Skeletons Gambit

As they settled down at the low table inside Tusandro's cozy hut, Elithira and Ty found themselves pleasantly surprised by the warm and inviting spread of food.

The savory aroma of assorted meats and vegetables wafted through the air, tantalizing their taste buds. Or at least that's what Ty wished.

The day had taken an unexpected turn for the better, from facing death to embarking on a surreal journey, getting flung through the universe, and for now, he was relishing the comfort of this newfound hospitality.

Yet, Ty couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness creeping in him.

Being a skeleton, he was unable to partake in the delicious feast that currently lay before him.

He had to feign eating, mimicking the motions of consuming food even though he lacked the physical body to savor the flavors.

Nevertheless, he masked his disappointment with a smile, determined to make the most of this moment.

Nudging Elithira, Ty whispered under his breath, "What happens if I throw this in my mouth?"

Slightly annoyed and trying not to laugh, she replied, "It will just hover around in you for a bit."

"Your appearance is still physical, so just act natural, if NATURAL for you isn't weird."

Interrupting, Tusandro apologized, "Sorry if the food isn't as tasty as the food you have back where you both are from; it was a last-minute throw-together."

Shortly afterwards, a couple of women wearing white kimonos walked in, delivering tea and placing it on the table before bowing and heading back out with blank expressions on their faces.

Continuing where he had left off, Tusandro's voice took on a slightly somber tone as he asked, "So where were you these past 12 years?"

"Life has not been easy since the last time you were here."

Elithira, lowering her eyes and placing her hand over her chest, replied, "I apologize. I would have come back and assisted in any way, but my presence was necessary back in my country. Before I left, Sogetsu assured me that he would manage everything here until I got back."

A bit of anger surfaced on Tusandro's face, while his fingers holding the cup in his hand tightened, enough to form cracks which began to spread around the edges.

He raised his voice enough to send a chill down Ty's spine, even though he was literally just a skeleton.

CRKKK

The cup shattered in pieces, spilling the hot tea down his arm and leaving light burn marks as he yelled in anger, "He was just a 17-year-old kid who had no idea how the world works! You filled him with hopes that he could be more than he was and got him killed!"

Elithira, a second too late to realize, reached for her Katana which was right next to her before everything slowly started to become a blur.

A moment passed, and Ty sensed a cold rush of air sweep into the hut.

As the edges of the humble dwelling fell away, they revealed a series of intricate tapestries which had concealed the presence of the group of Samurai.

These figures donned a unique style of armor, unmistakably reminiscent of the Samurai from the Edo period, characterized by lacquered plates with ornate details and a traditional, imposing presence.

However, what set them apart was the mysterious grey energy that was coursing along the seams of these armor, as if they were an integral part of these Samurais.

This mysterious grey energy lent them an eerie quality, blurring the line between the mortal and the supernatural prowess.

Tusandro, with his voice trembling with anger and desperation, declared aloud, "Once I turn you over to the Yami King, he might be willing to free my son from the torture you set him up to endure for all these years!"

Quickly analyzing the situation and scanning through the room, Elithira noticed a door behind Tusandro.

Cursing out loud, she attempted to stand, tightly gripping her sword. However, her legs betrayed her thoughts, causing her to stumble to her knees.

Despite her weakened state, she managed to hurl her Katana towards Ty, shouting, "Catch! The poison shouldn't have been affected you!"

Ty's mind raced, shock slowing his comprehension of the chaos that was unfolding before him. Only then did he notice the shades of purple that were gradually spreading over Elithira's face.

Tusandro, with a deadly urgency, lunged toward her, drawing his blade in a fluid motion, his intent clear – a slashing strike aimed squarely at her.

In that terrifying moment, Ty's thoughts flickered to a distant memory of a younger Jade, her fair complexion marred by bullies. It was this memory that jolted him awake and forced him into taking action.

Reality snapped back as Elithira's still-sheathed Katana materialized in Ty's right hand. He rushed and instinctively pushed her out of harm's way, positioning himself between her and the about-to-slice Tusandro.

Desperation gripped him as he attempted to unsheathe the blade, however, much to his efforts, the blade remained stubbornly immobile.

In a final act of desperation, he raised the Katana along with its sheath and all, raising it above his head.

Tusandro's attack collided with the sheathed Katana, sending Ty skidding across the ground. Pain was nearly absent and it was replaced by a relentless burning sensation that coursed through Ty's being.

Meanwhile, Elithira's breathing quickened, and the poison's effects accelerated. Still, she managed to gasp out desperately, "Use your Reiesencia!"

Confused, Ty stammered, "How am I supposed to know how to use Reiesencia?"

Before he could comprehend the complexities of this mystical ability, a blade struck him from behind, slicing through his form. The tingling sensation of the wound sent shockwaves through his entire being, spraying blood everywhere.

Stunned, Stumbled on his knees, shocked by the device's ability to mimic such details with exact effects.

Blood leaked from his mouth as he watched with a horrified look on his face, as the guard's blade hovered just inches above his head.

His fake heart pounded in his chest, and he could feel the weight of the moment bearing down on him.

"I have to unsheathe this damned thing," Ty muttered desperately, gripping the Katana's hilt.

He could hear Elithira's forced breathing nearby, as she tried to struggle against her captors.

In that fleeting moment, memories of the promise he had made to Jade surged within him.

He remembered her smile, laughter, and the warmth of their shared moments.

But now, anger and determination welled inside him, overshadowing everything that he could remember.

His only thought was to return and seek vengeance against Erebos for what he had done.

Taking a deep breath, crackling energy started emanating from Ty's surroundings as he lowered his head, his eyes filled with a fiery resolve.

In a swift motion, he unsheathed the weightless blade—or what appeared to be one—and swung it towards the guard, trying to parry the sword that was descending towards his head.

Shock and disbelief covered Ty's face for a moment as the translucent Katana passed through the guard's strike without resistance.

As the blade in his hand struck the guard's blade, it shattered into a thousand sparkling fragments, while the blade in his hand continued past the guard, vanishing into thin air.

In that moment of vulnerability, Ty felt a sudden impact on his spine as one of the guards' boots struck him with force, sending him sprawling to the ground.

Confusion and frustration welled inside him as Ty tried to comprehend what had just happened.

Meanwhile, Elithira, who had been watching the scene unfold, had her eyes widening in horror.

She gasped as the guard who had wanted to slice Ty's head, had his own head rolling off his shoulder as it tumbled away and the visor of his helmet showcased a pale, lifeless face, completely devoid of any emotion.

The gruesome sight sent a shiver down her spine, and she struggled even harder against her restraints, her desperation growing with each second.

The room was suddenly filled with a heavy silence, broken only by Ty's heavy breathing, the distant, ominous footsteps of more approaching guards, and the unsettling realization that they were trapped.