On Astral Tides: From Humble Freelancer To Astral Emperor - Six Hundred And Thirty-Three
“A coincidence, you think?” I asked Tsukiko quietly, my voice barely a whisper, as we studied the grounds of Kitami Fuji shrine, which had been cordoned off, no visitors here at all. Which is unusual. Even a backwater village like this should have some tourists, Chairoakitara shrine back home, despite being a steep walk up the base of a mountain, usually wasn’t entirely empty…
“I do not believe it to be so. While I am perhaps more sensitive to chance and coincidence than most, thanks to my reliance on visions, dreams and prophecies, and my desire to change the Destined and the Definite…” She laughed, a touch self-deprecatingly, well aware of her biases. “…this stretches the bounds of what I am prepared to accept as mere random events lining up with my fears.” Her voice too was soft, unwilling to be overheard.
The sign said that a gas leak had been discovered, and until it was made safe, the shrine was completely off-limits. Though judging from the lack of workmen or any JGA staff, and the fact that the sign was already starting to get dirty from windblown debris, the site had been untouched for a while. The Japan Gas Association likely doesn’t have any engineers based on Rishiri Island, you’d have to go to the larger towns and cities on Hokkaido. Even with the airport closed, it’d be trivial enough sending someone over by boat though…
“A shame, as from what I can see, Kitami Fuji is a beautiful shrine.” I raised my voice for that, as we could both feel we were being observed. “And with your interest in classical architecture, especially from the Edo period, you wanted to see it. Oh well…” I hugged her arm, playing the part of a young couple on a date. “I tried, dear. If it’s shut, we can’t explore it. We’ll have to find something else to occupy our time until our boat leaves.” I gave her a subtle wink, and she smiled knowingly. We turned away, giving the shrine one last lingering look, before walking away, turning down a side street, until the prickling sense of being observed faded.
“All right, we’re going in.” I pulled Tsukiko into my embrace, ready to move.
“Are you sure you should be utilising your reserves of spatial element, considering the troubles in the Boundary?” she asked, concerned, and I briefly considered the situation that was being unveiled there. Which isn’t good. Not good at all…
“Worst case, I can call for reinforcements. Arisu-san will be angry, but I’ll apologise to her properly if it comes to it. With what I’m seeing… it’s imperative we take a look at the shrine.”
With my insistent tone, Tsukiko acquiesced, and in a burst of faint purple sparks, which quickly sizzled in the air for a moment before vanishing, we leapt, landing in the sheltered cover of a grove of small trees I had spotted from the blockaded entrance, the wintery evergreens offering us protection from prying eyes.
Back in the Boundary, however, the scenery was significantly more unpleasant. Daiyu and Hana had led us to the volcano. My keen eyes indeed picked up that the main centre of the Territory was up on the volcano’s crater, and indeed, forests of Defensive Emplacements, Barracks, Spawning Spires and more were present, made from a mixture of black crystal, red and gold metals, and obsidian of many hues. Looks like the owner here took a different approach when they hit Rank Three. Instead of throwing everything into reaching Rank Four, they’ve been constructing masses of infrastructure. It makes sense, unless you have a cheat-level source of ether, like Asha’s Tree combined with Shiro’s buffs, it’s far too hard to save up immediately, better to expand slowly…
Even so, from what I could see, they’d spent far more ether, judging by the number of Buildings, many of which seemed to be upgraded to Rank 3 or 4, than I’d have expected them to be able to gather. Unless… they have a ready source of it. Ah… I have an idea now…
My steps slowed for a moment, my expression grim, as we reached a long, narrow crack in the rock of the volcanic slopes. The entrance was rather tight for our larger comrades, the two Oni, and the walls were jagged, with crystalline obsidian outcroppings everywhere. I broke those off with a flash of ruby earth element, making the entrance safer, and quickly stored the high-quality volcanic glass in my spatial storage. It’s a useful material, I daresay Ixitt and his fellow Engineers will like it. Might as well make a little profit…
“Through here.” Daiyu beckoned, and we started descending, the fissure leading downwards. The temperature rose quickly, and the smell, rotten eggs, sulphur and something worse filled the passageway. To our relief, despite the volcano being much larger (and far more active) than in the Material, it still only took a few minutes for us to reach the centre chamber.
A seething lake of magma, burning with iridescent flames, greeted us. Thick, boiling mud was roiling around the edges, and the tang of dust element was in the air, making our skins itch. That wasn’t the thing that caught my attention though. What did, was…
Yeah, that’s… unpleasant. There was a sizeable obsidian island within the lake of molten rock, and upon it were three pillars. They seemed to be made of the same black crystals as the other Buildings, except these were… strange. The crystal seemed darker, yet somehow shimmered with unearthly, otherworldly reflections. It wasn’t like the obsidian surrounding us, which flickered with hues of red, purple, pink and blue. No, these shades were akin to the unlight aurorae that streaked the Boundary skies. And speaking of… the space felt thinner here, closer to the lower Astral than the surrounding lands. In a way, it was like the graveyard near my old apartment back in Tokyo, where the Raven Knight had cultivated his Dark Rhyming Tree. It was a faint tear, a pinprick through the fabric of the Boundary, letting a higher realm leak in.
But what horrifies me is…
The core of the volcano rose up, all the way to the smoking summit. Magma must have been drawn from the lake and through conduits in the thick walls, else this cathedral-like space would have been burned to ashes. …a cathedral is… apt. But not to any God I know of…
The three odd pillars were arrayed in a triangle shape, yet… subtly wrong, somehow, as if the angles didn’t quite make sense. It was both more and less than one hundred and eighty degrees between them, at the same time, which made my head ache and my eyes burn. When I poured greater strength into my Eyes, the orange glow intensifying, the effect vanished, and though my headache increased, once more the pillars seemed to come into focus.
In addition to those, a thicket of obsidian stakes lined the platform, and chains of blackish-red metal dangled down from the cavernous walls above, rattling and swaying in the hot, convective winds swirling above the magma lake. And on them, impaled by the spikes, dangling from the chains, pierced by hooked and barbed spines, were Yōkai and other Boundary creatures. Hundreds, no, thousands of them, dead, but not dispersed to ether. Instead, a heavy atmosphere, not a physical one, but a spiritual… hung over the entire cavern.
“Ya know… I think I might have liked to remain blind to this.” Blue gulped, and I could see Daiyu’s face was pale, as if she was fighting against nausea. Beside me, Bintara did indeed vomit, a fishy, reeking slurry staining the ground.
“This… this is…” she muttered, eyes wide as she surveyed the terrible scenes. “…a work of great spiritual butchery!”
“It does-does remind me…” Shaeula was pale too, albeit far too strong-willed to be sick. “Of the hunts my brother Shaeraggo partook in. Animals do not-not return to ether if they are killed in a most-most careful manner, intending to preserve their flesh. Yet, I do not-not think this is… a yakiniku barbeque.” She made a tasteless joke, which showed how rattled she was.
Mae, who had likely seen any number of great cruelties, was surveying the area calmly, searching for threats. Her tails bristled as she saw the three pillars, and I understood why, as my Eyes had attempted to identify them, and then I had received a bizarrely unexpected message afterwards, one I had followed up, to even greater shock and trepidation.
Pill$% Of C*&^up$£ng M^£ds “£$ S^ir%$s
The description was entirely scrambled and unreadable, even when I focussed my eyes, but then the message had popped up.
You may now construct Pill$% Of C*&^up$£ng M^£ds “£$ S^ir%$s Pillar Of Corrupting Minds And Spirits within your Territory.
The garbled text resolved, and the name was ominous indeed. The description, while partial, was far worse. All I could access that was useful was the cost, and that was chilling.
Pillar Of Corrupting Minds And Spirits Rank 1 costs One Hundred Thousand Ether, as well as Ten Thousand units of processed Soullight, and takes Twenty-four Astral Days to complete.
‘Processed’Soullight? Looking around at the dead spiritual beings which hadn’t decayed to aether and vanished, I knew where such resources had been extracted from.
“It seems your kind is as unpopular as ever…” Sekka pointed out. She was constantly deploying her ice element to shield herself, the incredible heat from the magma obviously torture for her. Following the direction of her extended finger, we noticed that dangling from the long, spiked chains, were a disproportionate number of Kitsune corpses and Oni bodies. Worse, they had clearly been tormented extensively until death, their flesh mutilated, stuck with wicked needles, burned, and more…
“You can see why we felt you should see this.” Hana shrugged. “I obviously wished to destroy those damned things…” She rubbed at her eyes, which were bloodshot, and her face was pale. “But Daiyu insisted we should consider that carefully.”
“It is surely a site of some importance.” Daiyu suggested. “The clearly ritualistic nature of this scene shows that. We should not act recklessly. The eagle may possess great strength, but if it swoops down upon the wrong prey, it shall perish, while the wise crane which watches and contemplates always has the chance to escape danger. Besides, I suspect the site is not unguarded, even if the volcano only revealed its secrets due to your mighty strike.”
“I can-can see Defensive Emplacements within the walls…” Shaeula pointed them out, a ring concealed within the black stone rock above, just the firing apertures visible. “…black cauldrons too.”
At the word ‘cauldron’, Hyacinth perked up momentarily, the mindless centipede still winding its way around her arms and shoulders dully, paying no attention to the heat which was surely damaging its insides. I glanced at her, and she shrugged. “I dooo not think they are like mine, but…” She sniffed the air, her expression displeased. “I think the cavern can be flooooooded with fire should danger threaten.”
“All right. We have to make a choice, then. For now, let’s back off.” I signalled everyone to retreat back to outside the volcano, and with relief, especially pronounced from Sekka and Bintara, creatures of ice and water respectively, who didn’t do well in such searing, arid caves, we reached the outside again, taking in breaths which didn’t reek of sulphur, ash and despair.
“I think we do not-not wish to associate with someone using such a vile-vile method of domination.” Shaeula folded her arms. “It would go against all-all your principles.”
“Ya think?” Blue snorted. “Yeah, lot of dead fools in there, I don’t argue with ya, but… ya be a Number in the Hyakki Yagyō too, little Kamaitachi. Ya think Urakaze hasn’t shed the blood of thousands, to say nothing of the great and wise Tamamo-no-Mae here.” Her sarcasm was plain. “How many lands did ya lead to ruin, fox? How many of ya kin did ya snuff out, just out of annoyance or boredom?”
“Too many.” Mae agreed, not hiding from her past. “And when nations fall, humans are crueller to each other than even we Yōkai. I have seen, caused and done much. But you do her a disservice…” She nodded at Shaeula approvingly. “…she was not squeamish regarding the slaughter, merely the… purpose, yes?”
Shaeula nodded. “I like-like to think I am quite the kind female.” She snorted a dry laugh. “I would much-much prefer us to all live in harmony, but I know that is not-not possible, a foolish dream. Some beings must be exterminated. The Myconids, for-for one. Much of the Unseelie and the Wild Hunt too, will never-never be reconciled with us. I have no-no intention of cruelties such as torture, except…” Her amber gaze met mine, and we both understood who she meant, and I knew that if Hyacinth did seek retribution on her torturers, I’d harden my heart and aid her. “…some who deserve it.” Shaeula finished. “But-but… here, is it not-not only for pleasure, but-but as some sort of source of power, or perhaps-perhaps a weapon. We do not-not base our progress on such regressive methods. Strength-strength through supporting each other, through bonds. That is our way!”
“Well said.” I agreed. “I’m a hypocrite, I know. I find it easier to forgive deeds that happened long ago, that didn’t affect those I know or care about, those not within my sight nor my reach. Even though the weight of those sins doesn’t change. But I’ll be damned if I let the allure of power corrupt my sense of morals that far. It’s easy, just a single step for power, power to achieve our goals, power to save those we care about. But with each step, we grow further and further detached from what we want to protect. I’ve already compromised as far as I can. I fear most becoming the sort of Astral Emperor who’ll sacrifice others for my own benefit.”
“The Dragon has no care for the insects beneath its feet…” Daiyu whispered, and I nodded.
“Exactly. Well, at least we know where the missing Yōkai went. Sadly… there were some Yuki-onna there too. Did you see them, Sekka?”
At my question, she nodded. “Indeed. Not all of the snow women who dwelt within the frozen mountains of this cold, northern land have survived the attacks, it seems. Though if I had known that instead of being slain, they were brought here…” She shuddered suddenly, flakes of the ice she had used to protect herself from the ruthless heat flaking off her skin and hair. “…I would have opened my halls to them. It seems had I been defeated, unable to fight back… my fate was to end up cooked to a slow death within that fiery tomb.”
“But why not-not the Kami?” Shaeula asked the question I had been pondering, and I shook my head, uncertain.
“The only things I can currently imagine is that either they worry that attacking them would spark retaliation from the greater army of Kami on the other islands of Japan, or… that the time isn’t yet right for them to move against them. Or that… they needed to do this, to charge their Pillars Of Corrupting Minds And Spirits first.” If so… are the Kami targets of whatever the Pillars can do, or are the Pillars what is behind the undead Kamuy here? There’s still far too much we don’t know. I’m tempted to just destroy them, but… without access to the information of how the Pillars work, the information still a garbled mess, I don’t want to be hasty, in case that makes the situation worse…
“We need more knowledge. Tsukiko and I are investigating a deserted shrine, and the people in Rishiri town seem to be acting unusually hostile and isolationist… I think we should probe further. And if… we need to wreck this Territory, like I said… we can replace ordinary Buildings with a payment of ether, if this all turns out to be someone else’s doing…”
“I very-very much doubt it.” Shaeula shrugged. “But I do not-not feel leaving this mess unattended is a good idea, especially not-not when we claim Sekka’s home for our own.”
“Excuse me?” Sekka blinked her icy blue eyes, offended. “What do you mean?”
“Oh, nothing to be concerned about.” Hana enjoyed teasing her. “It shall still be your abode, decorated and controlled as you like, you will just be passing the security off to us, and offering some ice element as an expression of gratitude!” She struck a prideful pose, the effect only spoiled by the bloody rips and burns in her fur coat.
“She says ‘us’…” Red rumbled a laugh. “Are you abandoning the Night Parade and Great Nurarihyon to cast your lot in with them?” He seemed genuinely curious, and Hana shrugged.
“You misunderstand me. Despite everything, we are not at odds, the Parade and Akio here. We have the same enemies, and what we have discovered here surely concerns us all…”
“Ya think?” Blue butted in. “If these damn beasts were to attack the Parade as it travels, ya think we can’t handle it? Sekka alone held out for quite a time. If needs be, the gates shall open, and they’ll know the fury of what lurks within Great Nurarihyon’s grand domain!”
“Oh, indeed, I would not dare to question that. Yet it would still bleed us, and for what great victory? To slay dead things long defeated, thrown down by dear grandmother, amongst others?” Hana gestured mockingly with one hand and her tails. “Besides, Shaeula is also Seventy-First. And Akio counts those amongst the Parade his allies, such as Bintara.”
At her assertion, the prideful Bitan tossed her head, lustrous indigo hair swaying alongside her great curved horns. “Allies? I am she who heals all ills and brings life to the dying, though…” She considered our past battles. “…not a false shell of life such as that. Indeed, it is an affront to me, such a mockery. It simply happens that there are many who require aid around him, and Great Nurarihyon, moved by the words of Uranai, seeks his strength for mutual benefit. Our interests sometimes coincide.”
“Delightfully tsundere, as our dear daughter of Urakaze here might say.” As Hyacinth giggled at that joke, Hana finished her retorts. “My point is, you pair of hardheaded Oni, I am indeed part of the ‘us’, but that still does not make me any less a part of the Parade.”
“Har. Consider us put in our place.” Red gurgled with snorted laugher. “But this is all a waste of our time. I don’t care much about the dead Oni, they were no kin of mine. I’m here, with the killer of my poor, stupid bro, and I’m not ripping your spine out along with your skull and drinking booze from it. Blood may be thick, but it doesn’t taste as sweet as strong alcohol. But even if we don’t know or care about the dead… can we leave this mess?”
“No. We need some answers at the least, before we make a move.” I glanced up at the summit of the volcano. “We’ve had too much of a lull. If we assume the narwhal and the stormy cloud were this Territory’s hardest hitters, and they’re not out of ways to confront us, then the lack of aggression over the last minutes might be explainable. Yet…”
“I hardly think that to be the case.” Mae agreed, her ears flickering irritably. “But we shall not find the truth to this remaining here.”
With that said, we all began to ascend the volcano, careful to avoid the treacherous underfooting of cracked and jagged obsidian flakes (of which I stole those of the highest quality for my spatial storage, and I wasn’t alone in that, Shaeula grabbing particularly attractive stones too), as well as geysers of sulphurous, acidic steam, and rivers of pyroclastic mud, gloopy and scalding…
Back in the Material, Tsukiko and I were exploring the eerily deserted shrine, careful to avoid being spotted from outside. I had explained what we had found, and Tsukiko’s beautiful face was screwed up into a frown of pensive disquiet, considering the implications of what we had unearthed.
“Visions are allegorical, certainly, not meant to be taken literally. The blood striking the volcano from the west might only symbolise the volcano itself is the source of disaster. Blood, especially Divine blood…” She paused, her crimson eyes shining with pity. “…I think it would be remiss of me not to accord the Kamuy their due. Despite it supposedly being the Kami and Gods of what I consider Japan, alongside the Yōkai, who drove the Kamuy out, slaughtered them to extinction, I cannot deny they are beings that were worshipped within these lands once.”
“We only know a little of what transpired, but… it does seem to sadly mirror what happened to the native population of Hokkaido and northern Honshu.” I agreed. “Whether there was injustice doesn’t change that I’m very concerned about what I’ve found there. And here too. There’s something very wrong with this town, and I suspect the rest of the island too. It’s not like what happens in a Territory can’t affect the real world… the aura of negative luck in Casino El Diablo, or the Boundary To Material Connections prove that… but usually they only work in areas where both Material and Astral are controlled together. I doubt very much some Chosen owns this whole island…”
“Yes, there must be some sort of clever loophole.” Tsukiko agreed, as we approached the main shrine building. To the west, there was a magnificent view of the ocean, and slightly to the north, Rebun Island. We’ll have to investigate that too…
“A great shame…” Tsukiko’s grip on my arm tightened, as she frowned at the white Komainu statues, the lion-like dogs which were often placed in pairs to symbolically guard shrines and temples. A single metal needle had been hammered into the chests of each, and while there wasn’t much damage to them, just a small hole and a network of fine cracks spreading out from the impact, it was a clear act of vandalism. They had also been daubed with what I hoped was dried mud, and not the other possibility. Taking a sniff, I realised that, to my relief, it was mud, though it smelled strongly of minerals and decay.
“The torii gate too…” Tsukiko pointed, and while this shrine was unusual in that its gate was white, numerous nails had been driven into it, the structure was smeared liberally with mud and hanging from it were a number of strange objects. We moved to take a closer look, though I had to expend a little light element to create an illusory barrier so that those from the outside couldn’t see us, and soon Tsukiko and I were both puzzled.
“Bear skulls?” A number were hanging from the torii gate, nailed in, of course. In addition, carved wooden dolls, and small wooden animals, bears, fishes, birds, though all oddly misshapen, were also attached. There were scratches too, on the gates, almost like kanji, yet either they were done too crudely, or… it’s not our language.
“Such a desecration.” Tsukiko was angered. “Even without a Kami here, or at least I presume not, to cause such wanton damage…” Filthy handprints were also smeared over it, and after an inspection, we found the main shrine was also painted over with mud, and inside, the offertory box was smashed, and filled with more of the dried, reeking muck. The altar too, was soiled, and a number of oddly carved sticks, again, bizarrely misshapen, were placed around it, almost as if containing it. A bit like a fence.
“This means… do they have no intention of opening the shrine again? What happened to the priest, the shrine maidens? As it is not a true shrine, likely they are merely figureheads, part-time assistants, but despite that… I cannot help but worry.”
“It’s definitely troubling.” I agreed. “Although, I suppose, if it was a gas explosion as cover… couldn’t they just blow the place up? It’d be a bold move, which would surely attract notice, they haven’t gone so far as to keep all visitors off the island yet, but… anyway, let me see…” My Eyes shone amber, and I extended aether around me too, remembering Daiyu’s warnings that I had been neglecting my other senses. Soon, I found the gas pipes under the shrine. There was nothing abnormal there, no signs of imminent explosions. Then, my aether brushed up against something odd, fleeting.
“Damn, at times like this, I wish I was as talented as Daiyu…” I grumbled. Tsukiko, sensing I had discovered something. Qi seemed better able to detect these subtleties, so I used my Moonlight Jade Qi Refining to change some over, expelling it. While also using my Eyes, I found out that my control over the Qi seemed a bit better than expected, and soon I had a small reward.
You have gained a Skill, Qi Perception Rank 1…
Suddenly what I could feel sharpened, and while it wasn’t much use at detecting inanimate, lifeless things, it was highly sensitive to living beings, especially those possessing Qi, and also… yeah, that’s not normal…
“Come on.” I grabbed Tsukiko’s hand, and carefully, still protecting us with light element from prying eyes, I followed the trail of what I was tracking, constantly working on improving my Qi Refining and Perception. Slipping out of the cordon barring entry to the shrine, I led her into an alleyway, releasing my barrier of light.
“What have you discovered?” Tsukiko asked, and instead of answering her, I responded with a question of my own.
“This place is an island, isn’t it? Assuming that the rules we know haven’t suddenly changed, that it’s still you can’t just manipulate places outside of your control, then how would you do it?”
“An island? Isolated, with few visitors. But even so, it would have to be something subtle, not overt.”
“It’s an old trick. And it’s making me suspicious.” I agreed. “First, the jumbled distortions that screw up my Eyes, despite them being stronger than ever. Almost as if what I’m seeing is the very antithesis of wisdom, of information. Secondly… I think you’ve got an idea, don’t you?”
Tsukiko nodded, eyes wide with worry. “I can think of three commodities that all households here will have. Gas, electricity, and water. But…” She glanced around at the nearby houses, many of which had external gas tanks for their supply. “It seems there is no centralised service for gas, and electricity… how would that be used? So that leaves…”
“Water. Yeah. There’s something in the pipes. Some sort of sinister adherence, or at least akin to it.” I pulled out my phone and did a quick google search. “Seems like the water here is pulled from mineral-rich groundwater existing under Mount Rishiri. It’s pumped from Kanro-sensui spring and then supplied to all the homes and businesses on the island. And that spring is located on the north-western slope.”
Tsukiko understood. “In the vision, the wagtail was wounded towards the missing Rebun Island. The drop of blood struck the west, yes, the north-west!”
“There’s got to be more to it. The spring is run by the government. But… I suspect, if we work backwards from the spring…”
“If the pipework for distribution passes under some privately owned property before it starts branching out for distribution…” Tsukiko realised. “Then it might be possible to taint the water, which would then leave the sphere of influence…”
“Exactly!” I agreed. “And I’ve seen fluids that affect people’s minds before.” Quickly heading for our new destination, I relayed this information back to my comrades in the Boundary.
“I see-see. Most insidious.” Shaeula snorted sourly. “I also share your suspicions. Everything lines up far-far too well. But…” We were approaching the top of the volcano, clouds of burning ash, laden with searing, corrupting dust element, being warded off by fine layers of wind element we had conjured. Even so, it was quite oppressive, and strong for a Rank Three Territory. Up above towered Buildings of crystal and metal, and my Eyes began to blur again.
“That layout seems… purposeful.” Mae observed, her ears flat against her skull, expressing her distaste. “All in triangles, yet… subtly off from regular. Enough to trick our eyes and disorientate us.”
“And it seems they are preparing a warm-warm welcome for us.” Shaeula observed, and we could indeed see more undead Kamuy, swarms of the bears, at the top of the cliffs. Not just them, there were other beasts too, snakes, spiders and owls, all rotted, with exposed bones, and leaking the mutated ooze that was their dust element.
Daiyu came alongside me, lowering her voice. “My Qi Perception has located two, no… three powerful beings.”
“As strong as us?” I asked, and she shook her head.
“It is impossible to tell. I doubt it, considering our abilities, but I am no longer as arrogant as I once was. Caution is warranted. We act when we know the risks, and our advantage is at its peak.”
At her words, all I could do was nod. We crested the summit, standing on the edge of the massive volcanic crater, which was sending dust-laden ash straight up into the skies, and vicious plumes of lava and boiling mud exploded within the seething crater, droplets scattering everywhere. It was certainly an impressive sight, but… not where I’d choose to situate my Territory, that’s for sure. I’d always worry the Anchor would catch fire…
We grouped together into one pack, though leaving enough room for us to react to any unexpected circumstances. I couldn’t see the Anchor, which made sense, I supposed, as having it out in the open was a foolish move, and I certainly wasn’t proud of my earlier carelessness, which would have led to defeat, if Kondou Kazuo wasn’t such a lazy piece of shit who let his lackeys do his scouting and fighting. Nor am I overjoyed with its current, vulnerable placement. If all goes well, by the start of next year, it’ll be totally secure!
“I… see-see them.” Shaeula spoke up, and then, so could I. They must be the three Daiyu sensed. Does that mean… two Chosen?
One figure was clearly a powerful Kamuy, and upon gazing at it with my Eyes, my brain ached, a burst of static knifing through my skull. I felt my eyes bleeding internally, small blood vessels bursting, colouring the world red and silver, until my Ether Healing kicked in. The creature seemed like a giant mole, or rather, it had a humped back, seemingly made of obsidian and granite, and two massive forelegs, each the size of me, with tire-sized paws edged with talons of a ruby shade. Its face was oddly humanlike, though covered in reddish-black fur, and to add to the craziness of it, the stony mound upon its back, which towered seven or eight metres beyond its already Oni-like stature, was spouting ash and dust, in time with the Boundary’s version of Mount Rishiri.
Ape-nupuri-un-Kamuy [Flame-bearing Mountain Kamuy] was what the static and messed-up text resolved into. It… doesn’t seem dead, or rather undead, like the other Kamuy. Is it… is it a genuine survivor of the past war? If so… If so, that was a cause for concern, as I had no wish to fight and kill such a being, repeating the mistakes of the past, but too much here was seeming like a red flag. A whole cavalcade of damn flags…
The other two were humans. The man in the middle seemed to be around thirty or so, though it was hard to tell, as he was clearly of Ainu descent, his skin dark and weatherbeaten, his eyes black, and his stature a bit shorter than average, perhaps a few inches over five feet tall. He carried himself with an imperious air, however, and he leaned on a large wooden staff, carved in a similar manner to the sticks Tsukiko and I had seen at the shrine, though the head was different, curved over like a large hook. He also wore an impressive set of scale armour, forged seemingly from volcanic obsidian.
Beside him was a taller man, pale and more classically of modern Japanese appearance. He was casually dressed despite the hellish conditions atop the summit, and he carried another carved wooden rod, though this one was topped with a triangular design, and had three long chains dangling down, each crowned with irregular beads and lengthy rods of metal, perhaps a flail, but again every part of it was oddly misshapen. My Eyes tried to read their information, but again, it was just gibberish which pained me. Seeing that, this man seemed to smile at me, a fleeting, knowing smirk.
“Oh, how simply unexpected, unique, annoying.” The man declared, his tone subtly disdainful. We did not expect nor request visitors, did we, my master?” He turned to the dark-skinned man. “Your precious allies and servants, reduced to dust once again. Poronitne Kamuy, destroyed once more, his desires and love again unfulfilled, scattering what remains of his spirit back to Chaos. Alas, knowledge to dust, never to be united with its greater self. Much we have constructed, destroyed. Yet in destruction, lies purest, most blissful opportunity! Would you not agree, my dear master?”
The other man, surely the leader, nodded slowly, his eyes blazing as he looked upon the Yōkai with me, his eyes flashing with hatred, and I felt a wave of aether and adherence pouring from him, trying to oppress us. His League isn’t bad, he’s top tier amongst the Chosen I’ve met, for sure, but… It wasn’t enough to overpower me. Judging by the status of everyone else, only Daiyu was struggling a bit, though her iron will and disciple had her standing firm.
“You dare bring wretched murderers, defilers here?” He spat the words like a curse. “This land is mine, and belongs to my ancestors, and those they venerated, which you destroyed. But in destruction, comes rebirth, and on this land, defiled by the tread of wicked beasts, who know only slaughter and thievery… who have defiled and destroyed the wisdom of my people… you will drown here, in the oozing mud of dissolution!”
Looks like negotiations aren’t going to be particularly fruitful then… I grimaced, extremely unwilling to fight here, despite the horrific and disturbing scenes below.
But if we don’t calm the situation down… I clenched my fist as the Territory sprung to life, whatever momentary halt our opponent had put on his Buildings dismissed. …looks like it’s time to follow Daiyu’s advice. People only listen to those who display the biggest fist, the greatest power. Let’s hope we don’t end up going too far… but, what he’s been doing in the Material, if he indeed is responsible, and also the ritualistic massacres down below… Tsukiko and I had started following the trail of water from the volcanic spring, and soon, I’d have an answer. …I guess we’ll have to talk about what’s appropriate, even for a good cause, and what crosses the line into evil which needs to be stopped and atoned for. But to do that, I’ll have to show him we’re not to be trifled with!
