Saburo’s intense gaze lingered over a pool of water. Hanafuda papers floated in it, and a vexed look came across his face.
His raccoon dog jumped into the room, “Hey, boss, we’ve found some things.”
The weasel followed him inside.
“That’s good,” Saburo kept his eyes on the water. “What is it?”
“There’s a fox bitch here. Do you want me to kick her ass now or later?” the raccoon dog asked.
Saburo said, “She isn’t our enemy, Itsuki. Don’t harm her unless she attacks you first.”
“What? She’s a kitsune!” he narrowed his eyes. “You can’t trust foxes.”
The onmyoji retorted, “Pursue your interspecies rivalry on your own time. Right now, you’re getting paid to work for me.”
“What are you doing, anyway?” Itsuki wondered.
“I’m performing divination, seeing possible futures,” Saburo explained. “I can’t see that many just yet, but all of them involve a battle with the invading yokai and their allies. This also confirms that Haru is on our side. He’s involved in all of them. Tell me what else you found in your infiltration this time.”
“They haven’t made any progress and they’re pretty disorganized. I don’t see how there could be a battle.”
“That’s because the battle is a result of a trap. A portion of our enemies are going to be lured there and ambushed. It’s a good plan, but a risky one.”
“I found something too!” the weasel told him. “There was this enenra, okay? He came from a fire that burned the body of a draugr. Apparently, a vampire killed him.”
“That confirms more things. My visions are definitely accurate. Then it’s time to move out. I have another job for you two, if you will take it,” Saburo said.
“As long as I’m getting paid,” Itsuki shrugged.
The onmyoji stated, “We’re going to help that witch’s group in the upcoming battle.”
Darkness enveloped the ocean. Sadako looked onward as waves battered her.
An iso onna approached her, “What’s wrong?”
“One of our own was injured,” she told her. “I can smell her blood.”
“Then why aren’t we saving them?”
“Because they’re pretty close to the town. We’d risk exposure, especially if we bring our umi bozu with us,” Sadako sighed.
“How is that an issue?” Alver strummed his lute. “My draugr and your numbers should be good enough.”
The female yokai felt their hearts melt as they gazed at him and heard his beautiful melodies.
Sadako said, “You’re right. We shouldn’t worry. There are more than enough of us to go on this rescue mission, even without our strongest fighters. Everyone, let’s go!”
The yokai force and their allies crept through the darkness avoiding humans. They could kill all the humans in the town, but they didn’t want to risk exposure just yet. Their numbers were increasing. Yet, a large enough force of humans could still crush them. This was especially true if the onmyoji got involved.
Up ahead was a canyon between two large sets of rocks. Bits of water had fallen in over the years, carving it in on its way to the sea. All that was left of that water was a small stream running through the canyon.
Light glowed in front of them as they turned a corner. More and more lights appeared as Erik stood in the center of the canyon. He took a bow.
“Hello, sissy men and women,” Erik smiled. “I see that you’ve finally chosen to show your faces.”
“Which one of us did you kill?” Sadako glared.
He replied, “Just a draugr, no one else.”
“Then you’re the one resp…hang on, what do you mean no one else? What about the blood we’re smelling?”
“I’m a vampire. I can do all sorts of things with blood,” he said.
Laughter broke through the canyon. Alver lifted his head and glared at Erik with pure hatred.
“That explains it, explains how you could defeat me.”
Sadako blinked, “Then he’s the one from all those years ago.”
“Yes,” Alver nodded. “He’s the one.”
“We’ll kick his ass for you!” an iso onna promised.
A kawahime added, “How dare he mar your handsome face?”
“Umm, I’m sorry,” Erik tilted his head. “But just who are you?”
Alver was confused, “Hang on, can’t you see my face?”
“I can, but I don’t think we’ve ever met.”
“That can’t be it! You must have forgotten about me!” he swiped his hand. “My nemesis, Egil Erikson!”
“No, I’m not Egil Erikson, I’m Erik Egilson. Egil Erikson is my father, and he did tell me about facing various monsters,” Erik noted.
“Egil Erikson…Erik Egilson…what’s with your weird names?” Alver asked.
He answered, “Well, I was named after my grandfather, Erik Erikson.”
Sadako said, “Hang on, who’s who again?”
“That guy’s the son of the guy who humiliated me,” Alver walked forward with a smile on his face. “I may not have been able to wreck his shit, but I can get vengeance on his son! Prepare yourself, Erik. I…”
Before he could continue, Erik punched him. Alver flew back and slammed into a rock. All that was left of him was a red stain.
“I’m getting the feeling that I just killed something worthless,” Erik commented.
“You bastard!” a female yokai called out. “How dare you kill him!”
The viking replied, “How dare I? I’ve killed uglier.”
Rage pulsed through both the female yokai and the draugr.
Sadako shouted, “Kill him! Everyone, kill him!”
Fire fell out of the sky as they charged. One draugr was caught in it. He screamed in pain as he was burned to death. Beauregard and Hisa charged out of the darkness, the former engaging in a swordfight with a draugr and the latter jabbing her spear at a kappa.
That kappa ducked under it and swiped at her with rending claws. Hisa used her spear to pole vault back before turning and whacking it in the face. The spear bounced off.
“What? Were you trying to hurt me?” the kappa asked.
Hisa answered, “Don’t underestimate me! The asskicking has just begun!”
She slammed her spear into the kappa over and over, doing no damage.
Five draugr charged Erik. He tried to use the reach of his longaxe to keep his distance, but their blows hammered him. Every time he went on the offensive, a draugr got within striking distance. One drew a fire rune, forcing Erik to dodge.
“Dammit,” he thought. “There’s too many of them.”
An iso onna jumped into the air, only to be blasted into a rock by Haru’s wind. She saw him hiding at the top of the canyon. The yokai blasted him with water. Haru was forced to duck for cover before returning fire.
Sadako got behind Erik and prepared to attack his back. The viking couldn’t handle that many enemies; however, he was far from alone.
“Kyuu kyuu nyo ritsu ryo!” Saburo called out.
Several pieces of hanafuda paper flew out, blasting Sadako with fire. She screamed out in pain and crawled back to her lines.
Erik ducked under a sword strike and called out, “I don’t know who you are, but I’m grateful for your help.”
“Don’t mention it,” the onmyoji spoke. “Just focus on the fight.”
The vampire nodded, shouting, “Keiko, now!”
After a moment, Anzu appeared midair and charged the kappa line as they advanced towards Erik. The demon blasted fireballs at them as Saburo sent out more hanafuda paper. These wrapped around the kappa, pinning them in place.
Sadako grimaced in pain; however, that didn’t stop her from observing the battlefield. She realized what needed to be done to win:
The spellcasters had to die.
Ved'ma Story 