Chapter 10 – The Puppet Master

Four Hours to Sunrise

The six newly created knights that had flanked the death knight were now all rushing towards Kazama as she knelt on the ground. These knights were much different from their black counterpart, as they all wore very light chainmail compared to the black’s heavy armor. The red versions carried dual short blades whereas the blue’s wielded simple pikes. Just as the first wave began to approach Kazama, she leapt into the air and quickly thrust her blade into one of the oncoming knights. Her damage registered and she whooped in victory. The rest of the mob reacted in unison by swinging their weapons madly at her as she came to a free fall behind the damaged knight. Kazama stared at the knights and her lip twitched into a smile.

“There’s only six of ‘em, three of each color. But…” She glanced over at the black knight as she thought to herself, “Why isn’t that one going all out too?

She was immediately broken from her thoughts when the pike bearing knights decided to rush her. Kazama responded with a new found fury, her blades battling the pikes until her they found their way to the knights themselves. The voice spoke up again to commend her for her actions so far.

“Wow, you really are talented Kazama! You’re actually surviving a wave of death knights! Normally my prey falls with the first sword attack, but not you. You may prove very useful indeed then…”

Kazama angrily spat as she blocked another blow from a knight

“Oh shaddup already! I don’t know who you are, or even what you think, but I’m gonna turn you lips into mincemeat when I’m finished here!”

And with that statement, Kazama dealt a heavy blow to one of the damaged knights, killing it instantly. The knight shattered and one of its companions quickly stepped in to take its fallen comrades place, not even allowing Kazama to stop for a breath of fresh air. She maneuvered herself around the motionless black knight and prepared herself for the coming wave of knights. From within the depths of its helmet, the knights red eyes blinked….

xXx

The Cathedral, Four Hours to Sunrise

“And that’s why she went to this academy alone?” Asked Nabiki as Shohei finished telling her everything that had gone down earlier in the night.

“Yeah, and had I stopped her, I bet it would’ve cost my right arm…That girl’s tough in many ways…”

Nabiki bit her lower lip a bit and looked down. In a low and shaky voice, she spoke aloud to Shohei.

“But even so, why doesn’t she want me to go with her? It’s because I’m weak huh? She’s afraid I will just get in the way…”

“No, that’s not true at all….”

Nabiki looked at him with slight tears forming in her eyes, and he just look at her with a sympathetic smile.

“That’s not the reason at all. She would feel guilty if she let you get hurt, and so that’s why she went alone. She doesn’t want to involve any more people in this and let them get hurt cause of these people. But even so….” He brought a finger up to wipe a tear away from her face. “Don’t cry Nabiki. Just make sure you let her know your there for her, okay?”

Nabiki began to frown for a moment, but then turned it into a smile.

O-okay……..I guess I shouldn’t be angry and upset……”

“Exactly! It’s now four hours to the days first light, so you better go get ready. I told her that I would let you do anything you want after then.”

Nabiki stood up and smiled at him brightly, causing him to smile more as well.

“Alright then! I will just have to wait a bit longer, but I promise you…I’m gonna give her a knocking on the head when I see her!”

Then, she turned around and ran off, with Shohei grinning widely.

“See Kazama?” He started as he watched Nabiki run off, “You have people here in this game of misery who really care for you deeply. And as such, those people, be they friends, lover or even rivals, will keep you happy and make you stronger. Cause without friends, no one can really call themselves strong…”

xXx

Magic Divisional Building

Kazama had finally finished another one of the knights of and only four of them remained standing. A moving figure on the second level caught her attention and she glanced over at it. All she could see was a fully cloaked figure staring down at the battle, almost just observing it like a bird of prey, ready to swoop in when the moment called for it. The figure must have noticed and spoke to her.

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“You are passing with flying colors Kazama, you managed to put down two death knights. But now I must activate my ace in the hole….” The figure raised a fully covered arm and spoke loudly to the black knight. “It is time for you to strike her my pawn! Prove your usefulness!”

The black death knight twitched and came fully to life, swinging its blade towards Kazama.

“Those lesser knights may be easier for you, but the real thing is so much better.”

Kazama was caught off guard as the other knight’s blades and pikes came down on her. She shut her eyes, fearing her doom when the loud sound of an enemy shattering into pixels pierced her ears. With astonishment, Kazama watched as the figure of Sheshiro stood amidst the falling pixels of two knights. Kazma creid out in surprise, not aware of how he was even there.

“S-Sheshiro?! H-how did you do that…wait, how did you even get here?!”

Sheshro closed one eye and thumbs upped Kazama as the remaining knights rebalanced themselves.

“Shohei told me to follow you guild leader Kazama!”

“That bastard told you to follow me?!”

“Yeah, and oh!” He shouted with wide dough eyes, “Behind ya, at about 12 o’clock!”

Kazama’s face twitched as she spun around, locking one of her blades with the black death knights just in time. Sheshiro looked up at the figure on the second level and grinned with smugness.

“Lemme guess, you’re the guy kidnapping the PC’s around this place, huh?”

“Heh, you got me there. But kidnapping is such a cruel word. I think “Taking in” suits what we do so much better…”

“We huh?” Sheshiro said as he dusted off his long trench coat he was wearing. “Well it looks like we will have to end your fostering service right here, right now!”

With a leap, Sheshiro swung two blades from within his coat arms and aimed for one of the knights chests. The knight blocked his attack, but he pressed his swords against the knight’s blades with a happy smile. An oozing sound began to emanate from his blades as they expanded and whipped around the knights blades, sticking it in the face. Meanwhile, Kazama was pushing the black knight backwards with successive rapid fire like sword blows.

 “Hmpf, I gotta admit, having these extra swords as well as an extra man really helps me kick your ass!”

Kazama had finally managed to push the knight into a far wall and began to chip away at its HP bar the slow way. As she was chipping its HP bit by bit, the same blue lightning began to glow from behind the knight. Just as it began to snake its way towards her blades, she jumped back to avoid its full force.

“I’m not falling for the same trick twice!”

The black knights glowing red eyes began to twitch, as if it was thinking hard about something. As it did, Kazama brought both of her blades and pointed them towards it. The knight brought down its blade down in response to Kazama’s arrival, but she in turn responded by leaping on top of it and striking with full force at its helmet. With a lough crack, the helmet began to fall apart as Kazama prepared to attack its exposed face. The helmet fully fell away from the knight and Kazama stopped her action and stared blankly at the face of the knight. A PC name tag appeared over the knight’s head.

>> Player Name: Yuko “The Wall” Shizu

“T-That’s impossible!” Kazama shouted as the figure above her answered.

“Quite the contrary. This is not an NPC creature run by the game like I said, but an actual PC under my full control! She is very useful don’t you think?”

Kazama stared in horror as the face of a young girl with flowing black hair and fire red eyes stared at her emotionlessly. Sheshiro looked back from his battle and comment with a whistle over the newly discovered identity of the knight.

“That’s one of those players you “took in” huh? And she doesn’t seem to be aware of the situation or even in control of her own body.”

Kazama took over the conversation and spoke to the girl.

“Hey! Snap out of it already! I don’t think you want to be doing this!”

The girl’s face twitched at the response, as if Kazama was getting through to the girl lost in the enslaved mind. But instead she raised her long sword and got ready to attack more.

“Hahahahaha! You really think she will listen to you? HA! She only listens to the puppeteer and not the audience. She will listen to my grounds until she is ground into dust. Her life is dependent on me, and I can snuff it out in an instant!”

The girl narrowed her eyes at Kazama and began to swing her long sword. Kazama readied herself in disbelief as the girl swung her blade. Within seconds they connected and tried to force the other away. Kazama shouted once more at the girl as she tried to push her back.

“C’mon Yuko! I know somewhere inside you is the real version of you! I highly doubt that guy up there has total control of your will! If you could just listen!”

The girl was still emotionless to Kazama’s attempts to free her and only attacked once more. The girl behind the longsword really did look like all life had been stripped away from her. Sheshiro finished off his final opponent and made his way towards Kazama to help out. The figure above only rose another hand and sent a shock wave of blue lightning towards him, knocking Sheshiro to the ground in pain.

“Now now,” Began the figure with a hint of pleasure, “I’m afraid there is no more room for out show today. Please come again soon…”

Shohei sat up and spat some blood as he gritted his teeth.

“Looks like I can’t help you out as much as I would like to boss!”

Kazama looked back towards him with a frown.

“It’s no problem, you’ve already done a bunch! Just make sure you keep yourself alive o-“

Kazama was cut off when the girl began to get erratic with her sword attacks. Kazama decided to go all out with her blades and struck the girl with the force and might of a storm. As they fought, the two women spun up a billowing cloud of dust, obscuring them form view for a few moments. Sheshiro watched and waited as the cloud began to dissipate. When they could be seen again, the two where now apart, with Kazama kneeling as the other girl blinked her eyes rapidly. The figure began to laugh.

“Is that really all you have? Oh come on, I thought you were much stronger when you fought Midnight, but this is sad to watch. You can’t even defeat a mere puppet!”

“You’re wrong.” Kazama said with a gleam of new energy in her eyes.

“W-What?! I’m never wrong! She is unbeatable under my control!

Kazama stood up and wiped some blood away from her face, speaking to Sheshiro as she did so.

“Sheshiro, I need you to stand back a bit. Things are about to change.

“O-okay boss!”

As soon as he ducked backwards, Kazama spoke aloud to the girl.

“In our last bout, I saw you almost break that creeps spell. He may think you’re completely controllable, but you’re really not. All you need is a push or two to get your head set on straight, and so that’s what I’m gonna do!”  

Kazama rushed in and instantly connected both of her blades with the girls, causing her face to twitch more. And just as before, the blue lightning could be seen seeping from every inch of her body, snaking its way towards Kazama. Kazama made no attempt to move away and struck back with more force, making the girl’s face react for real finally. The lightning began to reach the blades and Kazama shouted loudly into the air.

“This is where you break your spell and help me!!!

She squeezed her eyes shut as the lightning began to crackle all round her body, racing for her vitals.

End Chapter 10