On Astral Tides: From Humble Freelancer To Astral Emperor

Four Hundred And Sixteen

On seeing us, Haanōbō turned and exclaimed “You have made it here…” Not too far from her, Fungbō let out a bitter growl, but otherwise kept his silence, and some of his feathers detached from his wings which were still somewhat ragged after the earlier beating I had dished out to him, and soon they were wreathed in shining metal, before flying around like blades, slashing the numberless hordes of damned spirits, which started to disintegrate. Oh? I see…

I noticed with my keen insight that the metallic feathers were shining with a remnant glow of Tarōbō’s blessing, which likely was the reason that the feathers were actually able to defeat them. They struck the glassy rock elementals with a clang, and several stony limbs were sheared off, a number shattering, scattering tiny flames everywhere. Shungbō concentrated, eyes narrowing behind his long-nosed mask, and his own fires scorched the bare ground, just as I had done with my Foehn.

“Should we intervene? The numbers are endless.” Motoko asked, and I nodded. As soon as I did so, Bell spoke up.

“We should not rush in hastily. We have our rhythm and know each other’s styles and preferred moves. But nothing is more dangerous than two separate forces attempting to unify mid engagement. Akio, as our leader, you should establish a joint plan.” She paused, smiling. “Swiftly, though. The numbers and might of our enemies are both significant.”

“I understand. Leave it to me.” I promised. It was true that one thing I lacked was leadership experience. In combat, I’d been through a number of life and death battles since this all began, but in terms of commanding, I still lacked the pedigree of Ulfuric or a Way-Captain like Bell or Soliteare.

“It is something you will learn in time. None, even prodigies, are born understanding what it is to lead.” Daiyu said, divining my thoughts. “But lead you must. And in the face of these Tengu…”

I nodded, not saying what we all understood. I can’t show any weakness or indecision. A successful mission here and settling matters with Tarōbō, and we’ll have secured our alliance, perhaps to an even better result than we had first hoped. Striding forwards, leaving the rest of my group to handle supporting the ordinary Tengu on the edges of the battle, those with little power from Tarōbō’s blessings left, I swept purifying light and bullets of Spirit Water through the ranks of damned spirits. Still no level-up. A shame, but I must be getting close… It was now taking great hosts of lesser enemies to gain me one level, only defeating extremely powerful foes such as the clone of the toad or the pseudo-angel Mary Stuart had summoned giving me levels at any pace. I suppose it makes sense, as I grow stronger, it takes more to push me further…

“By Seiryū and his azure breath that sprouts new life, as spring heralds rebirth and renewal… go back to your rest and await reincarnation, should you be so fortunate!” Arangbō boomed, and a surge of brown energies streaked with hints of blue leapt from his body. The ground cracked, revealing white bone beneath, vines sprouting and crashing through the mob of elementals and spirits, and though the flames of the dammed scorched the vines, flowers sprung to life, the greenery recovering, and the spirits disintegrated. One of the colossal monsters rising from the flame pit was snared, and though the vines couldn’t break the stony body, they held it in place, Arangbō swinging his heavy staff eagerly, ready to strike. On seeing me charging towards him, he nodded, long nose dipping.

“Joining the fun?” he snorted, staff crashing down. Chips of dark stone scattered, the blow doing little damage, but then the vines started creeping into the slight cracks, widening them even as the beast struggled. A second swung for him, but a tide of water and ice from Haanōbō blocked the blow, through she grunted at the effort. On seeing that, I supported her, Foehn flying from my hands and striking it in the formless, vaguely animalistic head. It hissed, a sound that set my teeth on edge, and slipped, falling back down into the depths, a faint yellow star soon lost in the darkness. With that done, I drew Storming Moonlight and slashed out, blade wreathed in wind and lightning, and the slowly spreading damage to one arm was magnified, my blade cutting deep. Seeing that, Arangbō gestured, and his vines dug down, worming their way into the black stone, and the arm exploded, torn free.

“What’s the situation? We don’t want to intrude and get in the way of your plans.” I said, joining Arangbō to attack the great torso of his opponent, and I idly wondered if this is what the Fae felt, fighting the giants of the Unseelie, feeling so small and fragile. But I guess I’m not so fragile, am I? Body Enhancement pushed to its limits, I felt my mind clear a little. Even without my Split Thoughts, I can make matters easier by buffing my mental stats and how fast my brain works… With my widened vision, I could see we were thinning out the tide of the damned from the edges, and the Tengu fell back, relieved, many of them bearing wounds. Though the numbers tally, I don’t think any have died yet, thankfully…

“It is as you can see.” He rumbled, staff crashing into stone, sweeping aside more elementals, before facing off against another colossus of dark, volcanic stone, this one radiating far more Lost Flame, the shoulders and head burning like a torch. “We are hard pressed, but the Tengu of mount Atago will never stop until we have cleansed our sacred flame. I am impressed…” he grunted, staff striking stone, numbing his hands. I wrapped the limbs of the monster in fine threads of wind, careful to stay away from the flames, and began to saw through, powder and small stone fragments scattering. Another roar, and the vines Arangbō had called barraged the giant, taking advantage, and cracks spread throughout it, and my wires of vibrating air sped up, a dull whine to match the loud roar of the faceless, burning giant filling the air.

“… you made it to one of the sources of the flame, the three fountains.” He grunted with effort, and finally the behemoth in front of us broke apart, our combined efforts destroying it. Chunks fell around us, a single arm with almost paw-like hands splintering as it stuck the ground beside me, with more falling back into the dark pit, within which I could see significant spatial element. Which I’m going to draw in as much of as I can, of course.

“So there’s only three? Great.” As he tilted his head, puzzled, I quickly explained. “We’ve been past the other two, but it seemed to me that the Lost Flame was contaminating them from even further down…”

“I see. Let us finish this mess and we shall … discuss our cooperation.” Arangbō said, before turning to his siblings. “As the Directions, we shall take the cardinal points. Brave Tengu, honoured visitors… fill the gaps, cover all blind spots.”

The Three Directions started shifting position at his words, though Shungbō moved hesitantly, and Fungbō looked as if he wished to protest. Only Haanōbō moved with any alacrity, though the expression in her yellow eyes was complex. On seeing that, our group, plus the Tengu we had relieved, began to split up into two. Daiyu was the lead on one group, Haru-san of the other, and they began to dispatch the damned spirits one after another, and the horde was starting to thin…

“Competent.” He boomed. “And you do have your own methods…” he mused, as light from Haru-san burst, purifying a mob of the damned all at once, while Daiyu’s Spirit Water bullets were able to take down a number of fiery enemies, her martial arts enough to handle the more tangible elementals.

“We shouldn’t fall behind.” I said, looking down at the pit, hundreds more twinkling stars appearing, which quickly resolved themselves into a mixture of sparks of Lost Flame, and slowly forming damned spirits. “Let there be light!” I gestured casually, and a bloom of brilliance to match Haru-san’s flared, and many of the lights in the pit were extinguished. The sparks I wrapped in Foehn, and soon we had the remaining enemies surrounded, no more pouring from the pit, our arrival having turned the tides of battle.

“It seems the situation is stable.” Bell said, as she led the rest of the girls to me, the last few spirits and elementals being dealt with by the Four Directions.

“Yes, it seems so.” Arangbō agreed, leaning on his massive staff, the vines around him withering and dying, first turning brown and gnarled, before decaying further and turning to ashes. “You say you have seen the other two fountains?” At his words, the other Directions were listening eagerly.

“That’s right. The situation there wasn’t as bad as here though. We dealt with the spirits and elementals without too much difficultly, and cleaned up what Lost Flame we could, but…” I looked at the flame, my Eye shining. “Yeah, the contamination is still increasing. So if it isn’t any of the fountains…” I looked at the inky darkness where the floor had collapsed, white and red rock and bone visible in the tear.

“You cannot mean to tell them!” Fungbō shouted, furious. “Even we have never seen the true source of the sacred flame! Only Great Tarōbō has ever visited the chamber!”

“Enough.” Arangbō growled, frustrated. “If we had to cleanse all three fountain chambers ourselves, how do you think we would fare?” He slammed his mighty fist on his chest, emphasising his point. “Shungbō’s flames can deal with these miserable spirits, as can my wood…” At my curious look, he shrugged, wings flapping proudly.

“Water runs through my element, and water purifies. Our dear sister Haanōbō…” he seemed unable to resist teasing her. “… her water has proved strong against the spirits as well. But without the blessing of great Tarōbō, my wood and Haanōbō’s water is far inferior to Shungbō’s flames granted by Suzaku. And your metal is only of use breaking these rocks, Fungbō.” He said contemptuously, nudging a hunk of broken obsidian-like remains. “We anticipated many enemies, due to the ever escalating attacks on our mountain home, but this is beyond our comprehension. If we are forced to retreat, it will take time for our noble father to raise more energy for his blessings, and in that time, the numbers might have grown further still. No, we cleanse the flames now or we might not have another chance. Can you do it alone, my brother?”

Fungbō opened his mouth for another angry protest, but after a moment his wings and head drooped, and as though the words were torn from him, he managed his assent, his tone bitter. “Very well. I see the wisdom in your words, no matter how pathetic they sound.”

“Great Tarōbō must have understood this, or he would never have allowed them to challenge, much less enter here. Our secrets… is it the presence of Prince Shōtoku that gives him confidence? I know Great Tarōbō has no love for the kami of Kyoto, but…” Haanōbō said, thinking.

Motoko shook her head. “If I may interrupt rudely…”

“What is it, hearty eater?” Arangbō said, and Motoko flushed a little, embarrassed.

“I feel you are mistaken, Haanōbō. Your father is reassured because Akio backs up his words with deeds, and there is no deceit in him. Just as he challenged for your honour, because he did not like what he saw, when he offers fair alliance, Tarōbō knows Akio means what he says.”

“Please stop saying I am his sister, I explained this was a misunderstanding…”

“Hoping for more?” Arangbō said slyly, and she squealed, irritated.

“Of course not! I am the proud North of Winter! I have no need of… of…” her words failed her, the exposed flesh of her neck and ears pink.

“I think our big eater is quite right.” Arangbō said, after his chuckles ended. “We do not look kindly on outsiders or the kami, but after your displays of prowess, and willingness to entertain our customs… I believe Great Tarōbō has warmed to you. The kami, we do not like, but we do not underestimate the strength of the forces of Kyoto.”

“I feel it was destiny.” Haanōbō agreed. “A chance meeting blessed by our flame.”

Fungbō snorted, as if to dismiss it, but I agreed.

“I’ve had a lot of chance encounters recently. Most good, some for ill. And you might be right. But whether it’s Fortune, Fate or simply a series of coincidences, we have to take what advantage we have. So… the source of the flame, I expect that’s where we will find the Lost Flame. It can’t really be anywhere else, can it?”

“No. Great Tarōbō must understand we shall see it for ourselves.” Haanōbō agreed thoughtfully. “Perhaps he feels it is time?”

“Whether he thinks such or not, we must go on. Downwards…” Arangbō said ominously, inclining his masked head at the pit.

Yes, it’s usually how these things go, right? Find the bottom and that’s where the goal is. I just hope there’s no frightening demon lord or boss to battle at the deepest depths…

********

“…the space is much expanded, the paths we knew led nowhere, or to multiple branched pathways.” Haanōbō was saying to Motoko and Natsumi, who were listening eagerly to her. “It took us far longer to find the first fountain, longer than you it seems.”

“We made swift progress.” Motoko allowed. “With Akio watching over us, such was only to be expected.”

As they talked, it was Haru-san and Daiyu who were in the lead, clearing a path. We had been descending for a while, frequently having to change passageways, as the path downwards was both unknown and had changed as space warped, expanding. The numbers of spirits had increased, and we were forced to confront them regularly. The positive is that the girls are all levelling. That’s one objective met.

“I admit he is strong. I was not his match, nor were the other Directions. But…” Haanōbō turned to me. “If you think you can defeat Great Tarōbō, believing he is our equal, then you will be in for a miserable time.”

“Don’t worry.” Kana laughed cheerfully. “It’s absolutely classic, the brave man challenging the woman’s father for her hand. Even if it’s to be a sister rather than a wife, I think it’s a little charming…”

“Must you babble about such nonsense?” Fungbō sneered. “We are not enjoying a leisurely stroll about a festival on the mountain, this is a battle regarding life and death.”

“Maybe to you.” Kana smirked, not liking the Tengu or the way he was looking at them. “But with Akio here we’re all just dead weight, you included.” She turned to me, winking. “I bet if he wanted, Akio could handle this solo. Isn’t it his directions you are following?”

The oppression of the Territory within this space grows as we go deeper, so it’s simple enough to judge it and take the correct route. The only downside is… Motoko, Natsumi and the ordinary Tengu were requiring more frequent aid, and I had even taken to topping up the Tengu a little. Fortunately, my losses were mostly offset by the spilled ether from our many enemies, but even that was diminishing, the Territory taking an ever-greater portion, though Conqueror was doing its work, allowing me to get more than my fair share. “I wouldn’t be so bold as to guarantee that. Though up to this point I could have.” I admitted, to amusement from Arangbō.

“I find your arrogance rather refreshing. The strong should be bold!” he said, before the set of his wings gave away his sudden tension. “But the time for laughter is over. Can you feel it?”

Feel it? I see it. The spirit lights around me, now bright and more tangible, were bobbing erratically, their motions swift, and Haru-san was also struggling. She dropped back, leaving Daiyu to finish off the last of the dammed spirits with support from Bell, and cast her Light Of Muted Emotions over us. As her tense expression relaxed, cheeks going slack, the lights of Tsukiko-san and Kinneka calmed. Is it me or can I faintly hear a thank you? It could be my imagination…

“The Lost Flame is so intense here. It must be the source. It grates on me a bit, I must admit” Haru-san said, and I agreed. The spatial element was thicker here, as well as light, darkness, earth and flame all jumble together. The ether density was higher than Kyoto, close to matching the outer edges of the Seelie Court. Fortunately, it seemed that the lunar chakras of the girls were better able to adapt to such density, and those that didn’t have one had other means of resisting, and that meant we were at least offsetting the losses a little.

“In that case, we should prepare a strategy. There’s obviously going to be a lot of damned spirits down here.” I said, and as we descended a golden and ruby glow was starting to fill the end of the dark, cramped passageway, the temperature rising, silver sweat drifting from us all.

“Yes, we have regained some strength, thanks to your efforts in making headway. My flames shall purge the corruption!” Shungbō said, eager to regain his lost pride.

“I suggest we form a mixed battle line, everyone playing to their strengths.” Bell pointed out, and soon Arangbō would be joining me at the front line along with Fungbō, while Shungbō and Haanōbō would be split and each put in charge of two groups of my girls and the Tengu, acting as ranged damage and close combat support as needed.

“So, we shall be the spearhead. I have no objections. Do not hold me back!” Arangbō said, swinging his staff eagerly. Fungbō merely lowered his head, offering no objection.

Another group of flaming creatures poured out of the growing light towards us, but I swept them aside with my own radiance, unwilling to delay any longer. As they disintegrated, the three of us led the rest out into a surprisingly modest chamber, one that was filled to the brim with damned spirits, and the centre was occupied by two entwined flames, one a pure, brilliant golden-yellow, the other a sooty yellowish red, streaked with black. My Eye quickly revealed that the dark one was indeed the Lost Flame, while the other was … So the Sacred Flame is really…

“What is that?” Daiyu pointed out what I had seen, her Qi Perception noticing the strange corpse. “It is dead, but the Qi remains strong and vibrant. Most puzzling.”

“Deal with the crowd first, and then we shall have time for curiosity later. Priorities!” Bell reminded us, and I agreed, charging forwards, Arangbō and Fungbō behind me, Fungbō already clad in shining metal, the fading light of the blessing his father had given him still remaining. Light flashed, water bullets scattered, and arrows soaked in Spirit Water began to strike, and the sea of damned spirits parted as a channel was cut through them, clearly revealing more details about the cavern. The floor below was more carved bone and red bricks, though ash was tracked over it now, obscuring most of the details. In front of us was a huge skeleton, a few tufts of hair sprouting from shreds of desiccated skin still clinging to the bones. It’s… a bear? A bloody big bear too. It must be… what, seven or eight stories tall? As big as a block of flats…

The bear was lying down, arms outstretched, as if guarding what lay behind it. It was a pit, from which the Sacred Flame radiated, pouring into the roof of the cavern, where space ruptured, and three separate streams flowed out, vanishing, likely becoming the fountains we had discovered earlier. The Lost Flame was burning there too, casting shadows of the skeletal bear over the cavern, and the space around it was distorted, spatial element carrying the Lost Flame into the Sacred Flame, polluting it, and the corruption was carried upwards. Carvings, huh? The Sacred Flame was coming out of a great circular depression, looking a bit like a well, the walls made of orange brick, inlaid with delicate bone carvings, the reliefs dyed with ink made from crushed obsidian or some other dark volcanic rock. Those carvings… I know I’ve seen them somewhere before, I think…

My memory was excellent, and I found it easy enough to recall things dimly remembered from my past nowadays, but this must have been an insignificant, barely remembered event. Even as I strained all my mental stats, I continued to fight, light and water elements surging around me, rather pretty rainbows forming as the light beams passed through the spray from my water bullets.

“This has been very satisfying, hasn’t it Motoko?” Natsumi giggled, as the last of her arrows struck home, disintegrating a damned spirit. She pulled out her sword, and started searching for lone spirits that she could engage safely. Motoko had hefted her spear, the head glittering with droplets of Spirit Water, and she agreed.

“Yes, it has validated all of our desires. Our Arts are useful, they serve a purpose. And our husband.” She flushed, spear sliding into the chest of a bear-shaped flame spirit, steam sizzling.

“I’m feeling a bit embarrassed just listening to this…” Kana muttered, and Haru-san shot her an amused look, even as she cast brilliant light across the enemies with one hand, and her soothing light over herself with the other.

“It’s always like this. And don’t tell me you won’t be the same soon enough, Kana-chan!”

“I probably will!” Kana admitted cheekily. “But pointing it out is rude, Haru-chan!”

“This is a battle, a fight to the death…” Haanōbō said, exhausted, her water and ice exploding, dousing a swathe of the spirits. “… can you at least try to treat it seriously?” From her tone, I imagine her puffing out her cheeks in exasperation now.

“Oh we are.” I said, as the overwhelming numbers of our foes quickly diminished under our wide area attacks. “But this isn’t just a battle to us… huh? So that’s it!” I clenched my fist, my mind, accelerated under the effect of my Body Enhancement, finally dredging out the single memory of where I had seen the carvings on the well before. “It’s not a well, but a hearth. Hearths. Flames… it makes sense now.”

“What does?” Kana asked, not having much to do in this battle other than trap a few stragglers in the ground for Motoko and Natsumi to dispatch.

“Those are Ainu carvings. I saw a picture once, back when I was at school. We only ever had one lesson on them, the native Japanese were a… delicate… issue, and some parents complained. But my mom then told me a bit about them.”

“I have not heard of them. Have you, Natsumi?” Motoko asked, and she shook her head, equally unsure, so I expanded on my thoughts.

“It makes sense. They were native people, indigenous to Hokkaido and the north of Japan. And we… well, we weren’t kind to them. But… I never knew they were living this far south. It isn’t in the few articles I’ve read about them.”

“Are you surprised?” Kana shrugged. “Did you read any articles about the shrines and our powers? History is written the way it is for a reason, Akio. Lots is hidden from view. Or maybe the historians didn’t know?”

“Look at you, being wise.” I joked, and she pouted playfully.

“Teasing me again, huh? Oh well…” she dragged another batch of spirits into an earthen quagmire, and Daiyu, Motoko and Natsumi finished them off. The battle was coming to a close, the Tengu fiercely defeating the swarms of damned spirits, as if they were settling a bitter grudge. I guess that’s not too far from the truth…

********

The battle had come to an end, our alliance victorious. Every few seconds another couple of damned spirits were being birthed, or an elemental would rise, ripping free of the walls, but we were quite capable of dispatching them. Spawn camping… these creatures don’t give much experience, but every little helps the girls.

My Eye glowed, and I looked at the corpse of the bear, Daiyu also watching it cautiously.

Atago-un-kamuy – The corpse of a bear kamuy serving Kim-un-kamuy, Great Bear That Watches Over Mountains. Even in death, the vitality remains, tempered by a sacred hearth of Apemerukoyan-mat Unamerukoyan-mat, the Woman of Rising Fire Sparks, Of Soaring Cinder Sparks.

“That… is not a kami.” Shungbō said slowly, his voice troubled.

“No, it is not.” Arangbō agreed. “Though it is similar, just as we are similar to other Tengu, though Great Tarōbō asks us to hide our shame with masks. Do you think… no, we should not second-guess our noble father. We should do what we came here for.” His eyes narrowed as he saw the Lost Flame burning amidst the ribcage of the bear, streaming into the Sacred Flame. “Here is the source. If we destroy it, perhaps the Sacred Flame can cleanse itself, and if not, we can hunt down the remaining corruption…”

“Who shall do it? My water and ice is likely not strong enough.” Haanōbō admitted. “Will you do it, Summer South? Your flames burn as hot as Suzaku himself. Or…” she turned to me. “… your flames are hungry, I have seen it.”

“I will try. Your aid was appreciated, but this matter should be left to the Tengu.” As Fungbō snorted angrily, he continued. “But if I should fail, you must finish it.”

“I don’t think it’s going to be that easy.” I said, my Foresight’s dull prickles intensifying. A rusty knife, piercing flame… what does it mean? Is it the flames here, Shungbō, me, or… At the moment Shungbō stepped forwards, I saw Daiyu’s expression change, to one of alarm, eyes going wide. As I followed her gaze, I saw that the bony claw of the giant bear twitched, opening and closing, and it shuddered, as though taking a breath, dust and ash falling from the old, bleached bones. As the spirit lights around me surged into movement, and Haru-san gasped in discomfort, I cried out. “Careful Shungbō! I think the bear is about to come back to life!”