Chapter 15: Devils Pit Pt.1

Epic Rank!

Fucking EPIC Rank!

Kekkai's complexion turned pitch black as he looked down at the spiraling system of tunnels as exhausted-looking men, women, and children pushed and pulled large carts of rubble as they poured in and out under the careful watch of their supervisors.

Patrols of guards walking synchronously like marching soldiers checking various carts and randomly pulling people out of the crowd and checking their clothes for any hidden items.

Those who even tried to resist were beaten down by several guards and searched anyway, then the guards just left their collapsed figures on the floor and let the other prisoners reclaim their companion.

Large barracks of men and women littered the outskirts of the mine jeering and laughing while drinking some kind of liquor. Their encampment surrounded a large tar-like pit in the middle.

The pit bubbled and shifted as of something was moving in it constantly. When a couple of jokers laughed and tossed in a half-eaten pig carcass, it fell and stopped on the surface without sinking.

Like a solid floor, the carcass stayed there, but a change occurred from the center of the pool. Slowly the pool became excited and a wave of tar began to rise. Slowly encroaching on the carcass before opening a huge maw and swallowing it whole before disappearing into the unknown depths.

This strange and disturbing scene made goosebumps appear on Kekkai's arms as he watched this happening.

Pulling Hashiba to the side with cold sweat he worked hard to figure out what was happening here.

"What's with these numbers, is this the scouting army or something? I've never heard of Raiders or even Insurgent forces ever having numbers like this!" Kekkai sweated as he pulled the boy alongside him.

"The Order of Dread, to think they were based here!" Hashiba states looking at the passage where they just left with a dark simmering look of rage.

/Who? What the heck, who are these guys?/

"Order Of What?" Kekkai turned to Hashiba, his look saying you better explain fast.

"That pool of tar substance, it's one of the most important sacrificial tools of A cultist movement that worships an ancient abomination that once plagued the whole continent. They recruit mainly Ronin and Rogue Ninja to kidnap a variety of civilians. Be the commoners, Samurai, Monks, nobles, and even ninjas with Kekkai Genkai, as fuel for a myriad of cruel sacrificial offerings and insane human experiments." Hashiba explained in detail why still glaring at the passage, "They have been tracked and exterminated many times across the land but they keep coming back like maggots to the bone. My master had found clues about their recent revitalization and strange activities in the Land of Stone and was tasked with tracking them here. To think the first thing we find here is this."

/How the hell do they survive if they hunt nobles and ninjas, this type of cult is enemy number one for all social classes In the Elemental Nations no matter how you look at it./

"How dangerous are they? How come I've never heard of them before now?" Kekkai asked quietly

"Nobody likes to mention these bastards because they're everywhere! They infiltrate any power systems and are extremely secretive. Nobody wants to as it is their incompetence in being unable to track them or their inability to keep them from positions of power. As for their power, Extremely Dangerous! Many elites and patriarchal-level powerhouses fill their ranks; As you can see, they are known for their cruelty to their victims as well as being intensely vindictive. One time a noble had exposed their operation within his territory, and only when they were chased away the authorities had found that very same noble and his whole family with their throats slit and their bodies piled in front of their cities walls less than three days later." Hashiba Admitted while looking straight into Kekkais eyes.

/What is this? Hydra on drugs?! Cut one head off and two more to take its place! If I manage to piss off these sickos, they might try to haunt me for the rest of my life!/ Kekkai started pacing back and forth anxiously about their current situation.

"There are way too many for us to kill off while protecting the prisoners. We are going to need a backup for something like this, can you manage to call any reinforcements?" Kekkai asked hopefully

"Even if I could it would take over a week for them to arrive. My master has a very high position in the Land of Fire and if they manage to find out my master and our group's true identity the order will kill them without a second thought." Hashiba looked closely at Kekkai for a second before walking back to the passage entrance.

"I would rather save them tonight along with as many people as we can bring out with us." As Hashiba made a look of resolution of his fate "If you think it's too risky, I'll do my best to infiltrate the camp and rescue my master and companions alone."

"All I ask is when I hold them back you bring my-" As Hashiba explained his plan a hand rested on his shoulder.

"Kid I think that you have me confused! I'm not going to leave you here to die, I only asked because if we need to do this, it's going to cost me a lot!" Kekkai sneered as he declared

"You're still confident even when the situation is like this?" Hashiba exclaimed in surprise.

"Of Course! I'm a professional! I told you that as long as you follow me, I'll get your companions out safe and sound. If I can say that then I should be confident enough to do it!" Kekkai thumped his chest.

/Except your not. Are you sure you want to do this with your current power?/ Nikita asked after alerting him.

Ignoring her for a moment, Kekkai pulled Hashiba to the side and began to explain his plan. After two minutes of explaining he reached into his coat pocket, gently taking out four different Astral Charges from his pocket.

"Be alert when handling these babies! They don't look like much but if given enough shock or heat, these little guys can devastate an entire Building without leaving anything but charcoal and Ashes!" Kekkai explained carefully and handed the Astral Charges to Hashiba. "When you get the signal after locating their cells squeeze them as hard as you can and throw them into the nearest barracks and run like you are being chased by Death itself! Because if you don't manage to get everyone out of the blast radius when it goes off, everyone will become ashes!"

"Yes, sir! But why do you have so many weird weapons? What do you do for a living?" Hashiba asked as he gingerly took them before placing them in one of his armors pockets.

"Hmm, before this? You could consider me a Blacksmith." Kekkai admitted with shrugged shoulders.

"...."He looked at him as if he was joking.

"What? It's the truth!" Kekkai defended himself

/What kind of blacksmith carries an arsenal of weapons with him and is more versed in ninja arts than me?/ Hashiba complained in his head before turning away and running into one of the dark underpasses.

Turning his attention to the Mission [Devil's Pit] he didn't hesitate anymore and accepted it.

//

Ding

Epic Rank Quest [Devils Pit] Accepted

//

/Are you sure about this/ Nikita asked again.

/Have faith! I've been preparing for a moment like this for 6 years. But just in case, Open the System store!/ Kekkai's eyes began to burn as he thought this.

/As you wish, Host./ Nikita groaned

//

Ding

Welcome to the Afterlife how may we serve you Legend?

//

/Open Mods Tab, Ocular page, Ranged Weapon Page/ Commanded Kekkai.

//

Ding

What would you like to purchase?

You have Three Ocular mod slots available.

You Have Two modifiable Weapons.

//

/Purchase [Threat Detector], [Weak Spot Detection], and [Explosive Analysis], One [XC-10 ALECTO] Muzzle./ Kekkai ordered

//

Ding

That will come to a total of 5,867€

Confirm Purchase?

//

/Confirm!/ Kekkai thought

//

Ding

Purchase confirmed

Mods are Installed

7,608€ are left in your Account

Thank you for choosing Afterlife

//

Kekkai felt a slight stinging pain in his eyes as they began to shift to adapt to their new functions. Lifting his hand he saw an advanced Muzzle slowly manifest itself in the palm of his hand.

/Now let's get started./ Kekkai said

Reclaiming the Zenith Towers from their positions he immediately began to prepare, refining his Chakra once again until it was full he took a small razor from his coat and placed it in his mouth.

*Slisch*

//

Ding

-1 Slashing, -1 per second Bleed damage

-3 HP

//

Making a small cut in his mouth he let it bleed for a moment taking his thumb and rubbing the blood from his mouth he made a set of hand seals before slamming his hand onto the ground, the moment his hand came into contact with the ground a large spider array of black sealing lines began to spread with his hand as the center.

"[Summoning Jutsu: Three-Headed Komainu]!" Kekkai cried out silently.

With a large puff of smoke, 25 chakra points disappeared and three small intricate Stone statue puppies appeared from the center of the cloud. Seeing the statues sitting still on the floor, Kekkai reached down and nudged the little dogs, flipping them from a standing position to their sides and backs.

Then the eyes of the Statues blinked, starting to glow in dull blue and brown colors as they came to life. Stretching and yawning, the puppies slowly became aware of their surroundings before yipping lightly at Kekkai and wagging their long tails while looking innocently at him.

Kekkai raised his hand and made a circular motion around his wrist. With a yelp of understanding, the puppies turned and big down softly onto their long tails. Their forms began to shrink and shift as they slowly turned into a set of intricate stone bangles.

Picking up the bangles and slipping them onto his wrist before he left his position and down a slope, heading into one of the mining tunnels below.

.

.

.

.

.

*Clank*

*Clank*

*Clank*

*Clank*

Deep within the mines, a batch of men and women did their best to work in the dim light of makeshift torches as they chipped away at the solid rock wall.

Rubble and sparks flew as their pickaxes worked tirelessly one after another, sweat soaking their filthy clothes as they struck with all their might.

Younger teens and children worked together to clear the rubble from their paths as they worked. Doing their best to sort and collect ore, crystals, and other precious materials from the rock.

The more they found, the better, because this will

prevent their families from starving at night and coming too close. Because the bandits had them on a contribution scale when it came to providing food.

Those who did not work starved and those who resisted were beaten and starved. The beaten ones did not last long either dying of starvation, dehydration, suicide, or being thrown into the tar pit as entertainment for their captors.

The only way for them to live in these dusty claustrophobic conditions was to work tirelessly day in and day out for food and water.

The guards patrolling the tunnels every 15 minutes made even resting impossible as they would beat or whip them once before sending them back to work.

*Clank*

*Clank*

*Clank*

In a corner stood a lean teenager covered in beaten rags working with focused attention, Breaking through stone with each strike as his long shoulder-length unkempt hair pasted itself to his face and neck. Covering his eyes and cheekbones underneath the caramel-brown locks of hair.

The boy was like a machine, working tirelessly as he did his best to make it through the wall.

*Crackllleeee*

Hearing this sound he hurriedly dodged to the side, watching as an entire sheet of rock broke off to the floor In a cloud of dust.

*BOOM*

As the dust settled the hollow mine wall revealed a massive collection of glowing crystalline structures scattered inside.

But the boy didn't look happy or mystified at the sparkling structures in front of him. Instead, his thin lips drawer themselves in disgust as he looked at the blood-red crystal with an inklike dye shifting inside of it.

Whatever was contained inside of the crystal was alive and as he saw it, pure nauseating Evil. It crawled along the surface of its container like a slime-like ooze seeking its prey and release from its prison.

This has happened on the occasion, as the teenager has glimpsed what happens when a miner is not careful and accidentally chips or breaks the delicate crystal sealing the creature.

The slime when it left its container instantly expanded and shattered the remains of its container, like a liquid parasite it spreads onto the slowest to run.

Leaving acidic burns and charred skin along its victims' flesh as it absorbs them into itself and it increases slightly in size.

If it weren't for everyone running in terror when it happened and the Black Man containing it and transferring it to the pool for a deposit, that thing would have devoured everything it could reach!

"RED WALL!" turning and calling this out, the boy alerted everyone about the danger.

With a large amount of shuffling as everyone turned their heads and looked down his path with fear, they slowly put down their tools and backed away from their station.

A 'Red Wall' has already been found, there was no more need to work as just this finding can feed their tunnel for a week.

*Clank*

The boy dropped his pickaxe to the ground in exhaustion and waited there as he gathered his breath.

A short woman with a bob-cut hairstyle broke free from the crowd of other miners and walked up to him. Bring a flask of water from her side she presented it to him.

Looking at it for a second before taking it and opening the cap, he gave a low thanks before drawing back his head and pouring the water down his dry throat.

After a few seconds, he put the flask down and went into a small coughing fit as the water went down the wrong pipe.

Wiping his mouth he gave the water flask back to the woman.

Nodding to him, the woman placed the cap back on and left him alone.

Not even 2 minutes later Guards began to pour into the mining tunnel, like the red sea the crowd parted hurriedly to allow them to pass.

When they saw the Crystal embedded into the wall they slowly pulled a cart forward before one man reached his hands in and broke the wall holding the crystal up before catching the crystal and setting it down into the cart softly.

The crowd just watched silently as they rolled the cart away slowly, but before they could breathe a sigh of relief as they left another figure snatched their breath back.

It was the Black-armored samurai, slowly walking down the tunnel. His armor boots thudded heavily against the rocky floor as he made his way through the tunnel. Examining the captives as he inspected the tunnel.

Seeing the boy sitting there his dark eyes flashed with amusement through the Menpo mask before he began making his way in the boy's direction.

The crowd once again split as they avoided the warrior like the plague. The samurai ignored them as he made his way forward.

The teenager opened his eyes when he felt the shadow as the warrior came to a stop above him, he looked at the Pitch Black armor as it stared back down at him.

"What do you want now?" He inquired with a displeased face.

"Me? Nothing. It's your sister who requested you. You will join the guards in fifteen minutes to see her. I would recommend you refresh yourself in the meantime." The man commanded in a deadpan and dark tone, His mask muffling his voice behind it.

"Well, I sure can, just one request." The teen said with a dirt-filled smile.

"What's that." The samurai inquired.

"I sure can take a long hot bath, and put on a set of brand-new clothes. As you can see I'm not in the right visiting attire and need to, You know, make myself presentable so the little princess doesn't think you're treating me unfairly or anything." The teen joked while grinning at the man.

This joke silenced the man for a second before he started lightly chuckling. Stretching out an armored hand and holding it in front of him, he snapped his fingers, and a cold dark flame appeared in the middle of the gloved palm.

Seeing this flame the crowd took a few more steps back in fear.

Lowering himself until his mask was just a few inches from the boy's face he showed him the flame and plainly said "I can certainly rid your body of filth and get you some new clothes. How would you like your hot bath to be? Boiling oil? How would you like a brand new set of skins, freshly peeled from your flesh and sewn into a coat? Please hurry, I'm sure we can arrange all of your requests."

The teen just stared at the mask in front of him and ignored the blazing black fire inches away, flames licking the air above his skin but his response was just a sneer.

"Steaming hot water and some nice furs. I've been here long enough to know all of your tricks, you guys don't even dare to give me a scratch, much less torture me." The teen called the Black Armors' actions a bluff and mocked him, "So, big black and ugly, fetch me my bath so I can go see our princess."

"Oh? Are you sure about that?" The masked head tilted while inquiring.

His question was met with an 'I dare you', look of defiance.

"Little boy there is very little that I dare not do, even when my superiors asked me to stay my hand from their family members when they stepped out of line, I've spent weeks torturing those poor souls to the brink of death and back in front of them as well. And those who tried to stop me were slain right where they stood. What makes you think you and your sister will fair any better when It comes to challenging me?" The Black Samurai asked

"You talk a lot, but little action from what I see. All this time you could have been getting my bath nice and hot for me, such a waste." The boy just grinned and kept mocking the man.

Tilting his head, the eyes in the helmet turned cold. Slowly bringing the flame closer and closer to the boy's face, piercing cold energy stung his face as his sweat stopped flowing and ice crystals began to show up on his skin.

The boy just grinned and glared at the man, egging him on, his eyes full of disrespect and determination to spite him.

"Hehe, Hahahahahha!" Suddenly the flame in the palm went out as the man roared in outrageous laughter. Slapping his armored chest and waist, the man's laugh echoed throughout the tunnel.

"I like you kid, your right even I don't dare to scratch that pretty little face of yours, a nice hot bath and some nice warm coats, as you requested!" The man laughed as he stood straight up.

"As long as we understand each other." the boy said before standing up.

"Yep! As long as we understand each other." The man nodded.

Only, a change occurred when the boy stood up and started patting his pants. A heavily armored fist suddenly flashed and embedded itself into his gut.

Eyes popping out and bile rushing up his throat, the teenager hunched over the first and tried to gasp for air.

"Just because we understand each other, I'm going to let you off like this." leaning to his side the man whispered, "But don't test my patience anymore after this, just because we won't scratch on your little face doesn't mean I won't beat you till you're looking for your guts all across the floor!"

Letting him drop to the dusty ground, as he passed and gasped for air, the Armored man's leg blurred as he kicked him hard in the chest.

Flying across the space, the boy's head cracked against the uneven rocky wall. He could only hear the screeching buzz in his head as he rolled across the ground in pain.

The Armored Samurai let out a pleased grunt before turning around and leaving through the crowd of miners in the dark tunnel.

Only, when he reached the edge of the crowd he stopped suddenly, looking around left and right slowly as if to sense or confirm something, before snorting in displeasure when he found nothing and continued down the tunnel towards the exit.

Only When the sound of metal boots finally faded down the hall completely did the crowd release the bated breath they were holding and relaxed. Some even dropped to the floor on their asses in relief.

Out of the crowd, four men and women and 3 teenagers came to the youth's side. Tenderly helping him up and trying to attend to his wounds.

"So, how does it feel to walk across Death's blade?" The bob-cut woman asked while taking off the youth's shirt and examining the damage while rubbing his back.

"Exciting!" said the youth with a grin before flinching when she poked a newly emerging sore on his back.

"You're insane! You dared to challenge That Black Demon, even laughing in his face! I'm surprised you managed to get out of that in one piece!" One of the teens, a thick dark skinned boy with short black hair exclaimed in surprise. Wonder and worship filled his eyes as he looked at the collapsed young man.

"How did it feel by the way? That black flame, do you think we have any chance of countering it if we had protective clothing?"Asked A small teen girl with fiery eyes and shoulder-length green hair, her eyes sharp and calculating when she inquired hurriedly.

"No chance whatsoever. That thing was 2 inches away from my face and I thought I was buried in a bucket of ice water! I'm almost an icicle without even touching it if that even glances at someone. That person is as good as dead." The youth shivered as he remembered that biting cold flicking across his face.

"How long was this patrol? What about the new arrivals?" He asked.

"Two days. But the amount of people he brought back is close to 120 this time. But it seems that they sustained heavy damage during this trip, multiple guards who returned are covered in burns and broken arms. And the prisoners this time have a strange group within them." A small girl informed quickly as she pushed through the crowd of adults.

"Injuries? Strange group? How strange! Did they look like they had Ninjas among them?!" The youth exclaimed excitedly as he grabbed the little girl's shoulders and asked.

"I don't know if they were ninjas, more like Monks and priestesses, and one really strange girl about your age who walked acted as if she was a rich girl touring a food stall! And the guards seemed pretty afraid of them, not letting them out of their sight for a second, I couldn't get close enough to hear it completely but it seems that the Black Demon was almost forced to take action before they surrendered mysteriously." She explained with wide eyes.

This news made the youth grin in ecstasy "Good, Good! This means that they're either ninjas and monks on his level or at least on par with him collectively."

"How many warriors do we have now?" turning to one of the buff-looking men that lay against a wall.

"32 people can refine that 'chakra' but we are still getting a handle on what it can and cannot do much with it, we barely eat enough to sustain us through the day and need to refine it sparingly so we won't be detected by the Black Demon and the guards." The man raised a hand and when he clenched his fist light waves of air-like energy slowly floated from his hand.

"But it's enough for now right? We don't have much time and Naomi said that whatever ritual they are preparing for, it's going to happen soon!"The youth stated, "If we don't want to be here with our necks bared for their executioner's blades We need to gather everybody and get ready now!"

"If we can manage to gather an all-out fight while the Black Demon leaves next week, we can at least manage to overpower most of the guards and set fire to the barracks. We can use our chakra to storm the gates while they are panicking and make a run for it. The Black Demons patrols are getting shorter and shorter but the time window of two days head start. I'm willing to take it. Who's with me?" The youth calculated his plan before raising his eyes and looking at the crowd with fire in his gaze.

The crowd didn't voice any response and just looked at each other before turning back to him with the same fire in their eyes.

"Good. Get ready, after dinner tonight spread the news, we're going to escape. In the next 3 days, if possible we can get the help of that mystery group and get their help with the Black Demon, if they can't deal with him stick to the schedule, but if they can." He paused before a demonic wrathful look took a place on his face.

"We are going to claim our long-awaited revenge and slay that demon where he stands!" He coldly said, which was greeted with a resounding grunt of agreement.

"I'm afraid that won't work. They already know about your ability to refine Chakra. I think they're just playing with you and fattening you up for slaughter." A voice states from behind him.

The youth and the entire crowd froze in place. Slowly he turned behind him and looked into the shadow behind him.

Right there in plain sight, even though he was sure that there were no people in the corner a second ago was a cloaked figure in a hood. Standing there as if he was there the entire time listening to their conversation with them completely unaware.

"Who are you? What's going to happen to us now since you guys know?" The youth slowly asked as cold sweat dripped down his dirty back.

"Me? I'm just a passerby of justice. As for you guys, I'm here to rescue you, Tonight!" the shadowed figure, Kekkai, said with a wide too thrilled grin.