Chapter 2: Will

Four years passed quickly in Fong and deep in the forest, in the middle of a clearing, stood an older Kioku. His hair had grown longer and became more spiker, his face was mature yet youthful. His eyes were closed as though he was waiting for something.

'Listen for a disturbance in the flow of nature, one that nature is not the maker,' thought Kioku.

He suddenly opened his eyes and drew his katana, the silver blade got covered in dark energy the moment it was drawn. Kioku tightened his grip on the hilt, making the darkness solidly as his eyes shot to his right, "Quiet," he said with a grin, "But not quiet enough."

A beam of silver light came bursting from the trees to Kioku's right at an alarming speed. Kioku reacted quickly and performed a downward slash that sent a crescent shaped wave of compressed dark energy and the two attacks exploded on impact sending a shockwave across the clearing.

"Well, looks like we're done for the day," came a voice from above Kioku. Kioku looked up as Mora fell from a tree branch and landed perfectly in front of Kioku.

Mora's hair had grown longer, he now tied it back into a high ponytail leaving too long strands to fall in front of him, his skin was more smooth and his eyes glowed and gave off a faint aura. Mora wore robes of silver similar in design to Kioku.

"Did you really think that weak ass attack would work," said Kioku.

"Don't get cocky emo prince I was holding back," said Mora with a yawn.

"Atleast we can rest for now, Master will be-," Mora stopped abruptly as an ear splitting roar sounded through the air.

"Looks like Master needs us," said Kioku, he put his hands together and his shadow began to expand until it covered the entire clearing.

Mora sighed heavily as he placed his hand on Kioku's shoulder. "Just one day, can we train without him calling us."

The two boys dissolved into the shadow and disappeared.

♤♤♤

Kioku and Mora reappeared at the centre of Fong near the cherry blossom tree Longwang usually relaxed under. Mora was shivering and was having a hard time forming a sentence.

"I hate travelling with you, its too cold," said Mora.

"Forgive me but I can't provide any better transport service my queen," replied Kioku. Mora was about to respond and stopped himself as Longwang approached.

Kioku felt the temperature around him increase as Longwang got closer and knew he wasn't in a good mood.

"Were the two of you arguing again?" asked Longwang in a dangerous tone. Kioku and Mora both hurriedly shook their heads to which Longwang snorted.

"Due to an unforseen situation your training must come to an end," Longwang said bitterly.

"Our training was supposed to span ten years from the time we were ten until we reach twenty," said Kioku with a confused expression.

Mora nodded and said, "Yeah, why end it early."

"You'll find out tommorow when we leave for the Shadow Realm," Longwang said dismissively.

'Wait if we're leaving Fong early that could only mean,' Kioku turned to Mora as he sure they'd come to the same conclusion.

'We're joining the war.'

Longwang looked up at the sky and spoke in a faraway tone.

"In the multiverse exist beings called gods who stand a plane above mortals, if mortals were to fight gods they would easily be overwhelmed even though mortals also possess the energy of Chaos, Arch." Longwang began to walk as he spoke with Kioku and Mora following behind him.

"However, among mortals there is a special group of chosen individuals of which only one can be found in a million. They alone have the power to oppose gods, you both are among the chosen who are called,-" Longwang paused then turned to Kioku and Mora with a glint in his eyes.

Longwang whispered softly and bright gold flames erupted around them, growing taller and wider until they formed a fiery dome. Kioku and Mora both drew their swords and took a stance, whilst facing Longwang who had risen into the air.

"Looks like we're at the final test Kioku," said Mora with a wild grin. Kioku charged forward and sighed, dark energy formed around him.

"Let's see if we can slay a dragon."

Longwang laughed maniacally and raised his arms. "Show me the fruits of your training, show me if you are part of the chosen ones called GODSLAYERS!"

♤♤♤

Hakai No Ono floated down a flight of stone steps that led to the palace treasury, in tow was a tall slightly muscular man with waist long silver hair and eyes, he wore silver armour carried two curved swords, one silver and one black.

"Hakai, I dont approve of Mora taking part in this war, he hasn't completed his training," said the man with a worried expression. Hakai continued to move, the darkness shielding him flowed dangerously.

"Kioku also hasn't finished his training but you don't see me panicking like a little girl, the situation is too dire we need everyone we can muster."

The two reached the end of the staricase and in front of them stood a pair of enormous black doors. The doors shuddered and opened slightly revealing a tall hooded figure, the figure carried a long black box that seemed to suck the darkness of the room towards it.

"Alright, I assume you brought something as well?" The man nodded and waved his hand, a silver box appeared next to the black and glowed with pale light.

"With these those brats may actually manage to complete their mission," said Hakai, the shadows supporting him flowed smoothly indicating his calmness. Suddenly a short hooded figure stepped out of the shadows near the door and knelt before Hakai.

"My lord, unit sixteen led by Damon has sent word that an army of Seraphs is approaching the Shadow Realm." Hakai cursed whilst the man next to him fainted.

"Zeru, how much time do we have until they reach Fong?"

"They should arrive by this time tommorow."

"Alright prepare a rune circle for me and contact Chaos, someone take care of Tsukiyomi, Zeru head over to Fong and extract the three there," commanded Hakai, he sighed heavily as he approached the two boxes.

"The true war has begun."

♤♤♤

Inside the fire dome the battle between master and pupils raged on.

"Mora look out!"

Kioku watched in horror as Mora was blasted by a giant orb of fire. Kioku was already exhausted and had used up most of his energy but Longwang appeared to be having a good time.

Three giant orbs of fire formed behind Longwang and shot towards Kioku. Kioku charged at them, attempting to get close to Longwang, the first orb came at him quickly but Kioku slid under it, cutting in half as he did.

'One down two to go,' thought Kioku.

The second orb came crashing from above, Kioku hurled his sword at it and continued running and smiled as he heard the orb explode.

The third orb was the fastest, as it approached Kioku jumped into the air and came face to face with it, the orb was about to crash into him when a black rope rose from Kioku's shadow and pulled Kioku into the darkness. Kioku reappeared in front of Longwang much to his surprise and put his hands together.

"Level Two Control," whispered Kioku, hundreds of swords made of darkness rose from his shadow and shot towards Longwang.

"Chain Reaction!"

The speed of the blades increased drastically to the point where they only looked like blurs. Longwang opened his mouth and let out an earth shaking roar that blew away the blades of darkness and sent Kioku crashing down. BOOM!

"Ow, yeah thats a few bones broke," said Kioku with a groan. Longwang sent a blast of fire that moved alarmingly fast towards Kioku who couldn't move in time to dodge.

"Shit."

"LUNAR MIRROR!"

The blast hit an invisible wall in front of Kioku and repelled back to Longwang who absorbed it lazily. Mora appeared next to Kioku using his sword as support, the earlier attack had damaged him greatly, blood flowed from his mouth and head.

"Looks like you were in a pinch Kioku," said Mora breathing heavily. Kioku grinned slightly and struggled to stand, Mora waved his hands and Kioku felt his some bones mend.

"You're one to talk, you look like shit," Kioku summoned a blade of darkness to support him and faced Longwang with a determined look.

Longwang smiled widely and raised his hand into the air, an enormous ball of golden flames began to descend onto the battlefield.

"Chorus Of The Dragon God: God Blaze!"

Kioku's mouth fell open upon seeing the sheer size of the attack.

"Kioku I have plan that might work."

"Is your plan giving up, because that sounds like a great plan."

"IDIOT!" Shouted Mora, shocking both Kioku and Longwang who paused his attack. Mora stood straight and looked forward.

"If we don't have the will to survive now then are you also going to give up in the face of an enemy that wants to actually kill us. We don't fight to win, we fight to survive, right now we must survive, that was our first lesson."

Kioku's eyes widened, Longwang continued his attack, but a small smile was forming on his face. Kioku moved forward and pushed Mora out of his way, he put his hands together and began muttering hurriedly.

"Kioku what are you,-"

"That side of you always annoys me, now shut it for a second, a genius is at work," whispered Kioku his hands getting covered in black energy. Mora prepared to attack counter the orb but Kioku stopped muttering.

"With the opening I'll create you'll have one second to attack, don't mess up." Kioku shot towards the orb like a bullet, his entire body became covered in darkness and his body morphed into the shape of a giant black spear.

"Level Three Control," whispered Kioku as the spear struck the orb with such force that cracks began to form on the dome.

"God Spear."

The orb exploded, shattering the dome and sending powerful shockwaves around the area. Longwang smiled slightly, as Kioku's body fell, a golden phoenix caught him.

"You got distracted," came Mora's voice, Longwang turned as Mora swung his blade towards his torso with a look of triumph. Longwang caught the blade with ease and shattered it with his grip, Mora knelt down finally accepting to defeat.

"Don't despair its my loss," said Longwang quietly. Mora lifted his head, his eyes widened as he saw hundreds of blades of darkness surrounding Longwang, Mora looked over at Kioku who had fainted with a smile.

"The real attack was the blades, I hate to admit it he is....sort of a genius," Mora said as he fell to the ground and lost consciousness. Longwang snapped his fingers, making the blades appear and summoning a phoenix to carry Mora away to his palace.

"The Will to survive is the greatest tool needed to slay gods," said Longwang with a smile as he lay down at his favourite tree.

"Class dismissed."

♤♤♤

Far off in a distant realm, at certain bar in a remote town.

The bar was filled with drunk men singing songs arm in arm whilst clutching beer bottles. At the counter sat a strange man, his short hair and eyes were dark purple and gave off a soft glow, he looked to be in his late twenties with skin as white as snow and next to his glass of wine on the counter was a large purple tome.

"Hey, owner," said the man. A young slender woman in a black dress with dark hair and bright blue eyes approached the man who raised his glass as she neared him.

"I'm buying the next round!" Shouted the man, the whole bar erupted to cheers at his words. The woman signalled for the waiter to distribute the drinks and turned back to the man.

"You seem to be in a good mood Fate."

Fate retrieved his tome and stood to leave. "You'll soon see why Destiny," Fate took his travelling cloak from the rack and walked out the door. Destiny was left with a quizzical expression that quickly changed to one of horror.

Fate put on his hood as he stepped outside, it had been raining heavily in the town for a full hour. Fate walked through the dark empty streets of the town, humming cheerfully through the rain.

"The reason I told you to collect those four Chaos, was because they are the catalyst for the events to come." said Fate with a chuckle. The tome in Fate's hands glowed and started to float in front of him, it opened and the pages began to fly in every direction forming a vortex around Fate that with him.

"Time is broken," Fate said and a page showing a large river flooding flew from the vortex and returned to the book.

"Destiny is in shambles." Another page withdrew from the vortex showing thousands of entangled threads.

"Fate is clouded," the tome's glow dimmed greatly as most of the pages returned to the book leaving only four.

"A Shadow, a Soul, Courage and Fear, all forms of viewing the future are clouded because of these four and existance itself shall be rewritten." The rain was thundering down heavily with lightning flashes illuminating the sky.

"And so the legend begins," said Fate as the four pages returned to the tome, a large rumble could be heard from above.

"The legend of the Nine Seekers."

Purple lightning rained down and obliterated the town, at which point Fate had disappeared.

All the was left behind was a single page from the tome that had a large M written on it.