Chapter 8: “Hero”

  Despite being absolutely petrified, Io makes her way into the tomb from a side entrance on the other side of the pyramid until she’s met with a sight that immediately stops her in her tracks. She has been obsessively playing in her mind the moment of cutting Sage’s throat: All she wanted at first was to hunt and kill him, yet now she is too frightened to move in the presence of absolute calamity and overwhelming power. Io watches and hears Kiro greet Jak as Xero, and immediately she knows, whatever that thing is, it isn’t Jak.

  The cult members all prostrate themselves in the presence of their hero, yet the weaker ones begin to fall unconscious from the aura density before them. The gang members stand like statues frozen in time as Xero’s eyes sweep the room, assessing his surroundings. Once he sees his sword, armor and crown, he appears before them, moving faster than Kiro can follow.

  This is bad! Bad, bad, bad! Thinks Io.

  Xero looks down at his body, cups his breasts and says in a deep, mystical voice, "So, this is a woman…”

  Xero picks up the fire opal crown and places it just above his head, where it remains floating, like a halo. “You… boy…”

  Kiro gives Xero his full attention, as he continues, "What sort of era is this world in? How long have I been away? And how do you know me?”

  “This is an era of steam powered engines and politics that operate in a cloak and dagger fashion. It has been over ten thousand years since you died. Now, let me ask you a question…”

  “I am listening…”

  “What do you plan to do with that body of yours?”

  Xero thinks to himself, as he examines his rust-free, timeless blade, before saying, "I am a conqueror. Logically, I will take control of my country, expand our borders and annihilate all enemies.”

  “And… are we… enemies?”

  “Depends… are you Ria Limian?”

  “No-“ Xero nearly takes Kiro’s head off, Kiro only able to dodge out of pure instinct, rather than skill. The blade had hovered just above his neck, close enough that, even after dodging, Kiro feels the sting of a shallow cut.

  “You move well,” says Xero, already back to his own sarcophagus before Kiro even felt the injury to his neck. “I was right to talk to you, for you are the most powerful person in miles. Tell me, how did you get so strong so young? I am curious. Are all warriors of this age at your level?”

  Kiro calms his mind, honing his focus like a blade, as he realizes this… thing… cannot leave this place. Then, Sage manifests next to Kiro, and says, "You think this child is stronger than I!?”

  “Ah!” Exclaims Xero. “A fellow felina. Tell me, who rules over my land?”

  “Some bitch ass panther woman… Never mind her. I challenge you!”

  ”Laughable… You are like a gnat buzzing around, making lots of noise. Be gone.”

  This makes Sage furious.

  He appears behind Xero, sword drawn, and just before he pierces Jak’s flesh, a blade impales him from behind.

  Io twists the blade, severing arteries. “You fucking bastard!”

  Io moves in front of him as his blade slips from his hand and he drops to his knees. Then, Io shoves her fingers into his eye sockets, crushing his eyeballs until his scream dies on his lips. Finally, she has done it!

  “Excellent,” says Kiro.

  “Brutal,” says Jak. No, Xero. Does he have to wear her face?

  “You show promise,” he continues. “You are now one of my followers. Obey me and you will flourish. Wrong me and you will die.”

  Kiro releases his thick, black demonic aura, flooding the tomb with his presence as he once again hones his thoughts and mind.

  “She is mine,” declares Kiro. “Hands off.”

  This feeling… To be wanted.

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  Without any emotion, Kiro draws his black katana, and summons a whirlwind of black flame.

  Instantly, the room regains its heat, causing beads of sweat to drip from Io’s forehead and enrapturing Xero’s senses. “Beautiful,” he says.

  Kiro then manifests right before Xero, releasing a wave of black flame from the thrust of his sword, burning Xero despite him blocking the full force of the blow.

  “The Black Flames of Purgatory?” Wonders Xero. “So, you are the present holder of the flames…”

  Kiro throws a series of expertly timed strikes, each parried with little trouble, until he releases his grip on his sword with one hand to send a blast of burning hot demonic aura through Xero’s chest.

  “I do not wish to destroy that body of yours,” admits Kiro. “I might be able to learn more from the girl.”

  “If you don’t steal yourself here and now to kill me, it will be a moment too late…” Xero motions towards Kiro’s body, and a moment later, the pain sets in. There are two distinct cuts in his chest and stomach.

  Kiro reels back, and immediately cauterizes his wounds, but he is too slow. As Xero manifests behind him, the realization hits Kiro like a mace to the stomach:

  This is the end. He lost. Xero is about to carve his head off. Unable to dodge, unable to duck, Kiro explodes with his black flames, just as he feels Io pushing him out of the way of Xero’s thrust, her back absorbing the blow.

  Io doubles over on herself as she slowly bleeds out. Half of her face and body is burned black, steam rising off the wounds, clothes on fire. Kiro pats out the flames and cradles Io’s head in his lap.

  He was right. It is the end. Just not yet for him.

  “Was…” struggles Io. “Was I… useful?”

  Kiro watches helplessly, as Io fades in and out of consciousness, still muttering, "Was I?”

  “Yes, Io,” Kiro chokes out. “You were more than useful. You were indispensable. I could not have gotten this far without you.”

  Tears stream down Io’s cheeks, as she releases a loving smile, lifts her arm and caresses Kiro’s cheek, before saying, "You made me believe…”

  “Believe what?”

  “That there are gods and the Divine.”

  “You can’t die, yet… You are free. I free you, Io. You die… a free woman.”

  “Thank yo-“

  Then, her arm drops as her final breath escapes her lips. She is gone.

  “Thank you for giving me that moment, ancient king,” says Kiro, as he stands, picks up his katana and tears off his tattered and blood soaked shirt.

  The tattoo on his back immediately draws Xero’s attention. ”Impossible! What… are you? That is a goddess’ work.”

  “I am angry…” growls Kiro. “I am very, very angry…”

  Xero blinks, looks down and sees his sword arm flying away from his body, and before he can even collect his thoughts, he feels a dagger dig into his back and another cutting open his throat. “Amazing…”

  Xero drops to his knees, his one good hand grasping at his throat in an attempt to stifle the bleeding, but to no avail. Yet again, this is death.

  He collapses onto the floor, causing the cult members, who had all been paralyzed in a sort of terror-induced trance up till now, to scream and flee in horror as their hero dies yet again.

  As Kiro makes his way out of the tomb, he stops, feeling a distant pulse of felina aura radiate from Jak’s heart. Kiro turns to see azule aura flood out of her, filling up the room, until, in an instant, it all gets sucked back into her body and once again a heart beats, wounds begin to heal and limbs regrow. Impossible…

  Kiro senses the girl, as questions tumble in his mind. Is this Xero’s power? Or is this Jak? And who is in control? Too many questions…

  Kiro manifests over Jak’s body, drawing his sword and preparing for battle, until he hears a soft voice choke out, ”Kiro? Where am I? Oh, still in the tomb! Wait… wasn’t I sacrificed? How do I live?”

  Kiro withdraws his rage and fury, sheathing his blade, before he replies in awe, "I hoped you would be the one to tell me…”

  “Ah!” Exclaims Jak, as she massages her temples, "There is a voice in my head… This can’t be… oh no, this is troubling.”

  “Well you’re alive, let’s leave it at that. You can adapt. Together, right?”

  Jak ignores her splitting headache, to give Kiro a cheeky grin. ”Yes, together!”

  ***

  “Ugh… it is so hot in this country!” Declares a sweaty vampire named Xea, as she trudges her way through the forest, finally drawing near to something remotely resembling civilization. “Finally,” she shouts.

  Behind her, three attendants dressed in red and black carry suitcases full of clothes and toiletries. Xea rips off her heels and throws them aside, then takes a moment to examine the surroundings. She realizes that most people are either asleep, or at the very least, terrified and listless. “Who the hell do I talk to around here? I have to stop a… a… someone being summoned?”

  Xea senses two powerful beings approaching from the pyramid, having come out through the main entrance. One is shirtless and the other might as well be, for her clothes have countless holes torn in them.

  “You! Boy! Who is in charge here?”

  “Um…” says Kiro, confused, before motioning to Jak. “Her, I guess.”

  “Wonderful! Wait… So many lie asleep and those that are awake seem comatose with fear. Does this mean I am… too late?”

  “Indeed, stranger,” replies Jak with a gentle pat upon her back. “This boy killed him.”

  “By himself?” Xea scans Kiro up and down incredulously, before saying, "No way! This was a Special Class assignment! What rank are you? What of your code name?”

  “I am code named Shadow, and I am an A class assassin working directly under Damien.”

  The breath in her lungs seems to instantly dissipate as Xea says, "I have found him… finally… I have found my Calamity King!”

  The End