Part 1

A few weeks ago

At midnight in grassland near the military camp of Brisca's border troops, five individuals were having a business meeting.

On one side were two from Brisca a duke and a general opposite of them were three men wearing jesters' costumes.

Their costumes were designed differently than what other jesters wear.

One's costume had diamonds all over while the color was a mix of purple, green, and white with a skull mask that was also white.

Jack of Diamonds

The other two were wearing an all-out purple having 10 diamonds on it representing the number ten.

Ten of Diamonds, a bodyguard unit for the top elites of the Masked Jesters Unit.

"And here I thought this was only a normal business transaction. Why is it that you guys are here instead of someone who really represents the empire?" Said the duke.

"Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa, why of course you'll deal with us since this is an unofficial meeting done in secrecy behind your king, so of course, it's us and it's nice meeting you again duke or should I say mercenary king and you too general Mario."

A meeting between the empire's agents who operate in intelligence and assassination and the kingdom of Brisca's duke and a general under the king.

"Mamma Mia, Duke you know these guys?"

"This is not the time nor the place to explain our relationship, so let's get down to the business at hand." The duke seemed unbothered by the look the general gave after knowing they are acquainted.

"Okay, thank you for accepting to meet with us, as you guys are aware of what happened three months ago a kingdom in this continent was erased and its perpetrators are yet to be found but we know who did it and your suspicions are right it was indeed done by the snakes but not alone because there is another hand behind it." Jack of Diamonds was smiling behind his mask as he gave them the hook for the bait.

"Wait you're saying there's another force involved?" Questioned the general.

"Yes general, as you know the snake has enough power to be called a nation of its own but since they can't show themselves, they are a hired knife or what you call an assassin guild."

"However before we talk about the terms for this business we're about to do let me give a little information about what the snakes have been doing in your land and by the way, this is not for free." Said Jack of Diamonds.

"Okay, we have the time." Said the duke as his interest was peaked besides he was already ready to accept whatever their deal is.

Jack started to explain the unknown history of this land and the deal that was struck two times by the current king and his grandfather.

He went on and told them what the snakes were aiming to do in this land as horrors filled the face of the duke and the general.

He even told them about the time the plan was gonna hatch as well as the auction ticket that's been going around for the items to trade with can spark war in nations if it's known to the public.

"Now that you are aware of it the term stands as this. 1: Either you'll accept what we present to you becoming a vessel state for the empire we don't care who amongst you will have the seat of leadership. 2: Understand that you will not leave here tonight without accepting it or being 6 feet underground because make no mistake what you heard cannot be known to other nations on this continent. Besides they are looking for a reason to wipe you out since rumors of slavery are even going to the public's ears and they need a scapegoat for the disappearance of Moon kingdom."

"Is this threat supposed to make us agree with your deal I promise you we did not come here alone or you're a fool to think we trust you." Said the general as he got up being furries at what the jester just said.

"I accept if am to be the king." Agreed the duke not even batting an eye.

"What! Have you gone insane duke?"

"Think about it Mario, what did the saintess say on the last meeting the faction held beside you know full well that our incompetent of a king is losing power to the nobles because he let them do as they pleased, you have to reason this kingdom is falling and we need a hand that will help us change its fate." The duke's tone changed as if to persuade him.

"Yes, being under the empire means freedom for the people because there will no longer be a class system like the one you have now." Said Jack being happy at what the duke said to the general because once he thinks hard the term is more to their side than the empire but that's fine as time will change things.

"Then it's a deal but remember no military personal from the empire is to set foot in here." Said both the duke and general agreeing to it.

The jester got up as he and his bodyguard lowered their heads doing the salute performers do after they're done.

"As we are done here excuse us gentlemen we're needed elsewhere."

Saying that all three jesters were sucked into the ground by a white light before disappearing but there was no hole in the ground.

"So, that really was Jack last time he dropped from the sky and now he's sucked into the ground man these people have weirdly useful abilities." Said the duke staring at where they disappeared to.

"Indeed it's one heck of an ability since they came into a land without a notice."

"But duke will they hold their end of the deal?" Asked the general.

"Only time will tell but you should organize your troops and for your brother, you should be able to bring him on our side." The duke was already preparing for what was to come. And him being him all the work he did in the past was leading to this day. This is where he will reveal his true self to the world.

"Don't worry he's already been thinking of revolting but what concerns me is the fat pig since his nobles support him no matter the cost."

"Oh, that pig is dead alright because his time has ended." The duke laughed creepily.

Miles away in the distance the three jesters were ridding horses with flaming hoofs and from their nostrils came flames as they ran like the wind.

Blue-leveled monsters, firey horses that can run as fast as the wind, they were bred in a farm by the empire to be used by the military or their secret agents.

Hours later after arriving at their destination a white door appeared and closed after they entered.

Now in the present.

In a white room, Jack of Diamonds was sitting on a sofa relaxing as he looked at the ceiling and behind stood his two bodyguards ten of diamonds.

On the white desk in front of him lay a mirror that had a white pearl attached to its back.

The mirror started vibrating as the shadow of someone was flashing.

"Uh, Jack here…" Picking up the mirror he was bothered behind the mask because his time of day was intervened.

"And what's with the tone?" The person inside the mirror asked not happy with the tone he heard.

"Oh, King, don't mind that what's up."

"How is the mission going?" Asked King.

"Well, phase one failed and I'm trying to not get noticed because the surveillance in the county is high."

"That is no excuse to lay down in your little white room, higher-ups are demanding you get the rumored tenth item and that little princess."

"You are asking for the impossible there is a king-level monster and thousands of snakes everywhere… and since the sun has set there is no stopping them."

"Jack, the result is what matters even in your death bring them, failing is not an option."

"OK… Jack out!" Jack of Diamonds put down the mirror face down not liking his situation.

"King of Spade just you wait, you cannot stay on that seat for long." Jack of Diamonds got up walking like an undead.

"I will show him, Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa…"

***

Part 2

In an alleyway above ground in the county of Red.

"Oy, where is that fool, and why are you with his communication device?"

One of the scholars was talking to someone in a mirror.

The person in the mirror looked like a teenage girl.

"If you mean the old man he is in the lab doing some research."

"Then go to him we gotta talk."

"No can do he said it's important and can't be interrupted."

"Fine just tell someone we need a ride… out."

Putting away the small mirror he turned to his companions.

"Let's go they are on our trails and we can't be caught up in this mess."

While saying that they all started running while looking tired.

On another side close to the harbor.

The three samurais were running and chasing them was the ronin with his katana wanting nothing but to cut them down.

"Lord Sakuna, allow us to buy some time for you?" Said a samurai on his right side as the chase of the ronin put a worry on the face of their lord.

"Are you sure I heard he's someone who can take down 5,000 samurais on his own?"

"Yes lord Sakuna even more so now that we are close to our ship." Said the other samurai.

"Then, it has been good having you two as my close servants."

"You too lord Sakuna it has been a great honor serving you." Said both the samurais.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Then they both sheathed their katanas running at the incoming ronin while shouting.

"For honor…"

The incoming ronin stopped unsheathing his katana as he took a stance.

His stance was of the iaido as he prepared to cut them at once.

He was wearing the katana on the hip waiting for them to close the ranch.

His Ki went to his katana as the breath of aura escaped from his mouth he started to take slow steps while a ring of Ki surrounded him.

When they reached him he passed straight between them sheathing his katana.

"Sound of Vengeance Mujihina Katto" (Merciless Cut)

Argh

Both samurai fell they didn't even get a glimpse of how the blade cut them but it at least slashed them 14-23 times.

"Sakuna, are you going to run as your subordinates die if so then you should embrace the cowardness in your blood just like your dead uncle." The ronin shouted in mockery as he chased after the lone master after killing his subordinates.

***

Part 3

Hours ago at the auction when the man crusher crashed the auction making the place a battlefield the duke was one of those people that stayed but his whereabouts were unknown.

Screech

The screech of an insect resounded scaring some of the little snakes.

A hand came out of the rubbles but unlike a human's hand, this was that of an ant the size of two man's arms.

Then mandibles came out destroying the rubbles as the face of a horrifying creature resurfaced.

As four arms moved rubbles around a mandible crushed some heading above ground as a tunnel was being made.

***

Back at the border camp.

"Arthur, talk to him but keep it on the greeting side don't take it too long." The saintess told King Arthur what to say so as not to look suspicious.

King Arthur jumped down from the blimp ship landing soundlessly as he stood eye to eye with the general.

Mario looked at the man in front of him as the Ki in him became restless.

"So, it is King Arthur how may I help you King who is far away from home."

"At ease general, we are not here for war."

"Then for what reason do you bring an army to my border?" He questioned not liking one bit of the word the king said.

"Because we follow the trail of the ones who did the Moon kingdom wrong."

"King of knights this is a preach of the faction oath."

"General Mario, the king is a traitor." King Arthur shouted.

"The king holds no loyalty to you or anybody and you are invoking a declaration of war by being here unannounced."

"General Mario, blood can be avoided…"

"On who's word… because your honor holds no value to me or to this kingdom."

"By her words, our business is with the snakes hiding in this kingdom and no citizen or any innocent shall be touched it is a promise."

"Okay, but know it well this is an act of treason on my side by allowing this."

"Yes, General Mario but fear not, justice shall be served." After saying that King Arthur jumped up landing in the same spot he had jumped from before.

"So, I heard you talked more than necessary."

"Yeah, sorry about that saintess the general needed a good reason to let us go without striking swords." Scratching the back of his head he apologized.

The three ships continued on to their destination as they floated further into the kingdom faster and the sinking sun brought the dark of night.

The clouds gathered in the sky as if feeling what was to happen.

Hours later the people in the county were passed out on the streets and in their homes and there was not a single light that illuminated the dark night.

What's worse was the animals of the night were also nowhere to be seen but for them, they either hid, ran away, or were dead as the hated ones slithered crawling on the ground as the limbless they are.

At the orphanage, the director looked at the aura field surrounding the orphanage as it was the only place in the whole county that had a light that attracted all creatures that crawled everywhere.

On the outside, a brown light that shone brightly which looked like a tortoise was covering the orphanage.

This was happening because of the princess when she was thrown here to the old lady the aura covering her expanded when the sunset.

This unexpectedly saved not only her but also the children in the orphanage.

This aura field was now a cage keeping the snakes out.

Inside the children were asleep and the worried caretaker looked outside with pulsing hearts.

In a room where the princess was in bed, the director was holding her handing speaking gently.

"How are you feeling young one?" She asked looking at the eyes of the princess.

"Fire is the destruction that awaits those who lose but now I see sadness and not fire, why is that?"

"Young one fire is not the end nor sadness in all around us the world is full of both good and bad but good will overpower bad." The director said understanding what the princess was thinking exactly.

"You are save here this place is the home of children that lost their loved ones just like you so speak not of omens but good."

The princess looked at her surroundings after regaining her composure.

"Young one I will leave you to sort out your thoughts if you need anything call out to the sisters they will attend to you." The director left as the situation outside needed her focus as the silent night terrified her.

All she could think of was how when she heard the roar of the beast those people that were mean to her died and though the roar knocked her out the cage blocked the other effect otherwise she would be dead just like them.

And after that nothing, until she woke up in this place.

She's not aware of where this is but she has the feeling of being secure just like home.

"At least am sure that roar might have belonged to the beast of freedom but how can I feel her warmth around me like a blanket, in fact, all this of this place."

Maybe she saved and now she's fighting with the…

"Oh, no the dream, the lady of light… and this place looks exactly like in the dream."

Maybe I'm being paranoid. She thought to herself.

Somewhere in the county.

The red lady was sitting on top of a red viper as she spoke to a shadow in the ground.

"Are you sure you took care of the Amazon?" As she spoke to the shadow a black-scaled serpent head came out.

"Then what is that aura?"

The serpent head looked at where she pointed and then stared at her again not saying a thing.

"You're as incompetent as those mutants how is she not dead when you ate her?"

"Tch, whatever just take care of the people at the harbor they're not falling asleep yet…"

She patted the head of the viper telling it to move.

The viper started to move heading to the county entrance and behind them was an army of snakes of all sizes.

At the harbor.

The samurai lord was at his limit fighting the ronin who strikes from every direction with the intent to kill him and if not for him being an experienced fighter it would all be over the moment they crossed swords.

But he was still pushed back as the force that came with the strike was dominating.

The sparks of their clashes became the torch that lighted the night making them see each other well however that was not the goal.

When the ronin's katana was about to cut his shoulder he immediately blocked it as another spark of flame showed the face of a madman with a grin on his face.

The ronin jumped striking from above however this time Sakuna did not even think of blocking as he sensed danger retreating back.

"Sakuna use the cursed blade."

With that word, he flashed and came from Sakuna's right side aiming to cut off his head.

Clank

Sakuna used his katana as a shield but it was cut through making him fall on his behind to avoid the strike.

"Sakuna fight like a real samurai."

"Huff, huff huff… you understand nothing." Getting up he unsheathed the cursed katana with a troubled face it was like it was draining his life while holding it.

Sakuna's eyes changed as the blade wielded him running for the ronin with the intention to kill.

He was fearless and the blade burned his Ki.

With every step he took, he was like a sloth but to a knowledgeable person, it would be like a wolf running at prey.

On the other hand, ronin made sure the footwork for the stance he was taking was right breathing cold air full of fury.

He held the blade sideways as it reflected his eyes leaning more to the right waiting for the time when he comes to him.

And when the possed Sakuna came he struck down, following the cursed katana was all the Ki Sakuna had in him burning.

The ronin with closed eyes put one of his knees on the ground swinging the katana as the one katana became four.

"Sound of Vengeance Shikai No Jihi" (Four Seas Mercy)

At first, the ronin wanted to strike with a vengeance that follows even in death but as the blade became the wielder he chose mercy.

As his hands that were to his right came to the left side with a full swing a blade fell to the ground shimmering as the last of the Ki it absorbed faded.

"Curse… You… And Your… Vengeance… Son of…" His last words were of hatred as he dead unwillingly.

The upper part of his body fell followed by two other parts while the legs remained standing.

"Even in your last moments, you did not understand mercy." He swung his katana one more time to clean off the blood and then sheathed it while picking up the cursed one which was refusing to be controlled.

"Stay still I'm your vengeance and you shall be mine."

Sensing his deep hatred and the rage within him the cursed katana brimmed happily like found a friend.

In the place, where the ships were a man sitting on a large throne made of gold, and the ships behind him were all turned into gold with the people on it staying there like statues.

MANSA G. GOLD

"Man should I have stopped that fight but then it matters not since it's my business."

"Oy, samurai why did you kill your companion for a sword?" King Mansa asked the man that was coming closer to him.

"My name is Oniwaro, a wandering warrior in the land of smithing and samurai… I have come to reclaim a stolen weapon for my business is nothing else make way."

"Then I'm sorry but you'll have to be restrained for you are involved with something big that needs more time to know who is who and their motive."

"I will fight you or any army in my way if needed, so make way."

"It is Majestic King of Gold to you Mr. Oniwaro so use it well."

"Reasoning with you people is always out of time."

"That is no way to avoid a fight with me Mr. Oniwaro, I will arrest all that came to participate in that auction." The king stood with open arms declaring to fight.

The ronin started to run straight at him with fury.

"You will be the one." He unsheathed the katana on his waist but before he could even swing it was blown away by a round ball of gold.

The ronin became shocked looking at the katana which was 3 meters behind him.

The king though was amused as he flicked more round balls of gold.

To deflect them the ronin had to use the cursed katana which cut the gold apart.

Clap Clap Clap

"Wow, now that is a sword or the word katana for better."

"King of Gold why stand in my way?"

"Why indeed, maybe for love or justice but why well for one it's because of the snakes I've seen so far."

"Haa, die." The ronin came closer to the king swinging the cursed katana from right to left to up to down all ending up being blocked by a hand of gold.

"Impressive… Mr. Oniwaro." Pulling his hand backward the katana was pulled with a magnetic force.

The katana cried refusing the suction force.

"Sound of Vengeance Tsu No Nikushimi No Surasshu" (Four Hatred Slash)

Four slashes aimed at his vitals came at him but all pounced off as a shining gold plate blocked it.

"Man Mr. Oniwaro you sure are full of it but please don't do this as death will be your end."

Suddenly when he was about to attack he sensed something creating a round ball of gold around them in a hurry.

"Huh, what is this." As he backed off the cold metallic gold touched his back making him take a defensive stance in the crowded place.

Bang

Something hard hit the ball of gold pushing them into the water.

But before the round ball of gold sank it dissolved.

The king rose on his feet as he didn't drown in the water walking finely just like normal ground. "Well, that was dangerous."

Staring at him were the pupils of a large black-scaled serpent.

"Mr. Oniwaro we can put a hold on our fight and fight side by side what do you say."

"Agreed since my hatred is on those who block my way."

His accessories on him melted coming together as they became a suit of armor.

Splash Splash Splash

The king ran at the serpent jumping high with a punch and as he closed the ranch for a devastating punch he forget to take the size of his opponent into account.

As a long tail struck him sending him far into the sea.

"Wow, and I thought he had some brain in him..." Ronin didn't try to run, even a ship won't help him escape the monster at this moment.

The thought though did indeed come but before he got anywhere the huge serpent already blocked every way of scaping.

Unleashing a shrieking hiss that destroyed all ships and killing the people that were made into statues of gold the size of the serpent grew.

At first, it was three meters in height and 200 meters in length but as it slithered on the surface of the water its length was getting longer and longer.

400… 695… 852… 1000… as it grew it kept on slithering in a path that was blocking any being from getting out of the county through the coast becoming 2.7 kilometers long.

And in the distance, the king responded with several spears of gold aiming for the black-scaled serpent eyes while running back to the battle.

But when he saw the serpent's real size the king felt like his spears would do no good because when the head rose the spears hit the abdomen only to make the sound of a knife hitting a metal.

The serpent's black eye narrowed focusing on the king ignoring the ronin.

Seeing the monster's intention they both returned to the land.

On one side the king and the ronin stood looking vigilantly at the serpent while talking.

"Hey, King of Gold since when did a monster like this appear?"

"Heh heh, I wish I knew but hey are you okay?"

"Now that you mention it no, do you mind making me a scabbard because this damned katana is draining my Ki… since you can transmute metal substances?" The ronin and the king ran on opposite sides as the serpent's big jaw came down sweeping the ground.

Summoning back the spears of gold he threw at the serpent from the sea he made them into three weapons a shield, a saber, and a scabbard.

The scabbard flew to the ronin as the king ran to the serpent slashing the golden saber.

"Gold's Slash"

The serpent was playing not moving fast while the two slashed his scale nothing was done.

"Sound of Vengeance Aiansurasshā" (Iron Slasher)

The ronin drew the cursed katana which was suppressed by the golden scabbard.

Meanwhile, inside the serpent, another battle was taking place.

When these three beings were swallowed, Diane along with her pet and the Viking princess.

The aura beast has covered them with its aura since they were secreted with digestive juices.

Since then, their skin has corroded and melted due to the effects of secretion as the aura beast's aura weakened.

Now on the verge of death, it had decided to sacrifice itself so the master can survive.

Slowly but surely the aura beast's life force and remaining aura entered Diane's body recovering her faster and dealing with the impurities that got inside her when the little snake went to her body.

"Wha- What… are. You… doing?" Watching as the aura beast disappeared her eyes gave away as her body accepted death.

On the outside, the battle came to a halt as something was off with the serpent.

A giant long skeleton like that of a serpent with four limbs was above the serpent's body, especially the abdomen area, and all of it was made of an entirely brown aura.

Inside the serpent's stomach, the 10 feet tall woman spread her arms empressing the princess next to her as the growl of a beast escaped her mouth.

And her eyes were saying fire will burn till you are gone...

End of Chapter 15