New Job!!!
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"You're up next... Akuma." A man's voice echoes as he opens a heavy gate. A woman steps through, her light brown skin marked with pale gashes and scars. The hallway she enters is dim and wet, the stone floors slick with moisture, the walls grimy with age.
The sounds of a large crowd cheering vibrate through the walls, a distant roar of excitement that grows louder as she moves forward.
Known only as Akuma, she is dressed in an orange tank top that exposes her midriff, revealing the muscles beneath her scarred skin. The tank is tight, fitting her frame perfectly, showing both strength and agility. Her pants are baggy black construction trousers, worn but durable, tucked into black open-toed boots that thud softly with each step.
Her hair is tightly bound into thick wicks, the strands cascading over one eye. Silver cuff beads, intricately designed, adorn the ends of her wicks, the beads tipped with light blue dye that contrasts against her dark hair. Her remaining eye is a striking light red, its gaze cold and filled with indifference as she walks, unfazed by the noise around her.
As she reaches the end of the hallway, she stops. The sound of the crowd fades, replaced by an angry, primal roar. Two men emerge from the shadows, struggling to carry a massive battle axe between them, their faces flushed with effort.
Without hesitation, Akuma grabs the axe, lifting it with effortless ease. The men's eyes widen in disbelief as she gives it a few casual practice swings, the heavy blade slicing through the air with a fluid motion. One of the men clenches his jaw and mutters, barely audible, "Tsk... Damn Asurian…"
Akuma doesn't respond. With a shrug of her shoulder, she slings the axe over her back, its weight nothing to her. Without looking back, she begins her ascent up the stairs, the sunlight just ahead, as the doors to the arena swing open.
Her foot plants firmly into the sand of the colosseum, the coarse grains shifting beneath her weight. She looks around, her gaze sweeping over the massive stands, where hundreds—no, thousands—of eyes are fixed on her. Some cheer, others boo, but all are waiting, eager for what's to come.
"You never really get used to that," she mutters, a hand lifting to shield her eye from the harsh beams of sunlight. The warmth presses down on her, but she stands her ground, her focus sharpening as she looks ahead.
Her eyes lock onto the opponent across the arena, a towering oni. Its pale deer horns stretch upward, reaching for the sun. A pelt of tiger skin covers its lower half, its muscles rippling with every movement. Massive wooden sandals thud against the sand as the creature shifts its weight, a deadly presence looming over her. Its white eyes glare, cold and unyielding, contrasting sharply against its blue skin. In its hands, it grips two enormous swords, their blades gleaming dangerously in the light. With a deep, guttural roar, it prepares for battle.
In the stands, a very familiar orange-haired boy watches intently, a bag of popcorn in his hand, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Wow!" he exclaims, the anticipation in his voice as clear as the energy in the air around them.
*********
TWO DAYS EARLIER.
Something darts through the tall grass of the field, small but quick, weaving and darting as if it's on a mission. It's purpose, however, is clear—irritating Kintaro.
"Damn it!" he curses under his breath, furiously yanking the grasses out by the roots. Without warning, a small, bag-sized furball bounces off the back of his head.
Fuming, Kintaro spins around, his eyes narrowing at the creature. It almost looks like a cat, but with a flat face, long ears, and human-like hands.
The creature giggles, a strange chirping sound, before curling into a ball and rolling away, further igniting Kintaro's frustration.
"Wow, I couldn't notice!" Kintaro grits his teeth, turning back to the weeds and continuing his search.
"I HATE THIS!!" Kintaro yells, his frustration bursting forth in a powerful shout. The sound is enough to send a flock of birds scattering into the sky.
The sun moves aross the sky as the others wait at the truck for the tardy Kintaro.
"Where is he?" Himeko grumbles, pushing herself off the truck.
Tobi, cigarette in hand, shrugs nonchalantly. "Who knows?"
Suddenly, they hear Kintaro's voice, accompanied by the unmistakable sound of a creature clawing at him.
"Ow ow ow!" Kintaro yells as he runs toward the truck, the creature clinging to his face.
He peels it off, tossing it into the cage with the others in the back of the truck, his face littered with small cuts.
Tobi raises a hand as if about to make a comment, but Kintaro shoots him a look.
"Don't..." Kintaro warns through gritted teeth, clearly not in the mood for Tobi's usual remarks.
*********
Samunami sits at a round desk, meticulously sifting through a towering stack of papers, her focus unwavering. Around her, others work similarly, the rustling of papers and occasional murmurs filling the room.
Just a few feet away, Kintaro sits cross-legged on the floor, a couple of band-aids dotting his face, a sullen expression etched onto it. The rest of the group hovers nearby, watching the odd standoff between the two.
Samunami raises an eyebrow, finally acknowledging his persistent staring. "Yes?"
Kintaro shifts slightly, his tone a mix of annoyance and disbelief. "What's with these missions?"
She scoffs softly, covering her mouth with a hand to suppress a laugh. Tobi, standing nearby, slaps a hand to his forehead, groaning internally. 'This idiot!' he thinks, exasperated.
"Don't laugh!" Kintaro protests, motioning to his face. "Look at this! These missions are either too hard or too easy."
Samunami sets down the paper she was reviewing and leans back, crossing her arms with an amused expression. "All of you are first-star sorcerers. There aren't exactly any missions you can handle above D-rank." She pauses, a sly smile creeping onto her face. "Wait… did you just say it was hard?"
Kintaro's frown deepens into confusion as he turns to Tobi for clarification.
Tobi sighs, his hand dropping from his face. "Those spirits we handled today were common class. Think of them as pests—annoying, but not an actual threat." His tone turns slightly grim. "Well... most of the time."
Kintaro processes this information, his scowl returning as he rubs at the band-aids on his face. "Pests?!" he exclaims. "That 'pest' nearly clawed my face off!"
Samunami chuckles softly, her gaze returning to her papers. "Then maybe you'd better practice more, first-star."
Kintaro stands up abruptly, his resolve evident as he strides over to Samunami's desk. Placing both hands firmly on the table, he leans in with a determined look.
"Or," he starts, "you can give us a mission to practice on and prove we can handle more things."
He flashes a reassuring smile, his enthusiasm unyielding. Samunami's gaze shifts beyond him to the rest of the group, noting a few agreeing nods.
Tobi sighs dramatically, taking a drag from his cigarette before flicking it away. "Sorry for this idiot," he says, reaching over and yanking Kintaro back by the collar, "but he's got a point. If I'm stuck babysitting these brats, I might as well get some entertainment out of it."
Samunami raises an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Well, do you have any ideas?" she asks, leaning forward slightly, her curiosity piqued.
Tobi rubs his chin thoughtfully, the faintest smirk playing on his lips. "I do know someone who could help whip them into shape... but it's a long travel. Real long."
Samunami's lips curl into a sly smile as she leans back in her chair. "Then it's settled. Safe travels."
Kintaro's face lights up, his excitement bubbling over as he jumps in place. "Yes! Finally, a real challenge!"
"Oh and before you leave Tobi I have a message from Nanami. She said something about how fun last night was?" Tobi cheeks turn red a bit then he turned around while grimacing while Samunami chuckled.
Meanwhile, Chino watches Kintaro's antics in silence, his gaze unreadable. A faint thought crosses his mind as he narrows his eyes slightly. Kintaro…
*********
You said it would be long, but YOU DIDN'T SAY WE'D BE TREKKING THROUGH THE DESERT!" Himeko yells at Tobi, her voice cracking with frustration as her feet drag sluggishly through the shifting sands behind the group.
"Can't hear you from back there," Tobi quips without turning around, his tone as breezy as the faint winds doing nothing to ease the blistering heat. He's dressed in a baggy, cream-colored half-zip sweater with the collar casually folded down, a white tee peeking out from underneath. Around his neck dangles a white chain with a five-pronged star at its end, catching glints of the sun.
Behind him, one of Tenjin's massive, gray worm creatures slithers across the dunes, leaving deep furrows in the sand. Ju and Tenjin lie sprawled atop the creature, utterly drained, their faces shiny with sweat.
"Are we there yet?" Ju mumbles, his voice weak and hoarse as though the heat is draining the life from him.
"Almost," Tobi replies nonchalantly.
Tenjin suddenly bolts upright, brushing sweat from his forehead with a crazed look in his eyes. "Am I losing my mind, or has he said that before?" he laughs hysterically, prompting Ju to sit up and pat him on the shoulder, trying to calm him down.
Flanking Tobi are Kintaro and Chino, both visibly struggling in the desert heat. Kintaro's jacket is tied around his waist, his shirt sticking to his skin, while Chino seems to be pushing through sheer willpower, beads of sweat rolling down his face. Beside him, Padme staggers slightly, her face pale with exhaustion.
Chino glances at her. "Are you okay?"
"Y-Yes, I'll be fine. Thanks for asking," she responds shakily, forcing a smile.
Kintaro wipes his forehead, the effort barely making a dent in the sheen of sweat covering him. "Seriously, are we there yet? And where even is there?"
Tobi half-turns, a smirk tugging at his lips. "I hate spoilers, but we're almost there."
Kintaro lets out an exasperated sigh and trudges on.
"I've got to be hallucinating," Tenjin says weakly, raising a trembling finger to point ahead. "But I think I see a city."
Everyone freezes, squinting at the horizon. Slowly, hope begins to flicker in their eyes as they make out towering, white walls shimmering in the distance.
The group collapses at the gates, their exhaustion finally catching up to them. Ju, Tenjin, and Himeko practically bury their faces in the sand, praising the sight of civilization.
"We made it… we actually made it…" Ju breathes out, his voice filled with relief.
The gates of Deleite are imposing, towering high above them, crafted from pristine white stone with intricate carvings of mythical beasts and swirling patterns. The heat of the desert almost seems to stop at the city's edge, as though the walls themselves are enchanted to repel it.
Two guards in crimson samurai armor approach the group, their faces hidden behind eerie red oni masks. The metallic clink of their boots on the stone echoes as they stand before the groveling sorcerers.
"State your business," one of the guards demands, his deep voice muffled slightly by his mask.
Tobi steps forward, unbothered by the group's dramatic display. He adjusts his collar nonchalantly and pulls out a folded piece of parchment, handing it to the guard.
"We're sorcerers from the Kingdom of Shu," Tobi says coolly, his voice carrying an air of authority. "Here for the Games."
The guard examines the parchment, his eyes scanning it carefully before glancing back at Tobi. "The Games? Hmph. What business do Shu sorcerers have in our Sultanate?"
Tobi smirks slightly, his tone playful. "Same business as everyone else—entertainment and maybe a bit of coin if we're lucky."
The guard lets out a low chuckle, handing the parchment back to Tobi. "Fine. Open the gates!"
At his command, the massive gates groan as they begin to rise, revealing the bustling city of Deleite. The guards step aside, bowing slightly as they gesture for the group to enter.
"Welcome to Deleite. May your stay be entertaining."
As the group stumbles into the city, the atmosphere changes immediately. The paved streets gleam like polished marble under the sunlight, and the air is filled with the scents of spices, roasted meats, and perfumes. The crowd is a chaotic mix of travelers, merchants, and performers, all moving in a whirlwind of color and noise.
"This place is incredible…" Padme breathes, her eyes wide as she takes in the sights.
Himeko, still dragging her feet, mutters, "Yeah, incredible… and also loud."
Tenjin, looking rejuvenated at the promise of luxury, claps his hands together. "Deleite, city of a thousand pleasures! I'm starting to like this place already."
Ju frowns, pulling Tenjin back from wandering off. "Stick together, genius. This isn't a vacation."
Padme glances at Tobi as they weave through the crowds. "What exactly are these Games you mentioned earlier?"
Tobi doesn't answer immediately, his gaze fixed ahead as if searching for something. Finally, he replies with a mischievous grin, "If you're so curious, let's just go see them."
The group reluctantly follows him through the bustling streets, their exhaustion slowly giving way to curiosity and excitement.
Their journey ends at a massive colosseum, its gleaming stone walls almost blinding under the sun. The sound of roaring crowds echoes from within, and the vibrations can be felt even from the entrance.
Kintaro stares in awe, wiping sweat from his brow. "This place is huge… and packed."
Tobi smirks, turning to face the group. "Welcome to the Games. You'll thank me later."
*****
Akuma locks eyes with the oni, unwavering, her expression unreadable. Fear does not exist in her stance—only focus, only intent.
The oni, just as unyielding, tightens its grip around the hilts of its twin swords, muscles tensed like coiled steel. The air between them is thick with tension, an unspoken promise of violence about to unfold.
The announcer's voice booms across the colosseum, electrified with excitement:
"Ladies and gentlemen, today, we bring you a battle for the ages! A demon versus a demon's spawn! Standing before you, the blue beast of the desert, a terror of legend—Puma!!!"
The ground trembles with the force of the crowd's cheers. The announcer lets the excitement swell before continuing.
"And his opponent—the undefeated champion! A warrior born from chaos itself! The daughter of Asura… Akuma!!!"
The cheers grow deafening, the very walls of the colosseum shaking with the roar of anticipation.
The announcer raises her arms high, her voice soaring over the crowd.
"I want to hear you scream! Are you ready for bloodshed?!"
A thunderous roar erupts from the audience, fists pumping, voices merging into one chaotic symphony of hunger for battle.
The announcer grins, then drops her hands.
"Then let's begin! One! Two! Three! Fight!"
*To be continued—->…*
A/N: Hey lazy author here sorry for what a month break really just keep putting this to the side for other things but I'm back now(╥_╥)