The Cataclysm 1

(Ei's POV)

The next few years have been peaceful, but at least my Sasayuri collection got bigger. That guy called Dainsleif visits from time to time with gifts, which made my love come here more often so I'm not dissatisfied at all. His drunk moments are one of my favorite records, after all, filling my energy as I watch it everyday. I swear I will tell him about my feelings once I have found the perfect moment to do it.

Finishing my training, I left to do my usual routine when I suddenly felt the atmosphere change. Looking outside, I saw the sky darkened, and an ominous energy passed by. I hurriedly ran to find Makoto, aiming to ask her about the situation.

"Makoto, do you know what is happening?!" I exclaimed as I barged into her office.

"I have no idea Ei! I already sent the signal for the others to come, just in case." said the panicked Makoto.

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(Sasayuri's POV)

After noticing the signal and feeling an ominous atmosphere, I immediately left to pick Chiyo up and went to Inazuma. She ordered her adopted sons to take in charge of Yashiori Island, while I left Reizenbou to manage Kannazuka, taking Yoshitsune with us. We arrived to see the Shogunate and the Yougou yokais fighting with the bizarre monsters.

"Stay here Yoshitsune and help the Shogunate! We will go to Mt. Yougou since it looks like most of them are currently there!" I quickly told, to one of my oldest companions that I fully trust. I hurriedly flew away with Chiyo towards what I believed to be the source of this incident.

But on the way there, I saw a kitsune surrounded by those unknown monsters. Noticing that we were close to the mountain, I turned to Chiyo.

"Chiyo, you should go first and meet up with the others." I said to her with seriousness, while pointing at the group of monsters. Understanding my intention, she leaped from my embrace, using her pyro vision to land on Mt. Yougou.

I immediately flew down while brandishing my katana to kill the dark looking monsters. After killing one of them, I noticed the tip of my blade slowly getting eroded.

"Corrosion huh, what an annoying enemy." I whispered to myself, noticing the seriousness of the situation. I infused my katana with electro to battle the corrosion, before clearing the monsters one by one. After killing every monster, I went forward to pick up the injured kitsune.

"No need to be afraid little one. Rest now, and I will bring you to a safe place." I gently said, before seeing the kitsune fall asleep in my arms. 

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(Chiyo's POV)

Following Sasayuri's words, I left to find the others near Mt. Yougou. There I saw Ei, Makoto, Orihime, and other people I recognize fighting against countless creatures coming from a big rift in space. I ran at them to help and ask about the situation.

"What happened here Orihime?! I asked the leader of the Narukami shrine, while helping them clear the monsters.

"A sudden rift opened in space behind the mountain, pouring in a lot of unknown monsters!" she answered quickly.

"Did anyone try to check the other side yet?!" I shouted, before using my pyro vision to wipe out a lot of monsters in one go.

"No! Chiyo! Its too dangerous to go inside!" pleaded Makoto, trying to stop my actions.

"We have to find out one way or another sister! Don't worry, I will come with her!" said Ei, trying to convince her sister after killing ten of them in one slash.

"I'll come with you too if thats okay, your majesty!" shouted Takamine, one of Makoto's most trusted generals.

"Wait for Sasayuri here! He's currently on the way, he can help you deal with the flooding monsters!" I said before signaling at Ei.

After seeing Makoto's agreement, Ei took the lead and cleaved all the monsters blocking the way in one slash. The three of us ran towards the rift and my surroundings blackened after getting to the other side.

Noticing we had been separated, I quickly used pyro to see the surroundings around me. Feeling some type of liquid from my feet and I hurriedly looked around.

"Am I inside a monster's stomach or something?!" I exclaimed and immediately tried to find a way outside, understanding my dire situation.

After searching all over the place for a while without results, I resorted to my idea of killing the monster from the inside. Manifesting my armaments, I used everything I had to open a hole in the beast's stomach. Seeing the small amount of damage I made, I felt like I had no choice but to rely on my oni's ability. I let my inner oni take control of me and rampaged, using everything I could.

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I don't know how long I've been here. I feel my sanity slowly fading as time passes by. Even with my long experience fighting as an oni, it's impossible for me to fully control it. Other than that, I believed there's something about this creature that is corrupting me, fastening the process of me succumbing to madness.

After a long time, I finally saw light. I immediately followed it by instinct, with little of my sanity intact. Going outside, I saw blurry figures coming towards me. Not being able to control myself any longer, I launched my blade at them.

Somebody parried it as I heard a gentle voice, letting it clear a bit of my madness. Looking forward, I saw him, the one that had been with me for the longest time. Visiting me at least once a month to check up on me. We started as fellow leaders serving the same lord, but as we got closer, I felt like I had found somebody I could consider my family. I cannot help but see him as an older brother as we have interacted for more than a millennia.

Using the little control I had, I ran away. Far away from the others, afraid that I will lose control of myself and attack them again. I did not hear what he said, but I can understand what he meant with that expression of his.

"Yes, I will come back home in Inazuma as we promised. So please wait for me and be safe." I whispered weakly with tears falling from my eyes, as I ran away, not having a destination in mind.