The Kappas kept advancing on him, relentless in their desire to spill his blood. His body ached, but not just because of his injuries. Men screamed out behind him frantically, but Nori couldn’t turn his attention away.
A sudden idea came to mind. Would it work? It had to.
Nori shattered the legs of a Kappa, and then front kicked in the chest. As he had planned, the creature fell on its back. The water drained out of the leaf bowl. The Kappa convulsed wildly and flapped its arms about in a panic. Others came to its rescue. Nori intercepted them and swung his war club at them to keep them at bay. He placed his foot on the fallen Kappa’s chest and kept swinging at the monsters that got too close.
The Kappas screamed out in rage, and frantically tried to dislodge Nori away from their comrade. Somehow, he managed to hold his ground. The Kappa’s face turned pale, and it gasped for air… or perhaps water. Kappa faces kept looking down at their friend and then back up to Nori. Hatred and concern painted on their turtle faces.
In a loud voice, Nori screamed out at them, “Leave us alone! We don’t want to fight anymore.”
The Kappas just kept watching him, and Nori decided to take the risk. He dropped the tetsubo, and bent down to the Kappa at his feet. As soon as the weapon left his hands, the Kappas dove in for him. Nori grabbed the sides of the Kappa’s shell and lifted with all of his strength. Even as the clawed hands and beaks collapsed upon his limbs, Nori hurled the Kappa over the side of the ship. The Kappas grabbed him tightly and bit down, but not enough to break skin. Their eyes watched their friend’s trajectory through the air. When the Kappa splashed into the river, the other Kappas stepped back and gave Nori wary expressions.
Nori still heard fighting behind him. He wanted to look back, but he dared not to.
“We don’t want to fight you,” Nori said.
His muscles screamed out for a reprieve. The tetsubo lay at his feet. Nori doubted he would be able to grab it in time.
Nori said, “We want to go home. Nothing more. Please stop fighting us.”
The Kappas drilled holes into him with their eyes. Their silence hammered into his body.
Nori winced. “Please leave us alone.”
One of the Kappas stepped forward, right up to Nori. It locked eyes with him and then screeched. Nori covered his ears and instinctively shut his eyes. Death would come swiftly now. He knew it. He just knew it.
It didn’t come.
When he opened his eyes, he noticed the very last of the Kappas leaping over the sides of the ship.
The other Kappas had disengaged with the sailors as well. Some of the sailors watched the Kappas go. Four specific women beheld Nori with awe-filled gazes.
Each of his limbs felt shackled down with iron chains. His lungs heaved in utter disbelief over the exertion he had just gone though. His soul even felt weary at the effort of producing so much rage.
The sailor in the crow’s nest called out, “Captain! They’re leaving. I can’t believe it, but they’re leaving.”
Nori slowly turned around and gazed out ahead of them. A large collection of lily pads floated on the river, and it drifted away from the Grinning Panda with immense speed. A soft chuckle rumbled up through his belly, up through his throat, and out past his lips. By the time that Apisa, Rayko, Luxi, and Flara moved up to him, Nori had started laughing hysterically.
THE LONGING IN Tov’s chest pulsated wildly. They were closer now, and it wouldn’t be long now. A chilling gust blasted past Tov as he soared high above the river. Towering mountains lorded over him on both sides. The infinite sky hung just above the gigantic peaks.
Tov descended rapidly, and a torrent of air brushed against his face and hair. He closed his eyes as complete satisfaction blossomed throughout his skin. Why couldn’t life be this serene all the time?
This would be the legacy Tov wanted to give to his people. To fly free without burden, stress, or obligation would be worth more than all of the other promises the Celestial Ones had offered him and the other Yaoguai. He got closer to the water, and the mountains observed him with silent majesty.
The sound of the river soothed the dreadful tingling that had dominated his stomach. For a brief moment, he didn’t have to address questions like, ‘what did he plan on doing once he found the lore,’ or ‘would he kill everyone in sight.’ Tov’s soul tugged in numerous directions, and in truth, he would love nothing more than to leave everyone in peace. All he wanted was the lore.
Damn the humans for forcing him to be the herald for their destruction. The humans were a blight, but at least the planet had endured against their vile corruption. In the middle of nowhere, the perfection and beauty of nature still reigned.
His small gem armband flared to life.
You are within a hundred miles. Be prepared, loyal servant. Be willing to do what you must.
Tov didn’t answer back, but he flew harder. If the lore was that close, he should be at its location within two hours’ time. The blood drained from his extremities. An all too familiar sense of dread grew within his insides. Images of his daughter’s beautiful face flashed before his eyes. At least seeing her would help with summoning the courage to do what must be done. Where that courage would come from, Tov had no clue. It would come from somewhere though, it always did.
His actions surely blackened his soul. Would he ever be able to obtain enlightenment and rejoin his beloved in the afterlife? Would the Celestial Ones be able to wash his sins clean? Tov focused on the clarity of the water and noticed something interesting.
A small cluster of lily pads floated along the river. At first, Tov soared over them. He studied them with curiosity. The lily pads stayed in close proximity to one another, and they actually floated faster than what the current should allow. Dark shadowy ovals followed each of the lily pads.
Tov grinned. With the moon where it was in the sky and considering the time of year, surely those lily pads belonged to Kappas. Tov’s delight faded, and his heart throbbed with a dull realization. With how the world worked at the moment, the Yaoguai would never have peaceful lives like the Kappas. Only with the help of the Celestial Ones could his people finally enjoy their lives without the prospect of being hunted. The Kappas had it easy. Swimming, eating, reproducing. To his understanding, the humans left the Kappas alone. What made these turtles so special? Why did the humans ignore such interesting creatures, and yet they hunted the Yaoguai with such fervor?
Red hot beads formed in the sides of Tov’s forehead. Kappa blood and bone didn’t contain magical properties like Yaoguai blood and bone did. Thankfully, the last Yaoguai hunt occurred over a hundred and fifty years ago, just before Tov was born. When the humans had remembered the Yaoguai existed, his people experienced nights filled with foreboding terror. Like the Celestial Ones, the Yaoguai had been forgotten by the human vermin. That neglect would cost them dearly, and the Yaoguai would be elevated back to where they belonged.
Tov flapped his wings and soared higher into the sky. He still flew below the peaks of the mountains, but the smaller details in the river were now lost to him. A forest emerged in the far distance, just on the edge of the mountains. The peaks still ran alongside the southern bank of the river. Upon seeing the trees, chills resonated within his soul. Right about now, his daughter would be settling down for lunch at home. Knowing her, she would be eating outside on the patio. The sun would be peeking through the leaves, and the wind passing through the branches would cause a melody of natural bells.
The image of a ship appeared in the center of the river, around where the forest ended and the mountains began.
The gem stone on his armband flashed again.
They are close now. Very close.
Tov touched the gem. “I see where they are. I will not fail you.”
The Masters responded back with “Be safe. You are going to be needed in the days to come.”
The ship had a large black sail attached to the center mast and two smaller white sails on the front and back of the vessel.
Tov’s stomach clenched while his heart raced like a wild stallion. His fingers and toes tingled slightly, was it due to his innate magic or his nerves?
Tov descended lower and made a bee line toward the ship. A human had been standing in a circular bucket atop the mast, and he stared at Tov. The human’s arms waved about wildly, and the people on the ship’s deck started scrambling. Some of them drew weapons, while others made human blockades that protected the ship’s helm.
Tov flapped his wings rapidly as he stopped just above the ship’s deck. He floated above the sailors for a moment before he landed on the deck with a soft thud. More of the sailors had drawn weapons, and they bunched together shoulder to shoulder.
Tov pressed his shoulders back and allowed his wings to disappear. He held his head high, and he regarded them as if they were insects. No, that was an insult to insects. These filthy traitors were worse than that. The sailors stared at him with curiosity and unease. Seeing them squirm made the tension in Tov’s stomach lessen slightly.
A tall woman with brown hair stepped out from the crowd. Her eyes sparkled with the ferocity of a storm, and the other sailors made way for her. They watched her with pleading expressions. The woman’s weapon remained in its sheath, but she placed a hand on its hilt.
“Who the Hell are you, and what are you doing on my ship?” the woman asked.
Tov narrowed his eyes and stared past her. The captain snarled and she inched her sword a little out of its scabbard. Most of the people on the ship were men. Three well-dressed women stood toward the back of the crowd. Whereas both the captain and the men had the same sense of ruggedness, the women appeared different.
Tov locked his attention on the immensely tall man standing beside the trio of women. His blood frosted over within his veins. His eyes gradually increased in size. All of the moisture in his mouth evaporated. The giant man was unmistakably an Onistan, and the big bastard even carried an over-sized war club with him and was dressed in battle armor. Was the man really standing there? Or was it his conscience reminding him of the great evils he had been a part of? Tov kept his eye on the Onistan for a moment longer before he regarded the captain again.
“I’d like to avoid killing you all if I can,” Tov said. “I just want something you carry.”
The captain drew her sword and held it out in front of her. “I don’t take kindly to people threatening me or my crew. Especially not from a sickly looking weirdo like you. I’m not stupid. You’re not human. Are you some kind of yokai?”
Tov opened his mouth to speak, but a mousy little voice called out from the back.
“H-he’s a Yaoguai. B-be careful, he’s magical!”
One of the women, the taller of the three, had correctly classified him.
That didn’t bode well, not at all.
He pointed toward the woman. “You seem quite well informed. I suppose you have what I seek then. You will give me the lore you found, or I’ll be forced to murder all of the people on board.”
The Onistan stepped in front of the taller woman, and surprisingly, the other two women stepped in front of him. A shorter blond held up her hands, as if to punch at him while the other, a brown haired beauty, simply held her hands open wide.
The captain stepped in front of his line of vision. “You’re dumber than a bag full of castrated pig cocks if you think you’re just going to murder all of us with ease. Magical or not, you had better leave before I spill your guts all over the deck.”
The taller female looked around the Onistan. “Y-you’re one of the s-scarred ones, aren’t you? You’re serving the Celestial Ones?”
An icy spasm exploded within Tov’s insides. He held out his hand and summoned his energy sword. Some of the sailors gasped. The blond woman’s hands changed into what looked like claws, and scaled covered her forearms.
Tov said, “I see that you’re using the secrets that your people stole from my masters too. You humans are a blight on this world. Always taking and never giving back in return. Well, since you know about the Celestial Ones, I have no choice but to end your lives.”
The Onistan moved through the crowd, but the captain yelled out.
“Nori, he’s mine first.” The captain stepped forward toward him. “My ship, my rules.”
The brown haired captain dashed toward him with her sword tip leading her advance. For a human, she was quick. Tov parried her blade, but the captain whirled about like a miniature tornado. Her blade came at Tov from all directions. Tov dodged and blocked her steel with his magic sword. After the fifth or sixth strike, Tov countered and rammed his blade toward her torso. The captain parried his weapon.
Back and forth, he and the captain slapped swords against one another. During the whole exchange, the woman actually smiled at him. A crazed sense of excitement danced in her eyes every time she managed to prevent him from landing a killing blow. Whenever she missed killing him in return, her determination grew.
This woman would have made an excellent Yaoguai.
Tov flipped around and tried to go for her limbs, but the woman evaded him. Her lithe movements allowed her the dexterity to dodge and counter with viper like quickness. Despite her natural grace, Tov still blocked and countered every one of her attempts. He did have one advantage over her, one that he had neglected to use …until now.
He summoned his wings into existence. The captain froze in place for a moment and squinted as the sudden brightness no doubt caught her by surprise. Tov nearly ran her through. She managed to get back in sync with his sword strikes after several near hits. Tov blocked one of her sword slashes with his wing. The energy of his wing crackled with power, but the steel blade did little to damage its form. A small groove had been created on the edge of the wing, but it filled up a moment later.
Tov spun around and slammed the other wing into her stomach. His wings lacked the sharpness of the blade, but they still carried the bluntness of a hammer. The captain back stepped, and Tov went forward to slice her in two. She dodged again, but now Tov sent his wing tips at her in rapid succession. Sword slash, sword swipe, wing attack, wing attack, sword slash.
The confidence that the captain once showed faded. Panic dominated her face. One of his wings slapped her wrist, and she dropped her sword. She held her wrist and looked at Tov with a knowing eye. He thrust his sword at her, knowing this would be the final strike.
A tetsubo came out of nowhere and parried the blade aside. An instant later, the Onistan stood in front of him. Anger and coldness radiated from his eyes. The larger man kicked out and managed to hit Tov in the center of the chest. Tov hopped back as pressure collected around where the man’s large foot had struck him.
The captain reached down and grabbed her sword. In an instant, she charged back in alongside the Onistan. His tetsubo sailed toward Tov, and Tov blocked with a wing. Tov created a second energy sword in his other hand. He spun around in a circle and forced the pair of attackers backwards.
A third attacker closed in on him. The blond had covered her entire body in scales and rushed in with her claws leading the way. Tov brought an energy blade against her skin. The scales repelled its edge. She raked her claws against his side. Pain zapped up his nerve endings. Blood seeped out of the new wound. Just as the wound had opened, the magic in Tov’s blood focused on where his blood now poured out.
Tov hopped back. A fourth foe appeared beside him, an exact twin of the captain. Tov batted his wing at her, but his wing passed right though the woman as if she were a ghost. The ghost captain stepped into the real captain, and a moment later, they split again into two exact twins. Both captains struck out at once, and Tov tried to block the captain he thought was real. The captain he chose turned out to be the ghost. The real captain’s sword sliced open Tov’s arm. He winced as he twirled about with wings fully extended. She and the Onistan were knocked back, but the scaled blond ducked under the attack. This time, when the scaled blond tried to carve Tov open, Tov crossed both swords on her throat.
That stopped
her, and Tov moved away from her. He spun around again, and brought the scaled woman to the ground. The Onistan hung back while the captains surged forward again. Tov tried to cut apart one of the captains again, but his swords moved through the ghost. His wing managed to block the real captain’s sword thrust.
A gigantic water creature rose up from the river. It had the form of a person, but it was comprised completely of water. Tov gazed at it in confusion. The Onistan slammed his tetsubo into Tov’s face. Tov bounced off of the ship and into the river.
The water creature jumped in after him.
Tov’s vision went black, but then slowly came back into focus. Everything hurt, especially his face. The magic within him flowed all over his body. Would it be enough? The wounds closed up, but Tov strength had diminished significantly.
The water creature surrounded him and turned into a giant whirlpool. Everything grew dark. Tov had to do something. The fate of his people rested on his shoulders. Tov’s lungs heaved for air, and yet, Tov remained completely submerged. In the midst of the whirlpool, a pair of large eyes watched him.
Tov jabbed his swords into the creature’s eyes. Magical electricity filtered from the swords into the creature’s face. A great underwater groan resounded, and the whirlpool stopped.
Tov’s chest tightened as he desperately flapped his wings and moved his legs. He broke through the surface of the river and gasped. Human faces watched him from the deck of the ship as the ship moved past him.
With great effort, Tov flapped his wings harder and hovered into the air. Water driblets fell from his face and hair. He flew over the ship and hovered there. Pride and smugness appeared on all of the human’s faces, all except the Onistan’s.
The Wrath Of the Forgotten Page 19
