Garuda Tribe arc

Fury's Warship: Wolfsbane

The Brig

5:00 A.M.

Fury and Circe had entered the brig of the warship. Inside lie only draugr that were sent by Silas to aid Fury in his mission. There were ten normal draugr locked away behind iron boxes and small Omni-Shields in front of their cell doors on the left side of the brig.

The bloodthirsty monsters were roaring and banging against the doors which unsettled some of the guards. No one could blame them. What were once your average demon or half-breed, are now nothing but mindless monstrous killers.

But neither Fury nor Circe were interested in those draugr. They were only interested in one. One far deadlier than the rest. Despite that Circe couldn't help herself but yawn as Fury woke her up from her slumber very early in the morning.

Circe yawned. "Honestly Fury. Taking a poor delicate maiden like myself to such a dangerous and vulgar place like this? Have you no shame?" Circe asked mockingly. Fury smiled in amusement.

"Hmph. You are the farthest thing from a delicate maiden. Besides, we already had dinner so I figured I'd treat you to dessert next. I heard demons are a favorite of yours." Fury said. Circe giggled.

"My, my. For a mutt, you can be a gentleman after all." Circe said.

"Only when I need to be. By the way, you asked me to help you get in contact with Silas earlier. What did you two talk about?" Fury asked.

"Oh just about our new pet. No need to concern yourself. Just know that it will help us in the long run." Circe said.

"I don't appreciate you keeping me in the dark. If you're trying to screw me over you'll regret it." Fury said in a threatening tone.

"SCARY!" Circe shouted in an exaggerated and mocking tone. "Have some faith in me darling. We're under contract, remember? I won't betray you for as long as I live. That was our deal." Circe said as she waved her hair back.

Yeah. Like I'm foolish enough to take you at your word. We'll see how long it lasts, little witch. Fury thought.

Fury and Circe reached the end of the brig where they stood in front of a large cell. This cell was much larger than the other cells and had two guards stationed at all times. Each personal warship belonging to a member of the crimson knights had a large cell like this for special prisoners.

"Open it." Fury ordered.

The guards didn't say a word and obeyed his command without question. They deactivated the Omni-Shield and opened the steel door. Fury and Circe walked into the cell where they saw it. The same draugr that attacked Henro and his friends at the Azalea Forest.

"Henro." The Draugr said in a growly voice.

The hulking monster had a chain collar around it's neck and chain handcuffs on it's arms. All three chains connected to the wall keeping it there. The chains were solid platinum so they wouldn't be easy to break free from but Fury also had the creature sedated just to be safe. Circe was nothing but amused at the sight and laughed.

"Oh Fury! It's just precious!" Circe squealed.

"I prefer to call it effective. But it'll only be really useful to us if you work your magic. Are you certain you can restore this creature to it's original form?" Fury said. Circe waved her finger and turned her head back to Fury.

"Tsk. Tsk. My ignorant hound. Allow me to enlighten you on something. A witch always keeps my word." Circe said with a sinister smile on her face.

"Hmph. I'll be the judge of that." Fury said. Circe turned her attention back to the draugr. She bowed her head and slightly pulled up her dress.

"Greetings creature. My name is Circe. The Vermillion Witch. Rejoice you lost soul! For you have the honor and the privilege of being graced by my presence. I seek to restore your broken soul and make all your dreams come true. Aren't you glad?" Circe asked as she reached her hand out to it.

"RAAAAAAH!" The Draugr roared as it lunged at Circe.

Circe wasn't worried in the slightest nor did she drop her smile but before anything could happen, Fury stepped in and punched the draugr square in it's jaw. He sent the draugr flying back towards the wall in a daze. Fury didn't even require the use of having the need to transform to do this.

"Aw. So you were worried about me." Circe teased.

"I was more worried for the creature." Fury smirked. Circe giggled. She turned her attention back towards the draugr and raised her hand towards it. Her eyes turned black and bright red mana formed around her body.

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"Capture my prey in your web my dear. Come forth: "Spider Queen" Jorōgumo!" Circe chanted.

A bright red light shined inside the cell. The sound of a giant spider could be heard as the light began to fade.

When the light was fully gone, a large yokai with the upper body of a beautiful woman with purple hair, black eyes, makeup, black hands and a beautiful green kimono. The lower half of her body was that of a large green abdomen with six large light green spider legs. Jorō stretched her arms and back.

"Ah. It has been too long since I have been summoned." Jorō said. She turned to Circe and bowed her head. "It is a pleasure to be graced with your presence again, Lady Circe. How may I assist you?" Jorō asked.

"The pleasure is all mine Jorō. I'd like you to restrain this creature please." Circe ordered.

"As you wish, my lady." Jorō said.

Jorōgumo turned toward the draugr and spat out a web from her mouth at the draugr and trapped it against the wall. The Draugr groaned in pain as it struggled to get free from the webs but it couldn't.

"Huh. The webs are harder to break than the platinum chains. Impressive yokai." Fury said with genuine praise.

"You honor me, Mr. Wolf." Jorō bowed.

Circe smiled sadistically at the draugr. She slowly walked towards the creature. Circe took a knee and raised her hand towards it's chest.

"RAAAH!" The Draugr roared again.

"Such rage. Such power. It seems your soul is not yet lost after all. It's burning with hatred. Circe places her hand on it's chest. For Silas. And Henro." Circe said.

"HENRO! SILAS! KILL HENRO! KILL SILAS! KILL THEM! KILL THEM! RAAAAAH!" Draugr roared.

"Now now. There's no need to worry. I told you I am here to help you. Make a deal with me and not only will I restore your soul, but both Henro and Silas will be yours." Circe said in a seductive voice.

"What!? Are you an idiot!? Killing Silas will only make Zena-!?" Fury tried to say but Jorō interrupted him.

"Shush! Don't interrupt the mistress." Jorō said sternly.

"Restore...my soul? Henro and Silas? Will be...mine?" Draugr asked. Circe smiled devilishly.

"Yes. Isn't that what you always wanted? To go back to who you were? Before Silas took that away from you? Before Henro took her away from you?" Circe asked

The draugr snarled. Circe then placed her hand on it's cheek. It looked at her.

"All of that can be yours again. Your body, your revenge, your freedom. Circe moved in closer towards it's ear. And her as well." Circe whispered. The Draugr gasped.

Fury was still in disbelief about what Circe was saying right in front of him. But he sighed and decided to play along.

"She speaks the truth. We are currently hunting Henro and his friends as we speak. Join us. Make a contract with Circe and not only will you regain your body, but you'll also have the power to vanquish your prey once and for all. See Circe and I have our own prey aboard Henro's ship. If all three of us work together, their lives will be within the palm of our hands." Fury smirked as he clenched his fist towards the draugr.

The Draugr stared at Fury in disbelief. It felt confused and conflicted. It all sounded too good to be true. The life it lost to Silas and Henro was no longer out of it's reach. She was no longer far from it's reach. But could it trust them?

Before it could think any further, Circe gently placed her hand on the other side of the draugr's face. The draugr looked at Circe. She had a warm gentle smile on her face.

"It's okay. You may not believe me but I understand how you feel." Circe said gently.

"You? You understand?" The Draugr asked.

"Yes. I know what it's like to have your freedom taken away from you. To be chained down and used by others for their own benefit. I know what it's like to be....wronged by the world." Circe said with sadness in her voice.

The Draugr watched her. It didn't know if she was lying or not. Her words sounded genuine but they could still be lies as well.

"But I promise you this. I will never be under anyone's thumb ever again. I will become more powerful than any mage the world has yet to see. And if any foolish mongrel dares to stand in the way of my freedom, I will take immense satisfaction in devouring each and every one of their miserable souls and toy with them for all of eternity!" Circe declared in her distorted voice as she smiled wickedly.

The Draugr was now scared of the young witch. Fury wasn't phased and Jorō was blushing and clasping her hands. In awe of her mistress.

"CREATURE! If you make a deal with me, I'll do everything in my power to help you trample upon the world that wronged you. In the honor of my title as the Vermillion Witch, until Henro and the scientist Silas die by our hand, I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU! I CIRCE SWEAR THIS TO YOU!" Circe declared wickedly as she held her hand out.

The draugr was moved by Circe's words. It still didn't fully trust her but at this point what other choice did it have? If it could finally have it's revenge and get back to her it didn't care about the consequences. But there was one last thing before it agreed.

"I will...take your deal. But I want a different name. Until I kill Henro....I don't want my old name." Draugr said.

"Very well. What will your name be then?" Circe asked.

The Draugr thought back to it's time at the Azalea Forest.

"Garuda Style: "Tempest Tornado!" Emilia shouted.

"Garuda. Garuda. Garu? No. Garō. Yes. That is my name. Garō." The Draugr said.

"Garō huh?" Circe asked.

"It means hungry wolf. Not a bad name." Fury said with a smirk.

"Very well. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Garō." Circe said with a satisfied smile.

"The pleasure...is...all..mine." Garō said as it grabbed onto her hand.

The deal was set. Both Circe's and Garō's souls left their bodies. Circe's soul turned into the manifestation of the witch's contract and Garō's turned into a pen and signed its new name onto it. Both its soul and Circe's flew down into Circe's throat and into her body. After that Garō's body began changing.

"RAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Garō screamed in pain. It's body is going through an intense transformation from the inside out.

Circe snapped her fingers and poofed away the webs holding it against the wall. It fell to the ground and it started getting skinner. It's face became more visible, showing that the draugr was a man.

Garō's skin was returning back to it's normal pale color, the hair upon his head regrew and underneath all the extra draugr skin were no clothes so he was naked. The transformation was all but finished so the strain on his body was fading. He laid on the floor recovering his breath.

Fury was shocked to see what Garō really looked like but then had a big grin on his face.

"So that's what you really look like huh Garō? Now I understand your hatred for that brat." Fury said. Circe was blushing and barely could contain her laughter.

"Yes! Yes indeed! Oh my dear Garō, I can't wait to see the look on Henro's face when he sees you again! IT'S GOING TO THE REUNION OF A LIFETIME! AHAHAHAHA! Circe laughed maniacally.