Sachihiro van Damage

I hear the shower of water long before I’m anywhere close to it with the way sound carries in this region of the underground. The thundering torrent roaring loudly attracts me and I assume many other life forms that I can hunt. It’s a risk but food is scare down here, a water source always attracts prey and predator both with its cleansing and nourishing properties.

Carefully, I make my way forward through relatively narrow tunnels bending my head and touching the clammy walls as the tunnels constrict, led onwards by the deafening sound I know will bring me to food. There are no foot-marks or scat nor do I sense anything around so I doubt I’m intruding on anyone’s claimed hunting ground.

The tunnel gets lower further forward, branching off and getting lower still till eventually I have to crouch to make further progress. Drawing Kata and a dagger in the narrow space, I head onwards already feeling the spray of water dampening my skin, I’m close. The water is slightly salty but not much further now.

The tunnel opens becoming a cave mouth on the side of a vertical drop somewhere below and to the left of where the water current seems to be coming from. The continuous flow of water is deafeningly thunderous from the edge, though I can’t see anything outside my awareness I imagine a great lake or powerful river created but the gushing torrent coming from somewhere up above.

I make myself comfortable in the dark space, enjoying the spray and the power of the falls buffeting against me. I’m feeling the vibrations through the stone created by the power of the gushing fluid easily through my whole body. I get comfortable reclining in the tunnel mouth enjoying the spray listening to the vibrations with vibrational sense trying to further understand the ability and how to use it.

To be honest with myself I’m relaxing more than anything else, but taking this opportunity to listen to such loud non-threatening constant vibrations is only natural for a person with a vibration sense ability I hardly understand.

I sink into the stormy sensations of the falling water, feeling the tremors of the solid stone around me, the air buffeting against me. Listening to the vibrations with Vibrational Sense. A sense that awakened with my Awakening, yet uses no mana in its execution.

There are a few abilities that came with my mana awakening that cost no mana to use. My dimensional awareness uses no mana, no chakra but it takes up fully half of my divided mind to maintain unless I give up other senses to focus on it. It has loosely spherical dimensions on which I can temporarily hang my other sense like mana sense, spirit or aura.

My dimensional awareness, vibrational sense and now shikai all tied to my zanpakutō. All abilities fuelled by somehow tapping into soul energies, soul energies I’ve had access to since the forging, but could do nothing with until Awakening. Why?

These three abilities I’ve stumbled through by trail, error and luck but they’re ones more innate to me than my abilities with mana have ever been. Why?

The sad thing is I know the Hito won’t teach me anymore than they already have about soul samurai, even having achieved shikai I don’t feel like I understand soul abilities any better. I don’t know how to further train and improve on the shikai, I don’t even know if it can be improved or is it the ultimate panicle of a soul samurai? I doubt it.

Taking a calming breath I sink deeper into the sensation of the vibrations, feeling, listening, tuning to the tremors created by the torrent gushing and crashing below. The roar of the waterfall is in tune with the vibrations of the stone, in tune with the movement of the air and I tune in also with all my senses, deeper and deeper into the vibrations.

*

Nathaniel Ark

The streets of Helia are packed with people rushing carrying supplies or stockpiling emergency supplies along the streets outside the designated buildings, people rushing to and fro. Every single human from the Fox Forest to the Rivera Dam, from Gada to Verda is here in Helia territory if not in the city itself taking refuge if they haven’t fled further east in some desperate attempt to outpace the war.

With so many newly conscripted ‘soldiers’ in the kingdom’s army, I find myself suddenly much more experienced than the average king’s soldier and duly promoted though I hardly stood my ground last time I faced the invaders in battle. Still, with so many newly Awakened being conscripted there is hope that even with only a month of training, interspersed amongst real soldiers this ragtag lot will make a significant enough difference in the upcoming battles.

‘’Think any of this will be enough?’’ Swasa asks in a gruff tone indicating the milling recruits with fresh faces and cheap, too big armour drilling in a practice yard we rush by.

I shrug, ‘’at least we have the alliance with the demi’s and beast of Klamara, things from the Tokelo have come out for our cause, you saw those flying witches, and I heard the nomads are going to make a large part of our auxiliaries.’’ I’m a soldier so I’m pessimistic by nature but even I feel confident I may survive this with the gathered numbers to face the invaders.

Swasa considers my words looking around at the miserable hopeful industrious faces milling about the city he has called home his entire life with a frown. ‘’I don’t think any of this will be enough,’’ he takes a swing from his gourd, drinking deep. We are both survivors of our struggle to hold back the invaders at the Kama Plains, his hand stops shaking as he drinks.

We pass exotic veiled women floating a centimetre from the ground overlooking a bunch of half-naked veiled men setting up a totem pole along a strategic wall of retreat.

I never thought I'd see the day such a spectacle would give me hope instead of dread. Those totem poles have been the death of many a Helian soldier.

‘’I don’t trust those witches,’’ Swasa whispers too loudly. I move away from him a step lest I find a hex falling on me aimed at the idiot.

‘’Come on, let's just find this company and be done with it,’’ I reassure and we increase our pace.

It's only a few minutes later that we find the overflowing tavern where the mercenary company we are to liaise with has made its base. I don’t much like mercenaries, they are nothing but a bunch cutthroats with a permit to gather into large armies.

But I admire them somewhat, getting someone to pay them for being cutthroats without being beholden to anyone. Clever indeed, untrustworthy bunch though, no loyalties.

The tavern is also an inn, a big one with an open yard at the back and a beast stable at the side. It’s dim inside causing me to blink as my sight adjusts while the scent of sweat, sex, stale beer and smoke assaults my nose. The people inside all look rough, unkempt, undisciplined and dangerous in the extreme. They are scattered about the dim room in various tables, talking loudly, diddling maids, drinking uproaringly. No discipline here.

‘’Can’t believe we are assigned to mercenaries,’’ Swasa says with distaste. I ignore him, instead heading to the bar where I recognise one of the mercenaries as our contact. He, also seeing me raises his glass of amber liquid as I make my way passed the drunken revelry, bloody mercs. Even at a time like this when the whole of Morocco is threatened they solicit gold for themselves without a thought for the greater picture.

‘’Friend Nathanial,’’ the big jovial man waves me over passing two drinks to me quicker than I noticed them being poured. ‘’Drink, for tomorrow our deadline comes and we face our death, no man should die sober.’’

‘’This is the greatest alliance of forces in the history of Morocco, all the cities have emptied their barracks, the call to arms has conscripted every man strong enough to carry a spear, the demi’s of the Fox Forest and Klamana are with us for the first time in our history and we have the witches. I haven’t even mentioned the fine mercenary companies as yourselves nor the nomads or the 15 000 Aranian Archer Casters sent by their king,’’ I say taking a sip from my offered drink whilst Swasa downs his in a single gulp.

‘’I think we have a fairly good chance of repelling the invaders,’’ I say finding that the drink is smoother, hotter, and sweeter than I had expected. ‘’What is it you’re drinking?’’

‘’This is tequila, a combination of wines and spirits, good stuff,’’ the big man says slapping into my armoured back staggering me slightly. I scowl, he’s even stronger than he looks.

‘’That may be all true,’’ the bartender says not taking his eyes off the glass he is shining. ‘’But we have it on good authority that the brutes we’ve been facing so far are just the foot soldiers of the real threat the invaders pose, not even considered proper warriors at all by the real powerhouses of their kingdoms.’’

‘’That’s bull dung, we fought them at the Plains of Kama and those loincloth wearing fucker are as dangerous as they come,’’ Swasa says with a scowl. ‘’Tall as a tree some of them are, able to take down an armoured career soldier with their bare hands they are,’’ he nods looking around the place to see whose attention he has. ‘’Able to shrug off spells like some suka of undeath feeling no pain, Captain Ark and I have fought these savages so don’t come to us thinking you’ll put wool over our eyes.’’

The bartender grins refilling Swasa’s outstretched cup, ‘’we have veterans amongst us!’’ he proclaims to the full room.

‘’Aye!’

‘’Hee!’’

The drinkers salute with their cups and only now do I noticed that though they are drinking and fiddling girls every one of them seems to be alert and paying attention.

‘’Well then, welcome to The Black Company,’’ the jovial Panda says slapping my back with more force than is necessary.

*

The insignia on my chest-plate signals the casters ready as movement is scouted from the west after a month of silence.

Hold! The signal prompts, the air filled with tense static as the distance casters hold their aim on whatever it is that’s been spotted.

First appearing as a dot in the distant sky, a half-naked robed humanoid figure comes floating through the clouds with a palpable air of regality somehow drawing all attention to its unhurried advance. Its large body is an aesthetic wonder of masculine engineering with lean bulging muscles on his muscles that contradict the smooth efficiency with which it moves through the air.

One of the invaders, but unlike the loincloth giants we've mostly been facing so far.

The handsome creature attentively gazes around as though surveying the entirety of Helia from its perch in the sky. There is a lull in activity, the defenders on edge, its easier to see how nervous the rank and file are from amongst the reserved mercenary company. But Rabat soldiers are professional after years of honing themselves in battle against the Heronites to our eastern borders, the Klamara to our north and such opportunities to gain experience in battle.

Still, the power within the being cannot be denied even by the dullest of dune recruits as the natural instincts within us all warn of danger.

‘’People of Gaia, do not be afraid at being placed within our hands, we are merciful benefactors. Unlike many in our homelands that would use you harshly, we bring you better prospects and a brighter future. You fortunate people of these lands will be our slaves!’’

My mouth gapes in shock at the words.

The first sign of communication from the invaders was arrogant and dismissive but that had been after days of fighting with us barely prepared taking the brunt of the loses. In which case their arrogance was due to confidence. After declaring a month-long ceasefire they left as suddenly as they appeared. A month in which the Morocco Alliance has quickly formed fielding more than 2 million warriors from this corner of Croatia, the largest army in our history.

The being in the sky clearly sees all that's assembled before it, yet none of that initial arrogance has waned. I gaze at Panda that warned of a greater threat, swallowing my rising nerves.

‘’We will not be so cruel as to not prepare you for this new reality, no. We will pit you against our weakest slaves as we explore your world cultivating its treasures with benevolence. The weak and the lame will be culled quickly and put to better use, the young reared to their fullest potential. Those that remain will have the great honour of being Bantu-jin slaves, fighting and dying for the glory of the Hawu Family.’’

The thing’s arrogance is disconcerting, especially because it declares these things so casually, no malice no doubt, just fact. Sweat thrickles down my back from the heat of the day.

Someone from somewhere behind the 4th bulk-work is brave or stupid enough to send an energy bolt crackling black with lightning shooting upwards but it sizzles away before even coming close to the cruising being.

An instant later a blinding bolt of lightning lights up the sky darkening my vision before my visor adjusts to the energy, [crackle], cast by Lord Arch-Commando Arekagon my insignia tells me but I’d know that signature spell anywhere.

My eyesight clears, but I wipe my eyes anyway to better understand what I am seeing.

Yep, the bolt of lightning is squirming like a trapped serpent in the left hand of the floating being.

I gape, I can’t help myself as I’m sure the entire city is at this moment of realisation, the 2nd most powerful military caster this side of the kingdom stopped so casually?

‘’Be glad,’’ the being says projecting its low voice across the fields to the city far back and beyond. It gazes at the whimpering bolt of glowing power in its hand dispassionately. ‘’for we will make you useful at last.’’

The bolt returns towards where it came but now accompanied by a reddish dark crackling orb that darkens the world, [-], everything for kilometres all around the Arch-Commando’s position is gone an instant latter.

The sound of crumbling sand at the edges of the attack turning my shock into outrage, then fear, a cold helpless fear I see reflected on the mercenary beside me. I wish I was with my unit instead of this bunch of cutthroats, at least there I knew who had my back.

...

...

‘’Is that it?’’ the being asks shocking all cutting through the silence with its bland unimpressed tone.

I turn my head finding humour in the slacked jawed incredulity on the ugly Swasa next to me. The funniest thing is I know I must a similar expression of stupefied awe as the question hangs in the air and computes in my mind.

[Hehehe], someone actually giggles.

‘’Is this all the fight you have?’’ it gestures encapsulating the whole armies assembled in the single gesture.

The words laced with an aura of pitying contempt; are we that pitiful a sight to you? I stifle a giggle of my own, urine flows warm down my leg as I entertain that thought. The thought prompted by the aura and actions of the being giving me an instinctive understanding of my insignificance to it and that the whole of Morocco assembled is pitiful before it.

I accept, we’re toast even as I notice blushing looks of contempt from Commando Brisba at the enveloping contempt shown to us. Didn’t we prepare with everything we had, didn’t we forge an alliance that could concur all Croatia?

I feel my fighting spirit rise feeding off of Commando Brian’s outrage and many others around him as though coming out of a stupor. I can still feel the pity and genuine disappointment of the floating being at our weakness and it saps some of the fight from my bones, but not enough stop me raising my weapon-

[hh hhHHHAAAAARRRRRG!]

The roar of the armies is feral and primal echoing far cutting sharply at the fear filling my chest, filled with an echoing blast that scatters the air wrenching leaves on every canopy within the Gunubi where the left contingent is suddenly exposed and ready amidst the naked trees.

My heart pounds loudly in my chest in deep strong staccatos, I’m panting, controlling the psyched excitement realising that scream came from my mouth. It came from Swasa’s mouth, and Mad Henry’s mouth and all our mouths full of bloodthirsty eager challenge. Come and die, it says, and its how I feel I realise.

‘’Come and die,’’ words of challenge escape my throat.

‘’The Witches of Tokelo,’’ Kipla says with awed surprise looking at his armed hands as if seeing them for the first time. I feel powerful, I feel strong, my heart is pumping and muscles warm ready to attack in an instant.

Yes, the forest witches have been stealing men and children for 7 generations now, I’m glad to experience their enhancing power through me aimed at another.

[FFFRRRRMMMMBBB], loud rumbling shakes the world as a burning sun covering half the sky blooms fiery bright falling towards the floating figure in the sky.

‘’A planar spell already?’’ someone asks incredulously. I’ve never even heard of a planar spell used so early on a battlefield before.

I stare wide eyed feeling the heat and power radiating from the new sun, sweat dries immediately from my skin under the scorching glare directed at the alien being. The being raises an arm as if to catch the falling sun.

[BOOOO...], I’m blown over stumbling away dropping the metal shield now sizzling the flesh on my forearm superheated. It burns.

As in a rolling wave under the ocean, I tumble disorientated compressed in hot twisting air that pushes me like a leaf.

[EEee], in a squeak breath escapes me as I crash painfully into tough yielding material, I’m discombobulated, disoriented, dumb.

We roll around but eventually stop in a disorganised tumble of armoured soldiers and mercenaries on top of each other after the backlash of a single attack. I’m not sure which is up or down but I push myself out slow-

[DONGGGG], a loud toll has me deaf, blind and dumber. All I hear is the toll in my head going on and on and on.

[Hehk], I wake with a dry cough, dust and ashes falling from the otherwise completely blue sky. There is itchy soft wetness below my right shoulder, my arms and legs are sprawled akido. Right leg throbbing hot, left leg almost completely numb, is that blood loss? I hope I’m not losing blood. And what the fuck happened?

A booming thundering explosion in the distance shakes the world around me, shifting my right leg has me sitting up with stabbing pain. [Hrgg], or trying to but finding more pain pulling down the torso I am attempting to move upwards.

I contort and spasm in excruciating pain, completely dumb to the world and anything that might be happening. I blink tears out of my eyes only to see the world ending in darkness as the sky starts to burn, oblivion takes me.