Steps toward peace

It was the next morning. Jerome and Jericho were on there way to Jericho's family household.

Jerome started remembering Udo's and his conversation last night while everyone was sleep.

"I want you to take Jericho back to his family."

"What?! U know what the hell he has inside of him. And I'm not allowed to be there…it's a code they have and live by."

"I know, Which is exactly why I want you to go there."

"Fine. But if I die there…that's on you, boss!" Jerome said back.

"I know that but…this is the start."

"Start? Start of what exactly?"

"Peace." Udo replied.

"I see. Captain, let me explain something to you for a moment. Do you know what peace is?" Jerome asked.

"Peace. Peace is where everything and everyone has freedom from disturbance. No killing,happiness,equality, and much more. Everyone is just living together with no

apoplectic from someone's doing." Udo said.

"That's a good answer. Hell, it's even true! But you know what else is true about peace, Captain!? That it's a BIG lie and only a thing is beings wish were true. It's like a damn fairytale!"

"Wrong. Peace will come to this island soon enough. We just have too keep fighting for it."

"Unlike you, boss, I don't like to fight for things I don't believe in. Take a look around you and what just happened!"

"What do you mean, Jerome?" Udo asked in a low deep voice.

"The mission, the damn mission, Captain! Thousands dead! Do you get it? We protected the girl but we didn't protect the civilians, the humans! Then we have the clans. Jack killed and destroyed a whole clan by himself. The dark clan, don't forget about them. They still want to go to war with us! And then you've got people in the city you sent us. All dead. And now the humans will get their technology and come here to kill us all!" Jerome yelled.

Udo stood up slowly, towering over Jerome.

"Watch your tone!"

Jerome slowly reached behind him and grabbed his blade tight.

"The humans,the clans,the mission, and the people. Yes, I know all of them are in their darkest days. But we have a common enemy. It's not our fault, Jerome. It's the new organization that Jack's in."

"That may be true. But I don't accept peace because it doesn't accept me. There can never truly be peace and harmony in the world with EVERY living thing. It's just a fairytale. I'll be leaving now!" Jerome said as he turned his back and slammed the door shut.

Jerome snapped out of thought when seeing a jungle right in front of Jericho and his horse.

Jericho quickly stopped his horse and hopped off.

"This is Leo territory! We should walk from here!" He said.

Jerome took his getting off his horse and followed Jericho into the jungle.

"Your not taking your horse?" Jericho asked.

"No. I'll just let him go off until I need him again. Now let's just get this whole thing over with." Jerome said.

"You could just leave and tell him you dropped me off. My family doesn't live in the Leo clan, but lives on a tall mountain beside it."

"No, it's fine. I'll go." Jerome insisted.

Jericho shrugged his shoulders and led Jerome into the jungle.

"Has your captain even come up with a plan to defend against the dark clan? I've heard rumors about them trying to attack you guys." Jericho said.

"Don't know, don't care! Has nothing to do with me now." Jerome said.

"Interesting."

"How's that interesting, Jericho?"

"When a person leads a clan, that person is usually close and very coordinated with strategies with their team or warriors. After meeting Udo though…seems I was wrong."

"True. But he's a very powerful man. And when I mean powerful…I mean it."

Jericho turned his head with curiosity written all over his face.

"He can kill me with just a blink of his eye. We've never seen the man actually try in a fight or bleed. Almost like he's immortal or something!" Jerome explained.

Jericho said nothing and just kept walking forwards.

"How's everyone else doing? And who the hell was that kid and woman?" Jericho asked.

"Well…they're both with us. And as far as everyone goes. Xavier is still knocked out. Jade's recovering, but she hasn't been herself. And the guy your talking about, his name is Adisa. He's taking the girl from a power house home."

"Adisa…sounds familiar! I think our leader of the clan was talking about him once."

Jerome jumped in front of Jericho as he was walking and stopped him in his tracks.

"What did she say? And how did she get the information on the damn guy?" Jerome spat.

Jericho rolled his eyes and shoved Jerome to the side. "You act like a teen. We're both in our twenties, Jerome. Grow up. But to answer your question…she made an announcement to the clan to stay away from him if he's ever seen. And to report it to her. How'd she found out, I don't know." Jericho said as he shrugged it off.

(Might need to check her out before I leave.) Jerome was thinking to himself.

He ignored it for now and kept walking.

They reached the top of the mountain. On the top was a giant Manson, covered in white, gold windows, three stories, with beautiful trees around it.

"I'm home." Jericho whispered.

"I was expecting better." Jerome commented.

They where a couple of feet away from the door. Until Jerome couldn't. "A force field!?"

Jericho's heart dropped when hearing loud booms coming from inside the house.

"Oh shit! I forgot my father long ago set up a force field that kept reaper users out of range…due to attacks from when I was younger." Jericho explained.

"Jerome, hide!"

Jerome rolled his eyes and just stood there.

"I don't run from people or death. If your father has a problem, tell him to fight me, now!" Jerome said, standing a couple feet away.

Jericho turned his head quickly and pleaded with him to go and hide.

"Fine."

Jerome ducked behind tall bushes to right side of the house and peeped under then to see.

The door flew open. On the other side stood what looked to be a giant standing in front of Jericho.

Jericho looked up at the tall and buff man. "Good to see you dad!"

His dad grabbed Jericho by his head and picked him up.

"Nice to see you, son! How did the mission go?!"

"Oh it was great. But you should really let go of my head before I cut your arm off. Hahaha!" Jericho threatened.

"Still have that fight in you?! I like that!"

His father put him on the ground and moved him to the side.

"What are you doing?" Jericho asked.

"Seems you were followed. By something I thought was dead long, long ago."

Jericho noticed his dad reaching behind him. Behind him was a gain axe with symbols on it.

"This must be the guy…that's making people disappear in this area!"

His father jumped high in the air with the ace over his head. The ace started glowing red.

Jerome quickly rolled from under the bushes and put in to the open.

"Who's that?" A woman asked from inside the house.

Jericho quickly stepped in front of Jerome. "Everyone. He's with me!"

Ten people stood among Jerome and surrounded both the men.

"Jericho! Do you know what that guy is!?" A old man yelled.

"Grandpa…he didn't hurt me in anyway. We fought together!"

Jerome stepped in front of Jericho.

"I am what you guys say I am. A reaper user. I'm from the clan that was wiped out years ago. And I'm the last-

Jerome was interrupted with a giant fist colliding with his face.

Jerome went flying to the edge of the mountain. He disappeared into the Forrest that surrounded the house.

"That's how you deal with those reapers." Jericho's dad said.

"Hey, Trollion! Didn't I tell you to play around with the food first?" A woman called from behind him.

"Oh shit! No ones ever survived dad's.."

Jericho and the others stopped talking when seeing red eyes coming from the Forrest.

"What's this? Did he survive my punch!?" Trollion said.

Everyone moves behind him, everyone except Jericho. Jericho did nothing but step to the side.

Jerome came out of the darkness in the forest and stepped out into the day light.

Purple aura was around Jerome as he approached the family slowly.

The reaper formed around him, with a giant scythe and red glowing eyes.

"Hey…your the head of the house, right?" Jerome asked in a whispered voice.

"Yea that's right! What's it to yah, reaper!?" Trollion asked.

Jerome's reaper was huge. It formed around him and he was standing in the middle of it, controlling it.

"I won't kill Jericho's dad…but I will teach you some manners!" Jerome said.

"Everyone get inside. I'll make sure to while out this bloodline." Trollion said.

Jericho and everyone else went inside the house quickly.

""He's not the enemy, father! Just hear him out! He has a message from the Kani clan." Jericho explained.

Trollion said nothing and stared at Jerome's reaper.

Trollion stomped his foot down on the ground. He stomped so hard that it cracked the ground beneath him. The whole mountain was shaking.

"What unbelievable strength and power!" Jerome said.

"Kostush…rise!" Trollion yelled.

His eyes turned gold, along with his aura. His aura was a bright gold color. And it formed into a creature that looked to be a reaper, but with a yellow cape on and yellow glowing eyes.

"This…is the kostush! The thing that runs in our family…the thing that's gonna kill you, boy!"

Jerome looked in amazement and stared up at the creature.

"It's known for its offense…but not defense! If I can just get close enough…I can end this with a single strike." Jerome said.

"I can't penetrate it. But I can go for it's weak spot and hopefully tear through it. Behind the reaper is nothing but a weak spinal cord. I need to get close enough, first!" Trollion said to himself.

Both creatures let out aloud roar. Jerome and Trollion were both low to the ground.

Jerome quickly charged at Trollion

Trollion held his arm out behind him and ran towards Jerome. "Crashes ball!" He yelled.

Jerome held out his arm and put it behind us back also. "Soul snatcher!" Jerome yelled out.

A purple ball of energy formed in Jerome's hand.

The same happened with Trollion, except his ball was yellow like.

When close enough, both the creatures clashed together to date a big explosion of aura in the sky.

Jerome and Trollion were face to face now. Both were releasing so much aura that the area around them was being gone destroyed.

Jerome was getting ready to throw the ball at Trollion. Both men threw their powers.

It looked at though both balls connected. A huge explosion went off. On one side was purple aura and on the other was yellow.

There was heavy smoke in the air. Jerome could feel something on his hand. "This isn't a arm." He said.

The smoke cleared. There was a thick staff made out of wood between both the men. There was a woman meditating on top of the staff.

"Trollion…I told you to start watching how you use your powers. I don't need half the mountain falling on my clan!" The woman spat.

Trillion dropped down on one knee and bowed his head.

There were ten soldiers surrounding them.

The wanna turned her head to see Jerome.

"You there…haven't I seen you before!?" She asked.

Jerome couldn't help but notice what wonderful eyes she had. They looked to be almost rainbow in a way.

"Aliyah…right? Leader of the Leo clan." Jerome said.

"Ahh. You must be Jerome. Haven't seen you in a while. But…why the hell are you here?" Aliyah asked.

Jerome pointed at Jericho, who was in the house.

"I see. Well then. This makes sense why your both fighting. But you can both stop now! I need Jerome alive for a mission I have for him." Aliyah said to Trollion.

"I'm only here to deliver a message. Not to you, but to the family. I have no business with you. But…it does bring me to something. Who the hell told you about Adisa?" Jerome asked.

Aliyah slowly jumped off her staff and snapped her fingers. To warriors around them closed in and took Trollion into his house.

"We can go somewhere more private. Follow me." Aliyah said.

Aliyah had no hesitation as she ran and jumped off the mountain.

"What the hell?" Jerome said.

He looked down to see the tree roots carrying her around in the air.

"This way, Jerome!" She yelled.

Meanwhile.

Adisa and Summer were walking with the little girl from the power family.

"Where the hell are you taking us?" Summer asked the girl.

"Us power families don't live with you people…we live literally with the higher ups of the island.

Summer turned her gaze to Adisa. Who was far in front of the both of them.

"He's been acting different lately. Something isn't right." Summer said to herself.

"I can agree with that, even though I don't know him. I do know he's strange. But his aura…it's unique."the girl said.

"What's even your name!?" Summer asked.

"Savanna!"

"Oh, that's so pretty!" Summer complimented.

Adisa stopped in his tracks and held his hand out.

"There's someone approaching. Quick. Hide in the bushes!"

Adisa quickly jumped into the thick bushes. Along with Summer and Savanna.

All three of them stared. They could see a man walking alone. He had a big had on and a long black robe around his body.

"That looks familiar…wait a second. Is that-

Adisa jumped out of the bushes to meet the man face to face.

The man had bright green eyes and stood around 6 feet tall in height.

"Pardon me." He said with a deep voice.

"You look familiar, sir. I have but one question for you." Adisa said.

The man stopped right behind Adisa. His back was turned.

"Do you know a woman named Laity?" Adisa asked.

The man looked back slowly and then looked ahead.

"Nope. I think you've got the wrong guy. And I really need to be somewhere now. Have a good day…kid."

Summer and Savanna came out of the bushes and stared at the man.

"He was with her that day!" Adisa snapped.

"What? What are you talking about!?" Summer asked.

"That man. He was with a woman that Jade was telling me about that day. There was a woman named Laity that attacked the blind clan. But that same day there was a man with her. That's him. I'm sure of it!" Adisa claimed.

"So what now!?" Summer asked.

"You take her back home. I'm going to follow him to see where he's going."

"No. That's not the mission right now. We need to focus on getting her home safe first. Then we can go stalk him." Summer said.

"No. You hurry and take her. I'll meet up with you later!" Adisa said as he disappeared into the under burrows.

"What's up with him?!" Summer asked herself.

She looked at Savanna with a worried look on her face and kept walking down the sand path.

Meanwhile the man that had just passed Adisa was in a dark cave.

He walked deeper and deeper u til he could see a pair of blue eyes glowing in the dark.

"Get out of the shadows!" The man ordered.

Jack had appeared. Jack took a bow before the man, while on one knee.

"Sorry about that, sir." Jack said.

"I didn't ask for your apology. I'm here to hear about the way things turned out at the city! Did our message go free?" The man asked.

Jack looked up at the man's solid green eyes.

"Yes, yes it went will indeed. They all died in the process though." Jack said in a saddened voice.

"I can tell you really cared about your people, Jack. But believe me. Their deaths won't be in vain. They did exactly what we asked. Now it's only a matter of time before the clans get a little taste of what war is. They shall know that TIME is nothing to play with." The man said with determination in his voice.

"I guess it's my turn now huh? Is that why your here? To tell me to make my move?" Jack asked.

"Yes. You are the last district one soldier left anyways. But we don't want you to just make your move. We want you to capture Ani's vessel."

"I can do that…if he didn't have all those brats around. But I can easily retrieve him. Not a problem at all. But I'll do it my way!" Jack said.

"Wrong. You'll do it OUR way! Don't forget. You are part of the lowest ranks we have. I'm second district…which gives me command over you! So you will do it out way…got that, Jack!?" The man asked.

Jack paused for a moment and answered yes.

"Good. I'll be seeing you soon." The man said.

"You should warn that captain of the second district though." Jack yelled out to the man just before he could exit.

"Why's that?!"

"I don't know if it's you or him but…bodies are disappearing near the Leo clan. And now the Kani have sent Jerome there." Jack said.

"I'll deal with him. You just go handle the boy. And you better not fail Jack!" The man said as he disappeared.

"No. It is you who better not fail me. My plan, is still underway and close to reaching perfection!" Jack whispered to himself.

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