The blue wisp led them deeper.
Far deeper than anyone from the village ever went.
This was the island's forbidden center, where Beasts normally roamed in terrifying numbers.
Now it was silent, no Beasts in sight.
Just fog, thick, cold, unnatural fog.
Time felt distorted inside it, it was abnormal. It felt just wrong, within the fog.
They could barely see each other, if it wasn't for both of their hands holding the lantern.
If they slowed, the blue wisp would dark back and hover inches from their faces before rushing forward again.
After what felt like hours, they broke through.
And froze.
A mountain stood at the island's core.
But something was wrong, a structure wasn't built into it. It was as if the mountain had grown around it. Ancient and colossal.
The entrance was large enough for giants, darkness breathed from within.
Bodies lay scattered outside, men dressed in mismatched clothing like the invaders at home.
What laid before them was the aftermath of a battle that was more like a war. Bodies slashed, blood pooling on the cold floor, some bodies were impaled others scotched to a unrecognizable degree.
The smell made Takahiro gag, Kenji didn't react. He stepped inside.
------------
The hallway was massive, ceiling impossibly high.
Bonfires made by the invaders burned low, casting broken light across murals that stretched along the walls.
They walked until they reached an intersection.
A towering statue stood there, the horned warrior mid-strike. He wielded a sword and spear.
The blue wisp shot right, Kenji followed without pause.
Voices echoed ahead.
"...What's taking them so long? The Mythos hounds will arrive soon."
"Patience sir. If they fail, we'll use the Summoning Formation to bring them here. Then the Teleportation Formation to retreat to the ships."
"I KNOW THE PLAN SMARTASS!"
"With respect, sir."
"How many brats do we have?"
"With the new batch that just arrive, we have 29 at present."
Kenji and Takahiro crouched low and moved closer.
The wisp, however, drifted in another direction.
Kenji ignored it.
The voices continued.
"With this much that creep of a Prince will pay a lot."
"Indeed sir,"
The boys reached a massive door engraved with a large crest:
A large black bird hovering the shape of a sleeping infant, surrounded by white stars.
The massive doors were slightly open.
Kenji extinguished the lantern, they peered inside.
Moonlight poured from an opening above, bathing the chamber in pale silver. At the center, a massive white throne.
On it sat a heavyset man with greasy blonde hair and beard. A large axe rested beside him.
Yellow Maw of the Cobra Gang.
Below him stood a tall, slender man in an immaculate dark suit. Purple hair tied high, and refined calm.
Crates stacked along one wall, on the other children, bound and unconscious.
Takahiro's breathing became shallow, Kenji's fingers tightened around his sword hilt.
The floor suddenly glowed, the Summoning Formation. Light erupted, when it faded, two figures remained.
One tall, coat draped over his shoulders, strange hat shadowing his eyes. Over his shoulder, a body.
"Huh? Why are you here?" Yellow Maw barked.
"We've got a problem," The newcomer replied, dropping the body.
"There's someone huntin our crews."
"Bullshit."
"They've already wiped 4."
Silence fell, surprise then fear flickered across Yellow Maw's face.
"Was it a Division Knight?" He muttered, the tall man shrugged.
"What about this one?" The fat man asked, nudging the body with his boot.
"Picked this one up, at one of the sights of the slaughtered crews." The tall man said.
Yellow Maw, frustrated and angry kicked the body over. The face rolled into view.
Takahiro's heart stopped.
Kenji's world narrowed.
The body revealed Ro, bloodied, unconscious and beaten.
Something inside Kenji shattered completely. Before Takahiro could stop him.
The crimson haired boy burst into action, he ran out of his hiding spot running toward them. He unsheathed the plain elegant katana, reveal its majestic blade to the world.
"DIE BASTARDS!!!" Kenji roared.
He sprinted straight at Yellow Maw.
None of the men reacted, Kenji swung with everything he had.
Yellow Maw caught the blade, effortlessly. The two men's eyes met, Kenji's orange dusk eyes burned with raw, dark fury. Yellow Maw's gaze held only irritation.
The tall man watched with amusement.
"I will kill you!" Kenji growled through clenched teeth.