The Sword of Annihilation

Assayah and Gongamtei were looking at Baba Yaga and Glaseon, who were lying on their beds groaning in pain. Their whole bodies were wrapped with bandages and their skin was stinking of a special pain relieving medicine that Assayah created himself. Assayah looked at Baba Yaga and said, "You should die of shame, Baba Yaga. You lost to a simple mortal who is not even properly an adult yet." Baba Yaga said faintly, "She is not a normal mortal. I saw a divine soul inside her, like she was not from here but from a place of ultimate divinity. Her strikes were not of a normal human, but of someone who has defeated demons like us, even before." Gongamtei said, "Don't talk gibberish. Tell us clearly what you want to say." Baba Yaga said, "I can't say clearly if it is the truth or some miscalculation, but she is definitely not an ordinary mortal." Glaseon said, "Yes. And that ebony chick was hellish too. Her punches and kicks have broken my face muscles and bones. You should keep an eye on that girl too." Assayah said, "You two, get lost from my sight right now. The medicine will make you well in a couple of days and soon you will be back at doing whatever shit you two do."

Gongamtei said, "Don't scold them. They tried their best. If the mortal is defeating demons, then it is a very big concern for us all. Xao Chang is not the guy who likes loose ends and from what I heard, he is a very brutal punisher." Assayah said, "Actually, the problem is not that girl nor these two fools. The problem is time. Time is ever-changing and if we don't cope up with it correctly, the whole plan will be compromised. I personally want Xao Chang to come and help us in taking the spear from the Manacans.

His power is infinite and only he has the power of regeneration and resurrection. I want him to resurrect an old friend of mine, a demon who is both crafty and powerful and once had created frightening oppression in the first war of the west." Gongamtei asked, "How did I never hear of the guy you are mentioning?" Assayah said, "Because you were trapped in the scroll at that time. If the Manacans were victorious in that war, you would have still stayed in the scroll that you were trapped in." Gongamtei asked, "Who was that guy?" Assayah said, "The greatest ninja warrior demon to ever walk on the surface of the earth, Ichi Nakamura Tairo san."

"Did you just mention Ichi san, Assayah?" Kayuba appeared and smiled. Assayah and all looked in his direction and smiled. Everyone was happy because Kayuba was missing for many days, both from the Monastery and the earth. Assayah asked, "Where have you been so long, Kayuba? Things have gotten quite messy here in your absence." Kayuba smiled, "You don't have to update me with anything, Assayah. I perfectly know all the things that have happened here in my absence. Gongamtei and Assayah became coaches and we are taking favours from the demons of the underworld, which also didn't prove any more beneficial." Assayah said, "And now you are rubbing salt on our wounds like a bitch you are." Kayuba smiled, "You think that Xao Chang will resurrect Ichi san just because you will tell him to do so? You are a much bigger fool than I apprehended." Assayah said angrily, "If any of you brainless idiots had ever respected and understood my notions, then we would have succeeded way ago. But, you people always stay so much in your bubbles of arrogance that even my wisest plans and strategies don't enter your brains. Alice is not an ordinary mortal anymore or ever was indeed.

She defeated Gongamtei and now Baba Yaga, like they were made of paper. I know I have always been on the patient side of work, but looking at the current scenario anymore delay will be harmful for us." Kayuba smiled, "If you have finished blabbering, let me enlighten you with the factual reality. Ichi san is not the same friend you once laughed and ate with, he has changed very much now and I think it is a part of Xao Chang's plan. Ichi san and Gyuro Takeshi were two refined and dangerous warriors along with Bacca's elder brother, Gishu. Resurrecting them will mean trouble for us, especially if Gishu comes on the earth. His enormous appetite and short-tempered nature has already killed many people and demons and no one wants that to happen again. If you think that Alice is the concern for big killers like us, then summon your adopted brother, Bayu. It's time for him to prove his abilities and prove his worth for the Monastery."

Assayah said, "No. Never. Bayu is sleeping and should remain sleeping forever." Kayuba smiled, "And you wanted to resurrect Ichi san. Stupid, cowardly bitch. When you gain the courage to call your brother, I will personally give you the key to the dungeon in which Ichi san is trapped." He smiled and disappeared.

Gongamtei looked at Baba Yaga and Glaseon and said, "You guys go away for now. I will discuss the further details later. Assayah seems to be in a bad mood now." Baba Yaga and Glaseon nodded and disappeared. Assayah said, "I'm not in a bad mood right now. Just that Kayuba has intentionally scratched a bitter part of my past. Kayuba is always just like this. Emotionless and a very vile person." Gongamtei said, "He is who he is. But, why did you become so worried when he mentioned Bayu? Is he your brother?" Assayah said grimly, "It doesn't matter now. I have severed my ties with him way ago. He was a mistake and I still get nightmares thinking about the atrocities he committed when I brought him under my training and made him one of my disciples.

iHe was indeed smart and quite knowledgeable and very quickly became an expert in martial arts and the politics of the Monastery. But, soon he became crooked or came under some nefarious influence which was completely out of my knowledge. He started torturing the weaker demons and souls and when he was bored of them, he would come to the mortal world and harm the mortals. Bacca and Kenchi never liked Bayu anyway and his new malicious acts have only made their dislike more severe.

Bayu was quite powerful and shrewd and therefore stopping him was quite difficult for the demons of the Monastery and no one from the upper ranks wanted to spill his blood on their hands. Bacca eventually discussed the matter with Xao Chang and he gave him a gourd bottle made of the soil from the inside of the volcano. I and Kenchi came to the mortal world and after a lengthy battle with him, we managed to trap him inside the bottle. Kenchi then gave the bottle to Bacca and he kept him inside the dungeon of the Monastery." Gongamtei asked, "If he is so dangerous, then why was Kayuba mentioning about releasing him and him showing his worth to the Monastery?" Assayah said, "Because Kayuba is an ignorant idiot. He thinks that Bayu is any less dangerous than Ichi san and will readily accept to fight with any mortal on my command. Bayu will fume in anger if I tell him that I have released him just because some uncertainty is thriving in between the demons." Gongamtei asked, "Doesn't he know about the power of the Manacans?" Assayah said, "He never faced a Manacan in his life and also he has never faced any oppression before anyway.

I and Kenchi also had a hard time defeating him, so you can easily calculate how powerful he is." Gongamtei smiled, "I'm a man who believes in proof more than a tale. If he can defeat me, then I can say he is indeed as powerful as you have mentioned about him." Assayah laughed, "I hope you never face him. I don't want to lose you." He smiled and disappeared. Gongamtei smiled, "At least, Assayah cares about me." He smiled and disappeared too.

Kayuba was slowly walking towards the secret dungeon in which Bayu is kept captive. Kayuba also knew perfectly what a disaster Bayu can be, but he wanted that disaster for his own benefits. He was not allowed in the dungeon as he had broken many rules earlier which made him a suspect in any malicious acts that happened in the Monastery. Assayah and Kenchi always taunt Kayuba on his helplessness and occasionally challenge him to go there and break out any prisoner from the dungeon and prove that he is a badass. Kayuba never minded their words as he perfectly knew that both Kenchi and Assayah are just trying to get him into trouble.

But, now when the situation does demand something unexpected, he thinks about waking Bayu from his eternal sleep and being of some use to him. This would be a perfect master stroke for him and will raise him in the eyes of Xao Chang. But, it was a risky manoeuvre and could also behead Kayuba if his plan fails. Kayuba was carefully calculating all the possibilities and consequences when a guard spotted him and asked, "Kayuba, what are you doing near the dungeon?"

Kayuba smiled, "I wanted to see if all the prisoners were still in the dungeon. You know, in such strange times anything can happen and extra carefulness should be maintained all the time." The guard said, "Yes. I understand. But, still I don't understand your purpose in visiting the dungeon, especially when you have never come here even once in all your life." Kayuba smiled, "There's always a first time for everything." The guard said, "You don't have to bother yourself. I have a very elite team here who is apparently more skilled than you in maintaining the peace in the dungeon." Kayuba sighed, "And, I thought it would end in an easy way." The guard asked, "What do you mean by that?"

Kayuba smiled, "It was great knowing you, my friend." He pulled a sword out of the air and said, "There is still time. Withdraw and I will spare your and your companion's lives." The guard said, "With this much amount of intimidation, I'm afraid but I have to stop you and report the entire matter to Master Kenchi." Kayuba smiled, "Master Kenchi? That idiot can't even dare raise a voice before me and you are threatening me with his name." He slashed and cut the guard in two pieces. The other guards ran towards him and swung their swords at him. But, Kayuba easily dodged the attacks and beheaded two of the guards, he rolled and cut the leg of one guard and then swung his sword and cut the main guard with a single slash. Kayuba has always been a great swordsman and even Bacca once got intimidated when he saw Kayuba cutting the Manacans like fruits. But, Kayuba seldom uses his sword, as he rarely fights with anyone as he never faced a capable opponent since the end of the first great war.

Kayuba's sword is made of a very rare and durable material found in the depths of the Yatsu River and the grip was made with a special type of wood and the pommel is an orange stone which has demonic powers and traps the souls of the victims. Kayuba's sword was formerly a Manacan warrior's, but after killing him Kayuba stole the sword and renovated it according to his comfort. He pulled the key from the guard's dead body and opened the door. Soon, the screams and whispers of the trapped prisoners started to echo all around the dungeon. Kayuba felt a familiar voice amongst them and walked towards it. He stopped near the farthest cell from the door and sensed a hefty amount of dark energy coming from behind the door. He took his sword and cut the door into two pieces. The door fell down and Kayuba saw a slender body tied with heavy chains slowly laughing. He looked at Kayuba and smiled. His dark purple eyes sent chills down Kayuba's spine and he slowly said, "Bayu." Bayu smiled, "Bayu. Yes, that's the name. The name which is trapped behind these heavy doors along with the several rebels that rose against the injustice of Bacca and were crushed with an iron fist."

Kayuba laughed, "Rebels? Traitors. All the prisoners here are traitors and defy the rules of the Monastery." Bayu smiled, "So, why are you making yourself a traitor too by releasing another traitor?" Kayuba said grimly, "Because of these tough times. I hate to accept, but only you can help us in this situation." Bayu laughed, "Begging before me for my help when you perfectly know that the consequences will be dire for both of us." Kayuba said, "What will happen will happen later. For now, it's time to do what is most needed." Bayu smiled, "As you wish." Kayuba cut his chains with his sword and then Bayu took the form of a guard and sneaked out of the dungeon with Kayuba.....