shadows In a city of blossoms

Chapter 3

The flowers have no wishes, but to bloom'

-A sad young man

Takeshi's hair had turned deep green, his hakama black and his eyes white. He caught the falling blossoms dancing in the wind.

While he offered a prayer for his dear deceased, Reno looked to the clear sky and meditated. A cool breeze brushed his hair.

'Hade'

'Yes master'

'Do you know why it rains?'

'No master, educate me'

Reno put on his black crown and told her 'it mocks us.

Takeshi finished his prayers and came to pay tribute to his new master.

'I offer my soul, my body and my swords to you my master'

Reno had gained a powerful servant Takeshi Kenta. But something bothered Reno about him.

'Takeshi, are you, a king?'

'No master' he told him.

'Hade, I thought you said a servant couldn't lie to me?'

'He's not a regular servant, his soul consented to resurrection for revenge making him a higher servant, but I can tell he isn't lying'

'If you're curious because of my strength, I would be thrilled to explain. Reno consented and Takeshi began.

'I come from a long line of swordsman, the Kenta clan my grandfather was a king and so was my father'

'They protected this city from the night hordes that plagued it'

'They requested the Gaiden's help but instead of help they took their charms'

'They were both skilled swordsman, so they fought the hordes alone for years, I joined them and every night we laid waste to hundreds of monsters, however, we couldn't slay the real monsters'

'I see' Reno said, 'The Gaiden did something terrible didn't they, it must be painful to bring up such memories'.

'The Gaiden!' Reno whispered. 'At our current status, we stand no chance of defeating them'.

His servants were shocked by their master's words.

'Master!' Hade yelled 'Please do not insult yourself, I'll make sure of your revenge no matter what! So please...don't say stuff like that'.

Reno chuckled at her words 'I do not believe in blind strength, I know what those monsters are and what they're capable of'.

'What feat could this Gaiden achieve that my master couldn't?!' she yelled.

Reno's looked at them and told them with all seriousness 'They defeated Lenovar'.

The servants were concerned dreadfully, even Hade knew of the unmatched strength of the great dragon.

Reno sensed their fear 'You have every right to be concerned, but I have a simple solution'

'What is it great one!' Takeshi exclaimed, and Hade appeared equally eager to know what it was.

He took his time and toyed with his crown, he wore it as he grinned,

his answer couldn't be any more daring 'We'll just have to do the same, defeat Lenovar'.

'Master your brilliance is matched only by your looks' Hade said.

'But I will have to get stronger, much much stronger' Reno said clenching his fist.

'We must recruit even more vengeful souls and with the flames of revenge as our fuel we can achieve this!' he said charismatically.

Hade could barely hold in her excitement and neither could Takeshi. Smiling in the face of such an impossible challenge these two just have to be mad.

However, their lunacy was nowhere close to that of their master who sought to orchestrate his plan, at whatever means.

'Before that, there is a serious issue we must attend to. One even greater than Lenovar!'

'What! Is there an even stronger foe' Hade asked with her usual twisted yet sweet smile.

'No, this is a current issue. A foe that stands among us'.

The servants instantly went into switched to battle mode. Their eyes seethed with killing intent scanned for the enemy, even suspecting each other.

'The problem is.....' he said leaving them in anticipation, a growing habit of his.

'My army is too ugly, I mean just look at these things they're disgusting!' he shouted hitting his palm on his forehead.

His servants were speechless and eased their power.

'Ehh...........?'

'How do I hope to destroy the Gaiden when I'm already dying of embarrassment at the sight of my army!?'

The zombies were wounded by their master's words. One even shed a tear.

'What's with these guys getting all emotional all of a sudden?' Reno wondered.

'Uhm...Master when say you're embarrassed by your army....does that also mean me?' Hade asked quietly, blushing.

'Seriously, everyone in this army is way too dramatic, at least not Takeshi' he continued to himself.

He looked in Takeshi's direction, only to see him cutting his hair with his swords.

'Spoke too soon.....'

'Hade' he called out to her, snapping her out of some romantic daydream she was having.

'And then he would, oh Yes! Master'

'Make the zombies look better. I need a moment to myself'.

As he walked away, he passed by Hade 'For the record, I'm not embarrassed by you' he told her.

In her head, she interpreted it as 'I think you're cute'. She silently celebrated within herself with a squeal of joy.

He vanished and appeared on a bell tower. 'Those guys are lunatics' he whispered in frustration, he smiled in relief and stared at his crown. 'I like them'.

'Now unto the matter of Lenovar, I don't know how they managed it but, the Gaiden is strong'.

'But mark my words, I will become stronger'.

The sun gradually began to set 'And then I'll come for you! I'll come for you all Kings monarchs all those who tormented me will pay, they'll all pay!'

The sounds of battle? It echoed in the distance, he looked up and saw the moon was out. 'The hordes!!' he shouted.

He hurried to where he left his army, 'It would be a waste, if they all died you know, I have to save them!'.

When he got there, the scene was beyond his expectation. His army was winning.

As Takeshi said hordes of monsters, vampires to be exactly filled the city at night. But his army decimated them with immense ease.

'How boring.' Hade said covered in monsters blood as she licked her lips.

Takeshi copied the technique Reno used against him and masterfully used them to execute the monsters at an inhuman pace.

The zombies who now looked more human, wearing light armor held their own quite well despite their lack of speed.

They all spotted their master and fought harder to prove themselves to him. Now they left Reno speechless but what would happen next would further deepen his confidence in his army.

A vampire appeared behind him preparing to bite. The second its fang touched his skin it had immediately been slaughtered by Hade and Takeshi mercilessly.

He looked to his left shoulder, only to see Takeshi's sword in the vampire's head and Hade's hand in its heart like a stake.

'Thank you' Reno said.

'Oh master, we aren't worthy of your praise' they both said as they bowed before him.

'I'll join you' he said.

Just as he said it the blood of the fallen vampire's gathered together.

It mixed nicely. It began to grow until it was the tallest thing in the city.

It seemed the worst was upon them, but there weren't intimidated in the least by its size.

'This is just the type of training we need' Reno told them.

However, there was something that bothered him. For a blood monster, it was much stronger than it should've been. Reno noticed this about all the monsters they were much stronger than their ranks.

The beast roared as it charged at them taking the shape of a bull. The three didn't seem worried about the monster charging at them. Rather they till the last moment to attack.

The servants attacked from both sides while their master summoned a large sword.

'I summon my advent, a tool of malice to be used in my name, for my revenge, nothing is enough'.

He jumped as high as the beast and delivered critical blows with every swing.

The heat of the battle fueled their flames of vengeance. The zombies dealt with the remaining vampires boldly.

The monsters form changed to its final a chimera and its power changed as well growing even stronger.

'Show me' Reno said.

'Show me you're true strength my warriors and charge!!

Further motivated his servants gave it their all. Attacking from different angles all at once at outstanding speed, combined by the variations in the colors of their auras made for a spectacular light show.

The day at which the annual monster would return slowly approached. Kings and monarchs prepare for this day.

Also, The Gaiden the bane of Reno's existence. The muse of his hatred. They also prepare for Lenovar's inevitable return, but they are not aware of the flames coming their way.

And neither is Reno of the Gaiden's hidden agenda.

The battle ends as a new day begins. New light for black flowers to flourish.

TO BE CONTINUED.