Chapter 11: Fall of the Shen Estate Pt. 2

Shen Yi stood up, wiping her tears as she looked back, seeing Jinnouchi doing his best to hold Cloud off, though it wasn't going very well for the man.

"My god human," Cloud complained, breaking Jinnouchi's arm and seeing he was still coming at him. "Why do you persist!"

Cloud lashed out with his claws for the millionth time, wanting to get to the head as soon as possible.

But little did he know he didn't need to wait much longer.

Jinnouchi couldn't block the claws, only brace himself for the pain he was going to endure, but it never came.

"Even if you feel like it you aren't going to die until I command you to, understand?" Shen Yi asked, her mother's sword blocking the claws and holding them as she patted Jinnouchi's back.

Then, in a flash, she swiped the sword to the side, holding it with two hands and bringing it crashing down on the wide-eyed Arcadian.

"Huh, I guess this whole family can fight huh?" Cloud said as he dodged the blade, rolling out of the way and standing back up with a smile.

"Pleased to meet you Family Head, I am Cloud Killer, Lieutenant in the Southwest Arcadian army, I hope your death is as satisfying as your predecessor…"

Shen Yi clenched her teeth, looking at the Arcadian with pure hatred as she held her sword in front of her.

"The only one whose death will be satisfying… Is yours!" She yelled, rushing Cloud as she brought her sword to the right side, holding it at an angle until she got close, stopping her steps and moving at an angle to the left of Cloud, slashing her sword up then bringing it around and slashing it down to the right, a swift double attack.

As Shen Yi stood in the courtyard, starting to breathe heavily, Cloud simply smiled at her, unfazed by any of her efforts.

she could feel her heart pounding in her chest. She knew she was in trouble, but she refused to back down. She had been trained for dangerous situations, but nothing could have prepared her for someone of the same caliber as Cloud.

Without warning, Cloud lunged forward, his claws aimed straight at Shen Yi's face.

She managed to dodge the blow, but just barely, feeling the wind from his punch as it whizzed past her ear.

Shen Yi knew she needed to be quick if she was going to survive this fight. She took a deep breath and launched herself at Cloud, her sword whistling through the air as she slashed Cloud, surprising the Arcadian when she landed a few hits, though they didn't seem to do much damage.

Cloud retaliated, his devastating claws slashing at Shen Yi as she attempted to dodge them. She wasn't that lucky though.

Feeling each claw cut into her body, each one more powerful than the last, Shen Yi felt real fear.

"Though you aren't as good as the other one," Cloud started, gesturing toward Shen Bo's dead body, "This fight was still somewhat entertaining…" He finished, raising his hand high and slashing it down toward Shen Yi's face...

...

Theriault dodged a slash from Che, kicking the Arcadian in the face and grabbing him by the hair, slamming him into a nearby building.

"I don't have time to play with you Che," Theriault complained as Che rushed him once again, determination on his face as he swung his claws wildly.

"I can't let you beat me, I am an Arcadian, superior to you by a million times, it is written in the heavens that I am destined to beat you here today!"

"The heavens can write fiction too then," Theriault replied, simply grabbing Che by the wrist and swinging him around, sending him to the ground with a loud thwack.

Che gritted his teeth, getting up once again much to the annoyance of Theriault.

"Alright, you're trying my patience, do you wish to die?" Theriault asked, his eyes cold as he held up his hand toward Che.

"You're right... I'm going to need to disobey the lieutenant," Che said, sighing to himself as he raised his arm, biting into it.

Theriault looked at him in confusion, though a second later the look was more of intrigue as he felt a burst of power coming from Che.

"Hm?" Theriault's vision flipped upside down. Che grabbed him by the ankle and slammed him into the ground.

"10% of our original power, it's pretty hard to maintain, but I want to beat you so bad…"

Che threw Theriault in the air, the force causing a shockwave that broke the concrete below them.

Theriault gritted his teeth as he tried to move in the air, the resistance keeping him from manipulating his body.

Che jumped up, fully destroying the ground as he soared up above Theriault, catching the boy mid-air and falling at sonic speed, slamming Theriault into the ground.

"Yeah, that's pretty dangerous," Theriault said as his head split open.

Blood flowed down his head as Che tossed him into the air once again, grabbing him by the ankle and throwing him clean through the library, sending him flying past the Shen Family.

Che rushed past them as well, ignoring the easy prey and stomping down on the fallen Theriault.

"Shit… I did it again," Theriault sighed as five sets of hands grabbed Che's leg right before he stomped on Theriault's head.

"Well fuck it, your guy's Durability is no joke…"

Golden blood splashed on Theriault's face as the hands ripped Che's leg off.

The Arcadian widened his eyes, screaming before five undead jumped out of the ground, grabbing him on all sides and pulling.

Theriault felt another burst of power and watched as the undead disappeared, it's what they did when they were killed.

Che sat on the ground, sweat dripping from his body as he looked at his disconnected limb.

"W-What-"

"Quiet, unless you want more to come and finish you off for real," Theriault interrupted, pure malice in his voice as he wiped off the golden blood of the Arcadian, Ichor, the blood of immortals.

"You're going to find your stupid squad and get them to leave, if they don't… I'll show you why I'm known as The End to your people…"

With this Theriault left the Arcadian in a pool of blood and sweat, fear in its eyes for the first time in its long life.

"He'll kill you, you know!" Che yelled, stuttering as he tried to muster up some confidence.

"He thinks of you as a traitor, he hates you with every fiber of his being!"

Theriault didn't turn back, instead he just raised his hand. Dozens of hands grabbed Che, ripping him apart and stabbing their way into his body, tearing every piece of him apart as the Arcadian screamed

"I said shut up," Theriault replied with a shake of his head as he walked off, leaving The survivors of the Shen Family safe in the library.

…

Cloud stopped just as his hand was about to end Shen Yi's life.

"Huh?" He said aloud, standing straight and looking back, "Che?"

"Lieutenant!" The Purple and Green-haired Arcadians yelled, landing next to him.

"Yeah I felt it as well… So he's still got it huh?" Cloud murmured, an excited smile coming to his face.

"Let's go squad, there's nothing we can do to him right now… Not without disobeying The General's direct orders, This family is as good as decimated anyway."

Cloud, and his two squad members, rushed away, leaving Shen Yi on the ground, shaking.

'I'm too weak, he's so strong, I didn't expect Arcadians to be that strong, h-how are we supposed to survive with those monsters around?' She thought, her eyes wide as she trembled.

Several minutes passed before Theriault entered the courtyard, still shaking his head as he looked around at the damage.

"Yo, quit feeling sorry for yourself and get up," Theriault said, glancing at Shen Bo's dead body before turning to the downed Shen Yi.

"Are all of them that strong?" She asked, sitting up and looking at Theriault.

"No, Cloud is stronger than a lot, but there are hundreds stronger than him…" Theriault answered, helping her to her feet.

"So I'll let you come along with me," He finished.

Shen Yi did a double-take at the words.

"Really?!" She said, widening her eyes as Theriault nodded.

"But why?" She asked, though she couldn't hide the bit of excitement in her voice.

"Because," Theriault said, turning away, "I know what it's like to lose everything because of those bastards… You and your father should say goodbye, I will leave you though, so be ready by noon," With this Theriault left as the Shen Family walked into the courtyard, some crying at the damage to their home and others just glad they were alive.

Shen Yi hugged her father tightly as he stroked her hair as he looked at Shen Bo's dead body, his eyes beginning to tear up as he held his daughter close…

…

The Shen Family held a mass funeral for all of their dead, not only was Shen Yi leaving, but the rest of the Shen Family decided to relocate as well.

"You guys will be okay?" Shen Yi asked, wondering if she should stay. She was technically now the head of the Shen Family. Was it selfish to leave them like this?

"Yes yes," Shen Wuhan ensured, hugging his daughter once again as he locked eyes with Theriault.

"Get over here!" He yelled, waving over the pale boy.

Shen Yi backed up as Theriault reached them, looking just as he had when she'd met him a few days ago. Though, with everything that happened she felt as if she'd known him forever.

"Bring it in kid!" Shen Wuhan said, embracing Theriault and patting his back.

"You'll protect her? Because I'll kill you if you don't," Shen Wuhan whispered in the boy's ear.

"She'll learn to protect herself, I'm not promising anyone's safety, this will be extremely dangerous… but we'll have some fun along the way."

Shen Wuhan nodded, letting go of Theriault and hugging Shen Yi once more before regrouping with the remains of the Shen family.

"This is goodbye for now, I hope I'll live to see you again, I can't wait to see the beautiful woman you'll grow to be," With these parting words Shen Wuhan left, leaving Theriault and Shen Yi alone on the large mountain they'd buried Shen Bo.

"So… Where too first?" Shen Yi asked, excited about the journey.

"First? We're gonna have to go to Japan, there's someone I need to meet there, then… Wherever next…"

…

(Elsewhere)

Cloud and his squad walked down a grand hall, stopping and pushing open a large door, immediately being stopped by two large Arcadians with matching yellow hair.

"Lieutenant Cloud requests a council," Cloud said, rolling his eyes at the guards and pushing past them, only stopping as he neared a throne.

"Madame," Cloud said with his head bowed. "He… Has returned."

_

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