Chapter Twenty Seven
The LORD has broken the staff of the wicked, the scepter of rulers, that struck the people in wrath with unceasing blows, that ruled the nations in anger with unrelenting persecution. - Isaiah 14:5
* * * *
Dawn was just breaking over the horizon when Terror Island came into view.
The island was very beautiful once upon a time, with silver sparkling white sand on the beaches, with several species of plant life growing on the island, and a gigantic mansion built on the island that could easily pass as a castle because of the size of it.
The entire mansion was made out of solid white marble, fashioned after an ancient Victorian style mansion, with ivy growing on the walls, and with red roof tiles.
There were also several fruit trees growing on the island, and there were many rabbits running wild. One could literally live on this island without having to go anywhere, as there was plenty of food and water on this island.
But after decades of having let the island fall into ruin, ivy and creepers have grown all over the walls of the mansion, giving it a slightly ominous look. The island was also almost completely overrun with trees and bushes. The mansion still stood tall and proud, but it almost looks like a prison of some sort to anyone who looked.
This was actually what was running through Yuri’s head as she studied the island as best as she could once all the Phantoms landed on the island, with the pilot flying the helicopter away.
From this point on, all the Phantoms were on their own, as they were literally on their enemy’s turf.
Yuri fingered her gun in her holster, before using her left hand to touch the communicator in her left ear, ensuring that it’s safely secured. All the Phantoms were issued communicators while they were in the helicopter, as it was about the only way to stay in contact with each other on the island. They had a pretty good chance of getting separated after all.
Riou was surveying the island before he turned to face his Phantoms, a grim expression on his face. “Alright, we’re going to have to split up,” he said curtly. “Without a doubt, Raven’s Gate must know that we’re here by now, seeing as how this is their turf. You may kill any who stands in our way. Our targets here are the Apostles and Kami. Our mission here is to ensure their deaths, as well as Raven’s Gate’s demise. Once the heads fall, the entire organisation will fall. Phantoms, get into your necessary teams and head out. Just don’t die.” Riou smiled a small grim smile. “Hati Phantoms, commence mission!”
With that said, Riou headed out by himself, as one by one, the other Phantoms left to go in different directions, leaving Yuri, Tohya, Ren, Sunny and Selina behind.
The five Phantoms exchanged looks with each other.
Sunny managed a small smile. “Well, it looks like it’ll be goodbye for now until the end of the mission,” he said. “I’ll be heading with Selina in this direction.” And he pointed towards the eastern side of the island. “Just don’t die.” He added solemnly.
“Let’s make a promise,” said Ren, looking from one to the other. “Let’s all return together. No matter what, let’s all return together. Then, let’s all have a drink again at Starlight’s Hall after this.”
Tohya, Yuri, Sunny and Selina exchanged looks before nodding and smiling, turning towards Ren.
“Let’s all return together.” Selina agreed. “I want to whack Mizuki-san one too, for selling us out like that! But…” Selina shifted on one foot to the other uncomfortably. “I guess he has his own reasons for doing what he did. It seems so long ago since we escaped from Shinjuku. It’s difficult to believe that it has only been two weeks.” Selina smiled at her friends. “Let’s all have a drink again at Starlight’s Hall.”
“Let’s get going then,” said Yuri with a small smile. “The faster that we get this mission over with, the faster we can go home.”
Tohya nodded. “Let’s go then,” he said.
The five Phantoms then left in different directions; with Sunny and Selina heading towards the eastern side of the island, whilst Yuri, Tohya and Ren headed towards the northern side.
Commence mission.
* * * *
Yuri glanced around her cautiously as the three of them wandered into what seemed to be the courtyard of the mansion. A fountain that depicted a statue of a woman pouring water from a jug was in the middle of the courtyard. The tiles in the courtyard were also cracked and broken with time, and with wear and tear. And like nearly all areas of the island, it was overrun with plant life as well.
Ren stopped in his tracks suddenly, a frown on his face as he glanced around him cautiously. “You guys felt that?” he stated more than asked.
Tohya sighed. “Yeah,” he said.
Yuri narrowed her eyes. “It’s here.”
As one, the three Phantoms leapt away immediately as a gigantic and loud crash landed where the three of them stood moments prior, throwing up dust and debris everywhere.
Yuri landed lightly on her feet next to Tohya, with Ren landing a little way away from them both. She then narrowed her eyes slightly as the dust cleared away slowly only to reveal a well-built young man standing in the middle of a crater, a nonchalant look on his face.
He didn’t seem to be older than twenty-six or twenty-seven, and his hair fell down to the length of his chin and was a curious shade of brown and honey-blonde, with his fringe partially covering his left eye.
He was wearing a white shirt beneath a long black coat whose ends fluttered around his calves, with only the middle three buttons of the coat buttoned together. A black choker with a silver cross hanging from it was hanging around his neck. He was also wearing pair of black trousers, along with a pair of black combat boots, and a pair of black leather gauntlets with an extended white cuff covering part of the forearm, the silver metal guards on the back of his hands finished his look off.
Tohya narrowed his eyes. “Who is he?” he asked. “I’ve never seen him before.”
Yuri and Ren exchanged looks.
They both had a pretty good guess who this guy was. The only Apostle within the Raven’s Gate organisation whom they haven’t had a chance of meeting yet: the leader of the Apostles, and the second-in-command of the Raven’s Gate organisation, Hugin.
“Stop right there,” said Hugin with an emotionless voice, staring straight at the three of them with dark eyes that almost seem like they could pierce right into a person’s soul. “You shall progress no further.” He clenched his right hand into a fist by his side before narrowing his eyes at them. “I won’t let you reach Kami, dogs of Hati!”
And the next moment when Yuri had blinked, Hugin was barely standing two steps away from her, his right fist drawn back. Acting on instinct and reflexes alone, Yuri threw herself backwards, and there was also the sound of a loud clang of metal on metal as she did so.
Blinking in confusion, Yuri looked up as her feet slid backwards on the tiles of the courtyard, her right hand on the ground to balance herself as she landed in a crouch. Tohya and Ren were both standing in between her and Hugin, both with their weapons out, parrying against Hugin’s gauntlets.
Grunting slightly, Hugin leapt backwards a few metres, flexing the fingers on both his hands. Tohya winced slightly as he examined Zeus, ensuring that it hadn’t been too damaged.
“Damn, is this guy Armstrong or something?” Tohya grunted in distaste, glancing at Hugin warily. “He’s damn strong!”
Ren grunted, flexing his right wrist, as he nearly broke his hand trying to stop Hugin’s attack on Yuri with a dagger that he always kept with him as a backup weapon of sorts. He glanced warily at Hugin as well.
He can see why Hugin is the leader of the Apostles, and the second-in-command of the Raven’s Gate organisation. The difference in power between him and one of the other Apostles is apparent. His power…is unlike anything that they have ever seen before. Is he on steroids or something?
Clearly, this guy…won’t be easy to deal with.
Ren glanced at Yuri before exchanging looks with Tohya, and both boys nodded.
They both knew that they couldn’t afford to waste any time here. And even as much as they hated allowing Yuri to go on ahead by herself, it is the only way, as they’ll be flattened if just one of them handles this guy. They had a brief understanding of his power with just that one move alone.
“Yuri, go on ahead,” said Tohya calmly, twirling his twin spinning knives, Zeus, in between the fingers of both hands, not taking his eyes off of Hugin. “We’ll deal with this guy before catching up to you.”
Yuri looked from Ren to Tohya and back again, a worried expression on her face as she chewed on her bottom lip nervously. “But…”
“Hurry up and go,” said Ren, glancing at Yuri out of the corner of his eye. “We won’t die that easily. You’ve got a score to settle with Kami, don’t you? Go.”
Yuri hesitated for a moment before a determined look entered her eyes as she met Ren’s eyes, and she nodded. “Just don’t die,” she said before she turned around and left the courtyard through the opened doorway in the wall behind her.
Hugin growled as Yuri made her way towards the exit, and readied his gauntlets. “I won’t let you!” he growled as he dashed towards Yuri, only to be stopped by Tohya who had both his twin spinning knives parrying against Hugin’s gauntlets.
Tohya gritted his teeth as he fought for balance and supremacy against that insane strength. Finally, Tohya won as he pushed Hugin backwards and the guy slid back on the floor a few metres.
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
“My apologies,” said Tohya, panting slightly, both his hands shaking slightly because of Hugin’s insane strength. “But we’re your opponents.”
Ren then flexed the fingers of his right hand, readying Elvigar. “Looks like the party is just getting started,” he stated. “I’m just starting to get warmed up myself. Let’s rock!”
* * * *
The sounds of battle could be heard via the communicator in Yuri’s ear as she made her way towards the mansion, which she is ready to bet, is where Kami probably resides. The structure of the mansion was like a maze of some sort, and the plant life that had overrun the entire island only made things worse.
It is probably a good thing that Yuri had a good sense of direction.
Yuri frowned as she listened intently to the sounds of battle that she could hear via the communicator. It seems like nearly every single Phantom out there were already engaged in battle.
She had chosen to walk through the forested area of the island, as Yuri is sure that it is the quickest route she can take to get to the mansion. Though it’ll be a miracle if she actually makes it to the mansion without anyone seeing.
Highly unlikely.
But a girl can hope, right?
Yuri sensed rather than heard something whistling towards her, and she ducked only to have three light green darts embed themselves into the trunk of the tree behind her. As Yuri glanced at the tree, she noted that the bark of the tree where the darts had struck had turned a light purple. The darts were poisoned.
Yuri narrowed her eyes. She knew of only one person in Raven’s Gate who uses poisoned darts as their weapon.
“Come out now.” Yuri hissed, sounding rather like an angry snake as she glanced around her surroundings. “I know that you’re here. Come out and face me, rather than hide like the coward that you are!” Her eyes flashed dangerously as she clenched her hands into fists by her sides. “Jessica Kwok!”
Yuri caught a movement behind some trees, and she turned sharply only to see Jessica stepping out from behind the trees with a self-confident smirk on her face, three light green darts being held in between the fingers of her right hand.
Yuri narrowed her eyes before withdrawing Odium from her gun holster, releasing the safety catch on it.
A fight between them was inevitable.
It had always been this way ever since they were both girls. They have always been bitter enemies, even back when both of them were children. The only difference now is that they are now both willing to fight to the death. Yuri swore to herself when her mother had died that she would seek vengeance for her death.
It seems that she would be fulfilling part of that vow today.
“It sure brings back memories.” Jessica taunted, a smirk curling at the ends of her lips. “To be facing each other once more. Our last fight was interrupted by that meddler, Sam. But it seems like there won’t be any interference from anyone today. Raven’s Gate and the Phantoms are busy with their own opponents.”
Yuri narrowed her eyes at Jessica. The way that Jessica had phrased her words made it seem like she was going to win this fight.
“As I recall, if that Sam guy hadn’t been there to drag you away that day, you would have died,” said Yuri, and Jessica narrowed her eyes. “You should have died on that day, Jessica. Your death has been long overdue for months now. I am here to collect.”
“Aren’t you confident today?” Jessica taunted.
Yuri studied Jessica intently, her right hand tightening its grip on Odium. “Back then, when you chased me down the streets of Shinjuku, how many people do you think were caught in the crossfire? And the riots that have been caused by Raven’s Gate so far… How many people do you think have died?”
Jessica glared at Yuri. “Sacrifices are necessary,” she stated with a tone like she’s talking about the weather. “Those people should be honoured for having the chance to die for the ideals of Raven’s Gate!”
Yuri glared right back with a look that would make the Great Glacier seem warm in comparison. “I see,” she muttered. “You can no longer call yourself human. You’ve sold your soul to the Devil!” She pointed her gun at Jessica. “I have no problems with killing you. I’ve wanted to do that for years now. One last battle. Our final battle against each other.” Yuri closed her index finger around the trigger of her gun as Jessica readied her darts for battle. “En garde!”
And the next moment, they both moved.
Three of the darts flew towards Yuri which she deflected with her gun, the darts stuck harmlessly in the trunk of the tree behind her. Yuri knew full well what a mere graze with a poisoned dart can do to her, and she has no wish to test that theory.
Her feet slid backwards on the forest bed as she pointed Odium at Jessica and fired three shots. To her frustration, Jessica had the sense to duck behind one of the trees in the area, having the tree act as a shield for her, and Yuri growled.
Fighting in this forested area isn’t easy for her, as the trees can act as a shield for Jessica whenever she fires her bullets. And Yuri has no desire to waste too many of her bullets, as she will still need them when she faces Kami.
Assuming that she can locate him first, that is.
Yuri growled as she surveyed her surroundings quickly. If she can’t use her gun in this place, she would have to stick to hand-to-hand combat. But even still, that is a risky move in and of itself because of Jessica’s poisoned darts. She wouldn’t put it past Jessica to develop a poison for her darts that could even kill an elephant.
But it didn’t seem like Yuri had any other options.
Her sharp ears then caught the sound of the light rustle of the dried leaves on the forest bed, and she immediately moved into action.
Jessica’s surprised and shocked face gave Yuri a sense of pleasure as she approached Jessica with a combat stance. A look of slight desperation appeared on Jessica’s face, as she was backed against the tree that she had been hiding behind earlier. Yuri’s quick eyes then caught the movement of darts thrown from Jessica’s fingers.
Yuri dodged two out of the three darts, but the third dart struck her on the shoulder. Against her better judgement, Yuri ignored the dart, and struck Jessica in the chest with a combat move that her uncle had only shown her once.
With her feet sliding back on the forest bed as she landed into a crouch, Yuri immediately pulled the poisoned dart out of her shoulder. But it was a little too late for that, as Yuri could already feel the effects of the poison kicking in.
Jessica coughed out some blood, the crimson liquid trailing from the sides of her lips as she smirked to herself, holding onto her chest. “You’re done for,” she taunted. “My poison can kill a man within seconds. I have won.”
Yuri smirked to herself as she stood up shakily. “I’m sorry to burst your bubble, but I’m afraid not,” she said as she met Jessica’s eyes. She then opened up the palm of her left hand only to reveal a small syringe with the inside being stained by some light gold fluid.
Jessica’s eyes widened in shock as she saw that syringe in Yuri’s hand. “It can’t be…!” she muttered, her mind putting two and two together immediately. “An antidote?”
“Bingo,” said Yuri with a smirk. “You got careless the last time we faced each other in Shinjuku. You left behind one of your poisoned darts. You didn’t think that we could easily create an antidote for your poison from that dart that you had left behind. And like every over-confident person, you banked all your success on that one poison alone. My uncle imparted another word of wisdom to me when he was training me: always have two aces up your sleeve.” Yuri smirked. “Your over-confidence is your undoing.”
“No. No! No!” Jessica shook her head, slowly growing hysterical as she threw her darts at Yuri who managed to dodge them all with ease. “I have won! I am the one who is the winner! Not you!”
Jessica rushed at Yuri with a dart in between her fingers, which Yuri dodged easily by pivoting around on one heel, knocking the dart out of Jessica’s fingers with the back of her gun. And it also helped that Jessica’s movements were rather sloppy, probably due to her growing hysteria.
But Jessica didn’t let up on her assault just yet as she dashed at Yuri with her right fist drawn back, and Yuri dodged every single one of her attacks, even managing to get in a few hits herself. But it seemed as if Jessica didn’t even feel it.
“Why is it always you?!” Jessica nearly screamed, as she tried to get in a few hits on Yuri which she dodged with ease. “It’s always been that way back then, and even now! Why is it always you?!”
“What are you talking about?!” Yuri finally snapped, growing tired of Jessica speaking in riddles.
“It isn’t you! It can’t be you!” Jessica nearly screamed. “I’m the one who is supposed to be the Chosen One! It isn’t you! It can’t be you! Not you! It’s supposed to be me! Me!”
Yuri can only stare as Jessica behaved in a way comparable to that of a severely unstable woman as she continued to dodge every single one of Jessica’s moves.
‘Oh great. She’s snapped.’
“I will win! I will be the winner!” Jessica nearly screamed. “I did extreme research on you. I know all your weak points and your strengths! There’s no way…” She shook her head from side-to-side slowly. “There is simply no way in Hell that you can beat me!”
Yuri raised a brow.
She had almost forgotten that she had asked Mizuki to let slip information about the Phantom XIII of Hati some time back. With everything that had happened the past month or so with Raven’s Gate and Hati, that little bit of information had almost slipped her mind.
I need you to put out some information out there for me, Mizuki-san. Make it difficult for someone to get if they should be investigating about the Phantom XIII of Hati.
In other words, so that your enemies won’t suspect anything if they’re searching for any information pertaining to you.
That was the revenge of Yuri Yagami, and the trap that she had set for Jessica Kwok.
“Jessica Kwok.” Yuri said calmly, and Jessica stopped her hysterical bouts immediately. Yuri switched her Odium from her right hand to her left, and Jessica’s eyes widened slightly. “Who do you think that you are talking to?” Yuri smirked at Jessica. Her plan had fallen into place. “Who do you even think allows you to get your hands on information concerning the Phantom XIII of Hati, Hekate?”
“W-What?” Jessica stuttered.
Yuri smirked at Jessica’s stunned expression. “Who do you even fucking think Persephone is?” Jessica’s eyes widened at the codename of the informant who had given her the information on the Phantom XIII of Hati. “Persephone is the name of the companion of the Goddess of Witchcraft, Hekate, in Greek mythology.”
Yuri smirked at Jessica’s stunned expression. “That’s right. I am Persephone. You really should have done your research properly. I allowed you to get that information on purpose.”
Jessica’s voice sounded faint. “…what?”
“Allow me to fill you in on a few things,” said Yuri, narrowing her eyes at Jessica. “The Phantoms of Hati have always worked on their own, even from the time of their inception. They trust no one but themselves.” Yuri took one step forwards, and Jessica took one step backwards in fear.
“They’ll allow no one to know about their own individual weaknesses. I trust Tohya and Ren with my life.” Yuri took another step forwards, not taking her eyes off of Jessica. “But it doesn’t mean that I would trust them enough to let them know about my own weaknesses. I’ll never allow anyone to know that, no matter who they might be. My uncle had taught me that. He told me once that having one know your weaknesses could be your undoing. That is what a Phantom of Hati is!”
Jessica took another step backwards in fear, that same fear currently reflected on her face. “It…can’t be…” she nearly whispered. “I…I have fallen into your trap? It can’t be…!”
But Yuri wasn’t done with Jessica just yet. “Haven’t you heard, Jessica?” Yuri taunted. “‘Karma always catches up to those who deserve it’.”
Yuri then raised her Odium, pointing the gun at Jessica. With this much distance between them both, Yuri could have hit Jessica with a bullet even with both her eyes closed.
Jessica looked at the gun in Yuri’s left hand with fear before turning her eyes to meet Yuri’s own cold eyes. “You’re left handed all this time?”
Yuri smirked, tilting her head slightly to one side. “You didn’t know, did you?” she stated more than asked. “My uncle had taught me this: we must always have two aces up our sleeves. This is just one of mine. For a gun wielder, if we lose the use of our dominant hand, we would be left helpless. I’m ambidextrous now, but originally…” She narrowed her eyes at Jessica. “I am left handed.”
Jessica chuckled bitterly to herself. “You’ve gotten me there,” she muttered. “I’ve lost this game. You truly are a master of the mind.”
Yuri narrowed her eyes at Jessica. “How long do you even think that I’ve been doing this?” she stated more than questioned. “I’ve been doing this far longer than you have been. Compared to me, you are nothing but a baby when it comes to our world. This…is my Justice!” Yuri narrowed her eyes as she pressed her index finger onto the trigger of her gun. “You ruined my life. Now, I shall ruin yours!”
A gunshot rang out.
Jessica stumbled back against the tree, her back against it, one hand holding onto her chest that had blood forming around the gunshot wound, with the blood patch growing larger by the minute. The girl then chuckled weakly to herself as she slid down the tree slowly into a sitting position.
“It doesn’t matter.” Jessica muttered.
Yuri narrowed her eyes. It doesn’t matter? What does that mean? “What are you talking about?” she demanded.
“Even if you’ve managed to beat me, you’ll never beat Kami.” Jessica chuckled weakly, releasing her hold onto her chest, and allowing her bloodied hand to fall by her side. “This battle…is Raven’s Gate’s victory.” She coughed harshly, hacking up some blood. She then looked in Yuri’s direction, and smirked weakly. “I’ll…be waiting for you in Hell…”
Jessica’s eyes then slid shut, and her chin fell onto her chest, her breathing having stopped completely.
Yuri studied Jessica’s dead body for several moments before she sighed, slipping Odium back into her holster. “Don’t you know, Jessica Kwok?” she muttered. “It is Hell here as well.”