Road to Recovery (Final)

"It's okay, he is not our enemy." Yakumo said.

"But he's one of them!" Onizakura protested, but Yakumo continued.

"I know, but he was different." Yakumo.

"You...knew?" Onizakura said in confusion.

"Yes, Oumetsu's aura is red with a hint of orange. Kain's aura, however is blue while changing to dark purple despite having red horns." Yakumo said.

"Then..." Yakumo continued, but she began to feel her chest begin to rise in temperature. Her breathing became quicker and ragged. Soon, her body began to rise in temperature.

[Attention. Yakumo is evolving.]

"Mother? Mother, what's wrong? Is it the stagnant aura?" Onizakura said with worry in her eyes. "She's burning up."

"No, he removed the aura completely." Kiri said.

"I'm evolving...Onizakura, get back." Yakumo said, pushing her back. Yakumo soon began breathing harder and her white aura began shooting out, growing stronger.

Until...

*FWEEEENN!!*

A bright white light exuded from Yakumo's body, blinding all of us in the process. The light she put out shot through the sky like a beacon.

Every Oni and Lizardmen in the village witness the bright beacon.

*BWIIING!!*

The light dissipates and Yakumo stands there completely straight without hunching over in any way.

Her white horn now shows a silvery shine along with eight curves. Her eyes became silver as well and her hair also gained a silvery white color as well.

Any forms of injuries, bloodstains, physical deformities, scars vanished. It was as if she was reborn and rebuilt.

"M-mother?" Onizakura called out to her. Yakumo turned to her and gave her a warm smile accompanied by her beautiful face.

"This is...different." Yakumo said, looking at her pale white skin and her ivory fingernails. "It seems I am a Silver Oni now."

Everyone is in shock, but the most shocked is me. For that I checked her stats.

No way...she not only evolved, she mutated! She was a White Oni before! And these skills...Survivor, Mind Effect Nullification, Aura Nullification, Holy and Curse Resistance, Soul Regen, and Soul Defense as well! Let's not forget the skill that stuck out the most.

Kibuki. That skill is exclusive to Battle Onis without exception, but Yakumo got it while she had curved horns.

"Lady Yakumo's horn...is silver?" Metsuka said.

"This is no doubt a mutation. Mutations rarely occur during evolution." Kiri said. "Lady Yakumo, what skills did you gain?"

"I gained...Survivor, Soul Attack Resistance, Soul Regeneration, Mind Effect Nullification, and...Kibuki." Yakumo said.

"Kibuki? But you're not a Battle Oni." Onizakura said. "How did you get it?"

"There's one answer for that." I said. "It's because of Oumetsu's aura."

Everyone is shocked that Yakumo was able to not only survive, but to mutate and evolve. Especially when she gained a skill exclusive for battle-orientated subspecies.

"But the real question is, how did you not go into Aura Erosion? Even if you didn't, you could've died even before the Erosion began." I said.

Before Yakumo could answer, a blue oni ran towards them, yelling something.

"Lady Onizakura! The Lizardman and Seakin chieftain have arrived!" a blue oni said and notices Yakumo.

"L-Lady Yakumo!? You're alive!?" the blue oni said.

"Yes, and we will meet them soon. Lead us to them." Yakumo said.

They began walking ahead and I followed them behind.

We reached the center of the village and see a large crowd of onis with a few lizardmen. They're being held by a group of armed onis guarding the wooden gate.

"We saw Lady Onizakura and the Aerokin run into that gate where Lady Yakumo is being treated!"

"We even felt a large amount of aura until that light came out!"

The armed onis shook their heads, denying their entry.

"We cannot allow anyone past this point. Those are Lady Onizakura's orders." a yellow oni said.

"It's alright now, everything is fine." Onizakura said.

Onizakura walked into the crowd of onis and some lizardmen, witnessing something never before seen. Yakumo, walking along with her daughter in good health. Long ago, when she arrived in Dystoark, she was limping, coughing, groaning, and her skin showed discoloring until she collapsed.

Now, Yakumo is alive and well, walking straight with a smile.

"Lady Yakumo...is that really you?" one of the onis said. "Is this real?"

"It's been a while, my fellow onis. I, Yakumo has made a full recovery and evolved!" Yakumo announced.

The onis and the lizardmen are shocked at the unprecedented news. Yakumo who wasn't seen for over a century has returned and became better than ever.

But it was enough. Just by seeing her alive and walking is enough for them.

Then, a tear dropped.

"She's alive..." one of the female onis sobbed and more onis followed. Including Onizakura.

"Long live lady Yakumo and Onizakura!" one of the male onis yelled.

Every oni cheered their names, they chanted to give them a long and prosperous life with great joy.

"Yakumo...you're awake?" a female voice said.

"Azul, it's been a while!" Yakumo said with joy.

"I felt your surge of energy from here." a male voice said.

"Xoto! You came as well! Your scales are bright green when I last saw you!" Yakumo said.

I looked to see a woman with hair in the color of the ocean and her eyes are shinier than sapphire polished to perfection.

Then a muscular lizardman with very dark green scales adorned with battle scars on his face, chest, arms, and legs ranging from shallow scratches to deep gashes.

"Young Kain, the one in a blue dress is Azul. She is the chieftain of the Seakins and her village is at the coast." Friis said. "Next is Xoto, he is the chieftain of the Lizardmen and his village is at the swamp, closest to the center."

"Yeah, with those scars, he's the only one closest to conflict when it came to the Hellkins controlling the monsters." I said.

"Indeed, but he always made sure his people survives." Friis nodded.

Yakumo walks towards me where Azul and Xoto followed.

"This is Kain Void. He is the one who cured me from the stagnant aura." Yakumo said.

"Hmm...he's quite a tall fellow." Azul said. "I am Azul, I govern my village at the coast."

Azul does a slight bow and gave a smile.

"I am Xoto, I watch over my people in the swamps, deep inside the forest." Xoto introduced himself. He bumps his fist on his chest to greet me, revealing more of his scars. "We thank you for treating our dear friend."

"Times are tough. If we wanna survive and prosper, we gotta look out for each other, right?" I said.

"Very much so." Xoto nodded.

Seeing that almost all of the gang is here, it's safe to say that all is well. Had I not met Friis, the Hellkins would've ruled Dystoark and beyond. Even if I did realize it there, they would've gotten a solid defense.

Even if the Hellkins are gone, we're far from finished. Various races of Dystoark are starving, exhausted, and displaced. Seeing that the dangers of the forest and the common threat, it was good that they were able to set aside their differences.

The most unexpected is Za'taranga coming in. I would've been done in by her if it weren't for my Survivor skill.

However, I have gained more Heavenkins and would allow me to create a group dedicated for them.

But I can't fully rely on the Heavenkins because I'll wind up attracting Hellkins in the long run; stronger Hellkins.

Ultimately, my work isn't done...not by a long shot.