Hell/Former Hell - part 1

"Aaaaaaah!"

!  Fall !

Ouch!

I am in pain !

I think I sent these three objects with , but not a flashlight... On the other hand, it's really hot around here.  In addition, several evil spirits lurk, waiting for the moment to strike against me.  This place remains scary;  the refuge of demons, of damned souls.  Clearly I don't want to go through this if I ever die.  I hope my mom's bracelet didn't fall off.  As for my Bible, it looks like Psalm 23 will be useful for my prayer.  Suddenly, I hear murmurs that are simply odious or even obscene.  I just entered the second circle where what?  I'm going to miss the presence of... No, keep calm!  And stay firm in the faith!  I tread cautiously, praying in my heart, while keeping my hand close to the hilt of my tachi.  As a result, I block an obvious spirit attack.  This cuts both the physical and the spiritual.  Later, it becomes a score that falls one after the other.  However, nothing tells me that this is over.

[ Yōkai (妖怪?, "spirit", "ghost", "demon", "strange appearance") are a type of supernatural creature in Japanese folklore.  They are often depicted as mischievous or simply mischievous spirits demonstrating everyday or unusual hassles. ]

The wind picks up. Then, a swarm of ghosts appear in lines, and then - at the very end - is a recognizable frightening sorceress with green hair, a blue robe, and a stalk.



"Who dares to disturb me in my territory?"  She questions me.

She imposes, so that I recite in thought the psalm 23. My tachi pointed towards her, my feet anchored in the ground, inspiring then expiring, I then raise my spear, triggers - in the end - my first attack: the spiritual blade  .  Except she creates a pentagram that absorbs it then sends me a gigantic ball of fire, so big that it is oa size of the place.  So I can't dodge it and then end up disintegrating.  On the other hand, before that happens, my mother's bracelet turns into thousands of beads, to the point of forming a huge rosary.

"Whew" I breathe.

So the attack does not affect me.  Alas, this destroys the large rosary as well as my mother's bracelet.  Thank you very much to her for protecting me.  Suddenly, several spells are cast in a row so that - despite parrying some of them - I can't follow everything.  This spirit - in short - wants my skin;  it's official !  I have to find a way to fight it, otherwise I will disappear from the face of the earth.  I begin to pray on my tachi, eyes closed.  Then I raise it then jerk it down as if to execute an enemy by cutting him in half in my mind.  When I open my eyes, I see the spirit - its body in particular - divided into two equal parts.  Immediately, I draw my wakisashi then repeat the process, this time horizontally so that it ends in four.

"So how does it feel to have died a second time evil spirit? Now disappear!"  I order him.

This is how she takes two spiritual blades simultaneously.  Finally !  I managed to beat her!  I'll put my swords away and we'll talk about it.  Unfortunately for me, I just made the biggest mistake of my life.  When I seal my katanas, only my trunk and limbs remain upright, while my head flies up before landing on the ground.  The spirit - then - taunts, returning as if nothing had happened.  I don't remember what happens afterwards although a memory comes back to me, where I see Yukari with an albino in red and blue healing me.  My friend then hands me an elixir, saying:

"Take more than three sips, Pyri! Come on, you won't regret it..." She then has made me drink it all down to the last drop.

Now that I think about it, there is a connection between this elixir, as well as the fact that I no longer have any sequelae of my wounds against these wolves.  If so, then my head and the rest will just disappear.  And once returned in full, I exorcism in the back with my weapons which pierce it.  She cries out in pain, unable to move after this surprise attack.

"Thank you very much, lord! Thank you Yu and albino medicine! Thanks to you, I can get back to my best after I die."

"How? You must have been dead!"  She screams so loudly, then insults me. "Wretched human, who are you? What is your name? Damn you! I am Mima, the vengeful spirit and the most powerful magician in Gensokyo!  me your name!!"

"As for me" I answer him.  "I am a human, the son of a Christian and an ex-soldier. I am therefore a soldier of Christ, and my name is Ishiha Kenpyri. Now you will be sealed in my wakisashi once and for all!"

"Stop! You are making a big mistake! You will come back to free me one day!"  She declares.

"Never that."  I reply confidently.

In the end, his end turns out to be briefer than his appearance.  I put the blade in question in its sheath that I seal with a parchment then throw it in a place where no one will come to release it. As expected, I am not getting any after effects from this encounter.  On the other hand, I leave my bracelet and my wakisashi in this fight and I almost die against her.  One thing is certain: if my future enemies are as strong or even stronger, I will need more faith of prayer as well as the grace of God so that I can survive.  I don't know if my acquired invincibility can save me.  When in doubt, I should use it as little as possible, because it hurts.  Along the way, I hardly defeat the evil spirits, even if I manage to rout them.  Still happy, Mima seems to be the strongest in this area, but what about the others?  My stay in hell has only just begun it seems.

Three weeks later

My physical capacities increase as well as my resistance to this toxic gas that I breathe. Then , I don't forget to read the Genesis Book. At the moment, I am, by the way , of humanity patriarche and the Faith father : Abraham. Why ? Because our situation is similar. In fact, I left my life outside to land in Gensokyo, and here I am going through hell. On the other hand, apart from demons, damned souls, and vengeful spirits, I see plenty of them, for example, akuma , amanojaku , tengus , asobibi , and many others. During my journey, prayer, the word of God, and spiritual combat become my armour, which means to better know the Lord and his will. - There are too many evil spirits at the moment. Come to think of it, Yukari - being a yokai - can be considered an evil spirit. If that's the case, then that means she's been manipulating me from the start... For now, I don't know the answer. So, before confronting her, I have to think of a plan, then find the exit. Wait, I can always ask for help!

Kenpyri! Kenpyri!

God, is it you?

Listen ! Where you are going, an extremely dangerous creature awaits you. The good news is that there is a door that will lead you to the old hell and then to the exit. Follow the dove! Above all, pay attention to the remnants of evil!

Hold on !  I want to talk to you !  What should I do now?  Nothing, it sounds like radio silence.  However, I obey this recommendation.  Arrived at destination, the dove disappears;  so this is the place.  Suddenly dark whispers even though... No!  I have to stay focused!  Stay calm !  You can do it.  Above all, stay focused... in a few minutes, I will be leaving this place.  Let's just stand firm until I get there.

Kenpyri!  You have to turn around!  It's a trap !

I can't make out that voice.  She's too weak... Wait a minute...

He dodges at the last moment before the door turns into a mirror in which a creature comes out with the aim of devouring him.



I was hot !  Has this thing been there all this time?  If that seems so, then that voice has been coming from her all this time.  What about the last one, though?  Either way, this thing needs to be put out of harm's way.

"Hey, it's not very good to deceive your followers like this. Who do you think you are? A goddess? You're just an idol, and for that reason, I'm going to annihilate you!  "

"I expected you to be simple-minded; a scared human would be begging me to serve me if I didn't eat it. And here I come, on a hot head. My name is Kikuri, and  I am a goddess. You know what that means, poor mortal."

"Blablabla, I'm omnipotent blablabla, you can't beat me. I got the message."

But I don't have time to waste.  So I pierce her with her jewel with my tachi soaked in the light of God and my faith.  This one does not see the blow coming and then spits blood.  I don't stop there, though.  I cut into several thousand pieces down to the state of an atom.  The process takes me a long time because I want to do it well and avoid making the same mistake again.  I recite the psalms while continuing to attack this shoddy idol.

"Stop! You don't know what you're doing right now! Do you think that by killing me, I'll just disappear? You're wrong because I'll come back. Then I invite you to look behind you."

I don't know, don't stop the process;  his pleas, his cries of agony,...

"You...Do you really want to kill me? Come on, I'll let you live, and we'll talk more about it, okay? I'm wrong in this story."

I don't stop.  She must die.  If I let her live.  Yet... Is killing her a good solution?  And normally, evil spirits don't die.  No !  I must not doubt and remain firm!  This time, his end is near.

"...Hihihihi...I see you're determined to do it. Well, go for it! And when you find yourself in this situation, I hope you...."

"I'm done sealing you."  I declare suddenly.

Until I know enough about how the world works, I rely on what I have learned and experienced.  Forgive me, Lord, because I almost doubted.  I was afraid to find myself without a weapon for the future, but the most powerful weapon of all is your word.  So I just have to seal it in my tachi and then do what I did with Mima.  But before she takes her last breath, she tells me this:

"You have a good heart, Ishiha, but be careful! People who have a good heart like you do not live long, worse they do not live without suffering. Stay focused on your goal. I hope for you that you find what you are looking for!"

I see... Thank you, Kikuri.

"Okay. Sorry if we had to fight today. See you later!"

I leave the place and say goodbye.  Right after the door leading to the old hell opens.  Rout this is not manipulation in the end.  I clench my fists just thinking about it.  I'm starting to get tired of this relentless destiny.  I barely close my eyes when heavy footsteps are heard.  I see long legs nearly crushing me if I don't put all my strength into it.  In addition, a burly woman with a horn appears in front of me and then knocks me out with a single punch.  The sequence of events escapes me since I spend it in a coma.

" So , this is the human that has beaten  Mima and Kikuri. Argh , he seems so weak. He has no chance to fight me , hasn't he ?" This big  onii claims.

" Yeah, sure." The little onii yawns. "But , if he stays clean after drinking much sake, he will get all my respect."

What do I do here ? Ah ... yes , I fainted. Good , I have three big problems in front of me. With my actual skills , I can unfortunately nothing against them. And if do I try to discuss ? Bad idea... So , I will say them my most honest thoughts.

" You two , leave him alone. " A rose hair onii in hermit clothes intervenes.

Will I have saved ? In the doubt , stay on our guard. But , I don't feel hostility in her. She gives me the hand ; I take it. Sudden, I see a strong punch on me of the most savage onnii 's part. In extremis, I dodge the head on back. Next , I step back when she advances speedily for beating me. My survival instincts wonder me to flee this enraged beast. Nevertheless, I refuse to do this face to her.

"He's crazy !" Suika declares , a few impressed.

"Stop fighting !" Kasen screams at ours.

Sorry, girls , but i must win against her. I rush on her and punch with my actual full physical power so that she is propelled several meters. Unfortunately, the big onii laughs at me. The worst remains that she gets almost any traces on her body. That's reminds me of the people's laughter since my primary school.

"Dammit ! You begin to anger me. I'm going to tell my honest thoughts with my fists." I cry with a dark look on my enemy.

"Hahahahahaha! Not only did you punch me , but again, you dared to complain. Geez, you're a stupid human." She smiles mischievously , approaches , takes me by the collar , and tells me more sinister ."Gives me one reason for not killing you , brat."

"Well , what do you wait ? Hurry up, kill me , because i don't time to waste." I assert , cold and tired.

The shock remains significant, I remain aware of it, except that I don't care at this stage. I close my eyes, waiting for death to arrive. But , my enemy lets me go to fall on the ground and leaves with one of these monsters. I redress myself against the last one.

"Want also you kill me , right ?" I ask her.

"No , and I'm agree with them. You're a stupid human." She responds

"Very well. I go to my next destination. Don't come after me. I don't care about you."

However , she clutches my arm , nearly crushes it, and looks at me with a frown.

"Don't touch me." I order her , trying to liberate myself.

"Listen me ! First , you're not in an advantageous position to talk to me like this. Secondly, you're is in Former Hell where only the strongest ones lives , precisely oniis." She explains me , then she smiles. "And Thirdy , my name is Ibaraki Kasen. Nice to meet you , and you ?"

And it's finally this hair onii kidnappes me until at her home. Dammit , during several days, I have locked in my new prison. How am I going to escape this place ? I know ... I searched for a wakisashi to see if I could cut this door. I concentrate myself. Katana to my hand , I think ... I think about the obstacle I want to destroy. I think also to the manner I have humiliated. Finally, i cut this door in a thousand pieces, and I imbibe my wakisashi of clan Yakumo exorcise technique to know the spiritual and evil barriers' destruction.

"I did it." I smile , subsequently, the exit's path should be too much far anymore.

But , in front of me, Ibaraki Kasen waits me with an intimidating look. This time , I don't move. She - observing me during eight seconds - sighs and says :

" It is miday. Come with me ! You must be hungry. "

" I refuse because I want to go outside."

"You're not going anywhere. Did you forget that you have almost dead ?"

"If I stay here , I have many chances to die too. So your reasoning isn't holding  road."

"Okay , okay... If you take things like this , I'm going to propose a deal." She decides. "I will give information on Yukari's goal. In exchange, you must show co-operative yourself with me."

"Why would you do this ? I'm not sure to have confidence in you for the beginning." I wonder her. "Besides , how do you know for her ?"

She wears a satisfied smile. Oh no... I come to fall in the trap. Now, she possesses a strong pressure's mean. Forgive me, my lord ! I'm a warrior, not a great strategic man.

"Okay , I accept your proposition. However, if I get nothing on your part, the deal will take an end immediately." I prevent and present myself. "My name is Ishiha Kenpyri, 20 years old , and an outsider human."

Six months now have passed since my downfall in Gensokyo because of Yukari. I live in Kasen's former house with the onii , pardon, a supposed hermit. I dislike so much person who hides their true identity. Apart from that , Kasen and I have a better relationship than before. But one day , She supervises my training and ... same, my katana master hasn't been so strict. First of all, I have to learn the techniques of melee. And let me tell you that - with the exception of street fighting - I have not mastered any martial art based on it. As a result, I get crushed every round without warning. Even when I get up, she puts me out of harm's way. And when she doesn't, she dodges all my fist attacks. Worse, she seems more amused than critical my pitiful performance. I understand better what Akyuu means now. With my swordsmanship, my power is moderately low, so without it, I'm weak and less threatening. I recognize it lord, without you , I am nothing.

"Do you understand now ?" Kasen questions me , standing with arms crossed , then she adds. "You're a good swordsman and have an interesting exorcise technique , but it's all. If you continue , you risk to bad finish. So , you are going to improve in this discipline , or you'll not have your information , right ? "

She has right , unfortunately. I rely too much on Kendo and less on my own physical abilities. I relied too much on the katana. I must learn to fight without so as not to be disarmed. I nod finally.

"Very good." She says. "I see that you understand quickly. We'll rest if you want. We will resume in two hours. Also, no touching the black gift box !

"Okay." I answer.

"I'm going to cook for us. Think about how you will fight now. Have faith, and you will get there!" She leaves me alone.

I have been exercising myself for a long time when she arrives with meals we eat together. As far as information on Yukari is concerned , I learned she , Kasen , and an idol, who is Matara Okina , are Gensokyo's creators , responsible for his functioning , and named The Gensokyo's Sages. Next , Yukari and Kasen discussed my case. Yu asked her to watch over me , guide me on a good road. But , I don't always know the Yukari's objective as well as the reason why I am in hell. In the evening , I quit training , walking in the city. I ignore the bystanders and citizens' noises. Then , I see Suika, who comes towards me.

"Heeeeeeeyyyyyy , Pyri ! It's a long time , isn't it ? How is Kasen ?"

"Hello, Suika ! She is right , unfortunately for me. Where is Yuugi ?"

"Not here. She stays training at the moment."

Geez , she never stops....

" So , I would want to know. What is your story ?"

"Hmmm , what curious human ~~ Okay , I will say all but to one condition."

Now she drags me to a bar where she intends to get drunk with me. For now, I am unable to refuse despite my current power and melee progress. So I take a worm of sake and grills.

"So how did you get here in the old hell to begin with?"

"Because of a portal with multiple eyes, kind of creepy."

"I see. I take back what I said in my discussions with Yuugi. Can you tell me how your journey has been since you fell here?"

Sighing, I tell him the whole story without omitting any detail. The little onii laughs followed by a friendly pat on the back.

Happy, she drinks a dozen while I only take five; it's mostly that I want to take it easy so that Kasen doesn't burn me out.

"Geez Pyri , you're brave and have value for a human. I recognize i have badly judged you. I'm sorry." She excuses.

"Don't mention it !" I forgive her. "I have passed on to other things. But , I am waiting for an answer."

" You're right." She accepts and tells me. "In fact, Kasen , Yuugi , me , and the last onii have founded a group named The Four Devas of the mountain. We have made enormous feats. But one day , the group was dismissed by us. This was a great age..."

She seems to memorise herself the best moments of this life. I smile her.

"Thanks for this magnificent story. I would have liked to know this yet one time , but ... It's too ..." I declare melancholy.

"Idiot !" She makes me drink a lot of sake, saying. "You will know many people and marvellous adventures, so don't discourage yourself so fast. After all, Kasen , Yuugi , and I are your new friends, aren't we ?"

Crap ... I'm too drunk for responding to her. In consequence, she carries me until Kasen's former house , then deposits me - with hermit's help - on my bed. Don't forget : Don't accept to drink with an onii , especially Suika unless she is cool.