The brute Tobamako loomed in front of Knoxx and Geo, massive frame unmoving as he chuckled through labored breaths. Knoxx’s daggers had carved shallow lines across his body—but none deep enough. Nothing vital.

  “You damn marshmallow!” Knoxx yelled, spinning a blade around his finger. “Hold still so I can gut you!”

  “We need a plan, Knoxx,” Geo snapped. “Your knives don’t cut deep enough—”

  “They will!” Knoxx barked back. “I’ll take this asshat down no matter the cost!”

  Geo shot him an irritated look.

  “If you’d let me finish,” he said evenly, “we could maybe make that happen.”

  Knoxx glanced back just as Tobamako began stomping forward—not fast, not rushed. Intentional.

  “…I’m listening.”

  Geo nodded. “Good. Every time he uses his ability, there’s a pause. A second or two where he doesn’t react right. When that happens, we hit him together. I draw his attention. You find the right spot.”

  Knoxx hesitated—then smirked.

  “Alright. Sounds like my kind of plan.”

  “Hey, tubby!” Geo shouted, slamming his fist into the ground. Stone erupted upward. He kicked the rock forward, sending it hurtling toward Tobamako.

  The brute caught it midair and smashed it into the dirt before charging.

  Geo plunged his hands into the ground again. Hardened soil crawled up his arms, forming crude gauntlets just as Tobamako swung.

  Their fists collided with a thunderous crack.

  They traded blows—raw, brutal. Geo took a grazing hit to the ribs but slipped a gut punch and drove an uppercut into Tobamako’s jaw. The brute was lifted off his feet.

  Tobamako flipped in the air and landed in a crouch. Blood ran from his nose. He wiped it away with his forearm and grinned.

  “Huh. You made me bleed. Impressive, stick.”

  Geo clenched his teeth. “Got more for you.”

  They clashed again—stone against flesh—while, unseen in the chaos, Knoxx crouched low and waited.

  Then it happened.

  Geo leapt back and tore a massive slab of rock from deep underground, raising it overhead. Tobamako rushed him.

  “Oh no you don’t!” Tobamako shouted.

  Geo met Knoxx’s eyes.

  In a blink, Tobamako vanished—reappearing directly in front of Geo and slamming a kick into his chest. Geo flew backward with a grunt.

  But Tobamako didn’t see the rascal with his knives drawn behind.

  “Gotcha!” Knoxx yelled.

  Blades flashed. He carved across Tobamako’s back again and again, following with a spinning kick that sent the brute crashing into the dirt.

  Geo staggered up, wincing, and hurled the rock down onto Tobamako’s fallen form.

  “For good measure,” he muttered, rubbing his neck. “He got me good.”

  Knoxx laughed, wiping sweat from his brow. “Yeah. You look like hell. But hey—think that’s our cue to get the hell outta here?”

  Geo nodded, breathing heavy. “Yeah. We regroup. Find Danzo and the others.”

  In a moment, the sky above Igumi was blue and cloudless, trifled by only the smoke of war and rays of sun. Next, the sky turned dim.

  A large dark blue image—of a phoenix engulfed the sky. Its wings were wide in the flames of freedom. From the wings, strikes of gold and orange glowed valiantly.

  Only one soldier knew what it had meant.

  Memento… where life meets an end, another begins. Face others with strength—protect those without it. Fight… fight until our beliefs and actions aren’t in vain. They, and I… are counting on it.

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  The words from the insignia echoed in a mythical voice. Danzo looked to the sky, and his eyes went wide. They were filled with shock, and utter disbelief.

  Long live Memento.

  The line was final, and Danzo could only gaze helplessly, as the crest stood a few moments longer.

  “No…”

  He dropped to a knee, still gazing upon the magnificent sight.

  “Maro… no.”

  Geo and Knoxx stopped in a halt, looking at the image hovering in the sky.

  “What is that?” asked Knoxx, with uncertainty.

  “No idea. But we best—”

  He didn’t finish. The sound of the rock that buried Tobamako shattered in half, and a scream filled with rage echoed in the sky.

  “DAMN YOU… BASTARDS!”

  Tobamako flew forward at a speed they hadn’t seen. He hit Geo directly into the ground with a crack.

  Knoxx turned, but not quick enough. The world itself skipped.

  Tobamako grabbed a knife from Knoxx’s holster within a second’s notice—

  And thrusted it into Knoxx’s chest from behind. Knoxx’s eyes went wide.

  “Wh—what the…”

  Knoxx staggered forward as Tobamako pulled the knife from the boy's back.

  “How… how are you… still alive?”

  Tobamako released a laugh mixed with hatred and stubbornness. “Like I’d die to a piece of shit rascal like you.”

  Geo rose from the ground in utter panic. His hands shook as he ran towards Knoxx.

  “No… NO NO! KNOXX!”

  The boy inched toward his friend, holding the wound that cut through the front with a hand. Blood poured, and there was no end to it.

  “Geo… I—can’t feel my chest man… it… it hurts like hell.”

  He fell to a knee, before collapsing into the dirt. His eyes fluttered, and the lids had begun to droop.

  Geo bolted forward, flipping him over, and holding his friend in his arms.

  “Knoxx… Knoxx you’re gonna be okay. Let me get you to Danzo! He’ll fix you with a healing rune!”

  Knoxx stuttered in his words. Blood came with every word.

  “I… don’t think there’s time,” he coughed, “Geo. I—I wanted to tell you…”

  He paused, his eyes closed further with every passing second.

  “Thank you… for dealing with my bullshit—”

  Another cough—one of finality.

  “Finish… the war. Free my people… they’re not what—what Azumi thinks.”

  The light faded from the boy's eyes, and every limb went limp. Geo rubbed his friends cheek as if it’d bring him back.

  “No… Knoxx please stay with me buddy! I won’t let you die! I… can’t. I can’t let someone else!”

  Tears flooded from Geo’s face as Knoxx lay in his arms. The soft cries turned into a harsh rage. He didn’t move—he didn’t need to, the ground below him motioned for him.

  It cracked in a wide radius, as rocks rose from the ground. Screams of anger and agony ripped through the air as hundreds of solid boulders went higher and higher. Tobamako’s smile faded.

  They fell like hail. Each one pointed at the man who had ripped the life of Geo’s friend—his brother—away.

  “DAMN YOU!” Geo yelled at the top of his lungs.

  Behind him, the phoenix still glowed in the sky, casting blue, gold and orange streams across Igumi. Geo didn’t look.

  He knelt in the dirt, Knoxx’s weight still in his arms, as if letting go would make it real. Blood stained his fingers and soaked into the ground beneath them, dark and unmoving now. The warmth was already fading.

  “Knoxx…” Geo whispered again, quieter this time. Not a plea—just a name.

  There wasn’t an answer.

  His hands trembled as he brushed dirt from Knoxx’s cheek, thumb lingering there longer than it should have. For a moment—just one—he almost expected a sharp remark. A joke Knoxx always spoke in the worst moments. Something stupid, loud and alive.

  But nothing came. Footsteps sounded behind him.

  Rin stopped short when she saw them. Knoxx lying lifeless. She saw Geo still holding him like he could keep him here by force alone.

  She swallowed, then moved closer, dropping to a knee beside them.

  “He’s—he’s dead,” Geo managed at last. The words felt wrong in his mouth, like they didn’t belong to this moment. Like they were meant for someone else.

  Rin lowered her head.

  “I’m sorry,” she said softly. “I truly am.”

  Geo didn’t respond. His gaze never left Knoxx’s face.

  “But… we have to go,” Rin continued, voice tightening. “Now. Danzo ordered a full retreat.”

  Geo’s jaw clenched.

  He stared down at his friend for a long second longer—long enough that the sounds of battle seemed to fade into something distant and hollow. Then, carefully, he lowered Knoxx to the ground. His movements were slow and deliberate. Like rushing might break something that was already gone.

  “I’ll come back for you,” Geo murmured. “I swear it.”

  The promise lingered unanswered.

  He rose to his feet at last, shoulders rigid, hands still shaking at his sides. Behind him, the phoenix burned on—brilliant and unyielding—while Geo turned away from the body he wasn’t allowed to take with him.

  And for the first time since the battle began, the earth beneath his boots felt cold.

  Tsuki and Tokira’s battle had drawn continuously, with no definitive blows.

  “Quit holding back!” exclaimed Tsuki.

  Tokira looked at Tsuki with solemn eyes—ones of regret.

  “I cant—” she started in response, but a yell from behind Tsuki disturbed the moment.

  “Tsuki! Get over here, now! We’re leaving!”

  Danzo’s unmistakable voice cut the air like a razor, with a sharp twang.

  Tsuki turned, taking a step with hesitation. Her feet kept moving—she knew something was wrong. Tokira watched—didn’t give chase.

  Tsuki gave one last look at her old friend, before turning her full attention to Danzo. He waved his hands over, and only talked in urgent shouts.

  “We’re returning home! Persetta! Get your stuff—anything you need only!”

  “Danzo, what’s going on?”

  He didn’t meet her eye. Tsuki had never seen the man so nervous.

  “Danzo?”

  “Persetta…” he began, before his lips shivered. “Maro… is in trouble.”