66 Chapter 66 : Hell’s Party

Duri, Tek, and Seven followed Roga the cat, and they were doing some sightseeing, watching people prepare for the festival that was about to start in a few.

There was a large homemade stage in the middle of the village, and a dozen little girls were up there singing in beautiful harmony.

Duri asked Seven, "How many times have you been here?"

Seven responded, "A lot when I was little. I used to help out here a lot when I was bored sometimes. I grew to know everyone, knew the way they do things around here and stuff like that."

Roga confirmed, "That is true."

"And Roga used to be my pet."

"Ugh. I hate that name."

Tek asked, "And how did he manage to get down here?"

Roga interrupted, "Soooo many questions, sooooo many questions."

They walked past the villagers, with some of the people waving at Seven.

"Seven's back!"

"There's Seven!"

Seven waved at them, and they waved back. Even the little girls on the stage that were singing were looking at Seven, getting excited and waving.

Seven waved at them too.

Duri comments, "They really like you."

Seven answered, "It's been awhile since I've been here to visit. They miss me."

Roga said, "So Seven, how's life been?"

"You know, the usual. Parents pissing me off and kissing each other's ass all the time. Been fighting for my life over and over, and I've been dealing with school."

"I see, I see."

"I got a question for you now."

"What?"

"Why is Ryu here?"

"You know he was born here, Seven. He attends the festival every year to help out. His grandmother is the head of the village as well."

"...Right. Forgot. Shows how much I do not care."

"Come on, lighten up a bit."

"LIGHTEN UP?"

"Oh no.."

"LIGHTEN UP?! HE CHEATED ON ME! FOR AN UGLY GIRL!"

"Shhh, keep your voice down."

"SHE LOOKED LIKE A SLOTH! A STUPID SLUTTY SLOTH!"

Ryu came out of nowhere, putting his arms around Duri and Tek's shoulders.

Ryu smiled, "Yo, Yo, Yo, what's shaking?"

Duri and Tek looked at each other, then looked at Ryu.

Ryu backed up, letting go of them, smiling, "Heyyyy…what's the tension? I'm actually familiar with you two. Guess you could call me a fan."

Duri and Tek said at the same time, "We have too many of those."

Ryu laughed, "Of course, haha."

All of them walked into a small White House made of cement, and standing in it around a table, were two old women with white afros, glasses, wrinkly skin, and pearl necklaces.

Their names were Nami and Ezrel.

Nami said, "Ohhh Seven's back."

Ezrel agreed, "Yes, and it looks like she's brought boys with her."

Roga introduced Duri and Tek, saying, "This is Duri and Tek. I'm pretty sure you've heard of them."

Nami responded, "We've heard about them. They're everywhere."

Nami and Ezrell walked over to Duri and Tek, inspecting them, lifting up their arms, and taking small sniffs.

Duri pushed the lady away, asking, "Oi. What's the deal?"

Tek added, "Yeah, why are they sniffing us?"

Roga answered, "They have bad eyesight, but it enhanced their other senses."

"Interesting."

Suddenly, the same little girls that were singing on the stage came walking into that room, cheering, "Seven!!!"

All the girls tackled Seven to the floor, and they started hugging her.

They exclaimed to her:

"Sevennnnnn! What took you so long?!"

"Seven! Did you bring us back any treats?!"

"Your hair is sooooo flowy! Can you make my hair like that?!"

"Did you miss us?!"

Seven said to them, "Aww. Yeah, I missed all of you. Have you girls been good?"

They all said in unison, "Yes!"

"Man, and you've all gotten so damn tall. I can't call you little girls anymore now can I?"

The girls started laughing, and Seven chuckled a bit.

Roga the cat thinks, 'I see she still has an effect on these children. When Seven contacted me, she was afraid they might've forgotten her.'

Duri thinks, 'Seven? Being nice to kids? I feel like I'm seeing a whole new side to her. Felt the same way when the Hosts came over my house to taste test my food. I saw a different side of them as well.'

The little girls turned around to Duri and Tek, and they made mean faces.

Duri asked, "What?"

The girls started walking over to Duri and Tek, still glaring with a menacing gesture.

Tek said, "Um.."

Seven was standing beside Roga, covering her mouth with a slight smile.

Roga whispered to Seven, "What are they doing?"

Seven responded, "Don't ask me."

The girls instantly started to jump on Duri and Tek, tackling them to the ground, and they began to stomp and punch them in the body.

Seven was bursting out laughing, and Roga was trying not to laugh.

Duri exclaimed, "Hey! What the-?!"

Tek yelled, "Foolish children!"

Ryu was leaning against the wall laughing, and he made his way over to Seven.

Ryu said to Seven, "Pretty funny, right Seven?"

Seven answered, "Why are you speaking to me?"

"Seven, will you just listen to me for a few minutes?"

"Whaaaaaat the hell could you possibly say to me? I moved on. And now you're trying to ruin my laugh with your bullshit."

"It's Duri, isn't it? He's your boyfriend now?"

Seven moved away from Roga, grabbed Ryu's arm, and they both went out the back door, leaving them to stand outside.

Ryu grinned, "Damn Seven, I didn't think you were this aggressive."

"I'm gonna say this once. Leave me alone. I'm not gonna be a little pussy and leave because you're here. I came here for a reason. And no… I'm not dating Duri."

"Bullshit. The way you look at him every five seconds…it's noticeable."

"You jealous?"

"You know I am. What can Duri do that I can't?!"

Seven smirked, then she started laughing, slapping her leg at the same time.

Seven said, "You can't be serious. Duri does everything better than you. He looks better, he's stronger, and he actually gives a fuck about people. Even though he doesn't even like people. And another thing, he said my arm was cool. No one has ever complimented my arm before. AND ANOTHER thing, Duri…can't be beaten. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going back inside."

Seven walked back inside the room, and the kids were still jumping Duri and Tek.

The girls said, "Death to all boys!"

Seven started pulling the girls off with a smile on her face, saying, "Okay okay that's enough."

Duri stood up, asking Seven, "They must've got that shit from you, didn't they?"

"Mmmm maybe."

Tek stood up brushing himself off, "Children are out of control. But they pack a punch."

Nami and Ezrel got in the middle of the room, and Nami clapped her hands.

"Quickly! The festival is about to start! Our guests need to be polished!"

Ezrel added, "Yes. This needs to happen."

The little girls got excited, screeching, "Oooh! Ooh! Ooh! Can we take care of Seven?! We wanna dress her up!"

Nami answered, "Fine. Go ahead."

"Yayyyy!!!" The girls dragged Seven out of the room, and Seven had no choice but to follow them.

Tek said to Duri, "Something's off."

Duri replied, "What? Your brain?"

"Funny. I'll talk to you later about it."

"Yeah alright sir."

Roga moved over towards Duri and Tek, saying, "Myself and some of the men will show you what you shall wear during this festival. That's if you want to."

Duri said, "I ain't never worn a yukata before. I'll do it."

Tek answered, "Doesn't matter."

Roga replied, "Great."

Duri, Tek, and Roga left the room, leaving Nami and Ezrel in there.

Ezrel asked Nami, "Everything's ready."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive. I think."

"YOU THINK?!"

"Okay, yes. Happy?"

"Tons of gladness pouring out of me right now."

"I never know when you're being sarcastic."

"Doesn't matter, Ezrel. Just be ready."

Outside in the village, everything was 97% done.

Duri looked around, saying, "I hope I don't gotta dance. Tell me I don't have to dance like an idiot."

Roga answers, "Haha, dancing is optional."

"Good, because I'm not the one to be dancing around."

Tek confirms to Roga, "Duri participated in a dance battle against Seven a while back at an arcade."

Duri said, "You bastard…"

Roga chuckled, "Haha, that sounds fun. Seven is a natural dancer."

"Hm?"

"She used to take ballet to perfect her balance and structure. Many dancers take that course for that very reason. I'm sure you two have tried something that perfected your balance. Yeah, I've seen videos of you two in action, and I gotta say, I'm impressed."

Tek replied, "I am impressive."

Duri stated, "How much have you seen, cat?"

Roga replied, "MY NAME IS ROGA! NOT CAT! Anyway, I've seen enough. Since what happened at the exams, and your fight against that Yoshida man. And Tek going against those mythic beasts and rampagers."

Duri said in curiosity, "Mm.. people still remember that Yoshida guy? That man WANTED to die. So I did him a favor."

"I knew that Yoshida man."

"You did?"

"Yes. He came across the village one time looking for strong fighters to fight. But he couldn't find anyone, so he just jumped over the entire village and ran off."

"Damn. Welp, he was a mass murderer and I did a good job."

"Indeed you did. So tell me, about you and Tek.. are you two rivals or something?"

Duri and Tek said, "Yes."

Roga chuckled, "Hoh?"

Tek continued, "I've never had a rival before. I've never had anyone compete with me at my level. Until this bastardized maniac showed up."

"Interesting."

Tek pulled out his black book, and started reading it.

Duri said, "My best friend Jae was my first rival before he was killed. Then it was Marshy who become my rival, and now it's this chain using slut right beside me."

Tek said, "I can hear you."

"What are you reading anyway? Lemme see!"

Duri tried to take a look at Tek's book, but Tek moved it away.

"This book is not for your eyes. Maybe when I lose myself, then it will be."

Duri whined, "Lemme see! I'm tired of you reading it!"

Duri tried to take peeks at the book, but Tek was face smudging him away.

Tek said, "This is none of your business."

"It's about to be! Lemme see!"

"No."

"Lemme see or I'll kill ya!"

Suddenly, a man came up behind Duri and started looking at the tag in his shirt, saying nicely, "I'm just gonna take a look at the size so we can pick out the best yukata for you-!"

Duri punched him up the chin, sending him skyrocketing in the air.

Duri screamed, "I FELT FROG FINGERS!!"

Roga exclaimed, "No!"

Tek sighed, and he used his chains to grab the man out of the air and safely bring him back down.

The man was holding his chin, and his nose and mouth was bleeding.

Duri walked up to him, saying, "I'm sooooo sorry. I barely punched you though."

"Hehe, I-it's okay, I should've warned you first."

Tek says to Duri, "If you would've hit him any harder, he would've been killed, Duri."

"SHUT UP! I KNOW THAT!" Duri scoffed.

Out of nowhere, Ryu came out of nowhere, holding two wooden swords.

Ryu said, "Oiii, bros!"

Duri and Tek looked at Ryu, saying, "The hell do you want?"

"Duel me. I need a little bit of a warm up before I go dancing with the ladies during the festival."

Duri asked Tek, "Wanna go first? Or me?"

Tek answered, "Doesn't matter, he'll lose either way."

Ryu smirked, "Duri goes first! I been waiting for this.."

Duri started cracking his knuckles, walking towards Ryu, saying, "Thanks for choosing me. I'm gonna wipe that smug off your stupid face."

"Hoh? Why the hostility?"

"You've given me bad vibes since we've got here. I'm not the one being hostile."

"Touché. Let's do this."

Inside a room, the little girls and some of the women in the village were dressing Seven up, and Seven was looking out the window watching Duri and Ryu.

The girls said:

"This would look great on her!"

"No! Give her those earrings!"

"These are prettier!"

Seven thinks, 'This should be good.'

Ryu tossed the wooden sword towards Duri, but before Duri could catch it, Ryu came rushing at him at full speed.

Ryu went for a strike, but Duri did a sideways flip over him, caught the wooden sword in mid air, and whacked Ryu in the back, and sent Ryu flying towards Tek.

Tek caught Ryu by the throat, and said, "You wanted this."

Tek tossed Ryu to the ground, and Ryu felt embarrassed. He looked at his friends, and saw they were whispering about him. He even saw Seven in the window, and Seven was giving him a "I hate you" look.

Ryu stood up, yelling, "Damn all three of you!"

Ryu started running away, and Duri asked, "Um… is that it?"

Tek replied, "Looks like it."

Roga said, "I understand his pain. He's trained with a sword for years, but to get beaten that fast..and then to run away after…"

Ryu was running past the woods, clenching his fists hard, cursing at the sky.

"He's not better than me! Those two…are not fucking better than me!"

Ryu tripped over a rock, and he started rolling down a hill.

He bumped his back many times, and then he came to a stop.

He fell near a puddle, and he saw his face in the water.

"Duri doesn't deserve Seven…I do!"

A voice came up from behind Ryu, saying, "You want power?"

Ryu turned around fast, answering, "Who's there?!"

It was a red and black wolf with yellow eyes, saying, "I am Val. But I am truly the Spirit of Destruction."

"Spirit…? Like Seven? She has the Spirit of Wrath.."

"The Spirit of Wrath dwells within her, yes. And I want to merge with that spirit and live in your body so I can walk on earth."

"My body?"

"Us spirits live in the spirit realm, where we all crave to lie in the bodies of a human so we can be free. We can come through to earth by resting in an animal…but we can stay in an animal for too long or else we'll end up going back to the spirit realm. If we dwell in an animal, we can easily transfer to a human body, but we wouldn't be taking control of you. We can't walk through this earth as spirits."

"Is that how…Seven got it?"

"Seven has acquired the Spirit of Wrath through Roga. I don't know how or when, but after he gave it up, the cat he took over took after his personality. Some parts of his consciousness were left in the cat. For some reason though, Seven was able to control the Spirit Of Wrath, something like that is impossible."

"Why.. do you wanna merge with it and take my body?"

"In the spirit realm, I always figured what it would be like walking through earth and causing destruction. After all, I am the Spirit of Destruction. Mostly, I feed off negative energy. And you're pouring out a lot. Lend me your body, and we can show Seven just how strong you are, she might even like you, since you'll have a power similar to hers."

"Hurry up! Get inside!"

"Hmm? Eager. Asssss you wissssh.."

(20 minutes later)

The festival was lively, and Duri and Tek were walking around in black and red yukata's. People were eating, dancing, and enjoying themselves. Some people walked around with giant red masks, while the little girls were singing on stage.

Duri commented, "I'd give this party a solid A."

Tek answered, "Only an A?"

"Heh? What would you give it?"

"A solid S. S means satisfactory."

"W-well if you're giving it an S, then I am too!"

"You can't copy me!"

"I can do whatever I want!"

Behind them, Seven cleared her throat.

Duri and Tek turned, and saw Seven in a pink and white and gold yukata, and her hair was in two buns. And she had no shame showing her metal arm.

Duri blushed, saying, "Whoa..?"

Tek said, "Your arm.."

Seven said to Tek, "Yeah. At this point, everyone in the damn world has seen my metal arm. I don't care anymore. I won't be held back by it."

"And that's how it should be."

Seven looked at Duri, and Duri looked away blushing.

Seven asked, "Why are you staring at me so hard?"

"I-I'm not!"

Seven smirked, and she jogged up to Duri, wrapping her arm around his arm, saying to Duri and Tek, "Alright, let's go!!"

The three of them went to a food stand, and were challenged to beat five other people in an eating contest.

In seconds, Duri, Tek, and Seven gobbled their plates down in five gulps, walking away from it.

Duri said, "Thanks for the chum."

Their opponents said:

"What.."

"Their monsters.."

"They sure can eat!"

Duri, Tek, and Seven went to look at souvenirs, and were given some. And they also had people put necklaces on around their necks.

They were having a good time, Tek tried to act like he wasn't.

At moments, Seven was pulling herself closer to Duri, rubbing against him on purpose.

Duri noticed, and they locked eyes.

Duri said to her, "Um.."

Seven answered, "Um?"

Seven looked to the left, and she saw some women behind a basket whispering to her, "Make the first move! Make the first move!"

Seven looked away, and she kept walking with Duri and Tek.

Duri thinks, 'She's so close.. yeah she definitely likes me. It's obvious. Maybe I should try something. Nooooo. Yes? No! Yes. What's the worst that could happen?'

They kept adventuring around the exciting festival for another 20 minutes, until something strange happened.

A black volcano was reaching out from underground, destroying everything in its path. And standing on top of the volcano, was Nami and Ezrel.

Nami raised her hands, and yelled, "Behold! This village has been experiencing some hard times! Times where we as a people struggled to get past! But no more! We have discovered a god! We will sacrifice to this god and gain an infinite supply of abundance and resources! I, Nami, the leader of the village, am doing this for our generation's sake! Sacrifices have to be made!"

People looked at her, saying and panicking:

"She grew that volcano out of the ground?!"

"What is she talking about?!"

"A god? There's only one!"

"She's gone mad!"

Duri, Tek, and Seven stood ready for anything.

Duri asked Seven, "Oi, is this an act? A festival act of some shit?!"

"No..I know you feel the power coming from that volcano. And she destroyed most of the festival's things with it."

Tek says, "Whatever is going on, we gotta deal with it. Now."

Nami raised her hands, and chanted with Ezrel, "Kunei Kenosha Bo!"

They kept saying it over and over again, and then everyone began to go into a trance. Everyone's eyes were white, and they were not themselves anymore. They all were being controlled, and they started to make their way to the volcano by themselves.

Nami said, "Yes! Sacrifice yourselves for the glory and abundance of this village!"

Duri, Tek, Seven, and Roga weren't affected.

Duri asked Roga, "The HELL is going on?!"

Roga responded, "I'm trying to figure out why we weren't affected. And it seems like she's been preparing this volcano with her power for a while to make it that big. Her timing…was perfect."

Seven scoffs, "I'm gonna kill those two!"

Nami saw that Duri, Tek, Seven, and Roga weren't affected, and she pointed at them, saying, "Hoh?! Seems like you barbarians are not affected by this, because you are all strong. Doesn't matter, because this is contagious! If they touch you even once, you'll be a slave to my words too, and sacrifice yourselves for the abundance of the village! Everyone, get them!"

All the villagers that were mind controlled started running over to Duri, Tek, Seven, and Roga.

The four of them got into fighting stances, and Roga said, "Don't hurt them, only subdue them."

Tek says, "My chains are perfect for that."

They were all surrounded, and then… here came Ryu.

Ryu's skin was pale, and he had black lines all over his face and body, and his hair was dark pink, and his eyes were purple and black circle rings in them. He was in his Spirit Of Destruction form.

Ryu said, "I don't know what the hell my grandmother is doing…but I know my mission."

Seven looked at Ryu, exclaiming, "Oh shit."

Roga said, "Oh no…it's Val.."