Dead Moors,

Royal Wagons,

The threat Kido alone had recognised, was now upon them. The option of slowing down however, was not. Whilst it might spare the large wagon wheels from further damage, it would come at the cost of the peasantry engulfing them.

Worse, instead of being prepared to do what was necessary, Kido flinched and lost his resolve. It was the face of that peasant that had done him in, he was sure of it. For it was then that he had been struck by nausea so intense, that he questioned his intentions.

Riding through the carnage he searched in vain for why it had jarred him so. Everything still moved, the threat was still real, so why now? Even the councilor for all his screaming, seemed in a much better position almost fully on board now as he hooked his legs up.

Aghast at the idea of developing a sudden conscience he did not fire on them, lest he exacerbate it. Maybe it would just go away if he ignored it. Clenching the loaded crossbow at his side he tried again, finding he was unable to level it on the peasantry.

These unfortunates were doomed already, either too slow or too far out by the time the Tower Lords had raised their alarm. They were however of mind enough to stick to the more frequented paths, avoiding the majority of the scavenger Beasts and their concealed dens. Whether planned or through inadvertence, they had bunched up for safety in numbers, it was those numbers that were now a threat to the convoy.

Begging for salvation even as they doomed their supposed rescuers, they knew they would never reach the walls in time. Whilst Kido made no move to help, his inaction allowed them to try as they pleased, and gleefully they did so. Against the terror of the mists, they threw themselves onto the wagons, begging and pleading for mercy.

They would receive none here this day.

“Have mercy kind Masters. Please I have children.”

Death was his way, his life. It was a strange thing for a killer like him to feel guilt at these worms. Having only ever known contempt for those who lived being less, it was the peculiarity of it that bothered him.

Why feel this now? Why feel anything?

Their pleading did nothing, nor when they fell to the wheels. But when they failed to even reach the wagon and saw it go past, that hit him. It galled him that he should feel it at all, but seeing hope die in their eyes. It… it pained him.

This was wrong. Why did we not…

“Give me that, you good for nothing…”

The words spoken by the venomous toad were like a balm to his doubting soul, and the killer in him returned triumphant. Looking straight into the angry red-faced official, he leveled his crossbow and watched the colour drain again.

There was such serenity in a man doing what he was made for.

“Why don’t you get your own?”

“Thief! That belongs to the… bah. You’re not even using it! Now give it.”

Takers pit keep him, should he ever trust this official with a loaded crossbow.

Kido reached out with a tendril of Chi, triggering the crossbow core, and releasing its stored Ki payload up into the bolt. Before the councilor could grab for it a second time, the razor tip edge began to glow a dangerous neon orange. Its light helped illuminate the officials’ thoughts as he suddenly seemed to understand Kido’s words with great clarity.

The man fumed, “Bastard! I’ll do it myself then.”

Turning and stomping on the fingers of desperate peasants, he kicked off the nearest hanger-on. In death the peasant retaliated as something finally gave way beneath the wagon, resulting in an ominous cracking splinter. Suddenly the wagon began to wobble, rapidly slowing down.

“No. No. NO!” The councilor cried out in hysterics. “Preafect, this is your fault. Why aren’t you helping me? Do something, damn it, man.”

Kido watched on impassively as the second wagon came level to them, effectively nullifying the peasant threat on their right-hand side.

“I’ve said all I will on this matter, councilor. Humble yourself before my lord and you can count on my aid.”

“I’m not the problem here, you maniac. It's them! Why are they doing this? Do they hate their Emperor so much, the filthy wretches?”

Waving the stony-faced Palace guards onwards with his crossbow, they ignored him and drew closer. Both parties watching each other closely, waiting on the councilor to finish his temper tantrum.

The man had unsheathed his sword and waved it threateningly at the masses, having no effect whatsoever.

“Go die somewhere else you wastes!”

Kido recoiled sharply as the official swished through a peasant whole, his blade glowing a dark purple that trailed rivulets of red. He cleaved through any who neared the wagon with ruthless efficiency. Effectively stemming the tide and sending the desperate to look for easier purchase on the other wagons.

Looking away Kido’s eyes were drawn to the spot where the councilor had hung on.

Should have just booted you off then and been done with it.

A lie, but a comforting one. Two walls full of Sacred Artist’s and Enkindled, Kido knew his every move was scrutinised.

Odd, he frowned.

He hadn’t noticed that dark handprint painted on the wagon floor earlier, it seemed so out of place.

Shrugging it off as just another frivolity of the Nobility, his disgust in the man was now irrevocable. Not only did he lack respect for the Shogun or the defending forces of Qaelang, but he also had none for his weapon. Kido had never witnessed such a callous disrespect at a metal-infused blade. It was akin to finding a priceless jeweled bowl in an alleyway only to have it being used as a lavatory for beggars.

“High lord Ushii, you must come with us.”

The second wagon called out across the distance, holding out their hands to catch him. They eyed Kido menacingly but otherwise, let him be with a polearm leveled at him.

“The wagon will never make it Master Ushii and the Mists are gaining faster as they converge on the City.”

“I’ll do no such thing!” He called out testily. “We will have to cut my ladies free. Then who will fetch them when they bolt, you? I will not lose these materials and be forced to wait another decade. Go! clear the way for us and don’t stop.”

Ugh, Kido rolled his eyes. The ponies, the madman’s first concern here was for his ponies.

As if noting Kido’s disdain, the councilor added something about honour and courage.

If that is your will, Master Ushii.

That name, where had he heard that name before?

“Just go already.” The man waved them onwards shooingly. “Go, get, go… Wait!”

The Palace guards reacted instantly.

“Give me your polearms.”

The royal guardsman had not been expecting that.

Master, there are spears in the wagon.

“I’m not asking for a spear, I’m asking for a polearm, you imbecile.”

The royal servant looked pained as he hesitantly threw his personal blade of office across. The councilor caught it smoothly and passed it straight to a surprised Kido.

“Another!”

A second guardsman stepped forward smartly and threw his across too. This time the councilor held onto it.

“I want you to mow down this chaff on both sides of our wagon and then, keep going. Do not stop. When you get to the gates you make sure they stay open even if it costs you your lives. I will make it.”

Kido stirred at the conviction in the councilors’ words, especially that last part where the man had dared look at him. He could only smile at the man’s bravado. At this rate, they’d be lucky if they crossed the Watch border lanterns.

“What’s your plan here Councillor? You going to fight the beast wave all on your own? If only we’d thought of such a thing sooner, we could have emptied the Palace of troubles years ago, hmm?”

“Shutup! If you had done your part we wouldn’t be in this situation. Why do they persist in attacking us?” He pointed with the polearm at the peasantry. “They threaten my precious research with their pointless lives. Why? Why. Why!”

Ushii! That Ushii. It couldn’t be, the man was ancient. This petulant sack of peat couldn’t be anything over thirty.

The third wagon passed them by on the other side, scattering peasants with their polearms. Ushii merely shouted at them to continue on and hold the gates. Kido holstered his crossbow at his side no longer having to wave down the aggressive ambitions of the passing guardsmen.

“Desperation changes the rules of man, I would have thought a Master Alchemist understood the chemistry of man. Perhaps 300 years of sniffing alchemical formulae is not best for one’s mental acumen.”

Ushii’s eyes flashed as he grinned at Kido. “I really should have that guard's tongue cut out and nailed to his forehead, but then good help is so hard to come by these days. Your expertise will aid me in getting this wagon to the gates Preafect. I guess you could say, I too am desperate.”

“You wouldn’t be had you simply obeyed the Shogun. Honestly man, how could you not know the one and only road back into the city would be choked with peasants.”

“Bah, who even thinks of peasants. The pursuit of greatness comes at the cost of ignoring the little things. Little men obsess over little things and forget entirely of the greater. Like you and your Imoogi.”

Kido trembled with rage at the insolence, looking once more at the wall wishing they could not see.

"Pray the mists don’t take us councilor."

"Oh, and why is that?"

"Because I will be the terror waiting for you within them."

“Hahaha,” the councillor's laugh rang out heartfully. “Oh, Preafect. You're too easy."

The Great Wall,

Shoguns turret,

What the hell is that man doing? That’s too much talk going on there.

The Salamander watched with a sharp eye the events unfolding as the wagons began overtaking the one his man had taken control of. It galled him no end that he couldn’t hear the words spoken, so wasteful was the Palace with their wagon lanterns.

The idiots probably had the things on at full blast. He was surprised the vegetation didn’t rise up and throttle them. Did they not know the cores would explode if they ran out of Ki?

“Will they make it Arch-tenant?”

“No, my lord.”

Clear, concise and without flattery or excuse. As much as the short answer annoyed him, he appreciated its delivery.

“This time with some detail, Arch.”

“Yes, my lord. At the pace set, all but the lead wagon will reach the gates safely. Judging by the mists acceleration as it converges on the city, we can expect it to make a significant gain on them. Further exacerbated by the ambient Chi given off from Qaelangs inhabitants, case in point, the army reporting in.”

“And Kido’s wagon?”

“I’m sorry my lord. The mist will overtake them just as they reach the lantern border. Were they still stocked with cores, the lanterns might have slowed the mists. But even then, not enough to hold back this much.

“Thankyou Arch-Tenant. Yes, this does look like a big one. Ready the first flag please.”

“M…my lord”, he stammered. “It’s just one man”

“That one man has assumed control over the one wagon that was in the lead, you can be sure His Divine will point this out at every opportunity. Beside the fact I used him as an example for the newest House recruits,” I should say rejects, he muttered.

“He is carrying my banner.” The Shogun finished.

“Yes, my lord, forgive me. On what mark, Shogun.”

“As soon as the mists at his back hit the lanterns.”

“And if they should surpass him, Seo-sang?”

“Even then.”

Dead Moors,

Wagons,

Reluctantly Kido took the head of another stupid peasant that the other wagons had missed. The man’s large eyes had only been for the wagon and he seriously doubted the peasant knew death had already claimed him. The others did though, as they cowered away and continued running past.

“Good! You’re finally seeing reason.” He bellowed out at them

Relieved that his impediment to violence had vanished as quickly as it had appeared, he employed single heavy strokes. Further relieved that it wasn’t his blade that he fouled here but the royal guardsmans.

“If you Pyeanchi can catch up to this broken wagon, how can you expect it to outrun the mists? Now get! Before I jump down there and take all your heads”

A head blasted out from beneath the canopy, and Kido nearly severed that one too.

“We’ll make it, Preafect. Don't you fret”

“Taker’s tits man,” Kido started, half expecting a spear in his back. “Are you quite finished back there? You've already ripped apart the front half of the wagon.”

"Yes, actually or can't you notice the wagon no longer wobbling?"

The man scooted past him, taking the reins off the polearm he had stabbed into the wagon floor.

“By shifting the weight further to the back, we don’t need the front wheels.”

Kido almost shouted as the man slashed at the bouncing wheel, cutting it in half and watching it fall away. Immediately the wagon stopped shaking altogether to Ushii's delight He however was just surprised the wagon did not collapse entirely as the other wheel bounced away too.

The alchemist grabbed the reins and then jumped back under the canopy. Tearing off the curtains with some colourful language, Ushii resorted to hacking away at the canopy itself. With the last swing of his sword, the canopy flew off the back.

“You need to move to the back, Preafect. For the weight distribution. There’ll be more pressure on them so please, no more peasants.”

That the madman's plan had worked impressed Kido enough to oblige. He moved to the back where a small space had been cleared for him, standing guard threateningly with his royal polearm. The wagon resembled more of a horse-drawn rickshaw, but with two madmen out in the moors racing the mist wall.

Escape was far from assured as enormous hands of mists reached out from the tide, pulling it forward even faster. He watched it billow towards him in huge rapidly advancing gusts, almost as if some malignant force with pursued them. He saw too as peasants were snatched screaming into the mists by scaled hands, that seemed to sense the second they could reach out.

The sight of the moors being swallowed up rapidly behind them felt apocalyptical to Kido and he found himself loving every second of its pursuit as he braced himself for when it should take them. He was under no illusion of making it back safely on the wagon and had already factored in having to run back. He just needed the Alchemists head first.

Suddenly the mists surged forward sending Kido's heart racing in excitement as the Alchemist screamed out his frustrations. If it had accelerated earlier, then this was a veritable explosion. All sound was swallowed as the heavy silent wall raced forward, seeing it like this he felt it was a living entity.

Peasants and scavengers were swallowed in swathes as they disappeared without a sound. The flash of fang and glow of eye were glimpsed along the edges of the mists as the Waves fore runners surged forward in eager anticipation. Their howls abated and were replaced with the steady charge of hoof and claw striking the ground.

The Sacred Artists stood atop the bumbling speeding wagon, back-to-back as the wall of cold Mist took them suddenly. One staring up defiantly holding a giant glowing spear, the other screaming and swearing at the Giver as he thrashed the reigns left and right.

For good measure and racing blood, Kido swung blindly. Instantly rewarded with the cutting of sinew and howling of Beast, he swung again as the song returned and so did his true smile. To fall by the blade or be taken by the horde, it mattered not. It was these rarest moments when one felt most alive. When the living of life was as sweet as the taking of it.

A thick furred snarling snout was cleaved free as his Katana finally burst free in her full glory. She glowed neon blue as Kido dangerously sent his Chi down the blade along with the Ki from the core. The Beasts would sense his Chi easily, but so long as they hungered after it in the edge of his blade, they could have it.

A giant row of gleaming teeth with salivating jaws, toppled sideways as Kido swung his polearm back across and over his blade. Taking the top half of the Beasts head as he heard others right behind trip and fall snarling in rage.

Ripping his Katana back up fortune smiled on him as he struck something large above his head, causing him to falter forward down onto one knee. A second massive object swished past where his head had just been, clipping the tuft on top of his helmet and battering his polearm low.

Takers Pit, what the hell was that?

Going all in Kido activated his core, seeing further and sensing better.

Like moths to a flame, he caught the scaled spotted dog right in the throat with the point of his blade. Heaving it over his shoulder he shook it free over his head and into the back of where the councilor should have been. It sailed forward rasping a ruined shriek and missed entirely, the madman was already gone.

Staying low, Kido panicked for a split second before maniacal laughter broke through. Struck by intense nausea again, he felt it wash off this time like oil on water as he burned his core. Searching for the source of laughter, Kido spotted the man running between the ponies.

Kido had no idea what he was seeing or even what the Master alchemist was doing. But in the brief glimpses of dark glowing purple, it looked like he had his hands placed against the ponies’ sides. The faint wisps of black steam that trailed from Ushii, whispered in their passing to him.

As much as Kido failed to understand what he was witnessing, he knew danger when it approached rapidly with a low hissing snarl. Judging on instincts alone, Kido brought the oversized blade end of the polearm down and straight through the thick bone crown head of a snapping Kimoto monitor.

The giant lizard curved inwards in its death throes, bringing its huge tail across in swiping motion. Just missing Kido but smashing through the tail end of the wagon.

“Hey! Careful back there dammit.”

Kido ignored the man noticing the Beast had six legs as its corpse tumbled away.

How the hell was a mere forerunner on its second mutation already? He needed Ushii's head and then he needed to get the heck out of here quickly. This was far more than he had expected.

Bizarrely, his nausea returned abruptly and then vanished, almost like a pulse. The fact Master Alchemist Ushii started cackling madly at the exact time, did absolutely nothing to abate his nerves. The hair on his neck and arms raised with a chill seeping deeper into him than the mists could pierce, something heretical was going on upfront.

He found himself leaning back with hesitancy until he nearly toppled out. Only then realising, the wagon was going at a tremendous pace.

The Alchemist landed back in the wagon with a satisfied grunt and Kido lashed out immediately, not daring to hesitate in the face of foul unknown magics. With a snarl, he swung hard for the man’s shoulder with his polearm and cleaved for his neck with his Katana. His intention to severe the man's head came to ruin as the Beasts from above struck again.

Unaware, the massive barbed tentacle swung down, barely missing impale Kido as he in turn lashed out at lord Ushii. Instead, it struck him on the side, spinning him in his act of vengeance.

As he fell facedown over a crate of mythical eggs his control over the weapons cores faltered, dimming the flow of their Ki. He could not say whether it was this lack of Ki or how both blades went wide missing the mark. Yet both still struck the Alchemist as if striking stone. It was then he heard the most wretched sound in all his life as a blade shattered.

"Aargh! You Fool! You dare strike at me?"

The councilor turned on him seizing him by the scruff of his neck, oozing black whisps from his eyes.

“What in the Third are you doing, Junior!?”

“no.”

“Is this it? Are you finally making your move!?”

“No.”

“How stupid does one have to be to attack a 300-year-old Master Alchemist!?”

“NO!”

He would not say he begged for his life, he did not. Nor could he comprehend how a metal blade could be turned aside ever, that was simply impossible. But what quick thinking he had, he left to chance as he pointed.

“I didn’t. Up! It’s above us.”

The councilor turned and looked up doubtfully, still holding Kido over the basket of Imoogi eggs with incredible strength that belied his core altogether. Kido's world spun as it collapsed around him, so great was his shock at his Master blade failing. Though relief did surge through him, as he tested her weight mechanically.

She was still there, she was still whole.

Relief was not something shared by the Master Alchemist Ushii as he cursed and practically threw Kido loose. Whatever he saw up there convinced him enough that this was all some sort of terrible accident as he dived back to his ponies throwing up a blast of black shadow from an outstretched hand.

An echoing resonance of shrieking rage trembled through the mists like waves of sound hitting at once.

“Ooh, Shi-baal. That pissed it off” Ushii exclaimed as he thrashed the reigns.

Kido almost hurled, reflexively burning his core as one would when gasping for air. Only by flaring his core did he come clean, with the pure flow of Chi once more flooding through him. He burned brightly in its sweet scalding purification, rising up and slicing through a beserking Beast that dived onto the wagon that salivated after the Chi he cycled. He surged everything his meridians could hold, flooding himself with power.

“Junior, are you trying to get us killed?” The councillor called back as another wave of nausea washed over him, this time vaporising as it neared Kido. “Hold on!”

The ponies screamed and brayed as the nausea burned away, their hooves thudding the ground like thunder to his enhanced senses. Kido gripped onto a cleaved-off canopy pole as he felt the wagon surge forward again.

His blade whistled left and right as he cleaved furiously about him. Sometimes hitting nothing at all, but mostly cutting through bone and claw. As the truths of his world became as blurry as the mists fought within, he sought not reason but purpose.

Survive this, survive now, questions later.

Every Beast he cut through soothed his mind that his Katana was not at fault here.

Can slice tempered flesh in one go. Kido thought the artisan's words over furiously.

“Here we go! Here we go! Ahahaha!” The Alchemist squealed in delight as the wagon raced forward.

They bounced and rattled over the packed dirt, shaking as the wind howled loudly in his ears. The mists quickly brightened before suddenly falling away entirely as sunlight washed over an amazed Kido, the walls were before him once more.

The rickshaw exploded out from the towering wall of mist, trailing plumes of grey whisps. Its driver hollering and a bewildered Kido left waving his blade on high as it shone with the light of Chi.

In a moment of stunned disbelief, he frantically looked about for his next foe but was shaken by a great roar from Qaelang's walls.

The City was cheering them.