AngelSubzero - Douma's Adventures

A towering figure walked briskly down the halls of the castle. The servants were shocked to see this new unfamiliar set of armor he wore. When a man leaning against the wall and squabbling in fear was about to question Hayato about his appearance, he fell silent when he saw the commander walk towards the furnace. The man was puzzled by his intentions that he couldn't think of the right words.

Hayato boldly grabbed one of the coal from the furnace and smoldered it on the armor he wore. The designs and color becoming unrecognizable from the burnt patches scorched on its surface.

"Sir is that samurai armor?"

"How did he get one?"

"Nobody can see the patterns anymore," The last bit of vibrant color on the armor faded into a darker color blending in with the ash. Hayato scraped off the remains of the worn out paint with the coal he held. "There was a patrol beside the bridge, I killed them and took one of their sets of armor."

The man standing against the wall and a few other servants clapped and cheered in awe when they realized how sharp Hayato was when it came to his plans. "What a brilliant disguise!"

Without saying a word, Hayato stepped away from the halls and walked down the narrow path leading to darker secluded parts of the castle where the less fortunate resided. Now that he got his perfect disguise to stay hidden from the government's dispatched patrol teams, it was easier for the clan to start their movements and schemes. He just needed to figure out a way to get rid of a specific group of individuals who have been meddling with the clan's objectives. It was distracting, Hayato wanted to see their heads roll down the hill after attempting to stop him. They were no different than peasants who could barely keep up despite the care and accommodation they received.

Just then when he passed three of those dark gloomy chambers, someone from one of those rooms called him.

Hayato slowly turned around and saw the vague figure of a middle-aged man smiling eerily at him in the dark room. The wiry hair, rotting flesh, and long tainted nails, Hayato could tell this man was a worn-out individual who hasn't seen the light of day, nor did he have the remaining energy to lift a foot off the ground he was sitting on.

This man was biting off his sharp nails with his decaying teeth while staring at Hayato who stood in front of the door. Hayato wasn't sure if these rooms were cells or low maintained accommodations provided by the castle. He never paid attention to them, Hayato guessed this place was one of those in the castle that the clan couldn't afford to improve further because of the lack of resources or solutions to these gaps in the castle.

"You seem to be distraught about something. Let me guess, the clan's in shambles because of the enemy? Aren't you this hero that they look up to?" The man snickered, ripping off his nail like a hungry animal with his teeth and spitting it out.

Hayato remained quiet. He watched the man slither towards the door like a prying snake. When his fingers gripped onto the door's surface, Hayato could see the dust from the chamber becoming a part of his crippled skin. This man's fingers were fragile, if a heavy object were to land on them, they'd probably snap like twigs.

"Listen closely, I can get you out of this pool of worries. Do know that if you decide to brush it off, there's nothing else that can help you. Treat it as a once in a lifetime opportunity." The man grinned as he stared at Hayato viciously.

Whoever this strange man was, he read Hayato well. Everything he said, aligned with everything the general of the clan hoped for. Hayato took a few breaths while waiting for this man to continue his sharing, it sounded risky given the man might not have told anyone else about this hidden secret, but Hayato didn't buy it entirely. This had to be an exaggeration that will only bring Hayato down. He needed to make the right decision here, or it could risk his entire clan in the process.

"There's a tomb somewhere in the forest near the mountains. It contains very desirable power that's been sealed away for centuries." The man's eyes turned to slits when he knew just how much Hayato would be eager to get ahold of it. Hayato was fond of such power flowing within his clan, especially when he was the main source of this power that shielded the clan from their enemies.

Hayato listened as the man continued, "But acquiring it, is not for the weak. You need to be strong mentally because there are dire consequences if you're not aware of what it can do." The man fell silent for a while, his smile widening.

"This power belongs to a demon, one that's casted fear upon many throughout the time of its freedom before it got sealed away." He continued with an eerie grin.

This sounded like a fairytale. Hayato shook his head and stepped away from the man's chamber. When the man noticed Hayato reluctance to acknowledge this power he was talking about, he smiled as a way to mock Hayato for not listening. And there he thought Hayato wasn't such a pathetic simple-minded person, turns out the man had overestimated the commander's potential.

"I'm not surprised by this immediate decision of yours. The fate of this clan is up to you, I'm just trying to help you earn your honor."

Hayato glanced at the man for a while, blinking a few times before walking out of the narrow halls of the area. The man's chilling laughter following closely behind him. Hayato had a few questions for Heinomora.

When Hayato reached the main halls of the castle once again, he was shocked to see Heinomora's throne empty like before. Where was the general at this hour? This discussion was important!

"Where's General Heinomora?" Hayato asked one of the servants who was sweeping the floor and cleaning the items on the shelf.

"He's in the map room." The servant replied timidly.

Curling his lip, Hayato walked away from General Heinomora's throne and wondered if he should visit him in the map room. He must be planning a strategy for the next battle. Regardless, the Heinomora clan was ahead of the Genkunodo clan. Most of the soldiers from the opposing forces had been taken down. But that doesn't mean the battle is over, Hayato was certain that a rematch will determine the rightful ruler. If the Genkunodo clan decides to coward away from the next battle, Hayato and his clan will automatically claim that title they had been fighting for.

He just had to make sure that swordsman and his friends stay out of this which is only possible if he got rid of them first. Hayato was willing to do just that.

But the swordsman and his pesky friends were always at the Genkunodo clan's castle. He couldn't just go there without a proper strategy for the lives of three, the government was monitoring the entirety of Tokyo from all corners.

"Help! It's urgent!"

Hayato turned to the direction of his wife's screams. She was running to the main halls from the entrance of the castle. Holding someone whose arm had been ripped off by a ferocious animal. His wounds were bleeding. Riko just got attacked.

"Riko was attacked by a bear! He's badly injured! Someone please help him!" Noru cried, holding the weak man who struggled to sit upright on the floor because of the pain in his limbs and sides.

The servants in the main halls crowded around Noru and Riko, afraid to go near the man who had scars and missing bits of flesh on his body. Riko who was breathing heavily was drenched in blood. It's a miracle he survived the attack.

"I asked him to help me get the berries from the forest. We were running out of herbs. Who knew that place was a deathtrap. Riko it's going to be alright, don't move around too much you might hurt yourself." Hayato's wife reassured the man

Before the panicked servants could even consider taking Riko to the castle's medical chambers, everyone in the hall fell silent when they saw Hayato approaching Noru and Riko.

Noru gasped when Hayato drew his sword.

"Hayato- No... don't..."

The servants stepped back, whispering amongst themselves. It was too late, Hayato was already walking towards Riko who helplessly leaned against Noru for support. There was nothing they could do to stop Hayato from acting upon his decision.

Without hesitation, Hayato sliced Riko's chest in one blow, causing a rain of blood to splash out from the deep cut and stain the castle's floor.

Noru screamed in fear. Right in front of her, Riko fell to the floor puddled with his own blood. The man never got up he was a lifeless body now, waiting to be discarded from the castle's main halls. Missing an arm and losing a haunting battle against a roaming bear in the Heinomora grounds.

"How could you?! We could've saved him!" When Noru was about to slap Hayato, he swiftly grabbed her wrist and held it tightly.

"He would only drag us down. Riko is not worthy of any care. He would've died of blood loss and most importantly, he was missing an arm. Riko is in no shape to continue sitting around, he wouldn't be able to defend himself." Hayato responded in a cold tone that sent shivers down Noru's spine when she heard every sentence that came out of his mouth.

Noru took back her wrist from Hayato's hold, she couldn't endure the pain she felt. Hayato's hard grip squeezed her bones it was unbearable. Even after breaking free from the temporary imprisonment of her wrist, Noru could still feel the pressure that had built up in her aching muscles.

The servants gathered behind Hayato and Noru knew Riko wouldn't have been given another chance at life. The man was unlucky to be at the hands of Hayato, anybody else might've considered providing him with sufficient medical care.

It was normal to witness the most unfortunate methods of ending one's suffering in the castle. Ever since the new order was enforced, Hayato didn't hesitate to filter out those whom he believed were weak.

Noru's reaction to the situation was an act of pettiness to Hayato. It reminded him of his mother's kindness that led to his loss because of a few scavenging rats they invited to the castle. Noru may not like to hear the truth, Hayato could see it in front of him. She was reluctant to even be near him or have any sort of eye contact now because of his decision for the greater good of the clan. But he knew what he was doing, whether she liked it or not.

Hayato walked away from Noru and the servants. The conversation he had with the strange man in the chamber reoccurred to him. That power he was told about, reached out to him. It got closer every time he acknowledged its presence in his head. Maybe the clan needed some areas for improvement and this power was the solution to them.

~~~

The three of them, Kazuki, Miya, and Choru gazed upon the flood beyond the rock formation in between the two mounts of stone. Sensei led them down the trail bringing them closer to the rocks holding the accumulation of logs, debris, and plants floating on the surface of the water. It appears that something along the rock formation was holding the flood and Sensei knew what it was.

"This thick rope is holding the rocks together." Sensei told them, nudging the rope gently.

"Since the upcoming battle is taking place here, we'll put this gorge to good use. Lead Hayato to this spot. While you're stalling him, we'll cut the rope."

Kazuki nodded, and they all looked at the cliff. Nobody could survive that fall.

"The flood will push the unlucky one off the cliff so move away as soon as you hear the flow of water from the rocks." Sensei looked at Kazuki with a stern look.

The swordsman nodded, Miya looked at him with hope in her eyes. She believed Kazuki could put an end to this war.

"That's a whole landslide right there." Choru squinted his eyes at the flood behind the rock formation. A shiver ran through his spine when he realized how close they were to this halted disaster. Choru sprang back, breath hitching because of the uneasiness he felt on the trail along the mount.

"Miya you will help me cut the rope, Choru remember to give Kazuki the signal." Sensei told both Miya and Choru who nodded.

"Got it." Choru said nervously, he gulped at the thought of having to pay absolute attention. It was overwhelming at times but he needed to maintain his concentration for the sake of his friends and the whole country.

"It's going to be Hayato's first time here. We've only got one chance at this. Let's do the best we can and bring peace once and for all." Kazuki told his two friends and Sensei who nodded in agreement.

"This is good news actually. I'm starting to feel hopeful about the outcome now." Miya said with a slight smile.

"Come now, the Genkunodo Clan is expecting us. We have some important matters to settle." Sensei said in a serious tone as they walked down the trail towards the direction they came from.