Shoo pulled out a map.
Shoo: While we were searching for information, we managed to learn what The Absolutes are after. There are creatures, those have some importance for them. Some of their armies are searching them. They visit villages and ask them if they know those creatures' whereabouts. One of the villagers' head gave me this and marked where they have seen those creatures. Those armies will be around these marked places. I say we should investigate a few of those, but not all. Yakura and Kowata might gather information if we fight them, however that's a low chance possibility. Knowing only high status ones know their locations. So, if we let them capture whatever they are after and follow them, we can find a place worth investigating.
Shion: Any information about the "creature"?
Kowata: Unfortunately, those who had a direct encounter are not alive anymore. There are those who saw it from a really long distance. They describe it as somthing that has big claws, a long tail and around 3 meters long.
Shoo: Also, what about you, Yakura? Have you learnt anything from Shizen?
Yakura: ...
Yakura: AHH SHIT! I knew I forgot something!
Shion: WHAT!
Shoo: You are kidding, right?
Yakura: Well... I know it sounds dump, but... Errr... At that moment, I was a little... Out of control. While I'm at Dark Form I can't control myself. Sooooo... I just murdered her.
Akira: Man! Are you really a smart guy afterall?
Yakura: Can't say yes, I am someone who knows bad sides of emotions, but despite that, I am someone who can't resist them.
Shoo:
Kowata: One thing. Yakura, Since you know more about monsters than me, does this monster sound familiar to you?
Yakura: Not really. Big claws, long tail those are not specific attributes. I know a lot of monsters like that.
Kowata: How many of them are seriously dangerous?
Yakura: None. They are all muscle and claw. Don't have any abilities that we should worry about.
Kowata: Very well. Let us go on.
Shion: We should gather some stuff before we go.
Akira: Yeah, I can't fight with an empty stomach.
Yakura:
Shoo: Yeah, but I have enough stuff for now. We can go there right away.
Yakura: Good.
Akira: Alright. Good lucks to you guys.
Shoo: You too.
Akira, Shion and Kowata flew to a nearby village. Yakura and Shoo started to fly to the place on the map. They flew for ten minutes without saying anything.
Yakura: I can sense that you want to ask me something? You don't need to be worried that much. I don't kill people for asking sensitive things... At least most of them.
Shoo: I... I was just wondering... how was it like... in the prison?
Yakura: Horrible! I was chained, covered with mind blocking crystals and also frozen. I couldn't move, I couldn't do anything. But I FELT EVERY SINGLE MOMENT of it.
Shoo: They really did all of this?
Yakura: Yeah. They couldn't just put me in a cage, right?
Shoo: But why? Couldn't they just kill you?
Yakura: Each one of them is capable of killing me. But, they needed my energy. They were... less powerfull those days. Didn't tell me any details about it, but I just know they were weak. In their terms at least. I wasn't stronger than them, but I had good amount of energy. So they used it to recover, summon monsters, control the souls and more. I could feel the energy taken from my body every second. Or how they are using my mind.
Shoo: So, how did you escape?
Yakura: To be honest, I can't really give an answer for that question. I have tried to get out of there the moment they locked me. After hundereds of years of tries, I manage to break it. I think it just got weaker and weaker to the point that it broke.
Shoo: Maybe, someone helped you?
Yakura: I doubt it. Around those times, nobody was really fond of me.
Shoo: Oh.
Yakura: But to be honest, I don't really care. The important part is I got away.
Shoo: But don't you think it is suspicious. Could be some kind of trap. Like they let you escape in order to... I don't know, let get more strenght than recapture you again.
Yakura: Nahh, I don't think they let me escape for two reasons: One it was too risky for them to let me escape, also I was already fine for them. They didn't need for me to get more strenght. Second a lot of monsters got in my way. If they let me escape, they wouldn't try that much to capture me. Even if they wanted me to think that I got escape by myself, that was too much.
Shoo: How come they have all those people?
Yakura: Like I mentioned before, they can create many creatures. But also, power brings more power. Life isn't generous on the innocent. If you have power, you got a huge advantage.
Shoo: Please tell me you don't believe this.
Yakura: I don't believe in anything. And I am not saying this to be negative, it's just how people are. They follow usually the strong.
Shoo: What if the "strong" is down?
Yakura: Than they change sides for find someone new to follow.
Shoo: Do you really see us that low?
Yakura: Trust me, I am the first target of these words. I can say these words, because i know the thoughts behind it.
Shoo: But, yours weren't really selfish.
Yakura: Well, i think you can say that.
Shoo: And what about the time after you took down those "strong" ones?
Yakura: I don't know, I'd hang around and keep the trouble away.
Shoo: Really?
Yakura: Yes... Why are you so surprised?
Shoo: I'm not really surprised... I just...
Yakura: Ahh! Seems like you didn't get my whole point. I'm not on a revenge quest, I sacrificed my life for the ones I love. And now I am hunting them because they are a threat.
Shoo: Right, sorry.
Yakura: Don't worry. Many people don't even try to listen to me. Alright! That's enough talking for today. You better get some rest before they come.
Shoo: Alright, wake me up if anything happens though.
Yakura: Sure.
Shoo started to sleep and Yakura started meditating. Hours have passed. Shoo woke up, but nobody came to the place. So he started to sharpen his arrows. A short time later, Yakura suddenly opened his eyes.
Yakura: Someone is coming.
Shoo took his bow.
Shoo: You think this is a good place to hide?
Yakura: Of course. Besides, they will be bussy with the monster, they can't really notice us.
A few people come to their sight.
Yakura: Wait a minute. They are not soldiers.
Shoo: What?
Yakura: They are just villagers.
Shoo: What are they doing here?
Yakura: Seems like a few soldiers just told them to come here. I can't find anything else in their minds.
Shoo: This doesn't seem right.
Yakura: Yes. Because it is a trap.
Shoo: Trap? You mean for the monster?
Yakura: No! For us.
Shoo: How can you be so sure? I mean, they don't even know we are here.
Yakura: Well, the soldiers were so cautios about not telling anything to villagers. Also If they are just hunting the monster, they are no use to the soldiers. They will just get eaten and these plans are not really their strategy for monsters. They usually make their own traps or just straight up attack.
Shoo: Than what do we do?
Yakura: I can't sense any soldiers. It is risky for us to make a move.
Shoo: So, are we gon...
Yakura closed Shoo's mouth.
Yakura:
A big monster appeared and started to attack to the villagers. Villagers started to run and shout.
Shoo: WE MUST...
Yakura attacked to the monster. While he was fighting, 3 more monsters came and attacked him. Yakura killed the first one, Shoo shot one of the monsters' legs. But the other 2 jumped to Yakura. Shoo was about to hit one of them, but he got shot by an arrow. Yakura sensed what happened to Shoo and tried to got away from the monsters. He killed another, but he focused on them too much that he didn't sensed the arrow that targeted him. And it was not an ordinary arrow. It was made of mind blocking crystal. He got shot by a few more. The two monsters immediately left. He tried to pull out the arrows, however he stopped when he felt a quake. A monster, four times bigger than the other monsters, appeared. It had giant claws, large teeth and a very hard skin. The monster caught Yakura with its mouth. It swung Yakura and smashed him to the ground. Yakura couldn't do anything in response. Monster ripped off his left arm and swallowed it. He tried to burn his body, but the crystals were too much. With a last effort, Yakura punched the monster. The monster backed away a little bit. At that moment Yakura grabbed his rod and tried to summon the souls. They came from the rod but the monster screamed so strong, the souls stunned. Yakura grabbed his sword, rolled away from the monster and threw his sword to it. He hit its shoulder. That wasn't very effective, but it gave enough time for injured Shoo to shot its eye. The monster shouted in pain. Shoo ran to Yakura and pulled out the arrows and threw them away from him. Knowing their plans first part failed, many soldiers appeared from everywhere and rushed to Yakura and Shoo. Yakura concentrated and unleashed waves of Dark Energy. He went high and sent energy waves to the soldiers. The waves are so thin, they cut through everything they pass. Only a few soldiers were left. Yakura first flew to the big monster, pierced through its body and got his arm back. He reattached his arm to his body and killed the remaining soldiers and the other monsters. He was about to lay down, but he sensed a someones presence.
Hibake: My, my. You weren't so interesting afterall.
Yakura: What is that supposed to mean?
Hibake: Your actions were all according to the plan. When there will be people in danger, you'll wanted to play the "hero". Or keep them for yourself. You'll lose focus when everything was going on tht you'll not notice the arrows. And you'll feel so desparete that you'll lose all your enegy for this fight.
Yakura: Well, I am not the only desparete one here, right? You let all those soldiers die.
Hibake: We will mourn for their deaths, but it wasn't for nothing. We finally got you cornered. Ah also, do you know why I am talking right now instead of attacking you?
Yakura: Because of the plot?
Hibake: Uhhh... NO! Because, I needed to draw your attention away from the boy. And let our army get in position.
7 soldiers captured Shoo and there were more soldiers around.
Yakura: Hmmm smart. But have you wondered why my hands were always on my back?
Hibake: Because you accepted your defeat?
Yakura: No. Because I was stalling too.
Yakura clapped his hands and a light flashed for a moment. There were no change in environment, however everybody around seem to be calm and unawre of their surroundings. Yakura summoned his sword back and ran to Shoo. The soldiers around him didn't do anything. He killed them one by one. There was no scream, no suffering. They just died. He took Shoo and flew as fast as he can. After they got away enough distance, Yakura couldn't keep up and they fell. Shoo woke up in panic.
Shoo: WHAT THE? WHAT HAPPENED?
Yakura: Don't... worry. Everything is fine. For now... atleast. Let me just catch my... breath for a sec.
Yakura passed out.
Shoo was exhausted as well. However he tried resist, cause if he sleeps too they will be vulnerable. His effort didn't last long. He fell down and passed out.