“In an age of myth, forgotten … Our Elements fought Shadow for dominion of the world, at least, that's what Oma used to say to me.” I say looking down at my side, Foo’s feather like turquoise mane gathering snow as we approach the mountain temple. “Ha! Elements, she ought to mention these shadows could also hurl our team from the mountainside, that would have been more useful to know before I agreed to this poor paying job.” We walk on, the white-out now covering most of the path, the vapor from my mouth blocking my vision with each deep bitter breath.
“Northeast gate, a statue of an ox and tiger,” I say checking the notes. “Finally, this is the place, Foo.” They silently look up at me, if it wasn’t for their blackened eyes they’d be lost in the snow to my poor vision. “Everything is snow and blasted wind, doesn’t seem to bother you much though, does it? What I wouldn't give for some warmth, guess I'll have to settle for the next best thing.”
I pull a small leather vessel from my side and swig the strong brew; Foo looking at me tilting their head to the side.
“You want some too?” I pour some of the liquor into my hand and kneel, “it really must be cold if a Snow Lion can feel it. I think I lost the feeling in my arms a while back,” I say looking at my hands, turning purple under the frost, the warmth from their tongue a welcome feeling. I ruffle their thick fur as I stand up, smiling.
We walk towards the gate, halting before passing through, I drop Kanabo from my shoulder, the long club hitting the snow with a silent thud. I rest my hand on the metal ring at its base.
“Well, nothing seems out of place here.” I shift my vision from side to side, looking for anything odd through the drift. “Not that I can see anything that is,” Foo stares past the gate, ignoring me, still walking on under the thick broken rope. “I guess I have no choice but to follow you, do I?” As I pass under the ornate wooden beams a bright shine catches my eye.
“Foo’s mane, I can see it again?” I raise my brow as I slow and ponder. “The snow has gone, in fact there's no wind either,” I look around the temple grounds and can clearly see the stone slabs, the woodwork, all of it immaculate as though the temple were built yesterday.
“It's as though the snow never existed.” I say to myself as I grip Kanabo firmly in both hands now and press forward, Foo already by the top of the steps entering the shrine.
“Foo...” I lost sight of that damn lion. “Foo... You’ve gotta get back here, somethings, not right here...” My thought trails off as I gaze inside the unearthly opening.
“Foo?” Before the gate... the inside looked... black, even in the snow I couldn't see anything. But now I can see a glow, floating purple hues by the walls going deeper inside, somehow deeper than the temple. my legs stiffen, but I’m no longer cold.
“Yeah, I'm not going inside there,” I step back a few paces-.
Without notice, wood exploded from the temple wall splintering past me into the courtyard with a dense thundering crack. Foo propelled from inside hits the stone blockwork and tumbles into a statue with a bone rendering crunch as I stand there wide eyed.
I feel my skin cool, my breath quickens and sweat drips down my head and back. I hear Wood creaking and bowing, like under a heavy weight, from within the temple. The violet hue inside the temple slowly going dim, one by one, I grip Kanabo tighter as I stare into the chasm.
“Shit”
Emerging from the dark, a great hulking figure slowly emerges.
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“Horns.”
I hear a loud thump with each step.
“T-Teeth.”
A slight pause between each thud, the sound getting louder.
I feel my stomach churn as its miserable dejected skin becomes visible by the light of day, burning my eyes.
“S-s-shadow...” My chest tightens as the Oni takes shape before me. It moves down the steps. The wood buckling under its mass, creaking as it bends to support the Beast.
I stare at the eye above its mask as it draws near, but the eye gazes elsewhere. The monstrosity strides past me voiding a thick haze in its wake, the terror leaving my heart momentarily as I realize the target of its gaze.
“Foo!”
As the haze passes, I force myself to turn around. The giant assemblage of flesh heading toward Foo, still on the ground. I raise Kanabo to my side as I lower my stance.
“Bloody hell, I'll regret this,” I say stepping lightly towards the back of the demon. I swing my back foot around with my whole body, along with my club, extending my arm out and planting the top of the shaft and its studs square into the side of the Ogre's head.
He stops dead.
I can see a crack in one of its horns, my club still held in the side of its face, but nothing more. No blood, not even flinch. I feel my heart beating now tight behind my armour as the troll turns on the spot to face me, revealing a single crack running along its hideous mask. I flip my weapon around into my other hand and jump back into form, shaking with great hubris.
Again, I swung myself around and planted another spectacular blow into the beast's face.
Nothing...
The only movement to be seen was the smog shifting from the force of my blow. Like dust off a mat, it just stood there... unwavering.
As I step back and prepare for another blow the Oni lunges towards me with a singular purpose, an open palm fast approaching my body strikes me in the chest. I can feel the impact through my lamellar, as though I was struck by a great iron bell. I hit the ground a good distance away, Kanabo flung from my grasp.
I get myself up, head ringing, my hands throbbing from being scraped along the floor. I use the wall for support and search for Kanabo, shuddering, my shoulders working with each breath.
The monster was heading back towards Foo. They had come back around, growling at the ogre, as a bolt of lightning struck the temple. fragments flying past as I shuffled towards my weapon.
The Oni and Lion fight as I limp back towards them.
Foo leaping and biting, the beast trying to claw back. But Foo dodged its blows, whirling around the Ogres body, the hues of purple haze dissipating as the light of Foo’s coat flows back and forth from my vision and the darkness.
Foo jumps back and the Oni jolts towards me and raises its hand, I have no time to ready myself, my legs remain glued to the ground as its hand swings towards my head.
Abruptly a light flashed Infront of me, maybe another bolt had struck, as the ogre stumbled away from me. No, it was Foo. Their teeth hooked into the beast's arm, clawing away as the Oni tried to regain its balance.
Suddenly it grasped Foo’s neck. Wringing and ripping Foo off with a chunk of their own flesh and throwing them into the burning temple, their white shine fading into the shadow and flame.
“NO!” I yell, my throat throbbing as I steal myself.
I eye the creature in defiance.
“Damn you demon, Kanabo! sing for me!” I brandish my club. Both hands at the bottom of the shaft as I flourish Kanabo over my head and downward, screaming with great wrath, upon the ogre.
Unflinching, its mask breaks. Pieces fall to the floor; I see one of its eyes peering at me and a grin forming as it approaches me. Its immense hand pushing my weapon down and away passed its face, grabbing my neck.
I struggle as I'm lifted from the floor, unable to swing I twist and pull the ring on Kanabo, unleashing a thunder of black power “Ha, take that shitcan!” Pride in my voice.
The cloud fades.
A single trickle of blood comes down past its eye as it laughs at me. Its deep booming voice mocks me in a slow drone as it licks the blood with its thick clotted tongue.
“Such spirit... undernourished human, Iyo is the one... slew your companions. Yet you abstained from his... Makutu,” my vision blurred, the haze enveloping my body. “Even without that... apparition... you withstand Iyo’s presence... in Iyo’s own domain!” The creature removed the rest of its mask.
My last sight, its terrifying features. Smiling, blending into night as I'm dropped to the floor, my lungs filling with thick vapor, smouldering, as I hear the Demon utter-
END