Chapter 37: Once upon crimson ashes - Ambush at the square

12:10 AM. Crimson HQ, ground level:

"This ends tonight, Reaper." Reiji waved.

 To him, this is no ambush, but an execution. Men behind him had enough guns to win wars. Spread across 2 balconies; and throughout the courtyard outskirts were 'Black Legs' armed with rifles and submachine guns; Reiji hoped it would be enough but deep down he knew better. Numbers did not matter when dealing with the reaper.

"Any final words?" Reiji called. Eyes peered to his foe down on the crimson court.

Reaper's finger pointing towards the floodlights.

"Lights." He muttered quietly, much to the bemusement of Reiji.

*Crack* *Crack* *Crack*

One by one the floodlights were destroyed. Pitch black arrows raining down from invisible archers.

*RATATATATATATATAT*

Gunfire blazed, flashes and bangs rang throughout the court, bullets streamed in droves to the reaper's spot. Bullet rain illuminating the yard. Not a sight of the Reaper.

*FWOOOOSH*

Reiji aimed hands high above himself. Crimson blazes billowed out; pillars of flames wiping the moonlight sky. Crimson its new hue. Hiro and Panic watched; faces washed in burning inferno.

"Up there!" Pointed Hiro, Crimson highlighted his shadow form. Black legs ran at full pelt; Running up vertical on concrete walls. Their agility reminiscent of reptilian lizards.

"Sir? Are you all?" Hiro asked, shaken at his master's technique.

"Huff- Huff- Yes. Haven't used that spell in years..." A bead of sweat at Reiji's brow. Fatigue gnawed at the Crimson Guild's master. Chugging a flask from his breast pocket, revitalizing, warming, and stoking his flames.

"Let's go!" He ordered the remaining forces "You have your positions!" In a flurry, guilds dispersed out of the courtyard, spreading across the guild's HQ. Weapons loaded and waiting with keen anticipation.

---

'He took out the shadows.'

Reaper watched the crimson sky above. Without the dark he couldn't summon more soldiers; only 5 archers already at his disposal. Reiji had well prepared for this night. Or just got blind lucky.

*Swish* *Swish* *Swish*

Behind Reaper, black legs mantled onto the roof, twin daggers, and twin axes. Split down both paths as they maneuverer towards the reaper with nimble footwork. Weapons twirled through air; an art display like dancers.

*Dash*

At breakneck speed, the first black leg pounced. Twin daggers with sharp stabs, time slowed as bone clashed with steel. Both his gauntlet's batted away each incoming blow. Continuing a flurry of stabs and kicks. Not letting up for a moment, relentless attacks from a group of 20.

*Fling* *Fling* *Fling*

Archers unloaded black bolts with precision, piercing through unarmoured napes. Reaper; using his whip, slashed off hands and legs. Not stopping for a moment.

*Dash* *Dash* *Dash*

Agile feet finally broke through the lines of archers and whip slashes. Grappling an axe onto the Reapers back, whilst a pair drove daggers at his front. A pair of daggers to the face.

*CLANG*

Gripping an arm, Reaper flung the black leg down into the rooftop with a hard slam. Taking his dagger; using it to parry the second. Spinning at the grappled foe. Cutting deep into his nape. Sending both crumpled to the ground.

*Slash*

One tried to jump over him, but an axe throw put the black leg out of its misery.

Bones crunched as reaper cut them down. One by one. Lasted till all lay scattered around him, dagger coated in blood. His archers' casualties no longer by his side, laying under the crimson sky.

*Clink* *Clink*

One final Black leg emerged over the rooftop. Unlike the others. This one carried itself with an air of ferocity. Bulky built like an armoured titan. An executioner with an axe as long as his arm.

A pure white skull mask adorned their head. Bone horns curved from the back of its skull. Giving its otherwise pure form a more demonic intention. In fact, the mask had an uncanny familiarity, it was a perfect mirror to his own. Azure eyes pierced through white bone, the only distinction.

The ring was excited by the prey. Vibrating on Eren's hand; it had never been as excited as it was now.

*Fling* *Fling* *Fling*

Three smaller daggers caught The Reaper off guard. One pinned his right foot, one his lower abdomen and the last his right shoulder. His mask kept the pain to a minimum yet it still stung.

*Dash*

The executioner bolted. Moving to slice down on Eren, Axe head gleaming crimson.

Tearing his foot free, just as the blade hits the rooftop. Concrete cracked chips into the air. Rolling across the rooftop. Just enough to see a crumbled trail left by the axe.

*Clink* *Clink* *Dash*

The executioner charged at full speed. Axe poised overhead; his great tool of execution. Swinging down, Reaper took out the daggers in his gut and shoulder. Using them to counter. Blades met his ankles; hobbling the Black leg. Who in turn fell on top of Reaper, pinning him down on the roof.

*Punch* *Punch* *Punch* *Punch*

Laser focused on one task. Hitting hard enough to end its opponent. Eren did his best to dodge with the beast on his chest. Clocked shots of axe handle smashed across his temple. With only his hands to guard. Blocking oncoming punches was futile. Reaper wouldn't win with a toe-to-toe brawl.

'I'll let gravity end this.'

With each strike, a dodge. Weakening the concrete ever so slowly. Finally, the rooftop crumbled.

Both fell through plummeting several stories down. The Reaper's whip flung, spiralling up along an exterior railing.

*Crack* *Pop*

The whip slowed his fall allowing him to roll and onto the ground safely. Yet his shoulders didn't take it, his left shoulder popping out.

The executioner took all the impact. Groans of pain behind that bone mask. Axe embedded into the concrete, head cracked along with shattered shoulder and an ankle.

*Pop*

Effortlessly, the Reapers shoulder went back in. Still with a limp he approached. Taking the large axe from the ground, lifting overhead.

Now before final contact, it raised an arm to block. Fingers splayed out like an open palm in one last defiance.

*Slash* *Thud*

Its head rolling. Azurite eyes glazed, until it was met with Reaper's mask. It glowed through azure before returning to its grey husk.

---

'Fuck' Eren's shoulder and foot are killing him. Sitting on the executioner's carcass as a respite, resting his injured foot and inspecting the wound with the edge of the bone blade.

'Not as bad as I thought.' Eren saw that the wound had already begun to close. A fortunate blessing for his reaper blood. Even so, Eren winced. Shit, it still hurt.

Looking around; A stadium of sort, rows of seats surrounded an octagonal fenced ring. It took him back to his days in the land of the dead. Memories of fighting monsters played out before him. Those rows of seats would always be packed, reapers hungering for a bloodbath, like pack wolves starved for the next fight.

They would have loved to watch the siege.

Now though, he is out of the light. Shadows drew all around him. Finally, he had the perfect conditions to summon reinforcements.

*Clink* *Clink* *Foom* *Foom* *Foom*

Eren emptied his coffers, no solider will sit out this fight.

End chapter 37

***

*FWOOOOSH*

Jun woke with a start. Gazing up from underneath his bed. Crimson washed the moonlight sky. Clearly seeing flames licking their way upwards like a beacon of death.

"Eren..." He rushed up, barely any time to dress. Grabbing Seraph and his clothes. He knew exactly what was happening; his master is finally taking them down.

In a flurry of movements, he attempted dressing himself. To little success.

"Jun...? What's going on?" Through tired eyes, Mei emerged from her room.

"The bandits are being taken down; the reaper is out there by himself. Tonight, I'm going to help." He looked so determined; this is something he had waited a long time for.

"Stay safe then. Don't do anything Stupid."

"Trust me I won't." A toothy smile of reassurance, Mei loved Jun's boyish charms. Lifting any spirits of those around him.

Throwing on a light jacket and jeans, he was out. Ready for a fight.

By now many others were peering out of their homes. Watching the sky above. It was beautiful to behold, their whole lives fear, extortion, abuse, and corruption; then came the reaper. Putting those fears to rest, all whilst with the colours of their guild burned throughout the sky.

***

*Bzzt* *Bzzt* *Bzzt*

"Mmmmm"

*Bzzt* *Bzzt* *Bzzt*

Akiko's phone was going off. Reluctantly she picked up, even in the pitch dark; her aim was spot on for the button. An unpleasant tone answered back. "Akiko!" It was Kenji. Why the hell was he calling this late at night?

"Mmmmm. What?"

"Look at your window." She staggered towards the window. In the far distance she could see. Lit in a bright crimson hue, as though hellfire was sprouting from the ground. A circle of flames covering half the ward. "Shit. What is doing?"

"I don't know. Captain Shimada is gathering everyone right now; we need to evacuate the area. Do you need a ride?"

"No... I'll meet you there." Looking back at the bed.

"Bring your gear." *Click*

A deep breath from the blonde detective was followed by a shout. "Mai, get up." Pulling on the cover to reveal her barley clothed co-worker beneath. Only panties as her PJs.

"What time is it?" She groaned like a cat disturbed from its midday nap. If Akiko had any time to spare, she would have laughed.

"Emergency. Evacuation. The reaper is attacking the crimson bandits." She tossed Mai a bundle of clothes.

"We need to move. NOW!"

End chapter 37 Epilogue