Chapter 8: High Noon In Nihon
Yokogawa, a massive city, rested between a towering mountain range and the largest ocean on the planet. The first thing I noticed upon arrival was the majestic castle seemingly carved right out a mountain. It dwarfed Ishikawa’s castle and could be seen for miles, even at night.
Pretty impressive.
Isuko wasn’t exaggerating when he mentioned the walls surrounding the city, either. There were two sets of walls and at least a hundred men on high alert. They must have heard about Matsuo’s bloody rampage. I wonder how much they really knew.
I didn’t see any of Ishikawa’s army along the way, despite the destruction they left behind. They were keeping out of sight somehow. Hmm, they might already be here. I needed to tread carefully.
Exchanging the sky for the ground, I approached what had to be the largest gate I’d ever seen in my life. I was quickly surrounded by well armed men ready and willing to defend what was behind it. In an attempt to show my coming was in peace, I raised my hands and introduced myself.
But none seemed to care.
They remained silent behind their iron plated helmets and circled anxiously with deadly weapons pointed my way. Archers with flaming arrows targeting me appeared on the wall. I hope they weren’t as trigger happy as they looked.
“Listen, I’m not a threat to you,” I insisted. “And I’m not with Ishikawa. I came to warn you about them. That’s all.”
The city gate gradually opened prompting the swordsmen to retreat into the shadows. Eventually an armored man wielding an imposingly large lance trotted toward me on the back of a battle horse. I guess I was supposed to be intimidated by his stature. Of course, I wasn’t.
He looked down at me and asked. “You’re a long way from home aren’t you, Midaharian? Why are you here?”
“I’m on holiday,” I jested.
“The last time I checked our ports were closed to foreign travelers,” he said, throwing his gaze around the road behind me, as if expecting company. Then he shifted his dark eyes back to me. “But there was a rumor that Ishikawa frequently entertained guests from your shores. Were you one of them?”
You know, I could just go back to Midaharia instead of submitting to your interrogation, mister and let Nihon sort this mess out itself. “When Ishikawa’s men get here you’re going to wish you hadn’t wasted time questioning me. What you need to do now is prepare for an aerial attack.”
The horseman took a moment to search the skies with much concern before turning his steed around. “Come with me.”
We didn’t get far inside the wall before the gate slammed shut and the horseman dismounted. He walked over and looked down at me as if I was an ant in his path. “My name is Leo. I command the men you encountered here and two thousand more beyond these walls. Tell me another lie, I will have your head on a stick. Now, what do you know about the hostile forces advancing from Ishikawa?”
How could I refuse? “The soldiers on their way here are under some kind of evil influence. They don’t know what they’re doing.”
“Yamato is leading them.”
I shook my head. “Yamato was dealt a bad hand.”
Leo seemed puzzled. “What are you telling me?”
Doesn’t anyone play cards around here? “If you see a giant, flying beetle, know that it's Yamato. And there may be others like him.”
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Leo took a step back, peering at me with a skeptical expression. “What you’re saying is incredulous. My scouts reported seeing only a few hundred soldiers, on foot, advancing in this direction.”
“I’m not arguing with what your scouts think they saw. Just leave Yamato and his men to me.”
“Leave them to you? What did you call yourself again?”
“It’s Aiden.”
“Well, Aiden. Nihon’s affairs are no concern of Midaharia.” Leo motioned to a soldier standing by the gate who then proceeded to open the hefty barrier. “Now be on your way before I have you thrown into a cell!”
As the gate closed behind me I started to understand Matsuo. With the size of its army, Yokokawa could have come to Ishikawa’s aid when it needed it. Even if they wouldn’t have made much of a difference against the Damnation's rune’s power, the people of Ishikawa would have been grateful.
It was so tempting to let Yokokawa fall to Matsuo’s rage, but for Isuko and Ino’s sake, I won’t. I was all prepared to leap over those fancy walls when I noticed someone approaching from the shadows.
Matsuo
He stopped just out of range of the watchful eyes guarding Yokokawa. His face was partially obscured by the night, but I knew it had to be him. Curious how he ditched his regular, normal looking, attire for an absurdly long, tattered robe and dark armor.
The closer he got to me the more the hairs on the back of my neck stood up.
“...Aiden...” Matsuo said, his eyes focusing on me. “I never liked you.”
“Is that the thanks I get for healing your wife?”
“Your presence on Nihon is neither wanted nor needed. Leave. Now.”
I grinned roguishly. “Leave you say? Well, let me get started on that...” Thinking I could put an end to this with one precise strike, I warped close enough to Matsuo to do just that. Since he’s responsible for all of this, killing him should undo all of the insidious incantations.
But as my blade tagged something rock hard, it was clear it wouldn’t be that simple. Actually, it was a combination of that and the slap to the face by what felt like a slab of steel. Surprisingly, I was hurling over the city’s wall before I knew what hit me and took control over my fall.
I looked back and saw the city’s defense unloading a slew of hot arrows at a heavily armored, bulky giant. He must have been as tall as Mister Laul’s shop brandishing a massive hammer to boot. One swing of that thing was enough to crush a huge section of the wall. The second wall crumbled the same way. Those poor archers didn’t have a chance.
Despite the darkness, I thought I recognized the man behind his helmet. That grunt, his voice; it just had to be Ino! Atleast Matsuo didn’t turn him into a bug too.
So if he’s here, Isuko couldn’t be far behind.
Annnnd I was right. Isuko wasn’t far behind his old man; he was literally affixed to his back by some strange energy.
Maybe he was alive, or dead, or just unconscious? I couldn’t tell, but whatever that was binding Isuko also seemed to be feeding giant Ino’s strength. This is bad.
Ino wasn’t the only one Matsuo altered. Ishikawa’s soldiers were leaner, darker, six armed with a weapon in each hand. They were almost like well armed, preying mantises now.
With both armies at each other’s throats, it’s better I don’t get caught in their crossfire. I’d better stay out of sight until I can track down mad Matsuo. Taking him out has to be the key to stopping this insanity. He’s close to the partially demolished interior wall, boasting about how Yokokawa was getting what it deserved. Whatever you say mad Mat.
Cramming a blade down his throat was a great way to shut him up and ( hopefully ) put an end to the mess he made. But before I could, Leo’s war lance whizzed by a bit too close for comfort, and if I wasn’t invisible I would swear I was its target.
Maybe I’ll let them settle this after all.
Matsuo surprised me by catching the weapon ( with one hand, like a boss ) before it could hit its mark. I was ready to deflect it if Mad Mat decided to return the weapon to its sender. Of course, he didn’t do that. Tossing it back would be too obvious, right?
The weapon turned into a lively snake in his hand and, as it continued to grow in size, I couldn’t help but wonder what Leo’s plans were. Was he going to run? The thing was the size of an Ophidia now, but unwavering Leo just stood there. I’m all for putting up a brave front, but when it’s time to retreat, it was time to run.
Few would blame him if he did. The snake was huge now, and with Mad Mat on its back, the serpent easily captured Leo in its mouth.
Things were going downhill quickly for the city. Ino was smashing everything in sight, the army was being overrun by man-sized mantises, and too-proud-to-run Leo was swallowed whole by Mad Mat’s new pet.
So much for Yokogawa handling its own affairs.