raizo Arashi had wandered through his village dragging body after body to line them up on the ground. He saw many faces that he recognized as old mentors, fellow trainees, those who fawned over him since he was a small boy, and even the next generation who aspired to be like him. They were so invigorated with life, and yet now they were just cold mounds of flesh waiting for decay. Over the past two days, the young Blood Wolf had traversed the village to arrange some of the bodies he could lift in order to lay them to rest. There were far too many corpses to bury, so the only choice was mass cremation.
When he came to the body of Kenshirou Ikazuchi, the youth just stopped in his tracks. He saw all of the holes that covered his body as well as the giant gaping space in the man's chest. Growing up, the boy thought that his grandfather was invincible. Not even the passing of time and the factor of age would stop him. He recalled all the times he shared with the man including the life lessons he learned, the brutal training he endured, and just the quality time spent with someone who doted on his only grandchild. Yes, Raizo was bred to become a ruthless killing machine, but those moments were rare reminders that warmth existed even in the life of an assassin. The boy felt the sting of tears filling his eyes once again, yet he had to continue.
With all of the corpses of the fallen warriors arranged within the confines of the entire encampment, the boy had taken caskets of oil and dumped the contents around the village's circumference. Then he poured more oil around various tents at random points within the settlement before walking back outside of the area. Grabbing a hunk of wood, he tore a piece of cloth from the body of a dead soldier and wrapped it around the stick before dipping it in the oil. Then, he took two nearby stones and struck them together to spark a flame. As he held the torch in his hand, the male had taken a lasting glance over the place he called home.
"I swear…I will avenge all of you…" he murmured before tipping the torch down.
Fire quickly traversed the trail he set before it engulfed the entire village whilst slowly burning inward. As the wall of flames grew, the scent of charring flesh had begun to occupy the air. Staring into the abyss of flames, Raizo felt the burning desire for revenge welling up from the pit of his stomach.
"There's one last task to accomplish," he whispered whilst shaking his head to come back to his senses.
From there, the male made his way across the hill away from the burning settlement to a certain spot near the river. Coming up in his sight was a small pile of wood arranged into a pyre with Assana's body lying on top. He had previously committed to the construction of this mound when he stumbled across decent hunks of material while preparing the mass cremation. The girl was placed atop the structure, her hands clasped together over her chest as if she was a sleeping beauty waiting for a kiss to awaken her from her slumber. Seeing the peaceful visage tugged on the boy's heart as he felt the harsh reality of his current situation sink in all over again.
"You were the best of us…you deserve to live far more than I do. You saw the light in this world even amidst all of this darkness. It's not fair…it's not fair at all. If I lose myself, who can I turn to? Who will be there to listen to me and help me come to terms with my demons? Damn it all…" Raizo rambled in an emotional outburst.
In that next moment, the youth reached to his sides and pulled out the twin blades that the girl gifted him. The peerless steel relinquished the tiniest luminescence in the metallic surface. The child stepped closer to the pyre and looked down at the face of his fallen friend.
"Goodbye Assana…wherever you go, I hope to meet you again soon."
The youth struck the two blades together causing sparks to fly and hit the wood setting it ablaze. Stepping back, the male sheathed his blades and watched as the body of the girl he trusted began to burn. In that somber moment, something caught his keen senses.
"Who's there?" he called out, turning his gaze from side to side.
His eyes stopped when he saw a mysterious figure appear a short distance to his left by the river bank. Turning to face that direction, the male focused his gaze to get a better idea of what it was. Upon further inspection, his eyes were able to perceive the figure to take the shape of a black wolf, the same wolf that was the guardian spirit that his clan highly regarded. Seeing it appear in plain sight caused an atmosphere of uncertainty to fall over him. His legs began to shake and his heart felt like it was beating out of his chest. Yet amidst all of that anxiety, he felt a certain measure of peace as well. In the blink of an eye, the spirit vanished.
"What the hell…?" he uttered in disbelief.
Shaking his head, he simply turned back to face Assana's pyre to say his final farewells. However, he faced a surprise.
"Again?!"
The wolf spirit had reappeared except this time, it was by the fire. The creature silently stared at the teenage boy with its piercing blue eyes. For the assassin, it was almost as if the entity had been staring into the depths of his very soul. Paralyzed by this, Raizo was unable to move. The next instant to follow only escalated the strangeness of the situation. The orange flames of the burning pyre had shifted into the crisp azure shade that was reflected by the wolf's eyes. As a result, the intensity of the inferno had escalated without delay.
"No…wait!"
Raizo attempted to rush over toward the wolf and the pyre, but he could not traverse that small gap quickly enough. A sudden gust of wind came along and nearly knocked the boy off his feet causing him to stumble. When he looked up, the funeral pyre and the spirit of the wolf had disappeared without a trace.
"What…what is this? I can't even have a moment to grieve over my friend? How much more do I have to lose? What else can you take from me?!" he screamed out.
"I…I have to get away from here. I just have to get away. I'll go to the Empire then…I'll kill them…I'll kill them all!"
[You will only get yourself killed in the end, boy.]
A voice had echoed out in the child's mind.
"I-Indra? You mean…you're still there?"
[Indeed. I shall be with you for all the years of your life so long as my power runs through your veins. But enough of that, do you really think it best to charge straight into the den of your enemies in your current state?]
"What are you talking about? I'm a highly trained assassin…and I've got your power!"
[Of which you do not even know how to use just yet. Taking in the essence was just the first step. You haven't even begun to learn the basics yet. There is much to be done and training to complete.]
"I don't have time for training…I have to go to the Capital. I need to find my mother!"
[And do what besides get yourself killed? You need to dial back your emotions and breathe. It is time that we head into the mountains to begin.]
"Tch…this better not be a waste of time. I don't know how long my mother has left."
[You forget that a massive army is marching across a great distance back to their headquarters. It will take time.]
"Wait…how do you know about an army when you were just in a jar?"
[There are many things that you do not know about me or the extent of my powers. If you wish to find out…]
"Yeah, yeah…head into the mountains. Fine…this better be worth it, old man…"
With nothing else left to say, the last blood wolf had gathered himself together. He took a lasting look over the burning settlement as all of his clansmen were being reduced to ashes. Staring at the dismal sight would only cause him to get angry again so he had to bid farewell. Leaving his home behind him, the teenager grabbed a bag of supplies he kept by the river and quietly yet sorrowfully departed from the area.
Time passed with ease, though Raizo never felt it. His mind was assailed with thoughts involving revenge and how he would go about fulfilling it. His heart was bleeding with emotions from grief to hatred and everything negative in between. The child was truly alone with no one to rely on to help keep himself in check. He could only count on himself because, in this world, there was hardly anyone worthy of trust.
Crossing the land for what may have been hundreds of miles after half a day, Raizo reached the foot of the mountains in the northwestern corner of the land far removed from the prying eyes of the Imperial Army. The area was much colder than what he was used to. In this region, it was already snowing regardless of the spring-like weather that was going on down south. The boy was poorly dressed for this environment, and ill-prepared. However, the mental torment he was currently experiencing had numbed those sensory instincts at the moment.
The trees were dusted in white flakes of snow and the ground beneath his feet was devoid of grasses and other plant life. The cruel wind was exerting so much force that its howling rang the child's ears. Raizo tucked his head for a moment to shield himself from the rush of air before adjusting his sight to focus on the path before him.
It wasn't much, just a small trail that led up the encroaching summit. Studying its path, the young assassin could see the outline of footprints that led up and down the area. People must have lived nearby. Unsure of what kind of people he would face, the male glanced at the trees taking note of how the forestry carried an adjacent path up the way. Going with his senses, the male ran up the nearest tree and began to leap from branch to branch of each tree that ascended the peak.
As the elevation gradually increased, the youth paused when he came upon a unique sight. About 50 feet from his current position, he spotted a small cluster of worn-down brick structures and huts. Numbering about 10 in all, there was a small community of people living here. He could see some of the villagers wearing furs and other tattered rags for clothing. Small campfires were spread out roasting some animals from the local wildlife along with stations set up for boiling pots of stew. Judging from the looks of it, these people must have been too poor to live within the districts that the Empire governs.
Living away from the Empire's grasp led to much freedom. People did not have to pay ridiculous sums of gold for taxes or worry about soldiers randomly entering the settlement to do whatever they pleased. They also did not have to worry about being taken advantage of by greedy lords and property taxes. Yet these privileges came at a cost. This kind of lifestyle led to a lack of revenue which meant that food, medicine, clothing, and such were low in stock. Harsh living conditions within the environment were another factor that people had to deal with. Then there was the biggest one–lack of protection. Without the presence of soldiers or guards, any foreign power or outlaws could attack the settlement at any point in time. Unless the people knew how to fight on their own, such events would always end badly.
A lone horse-drawn wagon carrying supplies could be seen entering the village with two merchants serving as escorts. As they made their way into the heart of the square, they were greeted by another individual draped in the fur of a bear. Judging from his older appearance yet muscular build, the observing assassin perceived this man as the village leader. A few of the other villagers had emerged from their huts to monitor the exchange going down.
"We managed to sneak this load away for you all. This should last you for a good month or two. Did you get the pelts we asked for?" One of the merchants had inquired.
The elder motioned his hand forward as another male had brought a sack of materials and dropped it before the merchants.
"It wasn't easy getting our hands on these. Most of the creatures are hibernating for the season," he uttered.
"Do not be dismayed. These will fetch a high price and before long, we will have more supplies to bring to you all."
In that next moment, a series of shots were fired off into the sky echoing loudly throughout the settlement.
"What the hell was that?!" cried out one of the men present.
"Hoorah boys, looks like following that wagon paid off this time!" a hoarse voice shouted out.
"Hey boss, looks like we won't be lonely tonight. The villagers got some ripe babes for the taking," another unfamiliar voice echoed in kind.
"HOOOOAH!"
In the following seconds, a ragtag band of bandits came up the roadway into the village. They wore tattered cloaks and furs that were worn out and damaged from long-term use and abuse by the elements. Each individual had a sturdy, muscular build with a rugged appearance indicating their years of surviving out in the wilderness and experience in battle against the elements and mankind alike. They held wicked smiles upon their faces not hesitating at revealing their cruel intentions. Armed with axes and guns, the small horde of about 20 men busted their way into the territory unimpeded.
A man stood in front of the villagers, he was a giant standing at about 6 foot 5 weighing in at 250 lbs. He held a large machine gun fully stocked with armor-piercing rounds that would rip a human being to shreds. With a great muscular build and a full beard wrapped around his jaw, the imposing brute casually stepped forward unafraid to showcase his bravado.
"As you can see, this is a raid ladies and gentlemen so why not make it easier on you lot and just let things roll out by surrendering to our whims? I got a lot of starving boys in need over here so uh…we'll be indulging in whatever services we desire, got it?" the leader grinned with his troop laughing behind him.
"Do you honestly think we'll surrender to the likes of…" the village leader was beginning to say before he was assailed by a barrage of bullets by the giant bandit.
"Ugh…I hate it when people try to be a hero," the male spat with disgust.
Cries of terror began to ring out from all of the women and children as they scattered like roaches to hide. The merchants jumped aboard their wagon and were about to take off before meeting the same end as the elder by two other bandits in the background.
"To hell with it boys, take what you can!" the leader ordered.
"Give nothing back!" his men responded.
In that instant, a horrifying display had begun to unfold. The rambunctious invaders rushed forward with their weapons going after anything and everything that moved. Shots then rang out in the air causing women and children to shriek in horror. Some of the men from the village grabbed their hunting tools to fight. Blunt axes, bows and arrows, wooden clubs, rusty daggers, and the like were the tools of choice available to the brave souls who stepped forward to defend their families.
As they confronted their opponents head-on, a few of them were gunned down on the spot by a hailstorm of bullets. Three of the bandits emptied entire magazines into the poor souls that charged them with sickening smiles of delight painted across their faces. They brushed over the bullet-ridden bodies like the plague eyeing potential prey to feast on. About five of the men ran off to the side to inspect the contents of the wagon while the others went on a rampage.
Some of the terrorists busted through the doors of the makeshift homes and began to discharge led inside even if the structure was empty. Others snatched up the women that tried to run away dragging them out into the snow to capture them as prisoners. Small fires began to grow, consuming some of what little bit of livelihood these people had made for themselves as faint trails of smoke levitated into the sky above.
"Go, go, go! Don't look back!" one of the men cried out as he escorted his family through the settlement to escape the village.
In the face of this brutal massacre, he only sought to ensure that his wife and his two daughters would flee and find safety somewhere else. Any fate would have been better than what was to come. However, a loud shot had echoed in his ears when he suddenly felt a searing pain vibrate through his entire body. Two more of those sounds echoed out as he went face-first into the snow.
"Daddy no!" one of the girls cried.
The father looked to find himself shot in both legs with one bullet passing through his lower left side. Coughing up blood, the protective individual reached one hand out as far as he could whilst mustering the strength to utter one word.
"R…un…"
"Darling…I…" the wife had sorrowfully uttered.
"GO!" he shouted with all his might.
"Daddy!!" the two children cried out.
Just as the woman had scooped up the two little girls to run, another set of shots rang out in the air. Two of which passed through the two girls.
"M…Mommy…?" one girl stammered weakly.
"I…I hurt….bad…" the other relinquished.
Simultaneously, both children had blood seeping through their clothes before going limp in their mother's arms.
"E…eh? No…NOOOO!" the woman cried out as she fell to her knees.
"Bullseye," one of the bandits uttered.
"Heh, nice shot bro. Can't stand brats anyway. At least you spared that prime cut of meat," his partner complimented.
"Tell me about it; look at the size of those cannons on her chest…and those curves? Man, mothers have the best bodies. Somethin' that piece of shit husband can't appreciate."
"Amen to that…I mean look at this weak bastard," the partner said, kicking the body of the wounded husband on the ground.
"You put three in him and he's just down for the count, not even draggin' his sorry ass to his dead kiddos."
The father had been too occupied by shock to feel the pain that coursed through his body. After seeing his young, innocent daughters lose their precious lives before his helpless eyes, the world just went silent.
"He ain't even gonna fight back. Welp, since I took the shot I'll take my first dibs."
"Gah damn, I shoulda shot when I had the chance but I probably woulda killed the whole lot of 'em. Alrighty bro, but try not to break her too much, I want a turn. I got a nice hefty load waitin' for that prize."
"No promises. I'm backed up after all."
The man who shot the husband as well as his two children slowly crept his way across the snow towards the woman holding the bodies of her lifeless daughters in her arms. As she sobbed uncontrollably, she didn't even notice the tall, muscular man looming over her.
"Quit that annoyin' ass cryin'. You'll be singing a different tune soon enough."
As he reached down and grabbed the woman's arm causing her to nearly drop one of her children, the female turned her head and bit the man's forearm.
"OW YOU BITCH!" he yelled out before backhanding her about a foot away into the snow.
The bodies of the two girls plopped down onto the bloody surface of the snow-covered ground as the male rubbed his arm where the teeth marks were located.
"I was gonna take my time, but to hell with that. Your ass is getting fucked into the ground like useless breeding stock."
The towering individual began to unbuckle his pants and unzip them slowly whilst the woman merely crawled along the ground towards her husband, her eyes hazy from all of the shock ruling her mind. At that moment, the bandit dropped down on top of her and tore away her clothes before taking out his manhood in order to make use of the vulnerable housewife.
"YOU…BAS…TARDS! I'LL…KILL YOU ALL!" the husband managed to cry out with anger.
"Shut yer damn mouth," the other bandit uttered before stomping him in the side where the bullet wounded him.
Paralyzed, he was forced to watch as the ground ran red with the blood of his children while his wife was ravished just a few feet away from him.
As the events transpired before him, the young Blood Wolf observed from afar in the trees. He dug his nails into the bark of the tree feeling rage welling within him.
"These people…this pain is…"
As the child clutched his chest for a moment, the visions of what transpired just a few days ago ran through his mind. The sight of his village consumed in flames and the bodies of his dead clansmen blitzed through his consciousness like a gruesome slide show. As his crimson irises beheld the small settlement before him, he saw nothing but reminders of that day only imagining what had transpired during that dark period. That tragedy caused his breathing to become shallow as he felt something building up within him.
[Boy, is this not the perfect opportunity to test out your power? Do you not wish to exercise the might of your vengeance?]
The disambiguated voice of Indra whispered into his ear coaxing him into action. He felt his rage begin to boil over. The sky above began to darken with black clouds as echoes of thunder had overtaken the sound in the air. Arcs of blue electricity spiraled around the body of the boy whilst a rush of adrenaline had overtaken his senses.
[Let your emotions burst like the rain, your rage crashing like thunder, and your blade as swift as lightning. Allow yourself to become the storm, to ride like a calamity over the wasteland that is the Earth. Let my judgment fuel your wrath, young Raizo Arashi!]
The oncoming storm had escalated as the sudden disturbance grew louder. In tandem with this phenomenon, the young killer had pulled out his dual scythes from behind his back, his crimson eyes radiating with pure killing intent. Along the course of a gust of wind, the boy had disappeared from the treetops making his way towards the village.
In the meantime, the bandits continued their reign of terror over the poor village. Horrific and unspeakable acts of depravity and sadistic debauchery carried on as the snowy ground ran red with the blood of the helpless victims. The women were passed around for the starved men's usage without any hesitation while children's lives were used as bargaining chips to force cooperation. The men were drunk on their egos and power as they made sure to thoroughly capitalize on this situation. However, their party would soon become short-lived.
"Oi Boss, what the hell is up with the weather?" one of the men asked their muscular leader.
"Don't know, never thought a storm like this would happen in this region. Looks like it might get worse. All right boys, guess we better take the party indoors and wait out the storm. The moment it lightens up, we'll load all the goods on the wagon and head home!" the giant had ordered.
"AYE BOSS!" the men cried out.
"Spread the word around and make sure everyone gets back here. I know we had a few of our guys spread out to find any escapees," the leader ordered one of his subordinates.
Suddenly, a solitary gunshot echoed.
"Come on Bro, when's it gonna be my turn? Pretty sure you blew your load in her twice already. I wanna drill that sweet housewife ass too."
"Guess I am being a little greedy. If you're that anxious, you should've taken her mouth by now."
"I would have but I am babysitting this bleeding sack of meat to make sure he can watch us fuck his woman better than he ever could."
The mercenary kicked the wounded man once again, who had shed more than enough tears over his family's current state, but there was hardly a response.
"Heh, guess the bastard finally bled out. Damn, I wanted to see his face when we gave her the double team."
"Fuck it," the other male said as he pulled himself away from the broken maiden.
"Don't worry about that meat sack. Pretty sure he's rotting in Hell crying his heart out over the last thing he saw."
"Yeah that's true…welp, guess I can get my turn now."
"Go for it, ah shit, we better just take the lady to one of the huts. Seems like a bad storm is brewin'."
"Damn…well then at least I'll have a chance to break a bed then. Can't wait to empty my sack into that. She already looks blanked out. Guess we gotta carry the bitch."
"Heh, probably because she ain't used to somethin' so big in her tight hole."
"Told ya not to break her too much before I got my turn…"
As the man that had taken first dibs on the woman zipped his pants back up, a strong gust of wind blew past the two at that moment. The bitterness of the cruel, cold air had cut their cheeks causing a numbing sensation to eclipse their boastful behavior.
"Shit Bro, let's hurry up. I can warm myself up once I can pound this ass. Grab her legs."
Nodding in affirmation, the other male had gone to do just that when he suddenly lost all feeling from below the neck.
"Whoa…what the…" he was about to say before his head fell from his shoulders onto the ground before his partner.
"WHAT THE FUCK!" the other male cried out as he looked to see the body of his friend fall to the ground. He quickly grabbed his rifle and looked around back and forth as fast as he could.
"Show yourself, you bastard!"
At that moment, the whooshing sound of a fan-like object came from behind the man. As he turned around, he found himself embracing a curved blade in his sternum. By reflex, his finger had squeezed the trigger firing a round in the air. Looking up from his wound, he saw a smaller male walking up to him with spiraling arcs of electricity binding his body. The hateful gaze of a teenager with red eyes had seemingly penetrated his soul causing the mercenary to fall to his knees.
"Die…like the worthless dog you are," the presence had uttered before another blade came at the dying man and severed his head too.
The suffering female who was presently dazed and confused from the trauma of the terrifying experiences she endured in the past 15 minutes or so could only adjust her gaze to see the boy. She saw the bodies of the men who killed her family and abused her collapsing to the ground devoid of life. As she caught a more detailed glimpse of the child, she could only see his supernatural-like presence.
"God…please…kill them all…" she meekly uttered. Then her mind became clouded before finally finding peace. The torment she endured had robbed her of the will to live and her body shut down as a result.
"There is no such thing as God…not in this world—only death. Of that, I shall gladly become an instrument so that your soul may find peace," the assassin had stated whilst hearing her faint words before walking away.
In the next moment, rain began to fall over the snow-capped area. Given the temperature of the region, the precipitation had turned to ice thus creating a downpour of sleet. Thunder and lightning had continued to crash overhead creating a blitz of chaos that no one in the settlement was prepared to deal with. One of the bandits had been calling out to his comrades urging everyone to get to shelter. He held a hand over his eyes in order to force himself to deal with the harsh conditions. However, the sheer force of the cold air had compelled him to retreat.
"Fuck this, those bastards can come back by their own common sense," he cursed.
As he turned on his heel, he was blinded by a brilliant flash of lightning which caused him to stumble over his feet and fall back into the snow.
"Son of a bitch!"
As the man cursed in dismay, he went to grab his gun. At that moment, he noticed a pair of feet before him with blood dripping beside them. Slowly, the human being turned his gaze upward to see who the unfamiliar presence was.
"Begone…" a cruel voice echoed out.
That was the last sound the bandit heard before his head was liberated from his shoulders. Turning on his heel once more, Raizo continued to march on.
"My senses feel sharper… What's going on here?" the youth had quietly asked himself.
[To move as swift and as deadly as lightning, to spread your presence far and wide with the path of the storm. These gifts and more are but a small taste of my power. You are the incarnation of the storm, the weather is yours to control with lightning being your greatest ally. Try it out for yourself on the next batch of these arrogant fools.]
"Duly noted…"
The bandits didn't let the bad weather deter them from their heinous actions. Some of them were enjoying the spoils of their raid by having their way with the women in the doorways of some of the houses. Others just had fun getting wasted while trampling over the corpses of men and children in the rain. As their sickening celebration carried on, the presence of an unexpected guest abruptly materialized before the fools at the same time as a bolt of lightning struck the supply wagon.
"Shit, what the hell? Oi, who the fuck are you?!" one of the men shouted while aiming with his gun.
With all of the commotion, the bandits in the village had ceased their deeds to see what was going on. The silhouette of Raizo armed with his blood-soaked pickles and embedded with the unique aura of electrical energy had formed in their sights. All of the raiders promptly grabbed their weapons to prepare for a fight. One of the muscular giants then stepped forward.
"Yo kid, dunno what the hell you be doin' out in these parts, but take your light show and get the fuck outta here!" he yelled.
"Yeah, ya heard the boss. This ain't no place for brats. We already killed quite a few to have some fun. Well…some were spared for usage by some of our friends but hey…unless ya wanna be one of 'em, get outta here!" rambled one drunken fool.
"Heh, fuckin' kids I tell ya. They never know when to stay—
The armed man closest to the youth began to say before being cut off.
"Shut up already, you're giving me a headache," Raizo muttered in a dark tone.
He raised his left arm in the sky and swung it back down in one swift motion. Upon the invocation of that movement, a streak of lightning came down and struck the male. In that instant, an intense blast of heat capable of scorching the earth below roasted the man like a marshmallow. After the blinding light faded, all that was left was a lumbering stump of charred remains.
"KILL THIS LITTLE BASTARD!" the giant leader of the group ordered.
Simultaneously, the totality of the bandits had begun to discharge a hellfire of bullets at the boy in question. Hundreds of projectiles barraged his location without hesitation as the echo of gunfire reverberated throughout the air.
The onslaught barreled towards his location. Raizo knew guns were lethal tools that rendered the defensive capabilities of the human body useless. He also knew that no ordinary human would be able to match the velocity of speeding bullets. However, the youth was far from ordinary at this stage.
As the metal casings were launched his way, the child examined the oncoming attack carefully. Countless rounds were flying at him faster than he should be able to blink. However, in his sight, the bullets had slowed down to a crawl. They slowed down so much that he could see every individual shell approaching him. As he took note of this, the assassin stepped forward towards the closest casing and stared at it for a moment before tapping it with one of his scythes.
"That's interesting…"
As much as this would pique one's curiosity, the youth could not afford to read too much into this strange occurrence. He maneuvered his way through the web of projectiles never once having a single bullet graze his skin. Passing by the net, he raised his weapons and began to dash around his opponents swinging his scythes around his body for a few quick motions before halting in the middle of the square mere feet away from the crowd.
"How can that be?!" one of the men yelled out.
"I don't understand…we…we shoulda nailed his punk ass!" another one shouted.
"What's the matter? Are you truly that scared of a child?" the Blood Wolf taunted.
"You little shit…alright boys, reload and…wait…what?" their boss was about to give an order before he felt something strange in his hands.
The massive assault weapon that he had toted proudly suddenly fell to pieces as did the other various weapons that his compatriots had carried with them. In the passing of that instant since they discharged their volley, their means of offense was robbed from them in the blink of an eye.
"Oops...looks like I broke your toys. Relax, I'm about to put you all to sleep for the night and every night hereafter," the small killer declared in a harrowing tone.
"You little fuck…the hell do you think you are? Some kind of hero just because you got some weird-ass powers? What the hell do these people mean to you? They're just a bunch of mountainside country bumpkins that nobody will miss!" the boss ranted.
The youth paused for a moment whilst casting his eyes down toward the ground. The memory of his village came to mind when he thought about the reason why he was even stirred to take action in the first place. However, relinquishing details about his personal business wasn't something he wanted to cross his mind. As he lifted his gaze, a silent fury was present within his crimson eyes.
"It seems you have developed the wrong assumption about me and my intentions. For starters, labeling me as a hero or any title implying such is a waste of time. There are no such things as heroes. They are all myths that human beings tell tales of in order to keep hope alive in such a dying world. No one honestly cares about doing something for someone else without some ulterior motive or expectation of reward. That's just the society we live in.
To that end, these people don't mean a damn thing to me. I will never see them again after this day assuming that there are any willing to live on after the horrors your men inflicted upon them. In fact, the only reason I intervened like this is because I felt like it. I needed to test out my powers and you lot are the perfect piles of garbage that could achieve that end," Raizo coldly expressed. The heart beating within the chest of the young male was cruel and unforgiving. Without anyone left from his clan, his heart had hardened.
"Now then, I hope you all have made peace with whatever god you believe in. Tonight you'll all dine in Hell," the youth asserted.
"GET HIM, BOYS!"
"HOOAAHHHH!!!!!"
The bumbling violent fools rushed in without any further delay. No guns or blades, just their bare hands, and their superior physiques. They were nothing but a bunch of rambunctious muscle heads rolling through life without a cause except one of selfishness and greed. If anyone would not be missed in this world, it was people like them. Though they had the greater numbers, they lacked the skills that this young teen possessed alongside the might of his Teigu.
As the foolish men rushed towards him, Raizo's mind was already more than prepared to take every last one of them on. Getting in tune with his heightened abilities again, the motions of the men had slowed down considerably in his eyes. As he gripped the handles of his twin scythes tightly, he began his attack.
The first attack came from one man in the form of a punch. Almost instantly, Raizo sidestepped the blow to the right and brought his left arm up, severing the limb on contact. Jumping up into the air, the youth crossed his arms over each other before severing the head of the man. Placing a foot on the man's shoulder, he kicked off of the headless body and proceeded to assault his other targets.
From there, he effortlessly weaved between the bandits appearing like a bolt of lightning that danced wildly around the group. In a series of wild, unpredictable zig-zagging motions, the blood wolf had unleashed a torrent of hacking and slashing movements that were faster than any of the eyes present could perceive. Lightning that cut through the air sparked like strobe lights around the crowd of men leaving them helpless before their impending doom. After a few seconds had passed or so, the male had reappeared behind the bandits.
"Fall…"
In that instant, the men were consumed in a rain cloud of blood as their limbs and entrails dropped to the ground like birds stricken by a plague. Their heads soon followed as they bounced in the snow and ice whilst their bodies went tumbling after. As quick as a snap of the fingers, the men who had invaded the village and terrorized its settlers were dispatched with hardly any effort at all. There was only one man that remained.
"What the…what are you?! Y-You're a monster!" the giant male trembled as he fell on his rear.
"Ah…a monster? There's something I have yet to be addressed as…though all things considered, I suppose it would be a compliment," Raizo pondered before walking over to his final target.
"Stay away…don't come any closer! I'll leave…I'll never return to this place so please, I'm begging you!"
"Begging me? Is that not what the people of this settlement did before you destroyed their homes, killed their children, ravaged their women, and murdered their men? Why should I afford you the courtesy of mercy when you cannot even do the same? This world is the survival of the fittest. The strong always prey on the weak on a regular basis. As you and your men preyed on them, I shall prey upon you. I hope you are prepared for your banquet in Hell tonight."
The burly man continued to tremble with fear as he watched his death approach even closer. The man had wandered through all kinds of terrain, raided countless settlements, and fought in many confrontations throughout his life. However, he had never come across something as dangerous and intimidating as this boy. Even with all of the world's Danger Beasts roaming the wild across the places he's visited—nothing could ever compare to this individual.
Raizo raised his weapon in the air and threw it directly at his target. The hook of his blade lodged itself in the man's left shoulder. The youth then mimicked the same action with the opposite shoulder of his victim. Grasping the chains attached to the weapons, he pulled on them tightly for a moment before jerking the man's body towards him. Dragging him helplessly across the snow, the youth continued until he was able to place a single foot on the man's forehead.
"Goodnight."
In one swift action, Raizo lifted his foot and stomped down with all of the momentum he had gathered whilst zipping around like a lightning bolt crushing the cranium of the man into mush. As blood and brains scattered about beneath him, the child yanked his blades away and flicked the blood off of them before tucking them behind his back. Taking a moment to catch his breath, the storm overhead had calmed down and the arcs of energy circulating the boy's body had ceased.
He wiped his foot off in the snow before turning towards the structures. He scanned for signs of life from afar before walking toward the buildings. As he visited each home, most of the situations were about as much as he expected given the circumstances. The stench of death ruled the air. Bullet-ridden corpses had lied on the ground alongside the mangled bodies of children. Most of the women were passed around as tools of affection for the men, some of which died from the trauma. Others did not even have the strength to move and had lost the will to live like the woman he encountered before.
"Such is the fate of the unprepared in this wretched world…I suppose life has a funny way of dealing her cards. I will not ask for your forgiveness, but I hope that you all find peace in the next life," he declared.
Backing off, the youth quietly walked away from the small encampment before looking over his shoulder. Feeling the power of Indra's Judgment responding to his will, the youth snapped his fingers. Bolts of electricity came spiraling down and struck the ruined buildings and causing them to ignite. The dead would turn to ash as the world had dropped the final curtain on this settlement. With that act of mercy, the male had turned and walked away.
"Indra, there is much more to your power that I must learn. Let's head deeper into the mountains. I want to get a firm grasp on as much of your strength as I can possibly get before I journey to the Capital," Raizo declared.
[You have a long road ahead of you before you can even think to master my vast powers, boy. Though, you do show much promise so perhaps you may be able to comprehend all of the basics within a few months if you are fortunate.]
"We'll see about that…"
***
Six months had passed since the Blood Wolves' massacre. The pain from that tragic event was Raizo's primary motivator during his intensive training in the mountains. After that incident with the settlers and the bandits, the young man devoted himself heavily to whatever teachings he could obtain from the entity that spoke to him.
Understanding the basics of his increased movement speed, learning how to influence the weather, taming the wild, nigh-uncontrollable nature of lightning, as well as developing the senses to keep up with such heightened abilities were all a part of his regimen—the voice in his head being the primary instructor. Being in the wilderness allowed for the necessary space to practice vigorously as there was no need to worry about witnesses or causing noticeable mass destruction. In addition, there was not any shortage of hostile wildlife and wild creatures—the Danger Beasts—to serve as perfect training dummies.
"Annoyingly enough, you were right. I feel like I have only scratched the surface of my new abilities," Raizo confessed whilst looking down at his hands for a moment.
[Your power can only stand to grow in time. For now, you are equipped to handle most dangers that you should encounter. However, the best kind of training you could ever receive is a fight with another user.]
"Indra, are you referring to other Teigu users? I read that there were 48 special weapons in all created by the First Emperor. If I possess one of them, that means there are potentially 47 others who possess skills equal to or even greater than mine. Well…46 actually, my clan held onto another special weapon…something my mother valued. I think it was a spear of some kind."
[Yes, fighting another teigu user will help you grow exponentially. Especially with the more you give yourself to the exhilaration of using my strength. In time, you will develop into something greater than anyone could anticipate. For now, just focus on what you have learned so far.]
"Right… well I might get quite the opportunity to test them out given where we are now."
Just a few hundred feet in the distance were the great, stone walls that protected the encompassing perimeter of the Capital City of the Empire. In just over the span of 3 days or so, the young assassin had traversed hundreds of miles to get to this location. It was familiar territory to him given the contracts he was assigned in the past. When he was last here, he was on a mission for the benefit of the Empire yet now Raizo was an agent who desired nothing more than to see it burning in flames.
The sun was glistening overhead, the sky was clear of any clouds. The climate was much warmer than it was where the youth was training previously. With such pleasant weather overlooking the serene landscape of the settlement, one would never be able to guess that this city was a breeding den of misery and corruption. He never really had an opportunity to see the place during the day. Given the appearance, it was certainly misleading. He stood by the oath of his forefathers to be the sword in the darkness for this place, but now, he only saw it as a victim for the sword of vengeance.
The youth pulled his cloak's hood over his head to obscure his identity and then double-checked to make sure his weaponry wasn't visible as well. His chest was swelling with anger whilst psyching himself up for his purpose in coming here.
"A wise man cautions restraint…haste only makes waste."
The words of his grandfather echoed in his mind. As much as he wanted to, he had to restrict his need to go on a rampage. For now, he just needed to worry about getting into the gates of the city without standing out too much.
"Guess I'll just take my usual route into the city then," he spoke softly.
Raizo then zipped into the nearby trees and skirted around to one of the areas that he usually took in and out of the city when he was on the job. He was fully alert given that the fall of his clan could mean that the usual entrances for the contracted assassins were effectively blocked off or had double the patrol surrounding them. As he made his way to a spot located between the southern and western gates, he found a small footpath in the tall grasses.
"Heh…guess they never found this route after all."
The spot he stumbled upon was an area between two of the major gates where the grass had grown as tall as grown men. Given the desolate look of the area, the guards neglected the space and let nature run its course thinking that an invasion would never attempt to attack spots between the gates. This sentiment was accurate to a degree. A large ground force would never think to take this route since there was no way for hordes of soldiers to break through. On the other hand, that does not mean a scouting party or a small contingent would not elect to use it. This went especially true for assassins.
Raizo and other members of his clan had marked a path to easily infiltrate the gates. Though the Blood Wolves were allies of the Empire, their operations were kept secret from much of the general public as well as the military. Only a select inner circle of high-ranking individuals knew of their existence. To alleviate the frustration of getting in and out of the city undetected, the assassins created small trails like these through tall fields that usually lead to a secret entrance or to a spot in the walls where there was a gap in security. The red-eyed boy had used this many times before.
Following the path, he made his way toward the wall of the kingdom. On the surface of the stone, there was a red arrow pointing upward. With a small nod and a brief second to catch his breath, the youth summoned his strength to his legs before dashing straight up the barrier in just a few quick paces over the course of about 5 to 10 seconds. This beat scaling the wall like a mountain climber any day. In the back of his mind, he was truly impressed with what his body could do thanks to his new powers.
Once up the wall, the youth quickly scanned both directions on the rampart. Fortunately enough, there was not any sign of guards approaching either direction. Staring out over the encompassing area, the youth took in the sight of the lower city areas of the Capital.
"Once a servant in the shadows for this city's benefit, I return as a lone wolf looking for any signs of the last remnants of my pack. If my mother is truly alive, then she is surely being kept somewhere in this city. My best bet would be to get close to the palace," the young male uttered.
In the next instant, the assassin leaped from the ramparts to descend into the dark alleyway below. Once between the wall and another building, he kicked off the surface of the protective barrier and dashed from surface to surface before landing on the ground. Being mindful of his surroundings, Raizo kept his head on a swivel whilst moving towards the streets so as to not lurk around for much longer than he had to.
The roadways in the city were bustling with noise thanks to the lively atmosphere of the daylight hours. People crowded the streets with new visitors from all over the kingdom touring the markets to merchants providing everyday goods via various shops and commerce. Mercenaries looking for work, potential candidates to join the military, and all other kinds of individuals populated the general area. For Raizo, the youth was able to blend in anonymously with the public whilst casually snaking his way through the streets to pick up hints of information regarding the current state of affairs.
"There should be a board or something that has any important bulletins somewhere. Most of what I'm hearing is useless gossip right now."
There were various topics of discussion being tossed around. From gossip about other shopkeepers and merchants, burly men hoping to prove their strength, idle chatter about sales and goods, and even secretive conversations complaining about taxes. If there was a subject that could be thought of by the citizens, it was surely tossed around.
Raizo merely pulled the hood over his eyes more before he stopped in front of a wall that had various pieces of paper stapled on it. Arranged in a side-by-side matrix, the red-eyed youth caught sight of two posters labeled with the word: WANTED. Upon closer inspection, the boy saw the faces of one female and one male. One female had short hair and an eyepatch, her name on the poster was Najenda. The other individual just had armor in the shape of a dragon's head. The name placed there was Bulat.
On the posters, they shared another batch of words: Night Raid. Standing there and reading the information provided, Raizo discovered that this group was a black ops assassination unit that worked under the Revolutionary Army. A great sum of money was placed on each of their heads totaling an amount that could potentially make a peasant into a noble.
"Are these really the only assassins that the Empire is willing to acknowledge as a threat? Do they truly intend to insult the honor of the Blood Wolves after generations of service? These bastards…"
With the growing sense of irritation beginning to boil inside Raizo's chest, a bell within a nearby clock tower began to ring. In the next moment, a small group of soldiers marched down the road escorting an orator to deliver important news to the people. Setting down a small platform, the friar in brown robes stood atop of it as one of his guards blew a trumpet causing all attention to be diverted in his general direction.
"Hear ye, Hear ye, all citizens of the Capital. In approximately two hours from the moment of this message's delivery, Raiden Arashi, the leader of the rogue assassins known as the Order of the Blood Wolves shall be executed publicly in the arena. His crimes include but are not limited to: conspiracy against the crown, conspiracy to commit treason against the Empire, mass murder, and conspiracy to create anarchy and incite war. All citizens are encouraged to attend for the sake of witnessing the penalty for betrayal and deceit against our kingdom. Glory to the Empire," the friar declared.
Stepping down from his podium, the man had rolled up the scroll and turned the other way with his guards following behind them. The announcement had left a considerable atmosphere of astonishment to linger over the crowd as voices of a discussion carried.
"Order of the Blood Wolves? I thought the Empire was after those Night Raid punks?"
"You think they had any ties with that rebellion going on?"
"I heard that the Blood Wolves were actually a secret military force used by the Emperor to eliminate his enemies without sending the armies to war."
"I heard quite a few smugglers and merchants in the city were assassinated by them."
"If these guys were assassins for the Emperor—then why would they suddenly turn against the Empire?"
"All of these talks about rebellion make me wonder how much longer it will be safe to live in the city."
"Heh, we all know that the Empire is just making these public performances because they're scared of an uprising from within."
"Shut up, you'll get arrested for speaking like that."
Such were the statements being thrown around. They were unsure of what to make of the situation, but the stench of fear had gathered in the atmosphere. Most of these people did not want to think about the violence that takes place behind the scenes while they go about their everyday lives; however, circumstances like this forced many of these people to embrace the harsh reality. As a result, many of the citizens had already begun to close shop for the day in order to make their way to the arena. It wasn't because they felt compelled to witness what was to come, it was because of the fear of choosing not to witness what was to come that truly terrified them.
Dwelling over the words of the announcement—Raizo stood firm in his position as he processed it carefully.
"Rogue assassins, that's all that the Blood Wolves have been reduced to? You did not even have the decency to acknowledge what we've done for this wretched place? Instead, are we just disobedient dogs to be put down and forgotten about? You bastards…you rotten bastards…you took everything from us…from me! I'll never forgive you…any of you!"
[Calm yourself, boy. If you let your anger consume you, then you will just draw unnecessary attention due to your powers.]
"Indra…I just want to wipe this whole fucking kingdom off the face of the goddamn Earth right now…I want them to pay dearly!"
[In time you shall have that opportunity. But do not lose sight of the true reason you ventured here. Recall that you wish to see your mother.]
"Yes…if Father is here then surely she must not be too far behind. I'll have to do something at the execution grounds. Maybe the prison is kept underneath."
As Raizo took a breath to ease his nerves, his wrath still oozed off of his body. In recognition of this, the blue skies were starting to turn dark gray as storm clouds gradually moved in.
It was a long and silent march for the youth as he made his way toward the arena. Even though he knew he could have made it there much faster by utilizing his superior agility, the boy's mind was occupied with thoughts.
"Did all that training put my plan in jeopardy?"
His father's name was mentioned as the prime conspirator in the plot with the Blood Wolves, but his mother's name was never stated. He was unsure what to make of this fact. The possibility of her being killed was the obvious conclusion, but he thought it might have been unlikely. After all, what if they needed information from his father? Torturing the man's wife would certainly be some sort of motivator. His mind just raced back and forth over different possibilities, each having a dark outcome. Shaking his head, he channeled his focus on the task at hand.
About 30 minutes or more had passed at this point before coming upon the large, circular construct composed of complex architecture of stone. A series of arches and truss-like weavings had given the arena its form as thousands of spectators made their way inside. While walking through the narrowing tunnels, the crowd filled itself off in different directions in order to seek seats in the stands. Numerous guards were standing by to provide order so that everyone would reach their seats without delay.
"We are permitting access onto the grounds of the arena for those unable to find a seat in the stands. Bear in mind that you will be on your feet during the entire time the display goes on. If you wish to proceed then follow me," one of the officers had called out. Taking interest, Raizo casually slipped through in order to get closer. Depending on his location in the crowd, it might make for a perfect vantage point to cause commotion and lead to a prison break.
"As much as I dislike the man, I could use the opportunity to rescue my father and try to find my mother if possible."
A few more minutes passed until the crowd settled down in their respective areas. Raizo took a long look around the entire vicinity. Thousands upon thousands of spectators had filled the stands while several hundred filled the grounds of the arena before the massive platform set up like a stage in a theater. Against all odds, the youth was able to maintain his cover so far and blend into the audience.
The partly cloudy skies above still allotted the sun to leak its radiance down on the earth beaming almost perfectly into the open bowl-like structure. As the crowds were littered with the chatter of anticipation, a sudden melody played from the trumpets of the Imperial Guard alongside the beating of drums. Silence had gripped the commotion amongst the people almost instantly as all eyes were directed in the general direction that the noise was coming from.
At that moment, someone was being escorted onto the stage by the silver-armored knights of the Royal Guard. Having these individuals escort someone meant that the gravity of the person's crimes was indeed severe and said person was extremely dangerous. Making his way onto the stage was a man chained up with gashes and bruises all over his chiseled, light tan body. His black hair was severely disheveled, yet his dark, scarlet eyes still burned with the might of defiance. Even in his current state of affairs, Raiden's spirit was far from broken.
His arms were bound to a wooden log over his shoulders. His hands were nailed to the surface of the block and blood dripped incessantly from his palms. Walking behind him were two other men carrying another log that would support the first one. As the formation of individuals marched on the stage, the two men laid the log down before making Raiden walk in front of it and forcing him to kneel.
From behind, another individual walked on the stage dressed in white and gold robes akin to that of a priest with a scroll in his hand. The man with pale skin and black-rimmed glasses coughed only to then begin unraveling the paper. Around this time, the music had stopped.
"Citizens of the Capital City, we thank you all for gathering on this most blessed day to celebrate a victory for our glorious Empire. Here before is a man accused of various charges against the crown including those of treason and anarchy—Raiden Arashi!"
People in the stands began to boo and jeer at the sorry state of the individual on stage. This was much different than the tone that Raizo had heard when he was in town.
"Approximately six months ago, it was brought to the Emperor's attention that this man had incited a plot that would lead a radical group of assassins to incite rebellion throughout the kingdom and join the filthy Revolutionary Army in their ambitions of civil war against us. To make matters worse, this man led a group that was once long-standing allies of the throne for generations—the Order of the Blood Wolves—one of five great orders of the Conclave that protected our lands from afar in the past.
Being the strongest, the Blood Wolves were our sworn allies. They defended us from the shadows. However, their leader's treachery has brought their sins to light. Unfortunately, none of the Order was spared as they were dead set upon marching towards our gates. Hence General Esdeath's army was dispatched to quell them swiftly. Now, the last of his kind, their leader is here to be executed for all to see what price one shall pay for betrayal!"
"HOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAHHH!!!" the crowd roared in response to the priest's speech.
In that instant, the two executioners had pushed Raiden's body down onto the second log and attached the two in a T-shape. With his feet loosely dangling, the executioners quickly rectified this by grabbing a hammer and a stake to secure them. Placed over top of one another, the giant metal nail was brutally punched through his feet causing his voice to echo out in pain while his blood sprayed the stone of the stage. After a minute or so, the crucified man was hoisted in the air to be displayed for everyone to see.
"Die you, filthy traitor!"
"Your clan deserved their fate!"
"A thousand hells await your kind, you filthy animal!"
"You should have killed yourself!"
"Traitor!"
"Your people should have been turned into slaves!"
The vulgar statements floating through the mouths of the spectators had pierced Raizo's heart. It wasn't out of empathy for the abusive father figure he grew up with, but for the fallen souls that he knew he'd never see again. Each insult that was exclaimed, the hooded assassin had keenly picked up thanks to his enhanced hearing. Their hateful words only fueled the fire in the pit of his stomach causing his rage to grow again. As a result, the sky slovenly grew darker.
"Hey look, it's Prime Minister Onest!"
"He's even elected to show up as well?"
"Who's that walking next to him?"
The collective attention became focused on the tall, middle-aged man with light skin, gray hair, dark yellow eyes, and a long white beard that extended past his abdomen. He held a calm expression on his face, but one perceptive enough could pick up on the sinister vibes he radiated. The round male had on a dark green shirt and short pants with a gray coat over top, a black belt fastened beneath his belly, and brown boots.
Alongside him came a shorter figure wearing the standard white military uniform popular for the infantry soldiers in the Imperial Army. He wore a white coat over his shoulders and his face was obscured by a fur-covered hood for the moment.
"Citizens, it pains me to display such a cruel sight on this day. However, I beg you all to harden your hearts in order to witness the final act of justice brought to the man who was supposed to protect you all. It is such a shame that his talents had to be wasted on treachery, but alas, at least one of those under his command was able to see through the error in leadership. His sense of honor and duty was so strong that he just had to make a stand and warn us of this imminent threat," Onest declared whilst motioning to the second figure to reveal his face.
Raizo's eyes widened when he saw the identity of the individual.
"This young man, only 14 years old, elected to stand against the deeds of his entire clan. If it was not for his swift decision to bring this matter to us… then the streets of our beloved city would have run red with blood. This child should not only be thanked but also praised as a savior. All hail our hero, Aquilo!"
"HAIL! HAIL! HAIL!" the stands began to echo.
While the roaring of the crowd continued, the Prime Minister motioned an attendant to approach. At that moment, he was handed a black briefcase. The two individuals then walked toward Raiden's station where the powerful political figure held the case with two hands before popping it open. This interesting turn of events caused the crowd to quiet down.
Around the same time, Raizo was silenced by all of this. Slowly but surely, the noises around him had dissipated for all he could focus on was the face of the male whom he considered a rival within the clan. He never really cared for Aquilo, but he at least gave him some form of respect as a fellow member of the clan and as a capable assassin. Despite their differences, the red-eyed youth would never imagine the silver-haired boy would stoop so low as to betray the clan.
"You…you…—
The fury deep within Raizo was beginning to stir once more, except this time he was not trying to contain himself. Like a volcano anticipating a massive eruption, he felt his emotions boiling within him uncontrollably. He felt his heart beating faster and faster as his body began to spark with glints of electrical energy. The skies overhead were growing darker with each passing second.
"Aquilo, I present to you this golden gun—a symbol of righteous justice only used for special circumstances. As the hero who saved us all from a terrible fate, I give you the privilege of using it to carry out the sentence on this traitor," Onest presented proudly.
Looking at the device inside, the emerald eyes of the male had shimmered with approval as he reached inside and gently grasped the weapon. Its considerable weight indicated that its framework was loaded.
"Does the accused have anything left to say?" the older man uttered with a devious grin before leaning close, "You made the mistake of betraying a long-standing trust. Killers shouldn't have a conscience, you know. That's why your clan was wiped out so easily."
Raiden merely forced his mind to embrace the pain before relinquishing a chuckle. He lifted his heavy head and gazed up towards the darkened clouds before looking out over the citizens. He could see their faces just barely, but he knew the expressions they shared. Fear, anxiety, anger, disgust, hatred, sorrow, and so on. It was truly sad how so many people were being manipulated by the corrupt system. Then his eyes landed upon a distinctive figure blended within the group of people draped in black. He could barely make out a pair of crimson eyes, but the most prevalent thing about this figure was the blood lust oozing from it.
"It couldn't be…could it?"
The male was in no position to have a better look. Nonetheless, he had a feeling that it was exactly whom he suspected.
"That boy would not dare risk everything to come here for… no… he doesn't think he can truly take on everyone in the Empire right now…"
"You took everything from me, even my wife! You and this kingdom deserve nothing more than to rot in flames!" Raiden shouted out with all of his remaining strength.
"And as for you Aquilo, your betrayal will be repaid in kind in due time."
"Of course, the real traitor is in denial, how sad. Allow me to clue you in on something," Onest chuckled before mumbling something incomprehensible to the hanged man.
"Your wife is very much alive and in safe keeping. I have yet to decide what to do with her, but I might just make her into my toy until I grow tired of her. Then I'll give her to the Royal Guard to have their way with her. And if she still manages that, she'll be given to the army until her mind is so completely broken that her body just shuts down on its own. She will be in very good hands."
"You rotten bastard…"
As the pompous old man backed away, Aquilo stepped forward with the golden gun drawn and aimed at the head of the helpless man.
"You brought this on yourself," the male said before pulling the trigger.
That loud shot made everything go quiet as blood and brains were scattered all over the stage. The onlookers gasped simultaneously. However, their astonishment had paled in comparison to the boisterous clap of thunder that had consumed the heavens. This caused the entire arena to shake. Yet despite everything that was going on, Raizo managed to hear every word on stage.
His mother was alive and was held captive. One of his own betrayed the clan. The man that he disdained yet honored as a father was just murdered in front of his eyes. All of this resulted in the memories of his burning village rushing through his mind. The totality of these extenuating circumstances was too much for a 13-year-old boy to take. As a result, his powers had responded to his distraught mindset causing his lightning bolts to fall uncontrollably around the area.
"Hey, this guy is…what the hell?!"
"Get away, this kid is about to explode!"
"He's not human!"
"Run for your lives!"
The people around him were the first to react to the sudden shift in his demeanor. As the booming echoes consumed the atmosphere, wild streaks of lightning struck the stone of the arena causing disruptions in the foundation. The ground began to quake even harder making it a desperate situation at hand.
"What the hell is going on?" Onest yelled out.
Aquilo's eyes turned towards the crowd before he saw the person that everyone had been running away from. Strong gusts of wind swiped past thus ripping the cloak off of the person in question. Seeing the unique color of hair from afar, Aquilo could only afford to gasp in surprise.
"Raizo….is alive?!"
"Who is that boy? He's causing all of this? Guards, capture him!" the Prime Minister ordered.
At that moment, about 30 people rushed over to the boy's location. This would become their first and last mistake.
Raizo's eyes, full of murderous intent, reached behind his back and pulled out his dual scythes. Gripping them tightly, arcs of electricity were gradually channeled into the hook-shaped blades as he carefully spun one around with his left hand by the chain. The oncoming horde of guards was in for a rude awakening as the rage-filled teenager was prepared to put his training with his new powers to the test.
The first victim rushed towards him using a spear. He proceeded to stab the child by thrusting straight forward at the male's position, but the poor soul would not succeed. In a flash, the young assassin had easily sidestepped the man's attack and then slung his blade at him. The crescent moon came rushing in and slashed the air before cleaving through the narrow opening of armor where the neck was. Instantly, his head was severed from his body before plummeting to the ground.
Seeing their comrade fall with ease, the other oncoming guards were riled up with a desire for revenge. They came towards the male one after the other with swords and spears attempting to attack the smaller, yet dangerous youth. Every time one of them went to slash or pierce his body it was like he disappeared for a moment. Their attacks were launched at the boy like a series of dominoes falling in a row. Each attack missed as their weapons only struck through empty air and were plunged into the dirt below. As a result, each soldier became a victim of the child's blades.
The scythe-wielder rushed through the crowd of powerless soldiers as arcs of light danced wildly about in tandem with his unpredictable motions. The chained blades revolved around him like electrons around atoms. As their trajectory was traced by faint trails of blue light, the deadly arcs sliced through the bodies of the men caught by its path. Due to the heated plasma enhancing the texture of his weapons by a significant margin, the armor that the soldiers wore was melted with every cut while blood sprayed from their bodies.
As the number of guards dropped, Raizo inched his way closer and closer to the stage where the Prime Minister and Aquilo were standing. He didn't care about the fear that the citizens blatantly displayed as a reaction to the violence that had occurred nor did he listen to the sounds of the horns blaring or bells ringing thus summoning reinforcements. The scene was pure, unadulterated chaos at its finest.
"That boy with those powers…surely he cannot be a Teigu user?!" the Prime Minister gasped.
"My Lord, we have to get you to safety now!" one of the attendants pleaded.
"I can't believe he survived…" Aquilo shuddered in surprise.
"You know that boy, Aquilo-kun?" the old man asked.
"Yes sir…he's another one of the Blood Wolves. In fact, he's the son of Raiden and Hestia. I thought he was dead, but it seems he got his hands on a teigu passed down to us from the first Emperor."
"Curses! If only General Esdeath or General Budou were here. It'd be a shame to taint my hands in public right now… no matter. We shall retreat for now, but Aquilo…we have work to do."
"Yes sir, I understand fully."
"All reinforcements, charge!"
The next wave of Imperial Guards and knights came rushing in and marched over the stage towards the youth. In the midst of their advance, the politician and the traitor began their retreat. Witnessing this, Raizo gritted his teeth harder causing the storm to intensify.
"Come back here, traitor!" he shouted out.
"You're not going anywhere boy!" someone yelled out.
"Out of my way!"
The man who dared to rush at him was consumed in a giant bolt of lightning discharged from the heavens. The male was preparing himself for another onslaught when the next five men had arrows pierce through their helmets and into their skulls.
"Archer! Grab the shields!"
Raizo turned his head back and forth to see where the projectiles came from. He was unsure whether it was a fluke or not. He did not know if anyone was coming to his aid at this point. Yet it was then that a voice called out his name.
"Hey Raizo, snap out of it!"
"Huh? I…I'm hallucinating. I just need to focus and kill these bastards," the assassin decided as he yanked his scythes back to his hand via their chains.
"Dammit man, wake the hell up!" the voice said again.
Suddenly he felt someone reach out and tug him on his shoulder. As he turned around ready to attack, he paused for a moment upon recognition of the familiar face.
"Y-Yuki? You're alive?! But…but how?!" he gasped in shock.
"Doesn't matter right now. We need to get out of here as fast as we can. Your little stunt is pulling in every guard and soldier from all corners of the city. Throwing a cool light show isn't gonna save your ass for long, especially if they start bringing in other Teigu users!"
"But Aquilo is…"
Raizo looked back only to realize that the silver-haired male had disappeared completely from his sight. As more of the guards tried to take advantage of the chatter between the pair, the boy called down more bolts of lightning to cut them off; thus zapping a few more of them. In the next instant, it began to downpour.
"Don't worry about him. We just have to get out of here right now. Cool those sparky jets of yours and let's move."
"Fine…"
Reluctantly, Raizo gave in. He tucked his sickles away behind his back.
"I'll get us out of here faster. Take my hand…"
"Raizo, you trying to make a pass at me right now?"
"Yuki, don't be an idiot. Just grab my hand and take a deep breath."
Nodding affirmatively, the girl did just as he asked.
"Whatever it is you're about to do, just make sure you head south," Yuki suggested.
"South, why is that?" he inquired.
"Because there are some new allies that would enjoy having your talents there…"
"I see."
The youth cast one more glance over his shoulder. In the growing distance, he could just barely make out the silhouette of Aquilo. For a brief moment, he was sure that his crimson eyes met with the emerald hues of his old rival. A seething stare of fire and fury had illuminated in his glare.
"No matter what happens to me after this moment, I will have my revenge. You betrayed everything we've ever known and caused our entire way of life to die overnight. So long as I live, you will never know peace in this world. I will bear the burden of vengeance alone if I must. Consider your days numbered Aquilo. I will find you and I will kill you."
In a brilliant flash of light, Raizo and Yuki vanished without a trace.